Delco has a buyer. Editis, France’s second-largest book publisher, is in talks to buy outright its third-largest comics publisher, acquiring a sector it has previously had little exposure to. Editor and Founder Guy Delcourt will remain in office.
The initiative was announced to the world in a press release posted on the Editis website [translated by DeepL]:
“Delcourt and Editis announce that they have entered into exclusive negotiations for Editis to acquire 100% of the shares of the Delcourt Group.”
Add to:
“This merger is a major strategic step for both groups. Editis will strengthen its position in the bande dessinée [comics] And the comic part, it’s become inevitable. Delgo will benefit from the support of a solid, diversified publishing group to ensure its continued growth. Guy Delcourt will remain at the helm of the company he founded nearly 40 years ago, retaining its identity and operational autonomy.
While the public became aware last month that Guy Delcourt was interested in selling the company, acquisition discussions with Editis reportedly began as early as January 2024. and the European Competition Commission. If it goes ahead, it could be completed by the end of 2024 at the earliest.
Since 2018, Guy Delcourt has run the company as a majority shareholder, holding a 49% minority stake Mary Jane MeyerIts subsidiary Florac Investment Group. Editis will acquire shares in Guy Delcourt and Florac for an undisclosed amount.
The current decision to sell is driven by concerns about the company’s continuity and security, with two major issues: succession and the Florac Group’s desire to break away from the partnership.
Previously, many European publishing houses were family businesses, with ownership passed down from generation to generation. In recent decades, many once-family publishers—particularly comics publishers—have been sold to larger outfits, becoming part of broader portfolios within publishing and media entities. The most prominent example in French comics is Média Participations, which owns the major Franco-Belgian publishers Dupuis, Dargaud and Le Lombard. Glénat is another major player in the French comics market and is still run by the Glénat family – Jacques Greiner Serves as company chairman and passes power to his eldest daughter Marion Greiner-Kowler 2019.
Guy Delcourt, 66, has three children, but none of them are likely to take over the business. he told trade media books of the week [translated via DeepL]:
“With no family succession, I feel it is my responsibility to ensure the continuity of the company during my time at the helm and beyond. In terms of the shareholder base, it is inevitable that the company will change hands one day. I prefer to be proactive and choose the right moment to find A buyer who would meet our requirements and feel comfortable about the future of the group.
arrive worldwho said he was attracted to Editis’ “humanistic values” and that the new potential owner would:
“Guaranteeing our real autonomy by keeping us in the same premises, not touching the management team and committing to no redundancies”
The deal is not without minor complications – Delcourt is currently distributed by Editis rival Hachette until the end of 2025.
Delcourt is a well-known brand in the French comics market and is the third largest comics company in the industry after Média Participations and Glénat. It was founded independently in 1986 by Guy Delcourt after merging (and ultimately merging) the iconic French comics magazine charlie monthly and pilot Written by Dargaud, who served as editor of the latter. The publisher caters to a wide variety of tastes, but is most commonly associated with science fiction, horror, and fantasy. By 2011, through expansion and acquisitions, it had become the largest independent comic publisher in the French market – owning comic brands Akata and Tonkam (previously one of the earliest comic publishers in France); and its own online comic platform Verytoon. It is also the French-language publisher of many big-name American books, including Jeff Smithof bone, “The Walking Dead”, “Invincible”, “Hell Outlaws”, “Thugs”, and more. In terms of its comics and cartoons, it publishes a French version JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Kill City, Food Wars, Fruits Basket, Solo Levelingand The God of High School. Last year, the company’s revenue was 104.2 million euros ($113 million), down slightly from the previous year as sales growth in the wider book industry, triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, began to return to normal trends. Currently, the company has 145 employees, publishes approximately 700 titles annually, and catalogs over 13,000 titles.
Editis is a large company but has a limited presence in the French bande dessinée market. To date, it has 55 publishing houses, publishes approximately 4,000 titles annually, and employs more than 2,000 people. Editis was sold in 2023 after former owner Vivendi, which acquired the company in 2018, acquired a majority stake in the parent company of Hachette Livre, France’s largest publisher. Group sold to Czech billionaire for 653 million euros (about $700 million) Daniel KretinskyCzech media investment group. Prior to the sale, Editis’ 2022 turnover was €789 million, down from the previous year, according to a report from Vivendi, which noted that its meager comics offering was one of the few times the company had experienced “double growth” one of the companies. Buying Delcote’s catalog and decades of expertise in comics would give France’s second-largest book publisher full access to peripheral markets.
Understanding the company’s desire to further expand into the booming French comics market, Managing Director of Editis Catherine Lucette stated in the announcement press release [translated by DeepL]:
“The signing of the exclusive negotiation agreement for the Delcourt Group to join Editis represents a change in dimension. We are honored that a talented and experienced entrepreneur like Guy Delcourt has chosen our team to continue building his company’s future. We look forward to welcoming him and his of teams and companies and co-launch new initiatives.
The comics market in France is extremely active – comics and manga can be purchased in general bookstores, supermarkets and specialty stores. 75 million comics were bought last year, with sales exceeding 877 million euros (about $950 million) – meaning the average French person bought 1.4 million comics or comics every week According to market analyst GfK, by 2023
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