PARIS (Thomson Financial) - French businessman Vincent Bollore plans to acquire 
a 40 pct stake in the Associated Press' French language business, Challenges 
magazine reported, citing the French newsman who says he is Bollore's partner in

the scheme.

In its online edition, the magazine cited Bertrand Eveno, a former chief 
executive of French national news agency Agence France-Presse, as saying AP's 
French language business may be acquired by a newly created group in which he 
will hold the remaining 60 pct.

Challenges said both Bollore's holding company Bollore and AP management 
declined to comment on the claims.

According to the magazine, an AP France works council meeting is scheduled for 
11.00 am on Friday to discuss a restructuring plan that will include the sale of

the French language service.

It said AP France employs 28 full-time journalists and 67 other contributors.

Bollore, the largest single shareholder in ad agencies Havas and Aegis, already 
has other media investments, including the Direct8 TV channel in France, a 
Parisian cinema and daily freesheets Direct Soir and Matin Plus.

After Eveno's departure from AFP in 2005, Lagardere unit Hachette Filipacchi 
Medias named him as managing director of Hachette Filipacchi Photos.

tfn.paris@thomson.com mrg/ejp

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