The drama about the purchase of international titles of Hachette Filipacchi Media, the publishing branch of the French group Lagardere, by the American Hearst Publications has finally come to an end. Hearst paid US$ 885.6 million for the 102 publications of Hachette, which include the magazines Paris Match and Photo.
* Under the agreement, Hearst also acquired the right to use the "Elle" brand, the most important of their portfolio, in 15 countries, even with Hachette keeping the publication’s majority of stocks. Changes in the editorial departments of Hachette – a.k.a. layoffs – are seen as inevitable.