Hearst Corp. is nearing completion of its $921 million (€640 million) acquisition of French media conglomerate Lagardère SCA. It’s finalized the purchase of Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., which gives the publisher control of nearly 100 titles in 14 countries outside of France. On top of the magazines, the deal adds…

French media conglomerate Lagardère says it’s received a binding offer from Hearst of €651 ($892.52/£560.45) million for its non-French magazine business (release). The portfolio includes 102 titles in 15 countries, including the U.S. and UK, plus a license to go on publishing Elle on multiple platforms in those countries. The…

French media leader Lagardère still sees the internet as helping protect it from the effects of a declining advertising economy - despite signs even online ad growth is beginning to slow. Lagardère Active CEO Dider Quillot (via FT.com): “When you add growth from the internet, growth from emerging markets and…

Will John Menzies Digital’s new e-magazine download service prove a lifeline for dwindling subscriptions of glossy magazines? The joint venture between Scottish distribution firm John Menzies and French publishing giant Lagardere has launched an online service—magazinesondemand.co.uk—where customers can download digital versions of magazines to their computer after installing free “delivery”…

French media giant Lagardere reported earnings for the three months ending 31 March 2008 on Tuesday. Consolidated revenues for the entire group were down 4 percent to 1.8 billion euros on a reported basis and up 2.1 percent on a like for like basis. The company blamed its flat revenues…

DigitalSpy, one of my favorite UK TV and entertainment news sites, has been bought by Hachette Filipacchi U.K., part of the French media giant Lagardere. The financial details were not disclosed. Hachette UK started its digital division last year with the launch of ElleUK.com and Sugarscape.com DigitalSpy started in 2000…

French media giant Lagardere announced its 2007 earnings yesterday and some numbers about its digital media activities:—Lagardere Active CEO Didier Quillot said the group, which recently bought online content site Doctissimo, was now one year ahead of its goal to generate between 5 percent and 10 percent of its sales…

French media group Lagardere is buying a 53.38 percent stake in the French online publisher for women’s content Doctissimo from its founders, for a total of about $109 million. The deal—based on the price of 30.50 euros ($45.25) a share—values the company at 138 million euros ($204.74 million). The company…