About Lagardere

I am convinced that we must continually cultivate and strengthen our company fundamentals, which are both straightforward and sound.

By giving concrete expression to our strategic perspective as a pure-play media company focusing on content creation, we have achieved unquestioned legitimacy and are now striving for leadership at global level.

With the diversification of our activities, both geographically and by business line, we have assembled a well-balanced portfolio of complementary assets.

In addition, by putting the emphasis on financial discipline – through rigorous cost control and a well thought-out choice of acquisitions – our company enjoyed a solid, healthy balance sheet at year-end 2008.

These fundamental touchstones are always in mind when we innovate and develop our business lines. This attitude permeates each business segment: Lagardère Publishing (book publishing), Lagardère Active (press, audiovisual and digital activities, plus advertising sales), Lagardère Services (travel retail and press distribution) and Lagardère Sports (the sports economy).

With the benefit of our sound constitution, identity as a family company and continued EBIT growth in 2008, we face the future with confidence.

Arnaud Lagardère