History

1992

• After a year of massive restructuring, Matra Hachette is created from the takeover of Matra by Hachette, and the Lagardère group is created as the umbrella company for the whole group.
  
• Strategic alliance between Matra Communication and Northern Telecom. This partnership will allow Matra to continue to grow and to strengthen its international strategy in the telecommunications field.

1993

• Hachette Livre launches the first multimedia encyclopaedia, Axis.

1994

• The group enters the multimedia sector. Matra Hachette Multimédia launches Epsis, the first image substitution process designed for advertising. The 400,000th Espace leaves the Romorantin factory.
  
• Matra Marconi space acquires British Aerospace's space division, making it the leading European space group and the third-largest in the world.
  

1995

• Hachette Distribution Services acquires Canada's leading newsstand chain, UCS, and becomes the third-largest operator in the retail press sector.
  
• Elle celebrates its 50th anniversary, extending its influence to 26 countries around the world.

1996

• Matra Défense and BAe Dynamics merge to form the new company Matra BAe Dynamics, the leading weapons manufacturer in Europe and the third largest in the world.
  
• Hachette Livre acquires the Hatier group, France's third-largest educational publisher.

1997

• Hachette Livre sweeps the board at the year's literary prize ceremonies:
  
  • The Prix Goncourt and Prix de l'Académie Française for La Bataille by Patrick Rambaud (Grasset).
  • The Prix Renaudot for Les Voleurs de Beauté by Pascal Bruckner (Grasset).
  • The Prix Médicis (foreign-language publications) for America by T.C. Boyle (Grasset).
• Merger of Hachette Filipacchi Presse and Filipacchi Médias to become Hachette Filipacchi Médias.
  
• The third-generation Espace is a roaring success in Europe, with 54,072 orders, 41% in France and 59% on the export market.

1998

• Creation of Hachette Multimédia, combining Hachette Livre's multimedia business and Grolier Interactive's online educational services.
  
• International growth of Hachette Livre with the acquisitions of the British firms Orion and Cassell.
  
• Merger of the activities of Aerospatiale and Matra Hautes Technologies, which officially become Aerospatiale Matra on 11 June 1999.
  
• Launch of Europe Infos by Europe 1 and Club-Internet, the leading non-stop Internet information service in French.

1999

• Acquisition of 80% of Rusconi Editore in Italy.
  
• Arnaud Lagardère is named president of Europe 1 Communication.
  
• Aerospatiale Matra is quoted on the stock market for the first time.