1945
At the end of World War II, Marcel Chassagny founds Matra (Mécanique Aviation TRAction), a company focused on the defence industry.
1963
Jean-Luc Lagardère becomes Chief Executive Officer of Matra, which has diversified into aerospace and automobiles.
1974
Jean-Luc Lagardère is appointed Chief Executive Officer of Europe 1.
1980
Matra acquires the Hachette group, specialised in book publishing (Grasset, Fayard, Stock, etc.), magazines and newspapers (Elle, Le Journal du Dimanche, etc.) and distribution.
1981
Europe 1 is sold to the French State, which also acquires a 51% interest in Matra (excluding Hachette).
1986
Hachette regains control of Europe 1.
1988
Matra is privatised.
1992
Hachette is merged into Matra to form Matra-Hachette, and Lagardère Groupe, a French partnership limited by shares, is created as the umbrella company for the entire ensemble.
1996
Matra-Hachette is absorbed into Lagardère Groupe, which changes its name to Lagardère SCA.
1999
Aerospatiale Matra is created following the merger of Aerospatiale and Matra Hautes Technologies.
2000
The EADS consortium is formed following the merger of Aerospatiale Matra, CASA and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace.
2003
Jean-Luc Lagardère dies and Arnaud Lagardère is appointed Managing Partner of Lagardère SCA.
2004
The Group acquires a portion of Vivendi Universal Publishing’s French and Spanish assets.
2011
The Group sells its international magazine operations.
2013
The Group divests its remaining interest in EADS.
2015-2022
The Group continues to expand its publishing and travel retail businesses in France and internationally.
2020
The Group completes the strategic refocusing, initiated in 2018, around two priority divisions – Lagardère Publishing and Lagardère Travel Retail – as well as Other Activities (Lagardère News, Lagardère Live Entertainment and Lagardère Paris Racing).
2021
Lagardère SCA is converted into a French joint-stock company (société anonyme) and a new governance structure is implemented. Arnaud Lagardère is appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Pierre Leroy Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
2022
A friendly public tender offer is filed by Vivendi SE for Lagardère SA. The Group continues to pursue its international growth strategy for its two priority divisions.