The privatization of the FDJ could begin in November, announces Bruno Le Maire

Individuals will be able to buy securities from November. The state will keep 20% of the capital of the FDJ after the privatization, against 72% today.

The privatization of the Française des Jeux (FDJ) will take place. It could begin in the month of November, said Sunday the Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire, interviewed on the subject during the show the Grand Rendez-vous.

"Our desire is that the FDJ can be privatized by the end of the year, probably before the end of November, unless markets fall by then.In November, individuals can buy securities" , he said, during the Europe broadcast 1-CNews-Les Echos.

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"We are thinking about the possibility of discounting the price of the stock, and I hope that the French will participate as much as possible with, for example, free shares according to the holding period of these shares," he added. Minister.

A president appointed in the coming weeks

If the conditions of privatization are still "in the process of being defined", Bruno Le Maire justified it again, considering that "the role of the State is not to take care of the games of drawing and scratching "But to guarantee control with the establishment of a gaming regulatory authority of which" the president will be appointed in the coming weeks ".

With its Pact law, the government has paved the way for a vast program of asset sales to feed a 10 billion euro fund dedicated to innovation: if the privatization project of the airport manager of Paris, the Group ADP, faces a referendum of shared initiative (RIP), the process normally follows its course for the FDJ.

READ ALSO >> Privatization of ADP: the quagmire

The state currently holds 72% of the capital of the FDJ. It will keep 20% at the end of the privatization process "to ensure control over the addiction in addition to the future authority," said the minister.

Currently, alongside the state, some 14% of the capital is held by veterans associations, "who will keep a place on the board of directors," said Bruno Le Maire.