20 Minutes France, France's leading daily freesheet in terms of circulation, has announced the acquisition by Belgian group Rossel of a 49.3% stake in its capital from the previous owner, Norway's Schibsted.

The Cornet Vincent Ségurel team advising the Rossel group on the acquisition was headed by Thomas Deschryver (associate), assisted on corporate matters by Michel Kukula-Descelers (associate). Amélie Poulain (associate) was involved with the Competition Authority procedure. Aspects of social law were handled by Hélène de Saint Germain (associate) and intellectual property issues by Jérémie Courtois (attorney).

The partnership thus created between Rossel and the Sipa-Ouest-France group, which continues to hold a 49.3% stake in 20 Minutes, is intended to consolidate the freesheet's leadership on the news market.

Sofiouest was advised by De Gaulle Fleurance: Henri Nicolas Fleurance (associate with the Structure-Corporate office) dealt with corporate and intellectual property issues and Lucie Giret (attorney with the Operations-Competition Law-Distribution office) with competition issues including notifying the Competition Authority of the transaction.

Schibsted was advised by Granrut, with Etienne Rocher (associate) and Guillaume Casal (attorney) handling the corporate and company law issues. Anne Cousin (associate) dealt with trade marks while Marie-Cécile Rameau (associate with Bredin Prat) assisted Schibsted on competition law.