UraMin Why Anne Lauvergeon, former boss of Areva, is under investigation – The Obs

After an interrogation that lasted nearly 12 hours on Friday, the former boss of Areva Anne Lauvergeon was indicted for presentation and publication of inaccurate accounts and spreading false information in the investigation into the shadows surrounding the takeover of UraMin in 2007.

to the offense of abuse of power “Atomic Anne” was also placed under assisted witness status, less unfavorable.

to diversify the supply of uranium to Areva, Anne Lauvergeon had decided in 2006 to buy the mining group UraMin. The redemption will prove to be a money pit, especially due to the fact that the coveted deposits by Canadian company (in Namibia, Central African Republic and South Africa) have subsequently proved unusable.

Anne Lauvergeon, the fall of an icon

Two judicial information

Two criminal investigations are opened in this business since 2014

• one is on the disastrous takeover Uramin 1.8 billion;
• another presentation of accounts of the Areva group in 2010 and 2011, previous years are covered by the prescription.

in the first survey, her husband Olivier Fric , suspected of having speculated on the title of Uramin at redemption by taking advantage of inside information, and having drawn nearly 300,000 euros of profit, was indicted for insider trading on 23 March.

It is in the second survey Anne Lauvergeon was extensively heard Friday by investigating judges Renaud Van Ruymbeke, Claire and Charlotte Thépaut Bilger.

A fiasco to keep hidden?

in practice, the examining magistrates are looking into whether the former boss lobbied to minimize provisions for impairment of assets in the accounts of the group, in order to delay the discovery of the collapse in the value of UraMin. Clearly, to hide the fiasco UraMin to stay at the head of Areva, which it was finally rejected in June 2011. In late 2011, it was his successor at the head of the group that finally announced heavy losses and a provision of € 1.5 billion on the value of UraMin.

in his denunciation to justice, early 2014, the Court of Auditors estimated that items had been hidden in the supervisory board and the supervisory authorities representing the State, the main shareholder of Areva.

“maneuvers contrary to the interests of Areva and has generated considerable losses for group “that” were intended to allow Anne Lauvergeon of trying to stay ahead of the group “, fell within the financial magistrates in the report, which AFP has learned.

Scandal UraMin: the mail that says it all

Among the losses UraMin, the Fukushima disaster and other challenges such as the construction of an EPR in Finland, Areva ended up in the red in 2015 for the fifth consecutive year. The group will benefit from a massive bailout of EUR 5 billion of the French State, but it will cut 6,000 jobs worldwide, including 3,000 to 4,000 in France.

A.R. (With AFP)