French print publisher takes online plunge

Traditional French publishing house Bayard Press has made its first foray into the internet world with technology giant Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux.

The two groups are set to launch BayardWeb before the end of next spring. The site will offer access to more than 100 French and foreign titles and aims to attract 300,000 subscribers by 2005. Bayard, known in France for paper-based titles such as Panorama, Notre Temps and Bel Age, is to invest E15m (£9.1m) in a 50/50 venture with Suez, which will invest the same.