FDJ United and PMU report about 150 retail outlets damaged in French protests

About 100 outlets connected to FDJ United and 50 partner outlets of PMU suffered damage or vandalism during the protests in France on 17 and 18 October, according to operator figures. FDJ United finance chief Dan Lévy gave the first estimate for the group during the presentation of its financial results, confirming that about 100 outlets in its network were involved in the incidents over the weekend.

Lévy said he wanted first to restate the group's solidarity with the outlets affected in France, and said that despite the difficulties faced by individual operators the events had no significant effect on the group's activity overall. He recalled that in previous unrest the number of outlets involved had been higher and that business had resumed within relatively short times. FDJ United distributes lottery products and collects sports bets under the Parions Sport brand through a network of tobacconists, bars and newsagents in France.

PMU, which specialises in horse-race betting, also confirmed damage to its retail network. In a communication issued on 19 October, Sylvain Dominé, the company's director of commercial networks, reported that 50 partner outlets were damaged or affected by vandalism. Dominé condemned the incidents and restated the operator's support for the operators involved. PMU said its regional structures had been mobilised to assist partners with the operations needed to resume activity.

The report did not specify in which cities all the affected outlets are located, and it could not be excluded that some outlets appear in both counts, given that some businesses may distribute products from more than one operator. The demonstrations of 17 October, initially linked to protests against the cost of living and the deterioration of public services, turned into incidents of violence, fires and looting in several French cities, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux.

According to an initial estimate by the French federation of commerce and distribution published on 18 October, about 1,500 businesses were directly affected by the violence, with total damage assessed in the order of several hundred million euros. The French government announced on 20 October emergency measures to support affected businesses, including employment support instruments, relief on social contribution payments and a fund dedicated to small businesses that suffered significant losses.