Seen as a pioneer and major player in urban communication, the JCDecaux Group was selected as the winner by ASMEP, Lombard Odier, and the French Chapter of the Family Business Network. The deciding factors for the Jury were the firm’s capacity for innovation and incorporation of environmental considerations in its business development.

JCDecaux is the winner of the Grand Prix de l’Entreprise Patrimoniale et Familiale 2009
(Grand Prix for owner-managed and family businesses), which enjoys the patronage of
Gérard Larcher, President of the Senate. Representatives of the Group’s senior management received the Grand Prix trophy on Wednesday, March 25 in Paris.

The Award, which was devised in 2001 by ASMEP (the association of medium-sized
owner-managed companies) and Lombard Odier, a family business of private bankers
since 1796, aims to promote the image, values, and significance of French owner-managed businesses. It is open to companies with a turnover of more than EUR 15 million; their managers must also be major shareholders.

JCDecaux Group, winner of the 2009 Award, meets this definition. Its Board of Directors is chaired by the two eldest sons of Jean-Claude Decaux, who started the company and is now Chairman of the Supervisory Board. The family is still the majority shareholder in the Group, which has a turnover of EUR 2,106.6 million and 8,900 staff in 54 countries. Over and above these factors, the Jury’s decision was largely driven by the desire to reward excellence. "We were looking for an owner-managed company with a long-term vision for governance and human ressources combined with a real corporate philosophy and global perspective. We seek to recognize a company which stands by its values, which is more important than ever in the current crisis", stressed Thierry Lombard, Vice President of the Jury, at the presentation of the Grand Prix 2009.

Since its creation in 1964, the JCDecaux Group has based its success on international
development and innovation, its fundamental growth driver. From its automatic public lavatories (1980) to its multi-service information columns (1992), the founder of the concept of street furniture advertising has consistently positioned itself at the cutting edge of the industry. It has distinguished itself more recently through the success of its self-service bicycle concept launched in 2002, which meets the practical needs of urban mobility and thinking engaged by the community about sustainable development.

This year’s list of prize winners represents yet another chapter in the "visitors’ book" of
companies numbering among the very best in terms of both performance and respect for social and enviromental concerns. Striking this balance is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges facing businesses in the 21st century.

Brief presentation of the prize winners