Investigation opened after searches at Duralex in receivership

Several searches took place at the beginning of September at the headquarters of the Duralex glassworks, in receivership, and an investigation was opened, AFP learned on Tuesday from the prosecution, which did not wish to give further details. “An investigation has been opened” by the Orléans public prosecutor's office, said public prosecutor Emmanuelle Bochenek-Puren, without specifying the leader(s) retained. She declared that “judicial operations” had been carried out at the beginning of September, in particular “searches”, including some at the headquarters of the glassworks in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin (Loiret), in the suburbs of Orléans.

Famous for its glasses deemed unbreakable and made in France, Duralex, taken over by its employees as a cooperative in 2024, was placed in receivership on June 1, the fifth procedure of this type in just over twenty years. The brand had managed to raise around 7 million euros as part of a fundraising campaign from French individuals, a sum intended to ensure the continuation of its recovery.

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A source close to the matter described to AFP “major failings in the management” of the company by its employees, while wondering “what happened to the phenomenal sums” collected by the company. The former general director of the glassworks, François Marciano, emblematic figure of the takeover into a cooperative and participatory company (Scop), as well as his son Antoine, whom he had appointed financial director, could in particular be targeted by the procedure.

Questioned by AFP, their lawyer, Me Pierre Lalanne, indicated that the investigation had a “general” scope, refusing to comment further for the moment. In mid-April, François Marciano was replaced by Peggy Sadier, who until then held the position of marketing and sales director. According to the company's CGT, he was “laid off” just like his son Antoine.

“The exits of François and Antoine Marciano are dismissals for serious misconduct, particularly brutal and which are not based on any tangible element,” Me Lalanne estimated at the beginning of June. Three candidates are in the running to take over the company with 243 employees. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday at the Orléans commercial court to decide on the timetable for examining the offers.