Mandriva has been faced with a mounting financial challenge for several years due in part to its size and lack of a clear publishing strategy.

Mandriva plays a critical role in the Paris Saclay innovative ecosystem centred on the Pole System@tic Paris Region and Cap Digital. The company is involved in a dozen R&D projects in partnership with some 60 research and industrial laboratories working on themes such as the semantic desktop, Linux Real Time distribution, shared infrastructures or cloud computing.

This is the reason a group of entrepreneurs, associated with the founding investor, have come out with a plan to relaunch the company. "Mandriva finds itself at the heart of a European assembly of Open Source software players: IF Research (France), parent company of the publisher Wallix; Lightapp (UK), and Pingwin Soft (Russia's Open Source leader)," says company statement. "At the heart of this strategy, Mandriva Linux will be distributed exclusively by a sales and integrated IT network, as well through an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) in the EMEA (European and Middle East) and BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) zones."

"Mandriva possesses in its DNA all the requisites of an Open Source world leader. A community of 3.5 million users, a leading position in the BRIC zone, and prestigious clients in both the public sector and major business," stressed Jean-Noël de Galzain, President of IF Research. "We are going to focus on the company management and promoting a new, dynamic commercial activity based on innovative products offered on a new distribution network."

"By bringing together IF Research and Mandriva, two highly complementary units, Mandriva will be able to strengthen its strategic position," explained Mandriva CEO Arnaud Laprévote.

A professional offer aimed at the major business markets (Education, Industry, Services, Retail) will meet the demands of clients seeking alternative and economic options in the field of heterogenous IT systems management. This offer will be unveiled in the second half of 2010.

In the meantime, and in the short term, Mandriva has begun a drastic programme of structural cost-cutting as well as raising funds to redress the financial balance and assure the long-term future of the company. Negotiations are undrerway with new investors who will be presented at the company's next general board meeting.

Mandriva has already welcomed two new board members - Jean-Noël de Galzain, President of IF Research and Wallix, Vice-President PME of Pôle System@tic Paris Région, and Bertrand Glineur, formerly DSI of Crédit Foncier de France, and member of the GCE business board. Their goal is to help the management team set up by Mandriva CEO Arnaud Laprévote to complete the restructuring and implement the new strategy which will be revealed in detail at Mandriva's next Board Meeting.

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