How French insurance group April used Maltese law to avoid 28 million euros in tax
By Yann Philippin et Sylvain Morvan (Mediacités)
Last month an investigation in which Mediapart was a partner showed how three key players in the French economy, Renault, Peugeot-Citroën and Auchan, used lax laws in Malta to reduce their tax bill in France. Now, other documents in the Malta Files investigation reveal that Groupe April, an insurance firm created by entrepreneur Bruno Rousset 30 years ago, is also using the Maltese tax loophole to avoid paying French corporate tax. Rousset has previously publicly stated that he believes his company should serve the “general interest”. Mediapart's Yann Philippin and Sylvain Morvan from investigative website Mediacités report.
Bruno Rousset, 61, is a boss with the Midas touch. He founded insurance company Groupe April 30 years ago, and now it is a major operator in the sector – quoted on the Paris Bourse, with turnover of 861 million euros in 31 countries in 2016. According to business weekly magazine Challenges, Rousset is one of the richest men in France with a net worth of 475 million euros.
