The house, where Serge Gainsbourg lived for more than 20 years and until his death, opened to the general public in September 2023.
Despite her success, she now finds herself in receivership, due to a disagreement between the singer’s daughter and her partner.
However, a closure of the museum seems excluded at this stage.
Unpaid invoices, questionable management and disagreement between partners: Maison Gainsbourg (new window)in Paris, was placed in receivership in mid-September. However, since its opening a year ago, the singer’s legendary lair has enjoyed undeniable success and fans always come in numbers.
September 20, 2023, the legendary lair of Serge Gainsbourg (new window)at 5bis rue de Verneuil, in the 7th arrondissement of the capital, opened its doors to the public. An achievement for his daughter Charlotte, owner of the place inside which has remained intact, where her father lived for 22 years, before his death in 1991. Just opposite, at number 14, there is a museum which traces the work of the artist and the Gainsbarre, piano bar. Supported by public partners and the luxury brand Saint Laurent, acclaimed by the public, Maison Gainsbourg is sold out until the end of the year.
A financial dispute between Charlotte Gainsbourg and a real estate developer
But behind this facade, its financial situation has already turned red, as revealed by the media L’Informé (new window). In cessation of payments since August 9, the operating company of the private mansion of Serge Gainsbourg and its annexes (SEHPSGA), which is piloting the project, requested a placement in receivership, recorded by the commercial court of Paris on September 18, two days before blowing out its first candle.
In March 2023, the court had already had to rule on a dispute between the two equal partners, namely Charlotte Gainsbourg and Dominique Dutreix, real estate developer via his company Coffim, also sentenced to a suspended sentence in the case. Elf. However, both had validated “a partnership agreement”in December 2019, agreeing that Charlotte would not give “no guarantee” in obtaining bank loans to carry out the development work and operating expenses of the mansion and the museum.
1.6 million euros in debt
The working capital of the SEHPSGA was to be supplied by “associate current accounts set up exclusively by Dominique Dutreix”specifies the agreement, emphasizing that it undertook to request reimbursement “when companies are profitable”. But the court notes that from 2022, “disputed withdrawals” more than 482,000 euros are made between Mr. Dutreix as president of Coffim and Mr. Dutreix manager of SEHPSGA, “without the slightest notification” and contravening the commercial code.
These non-compliant financial transactions lead to a critical situation of the accounts, marred by irregularities because they have never been approved. The company also did not benefit from the working capital necessary to launch the activity, which started without paying its suppliers and service providers: security, cleaning, trustee, electricity, accountant, etc.
The list of unpaid debts accumulates and the slate falls: the SEHPSGA, “despite bank debt of 3.5 million euros, shows a supplier debt of 1.6 million euros” approximately, counts the commercial court.
During the procedure, Dominique Dutreix contested certain debts, saying he was able to provide new bank financing. He ultimately considered that the partnership agreement lacked clarity as to the obligations of the parties. However, this document is “perfectly clear”according to the court in its order. On March 28, the judges therefore ordered the Dutreix partner to reimburse the operating company 1.5 million euros, almost the amount of the debts which led to the cessation of payments.
The closure of Maison Gainsbourg ruled out?
The Gainsbourg House (new window) will it be able to stay open? Now managed by a judicial administrator, “the company is profitable but it has accumulated old debt linked to its start-up and it cannot meet this debt in the short term”declared to AFP Me Jean Aittouares, counsel for Charlotte Gainsbourg, brushing aside any hypothesis of closure. “The revolution in this case is when Charlotte Gainsbourg realizes the sums embezzled and that creditors are not paid”he emphasizes. Contacted by AFP, Dominique Dutreix’s lawyer did not respond.
-
Read also
Now open to the public, how much does Serge Gainsbourg’s house cost?
The commercial court must now observe to what extent and by what means Maison Gainsbourg can extricate itself from this bad situation. At a hearing at the beginning of November, he will rule on maintaining the observation phase, scheduled to last six months. “There is no reason for the museum and the house to close, we remain open and we will continue to develop” through future exhibitions, assures AFP Lorraine Dauchez, founding president of Arteum, the company mandated to manage these two places.
