Makassar, a book distributor based in Paris, was placed in judicial liquidation on September 1, 2026, after experiencing severe financial difficulties. This has forced many of its partner publishers to find new distribution partners, with several already having made the switch. A major challenge remains: the recovery of hundreds of thousands of books still stored in a warehouse in Indre-et-Loire. These books were part of Makassar’s distribution and storage operations, which included managing inventory, packaging, shipping, handling returns, billing booksellers, and reimbursing publishers. Makassar had stored some of its books in a warehouse in Paris and the rest with an external provider, the Société Génilloise d'Entrepôt (SGE), based in Genillé, Indre-et-Loire, which is managed by Charles-Henry d'Ocagne. While the transfer of books from the Paris warehouse had been gradually implemented, the removal of books from the SGE warehouse proved more complicated. In early August, Vincent Dodivers, co-founder of Makassar, informed publishers that the situation remained stuck at the SGE despite multiple attempts to negotiate. The SGE has requested payment before returning the books, citing costs related to storage, inventory management, and return logistics. The SGE referred to article 1948 of the French Civil Code, which allows a custodian to retain goods until payment is made for services rendered. However, the storage contract between Makassar and the SGE places the responsibility for covering these costs on Makassar, as outlined in article 1947 of the Civil Code, which states that the person who deposits an item must reimburse the custodian for necessary preservation costs. Charles-Henry d'Ocagne of the SGE emphasized that there was no conflict with the publishers and that books were being returned daily, according to the rates set by editorial councils and previously used by Makassar. However, the liquidation on September 1 changed the situation, and disagreements have arisen over the costs and methods of returning the books. Estimates suggest that between 24,000 and 120,000 books remain in the SGE warehouse. The Paris Economic Activities Court officially initiated the judicial liquidation of Makassar on September 1, setting the date for the cessation of payments to July 24. The company’s operations can continue until November 1. Me Lou Fléchard from the SCP CBF Associés was appointed as judicial administrator, and Me Frédérique Lévy from MJA was appointed as judicial liquidator. Vincent Dodivers expressed concern over losing control of the situation, noting that the outcome would depend on the actions of the appointed administrator. The collapse of Makassar has also left many publishers unpaid for books that have already been sold. Normally, the distributor bills bookstores, collects payments, and then forwards the appropriate share to the publishers. With Makassar unable to pay, these outstanding amounts have become claims in the liquidation process. Bliss estimated initial losses of around 40,000 euros, later revised to about 34,000 euros. Other publishers, such as Les Éditions sociales and La Dispute, reported losses exceeding 130,000 euros, a significant portion of their annual turnover. Despite these financial losses, some publishers acknowledged the efforts of Makassar’s team during this period. Vincent Dodivers had worked to propose alternative distribution solutions to publishers and assist in the transition before the liquidation. However, the company had been struggling financially for years, with a net loss of 752,000 euros in 2023 and 737,000 euros in 2024. The 2024 financial report also highlighted challenges in recovering a debt of over 1.3 million euros from one of Makassar’s major clients. In the summer of 2024, Makassar faced additional challenges when a cyberattack on Octave, the software used by several distributors to manage orders, billing, and inventory, disrupted operations for nearly three months. This led to delayed returns and accounting problems. Some bookstores reduced their orders or stopped working with Makassar, citing the need for more professional distribution practices. Vincent Dodivers acknowledged that the market had become more competitive, and the struggles of bookstores, particularly larger accounts, contributed to Makassar’s decline. The slowdown in the book market was evident in 2025, with a drop in sales and turnover for French publishers, which worsened in 2026, leading to restructurings and closures at major retailers like Gibert and Nosoli.