French luxury goods maker LVMH announced late Monday it has signed an agreement to buy French business daily Les Echos from British company Pearson Plc, despite fierce opposition from the newspaper's staff.

To protest the deal, Les Echos journalists decided they would not put out a Tuesday edition of the newspaper, and plan to also not publish Wednesday.

Editorial staffers at Les Echos have been staunchly against the €240 million deal from the initial bid from Bernard Arnault, who controls LVMH and is France's richest man. The journalists are concerned the daily will be unable to keep its editorial independence when it becomes part of the world's largest luxury goods company.

The journalists' union, the SDJ, has protested the buyout several times, and said in a statement staffers are furious over the announced acquisition.

“They will therefore protest again against this sale towards which they have always been hostile. They are also scandalized by this announcement that was sneaked out when most workers at Les Echos had gone home,” the union said, according to Reuters.

LVMH stated in the agreement that measures will be set in place to keep editorial independence for Les Echos.

“This acquisition should be finalized between now and the end of the year,” LVMH said in a statement, according to Reuters.

Arnault has said that once the sale is finalised, he will look to sell his other financial daily, La Tribune, MediaGuardian reported.