The bid for the title, which currently belongs to U.K. media group and Financial Times owner Pearson, tops an earlier 240 million euro offer from the world's largest luxury goods group LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, headed by billionaire Bernard Arnault.

Fimalac's offer guarantees the newspaper's editorial independence and promises to keep all employees. The newspaper's editorial voted in a meeting Thursday to unanimously support the bid.

According to the proposed terms, Fimalac, which owns the Fitch ratings agency, would recommend which managing editor would be appointed with the approval of 55 percent of the newspaper's journalists at minimum.

However, Pearson officials have said they are still in talks with LVMH.