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The hosts were visibly in the starting blocks. Barely mentioned by the new Minister of Education, Vincent Peillon, a return to the week of 5 days in primary sparked an outcry from the hotel professionals.

A return to school on Saturday morning "no longer reflects the will of the French" ensures not without ulterior motives Thierry Grégoire, an official of the Union of Trade and Industry Hospitality (Umih). "The important thing is to preserve the weekend" went further Didier Chenet, president of the National Union of hotel, restaurant, bar and catering (Synhorcat).

If lifestyle is important for the French hotel industry professionals, financial concerns are not absent from their thoughts. A study by the firm Protourisme figure to 60 million per year the number of nights lost upon return to school on Saturday morning. Which is still 3 billion euros.

The hosts were on edge, not hesitating to protest the appointment of the new government Wednesday night. Didier Chenet was moved that "tourism has still not fully-fledged ministry." Sylvia Pinel is in charge of Tourism, but also of Craft and Commerce. Obviously this is not enough for industry professionals

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Rexel set sail for America. The French group announced Wednesday the acquisition of Platt Electric Supply, family owned distributor of electrical products based in Beaverton, Oregon.

When most companies focus on international emerging markets, Rexel, which is one of the first groups of distribution of electrical products in the world with a turnover of 12.7 billion euros in 2011, a presence in 37 countries and 28,000 employees, is growing into a mature country. Mature, but growing: last year, the activity of the distributor posted 8.3% growth for the North American region, which is above the group average of 5.3%. As emphasized by analysts at CM-CIC Securities, "in the portfolio of Rexel, North America is the geographical area the more focused, both in terms of sales growth as improved profitability."

Now the distributor has lost market share in recent years. Last April, Oddo Securities and stressed that "the group, by the closure of many branches in non-profitable, went for about two years of a market share of 8% to 6% today." Analysts felt that even Rexel now occupied the second rank in the U.S., behind Sonepar. They called again to an acquisition.

This is now done. Platt Electric Supply is present in seven states of the American West. The company reported last year $ 409 million in revenue (about 310 million euros) savings account payday advance. "With this transaction, Rexel will exceed 10% market share in the western U.S., where growth is greatest," said a spokesman for Rexel.

To gain this market share, the French group paid a heavy price, "about 300 million euros," said a statement from the company. "The multiple of turnover in 2011 seems a priori quite high, at nearly 1 times, but the price is probably justified by the financial performance of the company and its growth prospects," note analysts at CM-CIC Securities.

690 million of additional sales

External growth is part of Rexel's strategy. The movement seems to have accelerated in recent months. "The group has now made nine acquisitions since the beginning of the year for a total amount that we estimate close to 500 million euros and an additional turnover of 690 million euros," says Oddo Securities. Last year, Rexel had bought 10 companies for an additional revenue of "only" 209 million euros.

Three quarters of this comes from emerging countries, proof that the distributor is not as mature areas. With a successful trial for the time being insufficient for the observers. "Rexel is not an optimal profile as its exposure to emerging markets remain close to 7% of turnover," says Oddo Securities.

Whatever the final scope of the Franco-German compromise on a European recovery plan, a point is a virtual consensus: the European Investment Bank (EIB) will be further tapped. During his campaign, Francois Hollande has repeatedly cited the institution, explaining to want to see more funding for innovative projects. Chaired by a German, Werner Hoyer, the EIB has the added advantage of being compatible with the philosophy of Berlin in public finance.

Created after the Treaty of Rome, in 1958, this arm of the European Union acts as a conventional financial institution with its shareholders – the 27 EU member states – and its own funds – 232 billion – which it serves as collateral to raise funds on the market and in return grant funds to the public sector. In other words, an appeal to the EIB does not dig, as such, deficits in the area.

Finance ministers of Twenty-Seven will meet Tuesday morning in Brussels, the Governing Council to start work on the practical modalities of strengthening the institution. An exercise stress: no question that the EIB, currently rated "AAA" by the three major agencies, lose this precious document. Where applicable, the cost of refinancing is found in heavy and interventions become less effective.

Two schemes in the study

Request more loans the EIB is therefore to provide in return the appropriate funds. Two schemes are under consideration. The first is to rely on the EU budget. The idea of ​​bringing the Commission to the capital being strongly opposed by the Member States, the solution that emerges would be to use part of European funds as collateral for loans which would then be granted by the EIB. It is this pattern that has been adopted in Greece, for example where the Bank has committed to lend up to 1 billion euros for innovative SMEs from a guarantee of 500 million EU.

The second scheme – which holds the rope – is a mere increase of the EIB's capital, financed by the 27 shareholders. The magnitude of this increase would be about 10 billion euros, which would allow the EIB to grant 60 billion of loans that can generate around 180 billion investment, thanks to the leverage caused by the co-investment from the private sector. An overall figure on which refuses to engage the side of the EIB, "everything depends on the type of investment, leverage is stronger in the context of public-private partnerships in SME lending" says an official. However, the figure of 10 billion additional capital seems to be confirmed.

The impact is not negligible for the European states. The two main shareholders of the bank, France and Germany, which each own 16.5% stake, will write a check for $ 1.65 billion. And even if it is not, strictly speaking, additional debt, the stress on budgets is important. The talks between finance ministers will continue in the coming weeks, to stop a scheme before the European Council in late June.  

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Jamie Dimon is a unique pattern in the world of finance. Sometimes called the "King of Wall Street," he seeks to understand all the various trades practiced in the banking group. 56 years old, this little-son of Greek immigrant who grew up in the borough of Queens continues to personally analyze weekly piles of numbers. His direct involvement in risk management has served throughout his career. For sooner than the others sensed the danger coming, and insisted on lending policies and investment more conservative than his rivals, he is credited with the fact that JPMorgan Chase has not experienced a single quarter in the red for the subprime crisis.

If he knows all areas of finance, is that this son of a broker was to mentor Sandy Weill, a legend on Wall Street. After graduating from Harvard Business School in 1982, Jamie Dimon declines an offer from Goldman Sachs and prefer to become assistant Sandy Weill, then at American Express. It will be at the forefront when Weill will lead an obscure finance company, Commercial Credit Company in 1986. Weill will use it to build an empire by a series of acquisitions. Primerica, Smith Barney, Salomon Brothers, where many firms Dimon has made his mark under the control of Sandy Weill.

But it will tire of the ego of his protégé in 1998. He dismisses rather than make his heir as head of Citigroup, the new and the first universal bank in the United States. Jamie Dimon immersed himself in reading, takes boxing classes in the spring of 2000 and accept the direction of Bank One in Chicago. He reorganized the large regional bank and merged with JPMorgan Chase in 2003, at a time when the giant New York is weakened, among other things related to Enron pay day loan lenders. Jamie Dimon savors revenge on Sandy Weill: it accesses the management of a large universal bank at a time when his former mentor was ousted from the leadership of "Citi".

In the first line

His smile and his habit of interrupting his interlocutors annoy many people. But Jamie Dimon is respected because it handles the best financial institution in the United States, present in all areas of finance, banded with solid capital, and often more profitable than its peers. Both internally to the press, analysts, regulators or politicians, he preaches transparency and do not hide behind circumlocutions. A relative who followed him from one bank to another for years said: "It's stronger than him, he can not help telling the truth." …… ..

While banks are unpopular and accused of all evils by senior politicians, Jamie Dimon takes a stand to defend his profession. He personally leads and the fight against re-regulation of many activities: how it will oversee consumer lending limitations taxable deposit banks that invest in the market, Jamie Dimon speaks publicly, while his colleagues let their lobbyists in the first line.

Democratic voters have always had supported Barack Obama in 2008. He preached at the time, for a pragmatic modernization of financial regulation. But the virulent rhetoric of the White House against Wall Street now seems to him unjust and angry.

Presidential in major cities Paris | Leeds | Lyons | Toulouse | Leeds | Sheffield | Liverpool | Bordeaux | Lille

The attack came on the weekend of Xavier Bertrand, in retaliation for the call to vote against Nicolas Sarkozy and make May 1st a meeting very political, with the support of the Left Front. "The CGT had better put its own house, slammed the Minister of Labour. Bernard Thibault should take care of his estate rather than the presidential election. "

Never be the next head of the CGT will have caused much turmoil. War leaders, changing the rules, slingshot on every floor … The replacement in March 2013 by Bernard Thibault turns the fratricidal struggle. And seriously concerned about the entourage of Francois Hollande, including some serious contenders at Matignon that matter – if their candidate is elected Sunday – on the support of the CGT to support future reforms. "He said that increasingly it will be complicated as the crisis is deep," says a close associate of Socialist candidate. "It is not certain that the CGT may reassemble, confirms an expert. The war of succession will leave traces for a long time. "

Persuaded by his family early on not to re-enlist for a fifth term, Bernard Thibault opened in December 2011 the race to succeed him by launching a wide consultation within the organization. Convinced that a woman should succeed him, he pushed the candidacy of two close, Nadine Prigent (54 years, patron of the Federation of Health) and Agnes Naton (50 years old, retired CEO of France Telecom and the body propaganda house). In vain. A third contender is out of the hat, an overwhelming majority: Eric Aubin (50 years, head of the federation of construction and "Mr free credit score. Retreats" of the plant).

A woman at all costs

But Bernard Thibault does not want Eric Aubin succeeded him. "His only handicap is not to be a woman," said one frame. "Thibault did not like Eric to campaign while it is traditionally out that dictates who will succeed him. He does everything to block his way as to create a serious crisis in house, "another abounds. As the current owner should indicate that April 17 was the fittest to succeed him, he changed the procedure he had established himself by pushing the May 25 – five days before the national confederal committee, " Parliament "of the CGT, not to accept one name – his preference. Until then, it will be launched Wednesday a tour of France and held nine meetings to try to impose interregional Nadine Prigent, which is unanimously against it.

"Nobody understands why he does so," says an expert in social relations. "We will not let Bernard impose a person whom does not" prevent multiple frames pro-Aubin. "In a structure like the CGT, one does not belong: it is not a candidate, we are led by organizations," said the favorite, backed by the largest federations and persuaded to be designated May 30 If this is the case, then it will have nine months to rally around him. A more difficult challenge ahead as the cement of antisarkozysme may disintegrate very quickly if Francois Hollande was elected Sunday

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"Labor Day has rarely been an apolitical day

Fears of mad cow resurface. But everything seemed to return gradually to normal. In the wake of reassuring messages issued by the United States, one of two South Korean brands, which had suspended sales of American meat, finally decided Thursday morning to end the embargo.

Moreover, no country had so far taken any restrictive measure: neither Europe nor the U.S. beef importing countries like Japan, Taiwan or Mexico. This is no longer the case. Indonesia on Thursday became the first country to suspend part of purchases of U.S. beef, after a new case of mad cow disease was discovered Tuesday in the U.S.. "We decided to stop importing the meat on the bones and offal from the United States, but imports of meat devoid of bones are kept," said AFP the Deputy Minister Indonesian Agriculture, Rusman Heriawan. He added: "The suspension starts today and we do not know how long it will last," he said, adding that deliveries were not being affected high quality business cards.

Less than a third of Indonesian imports

The U.S. Department of Agriculture had yet assured yesterday that there was no risk to consumers. The U.S. Trade Representative has called Jakarta to lift its partial ban.

U.S. meat represents only a small share of imports of meat in Indonesia, unlike those from New Zealand or Australia. In 2011, the U.S. exported 18,000 tonnes of beef and various pieces to Indonesia, amounting to some $ 28.2 million, according to the American Federation of export of meat, less than a thirds of Indonesian imports.

But the announcement could bring back some tensions especially if one importer of beef, such as Mexico, decreed an embargo. On the livestock market in Chicago, futures are up slightly from 0.13% to 112.425 dollars.

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The ras-le-bol rises among users of TGV Nantes / Angers / Le Mans / Paris. And also the response … The members of the collective defense of Subscribers Line Atlantic (Ladala) took a new step in their protest movement against the repeated delays of the station, on the line leading to the capital. The trick to reach the railway portfolio. To do this, they have not hesitated to launch a "ghost TGV" massively by booking every seat of a TGV line in question. Of seats they will not play of course. Each member buying between 5 and 10 seats, 800 seats have already been blocked, all classes, as pointed out this morning on RTL Pascal Mignot, the representative of the collective.

Reaction except the SNCF, the train should travel empty, which would result in a serious shortfall. Because the protesters are concerned subscribers, a status that gives them access to places for a mere $ 1.50. And the date chosen is not trivial since the 250 members of Ladala have set Wednesday, May 16, the eve of Ascension Day and the weekend so great starts.

Greece of tickets

This is not the first time Ladala tries to voice his displeasure. Mid-March, the group had launched a strike of tickets and passes, along with daily rallies in trains and on platforms. Faced with the continuing delays and lack of financial consequences for the SNCF, the association thus increases the pressure, also taking on its website a statement of the duration of the movement, and delays on this line quick guaranteed personal loans.

Faced with the accumulation of failures since the schedule changes in December 2011, their demands are clear: rate freeze on packages (over 500 euros per month), on-time to avoid disputes with employers, indemnity 2.5 euros per 10 minutes late, and got 150 euro for subscribers to compensate for failures of January, February and March. In total, officials estimate that the collective duration of 14 hours cumulative delays over this period.

Side of the Authority of the quality of service in transport (AQST, dependent on the Ministry of Ecology), although the figures show a surge in failures since November, with up to 30% of trains delayed . But since February, the trend seems to be improving. Apparently not enough to calm those subscribers, still wearing a badge "subscribers on strike," which also launched an online petition and sent a letter to presidential candidates. Denouncing a 18% increase in travel time on an ordinary trip to Le Mans / Paris, they have finally created a Twitter account inviting followers to list all the failures of the Atlantic line. An initiative that has been emulated the Creusot subscribers and Amiens have since joined the movement.

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Our Berlin correspondent Continuing uncertainties related to the euro crisis will not prevent the German economy to continue its momentum insolent. The five major economic research institutes across the Rhine released Thursday of predictions on the rise: they are forecasting growth of gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.9% this year, against 0.8% previously, and anticipate a accelerated growth of around 2% in 2013.

In their spring report, institutes, very famous in Germany and analyze which twice a year the country's economic health, expect a 3.1% rise in exports for 2012 and a further increase of 5.1% exports next year.

According to experts, the debt crisis, however, continue in the coming year to weigh heavily on several partners from Germany within the European Union. The measured optimism is thus based on export growth in Asia, the U.S. and in emerging countries.

Divisions on the role of the ECB

As in 2011, domestic consumption should also support strong growth. Institutes predict an increase in domestic consumption of 0.9% for the current year and 1.3% in 2013. It should rely heavily on investments in housing construction, up 2.3% in 2012 and 5% next year, according to these forecasts.

The Germans, who fear that their savings melt due to the risks of inflation in the euro area, are turning increasingly to the housing market, which has risen significantly in recent months.

Result: unemployment should continue to decline, but at a more measured pace. The number of unemployed is forecast at 2.6 million annual average for 2012. End of 2010, the number of unemployed had risen in the symbolic three million, for the first time since German reunification.

The five major German economic institutes have confessed their divisions on the role of the European Central Bank (ECB), in a report that contrasts with the usual image of a Germany grimly determined by monetary policy. They note in particular that the ECB faces a "dilemma" because governments have so far "rested on the assumption that the ECB will always take over in case of need." Some will see a rally in the implicit position of France, which advocates a more active role of the ECB.

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It is ultimately the advertising that comes out of TF1 winner of the tender conducted by Al-Jazeera Sport for its channels and Bein Bein Sport 1 Sport 2 which should emerge in the coming weeks.

The Qatari group launched its bid in March and France Televisions, Lagardère, TF1 and the Amaury group competed for the contract.

Advertising TF1 finally won just days after the distribution of matches of Euro Foot 2012 and 2016 between Al-Jazeera Sport for all games and TF1 and M6 in 19 games for free TV.

The links between the first private channel free and Qatari sports channel, inbound to the new pay-TV market, is growing.

In his bid Al Jazeera demanded a minimum guarantee, which will prove invaluable in the early months of the launch of Bein Sport 1 and 2, which have not yet many paying subscribers. 

Al-Jazeera Sport had stated aim at the target of men 25 to 49 years, a target perfectly complementary to that of the TF1 channel aimed rather housewives under 50 years. The contract is also based on a consultant's study to estimate that in France Greenwich 3 million people would be willing to take a subscription to a sports channel profile corresponding to those of the Qatari group business cards.

"Your heart beats to the rhythm of sport"

To specify the color, the paper book as the signature strings: "Your heart beats to the rhythm of the sport." Moreover, the tender would encourage candidates to consider two perimeters market. One very large if the offer of Al-Jazeera Sport is broadcast on all platforms, including CanalSat. The other narrower, if the strings are set only by ADSL operators: Bouygues Telecom, SFR, Orange Free. However, no details were given in terms of audience expected. Finally, the Qatari group wants its advertising strategy is cross-platform and affects both its channels, its website that its mobile applications.

According to one expert, advertising revenue channels Al-Jazeera should be included and remain marginal "to the maximum between 3 and 5 million euros." What suggest, according to some relatives, the management contract could be a prelude to broader alliances.