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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Unavoidable. Both right and left, it is fashionable for a Prime Minister to consult the National Federation of Farmers' Unions (FNSEA) before appointing or the Minister of Agriculture. The first president of the French farmers' union, did not hide it. "It seems normal to me, democracy is a living thing," argues Xavier Beulin.

FNSEA three priorities. The first: the jurisdiction of the future minister. It should be expanded to include the food industry, hitherto in the lap of Bercy. "We can not isolate the production issues of value and foreign trade," explains Xavier Beulin. The request was consonant with that of the manufacturers themselves: "The first industry of the country will she finally be taken into account in the new government, beyond the simple farming?", Mused at the end of Last week on Twitter Jean-Rene Buisson, president of Ania, their trade association.

Second priority for the leader of the FNSEA: international. "We need the new minister has a good knowledge of international circuits and especially Europe. 2013 will be a turning point for the common agricultural policy. Many countries expect the French position on this matter. "

Third major point: the capacity for dialogue. "We had in the past ministers entered the office without special knowledge of agriculture, as the outgoing Minister Bruno Le Maire, says Xavier Beulin no faxing pay day loans. He soon learned his style and printed. What seems important is the quality of relationships that we can eat, especially on the environmental record. "

Le Foll holds the rope

Among the names floating around, both have the favor of the FNSEA. "For years we are talking to a number of interlocutors of the PS as Stéphane Le Foll who knows agricultural topics. MEP, he knows how the Commission, Parliament and how to develop the European decision, "Xavier Beulin advance. "We also have the French Parliament out of the speakers as the member of Dordogne, Germinal Peiro, spokesman for SP agricultural issues and rurality. We meet regularly, "says the boss of the FNSEA, with less effusive.

Still, the FNSEA does not seem intrusive vis-à-vis Matignon. "The subject is not the person but what we can build together, concludes Xavier Beulin. We will be loyal and responsible partners. The interest of France through a strong agriculture, agri-food sectors and strong agricultural equipment, a training system and powerful search. "

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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.

]]> http://chestnutchurch.org/a-stone-in-the-garden-of-jamie-dimon/feed/ 0 http://chestnutchurch.org/companies-are-seeking-1-6-million-employees/ http://chestnutchurch.org/companies-are-seeking-1-6-million-employees/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 12:32:10 +0000 admin http://chestnutchurch.org/companies-are-seeking-1-6-million-employees/  

The companies plan to hire a few more in 2012 than last year. The annual "Labor Needs" published by the employment center on Thursday reported 1,608,700 recruitment projects in the year, up 4.3% compared to 2011 (1.1% in , 2011). According to this annual survey, 17.7% of companies plan to hire in 2012, against 18% in 2011 and 19.7% in 2010. In total, 415,800 employers could recruit in 2012, against 428,400 in 2011.

Among the most dynamic sectors, agriculture and food industry are leading with a propensity to recruit 20.2%, to services (19%), manufacturing (18.4%), construction (15.5%) and trade (14.1%). In total, the service activities focus 65% of recruitment needs. As in 2011, it's hotels and restaurants, with 14% of projects (one point), which is the first pool of recruits.

Unskilled labor sought

Another finding of employment center, "several jobs in the agricultural sector (growers, arborists employees) remain among the most sought after (by volume), but with a very strong seasonality", totaling 87,054 recruitment projects.

The study also reports that "36% of workforce needs are related to seasonal work, against 39% last year." With regard to potential recruiters institutions, 49 cash advance no faxing.7% of them propose a CDI and a CDD 37.9% under 6 months.

Employers are nevertheless reported difficulties in recruiting in 43% of cases, up 5 points compared to 2011. A total of 684,600 potential jobs could be affected. The top 15 most wanted jobs, jobs topped the list for most low level of qualification such as servers, carers or harvesters in agriculture.

Still a shortage of software engineers

Computer engineers, however, fall in 10th position with 62.3% of recruitment projects considered difficult. To explain the failure to find the gem, businesses cite inadequate profiles for the posts, a shortage of candidates or difficulties related to working conditions and a poor image of the company, sector or station. Loads are too high or the lack of recruitment subsidies being mentioned by only 1.2% of potential recruiters.

About 1.6 million establishments (except State civil service) were were approached in late 2011. Employment center has received 390,000 responses by mail and investigated further by additional telephone survey of 19,000 representative establishments.

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It is a blow to Angela Merkel. German Chancellor has lost Sunday night for its closest ally to win against its European partners in managing the crisis of the euro. The defeat of Nicolas Sarkozy, she has supported all the way, is also a bit his. However, his political career attests: Merkel is good at adapting to new realities. It's been several weeks since his team is preparing for a possible victory of Francois Hollande. The Socialist no longer afraid to Berlin. His first phone call on Sunday night was to be for the Chancellor.

Francois Hollande was pretty irritated the Germans during his campaign by promising not to ratify the treaty in the state of budgetary discipline. The Socialist candidate would include a component of measures to support growth, including on the funding at European level of environmental or industrial projects. Merkel replied curtly that there would be no renegotiation of the text, regarded in Berlin as the culmination of his vision of a Europe steeped in the "stability culture" Germanic. Before making a small step towards Holland stating that the EU was preparing a "growth agenda" for the top end of June

Holland, who said he wanted to be part of the Franco-German tradition by making his first trip across the Rhine, is expected in Berlin this weekend or early next week, following his inauguration. It is expected to meet informally with the Chancellor of how to amend the treaty. Merkel wants to prevent the initiatives to support growth would delay its ratification. To circumvent the risk of isolation, she has already joined the Italian Mario Monti. And it seeks to gather around their tandem a significant number of twenty-five countries signed the treaty to ratify the text without waiting for France.

Berlin wants to believe qu'Hollande will find a "pragmatic solution", according to a memorandum of discussions between the team of the socialist candidate and German diplomats, quoted by the media across the Rhine. "Holland and his team want to be part of the continuity of the Franco-German working for Europe," said the note. For several weeks, Michel Sapin, author of the economic project of Holland, and Jean-Louis Bianco try to reassure the Chancellor through contacts with his closest advisers. On both sides of the Rhine, we want defuse "hiccups" that perfect storm of the euro, would be immediately punished by the markets.

Of "painful truths"

Merkel's entourage insisted on the red lines of the Chancellor. The introduction of Eurobonds is still a taboo in Berlin. As a stimulus to growth by an extensive program of public spending. Germany believes that its model of structural reforms is the role model for Europe. And she hopes qu'Hollande be satisfied with a symbolic boost to growth. For Berlin, the Socialist candidate's campaign promises are not set in stone. And he would realize that he will announce "painful truths" to the French early in his term. Germany feared above all that the arrival in power of Holland bury any desire for reform in France. And having to wear one at arm's Europe and the single currency. Holland "judge superfluous needed economic reforms, pension and labor market, laments the Bild newspaper in an editorial. The French economy unscrews. If Holland looks away, she will continue to fall. While Germany is alone without strong partner with a big question mark next to the euro. "

Somewhat reassured by his contacts with the Dutch team, led by Berlin is one hope: that economic realities and uncompromising market pressure will convince the French Socialist turning into a Social Democratic German inspired.

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Always on the lookout, Bright Food is poised to finally put one foot in Europe. The Chinese group was confirmed Thursday it had made an offer for 60% stake in British Weetabix, now owned by Lion Capital. The London private equity funds would retain control of 40% of the group, famous for its breakfast cereals. Bright offers itself as a brand and a story. Founded eighty years ago, "Weetabix has an excellent product portfolio, starting with the famous brand Weetabix, but also more upscale brands like (muesli) Alpen," said Wang Zongnan, president of Bright Food . The group promises to its target development in Asia and China.

The group's offer would value the Chinese company in Europe to 1.5 billion euros, according to Bright. Still subject to approval by Chinese authorities, the transaction should be finalized before the end of the year. Wang Zongnan has not hidden, in recent years, its ambition to increase its sales to nearly 18 billion euros in 2015, against 9.6 billion last year, 30% would be realized abroad. So he put on one of its upscale brands and international development.

Created in 2006 by the authorities of Shanghai in full effort of industry consolidation, Bright Food is present in milk, snacks, wine or sweets. The conglomerate, which is a shareholder of Shanghai Municipality, is virtually unknown outside its borders except for his white candy White Rabbit, the texture of fudge.

And his Chinese passport seems sometimes penalize its attempts to internationalize. In 2010, he has successively acquired the Australian sugar and CSR of United Biscuit Manufacturer – UK too – of Choco BN. He lost to a competitor Singapore for the first and threw in the towel for the second American to win the GNC, a manufacturer of nutritional supplements and other vitamins. In vain again.

Market access to China

In early 2011, Bright was a close interest in Yoplait, while seeking a buyer. His first offer was even more generous. But it is the American General Mills prevailed. Last summer, Bright is however managed to buy 75% of the Australian Manassen.

Today the rich Chinese group is continuing its efforts and hopes to interest foreigners with an attractive and access to the huge Chinese market. China has already overtaken the U.S. as the first grocery market in the world, with 737 billion euros in turnover. The steady rise in living standards and further changes in eating habits still promise a bright future for industry players in the Middle Kingdom.

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Research in Motion (RIM) launched Operation Last Chance. The Canadian group yesterday presented a prototype of the interface it wants to develop its next smartphone called BlackBerry 10, scheduled for the end of the year. Great break with previous phones brand, there will be more keyboard, the main element that differentiated the BlackBerry of its major rivals.

RIM programmers gathered in Orlando, Florida for its annual meeting and gave them the prototype of its operating system so that they begin to develop compatible applications. A specific series of video games is also being prepared by the publisher Gameloft.

The group, which saw sales of its BlackBerry decline from 25% last quarter, hopes its new interface will help him return to the market to compete with the leaders, Apple – former direct rival of RIM today ahead – and Samsung phones side, and operating systems, Apple and Google holding 80% market share.

The new RIM will also be used by the tablet group, Playbook, whose sales have failed to take off since its launch. Models include the keyboard will continue, also, to be produced.

The announcement of the Canadian group has in any case, not to enthusiastic markets. The action of RIM fell 5% on Tuesday afternoon in Toronto.

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