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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.

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For the first time since 1995, the protection of personal data of European citizens is being reformed. This is normal. In seventeen years, the Internet and social networks have radically changed behaviors and risks: identity theft, fraud, misuse of information posted, collecting information without the consent of the internet, etc … January 25, Viviane Reding, Vice President of the European Commission presented its draft European regulation, in a document of 134 pages. The text should come into force in two years in each member country of the Union.

While the CNIL (Commission Nationale Informatique and freedoms) recognizes "substantial progress", particularly by establishing a "right to oblivion" for digital users and creating "a power of sanctions," up until to 2% of worldwide turnover and € 1 million fines on companies, several points are criticized. Reportedly, the CNIL's remarks will be taken over by all supervisory authorities in Europe, gathered in the "Group of 29" European CNIL. Or Friday, no later than Monday, April 2, this group will be concerned about the "bureaucratic risk" introduced by the draft EU regulation. Indeed, a private company may, according to the draft regulations, elect one principal in Europe, and conform to all its European subsidiaries to the rules of this country's data protection. In case of dispute, the issue will be examined by the CNIL's chosen country payday advance. The risk is high that the French CNIL, for example, becomes a single mailbox. And it's "particularly concerned about the risk of estrangement between citizens and their national authorities."

"The notion of principal is criticized, including by U.S. companies. General Electric, for example, does not have the same commitment to a European country as Facebook or Google, "says one expert. In fact, the same day as the release of the draft EU regulation, Google announced it had chosen "as the principal place of Ireland" and announced a new rule for "confidentiality", in force since March 1. But these provisions were strongly criticized by the CNIL, on behalf of all European CNIL, and March 19, a detailed questionnaire was sent to Google.

Meanwhile, cooperation between the supervisory authorities of all member countries of the European Union is considered, failing to create a single European CNIL. CNIL tricolor is already strong in his criticism by the French government and parliament.

In June the European Council of Ministers should review the draft EU regulation, which would be amended in the direction of greater cooperation between the supervisory authorities of each European country.

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And if the MBA was also a way for women to break the glass ceiling that still separates them from the highest leadership positions? This is certainly what some have program managers, for which women and men have access to essentially the same functions and to pay out of the MBA. However, these formations are still far from parity show.

"An MBA is between 23 and 35 years, staff in terms of timing may be more complicated for women than for men. They have perhaps more confidence in risk-taking than their female colleagues, "said Caroline Diarte-Edwards, director of admissions at Insead.

More exposure

Still, promotions tend to feminize more. Many have now surpassed the 30%. Their recipe? "A program midway between competition and cooperation, in which our participants say they feel comfortable," suggests Bernard Garrette HEC. Professional networks of women in the alumni associations have also developed, giving them more visibility.

ESCP Europe, Audencia, EM Lyon announce fellowships dedicated to women for the next school year. "The financial aspect is not longer a barrier for women than for men, but by creating a scholarship, we are sending a message to women that we can support them in their career," says Chantal Poty, in charge of the Executive MBA from the Lyons school.

Emmanuella Renac, participant in the Executive MBA from ESC Rennes

Within weeks, Emmanuella Renac deliver his memory, a step that will sign the end of his Executive MBA, started 20 months earlier paydayloan. With the relief of having completed training "demanding, very involved, during which we soon learn to sleep less, to better organize and optimize their time." But also the satisfaction of having learned everything she had come to seek. After 10 years of experience in purchasing and product marketing of electronic components, it feels the need to broaden its horizons, discover new work environments and meet new people.

"He holds a university degree, the MBA has an international recognition that seemed interesting. It was also a process for a senior position because as a woman, you must demonstrate more things a man, "she says. Surprisingly, she discovers the only French woman of her class and encourages her peers to engage in an MBA. Training for which it has borne fruit. Supported by his chief and his HR, although the company did not fund the training, Emmanuella Renac wins quickly after the start of training a sales manager position. "Follow the MBA gave me a status in the eyes of superiors who had an MBA and became interested in my studies. Everyday, I was also entrusted with new missions, in judging me capable of carrying them out ", says she.

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BNP Paribas has limited the damage last year. Despite the crisis of the euro, which hit the banking sector especially during the second half of the year, the French group reached 6 billion euros in profit in 2011, down only 22.9%. It's better than expected by the market.

This figure covers two very contrasting. On the one hand, the retail place performance. Over the full year, this activity reached 5.9 billion euros'' profit before tax, of which nearly $ 2 billion in France (12%). the fourth quarter alone. Networks alone will clear almost all of the taxable profit of the group: 1.2 billion on 1.3 billion.

On the other hand, the sovereign debt crisis weighed heavily on the bank. A pressure that is exerted on the first banking business and investment banking. The division will have realized that 6 million profit last quarter, although this remains more than adequate compared to the losses recorded by many major European banks that have already published their accounts.

Especially, BNP Paribas will found in 2011 more than 4 billion euros in losses on its portfolio of European government debt: $ 3.2 billion on Greece, whose value was reduced by 75% in the perspective plan restructuring being finalized at the European level, plus 872 million of realized losses on the sale of government securities. Since the summer, BNP Paribas has significantly reduced its exposure to sovereign debt. She also collected 148 million of losses on loans it has sold to lighten its balance sheet.

With 6 billion profit in 2011, BNP Paribas is expected to maintain its lead over its competitors. Credit Agricole SA announced in December that he would complete the year in the red after a cleaning operation of its balance sheets. Societe Generale – which will publish its Thursday tomorrow – has warned it would not distribute any dividend.

In this regard, BNP Paribas says it will affect a quarter of its distributable income to the payment of a dividend payable in cash or shares. The bank says in effect have already exceeded the target of 9% capital adequacy set by the authorities in the whole industry in Europe.

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Committee for the Six Nations, the puzzle of the new date of the France-Ireland postponed last Saturday, should be completed tonight. This is not the case of French Rugby Federation (FFR), she also faces the unpleasant consequences of the postponement at the last minute of the match on the second day of the Six Nations tournament.

And for good reason: about 78,000 spectators, with the majority of them paid for their seats, were present in the stands Saturday night. In addition to travel expenses and accommodation, went up in smoke, they had paid to enter the Stade de France between 36 and 110 euros for the major shows of European rugby. "The general conditions of sale do not provide reimbursement for these tickets, it says in the FFR. However, the different parts (FFR, insurance, Consortium Stade de France …) studying the subject and the possibility of compensating the injured fans the most. " If the hypothesis of simple reimbursement of tickets for spectators unable to return seemed logical at first glance, it is not acquired at all.

Necessarily financial compensation pa

If the game is postponed from this Sunday, it will be difficult for the FFR, lack of time to fill the shortfall by the potential resale of tickets redeemed. In the event that the Committee of Six Nations would choose the date of March 3, the leeway to the FFR to re-market these tickets would be wider … and could therefore support the decision of any reimbursement, in whole or part , tickets. The Federation also confirms that no final decision will be taken before choosing the new date, but an official communication will be made on the site of the FFR, when setting the terms of any repayment online payday loans. It also emphasizes the study of "compensation, not necessarily financial supporters the most affected." In case of default, there are still more likely that the fans away from Paris trying to resell their tickets on the black market.

A weekend in 1000 euros for two

In addition to sporting disappointment, the financial damage is also for fans of rugby. Mainly for the fans from the south-west, but especially Ireland. For the latter, the cost of the weekend in Paris often resort to over 1000 euros for two people.

Another player injured by this fiasco: France Televisions. Often questioned, as her sisters, to put pressure on the maintenance of programming events to large audiences, the public broadcaster said, however, have fought to advance the game in 15 hours. Without success. Cost of operation: 130,000 euros, according to Daniel Bilalian, sports director of France Televisions.

Finally, in the Stade de France, the loss is more difficult to assess. According to the task, the final match between France and Italy on February 4 was generated € 1.5 million profit, and a recipe for 300,000 euros for the FFR. The France-Ireland being postponed, not canceled, the loss on the sale of products, beverages and other sandwiches should be controlled.

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The U.S. stock markets have opened slightly lower Monday. In early trade, the Dow Jones ceded 0.17% to 12,132.64 points and the Nasdaq 0.23% to 2672.49 points. On Friday, the New York Stock Exchange ended in the green, driven by the hope of breakthroughs on the front of the crisis in the eurozone.

The events in Europe during the weekend still seem to dictate the evolution of Wall Street. Since the appointment of Lucas Papademos, former European Central Bank, to head the new Greek government was followed by that of the former European Commissioner Mario Monti as the new prime minister in Italy last night.

As to give grist to G20 ministers meet farm late Friday morning in Cannes, the FAO food price index released yesterday registered a sharp decline after months of increases. It stood at 216 points in October, its lowest level in 11 months. "Prices nevertheless remained generally higher than last year and remain very volatile," says to FAO, the UN Food and Agriculture.

The fight against price volatility in agricultural commodities is precisely the heart of the priorities that the ministers of agriculture have taken in June in Paris during the holding of a special agricultural G20. These will draw Friday a first assessment of this work."The challenge for leaders is to find ways to constrain the natural volatility of the courses without mask or minimize the aggravating factors which tend to look the part of financial markets," said Didier Rousseau, expert industry the agri-food consulting firm Weave Same day payday loans. Volatility can be explained according to the expert by "the increase in global food demand, the emergence of biofuels or the occurrence of weather-related disasters."

The five commitments that will be discussed and reviewed at the G20 agricultural Cannes

• Establishing information system on agricultural markets (AMIS). Hosted by the FAO global database that aims to improve transparency and information on agricultural markets of four major crops for food security (wheat, rice, corn, soy).

After resisting the morning, the Paris index has increased its losses Tuesday mid-day, finishing down 1.43% to 3174.29 points. Parisian investors have expressed a wait-and very excited at the eve of an EU summit in crisis considered major. Sign of a strong wait-and trading volumes did not exceed 2.6 billion euros. Some profit taking after two sessions of strong gains also came influencing the trend. Less marked decline elsewhere in Europe, where the German Dax has limited its losses to 0.14% at 6045 points and the FTSE in London 0.41% to 5525.54 points.

Immersed for weeks in a deep pessimism, investors had played the crisis Friday and Monday. However, the ability of European leaders to respond definitively to the debt crisis is still struggling to convince.A phenomenon that confirm the disagreements between countries in the euro area on the measures to adopt, and just wiping out the gains Monday. If the preparatory meeting of finance ministers of 27 (Ecofin) has been canceled, the leaders of the euro area, however, continue to negotiate before the meeting tomorrow Wednesday of Heads of State and Government (first of 27 and 17 of the the euro area).

At the heart of the discussions: the recapitalization of banks, the amount of the discount of the Greek debt, and strengthening the European bailout fund (EFSF). According to one diplomatic source, the representatives of the banks would like to limit the discount to 40% volunteered to stabilize the Greek debt, against 50 to 60% required by the euro area.Moreover, concerns about the Italian situation is escalated, as Silvio Berlusconi may have trouble getting the promised reforms the last weekend to reduce the debt of his country payday advance. The Prime Minister pledged to push trans to 67 years of age retirement.

Diving morale of U.S. households

In this context, mixed economic data revealed the Atlantic have increased pessimism. Stabilization of U.S. house prices in August, according to the Case Shiller index, and the unexpected plunge in the morale of U.S. households in October, have reinforced doubts about the health of the world's largest economy.

By sector, banks are logically the most attacked, BNP Paribas, lost 3.75% to 30.80, Societe Generale fell back to 3.80%, to 19 euros. Axa was down 1.76% to 10.90 euros.François Fillon, French Prime Minister confirmed that the banks of the Hexagon should recapitalize to the tune of "ten billion euros."

In contrast, cyclical stocks including oil services, were well oriented, supported by oil prices that reached a high for about three months. Maurel & Prom has awarded 2.86% to 14.90 euros and CGG Veritas was up 1.21% to 16.73 euros.

Also against the current, and two days before unveiling its sales for the third quarter, the title of Plastic Omnium has continued to rise (3.35%, to 20.76 euros) having already jumped more than 10% two sessions. Finally, on the eve of the announcement of its quarterly revenue, PPR has taken the lead in the CAC 40 with a gain of 3.84% to 111 euros.

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Lefigaro.fr – messaging has it become a stress factor?

François Fatoux – Yes, definitely. The study we just completed, 38% of users receive over 100 emails per day. With the massive use of email, employees are saturated with information, most often to treat in an emergency. Because the immediacy of information has sometimes a perverse consequence: we are given less time for reflection. Faced with the constant flow, it is not uncommon that the employee feels outdated, it has the feeling of doing wrong. A situation even more difficult to live as e isolates, by discouraging physical conversations.

There are, as a result of addiction to e-mails, as measured by the researchers, maintains that stress.65% of users say they check email every hour, but actually do every five minutes! And smartphones, which allow employees to access their e-mails anywhere, increasing still potentially stressful situations. Have a blackberry was once a privilege to lead. It has become the door open to requests cascade.

Finally, the electronic mail increases, or harm their productivity?

It is very difficult to make a full and final conclusion. The mails are also many beneficial effects on work organization. In reality, everything depends on how a company and its employees use it. Very different practices coexist. All managers not only send such emails in 23 hours. But it is true that this is a very time consuming activity.More than half of the users spend more than two hours daily to manage their mailbox freecreditscore. The stress is relentless. When we know that an employee is 64 seconds to regain his train of thought after receiving an email, we have a sense of loss of concentration occasioned by email.

Another of his perverse priorities is to disrupt. The urgency tends to take the place of hierarchy. The employees work is undeniable, but spend more time on tasks accessories. Productivity is affected.

How to fight against these negative effects?

It is important for companies to seize this issue and are considering the use it makes their mesagerie mail. Should we encourage the use of mails to professionals outside the office? Should we require employees to respond instantly? The rules must be defined.

As for employees, a few simple rules can help minimize these adverse effects. Set the parameters so that every email that arrives is not reported, for example. Or take the time to reflect before answering. Or consider before each shipment: would it be more effective to pick up the phone? Is it necessary to put this or that person a copy? In terms of dependence on the tool, the answer seems to me, however, not individual but collective. Is to leaders to lead by example.

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