Posts Tagged ‘international’

A pass for cheaper glasses

May 22, 2012 - 10:44 am Comments Off

 

This is a realization of a long-term project that must be born earlier this week. The association Optics solidarity launches on Monday the "pass glasses." A device that is designed for people aged over 60 aid recipients in the supplemental health (ACS) and whose incomes are between 648 and 816 euros. 8,000 to 10,000 people and should soon receive a voucher to enjoy a fitness trail at cost, including consultation with the ophthalmologist, and the purchase of glasses progressive lens optician.

No low cost

"We are working on this project for three years," says Xavier Subirana, ophthalmologist and president of the Optical solidarity. He says the idea inspired by the HEC Chair "Social Businee / Enterprise and Poverty" as co-chairs Martin Hirsch has mobilized the entire industry. "Danone is one of the pioneers of social business, but in this case we thought it was much more efficient to use the entire industry as a business." To date, 13 additional health (including AG2R La Mondiale, April, Groupama …), 500 opticians, Essilor as industrial and ophthalmologists have concentrated their power to facilitate the implementation of the concept. "It's not a charity that requires a donation. Here people pay for their glasses, "says Nicolas Lambert, owner of Essilor France. Ultimately, the patient should spend at most a few dollars instead of 300 euros today. "This is an innovative business model where one neither gains nor loses money. And this is not the low cost, says Xavier Subirana, people buy the raw material and technology. Everything else is covered by the efforts of the margins at various levels by the industry. The doctor's visit is to be discounted fully refundable. " For now, Nicolas Lambert admits even Essilor making losses. To produce the lenses, and assemble the eleven models of glasses offered by the pass, the company is including operated its plant in Toulouse outside normal production hours.

140,000 persons concerned

But to make the project a success, we must know the device. Tested later this year in Marseille, the "eye pass" has proven its usefulness but also revealed the difficulty of reaching the target. "We know that some seniors throw good because they think it is an advertisement," lamented Xavier Subirana. As such, the role of complementary health is important because it is they who must identify people who can benefit. "The more mutual partners in the project will increase the more we can touch people," says association president. Discussions are also underway with new complementary. The first patients in the Paris region should get their equipment in early June. It will be a little longer for the province because of the smaller number of ophthalmologists. Then a second phase will be launched by the end of the year. Eventually 140,000 people should benefit from "pass glasses." In addition, the partners hope that their initiative will give ideas to other sectors.

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Hoteliers unhappy after Vincent Peillon

May 19, 2012 - 3:04 am Comments Off

 

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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Russian oligarchs fewer and less rich

April 20, 2012 - 9:20 pm Comments Off

 

From our correspondent in Moscow The Russian oligarchs are slightly fewer in 2012 and earn a little less money than last year. But this year is the emergence, in the first place in the ranking of the 200 richest, a virtual unknown in France, Alisher Usmanov, who caused a sensation.

With its $ 18.1 billion of personal wealth (13.7 billion euros), the man closest to the provincial notary that the flamboyant raider jumped five places in the ranking compiled by Forbes newspaper, and dethrones the other metal tycoon Vladimir Lissine, relegated to second place overall (about 12.1 billion euros). The steelmaker Alexei Mordashov (Severstal) completed the podium of the largest fortunes of the country (11.6 billion euros).

For its part, the very Francophile Mikhail Prokhorov, who just getting into politics and was third in the presidential election, going from third to seventh place, losing a year to the next 4.8 billion dollars (10 billion euros of total assets).

World record for the number of billionaires per capita

Best known for his West London home of Beechwod, acquired for $ 96 million, and its 25% stake in Arsenal football club, Alisher Usmanov has become one of the most discreet but also the most influential Russia, where wealth is acquired always at the intersection of business and politics. He has assisted the Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, and his wife to make a fortune.

Alisher Usmanov, who spent six years in prison for fraud in his country, now runs the company Metalloinvest. But the businessman has also been careful to diversify its business, particularly in the media and new technologies. In 2009, he has invested nearly a billion dollars in Facebook, took a stake in the site Groupon online sales. Alisher Usmanov has also media group Kommersant.

The Vedomosti reminded Friday that Russia holds the world record number of billionaires per capita (96 143 million), before the United States and Singapore. The journal regrets that contrary to Western mentality, money has become the ultimate horizon of Russian society, including the acquisition to be held by "any means", including "violating the law" .

In 2012, the wealth of the 200 richest Russian, however, declined by $ 52.3 billion, with a total of nearly $ 446 billion (338.6 billion euros).

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Spy employees: Ikea wants to improve its image

April 7, 2012 - 11:32 pm Comments Off

 

For 30 years, Ikea would have dreamed best advertisement. But a month after the revelation of illegal surveillance practices of employees and customers by Duck chained Mediapart then, the direction of Ikea France wants to show it has taken stock of the situation. Vanoverbeke Stefan, head of the French subsidiary of the Swedish furniture giant, yesterday presented its action plan and its working group to improve the image of the group being undermined by the discovery of internal mails mentioning the use of detectives private and the font file. Activities that led to Ikea France sidelined several top executives, including Jean-Louis Baillot, CEO of the subsidiary at the relevant time. "An internal audit by an independent firm has established that there had been research practices of information not consistent with our values. This is unacceptable and I regret it, "said Stefan Vanoverbeke. The current owner is careful however to discuss the future of the people involved to "preserve the presumption of innocence" and leave the floor of Versailles, seized by the CFDT union, do his job. "It is up to judges to say what is illegal or not. We just want to cooperate, "he said.

A pilot initiative

And as proof of his goodwill, Ikea France, which has already seen its headquarters raided and visited by the CNIL (Commission Nationale Informatique and freedoms) in its stores, plans to give the prosecutor the results of its internal audit. But it is mostly a working basis for a group of four managers responsible for "strengthening the values ​​and ethical standards." "It's not an excuse but it does not direct a company of 10,000 employees as a company that has only 500. The findings of the survey showed us that our way of working no longer fit our size, "explains Stefan Vanoverbeke.

Ikea already had a code of conduct but the group had been working to develop a global charter. Irregularities discovered in France gave a good boost to the initiative, even if the boss of Ikea France considers that there is "no reason to believe that such practices occurred in other countries where group is established. " No investigation has been carried out elsewhere. "France will be a pilot," he says. Beginning in June, the working group should thus be able to make concrete proposals for reforming corporate governance, support managers and staff, recruitment of technical change but also monitor compliance with the group values . "We developed this action plan because we want to act quickly to give answers to our employees, social partners and customers. But we hope that these answers are of quality, "says the CEO that all employees of the group can now contact directly by e-mail. For clients, Stefan Vanoverbeke remains attentive to comments left on forums where he received "varying degrees of concern." Not enough empty stores nor sinking sales, however.

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Veolia: Antoine Frérot reshuffles management

March 16, 2012 - 10:48 pm Comments Off

 

The CEO of Veolia Environnement Antoine Frérot, threatened three weeks ago by a coup attempt, Friday conducted a redesign of the Group Executive Committee to accelerate the implementation of its strategic plan.

"Denis Gasquet (Director of Operations, ed), Olivier Orsini (Executive Vice President and General Secretary, ed) and Jean-Pierre Frémont (executive vice president of public authorities and business, ie) left the band," said a statement Veolia, which had already revamped its board of directors Thursday.

Thursday, Antoine Frérot had already reached not to renew the appointments of two directors, the businesswoman Esther Koplowitz Spain and the former head of Sanofi Jean-Francois Dehecq, considered close to former CEO and current CEO of Veolia EDF Proglio. At the Paris Bourse, the Veolia Environnement has accelerated its rise, taking 4.53% to 12.69 euros in a market up 0.26% shy to 3:12 p.m..

Public outcry over Proglio

Disagree with the strategy of his successor to reduce the size of the group, including pulling of the activity of public transport, for deleverage, Proglio, director of Veolia always, wanted, according to press reports, Mr. Frérot to land and Borloo put in its place. But the outcry over this scenario had aborted the project.

The Executive Committee of Veolia from nine to seven members. Six were already (Jérôme Gallot, Jean-Michel Herrewyn, Franck Lacroix, Jean-Marie Lambert, Jerome Le Conte, Pierre-Francois Riolacci). It hosts more Sylvain Boucher. "This entire executive committee is engaged with determination in the successful implementation of the strategic plan," says Veolia. The group recalls that this plan is to refocus on the water, waste and energy services, reduce costs of 420 million euros by 2015, to sell 5 billion euros of assets and reduce debt to below 12 billion euros at end 2013.

The MBA gradually become more feminine

March 8, 2012 - 4:44 pm Comments Off

 

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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Free Mobile which has recruited 1.5 million customers

March 5, 2012 - 9:33 am Comments Off

 

Who will be the big loser of the arrival of Free Mobile? While Orange, Bouygues and Vivendi have just published their annual results and must submit his Free Thursday, the operators have their accounts.

In only six weeks, Free Mobile would have earned 1.5 million customers, according to estimates by Stéphane Richard, CEO of France Telecom. Free for now refuses to confirm.

But everyone sees what he lost. Orange said 400,000 of its customers had left for Free Mobile. Bouygues Telecom, a quarter of customers since January parties have joined Free Mobile or 134000. SFR did not elaborate, but analysts said it could provide around 300,000 customers Free Mobile.

500,000 net new subscription

It remains to evaluate clients lost by MVNOs, network operators without these, like Virgin Mobile, La Poste Mobile, Auchan Telecom, etc.. "Some of these operators have lost heavily at the start of Free Mobile. While some have reacted very quickly, it was to stop the bleeding. They have de facto acted as shock absorbers for Orange, SFR and Bouygues, "said one analyst.

MVNOs with models based on commitment and with a strong distribution network suffered the least. And NRJ Mobile, which has 90% of customer engagement in and benefits from the network of bank branches CM-CIC, has limited the damage. The operator that displays 1.1 million customers continued to win in January, before losing around 5,000 in February. "Ultimately, MVNOs may have lost between 200,000 and 300,000 customers," said one analyst.

Summing up all these figures, Free Mobile would have earned about a million customers in the market in its various competitors. The remaining 500,000 would net creation, that is to say, new subscriptions. Given its attractive price, consumers who already have a subscription and can be subscribed to the offer 2 euros (EUR 0 Free for subscribers) as a second subscription or subscription relief.

One thing is certain: the fierce competitive battle was triggered not leave room for all operators and everyone is fighting for its survival.

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The EU is considering 108 billion euros to bail out banks

October 23, 2011 - 2:12 pm Comments Off

Creditor banks in Greece will have to accept losses "substantial" in the new bailout of the country, warned Saturday that the European Ministers of Finance. Last night, the central bankers of the euro zone had "agreed to say that we had to have a substantial increase in the contribution of banks" in the form of a depreciation of their claims, said the leader of European finance ministers, Jean-Claude Juncker.

• Discount of up to 60% of the Greek debt

According to diplomatic sources, the ministers agreed to effectively negotiate with the banks at a discount of "at least 50%" against a target of 21% decided on July 21 with the banking sector. They thus de facto endorsed the conclusions of an expert report which was presented by the troika of donor funds in Greece (EU, ECB and IMF).The paper believes that a discount of 50 or 60% hope to stabilize Greece without having to increase in the amount of gigantic international loans that have already been promised.

A "discount" is the term used in relation to the financial depreciation of the value of loans taken by creditors in this case private banks and investment funds that hold government debt. A discount of 50% borne by the private sector, the second program of financial support pledged July 21 to Greece, however, should be slightly revised upwards with government loans (Europe and IMF) to 114 billion euros, against 109 billion euros.To maintain the envelope of 109 billion euros unchanged, it would bring the discount to 60%, according to calculations by experts.

• Recapitalization of banks to the tune of 108 billion euros

The question is whether the banks that have so far dragged its feet to give the pot, will accept a negotiated settlement does not pass through a default of Greece. In return for the effort required on the Greek claims, there are plans to recapitalize banks in Europe. Following a meeting of EU finance ministers, this Saturday, in preparation for the summit Sunday, no agreement had been finalized on this point, due to the persistence of disputes.

"We have made some progress on the banks" and "we have laid the groundwork for an agreement" which will still be subject to "discussions between heads of state" and called for European governments to meet in summit Sunday said Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg. Countries of the European Union are considering a recapitalization of its banks to the tune of 107 or 108 billion euros to help them cope with the crisis, has also said a source familiar with the matter.

But according to European diplomats, "there is no agreement on the recapitalization, it gets stuck a little." According to one of these diplomatic sources, "Spain insists on having a comprehensive, not only on the recapitalization of banks but also on strengthening the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF)." On the other hand, "the ministers are trying to agree on the minimum capital."The European Banking Authority (EBA) has proposed that banks reach a level of capital of 9% by mid-2012. A diplomat acknowledged that some countries in the viewfinder of the markets, like Italy, Spain or Portugal, feared that the recapitalization will further undermine public finances.

• The Fund will not support a bank

Moreover, the French proposal to grant a banking license to the Fund support the euro area (EFSF) so he can refinance with the European Central Bank "is no longer on the table," said Minister Dutch Finance Jan Kees de Jager. Only two options are being discussed to increase the firepower of the device, he told reporters Saturday.These two tracks on the agenda now that the mechanism acts as a partial insurance of the public debt of countries in difficulty or higher participation of the IMF to the device, according to a German government source. But there is "significant differences between countries" on the issue, said Jan Kees de Jager.

How to leverage the capacity of the EFSF was the main sticking point between Berlin and Paris at the approach of the EU summit. France, worried about its budget deficit and are "triple AAA" prefer tap into the existing European funds, starting with the ECB. Germany, also sensitive to the separation of powers as inflation risks, refuses anything resembling a crisis by printing money in Europe.France was not only to advocate the involvement of the ECB, arguing that this system worked very well in the United States or Great Britain. She was supported by Spain, Italy or Belgium.

The European Relief Fund currently has a lending capacity of 440 billion euros, part of which is already committed for Ireland and Portugal. This envelope is considered insufficient to prevent contagion of the debt crisis in countries as large as Italy and Spain, increasingly in the firing line of credit rating agencies.European countries negotiate so hard for weeks on the best way, via a "leverage" to multiply by up to five response capacity of the Fund's financial debt of fragile countries.

(With agencies)

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Controller assaulted: SNCF still disrupted traffic

October 7, 2011 - 9:52 pm Comments Off

Many station controllers have spontaneously stopped Thursday afternoon to work after the announcement of the aggression of one of their colleagues in a Corail train earlier in the day. Traffic TGV, Corail and TER is still very upset that Friday morning * and should remain "at least the morning," according to the SNCF, which does not give details. It invites customers to delay their trip or take alternate means of transportation. Ticket holders whose train was canceled can do exchange or refund.

Good news however for users Transilien (train network in the Île-de-France), the Thalys and Eurostar.Traffic on these lines should be "near normal" according to SNCF.

Transport Minister, Thierry Mariani, Thursday criticized the work stoppage of workers, finding that it was not "appropriate response" to the extent that he believes "it is not an act delinquency, this is a person who clearly has mental problems. " "This is not stopping the trains that they stop the insane," he said. The President of the SNCF, Guillaume Pepy, is on the same line. "This is a rare occurrence, an attack of such violence.It would serve no purpose to penalize travelers simply because a dangerous madman attacked controllers, "he said in Besançon, where the controller was assaulted in hospital.

No train service on the night of Thursday to Friday

The strike controller led Thursday the cancellation of all trains at night, and created a big mess all over the country. Some passengers were stranded at the station waiting for a hypothetical train.

Board trains at the Gare Saint-Charles in Marseille. Photo credits: GERARD JULIEN / AFP

Dexia France and Belgium in support

October 4, 2011 - 6:08 pm Comments Off

The story is she about to repeat itself? As in 2008, when Belgium, France and Luxembourg had given government guarantees the bank Dexia shareholder governments pledge to support the Franco-Belgian bank which could be dismantled. "The Belgian and French States will meet present as in 2008," assured the French minister of Finance, Baroin, on the sidelines of a meeting with his EU counterparts in Luxembourg. Luc Frieden, Luxembourg's finance minister, also said that his country would play an active role in restructuring the bank.

Governments will particularly seek to support the activity of deposits in Belgium "by a guarantee of the deposits."Concerning the activity of loans to local authorities, which represents about 80 billion euros of assets, Baroin ensures that "whatever happens, we set up a quick and effective solution that will ensure a lack of drop charge this important activity. "

A cash injection, similar to that of 2008 which had led to bail out the bank to the tune of 6.4 billion euros is it to the agenda? No response yet from the French minister who is content to repeat that "States will meet present as in 2008." A source close to the talks for his part, told Reuters that recapitalization was not provided.

The creation of a "bad bank" proposed

Most talkative, the Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders confirmed discussions around the creation of a "bad bank" structure that will isolate the non-performing assets and portfolios of the bank. "There was much talk of a bad bank, a few possibilities," he said business card. "We need to look at how to change this group. We must remove all the dangerous parts of the bank, this is where the state guarantees come into play then we can give guarantees to customers, both depositors or solicitors of credit. "

Intended as reassuring, Didier Reynders recalls that "there is no reason to be of major concern about this group if we continue to accelerate the disposal of assets.Both France and Belgium are ready to provide a guarantee for Dexia's funding, regardless of the form it takes. "

Replica

Earlier in the morning, France and Belgium had already declared their support for the bank. "As part of the restructuring of Dexia, the Belgian and French, in conjunction with central banks will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of depositors and creditors. To that end, agree to bring their guaranteed funds raised by Dexia, "explained a joint finance ministers of two countries. Baroin said that the crisis in Franco-Belgian bank "is a replica of the Great Depression of 2008."

At the Paris Bourse, these guarantees seem to be a little effect.Dexia shares had lost up to 38% in the morning, cut its losses and was down from 16.46% to 1.086 euros on a market down 2.84% to 13.30. But caution is when a special meeting of the Belgian government is expected Tuesday evening "to take stock."

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