Posts Tagged ‘special’

The European Investment Bank sought to relaunch

May 15, 2012 - 6:00 pm Comments Off

 

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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Chinese Bright Food crunches Weetabix cereals

May 4, 2012 - 1:04 am Comments Off

 

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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Users angry launch "Operation Phantom TGV"

April 22, 2012 - 10:44 am Comments Off

 

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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TF1 wins the advertising of Al-Jazeera Sport

April 13, 2012 - 4:12 am Comments Off

 

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.

Industry: Saffron hiring, including in France

March 26, 2012 - 10:44 pm Comments Off

 

Safran, present in the aerospace, defense and security plans to recruit 6,000 employees this year, including nearly half in France. At a time when there is much talk of de-industrialization in France, the announcement sounds like good news. The group employs 60,000 people worldwide including 40,000 in the hexagon, also intends to maintain this rate of recruitment of three to five years, given the positive outlook for its three main divisions, says Philippe Petitcolin, CEO Sagem.

Widely open to the world, since it exports 80% of its business, the company remains firmly in France where she still makes 70% of its turnover. Since 2010, Safran has opened six plants in France, with an investment of 300 million and goes with an announcement in a few weeks Commercy in the Meuse.

The recruitment plan announced Monday by Safran is bound simultaneously to the development group and replacements (the average age is around 50 years), although the turnover is especially low, says HRD Jean-Luc Bérard . The net enrollment fluctuates between 500 and 700 people depending on the year. A figure that could improve in the future, to the extent that the departures are below the arrivals.

Tensions on the labor market

Safran, born six years ago from the merger Sagem-Snecma, search profiles foremost executives and engineers, representing 75% of new recruits in France payday loan no faxing. "We spend 1.6 billion euros in research and development and our offices are an important entry point for engineers," said Jean-Luc Bérard. But he admits that he faces "a tension on the labor market in most profiles," knowing that these graduates are courted by both the automotive industry, banking, insurance world, without forgetting its own competitors aerospace sector, Airbus chief among them is on a pace of 4,000 new hires this year.

To highlight the attractiveness of its careers and attract graduates, Safran has developed several tools: it hosts 1500 including all levels of alternating training and some 2,200 trainees. The engine also adds its relations with academia and high schools through a network of Ambassadors employees. "We have very close relations with more than thirty schools and several universities as Orsay, Pierre and Marie Curie or Bordeaux. However we absolutely need to build partnerships with education abroad, "says the HR manager.

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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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Berlin opens the way for Plan aid to Greece

February 20, 2012 - 8:32 am Comments Off

 

Wolfgang Schäuble has opened the way for the adoption, on Monday, a second plan with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, amounting to 130 billion euros. But it is not private to lecture on the Greek government, while ensuring the Greek people of his compassion for the conservation measures that strike.

According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the idea of ​​establishing an escrow account for the interest payments on Greek debt, which was the German Government, should be held tonight in Brussels by the finance ministers of the euro area. Unlike that of a commissioner to oversee the implementation of rigor, to which Germany has given up against the outcry. However, in an internal report, the German Ministry of Economy casts a very negative effect on the progress of reforms in Greece and openly doubt it will be able to avoid bankruptcy. This will certainly complicate the ratification of the new aid plan by the Bundestag, scheduled for February 27.

Critical or pessimistic statements of German officials on the situation of the country have moved the Greeks and sharpened their sense of being imposed a European tutelage. Greek President Karolos Papoulias has himself condemned what he thought of "teasing" the German finance minister's struggle to stay in Athens for the euro area no fax payday loans.

"In front of aid, there is always someone who wants to get help, found Wolfgang Schäuble. We remain available for some time to help the Ministry of Finance officials to build a Greek tax system efficient. So far the offer has not been entered. "

"Compassion"

The German minister, who had been strongly criticized in Athens after claiming he had "serious doubts" about the validity of elections in April in Greece, he assured "sympathize" with the Greeks. "The vast majority of those affected by the reforms and austerity measures – and let me express once more my great respect for them – are nothing to do with the slow pace of reforms, the loss of competitiveness or inefficient use of budgets in the past, "he says.

And remember that the Greek minimum wage will be at the future "at about the same level as in Spain."

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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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The "outraged," Anatomy of an unstructured movement

October 15, 2011 - 5:48 pm Comments Off

On May 15 the "outraged" Spaniards camped in the square of Puerta del Sol in Madrid. Borrowing their name to the pamphlet by Stephen Hessel, they said they were inspired by the Arab Spring to shout their rebellion against the explosion of unemployment and austerity policies implemented by the government … Since then, the challenge has been extended in the rest of Europe but also overseas. Five months after the birth of the movement in Spain, in 82 countries is that these "outraged" will show this Saturday, October 15. Zurich to New York, to Rome, Tijuana, Hong Kong and Johannesburg, calls have been launched in 951 cities worldwide.

Their message to politicians and financial elites, as can be read on the site 15october, is: "The powers that be working for the benefit of some ignoring both the will of the majority that the price human and environmental we pay. This intolerable situation has to stop. "On the site of the movement Occupy Wall Street, the tone is the same:" The thing we all have in common is that we are the 99% who will not tolerate any longer the greed and the corruption of the remaining 1%. "In Italy, the program is summarized as follows: "Occupation of public places by millions of people who do not want to pay the enormous economic and social crisis in the place of those who have caused: political power industrial, economic and financial" .

No central authority

This day of action is to cross an important milestone in the movement, which now acquires an international dimension. "It was needed to make weight against the power of financial markets that operate on a global scale," says Sophie Banasiak, "indignant" Paris.

However, there is no central body to coordinate the different actions. "If the collective Democracia Real Ya played a leading role in the initial mobilization in Spain, he does not prevail, either in the capital of the country or world, Heloise said Nez, a sociologist at the University Paris 13.Many groups are working together, but none have hegemony over the movement horizontal and egalitarian aims. There is no visible head and outraged caregivers to regularly change the voice online pay day loans. "

"If someone asks you 'who is behind it', they reply: 'I'" retorted on those who seek the organizers. The spread of a city or country to another must be spontaneous, for emulation. A process greatly facilitated by social networks, where multiple keywords are emerging, such as "yeswecamp", "# yosoy15O", "# event15oct" or "# Globalrevolution" … "I do not even know exactly who launched the idea of ​​the October 15, recognizes Spyros, OccupyLSX supporter of the movement in London.We have seen that call for Saturday and it was inspired by the movement Occupy wall street to do the same thing here. "

Specific demands of each country

If dissatisfied with the world found common denominators, claims and complaints are divided again according to national issues. In Spain, Real Democracia Ya accent has been on the reform of the electoral law to end the two-party system as well as stopping the evictions of indebted owners. In Anglo-Saxon countries, it is mainly finance, pointed as responsible for the crisis, which is targeted. Witness the names of the movements that develop, "Occupy Wall Street" and "Occupy London Stock Exchange (OccupyLSX)." In Israel, the mobilization is the expensive housing while in Italy, the outraged refuse to pay "a debt they have incurred."But all these central issues do not prevent each protester to express other concerns. In Spain some point impunity surrounding crimes of Francoism and the United States is denounced police brutality or the death penalty …

Above all, each city retains its autonomy: information flows globally, but "decisions, they, are taken at meetings in every city, Banasiak said Sophie. Each city chooses its own way of decision. In Paris and Madrid for example, is the consensus. The international dimension does not change the fact that the essence of the movement is local: it is in the physical encounter and dialogue in the streets. "

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Rents will increase by 1.90% this year

October 14, 2011 - 12:24 am Comments Off

The benchmark rents (IRL) continues its momentum. Indexed to inflation, the index increased by 1.90% yoy in the third quarter 2011, according to INSEE, its largest increase since the first quarter of 2009.

Following the same curve as the price index, the benchmark rents had fallen sharply during the crisis, before recovering from the first quarter of 2010. However, according to figures released Wednesday by INSEE, inflation emerged up 2.2% year on year in September, despite a slowdown during the past month.

Consequence of this increase in the IRL, the owners can raise rents to their tenants under lease, 1.90% maximum per year. This ceiling is not to be confused with the increase that may require the owner at the end of the lease, and which itself is not subject to this limit.

Rising rents slows

They are also in the process of marking time, like the sale price. The latest observation Clamor, the rents charged to new tenants were up 0.9% over the first eight months of the year, against 1.4% a year earlier. In 34% of cities in France, this trend is even negative. This is for example the case in Paris (-0.1%), Bordeaux (-0.9%) or Toulouse (-0.4%).

In other cities of the Hexagon, however, rents remain strong on the upside. This is the case in Lyon (+1.2%), Nantes (+1.7%), Lille (1.9%) or Le Havre (+2%). For the full year, Clamor expects an average increase of 1.5% to 1.8% against 2.5% in 2010.

The Observatory notes wide disparities between the cities but also between the quality of rented accommodation.Owners who make improvements before entering into a new lease rent on average well 9.3% more than the previous occupant. However, when the property is rented without work, its rental value decreases by an average of 5.4%.

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