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In turmoil, PepsiCo faces a turbulent new shareholder. The investment fund Relational Investors, known to oppose the management of companies in which it invests, bought for $ 610 million of shares of the giant drinks and snacks, or 0.6% of the capital.

The activist fund could give voice to advocate a division of PepsiCo. It would be a step backwards for the inventor of Pepsi. Well ahead in the world by Coca-Cola on its core business, he had experienced a boom until the mid-2000s by diversifying successively in chips (Frito-Lay), fruit juices (Tropicana), the cereal (Quaker Oats) or yogurt (Wimm-Bill-Dann).

Officially, the group of Purchase (in NY) is doing well. "We have had constructive meetings with Relational, said Wednesday a spokesman. Our management regularly meets with investors, and Relational is a respected institution. " The co-founder of Relational Investors, Ralph Whitworth, who bought earlier this year 11 million shares of Western Union and 2 million Abercrombie & Fitch, is since last year a director of Hewlett-Packard. He campaigned successfully in several companies (ITT, L-3 Communications Holdings) for the separation of their activities.

8700 jobs lost

He will reach his goals in the world's second largest agri-food? The split is fashionable in the sector. Another giant, Kraft Foods, completes the separation of its international activity of snacking and its historical American brands. Same thing at United Biscuits, in his sweet and salty snacks.

PepsiCo, the specter of a split between drinks, but profitable low growth, and snacks, which are growing faster, is agitated for several months. A portion of the board would have been favorable towards the end of last year, according to U.S. media. Some investors see it as a remedy for the ills of the past four years the group headed by Indra Nooyi, particularly in the United States. By itself, the North American beverage business accounts for one third of overall sales. But in 2011, its activity dropped 1%, reflecting price increases and insufficient marketing investments. For eighteen months, its flagship beverage was relegated to third place behind American Coca-Cola and Diet Coke. These setbacks have led to a standstill since the arrival of the title of CEO in 2006.

If split, the value of the two entities would be greater than the current capitalization, many analysts believe. Such an operation would also build a true enterprise culture in beverages and attract the talent required to develop them.

In early February, Indra Nooyi has dismissed a split, insisting that "the value of PepsiCo was maximized as a single company." The boss of PepsiCo, which predicted a decline of 5% of its profits this year, has opted for a drastic austerity: 8700 job cuts by 2014 and a savings program, 5 billion. Implementation of its plan will be followed by its new shareholder. If it was not successful, Indra Nooyi – the rumor of the departure – could be forced to reconsider the scenario of a split.

LE FIGARO. – The Netherlands seems to suddenly become Eurosceptics. Why?

Luuk van Middelaar. – In reality, they have always been skeptical about some aspects of the European Union. The Netherlands were among the six founding countries, but their motivation was primarily economic, unlike France, which favored the political dimension. The Dutch have always fought for measures that represent an economic interest, such as the European patent. Then the country became a net contributor to EU budget around 2000, which is not conducive to enthusiasm! As for the current debate over the stability pact, we must not underestimate the impact of the crisis of 2003, when Paris and Berlin have violated common rules: it has reinforced the inferiority syndrome of small countries.

Failure in the referendum on the constitution has he not been exceeded?

France and the Netherlands voted no, but for very different reasons. The French were especially opposed to Europe "neoliberal" characterized by the Bolkestein directive on services, named after the Dutch commissioner … In the Netherlands, by contrast, we did not want an "other" Europe, but "less" Europe, if at all! The Dutch were not opposed to a political Europe.

The debate on the return to national currencies is more violent than elsewhere in the Netherlands. Why?

In the Netherlands, the euro has always inspired mistrust. These fears are now confirmed by the mismanagement of other member countries. Dutch MPs debated the creation of two variants of the euro, the "neuro" for the North and the "Zeuro" for the South. But this debate has remained economically, while the euro has a geopolitical origin: it is a concession of the Germans at the time of reunification.

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

High school students and students seeking a future career or employees looking for your conversion, go to CareerCast.com. You'll find 12 jobs in gold favored by the Americans, but also those to avoid at all costs because of their low growth prospects, levels of remuneration, the stress function or quality of the environment working.

Among the jobs to avoid at all costs, across the Atlantic, the lumberjack (dangerous, poorly paid and endangered) of dairy farmer or a soldier! Other trades that are no longer dreaming, perhaps because of their poor prospects for hiring in the coming years, that of a journalist in a newspaper or radio reporter

. Trades dream

Conversely, the best job for the Americans is that of a computer engineer. The salary range is between 55,000 and 133,000 dollars, with an average salary level of 88,000 dollars high risk personal loans. About the prospects of hiring, they are important short-medium term. Other "dream jobs", actuaries and human resource managers (whose development prospects are greater than 20% per year by 2020) hold the rope.

These positions correspond to business students that dreams are made of this side of the Atlantic? Several surveys have been conducted in recent years on this subject, with sometimes surprising results. 18-25 The overwhelmingly popular crafts such as actor, ambassador, singer or airline pilot. While others see themselves as secret agent, a successful writer … or supermodel.

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The final product of the electric range of Renault, the ZOE, will be launched in September. It will complement the Fluence, Kangoo ZE and Twizy.

Electric cars are the most striking example of the efforts made by manufacturers and their suppliers to reduce vehicle fuel consumption. "The first reason for this trend is the cost of fuel for consumers," acknowledges Sébastien Amichi, partner at Roland Berger.

Second reason: the regulation. In Europe, Brussels will impose financial penalties on manufacturers based on grams of CO2 emitted per kilometer traveled. The purpose is to emit less than 130 grams per vehicle range, on average, end of 2015 and less than 95 grams in 2020.

The major manufacturers put a lot of money on the table to achieve this. "We spent 500 million euros over five years to develop our range of diesel hybrid," explained William Faury, Director of R & D of PSA Peugeot Citroen to launch this range. For him, the PSA group spends "50% of its R & D to reduce emissions."

"The range of opportunities for manufacturers is extremely broad," says Sebastian Amichi. Electrification to-tal and is the last rung of the ladder, which passes through the microhybridation (the system startup "Stop and Start"), all hybrid, popularized by To-Yota with its Prius, or the Hybrid.

The success of these different modes of consumption reduction is difficult to determine. If PwC expects 1% of electric vehicles worldwide in 2017, Roland Berger is considering a rate of 4 to 5% in 2020. The use and type of vehicles used can also play. "In the U.S., where there are very few and very large diesel vehicles, the hybridization rate could be much higher than that achieved in Europe," says Sebastian and Amichi.

Lighter vehicles

Electrification is not the only point on which manufacturers and suppliers work. Weight is also a field of expression of the fight against pollution. "Reducing the weight of a car saves 10 kilograms 1 gram of CO2 per kilometer," says Lawrence and Burelle, CEO of Plastic Omnium.

The steel is still very present in cars, but it is increasingly challenged by other materials such as aluminum or composite. The French Plastic Omnium, the world's leading manufacturer of bumpers and tanks, has invested 10 million euros in its R & D Sygmatech, near Lyon, to strengthen its expertise in the field.

Proof of this relief strategy: the new Peugeot 208, launched a few weeks ago, is lighter than its predecessor, the 207. This is a first for a compact vehicle.

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Small revolution in the OJD, which is one step closer to seeing his measures of attendance on the Internet more recognized by the market. In its ranking of websites in March, the body that certifies the mailing of printed and digital press titles in France is hosting for the first time the orange.fr portal, one of the earliest in the hexagon with Google, Yahoo! and MSN.

Gateway to the telecom operator arrives directly at the head of the most popular sites last month, with over 450 million visits. The OJD measure all connections to the site (the "site-centric"), that is to say the number of visits and page views, without deduplicate visits on the same site by the same user. "We do not say in front of a screen but we certify the figures reported by the sites, which are the comprehensive measure of attendance," explained Stephane Bodier Bartement and Patrick, President and CEO of OJD. With the exception of Marianne, VOD or Humanity, all brand sites releases are already certified by the OJD.

Qualify hearings

The organization hopes that this will arrive in others, notably those of Yahoo! and MSN, which should seek, also, to certify their attendance. Google, which has developed its own measurement tool, Google Analytics, for its part could choose to stay out of the movement.

But there on the market another way of measuring the digital world personal business card. This is the tool with its Médiamétrie NetRatings ("user-centric") which, by observing a panel of 25,000 Internet users, to qualify (age, occupational status, etc..). The challenge now is to combine the best of both measures. Médiamétrie and OJD announced in early March signed an agreement for the supply by the second to the first of its basic results "site-centric." This merger of the two measures should allow the hearings to describe and measure, for example, the loyalty of Internet sites. It will materialize in June, with the publication of results by Médiamétrie Internet audience in April, via a hybrid measure that integrates both data and those of OJD, but also on the results of websites measured by Médiamétrie-eStat and certified by the OJD. "This agreement will help provide a market-based results more accurate and consistent," said Médiamétrie.

In the longer term, it will find tools to accompany the rise of advertising offers Web-coupled television. Médiamétrie talks with Google for the establishment of a study that would bring together data from television audience of those with Médiamat Internet.

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There are increases that hurt the wallet, and others are welcome. The April 1 announcement of more good news than bad.

• Pensions

Pensions of the general (civil servants and private employees) rose 2.1% from the 1st April. A decision expected. A few days ago the joint supplementary pension schemes AGIRC (executives) and Arrco (all employees) have also taken account of inflation higher than expected in 2011 and have upgraded the pensions of 2.3%.

In a joint statement the Ministers of Economy, Baroin, and Labour Xavier Bertrand pointed out that the pension increases took into account inflation in 2012 (1.8%, revised upwards) and inflation recorded in late 2011 (2.1%) a differential of 0.3%.

• Minimum age

The minimum age knows him, a stronger increase of 4.7% and is increased to 777.16 euros per month for a single person and 1,237 euros for a couple. The minimum pension which is paid to 400,000 pensioners the most modest, however, does not yet live above the poverty line which is 954 euros per month for a single person. The proportion of the population living below the poverty line is 13.5%. During the five year period the allowance will be increased by 25% as promised by Nicolas Sarkozy.

• Disabled adult allowance

The disabled adult allowance (AAH) passes almost 760 euros on April 1st, up 2.2%. Accordance with the promise of Nicolas Sarkozy to the upgrade of 25% for the duration of his five years, the AAH "and go to 759.98 euro 743.62 euro per month against current" and "a second revaluation of 2.19% , take place on 1 September, "said recently the Ministry of Solidarity. It would then amount to 776.59 euros per month, or 155.32 euros more than in 2007. The AAH was seen by 915,000 people in late 2010.

• Family benefits

Family benefits increased by 1% (including family allowances, grants for child care, the allowance for school …). Previously, family benefits were revalued on 1 January. But last year, the government had rejected the revaluation at 1 April, making 130 million euros in savings.

In addition, as part of austerity measures, it was decided that family benefits are not adjusted according to inflation but growth. The expected savings are 400 million euros for 2012 and 500 million for 2013. Prime Minister Francois Fillon said that this would be limited to one year.

• VAT on books

After construction and restaurants, it's time to see their books go this Sunday VAT by 5.5% to 7%. Increases announced in fall 2011 and denounced by the booksellers, whose business is already one of the least profitable. At the Book Fair, the PS candidate Francois Hollande said it intends to reduce its rates "from 7 to 5.5%" if elected, to "defend the digital book at one price" and "protect the rights Copyright and the network of booksellers. "

Booksellers manifest on April 28, between the two rounds of presidential elections, on the feast of the independent bookstore.

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CaixaBank became the largest bank in Spain by total assets. At its 270 billion in assets, "La Caixa", continue to call it like the Spanish, in addition to 72 billion Banca Civica, absorbing the entity resulting from the recent merger of four cajas (savings banks) . Exceeds the group and the two Spanish giants, Santander and BBVA. But size does not balance the economic: the stock market, Santander (54 billion) and BBVA (30 billion) will remain far ahead of their new rival (15 billion after months of reconciliation.)

On the ground, however, Caixa will expand significantly. The network of 1,400 branches and 7,800 employees of Banca Civica will expand the 5000 branches and 25,000 employees that already CaixaBank across the country. Especially in northern Spain and the Canary Islands. The operation occurs just days before the deadline set by the government. Credit institutions must have in effect before March 31, a sustainability plan. In total, banks and cajas must be provisioned 50 billion euros to cover the risk real estate.

The merger movement continues

In the case of Banca Civica, it was found in one year € 2 billion. According to Spanish press, Madrid feared that the bank fails to achieve its own objectives. The government should therefore encouraged to approach CaixaBank Banca Civica cheap payday advance. If integration is achieved, it will be two more years to clean up its accounts. Financial reform adopted in early February was precisely to promote the absorption of entities problematic by the biggest banks.

The merger movement has not yet come to an end in Spain. CatalunyaCaixa, another group that also emerged from an initial burst of mergers, also seeking a partner. Santander and BBVA are in the running.

110 billion injected into the financial sector

Between 2008 and 2012, Spain has injected 110 billion euros in its financial sector. 80 billion in the form of bank guarantees, assumed by the State, and 30 billion in asset purchases and direct payments by the public and the banks themselves. In 2011, the government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has merged the fund deposit guarantees, and has forced banks to take losses in the sector. This policy was pursued by the Conservative government of Mariano Rajoy. "The restructuring will not cost taxpayers one euro," promised the Minister of Economy, Luis de Guindos. Large banks, however, require the government to participate in the national effort.

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More and more French people are struggling to pay their electricity bill and gas, warning the energy ombudsman's report 2011 released Tuesday. The independent administrative authority has seen its number of referrals by individuals increased by 14%. Admittedly, this increase is lower than in previous years. But the missing payments have soared by 80% and now represent 15% of all cases handled.

Refunds and consideration received from the Ombudsman have averaged 410 euros for consumers in trouble. If the French have trouble paying their energy bills, this is largely because of the crisis and the boom in energy prices, reports the Energy Ombudsman. The regulated gas prices jumped 25% in two years, those of electricity by 8%.  

Faced with the rise of this "fuel poverty", that is to say, the difficulty of paying their energy bills, the Energy Ombudsman has issued proposals. It notably calls for an extension of the winter break for unpaid breaks. So far, only consumers who have received assistance from the Solidarity Fund for housing can benefit from this protection. "Those who are not entitled to welfare benefits and are unable to pay their bill, the suspension of energy remains real, warns the Ombudsman. It's not right to deprive of light and heat during this period [winter], people of good faith who fail to pay their dues. "

Monopoly of social tariffs

Another proposal is to break the exclusivity of EDF, the incumbent supplier, in the distribution of the social tariff of electricity. "This is a problem for customers of alternative operators who can not access them, except to change supplier and return at EDF, the Ombudsman regrets. In a market open to competition, the monopoly has no purpose. "The Ombudsman welcomed however the automation of the development of social tariffs for the beneficiaries since January 1. So far, only 650,000 households benefited while 2 million are eligible. A million more people should have access through this improvement.

Finally, the Ombudsman would like to broaden the scope of its powers. In 2011, he was unable to grasp that 74% of the 17,973 claims received. For example, "with the continued development of photovoltaic systems in particular, the Ombudsman may also intervene in disputes relating to the connections and purchase contract," the report shows. Finally, the Ombudsman called to continue the education effort directed at consumers. Nearly five years after the liberalization of energy market, only 42% of French people know they can choose their supplier of electricity or gas.

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Al-Jazeera continues its sports rights market. The sports channel funded by Qatar has indeed acquired the rights for three years of the Spanish Liga. According to one expert dossier, the headquarters of al-Jazeera would not have hesitated to put the triple, or more than 20 million euro to carry the exclusive distribution of this competition previously held by Canal +. This new contract follows the co-buying last week in the Italian championship for three years. Canal + and al-Jazeera spent $ 10 million each. A few weeks ago, the chain announced Qatar had also redeem the Europa League, for an amount that would more than double the previous transaction. In all, this is currently a total budget of 260 million euros that Al Jazeera devoted to the purchase of sports rights.

This envelope is expected to rise significantly in the coming days. Industry players are in effect suspended the announcement of the purchase rights of the Euro 2012 football and Euro 2016 football. Today the negotiations between UEFA and the Qatari channel block on the number of games that the rights holder wishes to broadcast on free channels. Indeed, UEFA would like 19 games to be visible by the largest number, more than half of the competition. That does not want al-Jazeera, which until now has consistently doubled or tripled the amount of acquired rights. TF1 and M6 on their side made a direct offer to UEFA for trying to break the deadlock.

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