Posts Tagged ‘customer’

The billions that Greece owes to France

May 15, 2012 - 6:40 pm Comments Off

 

If Greece came out of the euro area, the country would enter into an inextricable chaos. It would not be alone in suffering: the countries of the euro area would lose the billions they have loaned him since 2010 for the shoot of the rut. Indeed, Athens would reimburse probably not what it owes them. In this hypothesis, the two largest economies in the region, Germany and France would lose the most.

If Greece were to fail in mid-June, the French government should write off 50 billion "net," said the outgoing Minister of Economy Baroin. According to calculations of Figaro.fr, this amount could rise to 58.5 billion euros. This is 895 euros per French, or almost 3% of what the country produces in a year. Germany would lose directly, as calculated by the magazine Wirtschaft Woche, 76.6 billion euros and all the European institutions, nearly 302 billion euros, according to figures released by the rating agency Fitch.

Concerning France, the amount includes bilateral loans in the forefront of European aid (11.4 billion between 2010 and 2011). What must be added the participation of France in the second program, launched in early 2012, 15 billion euros granted through the firewall European, that is to say, the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF). The whole is 26.4 billion euros of direct exposure of France to Greece.

In addition to these funds, France should meet, at least in part, the losses suffered by the European Central Bank (ECB) under its importance within the euro area. At the height of the crisis, the guardian of the single currency has indeed bought in the markets for 40 billion euros of Greek debt, according to Fitch payday advance lender. If Athens were to fail, the ECB should say goodbye to that amount. France would then bail out of 8.9 billion euros. The same mechanism, it may have to recapitalize the International Monetary Fund (1.6 billion euros).

The bill gets heavier over time

More indirectly, France may have to refinance the network of central banks in the euro area, again according to its economic importance, either to the tune of 22.2 billion euros (calculated by Fitch). Indeed, the Greek central bank has accumulated 106 billion of financial compensation to its European counterparts, according to the rating agency.

The slate of the Greek state vis-à-vis France stretches over months, while assistance payments keep coming. Suddenly, one observer, "more a Greek bankruptcy would occur later, the more it would be costly to its partners." The EFSF must still pay 75.9 billion euros by 2014, the International Monetary 28.2 billion euros, according to calculations by analysts of the bank Credit Suisse. If Greece is in the euro area, it will begin to repay the loans from France and other partners from 2020 … and over a period of between 20 and 30.

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May 4, 2012 - 1:20 am Comments Off

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

Air Liquide confident after a good quarter

April 26, 2012 - 8:40 pm Comments Off

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

The car manufacturers want to save fuel

April 17, 2012 - 11:32 am Comments Off

 

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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Opel unions oppose plans for GM

March 27, 2012 - 10:28 am Comments Off

 

Tension mounts between Opel workers and their U.S. parent, General Motors (GM). The unions are still hoping to be able to bend GM, when approaching a crucial supervisory board, scheduled for Wednesday, during which its European subsidiary must submit a proposal for the closure of two plants in Europe. In a letter to the chief executive of Opel, Karl-Friedrich Stracke, unions representing 40,000 employees in the twelve production sites in Europe – in Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Austria, Poland, Spain and Hungary – say they will refuse any negotiations with management on wage cuts, which make competition between sites.

"Dear Mr. Stracke we will conduct any negotiations with you at the local level," they write according to an excerpt of the letter published by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The unions are responding to requests by management at each plant separately. Opel claims including greater flexibility in work schedules, a waiver of premiums for weekends and worked an abandonment of wage demands. The sites do not bowing to these guidelines should not expect to be selected for the production of new models, according to Peter Thom, head of production at Opel.

30% reduction in production capacity

Karl-Friedrich Stracke said a few days ago that he would respect the commitment not to close any site before the end of 2014. According to German media, GM is preparing to announce a reduction of about 30% of production capacity. The project would include the closure of sites in Bochum, Germany (3200 employees) and Ellesmere Port, UK (Vauxhall factory, 2100 employees) payday loans lenders. And relocation destinations in the cheap production costs: Poland, China, Korea, Mexico.

GM operations in Europe have lost billions of dollars over the past decade and plant closures is seen by the world number one automotive and investors on both sides of the Atlantic as crucial to restore the group's profitability in the region.

Between seven and ten plants in too

But unions are headwind against this strategy, claiming that GM could increase profitability by increasing sales or by locating more production in Europe. "GM repeats regularly with excess capacity equivalent to 500,000 cars a year, we have two factories in too, and the new manufacturing manager visited the sites one after the other by playing against each other," said Thursday a union representative of the supervisory board at Opel.

"We know the main points of the strategic plan could be presented Wednesday: he plans to plant closures and no growth for the company," he added. "If it is voted, the entire union side will vote against this plan." For Dan Akerson, Managing Director of GM Europe's automotive sector has a total of between seven and 10 plants in too. The closure of one or two sites by GM could therefore increase the pressure on his new French ally, PSA Peugeot Citroen, for it is committed on the same track.

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Training: Larcher will report in early April

March 3, 2012 - 2:52 pm Comments Off

 

Gerard Larcher could have done without the public release, two weeks ago, Francois Fillon, who suggested to redirect some 31 billion spent annually on training unemployed only.

"I lie to you if I told you that I have not complicated the task," says the former chairman of the Senate to which the Prime Minister has given two months in late January to lay the groundwork for a "radical reform "vocational training system. Job seekers do not enjoy today that $ 3.8 billion on training 31 billion spent each year. A drop of water

.

The four "priority objectives" set out in its letter of engagement are clear. This is to "orient vocational training to those who need it most, including job seekers," and "encourage companies to better train their employees by allocating adequate funds." The former Minister of Labour intends to not vary from its roadmap. It continues its hearings until mid-March and will report – "an aid to reflection for the future majority" – early April. "We must adapt our discourse and practices in modern times, he says the Figaro, mid-term. Vocational training was forty years ago a tool of social advancement and has become over time a non-aid decommissioning and an insertion tool. "

For now, Gerard Larcher wishes to move three points. First, to increase from 10 to 40% the share of unemployed trained and adapt their training to real business needs. "We must territorialize reflection and ensure that the curriculum really coincide with skills needed in employment areas," he insists. Second, transform-Opca that collect money from training to companies in-prescribers. Third, rationalize expenditures. "We have a problem of cost effectiveness of certain formations, Judge Gerard Larcher. It is possible to redeploy, constant envelope, misused funds to training resulted in strong. "

Reform of the representative employers

Although it is not part of its roadmap, Gerard Larcher also intends to make proposals on the financing of trade unions and professional. Publication on the sly "real fake" Perruchot report on money management and trade unions-which confirmed "without suggesting any solution" that some organizations were shooting some of their resources-training convinced him to go in this sense. "There's too much unsaid and too known on these subjects, he despairs. I can not propose lines of education reform without addressing the issue of funding of social dialogue and propose ways of evolution. "The former second officer of the State should also suggest a reform of the employer's representative, in the vein of that which was implemented in 2008 for the unions, based on the election.

As for the referendum issue, raised by the President to remove "blockages" that are sure to respond to the outcome of discussions on vocational training, Gerard Larcher's not. "I believe in intermediate bodies, they are useful," says he, laconically.

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"We are ready to buy Monoprix"

February 26, 2012 - 11:56 am Comments Off

 

Galeries Lafayette and Casino are at war over control and recovery of Monoprix, they each own half the capital. Philippe Houze, president of Galeries Lafayette and Monoprix, explains for the first time its views on the subject.

LE FIGARO. – Why have you started the process of selling your stake in Monoprix?

Philippe Houzé. – In March 2011, I proposed Casino to renew our partnership for three years. After my numerous reminders, the group let me know the end of September it could grant me one more year. This proposal is a totally inappropriate. I realized that Casino wanted to settle in Monoprix and consolidate the company to 100% in its accounts, without paying the price. Our group can not agree to see and leave the company he founded and directed the last eighty years. If he wishes to take control, Casino has a purchase option at the price of expertise together with a control premium of 21%. He does not want to exercise it. Under these conditions, we have to consider the sale, but the evaluation not be taken as the exercise of our put option.

How do you explain that your participation Casino evaluates to 700 million euros, when you consider it to 1.95 billion?

Our estimate is based on the uniqueness of Monoprix. Fifteen times Ebitda, is the acquisition value of the Dutch Hema, the company that has the profile most similar to ours. Our multiple is only 11. As for the valuation of Monoprix Casino, it is very worrying. It is based on a McKinsey report that completely destroys Monoprix saying the group is not equipped to cope with the arrival of supermarkets in the city center and the emergence of e-commerce and its textile business not resist. If Casino do believe that Monoprix is ​​only five times its EBITDA, it leaves me president, I will continue to ensure value creation for shareholders.

Why did you refuse to pass on to Jean-Charles Naouri President of Monoprix?

Wednesday, Casino changed the course of the Board in order to begin, less than an hour later, a communication sequence cleverly orchestrated. In fact, Casino resulted in not being able to present a candidate for President of Monoprix and so was fatal to any other solution than my renewal.

But if Jean-Charles Naouri was a candidate, you would have refused

.

Can you imagine the Galeries Lafayette to accept the head of Monoprix a president who does not believe in the future of the company and who would have all the means to redeem us to devalue our participation at lower price?

Is divorce inevitable?

The attitude of Casino reinforces our idea that it is impossible to continue with a partner in total conflict, which promotes an MTP totally degraded. At the annual meeting of its branch patterns, Casino asked the Deputy CEO of Monoprix not to present his strategic plan, though approved by Jean-Charles Naouri … The current situation is not feasible in the long run. It is damaging to Monoprix, its customers and employees. This conflict affects a major Monoprix and its 20,000 employees fully dedicated to the company. If Jean-Charles Naouri does not accept the values ​​and philosophy of Monoprix, does not comply with the specificity of this format, the company will not resist.

Are you ready to negotiate?

We do not seek to negotiate. We want to return to legality, that is to say, enforce the protocol and allow JP Morgan to evaluate independently Monoprix. Casino tries to block this process. I was reappointed for one year as President of Monoprix. The statutes allow me to be extended four more times. I assume all my functions. Our goal is that Monoprix is ​​run by people who believe in the company, its officers, its values, and are determined to make it succeed. Casino will not, by devious means, take control of Monoprix, because the company would be hostile.

Are you still willing to buy out Casino in Monoprix?

Wednesday, Galeries Lafayette reiterated their offer on Feb. 10 at Casino redeem its share to 1.35 billion euros. I'm surprised that this proposal was not presented to the Board of Casino, I'm a member and including Galeries Lafayette are the third largest shareholder. Jean-Charles Naouri assured me that the offer would be discussed at council Monday. We have the means to finance the offer, if accepted.

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Spain wants to avoid foreclosures

February 18, 2012 - 1:32 pm Comments Off

 

The Spanish Minister of Economy, Luis de Guindos, began talks with the country's banks to reduce the number of foreclosures, which increase with the crisis. It should bring forward proposals to try to avoid eviction of defaulters.

The Conservative government of Mariano Rajoy seized and a sensitive social issue, of concern to all Spaniards and which took up the movement of Indignados. In 2010, 100,000 families were expropriated by Spanish banks for unpaid bills, a number four times higher than in 2007.

This worsening situation is as much a crisis as the structure of the real estate market. In Spain, 83% of the population own their homes, a record in the European Union. Despite a change in attitude since the bursting of the housing bubble, the rental market is still very small.

At the height of the housing boom, banks have extended credit indiscriminately to 100% or more of the property value, and floating rate over periods of up to 40 years.

Bombs

As the seizures, the bankers became the first Realtors in the country. These properties are difficult to sell in a sluggish market, now constitute a time bomb in bank balance sheets payday loans for self employed.

The Bank of Spain on Friday issued the rate of bad loans of Spanish banks. At 7.87% in December 2011, the highest figure since 1994, more than double the rate that prevailed there are still three years. These credits, some of which will never be repaid, mainly concern the real estate sector and amounted to 135.7 billion euros.

Between bad loans and a stock of unsold real estate and land, assets considered "problematic" – as to the uncertain value – totaled 176 billion euros in June 2011.

Financial reform prepared by the Executive aims to clean up the banking sector, the main source of market fears. The aim is to promote the absorption of small structures deficit by leading banks and compel credit institutions to strengthen their reserves of 52 billion euros.

The law was passed Thursday by a large majority of MPs. A sacred union rarely given the urgency of the crisis.

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Firewood burns in Ile-de-France

February 12, 2012 - 1:12 am Comments Off

 

The logs are exploding in the capital. With the cold polar current and higher hydrocarbons, chimneys begin to crackle louder. "The sales gallop since it's cold. We are running out of wood, a salesman explains the BP station on Avenue Paul Doumer (XVI). We sell the net logs from June to July, a quarter of a liter, 9.80 euros, with small kindlest handy for 4 euros. "A price high enough to not enjoy the warmth of the flames that occasionally and friendly . This is also the main motivation of the Paris market although this is changing. "We have no request to provide central Paris," said Sylvain Leonard, head of the wood logs Ile de France at the NFB (National Forest), through the joint venture Molinario NFB.  

European regulations

And contrary to popular belief, people in the capital can still make a fire in their fireplace. But on two conditions: "Do not bother neighbors and make two chimney swept every year: at the beginning of the start of the chimney and in the middle of the heating season," says Sylvain Leonard. While many consumers of central Paris have an approach of wood as approval, however in the Ile-de-France the consumer profile is different. Demand is steady and growing. "In the Ile-de-France, residential area, the consumption of wood logs grew by 30% over 12 months now with 30,000 cubic meters of wood delivered each year pay day loans. It starts to make a large volume, "says Sylvain Leonard. Main reason: consumption corresponds to an alternative energy source and complementary to traditional energy. "With the increase of oil, the wood is half the price of fuel oil and 30% cheaper than gas, says Sylvain Leonard. It's a bit more binding power of a wood boiler as this is an additional power source. "

Furthermore, with the next European regulations, it will become increasingly difficult to make fire by "open fire", that is to say, in a classic fireplace without insert. To limit the emission of particles, Brussels has banned the fireplace in large cities like Paris. "The interest of the pellet stove that adapt well to urban life becomes even more important, says Cyril Esnault, founder of the website Allobois.com. And can be plugged into any Internet magnet firewood. The Parisians are a third of our timber buyers, "says the manager. An energy source back to prehistory, which nevertheless still a bright future in the twenty-first century.

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November 20, 2011 - 1:40 am Comments Off

Officially, there is no need to worry. As it has done from 8 to 19 August, the business daily La Tribune will not appear in his paper between 19 and 30 December. To save printing and mailing. But also to "adapt the model to the new reading habits" on smartphones and tablets, as was justified in September, so afterwards, the managing editor, Jacques Rosselin.

The newspaper argued that the experience of "100% digital" this summer has allowed the site audience to jump by 50%, and digital distribution to reach 7.5% of the distribution paid France the newspaper in September, according to OJD, against 1.9% on average for the national daily press.But internal sources, the picture is less rosy cash advance payday loan.

"We stopped the paper in August simply because there were not enough people to make the newspaper," David Larbre protests, trade union SNJ, which further explains that "the savings to the temporary shutdown of the paper does not really represent much, printing contracts and distribution is negotiated annually. "He said the new ten-day suspension in December does one thing: allow employees to take holidays, after four months of extra work without leave.

Projects stopped

For on all fronts, the situation of The Tribune has not progressed. In protection proceedings since January, the newspaper is always looking for funding estimated at 5 million euros.