The anticoagulant Plavix, Sanofi's flagship drug, loses its patent on Thursday the United States. Although long-expected, this is a difficult stage for the championship tricolor pharmacy. The arrival of generics is usually depressing sales of an original drug by 80% within months. However, in 2011, sales of Plavix in the United States accounted for 4.8 billion euros. In accounting terms, the decline in sales will have no impact on the accounts of the champion tricolor because the marketing of its flagship product is provided by the U.S. laboratory BMS.

The benefit of Sanofi will, however, heavily impacted. In 2012, the group's net profit will suffer an impact of 1.4 billion euros, due to the loss of U.S. patents on two products, Aprovel / Avapro in March and especially Plavix May 17, announced Chris Viehbacher, CEO of Sanofi in February.

Plavix had already lost its patent protection in Europe. But its total turnover in 2011 reached 7 billion euros. This made so ephemeral, without doubt, the top-selling drug in the world, after the cholesterol-lowering Lipitor, sold by Pfizer, has lost its patent protection last November.

Clopidogrel, the active ingredient used for generic for Plavix and marketed by the French lab is fully produced Sisteron (04). However, the laboratory will manufacture other chemical molecules, which means that 500 jobs are not threatened by the loss of U.S. patent for Plavix, Sanofi sure.  

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The former trader Jerome Kerviel, who was sentenced in 2010 to a record loss of Societe Generale (SocGen) of nearly 5 billion euros, Friday filed a complaint for "fraud in the judgment" against his former employer. Kerviel Societe Generale accuses of misleading the Paris criminal court in not informing him that she had recovered, thanks to a French tax scheme, 1.7 billion euros on 4.9 billion that she believes she lost because of financial transactions undertaken by the trader.

At trial, in October 2010, the former trader was considered solely responsible for the loss suffered by the bank in early 2008, in a financial crisis. Convicted of embezzlement, forgery and using false and fraudulent introduction of data into the computer system of the bank, he was sentenced to five years in prison, three strong, and damages of four colossal, 9 billion euros.

The complaint is filed "for a simple reason," namely that Societe Generale "has failed to say she had received a sum unduly from the tax authorities of $ 1.7 billion euros, "said his lawyer David Koubbi in Europe 1. In a statement released in the evening, Societe Generale said "take note" of the complaint and announced that it "has asked his lawyers to sue for false accusations in the shortest possible time." SocGen also argues that it "will present its case at trial on appeal."

"Fictitious transactions"

According Koubbi Me and some accountants, the bank should not have this deduction because its systems of control of traders like Kerviel had found wanting in this case high quality business cards.

The lawyer asked last week to the French Parliament to establish a commission of inquiry into the tax rebate obtained in 2008 but he had not been reported during the trial of Jerome Kerviel. Shortly after the first verdict, news reports had revealed that the bank had taken advantage of a device that enables companies to benefit, in case of extraordinary losses, a tax deduction of up to one third of the amount lost, or the normal tax rate for corporations. SocGen had explained that the "tax treatment of losses related to fraudulent activities of Jerome Kerviel was done transparently, in accordance with tax regulations."

The former trader also said that Societe Generale has made fictitious transactions similar to yours at the same time. Interviewed by Europe 1, David Koubbi explains: "We discover in the quite extraordinary volume of documents comprising the record that there is a document where it says that Societe Generale has made itself" of "sham transactions ( …) before January 18, which is the last day that Mr. Kerviel was on the premises of the General Society, and then subsequently, on January 21, 2008, when he was not on the premises of the General Society ".

The appeal of Jerome Kerviel, 35, will last from June 4 to 28  

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A rating agency on three, Standard & Poor's, has already withdrawn its prestigious Aaa to France. One of its competitors, Moody's, could soon follow, warned the Socialist candidate for president Francois Hollande. In the days following the presidential election.

Moody's placed under the supervision of the French debt rating earlier this year, he said in an interview with Journal du Dimanche. It "will make a decision on May 12, he argued. It will not be a consequence of the May 6 vote of the French. I warn, already, for our fellow citizens that there is no confusion (…) For now, I ask in any case to be assessed by the French and not by markets. "  

How the candidate can know the date on which the decision will fall on Moody's France? Rating agencies maintain absolute secrecy about the content of their deliberations and their timing, until the publication of their decision. To predict the date of May 12, the candidate is based on the deadline set by the agency between his warning to the country concerned and the actual announcement.

Moody's placed the rating a negative outlook on Feb. 14. It can give its verdict – probably too negative for AAA French – in May. However, it would have a year to decide. "She may wait to see what measures are being implemented by the future president, for example until fall, when the budget for 2013 will be presented," qualifies Norbert Gaillard, specialist rating agencies.  

Clearing the ground

Francois Hollande tried to clear the ground, should he be elected, and while his main opponent, Nicolas Sarkozy, waved the threat of an attack against France markets where Socialist victory. Today, has defended the PS candidate, turbulence affecting Spain and Italy but not France. "It is particularly irresponsible for the incumbent to use the threat of speculative movements to persuade voters to abandon the alternation," he pleaded.

The first week of the next president, whoever he is, ahead eventful. First Moody's should actually decide before May 15 the fate of Aaa it attributed to France so far. Then the Commission will publish its opinion on the stability program of France. This document, sent to Brussels last week, details how the government intends to restore the balance of public finances by 2016. Problem: it takes into account neither the promises of the outgoing president, nor those of his socialist opponent.

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»BLOG – Why the futures contract on the OAT is good news

Virginia Rometty, the IBM boss, she will be admitted to the very select Augusta National Golf Club, home like every year, in Georgia, the Augusta Masters that lasts jursqu'à Sunday? As official sponsor of the tournament, along with Exxon Mobil and AT & T, the tradition that the leader of IBM obtains de facto membership in the Augusta National Golf Club, and whether it takes the famous green jacket member struck the shield of the tournament during the duration of the Masters.

The golfing institution which has only 300 members, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, is facing a serious dilemma, reports Bloomberg news site. Since its founding in 1933, the Club membership is in effect only for men. Therefore, on the occasion of this 76th edition, can break tradition and considered the patron saint of IBM as the equal of her male predecessors or can it take the risk of alienating a sponsor capital? As a sponsor, IBM provides indeed all technology services to the tournament start at the site of the Masters as "Big Blue" has managed since 1996.

True to its reputation discretionary, the tournament director has declined to comment hiding behind its privacy policy. Asked on the eve of the tournament, Billy Payne swept a backhander issues relating to the admission of Virginia Rometty or not personal business card. "As always, all questions about who can be a member and will have been discussed privately among members," he explained simply.  

The prestige of the tournament excludes any scandal

This situation is not new for the Masters in Augusta that regularly faces numerous calls to modernize. Already in 2003 a campaign was conducted by American feminists to denounce the discriminatory admissions policy advocated by management. In response to the controversy, the tournament has waived any sponsorship for two consecutive editions are depriving the passage of lucrative advertising revenue.

Ten years later, the feminist call cover and want to be heard. Martha Burk, who led the unsuccessful campaign to admit a woman in this place of power and privilege, said that appointing a woman to head an official sponsor is an opportunity for Club abandon all sexism against women. An avid golf player and regular, President Barack Obama also said Thursday, speaking through his spokesman, that Augusta National had to admit the boss of IBM for his club.

Virginia Rometty is the first woman to head IBM. Photo credit: Dima Gavrysh / AP

The legendary New York taxis will bring up to date. Their famous yellow color lightens slightly, their horn is less unpleasant and, above all, they adapt to the needs of businessmen in a hurry as visitors to the city. Within this "cab" new version, an electrical outlet, two USB ports and small reading lights allow passengers to work and recharge their devices. And for those who prefer to enjoy the breathtaking views of the skyscrapers, the roof will now be equipped with a panoramic window.

This "Taxi of Tomorrow" promised by the manufacturer, Nissan, will be "the safest, most comfortable and most convenient that the city has ever had," said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The 600,000 daily passengers of taxis will have more space for their legs and can adjust themselves air conditioning and heating in the back. They can also communicate with the driver through an intercom. As for the upholstery, it is anti-microbial.

Nissan continued to conquer America

The Japanese partner of Renault last year won the contract to renew the fleet of 13,000 taxis in New York, beating two other finalists, the Ford and the American Turkish Karsan. Sold 29,700 dollars, the NV200 MPV will invade the streets of New York from fall 2013.

The 13,000 taxis take to the streets of New York in autumn 2013.

The franchisor Monceau Fleurs he bitten off more than it can chew by acquiring Rapid'Flore late 2008 to become number one French? Three years later, the signs of indigestion were in any case become so important that the direction of the florist, which has 487 franchises in the Monceau Fleurs and Rapid'Flore and Happy, was forced to seek entry into backup procedure late last October. She feared not being able to meet its debt repayments -26 million euros, or 42% of its turnover in 2011 (61.8 million) – and wanted to concentrate on major reorganization, initiated a year ago .

Five months later, Monceau Fleurs is about to present its plan to emerge from the backup: the project of spreading the debt will be subject to creditors on April 2, and then to shareholders four days later. The downstream of the largest of these, Laurent Amar, grand-son of the founder of the group, which retains 68% stake in the florist does not have any doubt.

It is himself who decided to change everything or almost in the group he chairs, finding it necessary to surround himself "a strong and experienced team in the field of distribution and management of international companies ". The general manager was created operational for the group now operates in nine countries. It was given to Paul Mir, former Promodès, passed by PPR, Fnac and Kingfisher (Castorama …).

Market restructuring

The complete reorganization-finance, promotions, product management for roses and gerberas, as in the food-distribution shows its effectiveness free online credit report. Current operating income is again slightly positive in its last financial year (ended 30 September 2011), whereas it was negative by about 2 million euros a year earlier. However, this improvement is mainly due to a workforce reduction, increased from 205 to 170 employees grouped on one site in Villebon.

"We are busy making our size, coupled with the integration of Rapid'Flore, and the power of our three brands a real strong market also being restructured," said Paul Mir. According Xerfi, florists accounted for 54% of sales in value and 35% by volume of a market for flowers and plants by 2.3 billion euros. "Their market share, however, tends to fade for several years, primarily for the benefit of the garden," but also large food stores, says the firm.

Of a total of 15,000 florists in France, only 650 are members of a group, of which 490 are a Monceau Fleurs (in cities), Happy (with an offer based on decoration) or Rapid'Flore (in cities average). By offering more services to its franchisees, such as loyalty card or access to a new online store launched in the third quarter, Monceau Fleurs still hopes to strengthen its first position. But in a less risky.

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