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Pressure mounts on the management of Air France-KLM. 144 MPs of all persuasions have signed the petition launched by Bernard Carayon, UMP deputy from the Tarn, to induce Air France Airbus in favor of a mégacommande long-haul aircraft. Monday, Pierre Lellouche, the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, has announced its intention to meet with Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, the CEO of Air France-KLM to seek "clarification" on its intentions. The meeting should take place this afternoon.

For the government, bad foreign trade figures – which widened to over 7 billion euros in April – have sounded like a severe reprimand. Particularly for companies whose shareholder is the State. Air France-KLM, it holds that "15%" of capital.But Pierre Lellouche believes that the company can "pass the buck" in a state that has "greatly helped" the group "when he had problems with Brussels." A similar approach to reprimand respondent last week to PSA Peugeot Citroen, after the revelation of its possible plans to close two factories in France. PSA is not a public company, but it has benefited from state funds during the crisis.

Strategic choice

The political pressure put on Air France is the extent of the challenge: a mégacommande – the first made jointly by Air France and KLM – a hundred long-haul aircraft. The project is described as historic by the leaders of Air France-KLM themselves: it should be in the tens of billions of dollars. The verdict of the direction the company should have to fall shortly after the general meeting in early July.Now, executives of Air France-KLM believe that the announcement will probably be delayed for several weeks, "the time that the discussions become less passionate."

Internally, the political turn taken by the back hurts. Bernard Pedamon, the pilot representative on the board of directors of Air France said he was "surprised and discontented." "These are the strategic choices that can be for an airline. It is a commitment for another twenty years to respond to economic considerations, he says. Currently, we are witnessing the return of our old demons. The days when you could bring in managers office at the head of the company or impose choices of planes is a bygone era. "

Currently, the weight of the two aircraft manufacturers in the fleet of the company tricolor is not identical.On all its long-haul aircraft, Air France totals 63 Boeing against Airbus 35. The company has indeed bought many Boeing 777-300 at a time when Airbus had no exact equivalent. However, all of its medium-haul (or 153 units) are Airbus.

The controversy of recent days is all the more surprising that for several months, officials of the fleet of Air France have expressed their intention to mix Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. "The case studied by our teams for the purchase of these devices are not made on a corner table," says an executive of the company. "We are studying a number of criteria: the choice of engines, the maintenance cost, the impact on our maintenance activity …" considerations rather distant from the campaign themes.

On Tuesday, a giant glass, Corning, and a French specialist in composite materials, Mersen, announce an alliance whose ambition is astonishing: the partners plan to revolutionize the manufacture of drugs. Corning has indeed used the properties of glass to develop a "reactor" to better control the manufacturing process of molecules for drug or fine chemicals.

Everything works, but to move to industrialization, it is necessary to use elements that exhaust heat very well. And this is where Mersen, specializing in composites. The agreement with the ex-Carbone Lorraine into that framework."The technology developed by Corning combined with our expertise in silicon carbide products represents a technological breakthrough for the pharmaceutical industry," said Luc Themelin, board member Mersen. The discussions lasted nearly a year and a final agreement covers the exclusive supply of ceramic microreactors Mersen in Corning.

This type of agreement is of particular interest Mersen. French society is indeed an OEM, by definition particularly vulnerable in its relations with its customers. To protect its margins, the group has developed a strong expertise in composite materials. It thus becomes an indispensable partner to its customers.

Using the special graphite, the group has made a remarkable breakthrough in the solar field. Five years ago, Mersenne was not present in this sector.This year, it should achieve 100 million euros of turnover short term personal loan.

Products manufactured in Tarbes

In the end, Mersen recorded 13% growth in its turnover last year to 741 million euros, an operating margin of 10.5%. And there are other sources of growth in the LED or the pharmacy, as evidenced by the agreement with Corning.

Today, there is no direct revenue associated with this contract. "Corning is currently negotiating with potential customers, mainly in Asia. We hope that the first contracts will be signed in September. To Mersenne, this means that the first revenues could arrive next year, "says Luc Themelin.

Corning's new product has many advantages over earlier technology: less investment, lower energy consumption and better control during manufacturing.The rise will take time, however, pharmaceutical companies not renewing their plants very often.

Mersen products related to this contract will be manufactured at a factory in Tarbes, which belonged to Boostec, bought by Mersenne in April 2010. Before the acquisition, the plant realized about seven million euros of turnover. "This contract would allow us to triple the revenues of the plant to the next three or four years, says Luc Themelin. Beyond that, we will make additional investments to increase capacity. "

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Coincidence of timing. IMF-EU Troika-ECB chose the last week of the campaign to start in Lisbon's assessment mission. Whatever the outcome on Sunday of the early legislative, the next government already knows he will receive a very limited scope. Winner given according to recent polls, the opposition leader, Pedro Passos Coelho (PSD-center right), should apply as soon as possible the austerity program imposed by the troika, in exchange for an aid package of 78 billion euros.

Click image for larger graphic.

70% stake sold
It was in the air for a few weeks is now official: Paris Saint-Germain will be partly sold by Colony Capital, its current owner (who owns 95.8% of capital), Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar (QIA). The information, released Tuesday afternoon by Le Parisien on its website, was confirmed in the wake of the club itself. "Colony Capital and investment company in Qatar announced that day, have finalized a draft agreement under which the new partner becomes a shareholder of the Paris-Saint Germain at 70%, Colony Capital 30% maintaining club, "says PSG in a statement. The boss of Colony Capital Europe, Sebastien Bazin, shall hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon to clarify the terms of the transaction.Le Parisien advance for the time a sale price between 30 and 40 million, without specifying whether this amount takes into account the club's losses, estimated at 19 million euros for the season ending, and its accumulated debts (between 15 and 20 million).

Sébastien Bazin said already, in the statement posted by the PSG, "since the entry of Colony Capital Club, we played our role as developer, coach of a stage of life of the GMP. Over the past 5 years we have provided the club a quality management team which has enabled the PSG have now training tools and training worthy of the great European clubs, and a team playing now in a peaceful environment. Our responsibility as a shareholder was also preparing for the future.That is why we sought the best possible partner for PSG a place in history. We found with our new partner who shares this ambition. "

No change in the organizational
This change in ownership should not, at first, change the current organization of the club since Robin Leproux should remain as president and coach Antoine Kombouare. However, QIA, which owns luxury hotels in the capital and is part of the capital of large French companies, could provide more resources to leaders in Paris for the summer recruitment campaign. "He (Editor's note: the new partner) took the measure of the importance of the work done by all of the current management of the club and wants to work with him to continue the efforts undertaken by the PSG to reach the highest levels" ensures Sebastien Bazin.What hoped to attract big names this summer (Alou Diarra, Kevin Gameiro, Dimitri Payet) …

Greece must provide more work and results, said the French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, who put pressure on Athens in an interview with Austrian daily Der Standard to be released this Saturday.

"Greece must deliver results and why the country must do more than during the last twelve months," said Christine Lagarde, whose name is mentioned as a successor to Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the IMF.

Asked about her refusal of any debt restructuring, Christine Lagarde said: "We already gave Athens more time to repay its loans in the euro area is already a concession."He continued: "It is legitimate that we expected that Greece will make its share of work."

"We do not want a state of bankruptcy"

The French Minister of Economy recognizes that the Greek government has done things, "but there are still areas where things are moving too slowly", referring to privatizations. "Either Greece delivers results, then we can imagine additional help.Otherwise there is the question of how Greece is ready to play the game for its own bailout, "said ministre.Et further emphasized:" What we certainly do not want, c 'is a state of bankruptcy, a default in Europe ..

While the Greek Government discusses the rise in unemployment generated by the austerity plan, the minister reminded the unemployment rate in Spain, according to her superior to that of Greece, but where "the country still does its job, saved and managed to turn around. "

Challenge to implement a program

The rating agency Fitch, meanwhile, lowered on Friday noted the long-term debt of Greece to three notches. This is a new blow to Athens which also saw its borrowing costs on market reached a new record.Fitch lowered the rating of BB + Greek + to B, referring to the "challenge" for Greece that is the "implementation of a program of structural reform and radical tax necessary to ensure the solvency of the state and the foundations of sustained economic recovery "in the country.

"New fiscal austerity measures are necessary" to achieve that Greece's budget deficit target of 7.5% of GDP in 2011, said Fitch. The agency suggests including poor tax revenues and difficulties in implementing a privatization program.

Greece also saw its cost of borrowing on the markets at a record Friday, the rate of its ten-year bonds exceeding 16.7%. Sign that investors fear that Greece is not able to honor its debts.

The Greek prime minister said his country would repay its entire debt."We will refund the loans," said George Papandreou, whose country was granted last year a plan to help the EU and the IMF amounting to 110 billion euros to avoid it default.

But many observers believe that Greece will avoid a major restructuring of its debt, meaning pay creditors later or less than expected. But the European Central Bank precludes this scenario.

In the wake of Fitch, another rating agency S & P has for its part lowered by one notch the rating of the long-term debt of the Crédit Agricole to 'A +' cons 'AA-' before, because of its exposure Greece."We believe that the French banking group Credit Agricole is particularly prone in Greece, because of the issue of solvency and the economic outlook" of the country, particularly through its subsidiary Emporiki, S & P said in a statement.

(With Agencies)

The natural disaster that shook Japan on March 11 and caused a serious nuclear accident in history, affecting badly the Japanese utility Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO). The company reported a net loss record 11 billion euros (1.25 trillion yen) on Friday morning, well above the 9 billion expected by the Japanese press. It is the worst deficit recorded by a Japanese non-financial group. The earthquake and the tsunami have paralyzed much of its central activity based in Fukushima, a city northeast of the country now known worldwide. For more than two months in fact, at least four of six reactors on the site are stopped. Before the event, Tepco expected a net profit of 1 billion euros.

Another important announcement this morning by Tepco: Masataka Shimizu's resignation.It must be said that his handling of the crisis has been sharply criticized in Japan and the rest of the world. Particularly for its lack of transparency in the first moments following the disaster. He will be succeeded by Toshio Nishizawa, the current CEO of the group.

State utilities and banks to contribute

The future already looks difficult for TEPCO. The operator had to call for help from the Japanese government. In a request sent on 10 May at the Japanese government, the third largest producer of electricity in the Archipelago evokes an immediate need 8.7 billion euros. Very quickly, the Japanese government has responded, putting Tepco under its control and disclose its financial rescue plan."The purpose of this plan is not to bail Tepco, said Friday the Japanese Minister of Economy, but to ensure that victims are compensated properly," he commented.

TEPCO has indeed compensate the 85,000 victims of the nuclear accident payday advance. A bill that could total between 25 and 43 billion euros, according to local press. Thus the state ensures that dip into its funds and requires the efforts of other private electricity companies in the country. Even banks will tighten their belts: they have provided a loan of 1.4 trillion yen (11.7 billion euros) to Tepco are asked to waive a portion of their claims vis-à-vis the operator .

For its part, TEPCO must, of course, participate in a pinch.The group will include transfer of financial assets and properties in order to concentrate its resources on the production and distribution of electricity. In addition, the eight most senior executives of the company will also waive any compensation and personnel managers to ordinary workers, will also undergo substantial pay cuts.

In exchange, Tepco falls again

This Friday morning in Tokyo, the title has finished Tepco small increase of 0.54% before the results are published in the group. Since, in trade-off meeting at the New York Stock Exchange, the action Tepco listed on Wall Street tumbles 9.6% and is only worth 4.45 dollars. So since March 11, the title collapsed by 83%. Investors, cooled the past two months, do not see Tepco bounce soon.While its nuclear activity has melted, the group had to increase production at its thermal power plants to continue to supply the population. However, this has a cost of hydrocarbons, which could cost another 8.7 billion uros on the current tax year.

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At the opening this Friday, the Dow Jones revolves around the balance, 0.15% after clinching a few minutes of trading. The Standard & Poor's 500 does not move at 1361 points while the Nasdaq fold from 0.06% to 2871 points. Economic indicators fell this day emerged mixed.

Household consumption to menu

After finishing up the day, Wall Street reacted little to the various macroeconomic indicators on the agenda Friday. Household consumption has caught up. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, spending rose 0.6%, the ninth consecutive month of increase, after rising 0.9% in February (revised from 0.7%).

Inflation accelerated for the fourth straight month the U.S., according to the price index associated with household consumption expenditure (PCE), released Friday in Washington.It reached 1.8% yoy, while she was still only 1.0% in November

But the growth of economic activity in the Chicago area slowed slightly more than expected, according to the index released Friday Thursday by the trade association ISM, which stood at 67.6 for April.

At 3:55 p.m., the second estimate of the index of consumer confidence in April, awarded by the University of Michigan, will be unveiled.

Merck, Chevron and Caterpillar publish their results

On the corporate side, Chevron (-0.84% ​​to 107.90 U.S. dollars) has published better than expected results in the first quarter. Net income group share was up 36% year on year to 6.2 billion dollars in the first quarter.

The manufacturers of construction equipment Caterpillar (2.37% to 115.33 dollars) has issued an earnings per share up 411% at 1.84 dollar.The turnover at 12.949 billion dollars, increased by 57%. The group revised its forecast for 2011 up. It expects sales of between 52 and 54 billion dollars against 50 billion previously.

Goodyear (9.92% to 17.81 dollars) on Friday issued a first quarter earnings four times higher than Wall Street expectations, thanks to strong demand.

Blackberry sells more than 15% yesterday after warning on its results.The Canadian group Research In Motion (RIM), maker of multimedia phone BlackBerry, has announced Thursday that its earnings forecasts for the current quarter, published on March 24 last, had to be revised downwards because of disappointing sales.

Merck (+0.14% to 35.82 dollars) announced a net profit in the first quarter more than tripled over the same period last year, which was impacted by costs of merger with Schering Plough. It amounts to $ 1.04 billion. The pharmaceutical group has slightly raised its annual forecast.

The groupeMicrosoft (-2.06% to 26.16 dollars) is very guarded, after publication, on Thursday after the market close, with net income up 31% to 5.23 billion for the third quarter shifted its fiscal year. A performance that does not stop him being left behind parApple (0.79% to 349.50 dollars).Based on the number of shares and excluding special items, earnings amounts to 61 cents, above the 56 cents expected by analysts. The turnover shown up 10% to 16.43 billion, despite the climate of "mixed" for the PC market.

Analysts had anticipated a pleasant surprise in the first quarter for Publicis. They were right. But they expected that the group displays a better advertising revenue. Publicis has posted organic growth of 6.5% in the first quarter to 1.286 billion euros, against a consensus of 6.7%.

An Unusually, this performance is due to the good performance of Latin America (organic growth up 8.7% in the first quarter), supported by Brazil (+20.1%), U.S. USA (+8.4%) and Europe (+6.2%) boosted by France (+8.2%). In contrast, the Asia-Pacific is growing only by 1.5% due to the earthquake in Japan and floods in Australia. China limits the damage with a growth of 8.2%. "Our exposure in Japan is low.The earthquake and tsunami that struck countries, such as the revolts that took place in the Middle East, will negatively impact any of our forecasts for 2011, "said Maurice Levy, Publicis chairman. The boss of the advertising group is also stayed very evasive on the subject, merely indicate that "a 5% growth in sales in 2011 would be a very conservative forecast."

"We outperform the market by 2011"

Thanks to the good performance of China, Brazil, but also Russia and India, growth in emerging countries amounted to 11.4% in the first quarter. Digital activities alone represent 28.2% of Group revenue (against 27% in 2010). "We do not show much innovation and therefore continue to invest in growth markets such as digital and emerging" quips Maurice Levy.Digital activities and represent emerging elsewhere 48.3% of Group revenue in the first quarter "in line with the group's objective is to achieve 65% of its income on these two segments," says he .

The advertising market, the subsidiary of Publicis, ZenithOptimedia, has yet reviewed this week down its forecast for investment growth in 2011 to 4.2% against 4.6% due to the disaster in Japan and uprisings in several countries Arab. But that does not diminish the confidence of Maurice Levy. "Advertisers have not stopped their campaign, assures the President of Publicis. We found no concern on their part. Their primary concern is the growth, not cost reduction. "

A trust that is found when talking about the second quarter. "The second quarter looks good.The year 2011 will be for its good or very good, "said President of Publicis. We outperform the market in 2011. Obviously, the soaring price of raw materials encourages companies to protect their margins. It may therefore be a risk cutoff of investment from advertisers. But the future is growth. "

Future and it is precisely at Publicis issue, that of Maurice Levy, whose mandate expires Dec. 31, 2011 will be extended. But the president still has not set a date or given any indication as to his successor. "My priority is Publicis. I will remain the necessary time. "

Take action publicly traded group neither too small nor too large, but rather the media. Shake it skillfully through several transactions not too discreet. Let the rumor thrive … When the market this action starts to boil, enjoy.

This technique of "tea" – a form of manipulation, of course – may well be that the action was lively Euro Disney in recent weeks. In February, the stock suddenly more than doubled to more than 9 euros, in trading volumes amazing (up to 4 low fee cash advance.5% stake in one sitting). He still traded around 7.70 euros today.

The Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) is conducting its investigation for several months. But according to our information, a track is preferred.That of a small company of algorithmic trading, based abroad, including the AMF has already crossed the name several times in similar surveys. The AMF is no comment.

Good news for consumers. The telecoms regulatory authority (Arcep) decided to require mobile operators to reduce the price charged for routing calls from a mobile network to another, said cost of call termination. Practical consequence, this decline should reduce future bills of consumers.

Wednesday, Arcep set the goal of reducing the cost of 14 cents per minute to 8 cents today at 1 January 2013. A reduction of 42%!

To get there, Constable Telecom requires a first down 2 cents, effective July 1, 2011, and 1 payday advance.5 cents in January 2012 and finally to 1 cent from 1 July 2012.

Since 2008, Arcep requires a steady decline in prices.This has enabled operators to launch tenders called "Abundance" with unlimited calls to certain times or to certain numbers selected by the subscriber.

This is still lower tariffs that allowed for some months to some operators to free calls from a landline to a mobile.