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GroupM was promised a destiny to Twitter and Foursquare. Like the latter, the start-up in New York was revealed at the conference Internet "South by Southwest," which was held in Texas in March. But barely a year after its creation, GroupM has already attracted the attention of the giants of the Internet and has just been bought by Skype for an estimated $ 80 million.

The operation allows the specialist to Internet telephony to build a niche in the amount of online communication: messages grouped. With services such as GroupM, users can create discussion groups on their mobile phone and communicate with others, forming "chatrooms" private SMS.In recent months, major Internet players have been enamored of such services, which range from communication, and coordination, like Facebook, which bought the Beluga service in March 2011, eight months after its creation. In addition, the social network launched mid-August, Facebook Messenger, a mobile instant messaging application.

For its part, Google has made this communication bundle a cornerstone of its community platform + Google launched in late June, with the "hangouts" spaces bundled instant messaging and video. Finally, as recently shown by the London riots, the BlackBerry is an actor to be reckoned with in this area, through its private courier BBM (BlackBerry Messenger). Now owns GroupM, Skype will better stand up to these types of communications fast cash without a hassle.

175 million monthly users of Skype

"Skype and GroupM have a common vision.GroupM's team has created a messaging experience incredibly attractive bundle that runs across the terminals and mobile platforms, making it a perfect complement in voice, video and text of the Skype family, "said Tony Bates, general manager of Skype, in a statement.

For Jared Hecht, co-founder Steve Martocci GroupM, "there is a natural affinity between Skype and GroupM.""Our goal is to continue to develop tools that allow people to easily communicate, share and keep in touch with their close relations and important," he said, arguing that integration with Skype would allow the start-up achieve its vision of "ten times faster."

The start-up is already looking forward to see the service offered to 175 million monthly users of Skype.

The acquisition of Skype by GroupM, which is the subject of discussion for several months, could also be beneficial to Microsoft. It announced the acquisition of Skype for $ 8.5 billion in May.While sentencing the operating system (OS) Windows Mobile Phone 7, the software giant could find with GroupM a valuable feature to include in its bid for smartphones.

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Wall Street looks set to continue the rally that started in last weekend. On Monday, the Dow opens up 0.48% to 11,323.44 points. The Nasdaq index before for its 0.60% to 2522.93 points.

As in Asia, the U.S. markets should react positively to the announcement of a contraction much weaker than expected Japanese GDP in the second quarter. But as in Europe, they should remain cautious on the eve of an important meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the reform of the governance of the euro area. They should discuss ways to implement to prevent contagion problems of sovereign debt to the rest of the region.

But Germany has already warned investors: this meeting will lead to "nothing spectacular"."It will be a working meeting on the governance of the euro area in line with European decisions taken in late July," said the spokesman of the Ministry of Finance. The latter also confirmed the skepticism against German Eurobonds solution yet desired by many investors. "The Euro-bonds are not an option," ruled the spokesman. These ads have already resulted in demoralizing the European investors.

Real estate for

Until the final conclusions of the meeting, U.S. investors are learning that manufacturing activity in the New York area declined for the third consecutive month at -7.7, 3.9 points lower than July .

The index of the property market is expected later.

Note that the currency market, the Euro rises slightly against the greenback at 1.4287 dollar.Oil markets, oil prices opened up on Monday in New York. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery was trading at 86.13 dollars, up 75 cents. Prices were down during the European trading, erasing their gains made in Asian trade in a market nervous and still haunted by persistent concerns about global growth and the debt crisis in the eurozone payday loan lenders. A barrel of Brent North Sea crude for September delivery was trading at 107.56 dollars on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in London, down 47 cents from Friday's close.

Google swallows Motorola Mobility

On the corporate side, Estee Lauder and Sysco should publish their results on Monday.

Lowe (-0.27% to 19.37 dollars) has already reported sales below expectations in the second quarter of its fiscal year and lowered its annual targets for the second time in three months, consumers pushing their development projects until later because of sluggish growth.

Google (-0.88% to 558.94 dollars) will buy the mobile phone manufacturer Motorola Mobility for $ 12.5 billion in cash.

Time Warner (-0.43% to 65.25 dollars) has reached an agreement to buy the cable operator Insight Communications to Carlyle for three billion dollars in cash.

Bank of America (3.20% to 7.42 dollars) has announced the sale of its activities in the international credit cards in Britain, Ireland or Canada.

Boeing (0.16% to 61.84 dollars) announced it had completed with Air Lease Corp. an order valued at $ 2.5 billion on 14 737-800 aircraft and five 777-300ER.

Pfizer (2.41% to 18.29 dollars) announced Monday it had won before a U.S. court case against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries of Israel, preventing the global generics to produce a copy of Viagra before 2019 .

Transocean (2.15% to 56.81 dollars), listed in New York, wants to buy the Norwegian group Aker Drilling, for a total of 1.1 billion Swiss francs (1 billion), according to a statement Monday.Several large shareholders, representing 65% of the capital, have agreed to the deal, said the Swiss.

The American specialist craft materials Grainger (2.12% to 138.72 dollars) on Monday announced the acquisition of the Dutch distributor of fasteners Fabory Group for $ 344 million (242 million).

The Paris Bourse closed this week very agitated in the green. This Friday, the CAC 40 ended on a net increase of 4.02% to 3213.88. The London Stock Exchange gained 3.04% at the close, the DAX 3.45% to 5997.74 points, Milan 4%. But everywhere, the sessions have been very volatile in trading volume lower than the previous day (4.84 billion euros in Paris).

The CAC 40 is thus fell into the red immediately after opening up 0.17%. It still yielded 1.59% in morning before rising slope, and show an increase of 2.09% to 3154 points in mid-session.Around 16:15, the Paris index gained 2.76% to 3174.79 even despite the publication items, across the Atlantic, two mixed macroeconomic statistics that have hampered the enthusiasm of investors in New York.

Retail sales in the U.S. in July and were up 0.5% (after 0.3% in June), but the U.S. consumer confidence has it, fell in August. According to an index released Friday by the University of Michigan, which stood at 54.9, its lowest level since it is established, either since 1966. This drop has surprised analysts who had forecast a smaller drop to 62.5.

No growth in the second quarter

On the macroeconomic front in France, INSEE reported this morning from zero growth in the second quarter in France (0.0%), against an increase of 0.9% in the first quarter.Inflation also slowed: the consumer prices fell by 0.4% in July, resulting in an increase of 1.9% over the year (against 2.1% from June 2010 to June 2011 ).

Faced with these new investors are so cautious again after a week marked by extreme market volatility, which saw the CAC 40 push the psychological threshold of 3000 points during the session Thursday. Investors were finally reassured by the announcement of a meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on August 16 to issue joint proposals on the governance of the euro area.

Bank stocks rebound

Since the ban on short selling in the securities of eleven banks and insurance companies to counter the extreme volatility of the stock market values, the latter continuing their rebound started the day before, the image of BNP Paribas (4, 91% to 37.47 euros), which issued a statement Thursday night to reaffirm the strength of its capital, Societe Generale (3.15% to 23.72 euros) and Credit Agricole (1.77% to 6 , 49 euros).

Natixis wins 7.26% to 3.06 euros and signs the largest increase in the CAC.

Carrefour jumps more than 5%

Other values ​​to follow, Carrefour pulls out of the game: the way ahead vigorously 5.13% to 18.85 euros.U.S. giant Wal-Mart have mandated UBS to investigate the acquisition of the Brazilian subsidiary of French retailer, according to Reuters citing a source familiar with the matter.

Goldman Sachs lowered its recommendation on Lafarge (-0.17% to 28.96 euros) and withdrew the title from its list of recommended values ​​in priority to the purchase.The intermediary has instead built his list to Saint-Gobain (3.72% to 34 euros) and Vinci (2.42% to 35.3 euros).

Europacorp (3.13% to 3.30 euros), the production company of Luc Besson, Thursday reaffirmed its goal of a return to balance for the current year, despite a sharp decline its turnover in the first quarter.

Derichebourg (2.98% to 3.63 euros) on Thursday confirmed its target of improving its annual net income, after recording a sharp increase in sales over the first nine months of the year.

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Baroin the stage. He keeps repeating the last few days: it will require further cuts in the tax loopholes in 2012. For now, the government planned to cut $ 3 billion. "It is very likely that we will go beyond, as part of the Finance Act," warns the Minister of Economy. Otherwise, the objective of reducing the public deficit (4.6% of GDP in 2012, 3% in 2013) will not be met. The IMF says the same thing Wednesday, in the final version of his report on France, he warned that without additional effort, the deficit "would decline more slowly contemplated" and still reach 3.8% two years.

However, Prime Minister François Fillon reiterated last week even as the French would not have to tighten their belts further.If the IMF is seeking new revenue – or additional savings – is that it considers the government's growth projections too optimistic. He did not table more than 1.9% next year (after 2.1% this year), where the government is preparing its 2012 budget on an assumption of 2.25% (after 2%).

The cost of Greece and Libya

But that's not really what worries Bercy. Growth at 2.25%? "The account will be," says without a doubt a top official of the Ministry of Economy.

However, Bercy identified several elements that could degrade the accounts. First, the second bailout of Greece. While it will not weigh directly on the deficit of France, as François Fillon stressed. The private sector has agreed to cash a loss equivalent to 21% of the value of the loan granted to Athens.The slate for French banks would exceed 2 billion euros. "We will inevitably income tax on companies and less," admits the Ministry of Economy.

Then "there will be a time when we look at the balance of external operations," Do we loose the ministry. In other words, the commitment of the army in Libya could be very expensive.

Finally, remember that at Bercy Taiwan frigates affair will cost 460 million euros to France. In early June, after ten years of a bitter legal battle, Thales has indeed been ordered to pay more than $ 800 million in Taiwan, for commissions on the sale of frigates in 1991. The State had brought its guarantee in the contract."Public finances must now endure the heavy consequences of the decision in 1991 to pay commissions, unlike the letter of the contract," Matignon had pointed to the announcement of the court decision. This cost was included in the supplementary budget at the beginning of July. It will, however, offset this expense.

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The Alibaba China could become a major player in the field of operating systems for mobile phones just as Android, IOS, or WP7. In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal, the Chinese e-commerce specialist, prepares to launch its own operating system (OS). But this new system has a particularity: it is based on the cloud, literally the "cloud computing". In other words, this new system will store the user data on remote servers. Such OS therefore requires a connection to broadband Internet in all circumstances.

This project should be launched in the third quarter of this year, said the American daily. Initially, the system should be accessible only to the Chinese market but "nothing says it will not be used elsewhere after," said a source familiar with the journal.

This launch marks another milestone for Alibaba, more used to make software and especially shopping sites online. Like him, more and more companies are trying to afford the lion's share in the growth market of smartphones. Another Chinese, Baidu, Google's competitor frontal China would launch its own OS for the Chinese market, based on the technology of Google Android. If these Chinese projects are completed, Apple, with its own system IOS, Microsoft Windows 7 Phone and Google, which has the Android operating system, could see their global market dominance eroded.

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) …

As expected, Saint-Gobain began the process of IPO of its subsidiary Verallia the second quarter of this year. On Tuesday, the maker of glass bottles has confirmed that he filed with the bousières its core document, the first step to joining the Paris Bourse. No timetable is available for the following events.

Saint-Gobain, one of its major competitors Irish CRH, announced in October 2010 its intention to financial markets a minor part of its glass packaging business, which employs nearly 15,000 employees, produces 25 billion bottles and jars a year, and who made last year a turnover of 3.6 billion euros.

The French group intends to sell the subsidiary for several years because he does not longer considered a strategic activity in view of his refocusing on the habitat, but the demerger proposal had been suspended because of the economic crisis.

Volatility does not discourage small companies

Yet, for several months, the volatility and uncertainty in the markets in Paris have rejected more than one company. Examples: the placing on the market by 20% of Canal +, the giant Danish ISS cleaning or German shipowner Hapag-Lloyd went to the door. Groupama him, was postponed to 2012, as Veolia, Transdev. But despite all calls to markets by small companies have worked, as was the case with Tekka group (dental implants), Jemini (licensed products for children), and Biosynex (diagnostic medical tests).

"The French, chilly when it comes to major operations and less hardy than the Anglo-Saxons and Germans, however, are well positioned for this type of highly specialized companies," said Cedric Chaboud, director of institutional management in Lazard Freres Gestion. He cites the many operations that took place last year (37 transactions, for approximately EUR 100 million raised) in the image of the iconic Carmat (developer of artificial heart) in July.

Compared to large transactions that want to raise many important capital investors, these deals are less vulnerable to the economic environment."They are aimed at a much smaller customer groups and risks of a hostile reception from the market are limited," explains Franklin Pichard, director of Barclays stock.

Large operations snubbed, divisions favorite

If the classic introductions may scare investors, not to divisions that currently have the wind in their sails. They allow companies to streamline operations and reduce the market discount related to their holding company status, "said Cedric Chaboud.

After the success earlier this year of "spin-off made by ArcelorMittal, which separated from its branch stainless steel Aperam, other operations will follow. Including Carrefour, which has offered its shareholders a demerger of Dia 100% and 25% of Carrefour Property.

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"This is another step," said Chris Viehbacher, CEO of Sanofi-Aventis Business on BFM on Monday morning. A month and a half after formalized the acquisition of U.S. biotech Genzyme, the pharmaceutical company announced on Monday morning having met 84.6% stake in its target (number of shares), after the close of the offer on April 1.

For late or indecisive, Sanofi-Aventis has announced the reopening for four days after the offer of 74 dollars per share, beginning this Monday, April 4 and April 7, 2011 Termier at midnight, Paris time. With this announcement, Sanofi-Aventis loop thus one of the most difficult acquisitions in its history. More than eight months of stock market battle will have been necessary to convince the board of directors of Genzyme.

End of an eight-month battle Market

More than the interest of the reconciliation, Henri Termeer, Genzyme's CEO questioned the price offered by the French, hoping to raise up the auction. A successful challenge, the champion tricolor pharmacy having finally sold, raising its offer from 69 to 74 dollars per share, together with a certificate of conditional value (TRC).It could reach 14 dollars per share based on sales performance of Cerezyme and Fabrazyme, two major products of Genzyme, which has experienced serious production problems, but especially those of Lemtrada, developed an anticancer drug against multiple sclerosis, and could become a future blockbuster (drug of over one billion euros in annual sales) no faxing 1 hour payday loans.

So it's a big step forward for Sanofi-Aventis, which has just spent over $ 20.1 billion to afford the latest nuggets still independent of biotechnology. And this redemption, the laboratory with one stone two birds, reinforcing both in biotech, where despite efforts in recent years, he remained behind. In addition, Sanofi-Aventis is increasing in rare diseases, where it was virtually absent.

Preserve the culture of Genzyme

"This operation is Sanofi-Aventis the world leader in biotechnology, alongside our leadership position in vaccines, has also said Chris Viehbacher Business on BFM this morning. For if the French had been dethroned in 2010 by GlaxoSmithKline in the sector, it still aims to double its sales of vaccines for the period 2008-2014, to bring them to more than 5.7 billion euros.

In the meantime, the acquisition strategy very offensive Viehbacher crisis should be put in parenthesis, the leader now want to concentrate on the restructuring of research and development. A crucial step in integration, when we know that the corporate culture of biotechnology in particular is one of the key success factors.The rush too hastily would then lose to Sanofi-Aventis which is the productivity of research teams of its target.

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Details should be announced in the morning. On Monday morning at Air France, no information was available regarding the new rates mentioned in Liberation by the company for the repatriation of the French blocked in Japan since the earthquake.

Ever since France, like many countries – Great Britain, Luxembourg, U.S., etc. .- recommended that its nationals to depart from Tokyo because of the nuclear risk, prices of air tickets have skyrocketed in . On the Internet, numerous reports of prohibitive tariffs.Inflation, which partly explained by the booking systems, the famous cost and yield that allows transportation companies to manage the price based on supply and demand drive.

15,000 euros for a return ticket

Some passengers complained of an escalation of tickets and even spoke up to 15,000 euros! If the company was talking to a computer error and assured on Sunday that tickets were still available for 2000 euros, "the normal price for a last minute reservation on a journey so long," a gesture of Air France would be welcome.

Especially as the demand remains strong. On Monday, the Air France website, no flight from Tokyo to Paris was available before Wednesday, and one way was charged just over 3000 euros.Information confirmed by the Embassy of France, who advises people wishing to leave the country to search for flights to other Asian capitals.

As for departures from France to Japan, the union president of French tour operators CETO, Rene-Marc Chikli, said they were pushed back until next Sunday. Each tour operator must implement its own policy on refunds or exchange tickets.

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Cancellations will travel faster than the revolutions themselves Arab. While the wind blows still timidly revolt in the Middle East, several of them noted a sharp drop in hotel bookings.

Jordan in particular, several sources said that cancellations had reached 50%. A tour operator confirms that in 3000 tourists who booked a trip in the coming months, 1200 had already annulled. Jean-Francois Rial, CEO of Voyageurs du Monde, a leading tour operator in France, also referred 50% of cancellations to the country. This situation is particularly worrying for a local economy where tourism represents 14% of GDP, with a turnover estimated at one billion dollars in 2010.

Syria is no exception.Ghassan Chahine, owner of Naya Tours agency in Damascus, said he registered 35-40% cancellations for peak tourist season which runs from March to May, mainly by Europeans. The Syrian Minister of Tourism Saadallah Agha al-Qala, has been forced to revise downward its objectives: "We do not expect an increase of over 11% to 12% of the number of tourists" against an average annual growth of 15% since the early 2000s.

"All in the same bag"

Tourism professionals in the Middle East denounced the confusion in the minds of Western tourists. "They are influenced by media coverage and put all countries in the Middle East in the same bag, do not differentiate one country from another," said Nabulsi Touhami, office of tourism in Jordan. Tourists have canceled their trips to all Arab countries. "

Jean-Francois Rial, "people are more worried about what might happen in other countries than those where the revolution is over. Is that King Abdullah will not jump, do as the king of Morocco does not have a problem, as Hu Jintao? ". Ghassan Chahine agrees: "People tend to think that the revolts are taking place across the region."

Hopes

Despite their concerns, industry professionals want to believe in an imminent improvement in the situation. "The perception of people change very quickly. It does not take much time before the booking for a country not resume, "says Sean Tipton of the Association of British tour operators.

Until the fears subside, tour operators could, like the Maghreb, betting promotions.Marmara, the leading destination Tunisia is already seeing the success of its offer a "pay for a given": "We found in March the level of bookings last year, with 8000 departures scheduled within a month," explained Le Figaro Florian Vighier, its director general.

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