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Lafarge and Anglo English must dispose of assets

Wednesday May 2, 2012

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


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Monoprix: Casino offensive against the Galeries Lafayette

Monday Apr 23, 2012

 

The war between the Galeries Lafayette and Casino about their joint venture Monoprix changes dimension. The two shareholders clash since January on the valuation of 50% held by Monoprix and Galeries Lafayette: 700 million euro under Casino, 1.95 billion according to the owner of department store chain. The battle now drift on managing and Monoprix on its pricing policy.

Jacques Dumas, counsel Jean-Charles Naouri, principal shareholder and CEO of Casino, sent an April 17 letter to Philippe Houze scathing, president of Galeries Lafayette and Monoprix CEO. He criticized "an excessive increase in food prices" at Monoprix. The price index of the sign, which compares its rates to the market average (set at 100), rose from 107.7 at the end of first quarter 2011 to 110 a year later.

"This abnormal increase explains a significant share of the increased turnover of Monoprix end of March 2012 (+5.9% yoy) and corresponds to the bulk of the growth in operating profit in the same period," according Casino, which accuses her partner of "sharp to distort fair assessment" of Monoprix.

Pointing to the risk that rising prices does escape the consumer and leads to lower sales of the profitability of Monoprix, Casino Philippe Houze asked to "give instructions to stop such practices and ensure a normal management Monoprix" . Clearly, "Monoprix must return to an index of 108 tariff, as provided in the medium-term plan established in November," decrypts a spokesman for Casino.

The group Saint Etienne "will implement all actions necessary to safeguard the interests of Monoprix and its shareholder rights" against the Galeries Lafayette, prevents mail. In 2007, Casino revoked leaders Franprix and Leader Price, accusing them of having raised prices to give him a high price for their minority interests in these signs.

Monoprix group will choose a side

Philippe Houze's entourage speaks of "baseless accusations" and ensures that the increases, required in July by Jean-Charles Naouri, date from the summer. Casino considers that the increase, justified initially, was too strong and it continued beyond the reasonable in January.

In a few weeks, the Commercial Court of Paris will examine the respective assignments of the two co-shareholders of Monoprix. Galeries Lafayette blame their partner to hinder the evaluation process of their 50% stake in Monoprix, Casino accuses his partner of having refused to let the end of March to Jean-Charles Naouri President of Monoprix, as provided for their shareholders.

Mail Casino is a part added to the defense and the prosecution of the group against the Galeries Lafayette. But it will impact the management of Monoprix. Officially, its chief operating officer, Stephen Maquaire, placed a copy of the letter of Jacques Dumas, retains the confidence of its two shareholders. But he must choose sides or not returning to an index rate close to 108.

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Safely: Nominee Program

Wednesday Apr 11, 2012

 

It would have been a shame to keep the good news to yourself! With two months ahead of the traditional Accounts Committee of Social Security, the government announced Tuesday that the results "still provisional" general scheme for 2011. The deficit reached 17.4 billion euros, 3.5 billion less than budgeted and $ 600 million better than expected in the fall. This "hole" remains the third highest in the history of Social Security, according to records from 2009 and 2010 mainly due to the crisis. The improvement should continue in 2012.

The relatively good surprise of 2011 comes from the health insurance. Its revenues were higher than expected and expenditures lower. "This is essentially care city," said its director for Voices. For Frederic Van Roekeghem although welfare is "slightly under-funded," balance the books "is within reach, without embarking on reforms brutal." A whiff of optimism that the two favorites for the presidential does not contradict probably because of brutal reform, there is no question in their programs.

A tax on CO2 emissions

Logically, Nicolas Sarkozy proposes the continuation of actions taken. Down drug prices and volumes consumed, rationalization of the hospital with the development of ambulatory care homes nearby emergencies to relieve these …: these measures should help contain rising health care costs in rates historically low of 2.5% per year. Faced with medical deserts, the president candidate wants to multiply nursing homes and assist in the installation in rural areas or the suburbs – an ineffective way to date – without seeing the freedom of settlement. Against the excess fees excessive, he put on the new system of government (voluntary physicians to limit the excess and reimbursement by complementary), which does not yet meet the main question.

Nothing fundamental about the pension reform after Woerth – only promise to pay the basic pension from the first of the month, instead of 8. Finally, funding side, social VAT will alleviate employers' contributions, so the cost of labor.

Francois Hollande,, cancel account this increase in VAT if it comes at the Elysee. He announced an increase of one billion euros per year pension contributions to fund its only specific promise in retirement: the possibility of retiring at 60 for employees who worked continuously for 41 years. But he also outlined on Tuesday lexpress.fr other avenues for funding Social Security is no longer based "solely on the work", "go further" in the financing of Medicare by the CSG in particular. This time it would reduce employee contributions – a measure of purchasing power rather than competitiveness, without maturity displayed. The socialist candidate also evokes a tax on CO2 emissions it would be at the European level, said his entourage. Responsible for the "social hub" of the Holland team, Marisol Touraine also promises to abolish social niches, beginning with the overtime.

What Safely restore the balance "on the five-year", with an increase in health spending of 3% per year. This envelope would enable hospitals to escape the alignment of their tariffs with those clinics, lower. Holland is also focusing on third-party payer in town doctors to limit the use of hospital emergency rooms. And to reduce the amounts paid out of pocket by patients, without increasing spending Safely, Marisol Touraine threat to frame the excess fees by law in the fall, except that physicians accept by there limits through negotiation. As for medical deserts, it envisages the partial transposition of the device begins to bear fruit in nursing: to ban fees for doctors free to settle where they are already many.


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Tourism: Greece is trying to improve its image

Sunday Mar 18, 2012

 

A few weeks before the start of the tourist season in Greece, industry professionals are concerned about given the country's image abroad. The clashes that broke out between police and demonstrators, repeated strikes in public transport and the crisis affecting the economy, trade and health, greatly tarnish the reputation of "Mediterranean paradise" Greece had so far.

For Francoise Deschamps, Director of Travel Agency Profile in Athens, it is a bad trial because the country. "Violence is not the nature of the Hellenes. There are fewer demonstrations and strikes if they only last a few hours when it comes to archaeological sites. The Acropolis is always accessible to all, "protested she.  

Lower prices

While acknowledging that bookings were down this summer, Francoise Deschamps makes a point of honor to overcome stereotypes, "apart from the American Express (which is rarely accepted because traders are unwilling to pay 7% commission) you can pay everywhere with a credit card or a Visa. No need to bring cash into oneself. Distributors are always stocked, "she says.

The large luxury resort with beach, private pool and gourmet restaurant at the guesthouse, hoteliers were for the most part, forced to lower room rates and offer additional services to each reservation. "Our prices have dropped by at least 20%," says Adrian Vassilikos, director of Airotel, owns six hotels in the country. If the crisis is especially hoteliers, because of increased taxes and reduced bookings, Adrien Vassilikos remains confident: "Tourists know that Athens, like the rest of the country, is one of the most safest in the world. No risk of terrorism or crime. The crisis has not increased the number of pickpockets. To this we must add that in case of accident or illness, we have very capable hospitals, providing care free and urgency, "he said quick cash.

Of solidarity

Tourism is the second largest economic sector in the country, representing 17% of GDP, after shipping. In 2011, Greece has benefited more or less the effect of revolutions and Arab tourism, compared to the previous year, increased by 10%. This year, some professionals rely on the solidarity towards Greece, shot by the crisis. This movement is gaining ground worldwide and in all sectors. Twenty major Greek groups, as the airline Aegean or Coca-Cola Hellenic, even financed full-page newspaper ads French, German, Dutch, Belgian and British. Under the slogan "give a chance to Greece", these advertisers show a country in flux, despite its economic vicissitudes.

A bank of tourism in the study

To improve the competitiveness of the tourism sector, the Greek government uses the aid of the "task force". This working group of the European Commission, whose representatives are installed in the Greek capital, shook the tourism industry. "Being competitive yes, but then to build infrastructure for mass tourism, there is a margin," worries Francoise Deschamps, Director of Travel Agency Profile. "Greece is a country that fits the needs of every tourist. You can still find himself alone on a beach, eating in a tavern or family homestay accommodation is unique and should not destroy it for the sake of competitiveness, "she adds. Several projects are in preparation at the Ministry of Finance including the creation of a bank or tourist development projects of ancient sites, remote islands from Piraeus or agricultural areas.

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Fukushima: Tokyo was almost evacuated

Wednesday Feb 29, 2012

 

The government of Naoto Kan had indeed lost control of the situation in Fukushima, in full crisis following the tsunami of March 11, 2011. According to the independent commission of inquiry Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation (RJIF), a copy of a 400-page report was leaked to the press on Tuesday in a few days before its publication, Japanese authorities have considered a time a "worst case scenario "that would have led to an outright removal of Tokyo. Or 35 million people including the town, which lies 220 kilometers southwest of the damaged power plant. This report is based mainly on the testimony of Yukio Edano, spokesman for the government of the day, who says he worked on the assumption of a "chain reaction diabolical" if the nuclear reactor site would have exploded one after the other. "If this had happened, it was quite logical to conclude that we also lost Tokyo," he told investigators, according to The New York Times.

In lack of information on the extent of the disaster Fukushime, but anxious to avoid a general panic, the government has attempted to distill reassuring messages to the population. "We really just brushed against the worst case scenario, but the public did not know at this point," says Yoichi Funabashi, former editor of Asahi Shimbun and founder of the inquiry. This secret project evacuation of the Japanese capital, which Reuters obtained a copy, was presented to Prime Minister Naoto Kan – who resigned last August – by Shunsuke Kondo, Chairman of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission, two weeks after the tsunami. He did not finally been unsheathed. "It was a crucial time during which I was not even sure that Japan could still function as a state," Naoto Kan admitted in an interview with the Japanese agency Kyodo News, last September.

Tepco wants to "abandon the central"

Far from overwhelming the only Japanese government, the pin also RJIF Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the plant in Fukushima, whose lack of transparency during the crisis has already been highlighted in numerous reports. Its leaders have also refused to cooperate with investigators RJIF. According to their study, TEPCO sought, the worst of the crisis, to evacuate the atomic site where employees were trying to control the disaster. This is Naoto Kan himself that would have forced the utility to continue its work maintaining on-site employees. For experts, without the insistence of Prime Minister, the accident would still Fukushima degenerate, causing even more catastrophic consequences. Thus concludes Yoichi Funabashi, "Naoto Kan has had its flaws and moments of absence, but his decision to go into force at Tepco and insist that the company does not abandon the plant has saved Japan." .. ……

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Entrepreneurship, a national cause

Tuesday Feb 21, 2012

 

Youth is condemned to the worst? Some suggest that argue indignation as the value of life. Philippe Hayat, founder of 100,000 Entrepreneurs Association, believes him, that high school and college students can take their future. "Let us turn to young people differently, according to another dynamic, and they say: to indignation or resignation, prefer action, the real, which contradicts the fatality. Since life seems so difficult to track, anticipate it, take it in hand and only count on you, "he writes in the book" Tackle! With indignation, prefer action, "published by Editions de l'Archipel.

Far made ideas that serve as ready-to-think, the treaty of good manners at the new generations is rooted in life to show that anything is possible. Philippe Hayat tells the story of his grandfather, Leon. Born in Tunisia in the late nineteenth century, Leo must make a living from the age of 14 when his parents disappear. Raising only his little sister, as between the adolescent boy to do everything in a bank. He climbs the ladder and managed to pay his three son studying in Paris. He settled in later years in the capital tricolor. "The example of young Leo would have blown that fate is made to be contradicted," says the author.

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and his father, Philippe Hayat chose to shape his life. He became an entrepreneur in the early 1990s and decided to share his passion for the business. He founded the association 100,000 Contractors' initiates action contractors volunteers in colleges, high schools and higher education payday loan lenders. " His ambition is just "a few years, one hundred thousand entrepreneurs can restore confidence to a whole generation." His conclusion is simple: "France is a country of entrepreneurs who should no longer ignore." The million responsible associations, the willingness of young people from difficult to get by, employees who invent new projects in the administration or large groups reflect the dynamism of the country.

But the willingness of teachers and business is not enough that attitudes are changing. "The electoral programs generally evoke entrepreneurship lip service – and then only when … social policies seem less eager to support entrepreneurs seeking growth," says Philippe Hayat, which advocates that " Political leaders of youth entrepreneurship a national cause. More optimistic than words of caution and rigor on the one hand, compassion and grant the other hand, such an approach would be an early response to many evils. " This would require that this wish is that the state abandons some of its powers and leaves the field open to individual energies.

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After the wings, the nose of the A380 fails

Friday Feb 17, 2012

 

Hard times for the 380. After the case of microcracks detected in the wing of the superjumbo, Airbus will he deplore a new problem, this time in the "nose" of the device? The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is interested in any case the rivets of radom, that is to say the cover that protects the radar of the aircraft.

The authority may decide to issue in the coming weeks an airworthiness directive (AD) requiring the change of six rivets aluminum rivets titanium stronger. The 19 airlines that operate the world's fleet of 69 A380, eight months have to do this for an average of 3:30. Clearly, they would have time to schedule it as part of their regular maintenance schedule.

After the decision to order the Efsa a general inspection of the planes of A 380 in service and production, totaling one hundred aircraft, the image of the A380 takes another blow. However, this type of airworthiness directive is very common in aviation. All aircraft receive throughout their careers.

Two types of directives

"The FAA, U.S. aviation safety authority, has issued more than 830 airworthiness directives for Boeing B 747 in forty years," says one at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse. "For an airplane, receiving such a directive is as ordinary as to think about changing the wiper blades on your car or an oil change," says one.

The Aesa issues two types of directives: the current, AD, and urgent, called "emergency AD." In the case of microcracks, the two directives were common. The agency goes up a notch when it considers that the subject can affect flight safety. In this case, companies have little time to react, sometimes not even 24 hours.

In the case of rivets, flight safety is affected in any part, Airbus insists. The manufacturer points out that these are not structural elements. Six rivets 40 to 50 by radom "are not likely to blow up" the unit cover.

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Air France: controversy about the benefits of leaders

Wednesday Feb 15, 2012

 

The scandal could not have been worse. While Air France is embarking on an extensive and highly unpopular savings plan, the unions of the company revealed Monday that their former boss Pierre-Henri Gourgeon was preparing to travel to destination in Mauritius with its Women in business class for 24 euros.

This trip was to take place almost free along with two relatives also enjoy preferential rates. These tickets are embargoed during the school holidays, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon had to obtain special approval of the new CEO of Air France, Alexander Juniac, to lift the embargo and travel to this destination.

"It's scary to work in this context, a sorry part of the company. Our company is mired in research and maintenance of personal advantages. How do you get the support of employees and pass a savings plan? ". Given the excitement that the information generated internally, the former boss has finally given up the tickets at unbeatable price and opted for traditional GP tickets entitlements in the company's employees and retirees.

The ex-boss will have to pay 745 euros to get to Mauritius in business class or about 1500 euros for a round trip ticket worth from 3000 to 6000 euro at full price. "When traveling in GP, ​​the former executives often take tickets in economy class, or 400 euros round trip to Mauritius, calculates an employee of the company paperless payday loans. Once on the plane, they do outperform if space is available at the front of the camera. "

"A trip to the Air France lounge"

Like many companies, employees of Air France benefit from preferential rates on their business activity. Like the employees of the car who pay their car cheaper, the Air France employees benefit from GP notes (Free partial), a valid right to life from 15 years of seniority. "I travel regularly to New York, welcomes a former executive of the company. It cost me about 200 euros in economy class, but in general I do upgrade and I manage to go on a trip to the Air France lounge. "

As a former senior executive, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon does not need to go through the system of GP tickets. Like other executives recently departed from the leadership, the former boss has negotiated a confidential volume of ticket prices almost free.

These benefits may soon be challenged. Juniac Alexander, the new leader of the company, has announced an overhaul of the benefits enjoyed by current and former executives of Air France. "Such benefits are not unique to Air France, says aviation expert. All major companies are considering a historic reform of the preferential fare tickets costing them too much. " And have less and less supported by employees who request efforts increasingly harsh.


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Merkel and Cameron are acting their differences on the euro

Saturday Nov 19, 2011

The meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel with British Prime Minister Cameron, far from marking a reconciliation, a deed the differences between the two countries on the edges of Europe. Despite the cordial declarations of the two heads of government, differences on the issue of saving the euro continues. "Germany's interests, Britain has its own," acknowledged David Cameron at the end of the meeting.

The issues are still there and no solution in sight, the Chancellor conceded. Britain still refuses the idea of ​​a tax on financial transactions, supported by Paris and Berlin, because it severely handicap the City of London. On the issue of greater involvement of the European Central Bank to resolve the crisis of the euro, which promotes London, the German chancellor has proved inflexible.


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Tuesday Nov 15, 2011

Happy! Bernard Tapie alongside the greatest patrons of the planet. Here are the results of a survey Way Opinion on leadership and the qualities of a good leader conducted among 300 business leaders and our colleagues unveiled Monday by the Parisian. The former head of the OM occurs in the top 5 managers behind Steve Jobs (the first), Carlos Ghosn, Bill Gates and Michel-Edouard Leclerc.

Asked Monday by Le Figaro, the former head of the said OM has naturally flattered by the result but did not seem surprised. "People have accepted my statements on TV that have contributed to enhancing the business entrepreneur, he says. For years it was believed that the corporate world was synonymous with sadness and we do it not amused. I helped to change that image. "

"Good players become ill on arrival at the OM"

Bernard Tapie has little original definition of a good manager, is "to want its employees to offer the best of themselves to excel payday advance. The priority is not to be loved but to lead them to discover their full potential. " The most original are the examples come to mind the old boss "My former assistant became assistant Pinault and not the assistant of a hardware dealer" and the players of the OM – Papin , Wadle, Pele – were good players when they were recruited and then become real stars.

"Being a great manager was to make them grow up, says that to date remains the only French boss to win the Champions League. Today, good players become ill on arrival at the OM. This is the stereotype of bad management or bad environment. "


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