World and National News

The offensive of the businessman Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere to the cultural world has not lost a taste for business. He has just proved by selling at high prices – $ 387 million – its subsidiary Algorithmics, a provider of solutions and services for risk management at U.S. giant IBM. Acquired for 175 million in 2005, the company was close to the rating agency Fitch. Fimalac estimated $ 96 million in the fiscal cost of its subsidiary.

Last year, Algorithmics has suffered an operating loss of 7.6 million euros, "taking into account the amortization of intellectual properties," the company said. By signing a check for nearly $ 400 million, despite these losses, IBM is therefore a bet on its ability to develop the specialist risk management and internal synergies to play.It should indeed bring his division Algorithmics "Business Analytics". Fimalac side, holding the heritage of Marc Ladreit Lacharrière, the financial opportunity had to appear all the more obvious synergies between Fitch and Algorithmics were limited.

Shareholder Barrier

Fimalac lighter weight of an asset of the system: during the last financial year, 2009-2010, Algorithmics and 121 million in revenue represented 20% of consolidated turnover of the holding company paydayloans. This assignment also confirms the willingness to diversify Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere. Until two years ago, Fimalac was mainly focused on financial services. In 2006 and 2009, the holding company sold tranches of the capital of Fitch Group to Hearst the U.S..The U.S. now holds 40% of the rating agency, and the balance Fimalac.

While observers expected the cash thus generated is reinvested in the financial sector, Fimalac was first formed a real estate division through the purchase of an office building in Paris and the construction of a headquarters in Canary Wharf The London financial district. Last year, the group then created a stir by inviting himself to the Lucien Barrière Hotels and Casinos. For 186 million euros, it has taken over part of the participation of the Accor group. Once the financial transaction loop – in the first quarter – the Desseigne-Barrière family and Fimalac hold respectively 60% and 40% stake in Barriere.

Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere finally multiplies the offensive on the cultural front.Within months, he entered the capital Coullier Gilbert, producer of Johnny Halliday and Michel Sardou, the tour manager Auguri Vega and society, which operates nineteen concert halls.

• oil wells in a state "in the coming days"

Oil may be back soon in Libya. The country should rehabilitate wells "in the coming days," announced the new oil minister, Ali Tarhouni, at a press conference in Tripoli. "The situation will not return immediately to normal, but almost," he added.

In Geneva, the World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a tender to supply 250,000 tons of gasoline provisional Libyan authorities to deal with the most urgent needs of the population after six months of civil war .

• Libya buys French wheat with frozen assets

The interim government in power in Libya has signed two contracts for the purchase of French wheat with assets released this month by France, according to sources close to the negotiations.The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs French announced in early August its intention to release $ 259 million to make available to the National Transition Council to rebuild the country after six months of civil war.

Each contract weighs at least 22 million to about 60,000 tonnes of wheat, a senior leader of the French grain trader Bellows, who signed one of the two contracts.

• A four-day ultimatum issued to supporters of Gaddafi

The rebel leader Libyan Tuesday sent an ultimatum expires Saturday supporters of Muammar Gaddafi in the last strongholds of the regime that they surrender, otherwise they would face military operations.

The head of the National Transitional Council (CNT), Abdeljalil Moustapha said that negotiations were underway with officials of those cities to try to secure their surrender without a fight. "This window of opportunity will expire at the end of the Eid al-Fitr. From Saturday, if a peaceful outcome is still not to the field, we can make a difference militarily, "said Abdeljalil. The launch of the final battle in Libya is "imminent", said the military spokesman of the rebellion Bani Omar Ahmed Benghazi in the east.

• Quiet on the front of Sirte, NATO continues its mission

The situation was calm on Tuesday morning on the front east of Sirte, Gaddafi's stronghold in central Libya. The rebels have increased by about ten kilometers and are line was about 40 km west of Ben Jawad beyond the hamlet of UMR Gandil.

Sirte Sunday has been caught between rebel forces, backed by NATO air strikes. The Atlantic alliance has reiterated its support Tuesday morning the insurgents, saying that his mission would continue "as long as the threat persists."

Zero growth in France. The economy has not taken off in the second quarter, remaining at 0%, after a rebound of 0.9% over the first three months of the year, according to INSEE. Consumption, traditional engine of the French economy, fell 0.7% after 0.4% in the first quarter.

Business investment continued to support the activity, but less than at the beginning of the year: they slow down to 0 no fax pay day loan.9% after 1.2% previously. In total, business demand and household crippling growth, observed INSEE.

Foreign trade, for once helped save the furniture. But only because imports fell (-0.9%) than exports, remained stable (0%). "Therefore, the trade balance contributed positively to GDP growth (0.3 -0.5 point after point)," notes INSEE.

"Papyrus" is the codename of the daily horse that will launch in late September Geny News, a subsidiary of PMU. Goal: be ready for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in early October. And address the monopoly Turf Group, publisher of the leader, Paris Turf (56,500 copies a day), and all other paid dailies of punters: Paris Racing, Tierce Magazine, Weekend and Bilto. With a selling price aggressive, around one euro, 1.60 euro against Paris Turf.

The PMU is alone at the helm of this project since Serendipity, a fund owned by Bouygues and Artemis (Pinault), which sold its 50% interest in Infos Geny, and wishing to withdraw from paris sportifs low fee cash advance. Geny Info already provides information via its website geny.com horse.TV operator with its chain Equidia, PMU, an economic interest group that finances France Galop (racing gallop) and the French horse (racetracks and trotting), will therefore become indirectly newspaper publisher.

Danone delivers on its promises. Having returned earlier this year with its level of growth before the crisis, the world leader in fresh dairy products remains on course in the second quarter with an increase of 8.8% on a comparable basis. In the first half, its turnover reached 9.7 billion euros (+8.7%) for a net profit of 870 million euros (+3.4%). Allowing Danone to expect a growth of 6% to 8% for the whole of 2011. "All our businesses and geographies have been growing," said Franck Riboud, CEO of the group, half of turnover now comes from emerging countries, including the United States."We are on very strong growth trends, says Pierre-André Terisse, General Manager Finance, which makes us more confident than the rest of the year in a macroeconomic environment that is not simple."

The growth is particularly driven by the dynamic activity of water Danone (Evian, Volvic, Badoit …) which carries a record performance in the second quarter (+18.9%). Good weather in Western Europe and Latin America boosted sales, as well as the increase in demand related to the earthquake in Japan. And, in a general context of price increases related to inflation in the price of plastic payday advance lender.

Complex environment

The group's growth also comes from its activities in infant nutrition (+ 9.6% in the second quarter) and medical (8.7%).As for dairy products, including volume growth (-0.2%) suffered from the impact of the integration of Russian Unimilk, they benefit from the growth of its health brands (Activia, Danacol, Densia …). In Russia, its biggest market now in the side of France, Danone bets on the growing sophistication of use.

If Danone anticipate by a "major change in the trend in consumption" in the second half, the environment should remain complex. Faced with the continued volatility of raw materials, the group has already made half of its savings program of 500 million euros. Increased costs (milk powder, plastic …) is finally on the top of the range of 6% to 9% provided by the group, even though it now tends to stabilize.After price increases from 1% to 2% earlier this year, Danone does not resume using the "price leverage" in the second half if the cost of raw materials had to leave.

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Once is not custom, financial markets can thank a rating agency. As Italy prepares to implement its austerity plan of 40 billion, Fitch believes in a note that the country should keep its deficit reduction targets.

But it is especially reassuring Ben Bernanke that allow the Cac 40 start from the front. The president of the U.S. central bank said the Fed was ready to act if the U.S. economy was weakening. Tuesday night in the U.S., the Fed has shown itself divided on the solutions to boost economic recovery.

Having procrastinated until now, the Cac 40 shows a slight gain of 0.30% to 3785.53 points. Same atmosphere on other major European markets: the FTSE-100 index advances 0.35% at 5889.22 points and the DAX index gained 1.20% to 7260.49 points.

Caution remains the watchword.Aware of the seriousness of the situation, officials confirmed on Tuesday their "absolute determination to maintain financial stability in the euro area."

Lower start-ups in France

On the macroeconomic front, China's GDP has slowed slightly to 9.5% in the second quarter, less than analysts expected (9.4%). Retail sales in the country rose 16.8% in the first half and industrial production gained 14.3%.

In Europe, industrial production in the euro area rose by 0.1% in May from the previous month, according to data released Wednesday by the EU statistics office Eurostat.It increased by 0.4% in the entire European Union.

In France, the number of start-ups fell by 10.8% in June from the previous month, after a sharp rise in May (29%) announced Wednesday the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE) . This brings out the creative self-entrepreneurs, adjusted for seasonal variations and the number of working days.

As for currencies, the euro has stabilized at 1.4061 dollars against 1.3974 dollars late Tuesday while oil drops. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for August delivery lost 41 cents to 97 on line pay day loans.02 dollars.Credit Agricole gained 0.84% ​​to 8.99 euros, Societe Generale of 0.19% to 36.20 euros, BNP Paribas 1.17% to 47.50 euros.

L'Oreal: -3.70% to 84.64 euros (largest decrease in the ACC)

The group announced a revenue increase limited to only 0.9% in the second quarter due to lower sales in North America and Eastern Europe.

Suez Environnement: + 1.48% to 13.39 euros

The group announced Wednesday it had obtained the renewal of its water contracts with the towns of Agde (Hérault) and Orléans (Loiret) and winning the part of the urban community of Rouen (Seine- Maritime).

Michelin: + 0.68% to 64.68 euros

The group has set up a multi-currency revolving credit facility of 1.5 billion euros.

Total: -0.40% to 38.67 euros

The oil company confirmed opt-out of the Consolidated Global Profit (BMC), which does not provide any tax benefit.

Sanofi: + 0.02% to 54.22 euros

The group and the American Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced Tuesday that their experimental treatment Sarilumab allowed to show signs of improvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Auplata: + 1.13% to 2.68 euros

The group hopes to produce up to one ton of gold per year by 2014-2015 with a new plant is expected to increase the performance of its mines in Guyana, its president said Tuesday.

Belvedere: + 3.64% to 53.22 euros

The group of spirits and its CEO have been ordered to pay substantial fines by the disciplinary committee of the AMF for failing to inform the public and also for price manipulation in relation Rouvroy Jacques.

Tuto4PC. com Group: -6% to 5.95 euros

The title of Tuto4PC. com Group, the French specialist in display advertising on the internet was changing down sharply Wednesday morning on the first day of its listing on the Paris Stock Exchange, having already faced the warmth of investors before its introduction.

The blows rained down from all sides on Google. Friday, the U.S. competition has announced the opening of an investigation into the Internet group. Today was the turn of French society 1PlusV attack. Editor of topics such as search engines ejustice.fr, Google it assigns to the court of commerce of Paris to seek redress for damages caused by anticompetitive practices of the American giant. 1PlusV assesses his damages at 290 million euros, corresponding to the lost revenue (74 million) and potential revenue lost since the establishment of its business in 2007. The company also claims the publication of the disputed practices on the home page of the famous search engine.

"Unfair Competition"

This assignment in Paris in addition to two cases brought against Google by 1PlusV in Brussels.The first complaint, filed in February 2010, led the European Commission to investigate Google in November 2010. A few months later, in February 2011, filed a complaint 1PlusV further to extend the complaint to all of its search engines. It accuses two things at Google. First, the search engine "rigged" results in both favoring its own thematic search engines (called "vertical"), as in the book, video, maps, and feeding its index data Public collected without the consent of the site publishers business

The U.S. stock markets ended on a mixed note on Friday. The Dow Jones gained 0.36% to 12,004.36 points and the S & P 500 advanced 0.31% to 1271.30 points, but the Nasdaq was down 0.29% to 2616.48 points and the S & P 500 rose 0 , 89% to 1278.87 points. Thursday, Wall Street has ended in a disorganized, fears shared by more and more vivid on the outcome of the crisis of public finances in Europe and reassuring indicators from the United States who came to end a series of bad news on the macroeconomic level.

Greece still under surveillance

The situation in Greece has once again attracted the attention of investors. Originally scheduled Thursday, the redesign part of the Greek government has intervened in the morning.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro lost ground against the dollar.In the late evening in Paris, the single European currency was worth 1.4302 dollars against 1.4209 dollars on Thursday night.

Oil prices fell again Friday in New York, which lost 1.94 per barrel to 93.01 dollars and dollar fell to its lowest level in nearly four months, the market impact of caring Greek crisis on energy demand.

On the macroeconomic front, consumer confidence down in the U.S., according to the index of U.S. consumer confidence released Friday by the University of Michigan, which has provisionally to 71.8 in June, less than The analysts thought.

The index of leading indicators, which foreshadows the general trend of the U.S. economy for months, was up 0.8% in May to 114.7, after falling 0.4% (revised from 0, 3%) the previous month no faxing payday loan. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a 0.2% increase.

RIM, in line with expectations

Capital One: -0.33% to 48.84 dollars

The side of values, the U.S. bank Capital One said Thursday after the close of Wall Street that it would buy the Dutch bank insurer ING's U.S. subsidiary of ING Direct online bank for $ 9 billion in cash and shares.Under the agreement, ING Capital One pays $ 6.2 billion in cash, together with some 55.9 million shares of Capital One, estimated at about $ 2.8 billion.

Research in Motion: -21.45% to 27.75 dollars

The Canadian group Research in Motion (RIM), listed on Wall Street, manufacturer of BlackBerry smart phones, said Thursday after market close a net profit of 695 million U.S. dollars, in line with expectations, but sales below market expectations for its first quarter.

Central Pacific Financial: 6.04% to 13.69 dollars

Also note, the U.S. Treasury said Thursday it planned to recover about 36 million in bringing to market some 2.85 million shares of Bank Central Pacific Financial held.

Boeing: 0.22% to 74.17 dollars

Orders for medium-haul aircraft should carve out the lion's share at Paris Air Show, in particular the re-engined Airbus A320, whose commercial success increases the pressure on Boeing for a decision on the future of 737, the 'best-selling commercial airplane in the world.

After falling 23.88% for its second day on the stock market, Pandora Media, which side now below its IPO price, gained 0.75% to 13.36 dollars.

The rebound shy of industrial employment, which for the first time since 2000 rebounded last year (8300 + posts) is seen on the side of the elect as a rallying cry to mobilize support for the industry. "Enrich our industrial prospects and expand our vision," insists Alain Chatillon, Senator (UMP related) Haute-Garonne and Rapporteur of the joint mission of information on de-industrialization of the territories. The facts are well known: the share of industry value added increased from 24% in 1980 to less than 14% in 2008.And competitiveness continues to erode: "The employer social security contributions, all sectors combined, represent about 43% of wages in France as against 29% in Germany," said Alain Chatillon.

"Hailed by the government"

Adopted last month by the Senate, the report produced as part of a joint left-right formula 17 series of proposals to strengthen the local industrial ecosystems. Stronger, French companies will address international markets better prepared. "We must shift up a gear for reindustrialise territories," said Alain Chatillon, also an entrepreneur and chairman of cluster twelve o'clock Pyrenean Agrimip Innovation.

Main proposals of Senators: modulation of the research tax credit depending on the size of companies "to focus on SMEs and mid-cap companies."Similarly, we must increase the share of French companies in public tenders. "It's not the focus but just apply the same rules as the states with which we trade and who are much less open than we are," says Alain Chatillon. Another proposal: "develop the venture capital and capital development at the regional level," which means creating regional funding windows. The senators also proposed to promote a true industrial culture at school. "The Germans are proud to work in factories, why not the French?" Said Alain Chatillon.This requires the development of learning or why not, the obligation for officials to do an internship of several months in an SME "to feel the air of the true France," quips the senator.

Discussed in public session in late April, these recommendations have been "hailed by the government," says one to the office of Minister of Industry, Eric Besson. The first bills containing these themes should take shape in the weeks and months ahead, we are assured at Bercy.

The waiting, the business side, remains as strong as ever: the Richelieu Committee, which includes hundreds of innovative companies, has surveyed its members on the proposals of the Senate: 86% supported the idea of ​​modulating the CIR based on company size.

Zinedine Zidane, Catherine Deneuve, Michael Jordan and Madonna have their BoConcept furniture, as more and more French. "In a furniture market growing 2.7% last year, BoConcept has managed to grow its sales by 21% to 48 million euros," said Tim Machenaud, France Director of the sign. The French branch has experienced the strongest growth (LFL) of the 55 countries where the Danish group, born in 1952, is present.

BoConcept has yet installed almost by accident in France in 1993. "We were mainly found in Scandinavia as wholesalers," recalls Viggo Mølholm, Group CEO and son of one of the two founders. With the first store in Belle Thorn (Val-de-Marne) open on the board of a student in marketing, furniture manufacturer – which had Ikea and Fly among its clients – embarks distribution.Eighteen years later, BoConcept France became the largest contributor (21%) on sales of the company listed in Copenhagen, far ahead of Germany (13%), United States (10%) and Spain (6%).

"Finding the right balance"

"In the coming years I am convinced that we can continue to grow at an annual rate of 20% in France, among others through the next opening," said the CEO, which lists some points to improve to get there. The average basket of 1050 euros, not high enough, focused attention. "After working for more upscale, we've got a good price positioning," J. Viggo Mølholm. "The challenge of the mid-range segment lies in the fact that we do not have large volumes of low-end and we were not comfortable margins of the high end.It is difficult to find the right balance, which explains the lack of competitors in this segment, "said Tim Machenaud.

BoConcept does not cover the kitchen or the bathroom or the children's room and do not wish to extend its range to other universes. He wishes to deepen the other hand, since this year by offering two collections a year. But also by pushing even further personalization of its furniture design (choice of fabrics, materials and colors), still mostly made near the historic headquarters in Herning, Denmark.

After putting its expansion project in brackets last year, BoConcept expects to create between three and six stores this year in France. "Since 2005, our network has been considerably expanded from seven to 31 stores. We want to reach fifty in the medium term, "France says the director, who admits to not being pressed."I prefer to wait to find the right franchise, good location and good town," he says, noting the target areas with at least 250,000 inhabitants.

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Tim takes Machenaud by Bo Concept France