International News

Deezer is seeking to raise between 50 and 100 million euros, showed Les Echos. The site for listening to music online is doing the rounds of investment funds to continue financing its ambitious international expansion strategy.

Orange, who had taken 11% stake in Deezer in August 2010, should not call the pot. For the telecom operator, the integration of a range of music in its subscriptions is essentially a "marketing advantage", says a close case.

Deezer, however, sees its financing needs explode as it launches in new countries or new terminals. Each time, the service must make further advances to the music majors, who often index their demands on the size of their partner.

This is also why the Swedish Spotify, Deezer competitor in France, seemed to leave in search of money, in the last Midem, just a year after raising $ 100 million on a valuation of $ 1 billion.

Valuing Deezer should not reach such heights. According to Les Echos, the site expects a value of 500 million euros, "ten times its 2011 revenues." The latter is however mostly generated by subscriptions of Orange, who had entered the capital on a valuation of Deezer … 80 million euros.

Inequalities between men and women die hard. On wages, women continued to earn 20% less than men in 2009, INSEE said Wednesday in its latest publication on employment and wages. If this gap has narrowed significantly since 1954 (he was then 35%), it is virtually stagnant since the early 1990s.

This inequality is calculated based on hours of work the same for men and women. But if one takes into account the number of hours actually worked over the year, the gap increases again, due to the higher proportion of women working part-time while they earn nearly 30% of less than men. Positive, however, wage inequality tends to be reduced in less than 25 years.

INSEE explains this persistent inequality by "a qualifying structure" different from each sex. More men, for example, are managers (19% against 12% of women). Even within the same occupational category, inequalities remain payday loan online. And sometimes compounded: a female manager in the private sector and 23% earn less than men.

Involuntary part-time

This is partly the effect of the famous "glass ceiling" that prevents women from accessing certain positions. It is also, according to INSEE, the resulting choice of training, industries or career operated by women. Many of them, for example, moving towards the sectors of health or social work, pay less.

The highest proportion of female part-timers do not necessarily result also a choice, especially motivated by family reasons. Even among those who have no children, the proportion of part-time employees is 17% higher than that of men. A figure that reflects the overrepresentation of women in the service sector, where part-time is more widespread.

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Small businesses with fewer than 20 employees (TPE) through a difficult period. "They are in survival mode. They no longer have the slow growth of France, said Jean-Marc Jaumouillé, director of professional techniques in Fiducial. They suffered more in 2011 than in 2008 and 2009. They did not contribute to wealth creation in the second half of last year. Only 20% showed an increase in their revenues above inflation. "

According to the 45th quarterly barometer of TPE made by Ifop for Fiducial, small employers have not created jobs last year. 82% have stabilized their numbers. 10% have cut jobs. They are only 7% have increased their staff. "This is one of the worst year for employment since 2002," says Jean-Marc Jaumouillé.

Small employers monitor carefully the evolution of the payroll. They were limited to 1.7% wage increases for their employees last year. However, the situation varies across sectors. A company has upgraded four of less than 1% wages. 18% gave an increase of more than 4%. They are all to have frozen wages.

Assuming a stabilization of their sales in the first quarter, small businesses are cautious for 2012. The average wage increases should be limited to 1.2%. But 42% of small employers that will provide zero or less than 1%. "One good sign. For the first time since 2008, a perceived tightening of access to credit has fallen to 15% while it was never dropped below 20% since 2008, "says Jean-Marc Jaumouillé.

Employees overtime takers

While the debate on working time is one of the key topics of the presidential campaign, half of the patrons of TPE (49%) practice a working week not exceeding 35 hours, against 44% in October 2007 . One in ten exceeds 39 hours, against 21% in October 2007. "The law Tepa introduced in August 2007 that would allow firms to relax the 35 hours has had limited impact. She did not call for air hoped, "says Jean-Marc Jaumouillé.

As in October 2007, 47% of businesses use regularly to overtime. TPE over eight in ten (82%) pay them according to the legal scale. One in three places recoveries. One in five exceptional bonuses.

For their part, employees are increasingly likely to want to work overtime. They are 55% to 26% against the wish five years ago.

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Saturday accused by Marine Le Pen to slaughter according to halal "all meat" distributed in the Ile-de-France, industrialists defend themselves. President of the National Association of interprofessional Livestock and Meat (Interbev), interviewed by France Info, the judge charged the president of the National Front "absolutely false".

"In the Ile-de-France, a vast majority of meat is not slaughtered according to halal or kosher," which involves killing animals without stunning, ensures Dominique Langlois. "It may be that parts or pieces of meat from carcasses are slaughtered according to these rites, but that does not change the quality of meat and it does not change at all the qualities of the product," adds Will it.

For professionals in the meat, the charge of Marine Le Pen "is meant strictly political and did not match the reality of things." "It's a debate that can only be detrimental to both the meat industry to French and French production that does not need it," warned the president of Interbev.

The animal rights groups mobilized

This debate is not new. Last year, six associations have denounced the increasing proportion of animals slaughtered according to Jewish or Muslim rites. According to the Foundation Brigitte Bardot, who had made an investigation in slaughterhouses, more than 60% of sheep and goats, 28% of adult cattle and 43% of calves were then killed without stunning, but that consumers are warned.

In France, however, requires the slaughter, since a decree of 1964, the stunning of animals before killing, thereby mitigating their suffering. But European legislation provides an exemption, "when stunning is not compatible with the ritual prescriptions under the free exercise of religion."

Approval before waive stunning

Two bills were filed in late 2010, the Senate to the Assembly, without success, to obtain a specific labeling of meat slaughtered without stunning. "The consumer has the right to know what he eats. He has the right not to eat meat slaughtered in a ritual which does not believe him, "argued the UMP deputy Nicolas Dhuicq. A new amendment, introduced in September 2011, was also rejected.

On 29 December, a decree was published in the Official Journal, however, requiring slaughterhouses to obtain, on or after 1 July 2012, before an official authorization from the rule of stunning. "It does [may] be granted only to slaughterhouses in favor [...] of a registration system to verify that it is used to slaughter without stunning as a result of justifying the commercial orders, "said the Ministry of Culture.

Marine Le Pen wants to complain

The animal rights groups have expressed quite satisfied with this text. "Being able to justify a ritual slaughter is a specific order is important because, currently, most of the meat of this kind of slaughter is found in conventional circuits without any indication to consumers," recalled Christophe Marie, spokeswoman Brigitte Bardot Foundation.

Marine Le Pen was not in favor waiting for the entry into force of the decree. On the sidelines of the convention of his party, being held this weekend in Lille, it announced its intention to attack "a few major retail supermarkets in Ile-de-France for misrepresentation of the product." She said wanting to file a complaint with a civil order for a judge to be seized, which could lead to an investigation of several months.

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The European Investment Bank (EIB) – the financial arm of the European Union – has granted 61 billion in new loans to about 70 countries in 2011. A level down compared to the historical peak reached in 2009 (79 billion euros), years during which the Bank was actively involved in the economic recovery of the Old Continent. But a level that remains particularly high compared to the average pre-crisis.

Most of these loans – 54 billion on 61 – was awarded to Europe. One way for the EIB to support the activity declining in Europe. In this context, France has been particularly well served. The Hexagon has received over 5 billion euros in loans, representing 9.2% of EU commitments. A figure up from 7.78% awarded in 2010.

Research projects

The Bank took part in the financing of the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique, TGV and Britain Pays de la Loire. It has also been associated with the electric car developed by the Bolloré Group and funded to the tune of 100 million euros of joint research projects with Pierre Fabre Laboratories.

Outside of the European Union, the EIB lent 7 billion in accession countries and has been linked directly to the Partnership in Deauville, which followed the Arab Spring. Nearly 1 billion euros in loans have been granted to the private sector in 2011, especially for infrastructure development in Arab countries that experienced democratic revolution.

SNCF will release on February 16 as "good" annual results, in the words of its leadership. Yet they will undergo a severe movement of the plane. On 14 February, the president of SNCF, Guillaume Pepy, unveiled to participants of a seminar on "business model TGV" that his group would carry out an impairment of € 700 million on its TGV . "The value of TGV, now in the books of the SNCF, amounts to nearly 4.5 billion euros," he said, according LaTribune.fr who reports his remarks. We will depreciate the 700 million euros because we have too many trains and they are mostly old. "

The fleet has 457 SNCF trains whose average age is 17 years. This decision comes as the SNCF profitability of the branch TGV group – very profitable long – has deteriorated in recent years. An evolution largely attributed by the public company to the concomitant increase in tolls which it must pay with Réseau Ferré de France (RFF), owner of the tract payday loans for bad credit. Since late last week, SNCF and RFF have agreed on changes in rates of tolls until 2018. Guillaume Pepy was this medium-term visibility a prerequisite for engaging in orders for new trains. He said Tuesday that such investments would only be possible when the operating margin of the travel industry would reach 20%. Or it tops out at 14% today.

Until 2015, the fleet will continue to welcome new trains: 15 "Euro Duplex" will be delivered by Alstom in 2012, 11 in 2013, 11 in 2014 and seven in 2015. According to its chief financial officer, David Azema, who intervenaitle February 15 parliamentary days when the rail is in fact particularly after 2025 that the station should replace trains end of life.

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MPs began Monday consideration of amending budget establishing social VAT … a missed. The Finance Committee rejecting the measure: the left there was a majority, in the absence of several UMP members. This should not prevent the adoption of VAT social session. But Jean-Marc Ayrault was easy to see in the episode "indicative of a malaise." The boss of Deputies PS UMP derides his colleagues: "I understand that it does not raise the enthusiasm on their part!"

The Executive is sparing no effort yet to defend the measure. Monday, Francois Fillon has found it necessary to "realign our costs compared to our competitors in the euro area." Last week, Bercy was assured that inflation does not fly away, that 100,000 jobs would be created and that the industry would be the first beneficiary of reduced charges that it contradicts the UMP rapporteur of the text.

The government is now trying to lay to rest the idea that the VAT increase will affect more modest. A note by the Ministry of Economy established that on average only 42.7% of household consumption supports the standard rate of VAT, which will be raised from 19.6% to 21.2%. The rest does not suffer any VAT (financial or medical services, rent) or a reduced rate (print, drugs, food, transportation, food, work …). Note that this is part of expenses affected by the VAT increase is "slightly progressive with income": it represents 43.5% of consumption of 10% richest households, against "only" 41.4% of consumption of 10% of low-income households. "It is incorrect to say that the VAT increase weighs most on the most modest," says Bercy. Forgetting that these households consume a significant portion of their income and save less.

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"Kleftes! Thieves! "The insults burst forth in the processions of anti-austerity protesters in the streets of Athens these days. The Greeks win against a political class accused of making no sacrifice while officials have seen their wages blend of 20% and expects the same treatment as private sector employees. MPs in particular are accused of refusing to lower their pay by 10% at the height of the crisis in 2011.

"Until now, politicians have not been transparent about their incomes and citizens suspect that considerable sums are spent for miscellaneous expenses, or that MPs employ family members as assistants," says Nick Malkoutzis a, journalist with the daily Kathimerini.

The Easter bonus deleted

MEPs, however, made a few sacrifices. The 13th and 14th month salaries were eliminated, as in the rest of the civil service in 2010. Last July, the attendance fee paid for participation in a meeting of the 34 parliamentary committees was reduced to 150 euros, against 245 euros before. Premiums Easter, Christmas and holidays have been removed, additional taxes created. These measures have melted the monthly salary of 3375 euros per head on average, according to elected officials.

Parliament said today that the gross monthly salary now stands at 8,221 euros, 4,231 euros after taxes. Are aligned with the highest salaries of public service. In comparison, a French MEP wins 5189.17 euros net. Still, the Greek Parliament plans to spend 34.2 million euros in 2012 for salaries, including bonuses and other compensation. What assure members a sum of 9500 euros per month, plus office and secretarial included.

The difference, ultimately, does not seem huge with the situation before rigor sets. Last December, Parliament has in fact published on its website, for a few days, the tax returns for 2009 of 300 MPs. It was to answer charges of opacity.

Income gaps

Salaries, allowances, current accounts, real estate, and other financial transactions in this document. It shows that in 2009, elected a ten won more than 9,000 euros per month through its sole parliamentary activity. What must be added, for some, a second salary (in Greece, one elected is entitled to retain his original job posting) as well as income potential spouse. Then the gaps widen between the richer members of the assembly (six of them earned more than 33,000 euros per month) and more modest, saying some 2,025 euros monthly income for their household.

"While the debate on the wages of 300 Deputies Greek is symbolic. They represent only three thousandths of the state budget. But the political class has missed the opportunity to cut its own salaries along with those officials, two years ago, analyzing the Greek-Swiss historian Nikolas Bloudanis. It would have been a symbolic gesture extremely important. "Times are changing: this week, for the first time, an elected, Dora Bakoyannis, head of the small liberal party New Democracy (four members), has proposed halving the salaries of parliamentarians .

How much do Greek political leaders

George Papandreou. Photo credits: JOHN KOLESIDIS / REUTERS

Not easy to swap clothes for those of David over Goliath without being criticized. For nearly twenty-five years, Apple has enjoyed the affection – not to speak of passion – to some extent by this small company, the maverick world of personal computers and a thorn in Microsoft Almighty .

In less than a year, Apple acquired the status of the business world's most expensive, top selling smartphones in the fourth quarter 2011, a number of computers at HP (by adding the sales of iPad and Mac) . The Apple brand has always had detractors. Its success has added to criticism, particularly those concerning working conditions in its Chinese subcontractors. These are nothing new, but the good financial results of Apple have redoubled the ardor of his detractors. In late January, the New York Times has published a lengthy investigation dependent, widely broadcast on the Net.

Working conditions of employees of Chinese subcontractors Apple are regularly placed on the hot seat. The U.S. media decry the use of children and failure to follow safety rules (poisonings and explosions occurred in Chinese factories).

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Airlines in the world play the shows. While the carbon tax was introduced on 1 January by the European Union in respect of all airlines that fly over the European area, the latter will be forced to carry them out in spring 2013. Time for States to shout out loud that "their" companies will not pay. India, Russia, China … a total of 26 members, not least, on 36 of the Aviation Organisation (ICAO) are resisting. In the U.S., the House of Representatives voted late last year to ban text to American companies to pay.

Like China, reiterated yesterday that his refusal to comply with European legislation, most Member States of ICAO criticize legislation "regional" which will result in new financial burdens. The system of emissions trading scheme set up by the Union provides that companies normally open in the coming weeks "Account" with their national administration of civil aviation and implement a system to measure their CO2 emissions.

Doubly penalized

In March 2013, then they should pay the amount corresponding to 15% of 2012 emissions by the amount per tonne of CO2. And China has calculated that his companies would have to pay 97 million euros for 2012 and four times in 2020. In total, the measure would cost € 705 million to companies in the world, still under 2012.

Penalties set by the Commision are of two types: a fine of 100 euros per tonne of CO2 emissions and, even more dissuasive, the flight ban in the European Union. But, meanwhile, out states may also set up an arsenal of retaliation. It may include trade measures in respect of Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturer, whose best customers are called China Southern, China Eastern and Air China but also India Indigo Air Asia or Malaysia.

Leaders of European companies fear they will be doubly penalized. First, because they are inherently more vulnerable to European tax. On the other hand, because they also fear being victims of these countries slingers. "These states may ask us to pay a landing fee that would offset the amount that our competitors outside Europe have to pay when coming home," is concerned officer of a company of the Old Continent. The European Commissioner for Climate Connie Hedegaard judge it just increase the ticket prices a few dollars to offset it. An argument inaudible at times of crisis.

However, companies seem to rely on the slow pace of international decisions for a relaxation of regulations occurring before the first deadline for payment of this tax, in principle the first quarter of 2013.

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