International News

The UMP fully supports the pension reform and its author, Eric Woerth. To prove his spokesmen have held a press conference, while the Social Affairs Committee of the Assembly had finished examining the text. Dominique Paille, who usually wears a refined language, attacked with vigor to Jean-Marc Ayrault. He accused the owner of PS members to behave in "real filibuster" which "seeks to scuttle the debate by completely unnecessary intrusion. "Those who come to break the menu with shameful look at considerations before intervening in the debate!" He said in a fit of male outrage.

The PS group had set the tone early work of the commission, promising to "constantly incidents meeting" with allusions to the case Bettencourt.The operation was supposed to prove that Eric Woerth was too "weak" to defend the reform. It has not achieved its goal, much to the relief of the UMP.

But the majority knows that it is not the end of his sentences. And many of its leaders are beginning to say that "we" had "made a mistake in the text referring to the back, instead of extending the session to push through July 31. "On", Raymond Soubie. The office of the adviser had convinced Elysee Nicolas Sarkozy to let the summer to prove his readiness for dialogue with unions, while Francois Fillon would rather go fast. The Prime Minister has not been heard. An MP close to him sigh: "In the end, unions have the summer to replenish their unity in a climate rotten history Bettencourt.Of course, what happens in Woerth was not foreseeable, but we know that in France the reform was.

One minister argued

In the Assembly, but also in the executive, some whisper Eric Woerth would do well to "shoot himself the consequences of damage it causes" to his political family. Clearly, to resign, but his departure could be in any way be attributed to Nicolas Sarkozy. "The president supports his minister doggedly, and will not do anything that might suggest that he wants to get rid of, explains it to the UMP. But nothing prevents Woerth demand a cease-fire. "

Apparently, the Minister of Labour is not in that frame of mind. Encouraged by the demonstrations of solidarity that come each day of his camp, he makes a point of honor to lead the reform of pensions. The leaders of the majority will therefore help.The delay until September consideration of amendments on the hardship, including those signed by Xavier Bertrand, part of the strategy. In case of back politically and socially turbulent, the government will need room for negotiation.

After two years of hangover, Champagne sees the end of the tunnel. Monday evening, wine producers and traders have agreed on the amount of grapes they can reap in the next harvest. This year, from mid-September, the owners of vineyards can recover from the vines which produce 301 million bottles of champagne. That's 8% more than last year.

For the first time, players of Champagne, accustomed to hear only a few days before the first shots of secateurs, have chosen to define rules in the middle of summer. "We wanted to send a sign of serenity," said Ghislain de Montgolfier, the president of Champagne houses.It was harder last year. "At that time, negotiations had resulted in a stormy painful compromise, after which the harvest made possible the production of only 277 million bottles, or 30% less than 2008.

The Champagne was going through a major crisis and was with a stock of 1.2 billion bottles on the arms, well above the sector's needs. The crisis was finally serious than feared months: after falling by 5% in 2008, sales declined 9% in volume last year … and 16.6% in value.

Since then, sales leave. In the first five months of the year, they rose 20% in volume. "The market was very well presented in recent months, and the tendency of June confirms May's figures," says Le Figaro Ghislain de Montgolfier cheap credit report.Sales rose 9% in France, 25% in the European Union, and even 69% in the rest of the world.

However, compared to a year, higher volumes is still only 2.7%. The end of the year represents the bulk of the activity. For all of 2010, the Interprofessional Committee for Wine of Champagne (CIVC) said that sales will reach 315 million bottles, representing an increase of 8% compared to 2009. Some players even think that sales will recover their level two years ago.

Optimism not shared

"We're out of the hollow, recognizes Ghislain de Montgolfier. Our only problem is to anticipate the year-end sales. Everything will depend on the general level of consumption, particularly in Europe. In case of decline, we might have to suffer. "

In Champagne, everyone does not share the optimism of some."Sales volumes remain below those of 2008, and there will be loss of value, fears Dominique Pierre, CEO of Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte. There are still a lot of sales of champagne, entry-level or on promotion. We can not talk about the crisis. With the economic austerity policies in Western Europe must be realistic. "

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A year after its introduction, the majority and the government seem divided on VAT at 5.5% in restaurants. To reduce the government deficit, Budget Minister Francois Baroin, this plane would "very, very large niche for tax, estimated at 3 billion euros Bercy. Its minister, Christine Lagarde, has cropped Tuesday morning: the reduced rate of VAT "is legitimate on the merits.

But the revolt against the old promise of Jacques Chirac, applied from 1 July 2009 thanks to the activism of Nicolas Sarkozy, also scolded the Assembly. Without naming the VAT on food, the general rapporteur for the Budget, Gilles Carrez (UMP), has questioned "a number of consumer items that are 5.5% and that should not be at 5.5 %. He advocates instead an intermediate rate to 12%.

Since the introduction of the measure for the restoration, the context is not the same.The government, which has hitherto led a recovery policy, had to change tack in recent months under pressure from the markets. It is now to reduce the deficit. Especially in the planing tax loopholes.

Nevertheless, the statements and Gilles Carrez Baroin were poorly received by restaurants. "It's absolutely outrageous to say that the 5.5% VAT tax is a niche!" Reacts Philippe Villalon, president of the National Federation of the restoration (FNRF). "We buy our products and we sell 5,5% to 5.5%. As is the case for all areas of the mouth.Moreover, if we repeat the policies they want to end VAT at 5.5%, we should not translate that we lower our prices, nor that we hired, as the state would break its part of contract. "

During the implementation of the measure, the restorers had promised to lower prices, to invest and hire. These commitments, which would take over in case of cancellation of VAT at 5.5%, would have been more or less respected. The Court of Auditors estimated last October that the measure would involve only 6,000 new jobs. The profession claims to the contrary today promised 21,700 against 20,000 a year.

The board of managers of the Society of Editors of the World (SRM) would have voted on Friday morning in favor of the project's trio Pigasse-Niel-Berge (GDP) by eleven votes in favor and one abstention. The vote therefore recommends that the General Assembly of the RS, representing the journalists of the daily evening to vote for the BNP bid, to the detriment of the competing offer.

Still, as revealed by the website of Le Nouvel Observateur, the association Hubert Beuve-Mery (HBM), without representing the current personnel of World, would it, in favor of the offer Perdriel-Orange Prisa.

In this context, the absence of a clear majority on Friday afternoon for the one or the other offer, the arbitration will be Monday in the supervisory board of the World.Because Monday's effect on the 20 votes to be voted on Monday SupervisoryCouncil World (including eleven called internal, referring to the personal and the HBM and 9 persons from external), 9 votes External likely to weigh very heavy much heavier than those of the staff of the World by shifting votes in favor of a project that would not have the support staff themselves …

Eiffage prances at the head of the Paris stock exchange Thursday morning, climbing about 12% to 10.30. The construction group said Wednesday evening after the close of the Paris Stock Exchange that its subsidiary has signed an agreement Eiffarie with funds for the purchase 13.73% of Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhone (PRPA) that they hold for a total of 854 million euros (55 euros per share). APRR is the second largest French motorway and the fourth in Europe.

Eiffarie owned by Eiffage and Australia's Macquarie have after the operation 95% of APRR. The subsidiary also plans to launch a buyout offer, that is to say that APRR would no longer be quoted on the Stock Exchange (right when the majority shareholder holds more than 95%).A project must receive the blessing of the AMF to be realized.

If this is implemented, and upon its conclusion, it remains on the securities market, these shares would then be a squeeze, which will be performed at the same price of 54.16 euros per share: 84 cents per share are restated as it is the amount of the dividend qu'Eiffarie decided to pay shareholders of APRR June 30 next.

The transaction is expected to close by the June 24 APRR listed on compartment A of Euronext, flies too, from 7.65% to 54.75 euros.

Eiffage and Macquarie have finally heard

The two shareholders of Eiffarie seemed irreconcilable. On this issue, in fact, Eiffage wanted to make a capital increase of 400 million euros in APRR, here just one year.One way to avoid a deterioration of its financial rating would increase the costs of refinancing cash advance till payday. Macquarie's refusal earlier this year.

Use markets? The CEO of Eiffage, in turn, rejects the idea. The stock market conditions are too uncertain. Another option would be to buy back its shares in Eiffarie. But Macquarie had not responded.

Investors enthusiastic

"The acquisition of the balance of APRR is positive news for Eiffage.The group can calmly deal to refinance Eiffarie 2013, "commented analyst Aurel BCG, for whom this would be" accretive by approximately 3% based on Eiffage tax integration we estimate that approximately 70 million euros.

Indeed, Eiffage will benefit from the tax integration: from 1 January 2011, interest paid on debt to acquire Eiffarie * – 3.77 billion – will be deducted from the tax base APRR, say the strategists Natixis Securities. In addition, the tax losses generated by the interest paid on this debt between 2006 and 2010 will be tax deductible APRR, they said. For them, the economy reached 314 million euros. APRR, in fact, will not pay tax according to their estimates.

* Eiffarie, had been chosen by the state in late 2005 during the privatization of Autoroutes Paris Rhin Rhone (APRR).

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The shockwave of the complaint Friday Constable American markets spread throughout the weekend. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has accused a number of Wall Street and the first investment bank in the world to be guilty of fraud. She says the bank, especially one of its French employees had deliberately misled the clients to whom it sold in 2007, complex products linked to subprime, which were highly toxic. The move was made for the benefit of another client, the famous hedge fund Paulson & Co.

This brutally violent blow brought to Goldman Sachs by an American authority has given new force to the criticism that rained down on the bank already, although it became a symbol of a fund that has too quickly found the way of profits.For the first time since 1986, when the first attack against the bank Drexel Burnham Lambert, the SEC declares the war a pillar of Wall Street! And this time, Goldman Sachs sees his reputation reached in a way that can impair depth to his "business" as it is accused of having "played" against the interests of its customers.

In Germany, a spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel said that her own financial policeman, BaFin, demanded an explanation from the SEC and considering, where appropriate, prosecutions: one of two customers cheated named to United States is another qu'IKB, a German bank bailed out that Berlin. Asked by the BBC, the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "shocked" by what he calls "moral bankruptcy" of investment banks. He asked that the FSA, British counterpart of the SEC, in turn opens an investigation.Finally, the European Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Olli Rehn, has promised an investigation "deep thrust" on the role of Goldman Sachs vis-?-vis Greece. The bank, which he denies and which has been cleared by the U.S. Federal Reserve in this regard has been criticized for several weeks helping Athens to hide, via financial products, the actual deficit.

The lawyers are already working actively to bring proceedings against Goldman Sachs on behalf of other investors potentially affected by the product under investigation by the SEC. In addition, the whole complex financial instruments and addicted to subprime will be winnowed at Goldman Sachs, but also in other banks.

In turn, the bank Goldman Sachs has reacted strongly against the accusations made against it in civil also, and not criminal.First line of defense: it has itself lost $ 90 million in the case, for only $ 15 million of revenue. The SEC estimated the total loss for investors to 1 billion. Then Goldman would reject the caricature of IKB, for example, an investor easily fooled. IKB had an active market sophisticated CDOs, says the firm on Wall Street.

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A "golden boy" among many other French

If confirmed, this would be the heaviest fine ever imposed by the U.S. National Highway Safety Agency (NHTSA) to a manufacturer. This requires the Japanese Toyota fined 16.375 million dollars (12.191 million euros). A record amount justified, she said, by the slow reaction of the manufacturer's faults found and deliberately concealed its vehicles.

The U.S. government accuses him of hiding Toyota for "at least four months' issues of accelerators is jamming in the down position, and this" contempt of risk "led to drivers. According to the Minister of Transport Ray LaHood, the leaders of Toyota "did not take steps to protect millions of drivers and their families."

Toyota has two weeks to pay the fine or contest it.If he refuses to pay and can not agree with NHTSA, the matter will be referred to a court.

Procedural defects

The NHTSA had opened an investigation last February 16 to see if Toyota had been slow to reveal these problems, finds a first time Toyota has not notified within five days after discovery of problems, as the law The imposed.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT), the 70,000 pages of documents presented by Toyota have revealed that the manufacturer "knew his problems pedals are jamming on their own since at least September 29.It was at that date that Toyota "has launched repair procedures with its distributors from 31 European countries and Canada to address issues accelerator stuck, sudden increase and tachometer sudden acceleration of the vehicle, "says the report.

But the documents show that "Toyota knew that consumers in the United States suffered the same problems as those in Europe and Canada.Yet, September 29, the band announced the recall of 3.8 million vehicles in the U.S. claiming only the possibility that the accelerator pedal gets stuck in the floor mat and ignoring the problems of blocking pedals 'themselves in the lowest position online cash advance.

It was not until January 21 that the manufacturer recalls 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S., reported first involuntary acceleration unconnected mats but the pedals are blocking themselves . In the end, Toyota has recalled more than 6 million vehicles in the U.S. on 9 million recalled in the world.Either the largest recall ever recorded by an automaker.

Organizational Change

In a statement, Toyota has defended: "We have already taken a significant number of measures to improve our communication with regulators and clients on security issues and strengthened our commitment to quality." This includes "the appointment of a new director of quality in North America and a greater role dedicated to regional leaders in the decision making process related to quality," says the manufacturer.

But the DOT has not said its last word. He announced as still investigating to determine if the manufacturer had "committed other offenses meriting further sanctions."

Reminders continue

Meanwhile, Toyota continues its recall campaign.The Japanese announced Tuesday its intention to recall 12,984 vehicles sold in South Korea because of mats may impede the accelerator pedal.

The three models involved are the Lexus ES350, Camry and Camry Hybrid. Motorists concerned will receive free repairs from April 19.

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A rock concert without a little moss, is like "a guitar without the strings" in the words of Didier Wampas. "Beer is part of the concert!" Confirms Franck Le Bihan, head of debit, the company that supplies drinking the Zenith in Paris. In good years, that is to say those who have many dates of foreign rock bands or hard and metal, he sold 70,000 liters of beer and worse (when the French variety is the poster) 40,000 liters. "This is hard rock that consumes the most," says he, even if the reggae concerts Appliances are not left behind. Thus in 2009, Mot?rhead concert which brought together 3000 spectators, it is 3000 liters of beer are gone, one liter per person! Some shows, however, reserve some surprises to the landlord of the premises."To Vanessa Paradis, spectators often come in pairs, drank lots of champagne," says he. However, at 8 euros cutting cons 4 euros the 33 cl beer, has quickly made. But beware, even if an artist sells a lot more drinking than another, it affects not percentage. The drink is for the room.

Unlike the Z?nith, the Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy (POPB) does not go through a dealer, is the room that takes care of the bar to which it employs, as the night between 40 and 70 people. Again, these are the concerts or hard metal that consume the most. Thus, for two performances of AC-DC (17,000 spectators each time), fans of Angus Young have drunk more than half a liter per person …cons under 25 for B?nabar cl.

The sale of alcohol is so important for rooms that Zenith is a 10% discount on the amount of rent if the artist makes an intermission … It must be said that at the Zenith in Paris, the bar is not less than 20% of annual turnover! In POPB is 10% "only" because of the large number of sporting events for which it is forbidden to sell alcohol. "I often say, if one takes away the bar, the ticket prices will increase by 20%!" Says Daniel Colling director of Zenith in Paris. Certainly, it is the artist who set the ticket prices and not the room, but if it earns more money from the bar, it will increase the rent and the amount of seats will be increased.Therefore Pascal Negro, CEO of Universal Music France sums up the situation thus: "the lemonade is the future of music-hall!".

Minor awards of the bar at the Zenith in Paris

For the 2008-2009 season, viewers spent an average per person:

2.34 EUR B?nabar (variety)

4.04 euros for Trust (French hard rock)

6.97 euros for Alpha Blondy (reggae)

7.06 euros for Prodigy (electro)

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While remaining for purchase on Ipsen, Gilbert Dupont decided Monday to withdraw the value of its favorite value list 'Midcap', arguing that "the handsome fellow course of action for a month (+9.4% ), compared with a performance of CAC Mid & Small190 limited to 0.6%, now leaves a potential stock market growth below 15%.

The withdrawal gave the lead in the wing during the specialist medicines, while trying again to exceed 40 euros. Around 15 hours, the action Ispen yielded 2.05%, to 38.75 euros, and signs the worst performance of the DRS on Monday.

However, the broker said it maintains its price target to 44.80 euros. To recall, the pharmaceutical group released late October sales up 7.8% to 256.4 million euros in the third quarter and raised in the same time its annual targets.The operating margin has been adjusted between 17 and 17.5% against 14% previously.

Gilbert Dupont has also highlighted the potential for marketing of LPG-1 class in the United States. The FDA (U.S. Health Authority) request to effect different actors perform a series of further clinical trials. Clinical trials are currently being published.

Exxon Mobil launched a massive operation. The Texan oil giant announced Monday in a statement putting his hand on XTO Energy, a specialist in exploration and production gas field unconventional. The stock transaction is valued at 41 billion dollars (28 billion euros). An amount that includes 10 billion debt to XTO. The news that investors react. On Wall Street, the action XTO recorded a jump of 16.65% to 48.38 dollars, while Exxon Mobil abandoned as 2.99% to 70.65 dollars.

Through this transaction, expected Exxon 0.7098 new share issue by XTO title. This is equivalent to a 25% premium for shareholders of XTO, compared to the closing price on Friday, December 11, which served as basis for agreement. The deal should be finalized in the second quarter 2010 after the green light by shareholders of XTO and regulators.After the merger, Exxon plans to establish in Texas a new organization to manage development and resources that will bring him XTO Energy.

The exploration and production of unconventional gas represents a potential size of the United States. For Rex W. Tillerson, executive director of Exxon Mobil, this acquisition will be an opportunity to increase investment and create new jobs in the U.S. economy.