"Industrializing access to start-up." This is one of the goals sought by Electronova Capital, the investment fund which EDF has announced Tuesday. This new tool will prioritize the "cleantech", these companies specializing in innovative technologies environmentally friendly.

"Our approach is flexible: it can be anything to support a project to take an equity stake," said Bernard Salha, director of research and development of EDF. The electrician tricolor, via an annual budget of 500 million euros, is one of those that invest most heavily in R & D.

Turn to France and Europe

Electronova Capital Fund will have a capacity of 60 million minimum investment, and the envelope will increase to 90 million euros, said Thomas Thornton, chief financial officer of EDF faxless pay day loans. The French group has teamed up for the occasion to Indivest Partners, a recognized specialist in SME financing.

"The launch of this fund is a further step in our policy for innovation. We have already taken similar initiatives in China and Canada, while qu'Electronova Capital will initially intended to turn to France and Europe, "said Thomas Aldridge.

Meanwhile the first operation, areas of intervention should not be missed: "The energy landscape is changing; between issues related to CO2, the development of renewable energy and the desire for improved energy efficiency, we are a turning point, "says Bernard Salha.

ALSO READ:

"Energy: the sector still on a roll

"A new fund for start-up digital

For the second time since 2009, Spain fell into recession. The Spanish economy has indeed contracted 0.3% in first quarter 2012 compared to end 2011, according to preliminary official figures released Monday. It is however slightly better than expected: the Spanish Central Bank expected a 0.4% decline in activity over the period.

After degradation of the Spanish note by Standard & Poor's, the publication of a record unemployment rate in March and fears more acute in the health of banks, the bad news accumulates in Madrid.

In the first quarter of 2012, only exports and tourism have supported activity. But their strength was more than offset by the effects of the austerity plan introduced by the center-right government of Mariano Rajoy, of unprecedented severity. Moreover, the cleanup of a long over-indebted economy, household businesses through the state, beating down domestic consumption. The proposed increase in VAT, under pressure from the International Monetary Fund, should accentuate this trend.

"The austerity trap"

So much so that the International Labor Organization (ILO), in its report published on Monday, sets up Spain as an example not to follow a policy solely focused on rigor. She stressed that "the deficit was reduced by just over 9% of GDP in 2010 to 8.5% of GDP in 2011: a very small reduction after a drastic austerity program." For 2012, the government had to moderate its deficit reduction target, it expects to either 4.4% but 5.3% of GDP, given the deteriorating situation. For the ILO, "the trap of austerity is being shut down."

The Spanish economy should continue to suffer, economists fear. "We expect an acceleration of the recession in the coming quarters, in parallel with the rise of austerity measures," said Evelyn Herrmann, economist at BNP Paribas. "Things should get worse before it gets better," says Martin van Vliet, of ING Bank.

Unemployment, already at a record level of 24.44%, should continue to climb. It should eventually reach more of an asset over four in Spain, provides the analyst consensus. Symbol of the Spanish slump, the construction industry, long time driver of the economy because of swelling of the housing bubble, should continue to lay off. It accounts for another 9% of employment, against 6% on average in the eurozone.  

Fears on banks

"The worsening situation on the labor market will have a particularly negative impact on banks," notes Ricardo Santos, an expert in Southern Europe at BNP Paribas. "The share of loans" non-performing "(that is to say, threatening never to be repaid, Ed) is expected to increase and represent 9% in late 2012." To which are added 176 billion euros inventory of buildings and land "problem", that is to say to the uncertain value, as counted from the Spanish Central Bank. Country's only hope in the short term, the "Marshall Plan" for growth in project and unveiled in Brussels on Saturday by the daily El Pais. According to him, he is expected to reach 200 billion euros, or 4% of GDP of the European Union. But Brussels has denied, insisting that these figures "had no basis."  

ALSO READ:

"Spain hit by record unemployment

"Undermined by unemployment, Spain is going through a" very hard "

"The UK fell into recession

"Spain: the rigor justified by the risk of bankruptcy

The conservative party of Angela Merkel (CDU) just make a new turn to conquer the center-left electorate for the election scheduled next year. Once he was fiercely opposed for several years, the union of conservative Chancellor has finally decided to support the introduction of a minimum wage in Germany.

Holding that the adoption of a "generalized minimum wage" in German might undermine negotiations between industry by industry employers, unions and employees, the CDU had long opposed the project.

But the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced the development of a bill going in this direction. According to his plan, an apolitical committee comprising representatives of employers and employees will be trained to fix a minimum wage at the federal level. This committee will reassess the amount of income each year. Industrial areas that have already negotiated a minimum wage, will not be affected by the introduction of national minimum wage, even if its level is lower. It remains to convince liberal allies of the Chancellor. Advocate for the Mittelstand, the SME network which is the strength of German industry, the FDP strongly opposes the minimum wage.

Centrist electorate

By offering a new bone of contention with the FDP, the Chancellor has again demonstrated that it has no intention of taking gloves with the Liberals in disarray. Her greatest hope is to cut the grass under the feet of his rival Social Democrats and environmentalists, who planned to make the minimum wage one of their main proposals for the parliamentary elections in September 2013. Since coming to power in 2005, Angela Merkel has pushed his party to focus on issues traditionally left – environmental issues, education and child protection – to seduce the centrist electorate. The Chancellor made his most dramatic turnaround last year after the disaster of Fukushima, deciding in the closure of German nuclear power stations and programming for 2022 abandonment of atomic energy. Von der Leyen hopes his proposal will offer a minimum wage "huge boost" to the CDU at the regional elections scheduled May 13 in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous regional state of Germany.

The CDU, however, risk of alienating some of its traditional supporters. "The disastrous consequences of such solutions can be found in European countries that have adopted similar rules, and judge Dieter Hundt, president of German Employers (BDA). Once again it is the weakest who suffer from these measures, because this will complicate their entry into the labor market. "The unions believe instead that the shortage of manpower across the Rhine to help negotiate end of the precariousness of wages.

ALSO READ:

"In Europe, the minimum wage suffers from the crisis

"Germany is considering minimum wages

"The minimum wage is considered too high in Greece

Danone Nestlé pipped to the post. After months of bidding, both groups had submitted their final offers Friday the pharmaceutical company Pfizer to buy up his infant nutrition division. At a Board of Directors held this weekend, Pfizer, according to our information, preferred the Swiss giant, world leader in food, the French group.

Danone had yet put on the table just over $ 11 billion for the opportunity to strengthen its branch child nutrition (Blédina, Dumex) in Asia and Latin America. To prevail, the group led by Franck Riboud was finally does not ally with American specialist baby milk Mead Johnson, as he had been a time draft. Anxious not unsustainable debt and not having to sell its bottled water to fund this acquisition, Danone was however associated with investment funds for a portion of the acquired business to Pfizer, and intended to sell assets in infant nutrition in Europe (excluding France), Australia and New Zealand.

Three times larger than Danone, Nestle has used its war chest to win. By paying more than $ 11 billion for an activity of 2.1 billion, including the Swiss group will be able to recover some of its delay in this sector in China.

ALSO READ:

"Nestlé favorite for the redemption of baby milks Pfizer

Zadig & Voltaire is poised to succeed his conquest of the West. Not only the French glam rock label founded in 1995 multiplies the openings across the Atlantic, where it already 8% of sales: in the end, she will inaugurate its eighth shop, 200 square meters on the prestigious Madison Avenue.

Better yet, Thierry Gillier, founder, owner and patron, comes to do business with a prestigious U.S. investment fund, TA Associates. After five months of negotiations, he signed on March 30 a memorandum of understanding, under which TA Associates will take 30% stake in Zadig & Voltaire. Reportedly, the agreement, which should be completed and made public in the next few days, values ​​the company 380 million euros. For its last fiscal year, ended July 31, Zadig & Voltaire has indeed achieved a turnover of 130.6 million euros and an Ebitda (EBITDA) of 34.2 million.

The investment firm TA Associates who invested since 1968 in hundreds of medium-sized enterprises with high growth in finance and the Internet, the bank was advised by Rothschild & Company for the operation. It will pay 11 times earnings of Zadig & Voltaire to diversify into ready-to-wear clothing. A multiple close to that achieved at the entrance to the capital of Eurazeo Moncler, last June.

Professionalise the governance of society

For Thierry Gillier, advised by Laurence Danon, Edmond de Rothschild Corporate Finance, this operation is the culmination of a long reflection no faxing payday loan. The contractor pushes for four years because of advances investment funds, as TowerBrook Capital and L Capital, and large banks. HSBC has thus approached several months ago for an introduction to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. But it was too early to Thierry Gillier, because the claw is not yet established in China.

In addition, Zadig & Voltaire, little debt and very profitable, does not need money. His boss has always maintained that it had enough cash to open 30-40 new stores worldwide this year. Zadig & Voltaire, which already has 70 outlets in France and 75 abroad (including booths in department stores, shops and franchised malls in Dubai, Moscow and Casablanca), will open this year a third store in Hong Kong, shops in Barcelona, ​​Moscow and in Germany, and a dozen corners in department stores like Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom in the U.S.. The transaction with TA Associates allows one hand to Thierry Gillier to achieve part of its capital and the other at Zadig & Voltaire entered a new stage of its growth and move beyond small family . The company may professionalize its governance, improve its financial structures and especially benefit from the expertise of TA Associates in the International Markets.

Thierry Gillier wants Zadig & Voltaire makes this year half of its sales overseas. Reportedly, he aims for the fiscal year began in early August up 19% of consolidated sales and an even more rapid Ebitda.

Times are changing. Apple also. Tim Cook, CEO of the group, visited China this week. This is the chief executive of the Apple brand to do so. Territory that Steve Jobs has ignored many years before the first open an Apple Store in 2008, but he never went. Thursday, the world's factory and especially Apple, China today is a tremendous reservoir of consumers. The Chinese world – mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan – is already the second largest brand, behind the United States.

No question of the destination then sulk. "China is very important to us and we look forward to further invest and grow here," and said Carolyn Wu, spokesman for the brand in one of the few interventions official Apple communication very stingy on the Overall the visit Tim Cook. Received with honors by the Vice-Premier Li Keqiang, tipped to succeed next year in the current prime minister, Wen Jiabao, also met with California leading operators China Unicom and China Telecom. First local operator, China Mobile still in talks with Apple to launch iPhone on its network. Moreover, an intellectual property litigation on the brand "IPAD" claimed by a Hong Kong company, slows sales of iPad in China, where the latest version has not yet been launched.

Wave of suicides at Foxconn

But the trip leader California also sought to address criticisms been rising, from around the world, on the manufacturing conditions of its high-tech products payday loans lenders. In 2010, a wave of suicides had given to Foxconn, Apple's main supplier that produces iPhone and iPad in China, a fatal reputation, yet tarnished by an explosion in a factory and workers of poisoning by chemicals.

An image so disastrous that earlier this year, the American actor Mike Daisey had no trouble getting across the Atlantic believe that Foxconn, children 12 years working in factories guarded by armed guards, before admitting that this information had been made.

No wonder Tim Cook will be split from a visit to the new Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, south-west of Beijing, including the official photos showed smiling employees. The Apple brand is committed to improving working conditions in its factory in China, signing an agreement with Foxconn on the hiring of tens of thousands of employees, improving safety and solving the problem for hours additional illegal.

Earlier, China had the opportunity to lecture foreign companies invited by Li Keqiang to "take more care of their workers," according to comments reported by the official daily English-language China Daily.

ALSO READ:

"Which countries are involved in the manufacture of iPod and iPad?

When Samsung reports on its activities in France, this looks like a show of force. Thursday, March 22, local teams of Korean have an update on the business performance of the brand in France. The balance is simple: Samsung is number one on almost all markets.

Last year, Samsung has done just under 3 billion euros in turnover in the Hexagon, an increase of 18% compared to 2010. He now owns 40% of the French mobile market, "20 points ahead of number two (note: Nokia)," says David Eberle, head of the division in France Telecom. In 2011, 24 million phones were sold in the country, including 11.5 million smartphones. On the latter segment, Samsung also advanced in first place with 36.6% of sales. He is now focusing on its capacity for innovation and new products to strengthen its positions.

On the TV market, Samsung has also managed to conquer France. Last year, about 8.3 million televisions sold nearly one in four was a Samsung. A position that the Korean intends to maintain, despite an expected decline in the market which is expected to fall to 7 million units. To support sales, Samsung highlights the features of its TV connected as the availability of Skype.

Now the Samsung steamroller is on its way. In the computer first. The group is "a number of monitors on the market with 20.8% of sales, number one on the printer for individuals, and a number of digital signage, with over 50% of the market," said Agnes Van de Walle, head of the IT sector. With the launch of new PCs Ultrabooks, Korean intends to carve cruppers its competitors in this field.

But Samsung's ambitions do not stop there. Still very present in digital photography, it intends to change the situation, including through cameras with WiFi function. The brand is considered "legitimate" to offer such products, given its experience in telephony. One way to answer the picture of historical actors who consider themselves to be often the only "legitimate" for everything that is shot.

Korean is also seeking to strengthen its presence in home appliances, starting with the cold (refrigerator) and washing (washing machine and dishwasher). Not to mention the lighting: the first Korean LED will be in stores in the coming weeks! Samsung builds on the reputation acquired in the two markets are the flagship of the TV and the mobile to reach its global sales. A strategy that so far has paid off.

This is not the strong political message expected by Paris, but Europe has decided to speak up to protect themselves from competitors judged disloyal. Under control of the Commission, certain public may soon be prohibited suppliers from countries that close themselves the door to EU exporters.

This "reciprocity" commercial, written in a bill introduced Wednesday, is officially open to third markets rather than to protect the old continent. "Europe is an open market, and we do not see why others would not like us. It is therefore encouraging, "said EU Trade Commissioner, Karel De Gucht.

The compromise, snatched after eighteen months, is far from 'Buy European Act "recently proposed by Nicolas Sarkozy, even in small-step approach

. "Protectionism"

The bill is based on two mechanisms. One, almost consensual, will allow Brussels to close the procurement of Member States to a third country guilty of repeated discrimination against European companies. Beijing, which closed its borders to any technology that has not previously "registered", is like a number one target.

This is the second mechanism that clashed European capitals, notably France, the Netherlands and Britain. It would enable a single Contracting Party in the EU – a municipality, for example – to get the Commission to prohibit a tender to foreign competition under the pretext of non-reciprocity, if the procurement covered exceeds 5 million euros.

To impose this device, which struck the most liberal of the Commission, Michel Barnier had to defend himself publicly accused of "protectionism". With a strong argument in a recession: Brussels amounts to 12 billion euros a lack of European companies to export because of obstacles put in third countries. Furthermore, public procurement represents about 20% of GDP in the EU, and they escape to international competition rules, set by the WTO.

ALSO READ:

"An ultimatum to strengthen European economic patriotism

"INSIGHT – The crisis has awakened protectionist temptations

Nicolas Sarkozy's promise to the workers and employees is clear: lowering of 4 billion euros labor costs at the minimum wage, will increase their take home pay. To finance the measure without worsening deficits, it intends to eliminate the employment bonus (PPE) and increase the taxation of dividends. A device that is the electorate.

]]> http://amarnathindustries.com/low-wages-the-idea-of-%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8bsarkozy-under-scrutiny/feed/ 0 http://amarnathindustries.com/small-employers-hiring-freeze/ http://amarnathindustries.com/small-employers-hiring-freeze/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:20:54 +0000 admin http://amarnathindustries.com/small-employers-hiring-freeze/  

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.

ALSO READ:

"The French economy has destroyed jobs in late 2011

"Nine out of ten bosses TPE provide a recession