Sundial of world news

Monday, Le Monde has turned a page of his story in a calm atmosphere. Once is not custom. Upon completion of the supervisory boards of the World, offers the trio Pierre Berge, Xavier Niel and Matthew Pigasse ("BNP") received 11 votes. The other nine votes abstained. Employee representatives had 9 votes, and Louis Schweitzer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, which made the difference in making its voice and that entrusted to him by Claude Perdriel, boss Le Nouvel Observateur and unsuccessful candidate for the resumption of the World.Louis Schweitzer has done everything to ensure that The World is lost in a new crisis between the employees and field representatives (Lagardère and Prisa, La Stampa, Pierre Lescure, Jean-Louis Beffa …).

Over the weekend, in the daily columns, he emphasized the seriousness of the financial situation and warned: "I hope there will be convergence." At the end of the supervisory board, Gilles Van Kote The president of the Society of Editors (RS) welcomed "the gesture of a great lord of Claude Perdriel, which withdrew its offer and voted for its competitors. On Monday morning, Claude Perdriel and Orange announced they were withdrawing their offer, drawing the lesson of the plebiscite of employees of the World for the trio "BNP".Into effect on Friday, the different societies of staff (Le Monde, Le Monde Interactif, Telerama, Courrier International, employees, managers …) have spoken overwhelmingly (between 80 and 91%% for the Society of Editors of World) for the trio Pierre Berge, Xavier Niel and Matthew Pigasse. After the vote, will open exclusive talks with the trio BNP. Beforehand, prospective buyers are, as they had committed 10 million euro move before July 5 to cross to Le Monde's financial deadlines July 10 and have enough money to take all summer ."Then, in late July or early September a new supervisory board will endorse the negotiations and the deal should be finalized in late September or early October," said Gilles Van Kote.

Negotiations with Lagardère and Prisa

In total, Pierre Berge, Xavier Niel and Matthew Pigasse provide 110 million euros. Therefore, they will control 64.65% of capital. For the first time in the history of the world, workers will abandon the majority stake and control group. The trio "BNP" had taken the measure of the importance of this decision. That is why he insisted on preserving the editorial independence of publications group. Better, it should make a gesture in their favor.Pierre Berge has promised to create a foundation with 10 million euros destined to gradually increase the share of employees to 33%.

With other shareholders, Lagardère and Prisa, also diluted, dialogue should engage. Following the recapitalization, Lagardere will have only 5.86% of capital, and Prisa 5.1%. Lagardère cons grin and heart. In the vote, he refrained. "This is a position consistent with what we've always said. We did not oppose the rescue of the World while taking care to safeguard our interests, "responded Khiroun Ramzy, the group's spokesman. However, Lagardere clearly leaning in favor of the trio Perdriel, Prisa, Orange, with whom he had begun negotiations for the acquisition of its stake in the holding company and Le Monde Interactif. In total, he was to receive nearly 40 million euros. The trio "BNP", everything remains to be done."The investors must now specify their intentions. Everything depends on the proposals they will make us, "adds the group. However, the trio "BNP" remained unclear. If he says he must "return to the activity in the digital world", it does not specify the amount he is prepared to pay to redeem the 34% of Lagardère in Le Monde Interactif.

The other loser is the media giant Prisa Spanish. The group led by Juan Luis Cebrian came late in the battle alongside Claude Perdriel and Orange. He has to defend its interests in the holding head. But his stance in favor of an issue of the daily morning have undermined his bid.

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In the battle over economic strategy, which raged in the country G8/G20 meeting in Toronto, Nicolas Sarkozy ranks clearly on the side of Barack Obama's hostile plans rigor precipitates. "For France, fiscal consolidation is a long-term need [...] the stimulus must be from 2011, gradually, depending on individual circumstances," said one EU source.

Favorable cures severe austerity in Greece, Portugal and Spain, Nicolas Sarkozy calls for budget adjustments "progressive" in France and Germany, from 2011, with "not too many taxes."

The fragile economic and financial worries Europe G8 and G20. "Our partners Americans and Canadians fear the impact of austerity plans on resuming" said one EU source.The health of banks on the Old Continent is also a major concern in the United States. "There's nothing to fear from that quarter. Our banks are very strong. The results of stress test in late July is going to cheer the markets, "say the Europeans.

Faced with the Americans, Germans and Britons facing the G8 steadfast defenders of rigor. "A sustainable growth can not result from a fiscal policy based on the debt!" Repeats Angela Merkel. "Our public finances are in such a state, we have no other choice than a hard adjustment," he defends David Cameron.

Within this debate, Nicolas Sarkozy wants to distinguish itself from its European partners. Recognizing the need to reduce fiscal deficits in France, he will not rush, giving priority to pension reform.If markets were not so vigilant, he would gladly own the warning of Barack Obama: "do not overdo it in 2010 … or 2011.

lefigaro.fr / jdf.com – After having doubted the ability of countries to cope with budget deficits, the markets are concerned now plans rigorously implemented by European states. Are they become schizophrenic?

Eric Bleine – I do not know if we can speak of schizophrenia, but I find the reactions of financial markets is excessive. This is not surprising when one considers that most large companies in the CAC 40 are majority owned by U.S. pension funds, and increasingly by players from emerging markets. If individuals are continuing to ignore the actions, it will increase, and financial markets continue to be volatile. In this context, I advise investors to focus on their process of investment. In other words, to believe in what they do and do not move during moments of extreme doubt.It is when the visibility is poor economy and financial and prices of listed assets are low it takes to earn money. The doubts the current market is understandable but exaggerated. He should know how to take them by buying now, taking as a necessary condition to have investment horizons reasonable (between 18 months and 3 years) does not get into the position of having to liquidate its portfolio under stress specific personal.

European equities are they really excluded?

Financial markets have still not integrated as European companies are financially sound, well managed despite the crisis and they have high margins and refinanced debt. The euro zone is not in a situation so bad as that.The proof that more than European ones, are also international companies which derive a substantial part of its sales in the U.S. or in emerging countries. If fears about the euro area are so important is because pension funds are selling their fears, "the fear". What explains this high volatility. But I guess they will stop selling because valuation levels as low and reassuring news that we are beginning to have on the sustainability of our currency, the euro.

How do you manage the allocation of your portfolio between defensive stocks and cyclical stocks?

Overall, I'm quite recently strengthened financial securities in defensive stocks. I have preferences for certain banking stocks and am overweight, representing 18% of portfolio value Central.Despite the pressure around these companies, the current prices seem particularly attractive and excessive criticism. We focus on the big European banks such as BNP Paribas, Santander, Intesa, UniCredit, Deutsche Bank or Barclays. They are strong and come out winners in my opinion this crisis, the market does not take into account.

It is a rather surprising position in the current context. Other atypical cyclical stocks?

Yes, because we are also overweighted car values (5.32% of portfolio) as DaimlerChrysler, Faurecia and Michelin. For example, Michelin will benefit from new standards that will enable tire manufacturers to sell products with high added values.Furthermore, we focus Faurecia, because we believe that Faurecia has good chances of success in China by supporting the rise of automobile manufacturers in emerging countries

I'm also positive and closer to consensus on technology stocks (11.55% of portfolio) invested with Atos, Steria, STMicroelectronics. There is a real demand for computer services and technology assets. Finally, I like also valued as Lufthansa is one of the few aerospace companies to have limited its losses in 2008 and which we believe will be winners of an industry concentration. However, although it benefits from the dollar, we excluded EADS for which we still have some reservations.

A second half what should we expect?

We look forward to a calmer second half versus the first.We're going out of concerns about the sustainability of the euro area and the ability of states to refinance. The fears will gradually dissipate and the risk premium with them. This should drive us as a first step to a CAC 40-3800 points. Then the market should realize that the growth of European countries will not be as catastrophe we would suggest. This gives a potential ACC 40-4000 points, why not towards the end of the year. With the portfolio that I currently constituted, I am ready for the increase in ACC 40.

Will it happen to food packaging, plastic chairs or bumper? The Federation of plastics, which brings together producers of plastic products, is sounding the alarm. "This is a situation unprecedented in the plastic. Our suppliers of polymers evoke technical reasons, cases of "force majeure" and do not honor their deliveries, "said Bruno Etienne, its president.

He complains of the total opacity surrounding the subject. In less than three months, the phenomenon has spread to most chemists. In a letter to his clients, a leading industry refers to "a situation of force majeure for a mechanical problem. A spokesman said "not able to comment in the present context," adding that the group has written to its customers and does not give more details.Rhodia did not wish either to speak on this subject, nor the Union of Basic Organic Chemistry (SCOBA). PlasticsEurope, an association of European producers of plastics, boot button: "The problem of availability of raw materials is not limited to plastics, but is much broader. Polypropylene is most affected. "

A response that plastics companies deny. "There is still some time, the European plants polymers suffered from overcapacity. They could even export to China. Does it change? "Asks Bruno Estienne. He wondered if a half-word part of European production is shipped to China, to the detriment of businesses he represents.The producers of polymers are in fact, in their majority, started in the construction of production units of polymers in Asia, but all are not yet operational. This theory has a flaw: the prices of plastics in China are structurally lower than those in Europe, where prices through May rose by an average of 70% over one year.

However, in 2009, production fell by 20% and has increased by 9% during the first four months of the year."Some factories were closed in 2009, and the groups are reluctant to reopen them," said Jean-Marc Manducher, CEO Ronax, a buying group that has identified eight cases of force majeure in a few months! In addition, the European prudential standards discourage the restart of some production units.

SMEs under pressure

"We are caught between the chemists in our principals," said Bruno Etienne, who wishes to hold a roundtable meeting to identify the difficulties currently crossed by the industry and evaluate the time needed to return to normal.

If the survival of businesses does not seem threatened, some are already struggling. One example for manufacturers of garden furniture, whose business is seasonal excellence, and whose unfilled orders will not be caught.T automobile sector is also likely to be affected, if manufacturers of technical parts (bumpers, interior trim parts in engines) are not promptly supplied.

Bureau Veritas announced Tuesday the acquisition of Inspectorate, specialist inspection and testing of raw materials and subsidiary of British Inspicio. The transaction amounted to 450 million pounds (nearly 540 million euros) and should be completed in the third quarter of 2010.

Inspectorate, currently held by the investment company 3i, is also present on the testing of petroleum products and petrochemicals (59% of its turnover), metals, minerals and agricultural products.The company recorded 2009 sales of 246 million pounds (280 million euros).

In a statement, Bureau Veritas claims that the acquisition allows it to position itself as "one of the world's leading inspection and testing of raw materials," a buoyant market, "according to Chairman Frank Piedelièvre group, whose potential amounts to 5 billion euros, according to the group saving account payday loan.

Inspectorate therefore give "a new dimension to the group that doubles the size of its laboratory network (330 sites) and now offers a range of services the industry's broadest assessment of compliance."

Bureau Veritas says that the transaction will be financed through existing credit lines and newly negotiated. The group expects a turnover of around 3 billion euros in 2010.It amounted in 2009 to 2,648,000,000 euros.

The time of new measures to reduce costs will soon strike in France. The State must indeed save 100 billion euros by 2013 to reduce its deficit and meet European standards.

Claude Gueant, advisor to Nicolas Sarkozy, says the Financial Times on Monday that further savings measures are in preparation. They should be announced in the fall. It says in part: "France has pledged to reduce its deficit to 3% by 2013. We are determined to achieve this goal. "

Forecast question

For now, the government relies on its growth forecasts to find half the sum. But estimates of France are considered optimistic. The European Commission and the International Monetary Fund have both criticized the government's optimism.The economy minister, Christine Lagarde, has itself acknowledged Sunday at the Grand Jury RTL-LCI-Le Figaro, saying that the forecast 2.5% growth next year was "bold" .

Lower costs

The remaining 50 billion euros will come from the decline in public spending and tax increases. How the State plan to do it? A belief in "Les Echos", the government intends to confirm its target of 100,000 new layoffs of civil servants between 2011 and 2013, after the 100,000 already achieved in recent years. Moreover, the government plans to freeze spending between 2011 and 2013 to maintain transfers to local governments and increase only slightly the health expenditure.The state should also remove the tax loopholes to recover 5 billion euros per year and create a new tax on the wealthiest to raise 3.7 billion euros. Finally, the adjustment of tax evaders will recover, as reported by the Budget Minister Francois Baroin to France Info radio this weekend, "over 1 billion just on the folder HSBC.

The Financial Times points out that these measures should not be sufficient to reach 100 billion euros in savings by 2013. If Claude Gueant has not revealed the content of the proposed measures, economists believe that the state could proceed with a wage freeze for civil servants, their salaries account for nearly one third of public spending.

The crisis has cost France dear. No less than 6 percentage points of GDP between 2008 and 2010 and 3 points of tax revenue and social, as estimated by INSEE. "The growth restarts quite normally, but it remains the scar," said Thursday its chief executive, Jean-Philippe Cotis.

The alerts about the financial health of Spain were further strengthened Wednesday after the revelations of the Spanish newspaper El Economista. According to business daily, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund are preparing a rescue plan for Spain, providing a credit line of between 200 and 250 billion euros. The announcement of a forthcoming call for help had already returned insistently in recent days in the German press. Information that Brussels and the IMF have strongly denied Wednesday.

The announcement of a visit by IMF Managing Director, scheduled for Friday, has added to the panic. Although Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Wednesday in Paris that it was only "a working visit". To cut short the rumors, general manager told AFP he goes to all European countries."I'm in France, is there any rumors in France? I'm going to Italy. Is there any rumors in Italy? "He also downplayed the financial problems of Spain at a conference on Europe and China:" It is also said to exaggerate it a country that has great difficulty and yet the debt is 53% of GDP, which is relatively modest. "

Labour Market Reform

The Spanish head of government has also applied to reassure. Spain is a "country solvent, solid, strong and with the international credit, said Wednesday Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero before the Spanish Parliament. The Economy Minister Elena Salgado for his part denied that Brussels has put pressure on Madrid. Support for the Spanish cause is from Paris."We see no reason to be concerned for Spain, and there is no subject in the Spanish agenda of the European Council, it was said at the Elysee.

These multiple statements have not been enough to calm markets that have remained very nervous. The Spanish rate in a decade rose 10 points in the day 4.8%, approaching levels Portuguese. The yield spread between German and Spanish titles to ten years to 223 basis points on Wednesday, a record, as investors consider the Spanish debt more risky. The motion of no confidence falls ill in Madrid, which must issue this morning 3.5 billion euros of bonds to ten years.

The concern of the market relates to both the country's financial situation and the capacity of economic recovery.The government on Wednesday passed a labor reform, considered essential for revitalizing the job but remains highly contested by the unions.

In a report released Wednesday, the Bank of Spain insists on the need to implement "as quickly as possible" of economic adjustment measures to increase the competitiveness of the economy Hispanic counter the drop in employment and deterioration public finances. But the Spanish savings banks, the Achilles heel of the banking sector, require 11 billion euros to the state for further restructuring.

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The warning on the accounts Krief Group launched by the auditors of the company may be only the first phase of legal setbacks Louis Petiet. Official Bulletin, the alert procedure "very advanced", according to "Echoes" is a prevention of business difficulties. Petiet Louis, through its group Bernard Krief Consulting (BKC)-since renamed Krief Group-has multiplied over the past three years the buyout on the brink of liquidation. And since early 2010, he faced great difficulties.

This is the case of Heuliez, which he eventually sold the shares to an investor, Charles Mirchi. The automaker, which Petit Louis has never made the 16 million euro capital promised to bar the commercial court, awaiting a new buyer.Other companies are being liquidated, as the chain of stores in Soho gadgets, or industrial Isotherma, Havre.

In Alsace, the former two problems DMC: DMC SA (ex-DMC thread) on one side and the other DMC fabric. Two companies taken over by Louis Petiet. The liquidators DMC SA before the Tribunal de Commerce de Paris. Louis Petiet has still not made the 8 million euros promised in the takeover of the company. Authorised agents would like the company is recapitalized by the current minority shareholders who would become the majority. Such an operation would be catastrophic for BKC to lose control of one of its only really profitable companies.'Stocks of DMC SA alone represent a real source of income for two years, "a close case.

In addition, an unsuccessful candidate for the redemption of DMC, the French manufacturer of textiles SA Blanchard, also before the court. It calls for the cancellation of the recovery plan by BKC and wishes to represent his own recovery plan. The court decided to consolidate the two cases and the next hearing will be held September 8 No faxing payday loans.

Broken Promises

Second case, the DMC Fabric, whose activities have been grouped with a sign of furniture, Authentica, within SAIC Velcorex. Louis Petiet hoped "synergies". Today, the liquidator "examines the responsibilities of Louis Petiet, including how he managed DMC Fabric and Authentica," said a source close to the record."Cash Authentica (advances paid by customers) would, a priori, was used to cover losses Velcorex SAIC," said the legal representative, which states that "it did nothing illegal, since it is the same company. However, this does nothing to the rules commonly applied by a transferee company in difficulty, meant to work on his recovery.

"After regaining Authentica, Louis Petiet did nothing for the company, not even changed the vehicle registration cards," said the liquidator. Louis Petiet highlights purchases of raw materials it was made for Authentica.What is relatively little in terms of commitments.

The alert procedure

The Commercial Code provides that the auditors (ACC)-expected to certify the company's accounts, can alert the president of a company if they find "facts likely to affect the continuous operation. The president has fifteen days to respond. Otherwise, or if the reply does not guarantee the continuity of the operation, the ACC is deliberating the board of directors (or supervisory) on the facts found. If the resulting provisions are not met or that the company's survival is threatened, the ACC establishes a special report. The Commercial Court may be entered. This can lead to legal redress.

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Found 100 billion euros in three years. This is the government's objective to reduce the deficit from 8% to 3% in 2013, reiterated Prime Minister François Fillon on Saturday, which gave details of the proposed measures. "We have pledged by 2013 to reduce our deficit from 8% to 3% and all our efforts will focus on this priority. It means basically that should reduce the deficit of 100 billion by 2013, "he said during a meeting with new members of the UMP Salle Gaveau.

The $ 100 billion, "we (them) to find the half in spending cuts and half in revenue increases," said the head of government.The 50 billion euros in spending cuts will be made up of "45 billion by reducing public expenditure, 5 billion on reducing tax loopholes."

On the revenue side, the 50 billion do not result from increased taxes and levies, "said Francois Fillon. He bets on "35 billion upgrading after the crisis, loss of revenue cyclical. (…) As and when growth returns, revenues are growing once again, "he said. And the remaining 15 billion? They "will correspond to the end of the steps we have taken to boost the economy and have obviously not meant to last beyond this period of recovery," he added.

In May, Francois Fillon had already announced a freeze in spending value of the state but had not detailed the targets.These details are involved a little less than a week after Berlin has adopted a plan rigorously evaluated at 80 billion euros. France is under pressure from financial markets and rating agencies, who urged him to detail the measures to be taken to reduce debt.

"New sources of funding"

The Prime Minister also addressed the issue of pensions. While the government prepares to release his reform plan, Francois Fillon reiterated its intention to extend the duration of activity and pushing the "symbol" of the statutory retirement age to 60 years.

It will also seek new financing, he added. "Justice will lead us to seek new sources of financing because the effort must be shared by all," he said.Nevertheless, the government has temporarily waived taxing incomes over 11,000 euros per month, according to information from Figaro.

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