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Beigbeder, hussar to conquer the Ukraine

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

With its false air of Largo Winch, Charles Beigbeder imagines is visiting his Ukrainian collective farms in a helicopter, from there a few minutes before leaving for a secret destination. Lost! By minibus he went with his team, the farm of 8,000 hectares of Glukhov, 350 km from Kiev, listening, questioning, taking the time to take photos of wheat fields with his laptop.

Yet as the heroes of comic books, Charles Beigbeder conducts its business in the charge, hussar to conquer Ukraine. "His outsider allows him to undertake the impossible in our eyes. He charges no ulterior motives. Grow 45,300 hectares in three years in Ukraine, with a small team, for us it was unbelievable, "explained his field man, Charles Vilgrain, young chief executive of AgroGénération who rents the land now six collective farms Ukraine.Charles Beigbeder is with his partner Alain Mallart, shareholder. They rely on the required increase of 70% of agricultural production provided by FAO, to feed the world population by 2050.

Nothing is too good to conquer the breadbasket of Europe, under-utilized in the courtyard of a huge kolkhoz Glukhov Case-IH Steiger articulated eight wheels, 535 horsepower, illustrates the enormity of the operation of 8000 hectares. With a tank of 1000 liters, it can run tirelessly in "three to eight" during the harvest. "The effect of size is a key to success, assures Joseph Alexander, CFO AgroGénération. The park is powered on average four times higher than in France, but the area 100 times greater. "

These farms were not chosen at random.The optimal humidity coincides with the very fertile black soil, the chernozem, the humus layer is so thick that it provides costly irrigation facilities. At Glukhov, no deep furrows of the earth scratch disks. This more gentle to the ecosystem is also good for the accounts: "The fuel savings and pesticides made possible an improvement in 30-50% of the margin," says Joseph Alexander. "The optimum is equivalent to 53 quintals per hectare wheat," says Charles Beigbeder. Today, farms are close to 43 quintals, or about the financial balance.

No taxes on corporate farming

Since the beginning of the adventure, all the activities required a total investment of 30 million euros (Shiloh, equipment …). Analysts expect a profit for the fourth year in 2011.For the current year the group should not be so far from equilibrium. Special zone: Ukraine no taxes on corporate farming, or VAT. To locate, AgroGénération relied on the experience of agri-industrial group Cereals French Champagne which it now sells its production of barley.

The risks are real: four guards protect equipment and crops. The GPS is used not only to optimize the use of fertilizers, but also to monitor the equipment to trace. To retain its 350 employees, AgroGénération offers the highest wages in the region (250-500 euros), while the average farm wage is 180 euros.

The company treats its relations with donors land farmed in 2800. Almost all are paid in kind with grain (750 kg) which will then feed the animals. But already Charles Beigbeder dream of other horizons."The presence in South America with the offset of the season will smooth the cash and share risks," says company founder, has set a goal: 100,000 hectares in 2012 in Ukraine.

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The rating agencies squabble

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Is this a declaration of war? A sneak attack against a competitor already criticized from all sides? Rating agency Standard & Poor's announced mid-week she placed the note in its rival Moody's under review with negative implications. Translation: "S & P is considering lowering the rating of its counterpart.

Standard & Poor's predicted an earthquake in the scoring in the United States. She believes that the current reforms on the financial regulation in the United States threatens the business of Moody's. For example, "investors may sue the agencies in the event of fraudulent or reckless notation, notes S & P, which" increased legal costs of Moody's "dramatically," says S & P.

Moody's might also face a drop in sales, ahead its competitor.New laws in effect remove the references to footnotes in regulatory agencies and investors could then no longer need their services.

Black Series

The decision by Standard & Poor's added to the long series of bad news qu'essuient its competitor. In recent months, Moody's has seen some of its former analysts testify against her before the U.S. Senate. One of its main shareholder, billionaire Warren Buffett, has withdrawn in part. And the agency was roundly criticized by some investors for notes attributed too generous to Greece, Portugal or Spain. When she does not suffer from the wrath of authorities for the untimely degradation States Notes.

Logically, these arguments on the ratings business in general, thus also relates to Standard & Poor's."This decision serves as a warning signal for the whole sector," Norbert Gaillard analysis, an economist and specialist agencies. The agencies are so far very profitable, with operating margins (operating income compared to the number of cases) between 30 and 40%.

Concerns about the sector

The agency draws she shot in the foot by publicly worrying about the future of its industry? Yes and no. If she criticizes his rival, it is mainly because the turnover of the latter depends on more than 90% of rating business alone. This is not the case of S & P. "She has put in place, long ago, a diversified business model (financial, S & P 500), regulatory reforms under threat," said Norbert Gaillard.

Moody's will be difficult to replicate its rival news: it is not publicly traded, it is backed by a large group, McGraw Hill. And if attacked, S & P will always assert its good faith by recalling that it had downgraded the rating of its own parent a few years ago.

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Bourbon Invests $ 2 billion

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Bourbon has unveiled this morning on its new 2011-2015 plan that includes selling its fleet of sixteen of its bulk to the U.S. Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd for 545 million dollars (440 million euros) and other non-core assets, for a total of 500 million euros.

The group plans to invest two billion dollars (1.62 billion euros) in the construction of 144 new offshore vessels – 80 and 64 supply ships carrying personal – on which he plans to propose an availability rate of at least 95% with a cost reduction of around 4% at constant rate by 2015.At that time, it should dopnc a fleet of 600 boats.

The CEO, Jacques de Chateauvieux, during a conference call from Shanghai in China, emphasized the perspective view of an average annual growth of 17% of sales from offshore between 2011 and 2015, after aligned with a 28% per year on average between 2002 and 2009 Guaranteed no fax payday loans.

Hiring for

According to forecasts of Bourbon, "the combined effect of generating cash flow (Cash, Ed) by operating activities, transfer of assets in 2010 and the new payment policy of ships, representing 75% of price paid on delivery, is expected to record a ratio of debt to equity of less than 0.5, and to generate a net cash position as of 2013."

In addition, as part of this plan, Bourbon will recruit some 5,000 new staff who will join the 7,000 men and women working there.

The company is also a ratio for 2015 gross operating profit (EBITDA) on revenues of 45% for the offshore and EBITDA ratio on capital employed of 20%.

A note to shareholders: the dividend distribution policy of Bourbon will be about 40% of consolidated net income.

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Titles restaurant to pay its yoghurt

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Employees benefiting from restaurant vouchers will soon lunch a pleasant change. Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economy, hopes to "quickly" to sign a decree extending the application of this method of payment in convenience stores, super and hypermarkets.All fruit and vegetables and dairy products (milk carton of yogurt to cheese through) can be resolved in this way.

Specifically, holders of securities (Ticket Restaurant, Cheque restaurant, lunch voucher, voucher table) may offer yogurt and fruit as a breakfast without these products come with a "heart meal (sandwich, casserole fresh, frozen or canned, prepared salads and salad), as set up a charter in force since 1 March between retail and restaurant National Securities Commission (NTRC).

This text, which limits the use to two titles per checkout, had framed the scope of application of restaurant vouchers. The purchase of dairy products was already in effect accompany the famous "heart of meals."The next order will make lawful use hitherto only tolerated at the margin (the purchase of dairy products) and expand the use of meal voucher for the purchase of all fruits and vegetables, not only those immediately consumable. This means that a basket of securities paid restaurant may contain raw vegetables such as broccoli and potatoes … In the entourage of Christine Lagarde, one highlights the benefits of this extension for both health and for the agricultural sector.

"The ink is barely dry, it says, however Bercy. We are awaiting the official presentation of the report of the Working Group. "The latter was established in March, due to abuses in the supermarkets.Some users of securities not hesitate to make part of their grocery shopping with this method of payment, while the system is designed to enable employees, in particular SMEs, to pay their lunch to tax-advantaged, like those enjoyed by employees of large companies often have an in-house restaurant.

The restaurateurs are preparing to respond

Another important point Bercy wants to increase very significantly the number of outlets which can be used for the restaurant vouchers to spend from 4,000 to 10,000.These guidelines are intended to clarify practices that have evolved in recent years.

In 2009, the share of debt redemption made to the restaurant food surfaces (hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores) reached 20%, according to the NTRC, exceeding for the first time that the "similar restaurants (bakeries, delicatessens and caterers) at 19%. Directly concerned, the traditional dining and fast, which became the lion's share (61%), waiting to know the exact contents of the decree to react.

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Trade Electrical trial Kerviel

Friday, June 11th, 2010

The first witnesses in the trial of Jerome Kerviel to show unfavorable to the former trader. However, the three lawyers of the Societe Generale seem nervous.

My Veil, Reinhart and Martineau do not in place. Sometimes they twirl and shake, like swallows on a wire, while nearly two representatives of the Crown. The result is a mass effect on the side of the charge, which accentuates the loneliness of the accused, sitting in a chair – which is probably not displease her advice. Sometimes, in turn, lawyers for the plaintiff are powerful whisper the word to reporters, as if they have trumpeted the court might be misunderstood.

Here are just a witness who has everything to please them: SN is a trader at Societe Generale. Tall, slim, short hair, gray suit (a standard, obviously), this old friend of Mr.Kerviel stands slightly hunched, embarrassed of the man whose belly gargoyle society. "I do not necessarily asked to be there," he slips to the President. But since there is, he sings the lament of an honest financial embittered: "We all have limits to respect. Jerome Kerviel took positions stratospheric, endangering the bank and its employees. We are fighting every day to earn a little money in the bank. I am disappointed and disgusted. "

Mr. Metzner asticote this model employee: "If you say the lesser evil of the Company generally, you would find your chair tomorrow?"

The witness, categorically: "Yes."

The lawyer, humbug "Try …"

Martineau and yelping My Veil: "MSunder oath! We want him to give false testimony: "The prosecutor Jean-Michel Aldebert, while caveat:" Do not terrorize witnesses, Master! "

Mr. Metzner and his partner, Nicolas Huc-Morel, now produce a picture that at first sight, shows that the theoretical limit imposed on the traders would have been "disabled" – understood: it was not expressly prohibited Kerviel to invest billions. Claire Dumas, part of SocGen, refutes the argument. The three councils of the bank seriously nod of the head, Mr. Metzner is gloating.As Mr Kerviel, but it should be noted that his ostensible irony and his disposition to take up anyone questioned irritate the president, who often questioned.

Societe Generale, it comes out of his sleeve a graphic frightening: If it had not "unwound" Kerviel aberrant positions from January 2008, she had said she lost, not 4.9, but 29 billion. This time, his trio swagger, while Mr. Metzner, red as a peony, storm: "These pieces have not been disclosed to the defense!"

The performance resumed Friday morning.

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Airbus faces production halts

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

A first for Airbus. Unions have all agreed to call for a freeze on production via a rotating strike that must affect all Airbus sites in turn. Since Monday afternoon, employees stopped work on site in Toulouse Clement Ader who assembles Airbus A 330 and A 340. Tuesday is that of Saint-Martin-du-Touch, head of the A320, which must stop work, then tomorrow the hangar Jean-Luc Lagardere whence come the 380. This weekend, employees of consulting firms and corporate headquarters in Toulouse are expected to stop work. Meanwhile, the hall unloading Beluga cargo planes must be blocked to prevent the delivery of parts and packages pre-assembled from other European plants of Airbus.

At the heart of this sudden clenching of association, wages and employment.The Inter held insufficient a proposal from the Executive Airbus to raise, from 1.5% to 1.9% its offer to general wage increase in 2010. According to the unions, this offer is too far from the 3.5% achieved in 2009. "We advocate the preservation of purchasing power and reward the efforts made to maintain delivery targets record (498 units by 2009) this year and the challenges associated with the A380, the A350 and the A 400M. Engineering the companion, through the course, everyone is under pressure, "said Jean-Francois Knepper, delegate of FP, the majority union."Employees are however not responsible for the strategic mistakes of the managers on programs A380 and A400M," said Pierre-Henri Coat CFDT delegate Central in Nantes, also affected by blockages targeted.

Inventories buffers "

The unions also want to obtain an interest in more "generous": "At Airbus, the participation will be EUR 0 and the incentive of 557 euros, while Astrium participation will be 2700 euro and the incentive of 1000 euro , "argues Jean-Francois Knepper. Another claim, get the hiring of 700-800 people, as in Germany.

Regarding the direction, it said that his proposal is within the upper range of that offer members of the Aerospace Industries Group, Gifas (between 1.5 and 2%)."Between 2005 and 2009, wages increased by 17.9%," said a spokesman for Airbus.

Spoiled the employees of Airbus? While many employees are subject to discipline – not to mention social plans. "Few companies have a backlog of five or six years, making Airbus a comfortable market situation, 'explains Pierre-Henri Coat. On Monday, Airbus is serene wanted: "For now, the final production is not affected. We have buffer stocks which can work normally. "The showdown has begun.

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Sharp launches a small screen 3D without glasses

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

The story accelerates. This Friday, the Japanese group Sharp has introduced a tiny touch screen, color, reproducing 3D videos. The big innovation is that this screen does not require glasses. A step that should be taken seriously. Unfashionable as it may eventually large screen televisions in 3D now being launched in the U.S. by Samsung and Panasonic but need to don special glasses.

However, to see the effect in relief, it is necessary to be right in front of the small screen, 30 cm apart. "We can only produce small screen in this technology. In addition, 12.7 cm diagonal. It must be well in front, otherwise the perception of 3D fade, "says Patrick Chardin, director at Sharp France. To develop its new technology, the Japanese group has improved its previous innovations.Three years ago, in Tokyo, Sharp has introduced an innovative technology which allowed three people to watch at the same time, a different program broadcast by the same TV, depending on the position of each face on the screen. Each point on the screen was broadcasting a different image depending on the viewing angle of the viewer.

According to this principle, with an image emitted for each eye, the semiconductor division of Sharp has designed its new 3D display device called an "interlaced effect. The additional cost compared to a conventional screen is not excessive.For the screen in landscape consists of a conventional LCD panel on which is placed a filter.

Nintendo

But because of its limited size for the 3D effect, "we focus on three markets: portable gaming devices, smartphones (note: mobile phones for surfing) and embedded screens, such as GPS in cars" said Patrick Chardin best payday advance.

Production should begin in September. One of the first objects that can use this technology should be the next portable game console, Nintendo 3DS, announced last week and promised for 2011. For its previous screens of the DS, sold 125 million units, Nintendo had already appealed to Sharp as a supplier.

Nintendo's next console will be presented in June in Los Angeles at E3.The Japanese group said the old games the DS can be reused on its future console. With 3DS, the group led by Satoru Iwata will take another step ahead of the Sony PSP (67 million), which was sold two times less than the DS. In addition, the CEO of Nintendo will reduce competition from the iPhone and iPod Touch which guests are on the market for portable game consoles.

Moreover, it could sell 78 million smartphones equipped with 3D screens by 2018, says DisplaySearch.For now, only one mobile is sold only in Japan by Hitachi, with a 3D effect without glasses.

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MEDEF: Metallurgy sets its requirements

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

A matter of survival! Frederic Saint-Geours does not mince his words on Thursday night calling for a profound "recasting employers, on pain of extinction. "In an era of increased competition, where companies seek to reduce overhead and streamline their organization, employers can continue to live on and operate under a structure inherited from the postwar period, has hammered the President the UIMM, in closing the third annual convention of the federation. The employers' organization must meet the expectations of businesses by simplifying its structure (…).Remaining fragmented, we are threatened with extinction in the debate and public action. "

Less than three months to designate the future boss of bosses, the first president of the federation MEDEF has actually set a roadmap can not be clearer for any candidate who would boast the support of the UIMM.

More collegiality

For him, this overhaul is necessary for a "governance reform of MEDEF" he deems perfect. "To better represent the enormous diversity of landscape entrepreneurial French, Medef needs a mode more college (… ), which requires an exemplary collaboration with all components and inter-professional ", justified Frederic Saint-Geours, as the text of his speech – the meeting took place behind closed doors.

The roles must be "clearly established" between a president "in entrepreneurial function, a general manager" responsible for services and the thriving community "and a college of elected officials" fully involved in the preparation position papers and public negotiations with the unions. " A thinly veiled criticism of Laurence Parisot, president of MEDEF, full time since 2005, who spent three CEOs in less than two years and who is accused of taking unilateral decisions.

However, no question of leaving the MEDEF, ensure UIMM – which is one of the most important components. Instead, a call was launched "to restore unity around the MEDEF employers'. Not without asking the end of "fratricidal quarrels" with CGPME – which is also UIMM stick – and the architects of the UPA.The "fierce competition" which engage the employers 'confederations' and display their differences "prove" suicidal for the employers and weaken its position vis-?-vis the government and unions. "

The president of the UIMM also wants to end "the milfoil employer" to approximate the structures (territorial chambers, trade associations, chambers of commerce …). Metallurgy promises to lead by example.

Becoming "the spokesman of the unanimous opinion" of the industrial enterprises that were surveyed in preparation for this convention, Frederic Saint-Geours has finally stated intention to develop cooperation with the federations of industry (chemical, textile … ) "on three common issues, including the promotion of an enabling environment for economic and social competitiveness of industrial enterprises and enhancing their businesses.In short, strengthening the "inter-industry level. Quit walking on beds of MEDEF. Again, Laurence Parisot appreciate …

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Hartz IV: "Germany must reduce its spending"

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

LE FIGARO. – Ruling of the Court puts it into question the whole system "Hartz IV"?

Niels Diederich. – No. The decision of the Court concerns only the welfare of minors. In the system of "Hartz IV", children whose parents are unemployed or who are raised in single-parent families, indirectly affect the state aid. However, they receive only 70 to 80% of the amount awarded to an adult. In 2005, the legislature had found that children have lower needs than adults and had applied a standard reduction. The judges felt that we can not calculate the social benefits attributed to children on the same basis as for adults. They require the development of a new scale of separate calculation, so that their needs are taken into account.The government will soon review the text to make its corrections.

The competitiveness of German companies is in danger?

Not because this decision they will not carry more loads, it does not hurt German exports. The companies co-finance the system of unemployment insurance by 50%. But it is a separate mechanism. The system "Hartz IV" is funded through taxes. But the state has pledged not to raise taxes. It will therefore reduce expenditure to finance the surco?t.La Court is often accused of conservatism.

That shutdown threat does not modernization of Germany?

Politicians always moan against the Constitutional Court. Created after the Nazi era to serve as a safeguard against the state, it has, indeed, enormous powers. But judges do not prevent the country's modernization.On the contrary. In 1949, when the conservative party (CDU) had held that in cases of dispute over the education of children, the man still had the last word on the woman, the Court ruled that the law contradicted the principle of equality between citizens. Since the 1950s, it required that disputes be settled by a judge, thus laying the foundations of the principle of equality between men and women in the country.

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Trustees: associations challenging the Government

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Consumer associations and owners want to end abusive billing trustees. Six of them (the Association of responsible ownership (Arc), the General Confederation of Housing (LMA), rural families, CNAFC consumers, UFC-Que Choisir and Union of Women civic and social) challenge the government on Thursday and request the publication of an order prohibiting certain pricing practices clearly. Objective: To achieve greater transparency in contracts of trustees and limit the share of additional fees.

In late October, the Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs, Herve Novelli, has announced that the list of benefits included in the package paid by the owners would be fixed by decree.If they welcome the decision they demanded two years, associations have expressed concern that the Government merely the final text was minima, taking the advice of the National Consumer Affairs September 27, 2007. Notice that as they raise problems of interpretation. They denounce such abuse by the multiplication of the trustees pay benefits when these services should be integrated into the annual management plan.

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