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The SGC of the oil industry, the majority, urged employees of the 13 refineries in the French strike Thursday, April 15, when a national roundtable on the future of refining in France, the union said in a statement Wednesday.

The union claims a "refining industry to serve the economic needs and the country's social and employment areas.

The panel of 15 April under the aegis of government, was obtained during the strike a week for employees of Total's refining industry in late February.

The Total Group announced Monday the end of its refining operations in Dunkirk, one of its six refineries in France, while maintaining the 370 jobs at the site through industrial restructuring, considered insufficient by the employees.

On Tuesday, employees of the refinery had planned to launch a new appeal for solidarity from other refineries in France group.

Total number of unions are to meet Thursday to take a common position.

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The French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis and the U.S. Merck in a statement announcing the creation of a joint venture in animal health. Owned equally between the two groups, it is destined to become the world's number one industry with a combined turnover of approximately $ 5.3 billion, or 29% of the market.

Since July 29, 2009 and redeemed for $ 4 billion of Merck's participation in their previous joint venture Merial, Sanofi-Aventis had an option to meet with Merial, Intervet Schering-Plow Animal Health Division in the born merger between Merck and Schering Plow.

The deal values Merial to 8 billion dollars and Intervet Schering-Plow 8.5 billion.It already cost at Sanofi-Aventis 250 million dollars to establish an equal joint venture with Merck, and 750 million under the agreement of July 2009 the statement said.

The formation of this joint venture is subject to completion of definitive agreements, review by competition authorities in the United States, Europe and other countries . The completion of the transaction is expected during the next 12 months. Pending completion of the transaction, Merial and Intervet Schering-Plow continue to work independently.

The market for animal health has reached 19 billion dollars in 2008. Products for pets represent 40% of the market and 60% for animal production.The growth of this market should be about 5% per year during the next 5 years, supported by a growing demand for animal protein, and by the substantial need for care for pets.

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The news was confirmed by a spokesman for Total, following a central works council. The Dunkirk refinery has finally closed its doors Monday. As the oil group had promised the 370 employees keep their jobs by creating a depot, a training center, a technical center and reclassifications.

The logistics depot would employ 15 people, training centers and technical assistance in refining approximately 225. Employees will be offered 80 positions in other refineries, 30 positions in other structures of Total in France and 20 employees will be granted "for early career.

The proposed closure of the Dunkirk refinery is the source of the national strike in late February that poses the threat of a shortage of fuel.The refinery has 370 direct employees and 400 to 450 employees subcontractors.

Total promised to each employee in the establishment of Flanders' work at Total matching skills. Another promise: "no closure or sale" of French refineries will happen within five years.

Substitution project

Before the start of the meeting, Total has confirmed its participation in the construction of an LNG terminal by EDF in the port of Dunkirk. The agreement provides for "an equity Total capital 'of society, Dunkerque LNG, a subsidiary of EDF responsible for the construction of this terminal will terminal.Ce regasification capacity of between 10 and 13 billion cubic meters per year. The decision regarding its actual construction will be taken before the summer and could be put into service in 2014.It remains "conditioned on obtaining all regulatory approvals and the completion of commercial procedures and tenders for construction."

This project would mobilize up to 1,200 people during construction "and could generate" at least fifty direct jobs, which should add about 150 jobs indirectly "in the operating phase out the two groups. The Industry Minister Christian Estrosi had rightly warned that the Dunkirk refinery would reopen if there was "no real alternative project" to maintaining employment.

But this news should not necessarily good news for employees. The CGT and Sud believe that this project is too distant and "inadequate" to compensate for job losses.For 12 hours, the employees of Dunkirk appear before a seat of Total Defense.

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It is now 96 billion euros that the bank will reserve the financing of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and very small enterprises (TPE: companies with less than ten employees). Criticized for inadequate funding of the real economy and suspected tightening the screws on small and very small banks were received Friday morning at the Elysee Palace by Nicolas Sarkozy, François Fillon and Gerard Rameix, the Credit Ombudsman. After their meeting with Economy Minister Christine Lagarde at the beginning of February, they had once again put money on the table to demonstrate their goodwill.

They were committed in February to book a package totaling 38 billion euros "new money medium and long-term" cash advance till payday .They will now add 58 billion euros to authorize appropriations for the short term, for a total increase of 3% of the amount of credits granted, compared to the year 2009.

The year 2009 has indeed been particularly hard to finance small and very small, which have seen the amount of cash loans granted to them fell by 14% over the year. Even as the needs of new money was made more critical by an economic crisis.

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The year 2009 was not that of chemistry as shown in the results of the Arkema Group, published on Thursday. The group announced a net loss of 172 million euros, against a profit of 100 million euros in 2008. The turnover has shrunk from 21.1% to 4.44 billion euros for an operating margin of 7%, against 8.8% in 2008.

The group saw its three channels suffer because of weak demand and reduced inventories at its customers. The vinyl products business recorded a decline in its sales to 1 billion euros against 1.443 billion a year earlier. The industrial cluster Chemistry reaping 2.109 billion euros against 2.582 billion revenue in 2008 cash advance to savings account .Finally, the last part, performance products has achieved a turnover of 1.318 billion against 1.602 billion a year ago.

In 2010, Arkema expects a "significant increase" in sales and its gross operating profit (EBITDA), which stood at 310 million euros for 2009 (-37.8%). He adds that "standard conditions", Arkema is an operating margin "greater than 13.5%" in 2014.

In early September, Arkema, a former subsidiary of Total, announced the arrest of a production line in Saint-Auban (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) with the elimination of 88 positions.

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Air France-KLM fails to emerge from the fog in which she sailed past four quarters. The airline announced on Wednesday a further loss in the third quarter of fiscal shifted 2009-2010, the fifth in a row. Over this period (October to December), the group garnered a net loss of 295 million euros. This is less than the 508 million the previous year but well above the 216 million expected by analysts. The operating loss also disappointed expectations, to -245 to -194 million against expected by the market.

In the third quarter, revenue fell 16% to 5.19 billion euros. Observers had expected 5.34 billion euros."The business has shown during this quarter are some signs of recovery but in an economic environment that remains challenging," the group said in a statement.

Operating loss record throughout the year

For more, Air France KLM expects operating profit in the fourth quarter of fiscal offset "the same as that of last year" was 574 million euros. This "given the expected recovery later in unit revenues, lower capacity and an increase of about 300 million dollars from the oil bill.

This means that at this rate, the operating loss over the whole year could reach a record. Indeed, nine months, the group's operating loss amounted already to 788 million euros.Adding to the loss of 574 million harvested in the fourth quarter, the operating loss over the entire year could exceed 1.3 billion euros.

In a more distant future, Air France-KLM confirms targeting a return to balanced operations for its fiscal year 2010-11, excluding the impact of oil hedges prior to 2009. The company relies on cost reductions, "expected a slight increase in unit revenues, the implementation of medium-haul product and restructuring initiated in cargo activity.

The general environment is showing signs of improvement in the airline also confirmed the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The situation could hardly be worse than in 2009.

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Medica may blow. While markets remain subdued, the specialist retirement home announced Tuesday in a statement that its IPO has been "a success". French institutional investors and international were to rendezvous with a subscription offer for about three times its original size. The offer to individuals attracted 7500 orders. Among these, the group's employees have answered the call. Nearly 3,000 of them participated in the operation.

The group welcomes this performance, "in market conditions very difficult." It must be said that Medica had significantly lowered the price of its shares, offering 13 euros instead of 16 or 19.50 euros expected in a first instant payday loans .

The gross proceeds from the offering price and the open global placement represents approximately 255 million euros."In the event that the option of over-allotment is exercised in full, and would offer an amount of about 293 million euros, a figure of 22,530 shares representing approximately 47% of capital and human Group voting Medica, "the statement said.

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After the sharp market downturn in Paris last weekend, with the Cac 40 lost nearly 7% in 48 hours, and the misdirection of Asian Awards on Monday, investors in Paris should be cautious again. The future of the CAC 40 index was down 1.27% at 3563 points.

On the macroeconomic front, there will be no major indicator of both sides of the Atlantic, if not the economic survey of the Bank of France on the growth of France in the first quarter 2010.

Values follow

The year 2010 will be tougher than 2009 for the Franco-Belgian bank Dexia is the acceleration of the implementation of its restructuring plan which has received the green light from Brussels, said Sunday the group managing director .

EDF and Areva announced late Friday it reached an agreement on the processing of uranium used in nuclear power plants of the electrician, an issue at the heart of a dispute between the two groups for several weeks. The CEO of EADS, Louis Welsh said in Munich last Saturday he expected a "clarification" on the financing of additional costs for the Airbus A400M military "before the end of next week" Payday advance .

GDF Suez could revise its bid for International Power Plc, particularly the terms of its offer in cash, reports the Independent on Sunday, citing sources close to the French group.

The Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) has asked for new commitments in Belvedere in the case of warrants, which in recent weeks between the group of spirits to the Association for the Defense of Minority Shareholders (ADAM).

Bongrain has reported revenues down 7.4% on a comparable basis in 2009, affected by unfavorable economic environment.

Eiffage managed to stabilize its sales in 2009 thanks to a rebound in activity in the fourth quarter.

Several publications of companies are expected on Monday: Altran Technologies, pre-market Unibail Rodamco, after-hours trading, Le Noble Age and Devoteam. Faurecia brings an extraordinary general meeting regarding the capital increase related to the repurchase of Emcon.

Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Anne-Marie Idrac, will announce Friday morning trade figures in 2009. France's 5th largest exporter, has eroded market share at the expense of its competitors.

LE FIGARO .- What is the balance of French foreign trade in 2009?

Anne-Marie IDRAC .- 2009 was a year encouraging, marked by a significant reduction in trade deficit due to the strong decrease of the energy bill free credit report . But beyond that figure, the major point is that France has held its largest export in a context of crisis. The world demand in our country has decreased by 13% by volume, and our exports have declined in this order of magnitude.But this movement has been marked elsewhere and, unlike Germany or Italy, France has managed to retain its market share vis-à-vis OECD countries, accounting for 6.6% exports.

Good news for Safran. Its subsidiary, Turbomeca has been chosen by Beijing to power the Chinese version of the new civilian EC175 helicopter jointly developed with Eurocopter, said its CEO Lutz Bertling. So far, the new helicopter is equipped with American engines Pratt & Whintney, and double engine choices are few things on the helicopters.

According to Voices, the American engine could not get the green light by U.S. authorities for exportrer in China some of its technologies.

This agreement confirms the thrust of Saffron to China. Last month, the group associated with GE in CFM International, has been chosen to equip the C 919 Chinese, the future Chinese medium-haul aircraft, a rival of Airbus A320 and Boieng B737.