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BBC slashing its workforce. The Sunday Times, the group British public broadcasting might delete jobs by 3000 to five years, as part of a plan to reduce costs. This plan applies this fall, would provide a lower budget of around 20%.

The purpose of such savings is to deal with new budget information inherited from the British austerity plan: last October, the government has indeed frozen Cameron 2017 license fee received by the BBC, and forced the group to Broadcast new charges. It will include finance its broadcast services outside Great Britain, the BBC "World Service", formerly under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the installation of broadband lines in rural areas.In total, the amount of the bill amounted to 340 million pounds (385 million) for the BBC, 16% of its budget.

"Pure Speculation"

While 8,000 jobs were cut in the group since 2005, the BBC had already announced in January the elimination of 650 positions in the "world service", with the closure of some offices abroad. This time, the British group would separate about 20% of its 17,000 employees. A spokesman for the BBC, however, denied the claims of the Sunday Times on Sunday, calling it "pure speculation" the figure put forward by the newspaper.

According to the Sunday Times, the group should also make public this week a reduction in costs generated by management.For example, members of its board of directors were paid 2.7 million pounds last year (3 million), against 4.8 million the year before, said Sunday Times. A reminder that ordinary employees are not the only ones to bear the painful consequences of rigor.

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Hermes is Monday night in Paris the first general meeting of shareholders since its entry in October 2010, the capital of LVMH (with 20% today). The heirs, who hold 72% stake, hoping to get the green light in September the Court of Appeal of Paris to their proposed freezing holding a majority of shares, to defend against a raid by Bernard Arnault. Bertrand Puech, president of Émile Hermès family (sole general partner of the listed company Hermes International), a member of the fifth generation of heirs, is against the proliferation of litigation against the project, including those of the Association for the Defence of Minority Shareholders chaired by Colette Neuville.

LE FIGARO. – What will you announce to the general meeting of Hermes on Monday night?

Bertrand Puech.- We will announce, as we know already that 2010 was one of the finest, if not the best year, Hermes has lived for 174 years. The results were extraordinary in an economic context that was not favorable. This allows us to pay a dividend of 1.50 euro increased significantly compared to normal.

LVMH will he represented and he can enjoy his voting rights? Are you afraid of possible obstructions of the meeting?

The shareholders are all invited. LVMH said it would. He always said, if his friendship, in any case his pacifism. I am not chairman of the meeting but things should happen normally, as usual.

What do you think of recent legal actions taken by minority shareholders against the proposed family holding Hermes?

I do not understand.It's very sad and painful for members of a family committed to an ethic of openness and honesty for generations to be scratched before the courts, then we're just defending the values ​​of quality. You should know that Ms. Neuville is a minority shareholder, who owns a single share, which represents only herself. She can not speak for the association which is not approved by the AMF. And it is wrong to fight. If she wanted to play a role in defense of minority, why does she not be interested in the fact that one shareholder said suddenly have 17% of our capital, purchased since 2008 without making it to the markets? I think she has given way to a big bad wolf.

Business leaders may have breathed a sigh of relief last night when he saw the plunge of the main raw materials. In recent months, they look indeed with concern the soaring price of those commodities. Their concern was evidenced in the accounts of the first quarter of the year or in the speeches of leaders.

All sectors are however not affected in the same proportions, even if they are likely to be.

Transportation is often the former. Lufthansa has reported such an increase in its fuel bill by almost 30% over the first three months of the year. This charge amounts to 1.4 billion euros over the period, when its billings reach 6.4 billion. The airline spends "overload" fuel to its customers, insufficient to offset any upward.The aim of companies is obviously to cushion the effect of "raw materials" through price increases. Michelin is well to advertise on some of its tires, the costs are related to rubber. The equipment itself as able to compensate 80% of the additional cost of $ 1.8 billion over the year.

This ability to change its prices based on costs, however, can erode. For steel, the latest report of the consultant CRU reported a slowdown in inflation and even lower in some countries in Europe. Gold, iron ore and coal continue to appreciate. The margins of steel producers could therefore suffer the end of the year payday loans.

Plastics hit hard

Lowest in the industrial cycle, the automotive supplier Valeo has recently detailed the structure of its cost "feedstock."The steel is 35%, followed by plastics (23%), copper (20%), aluminum (19%) and zinc (3%) … all the upside in recent months. Schneider Electric, for his part highlighted the increase of 40% of the money since the beginning of the year to explain an overload of 100 million euros in its accounts.

Chemical groups are now able to pass these increases on to their customers, as witnessed this week the excellent results reported by Rhodia and Arkema, manifestly optimistic about the future. Their customers converters are much less … They find that prices of certain plastics (polypropylene, polyethylene, PET) have almost doubled in two years!

Again, the phenomenon has an impact downstream. The plastic is a constituent of many products. In industry but also in FMCG.The U.S. Procter & Gamble has estimated at about $ 280 million this additional cost in its quarterly accounts.

If the decline recorded yesterday is good news, its magnitude can be a concern. Volatility, that is to say, large variations in a short time, represents an additional risk for companies, including strategies to provide raw materials for the long term or to hedge against inflation, they can be taken cons-foot.

The CAC 40 remains in the green for the eighth straight time. At closing, the index in Paris ahead of 0.05% to 4108.77 points. As in Japan on Monday morning as investors welcomed the announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama, death of Osama bin Laden. The leader of al-Qaida was killed Sunday by the United States, during a commando operation in Pakistan. But the positive trend has eroded over the meeting.

Of the other European places, same story, including the Frankfurt stock exchange rises from 0.18% to 7527.64 points. The London Stock Exchange remained closed for holiday.

In addition to boosting the morale of the operators, this new direct consequence of the dollar to rise against the euro. The single currency was worth 1.4771 dollars around 5:15 that French time (at time of announcement), against 1.4864 dollars shortly before 3 o'clock.Similarly, oil prices, affected by the bounce of the greenback fell. Precious metals onte unscrewed, just like the money that has dropped 10% to 42.58 dollars per ounce, or gold, which fell to 1546 dollars against a previous record of 1575.79 dollars. Trends that were chastened during the meeting.

17.30, the euro resumed height against the greenback, and was worth 1.4883 dollars against 1.4808 dollars on Friday night.

Responsible macroeconomic news

In this context, the markets will take time, however, to analyze key indicators of the day. The growth in manufacturing activity in the euro zone accelerated more than expected in April, according to a second estimate of the PMI index published on Monday. The index rebounded to 58 points, against 57.5 points in March, the company said Markit.In France, growth in activity in manufacturing worsened last month, reaching its fastest pace for fifteen months, with beneficial effects on employment, according to Markit.

In the U.S., construction spending gained momentum, knowing their strongest growth in 11 months, 1.4%, according to data released Monday by the Commerce Department. In contrast, growth of manufacturing activity slowed for the second consecutive month in April, but less than expected, according to the index of industrial purchasing managers released Monday. This index, calculated by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), stood at 60.4 in April after already slowed to 61 guaranteed approval cash loans.2 in March, against 61.4 in February.The 72 analysts and economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast an index to 60.0.

Values ​​to follow

Altran: + 3.38% to 5.51 euros

Specialist in High Technology Council has exceeded its goals in the first quarter by signing up at double-digit sales (to 387.7 million, +10.1% at constant perimeter) and announced the sale of all its subsidiaries in Brazil.The group also said to anticipate a significant improvement in current operating profit in the first half compared to the same period last year.

Trigano: + 4.60% to 25.25 euros

For the period September 2010 to February 2011, the specialist for caravans and camper vans, achieved an operating profit of 14.7 million euros, against a loss of 0.8 million a year earlier.

Renault: +0.41% to 41.31 euros, Peugeot: 0.72% to 30.88 euros

Renault and Peugeot stand up well despite the announcement of a drop in their registrations by 19.1% and 21.1% respectively in April.

PPR: – 0.12% to 120.60 euros

The group will launch a friendly takeover Volcom priced at $ 24.50 per share.This friendly offer values ​​the company at 516 million euros.

Technip: – 1.261% to 75.20 euros

The group has won a contract worth 100 million euros for the engineering and equipment supply and construction assistance for the Horizon Oil Sands Project in Canada, according to a statement released Monday.

Vinci – 0.52% to 44.86 euros

The group wants to increase the share of concessions in its revenues and will therefore be a candidate for the privatization of regional airports when it is valid, said Xavier Huillard, CEO of construction and concessions, in an interview published Monday by Les Echos.The group will hold its general assembly in early afternoon today.

Fimalac: 30.45 euro balance

The group will take a 40% stake in Auguri Production, which organizes performances of several famous singers, such as Matthieu Chedid, Vanessa Paradis and Thomas Dutronc, according to a statement released Monday.

GDF Suez will publish its first quarter sales this afternoon.

After market: Areva, CAM, GFI Informatique, Steria and Bollore will publish their quarterly earnings.

Very symbolic. Having lost its place as number one global telephony to Apple last week, Nokia announced Wednesday the transfer of its Symbian mobile operating system to Accenture.

The first consequence of this partnership is the transition of 3000 employees of Nokia in the computer services company. The Finn gives a boost to abandon its system house for the benefit of Microsoft Windows phone, with which it has signed a partnership. Accenture will also mandated to work on developing Windows phone for Nokia. The group must now act quickly to address the backlog that builds up against its main rivals. For now, the battle is between Apple and the manufacturers who have chosen Android, including Samsung. Nokia and Microsoft are still on the roadside.The Finn has seen its global market share drop from 49% before the launch of iPhone in 2004 to 29% in early 2011. And this while the world market is booming.

The cuts in the number of Nokia do not stop there. Parallel to the outsourcing of Symbian, Nokia has announced the elimination of 4000 jobs by the end of 2012 payday advance. A measure intended to "align its human resources and operational sites with its new strategy," said the group, which now refers to the closure of some sites for research and development.

Repairing the lines

In total, therefore removes Nokia 7000 jobs. A restructuring that is part of his economic plan. Unveiled last week, he aims to cut one billion euros its operating expenses between 2010 and 2013, mainly through restructuring.An improved cost structure is mandatory, while Apple mocks the industry by posting a 50% margin on iPhone. This is ten times more than the operating margin by Nokia in the first quarter.

The group is facing a double challenge: it must develop one or two phones capable of competing with Apple and offer an application store as complete as those from Apple and Android. For now, the specification is far from completed.

However, ads Wednesday reassured exchanges. Nokia has won the title in Helsinki … 3.27% after having lost 25% since February 11, the date of the announcement of its alliance with Microsoft.

A man at the crossroads of the worlds of music, technology and business. Norio Ohga, father of the "Compact Disc" and former boss of Sony, died Saturday at age 81. It was as boss of the Japanese consumer electronics that monitors closely the birth of the CD with its Dutch partner Philips in the early 80s. He insisted then that the disc 12 cm in diameter can hold 75 minutes of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

This commercial success and technological, which then lead to the emergence of DVD, will remain as the main weapon is to Norio Ohga. But it should not overshadow his work as head of Sony. "He transformed the Japanese conglomerate manufacturer of electronic products in a firm's creative music, movies and video games," says the Wall Street Journal."We were always digging the tracks that other groups did not dare to follow," explained Norio Ohga in 1998. "This is the real secret to our success."

Explosive path

His entry into the firm, like the rest of his career then detonates. Student in musicology at the University of Tokyo, in 1953 he impressed the executives of the firm which became Sony in a letter advising them of improvements to the prototype of tape. Hired as a consultant, Norio Ohga follow a rapid and brilliant trajectory within the company. He became one of the executive directors from the thirties, something extremely rare in Japan. In the '70s, he led negotiations with CBS that will lead to the creation of Sony Music Entertainment and will lead.

President of Sony from 1982 to 1995, Norio Ohga innovates. It supports the development of the Walkman, launched in 1979.In 1989, he led the largest acquisition at the time a Japanese firm abroad by offering the Hollywood studio Columbia Pictures for $ 3.4 billion. This maneuver discontent across the Pacific. Rumors will ever drive on the possible resale activity, difficult to make profitable. The real stroke of genius of the president Norio Ohga is unquestionably won his bet in video games. In the early 90s, he in fact supports the launch of the Playstation division within the group. It is now one of the largest departments of the group.

Debonair boss

Nohga Norio, Japanese boss atypical-described good-natured, not shy, and has an artistic temperament, however, has not as successful. Shortly after the launch of the CD, and it fails to impose its Betamax video format against HSV.Advisor to Sony these days, he could only see, in recent years, the cons-performance of its group. Sony did not see coming the success of the flat screen and has lagged behind its South Korean rival Samsung. In video games, Nintendo has his compatriot hewn cruppers. Even in the music industry, the Japanese has been exceeded. By innovations from Apple this time.

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On Thursday morning, Vivendi held its General Assembly at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. The opportunity for its chairman, Jean-Bernard Levy, back on the recent strategic transactions conducted by the media and telecoms group. The acquisition in early April, the entire capital of SFR marks the end of an era. The former Générale des Eaux was transformed into Vivendi Universal Jean-Marie Messier. This group was then a holding company, often minority participations disparate telecoms, television, cinema, internet, music … After going through a severe debt crisis in 2002, Jean-Rene Fourtou and Jean-Bernard Levy has radically restructured the group .

LE FIGARO. – The purchase of 100% of SFR is it a milestone in the history of Vivendi?

Jean-Bernard Levy. – Since its inception in 1987, we never had sole control of SFR.Jean-Rene Fourtou, upon his arrival, has understood the strategic importance and it has fought since 2002 to buy Vivendi's participation for sale by BT. It is only recently that Vodafone, our partner from the beginning accepted the idea of ​​selling his share. In late 2009, we launched the sale of our 20% stake in NBC Universal, and there is barely three months we have realized. The proceeds from this sale enabled us to negotiate and secure the purchase of 44% of SFR held by Vodafone. It is a major turning point for Vivendi. It marks the completion of a long phase of restructuring and simplification. In less than ten years, Vivendi has experienced a profound transformation.

What is your strategy?

First, Vivendi has strengthened its core businesses into global and national leaders.Then, a conglomerate we have an industry group, managing all its assets and without minority participation. Finally, buying GVT in Brazil, we went looking for growth. Now we focus on organic growth through internal innovation, developing new products and services.

This transaction is financially attractive it?

It is a very good transaction for our shareholders and I am sure they appreciate it. With 100% of SFR, we have better access to its cash, especially a sharp increase in the outcome of Vivendi over 400 million euros in 2011, more than 600 million euros in 2012 and 2013, 350 million euros in 2014. This acquisition will bring us so 2 billion euros in extra profits in four years. Accordingly, we expect to grow our dividend in 2012.However, the dividend will increase more slowly than profit, as our distribution rate, currently 64%, is among the highest.

Are you going to buy out the minority of Canal + and Activision Blizzard?

For our subsidiary Activision Blizzard, world number 1 video games, trading in the United States gives visibility and shows the true value of the company fast cash. It also helps to develop the best talent pay systems that underpin the success of such businesses. Regarding Canal +, Lagardère our agreement with a scheme based on fairly simple: either we reach an agreement on the purchase price of the 20% stake in Canal + France, or it can make the market participation stock. The operation failed OTC, Lagardere launched and then stopped the IPO.We did not reopen negotiations with Lagardere.

Vivendi now appears as a group of telecom. Will you keep the contents?

I reject the relevance of the classification between telecom and media. For me, it is the organization of markets in the last century. Today, we live in a continuity in the value chain to the consumer digital content creation, platform services and applications, network infrastructure. Vivendi has a unique advantage is that it is present at all stages of this chain. Recently, the value focused on platforms such as Google, Facebook, iTunes. We, we, our own specialized platforms that fully meet consumers' expectations and World of Warcraft in-game video, Vevo in music, Canalsat in television.We continue to firmly establish and develop platforms to expand our services, not to be reduced to the role of "dumb pipes" as some would have us confine.

Do you create platforms that will be the future of Facebook or Twitter?

From experience, this is not in large groups to create social networks like Facebook, Twitter or their successors. Our presence in the platforms has a logic of knowledge and travel beyond the borders of our core businesses. Our mission is to cultivate more land to our jurisdiction, our businesses and our territories.

Do you intend to create more synergies between telecom and content?

The group did not need to be justified by synergies artificial. In contrast, we develop joint projects in our activities, piecemeal.For example, Universal Music and GVT created a digital music offering in Brazil, SFR sells offers Canal + in its 820 shops, Morocco Telecom and Canal + are working together on pay-TV platforms in Africa. I think when the synergies they can create additional services and therefore additional growth.

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For now, his name is still barbaric. The CPT002, phone signed Aston Martin still makes quite an impression at the show's World Watch and Jewellery Show in Basel in March. Result of unprecedented collaboration between the luxury car manufacturer and designer of mobile high-end Canadian Mobiado, this smartphone, surprised by its design.

Still in prototype stage, the CPT002 indeed has the distinction of being entirely of glass with a transparent central portion, like a giant windshield! The surface of the touch screen is sapphire high strength, unbreakable and impossible to scratch, according to Mobiado. Edges, platinum and titanium, incorporate all electronic components, including battery, two microcameras and location for the SIM card. Aston Martin logo is placed at the back of the camera.

Direct connection to the Aston Martin

This phone will run Android.Like all other smartphones, it will give access to a large number of applications. According to its manufacturers it will be especially characteristic of facilitating travel for holders of Aston Martin. The mobile will thus open, close and start the vehicle paydayloans. The CPT002 will automatically connect to the GPS board and, through its geo-location software Foursquare, it will keep contacts informed Facebook and Twitter to the location of the driver.

The latter, which has installed cameras in the cabin of his vehicle, able to transmit real-time on social networks images captured by the phone. Finally, CPT002, previously installed in the pocket of the driver, will be equipped with an accelerometer that will, in case of accident, the airbags deploy with as much precision as possible.

Fans of Aston Martin, however, must still wait before buying this technological marvel. No date of production or marketing has yet been announced, although some mention the output of a first range in May. Regarding the price, no information either from the two manufacturers. But like the famous cars will need to hand the portfolio. The Mobiado luxury phones are sold on average from 1300 dollars per unit (approximately 915 euros).

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Have a green thumb is not enough. Owning a terrace in town is for many urbanites, a dream has a price. According to a study by Ipsos for the National Union of Entrepreneurs of the landscape, three out of five would be willing to spend more to afford private green space. Remains to be seen how much. A well-enriched with a terrace implies a premium, hard to assess. Beautiful garden and terrace have to be considered as the second living area's largest home after the show, the price of an apartment is calculated based on its inner surface.

"The land can not be accounted for under the Carrez law, gets carried away Vitu Henry Benedict, the founder, twelve years ago, the first agency thematic, Terrace and Garden.Refer a weighting in the estimation of a property with a terrace is unfair … "Some agencies identify three areas: that of the apartment in" square ", that of the terrace, and a third," living ", taking into account some of the terrace. Difficult to navigate.

Exclusive possession

Only a comprehensive evaluation enables real estate professionals to refine their estimates based on a bunch of criteria. A terrace is primarily an outdoor area at above the apartment below. Then, all things considered: environment, vis-à-vis, exposure, accessibility (terrace is worth more than single storey pitched after a spiral staircase). The ratio of area outdoor / indoor is also important.Other criteria, its legal description: mostly as a party town but exclusive enjoyment.

"Everything depends on the use of the terrace," says Peter Bazaille me, notary. Must be able to set up a table and chairs … "How to give a price for this outdoor space? "On a terrace of 10 m2, 2 m2 can be added to calculate the price of an apartment of 70 m2. On a terrace of 20 m2 usable, to be weighed 8 m2 the price of an apartment that would make 100, "he says payday advance. At a recent expertise of an apartment of 80 m2 top floor, with views across Lyon and hanging garden of 50 m2, Pierre Bazaille suggested, however, add to half the size of this urban paradise prices sale."The greening of the place is also part of the estimate of a property, says Henry Benedict Vitu, but it is undeveloped, it is better to give carte blanche to the purchaser." The garden staging, home staging declined would therefore be handled with care.

"Home Green Home"

The owner of a heavenly "home green home" will indeed be delighted to arrange their favorite plants, recommended more often by a landscaper. And guided by the condominium rules that can sometimes prevent some species, such as invasive bamboos. Enhance this green bought at the price of gold is more or less, depending on materials. "The cost per square meter to 250 € in authentic Parisian cobblestones, but at 50 € pebble, note, for example, Pierre Alexandre Risser, renowned landscape.A tray can range from 15 €, plastic, 400 € clay. "In addition to traditional services, he suggested, 200 €, available for" makeovers "decking line. Tips to enlarge the existing smaller spaces. Christophe Courtois and overhung the terrace of a giant mirror, which reflected plants and clouds. From a lead roof bristling with chimneys, Hugh Peuvergne made him a Provencal garden with green oak, cypress, olive Bohemian and wisteria. At the heart of the tenth district, he raises at the end of a terrace of 8 m2, a forest cabin facade. And imagined, on top of a building of the sixteenth Haussmann, a roof terrace of 120 m², with cabin, swing, sandbox and generous dining area. Making sure to leave between the trees, a "track" for Children transferred to a tricycle.

Good news for consumers. The Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP) announced Thursday a further decline in mobile termination rate from 33% in July to EUR 2 cents per minute on 1 July and 25% at 1 January 2012 to 1.5 cents, and 33% from 1 July 2012 to 1 penny. For the first time, Bouygues Telecom has aligned its competitors, while it had previously enjoyed more attractive tariffs to compensate for the fact that it came later that Orange and SFR on the market.

The steady decline for years that the wholesale rate that will bill them traders, had a direct impact on the price paid by the consumer. It is this drop in prices which has allowed carriers to launch regular called "Abundance" with unlimited calls to certain time slots or to certain numbers selected by the subscriber.It again this fall in wholesale prices which allowed for a few months some traders make free calls from a landline to a mobile. But Arcep, which aims to reduce the average bill in the French mobile phone since late 2008 reducing the cost of call termination charges that one operator to another communication channel to one of its customers, believes there is a "distinct evolutionary potential."

The reduction in call termination, which affect the price paid by users, is sought by consumer groups and supported by the European Commission. Telecom operators are generally opposed. The movement is widespread in Europe.This week, the UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, announced a 80% decline in wholesale prices in Britain by 2015 to 0.69 pence per minute for four operators (O2, Everything Everywhere Vodafone and 3 UK).