Archive for the ‘economy’ Category

Unlimited calls to less than 25 euros at Numericable

May 11, 2011 - 2:08 pm Comments Off

The veil is lifted. After intrigued the web for nearly a week, Numéricable book details his mysterious "mobile revolution". The cable operator announced with great fanfare the launch of a mobile telephony offer unlimited tariff of 24.90 euros per month for residential customers Numericable, and 49.90 for others.

Numéricable becomes a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO. "We go on the mobile market," with "the best offer on the market in price and service content," said the secretary general of the group Numericable, Jerome Yomtov. The group offers its subscribers an offer of unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles in France, unlimited texting and unlimited internet access (3G up to 500 mega) for 24.90 euros per month.

"To get this offer of 24.90 euros, it is already subscribed Numericable, or you become one," insists Jerome Yomtov.For non-subscribers Numericable, the offer goes to 49.90 euros. Furthermore, the proposal does not include a phone. "Our job is to provide the best possible subscription, the phone is another job, a job distributor of electronics," said the secretary general.

The site has created a buzz larevolutiondumobile.com

With this offer comes directly Numericable hunt on the land of Free. The intriguing communication campaign that preceded this announcement is also no secret intentions Numericable. The website created for the occasion, but the "mobile revolution" refers directly to Free. Indeed, Free is the telephone operator at the initiative of triple play in France, and as such, boasts of having "revolutionized broadband in France."He even used the word to his sales pitch, naming "Revolution" the latest version of its box, launched in December.

Furthermore, Numericable used the red color of Free and organized a press conference at the Pershing Hall in Paris, where Free has the habit of organizing its own press conferences!

The communication operation worked: "larevolutiondumobile" has created a buzz on the web with over 50,000 messages on Twitter, affecting over 300,000 people. The Facebook page of the site has involved more than 2,600 fans in less than a week.

But if the teasing is successful, Numericable seems to have attracted the wrath of Free. The case could be settled in court.

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The Manager Finance DNCA soon under the American flag

April 30, 2011 - 3:36 pm Comments Off

A shareholder in American control will succeed one Italian: according to our information, the management company DNCA Finance is about to be bought by private equity firm TA Associates. The transaction values ​​between 300 and 400 million euros the French firm high of 5.5 billion euros of assets under management.

Banca Leonardo, the bank's business Gerardo Braggiotti owns nearly 70% of DNCA Finance which he had joined in 2006, continues its focus. The Italian bank will remain the capital of the management company, up to 10%. Jean-Charles Mériaux, patron management DNCA Finance, and Joseph Chatel, president, will remain second and third respectively shareholders of the firm.A share capital will also be reserved for employees, present and future of the management company established in 2000.

DNCA Finance, which manages a range of 10 French and Luxembourg UCITS, has based its development especially in the booming wealth management advisors. His new shareholder is an investment fund Boston, which already owns British fund manager Jupiter Asset Management. TA Associates, the head of funds totaling $ 16 billion of capital, fired on all cylinders. He just announced this week its entry into the capital of a management firm Stadion American Money Management, but also an investment in Bigpoint, the German tenor of online games.

The father died on the CD

April 24, 2011 - 1:00 pm Comments Off

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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Fukushima: operator TEPCO will compensate victims

April 17, 2011 - 10:08 pm Comments Off

"Too big to go away, but not irresponsible." That is essentially the message delivered by the Japanese authorities on Friday after launching Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), the operator of the nuclear accident in Fukushima, an injunction to compensate victims forced from their homes or stay confined to their homes.

Fixed by the Government, this compensation reaches $ 12,000 (8350 euros) per family and $ 9,000 (6250 euros) for a single individual. In total, about 48,000 homes are affected by the evacuation of the exclusion zone according to Japanese media reports, an estimated $ 600 million (415 million) charge for the group.

A figure confirmed Friday by the operator, the voice of its President Masataka Shimizu, specifying, however, this very tentative estimate.For it is only a first payment, and it is not impossible to imagine a possible increase of compensation in case of extension of the exclusion period. A scenario more than likely in view of the confusion reigning on the site yet, more than a month after the earthquake and tsunami. The first payments to families will take place from April 28, said the leadership of TEPCO.

The bill gets heavier for Tepco

Facing these are deemed insufficient, several families went directly involved in the protest headquarters in Tokyo Tepco. For society, which in 2010 made a net profit of 1.89 billion dollars (1.31 billion euros), the charge may seem bearable.But it adds to the $ 24 billion (16.7 billion euros) required, Masataka Shimizu according to the resolution of current problems (rupture of the cooling circuits, explosions and radiation leaks) and restarting reactors.

Moreover, beyond the displaced families, TEPCO will also likely take into account compensation for loss wider (inability to grow for farmers, contaminated water, etc.).. According to JP Morgan, this compensation could reach a total of 24 billion dollars (16.7 billion euros) for the current fiscal year, while Bank of America-Merrill Lynch estimates that if an extension of the crisis Nuclear bill could exceed $ 130 billion (90.3 billion euros).

The situation may therefore be very critical for the fast group that supplies a third of Japan's electricity.According to the Nikkei newspaper, Tokyo, who could hardly afford to crumble Tepco would train alongside his orders to compensation, to set up an insurance fund guaranteed by the state. The latter, whose amount remains to be determined, would serve both to replenish the coffers of TEPCO and provide additional compensation of victims, also of the order of 12,000 euros per family. The fund would be financed by bank loans guaranteed by the state.

Broad program of cost reduction

The plan, looking like a loan, would allow the nuclear operator to bear the massive costs of compensating victims.This government support is crucial to TEPCO, which before the disaster showed a net debt of $ 91 billion (63.2 billion dollars), since heavier by a new bank loan of 24 billion dollars (16.7 billion euros).

The company will then reimburse the state for several years by a system of special dividends. By then, the company will implement a serious program to reduce costs that go through pay cuts for executives and managers, even for employees. TEPCO could also sell more than 1, 2 billion (0.83 billion) of real estate assets, according to Japanese media.

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"A premium paid to companies 'green'

April 2, 2011 - 1:44 pm Comments Off

lefigaro.fr / jdf.com – How is it more worthwhile to invest in listed property than directly into the stone?

Fred Tassin – This allows for better diversification as land generally have office buildings and shopping centers, while in the unlisted, the individual is generally limited to the residential sector. Another advantage is the liquidity of the market: if a problem occurs, the shares may be resold in the day, while a property may take several months to find buyers. Moreover, by their tax status, investment companies listed real estate are not subject to income taxation from the stone. Finally, management of the park is provided directly by the property, which is responsible for finding tenants, seek new property or to renegotiate the rent.

As for performance, they are relatively similar, the results of the land is mostly modeled on the evolution of asset values ​​and rents. But these companies are listed, they are of course dependent on market shares, making them more volatile and therefore riskier.

Property values ​​have performed well in 2010. Their context remains favorable?

The current context of renewed growth in the euro area and the beginning of inflationary pressure is favorable to real estate companies. With regard to the malls, with consumption rising and unemployment falling slightly, attendance will rise again. Who said traffic growth says rising sales shops, thus higher rents and therefore cash flows.And as in France, rents are indexed to 100% on inflation, the land naturally provide good protection against rising prices. For offices, better news are expected. With the crisis, all projects had been frozen. Restarting the demand for office should have a positive impact on rents.

The increase in lending rates does not she stop that rents and property prices?

We think not, unless the collapse of the euro area which would cause a surge in interest rates. In the future, we believe that the rents and thus the land revenue will increase moderately with the increase in the price index, while the debt of property values, average 70% fixed, will slightly impacted by higher interest rates.It should certainly not expect an exceptional year for stock markets as last year, but normalized to one year.

What do you feel about that?

Banks, faced with a more stringent banking regulation should no longer display the same frenetic lending in 2007 easy payday loans. This had led to the emergence of a bubble valuation on real estate. Getting a real estate project financing in the future will be reserved on the balance sheets of the highest order, and this one could wish the best for real estate which can only be penalized by as much volatility and speculation . This sector should no longer know the aberrations there three to four years. In 2007, the market capitalization of land values ​​was greater than 40% of their heritage.A year later, after the financial crisis was the reverse scenario: they showed discounts of 50%.

Real estate remains there a long term investment or can you make some good short-term trading?

Unless you come across a nugget unrecognized undervalued by financial markets, it will become difficult to achieve significant capital gains in the short term. Real estate is and should remain a long-term investment. We are not looking for companies that merely collecting rent, but to land that have identifiable assets and whose project is to increase shareholder value through acquisitions.

This makes us wary of companies with more than half of the asset value is made up of debts.The major players in real estate (Unibail-Rodamco Gecina Icade Klépierre, Ed) but we are interested in smaller companies with industrial histories that follow the traditional route of a property value: cash flow growth and heritage value and recurring payment of dividend.

Building low-power label (BBC) is becoming more and more constructions as the renewal. Is this a choke point for property companies?

We believe that real estate companies that do not take into account this new situation will undergo discounts. We've seen a real appetite for green buildings, not for reasons of energy conservation long ago that the land seek to optimize the energy bill but because it will become a vital communication tool for these companies.Financial markets will give a bonus to companies that offer green building. Eventually, the rents will be noticeable differences between these and conventional buildings.

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To live happy, live perched

March 30, 2011 - 3:20 pm Comments Off

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.

Free, guilty of practices "abusive and illegal"

March 23, 2011 - 3:12 pm Comments Off

The consumer wins a round face Free. The Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris ruled in favor of the association UFC-Que Choisir ordering the service provider (ISP) to "stop a number of illegal practices" and to delete from its general conditions of sale particular clauses considered "unreasonable". Free society was ordered to pay the Consumers' Association the sum of 50,000 euros in damages. The Iliad, the parent of Free, did not wish to make comment.

Free will and remove certain "terms and conditions of the offer triple play (internet, telephone, TV), its brochure and pricing of its website," "multiple practices" are also involved, said to AFP Nicolas Godfrey, a lawyer by the UFC-Que Choisir.This underlines that the court found that "the presentation of the payment method seemed misleading to the consumer and guided him to direct debit low fee pay day loans. In addition, Free "billed additional charges if you choose to pay by check or credit card, which the court found unlawful."

Moreover, the consumer association was clearly engaged "in terms of termination to deferred collection for us," said Nicolas Godfrey were a semantic loophole (to apply a termination fee) and that the court well recognized as such. " The court's decision thus gives consumers "the ability to challenge the billings already made or those coming for those who terminate on the basis of the VAT hike," said the lawyer.Mobilization of consumers had already resulted in early, to thwart the rising prices of certain operators, such as Bouygues, in response to the VAT hike.

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The hospital has eliminated 10,000 jobs in 2009

March 16, 2011 - 3:56 am Comments Off

Reversal. After steady growth for at least fifteen years, and accérélée the early 2000s to offset the effects of 35 hours, the number of public hospitals have stabilized in 2008 (-0.06%). And for the first time they fell in 2009 -9800 full-time equivalent positions, according to official statistics and final unveiled this morning by The Daily of the physician.

This figure represents less than 1.3% of total hospital staff, which is almost 753,000 jobs. The administrative staff, technical workers and retreat, and those of carers are slightly higher (stability for nurses in particular).These efforts have helped reduce the deficit in hospitals increased from 686 to 512 million euros from 2007, according to figures announced by the then health minister, Roselyne Bachelot.

Each institution is legally independent and therefore free to manage its workforce, the rule of non-replacement of staff on two retiring – which has prevailed for the five-year state officials – does not apply to hospital . In this case, this reduction amounts to almost 10,000 jobs do not replace one out of four. Over five years, the numbers remain on the upside. And all these data are not doctors, accounted for separately: their number rose 3.2% year on year to $ 64,500.

Earthquake: BoJ takes exceptional measures

March 14, 2011 - 10:24 am Comments Off

While the country remains on alert this morning after a second explosion at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima Daiichi, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) to take exceptional measures to counter the effects of the disaster in the economic and financial systems. The BoJ has in effect this morning to four injections of cash for a total of 15,000 billion yen, 175.2 billion euros. The institution hopes to support the markets with its massive influx of cash.

His intervention had immediate effect on the yen, which fell abruptly when he was mounted in the early morning. The Nikkei index of Tokyo Stock Exchange plummeted finished him sitting on a decline of 6.18%.The volume of transactions reached a historic high on Monday to the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with over 4.88 billion shares traded on the primary market, representing more than 2.5 times the average normal. The Tokyo Stock Exchange has nevertheless been valuable to rate.

Automotive and nuclear values ​​fall

The share of the company Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), which operates nuclear plants in trouble, was particularly affected, it lost 23.57%, all holders of securities rushing to sell. The values ​​are also among the automotive titles most penalized Mitsubishi Motors plunged 10.9% and Toyota 8.1.

Indeed, many Japanese companies are facing serious damage on their production sites.Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Sony, Mitsubishi Motors, Suzuki, Panasonic or Toshiba have suspended their activity in one or more plants.

As for oil prices, they are on the downside on Monday in electronic trading in Asia. A barrel of Brent WTI lost nearly 2% to less than 100 dollars a barrel. The market is worried about a drop in demand in the short term in Japan.

Even if the destruction of the earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan on Friday remain difficult to assess, AIR Worldwide, a specialist in risk assessment, advanced at a cost of $ 34.6 billion to insurance companies.For its part, the rating agency Moody's believes that the consequences of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan will be only temporary for the country's finances.

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MPs want to marry the AEF in France Televisions

March 10, 2011 - 11:44 pm Comments Off

The idea is gaining ground among the MPs who are working on the reform of broadcasting outside France (AEF). Christian Kert Didier Mathus and the two members co-rapporteurs of the mission on the AEF chaired by Michèle Tabarot (UMP) examine opportunities to "secure the international structure to France Televisions. "The public group could act as a reception center," commented Christian Kert cautious reminder that this idea had already been in development a few years ago before the report of Bernard Brochand not advocating the creation of a structure autonomous as it currently exists.

For the UMP deputy of the Bouches du Rhone, "this would be a more natural affiliation to Agence France Presse that the kinship with less obvious". In addition it would minimize a number of issues raised by Bercy interviewed by the Mission information.They have indeed outlined, in very diplomatic language, virtually impossible for shareholders is the state of having a clear idea of ​​the financial situation of the AEF. That because of the difficulties of current governance. "This explains that the contract objectives and resources with the State which is under construction since 2008 is still not finalized in 2011."

Spun, the AEF would clear up his accounts, but also its costs down, especially in terms of labor costs. MPs recall in effect, that "the two leaders of the AEF – Christine Ockrent and Alain de Pouzilhac – are as well paid as the president of France Televisions, while sizes of companies are not really equivalent. Moreover, it would mean that the Foreign Ministry would no longer directly on the frontline. This, according to people close to the dossier, would not displease him.If at this stage, Pflimlin Remy, president of France Televisions had not commented on this event, he would not, however, vetoed such a possibility. France Televisions is already a 25% shareholder of EuroNews, the European news channel.

But several issues remain pending. MPs do not rule out completely unravel the AEF and thus halt the merger France 24 and RFI. In such a case, France would be only 24 in the bosom of France Televisions while international radio remain independent unless it is linked to Radio France. It now remains whether the public broadcasting group, itself full internal reform, will be able to absorb a new entity.

Finally parliamentarians who know that time is running will not be content to appraise the mechanic of the AEF.They also intend to look at the editorial aspect of the chain and its developments abroad. All responses will be made in early July.