Archive for the ‘world’ Category

Renault: the State for a change of management

May 23, 2011 - 10:16 pm Comments Off

The state wants to step into the breach created by the false espionage Renault. Governments that hold nearly 15% stake in the carmaker, would like to take advantage of the replacement of number two Patrick Pelata to overhaul the state headquarters of Renault, says Les Echos.

For several weeks, the CEO, Carlos Ghosn has promoted Carlos Tavares, current head of Nissan's operations in the Americas, to replace Patrick Pelata. However, beyond the choice of a particular person, the debate among officers, directors and major shareholders of Renault is on the group's organization and its relations with the state, according to business daily. The Elysee Palace would have more influence on the choice of industrial builder and limit the power of Carlos Ghosn in particular through the recruitment of new blood in the group.

Several tracks

Reform could take several paths.The functions currently occupied by Patrick Pelata could be divided into several posts. Another track, the future heir of Carlos Ghosn could sit on the board and receive a title of CEO. That title would have the double advantage of providing greater autonomy to the number two group in relation to number one, Carlos Ghosn, and also make a successor designated by Carlos Ghosn. But Carlos Ghosn would not consider replacing it before 2014. The question of bringing the future number two immediately to the board of directors does not seem to have the endorsement of the CEO.

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IMF: at least 250,000 euros in compensation for DSK

May 22, 2011 - 2:36 am Comments Off

Associated with the circumstances of departure, the figure will not be without cause some backlash. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director resigned from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), should reach about 250,000 euros in compensation, according to several media. The ABC even mentions an amount closer to 300,000 euros.

The IMF issued a statement challenging the magnitude of the sums advanced. Nevertheless. The contract of a head of IMF does provide for the payment of a "separation allowance" which is triggered automatically if the mandate is terminated before completion.According to the deliberate calculation based on the formula detailed in the contract, the compensation amount to 60% of final annual salary received by Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who is 441,980 dollars (310,000 euros) from the report 2010 of the institution.

A pension supplement

The allowance is supplemented by the payment of retirement by the IMF as DSK has completed more than 3 years in office. "Annual payments for subsequent years will be much less important," the IMF said.

The amounts have not yet been released by the Fund. But the clause providing for the allocation works even in the case of resignation related to legal proceedings, and the IMF should not oppose it. DSK is not the first to receive this allowance. His two predecessors who also left their positions in anticipation hit the allowance.The severance pay granted to a director involved in a sex scandal may be more difficult to sell to the public. When leaving their office, the Spaniard Rodrigo Rato had cited family reasons, while Horst Köhler became President of the Republic in Germany.

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Mobile tariffs will fall again

March 25, 2011 - 8:44 am Comments Off

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).

NicOx Exchange welcomes agreement with Ferrer

March 19, 2011 - 11:56 am Comments Off

Naproxcinod is not dead. That's what investors seem to say this Friday, while the French biotechnology company NicOx, and Spain's Grupo Ferrer Announce an option to license the molecule NicOx 'lead. This product, a treatment against osteoarthritis of the knee and hip, was developed by NicOx for 15 years, and could be co-marketed by the Spanish in Germany and Spain. In these markets, biotech remains free to enter into agreements with other partners. Grupo Ferrer could also sell the product exclusively this time, Greece and Portugal.

This type of partnership between laboratories and biotech is quite common, while the latter, the new pool of pharmaceutical research and development, have not most of the time the business skills to sell their product.Still, the agreement between the two groups is a license option, the exercise remains subject to the approval of Naproxcinod potential on the European market. A record of the authorization (MA) was introduced in December 2009 with the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which should make its decision around mid-2011. "Ferrer could decide not to exercise the option even in cases where the Naproxcinod would be approved" also stipulates the joint communique of the two groups, illustrating the fragility of the partnership.

A "deal" of 7 million euros

Naproxcinod If approved, NicOx may receive 7 million euros from its partner, put in crossings of regulatory and commercial milestones, upon approval and based on sales in the form of royalties.However, a number that must be weighed against the EUR 150 million has spent to develop the biotech Nice product.

At the Paris Bourse, the title historically very volatile, advanced 9.5% at midday, to 2.40 euros, after having soared by 12% at the opening, investors betting on a leave of product on the Old Continent. A stock surge more powerful than the title, is now scrapped. Object of speculation, it was close again early in 2007 to 25 euros, the market relying on the ability of Naproxcinod to exceed one billion dollars in sales. Since then, the regulatory environment has tightened, and U.S. health authorities have refused registration in the U.S., where Naproxcinod had the biggest sales potential, causing the meltdown of the title.NicOx has challenged the decision, but shall probably conduct new clinical trials cost time and money if he wants to win at all costs the United States.

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Bercy suffered a virus attack, referred Elysee

March 7, 2011 - 11:20 pm Comments Off

Hackers are on all fronts. After the stock exchanges of New York and London in particular, hackers managed to penetrate the security of the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, revealed on Monday the website of Paris Match. Information confirmed by Budget Minister Baroin the microphone of Europe 1, and the entourage of the Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde told Reuters. According to a senior source at the Interior Ministry, the Elysee Palace and the Foreign Ministry had been "concerned but not affected," according to the National Security Agency's information systems. The interview on Europe 1 Baroin:

Bercy services have found this huge cyber attack, which aimed in particular documents relating to the G20 in the month of December."Immediately, specialty services have made arrangements to stop the attacks (…) This work was finally ended last weekend," said the minister's entourage. 10,000 computers have been disconnected during the weekend to stop the cyber attack.

"The first attack against the state of this magnitude"

According Pailloux Patrick, the executive director of the National Security Information Systems (ANSSI), "those who acted are professionals committed and organized. This is the first attack against the French state and of this magnitude at this scale, "he said in Paris Match.

In total, over 150 computers in the department have been infiltrated by the classical method of mail bomb. "The hackers tried to attack other ministries.There may be things that we have not seen, but to my knowledge, only Bercy has been affected, "explained Patrick Pailloux. Prescient, he lamented in an interview published Pcinpact late February, "a real trend to the increasing attacks, raising fears that the examples multiply instant credit reports."

No computers affected did not contain personal data of taxpayers, assured Baroin. "The attack targeted international issues rather than internal issues such as customs or tax authorities. Information has certainly been achieved, but what is important is that we know the origin and we define the modalities of this attack, "he judged.For now, Bercy filed a complaint against X with the Paris prosecutor's office and the DCRI, the French intelligence service, was seized.

Chinese Track

Even if the origin of the attack has not yet been established, a senior official recalls the site of the weekly Chinese track possible. "We found that a number of information were redirected to sites in China," Paris Match reported quoting a senior official, under cover of anonymity. "But that does not mean much," he tempered. For its part, Baroin merely to evoke "the tracks have not yet confirmed."

Coincidentally, early in the morning, a member of South Korea confirmed that Chinese hackers had accessed in June to military records confidential from South Korea, for the purchase of unmanned U.S. spy planes.According to another member of South Korea based on a government report, 8183 of 21,899 attempted attacks launched last year by hackers against the computer system of government of South Korea came from China.

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Mediator: the top seeds fall to AFSSAPS

February 27, 2011 - 8:28 am Comments Off

The new boss of the French Agency for Safety of Health Products (AFSSAPS), Dominique Maraninchi had set the tone last week. He had planned to clean up the agency. The goal is to reset the counters to zero after the scandal of the Mediator, the drug marketed Servier Laboratories between 1976 and 2009 in France and who would, according to various studies, caused the deaths of 500 to 2000 people. Fifteen months of the presidential election, the mission entrusted by Xavier Bertrand, Minister of Health for the former president of the National Cancer Institute, is to restore French confidence in the authorities who are responsible for the health public including Afssaps supposed to be the policeman of the drug.And of course, avoid at all costs a new health scandal.

According to our information, the names of the first people who will be excluded were communicated. He is the head of risk monitoring and usage of the drug, Anne Castot, and the Head of the Department of Pharmacovigilance, Carmen Kreft-Jais. They leave their duties in the month of June. In taking this decision, the executive director of the agency's target drug pharmacovigilance, expected to monitor the risks of the drug and failed for over thirty years with the Mediator. However, it does not question the experts in charge of permits on the market (AMM) that they decide whether to give a laboratory green light to start marketing a product but also to suspend instant payday loan.However, the MA committee has not shone in the case of this drug for diabetics who are overweight but widely misused as an appetite suppressant. Belgium had decided in 1977 not to authorize the Mediator due to its anorectic effects.

Blacklisting

"You have fuses, lamp-! Anne Castot and Carmen Kreft-Jais had a head above them, "says one expert Afssaps. A view shared by many agency scientists. "We're doing the blame solely pharmacovigilance. However, in the late 1990s, our specialty had identified the effects that this drug could have (our editions of Dec. 2, 2010). By cons, in 2007, the Board authorized placing on the market explained that the risk-benefit balance was in favor of the Mediator!, "Protested another expert.The MA committee has not classified as an anorectic drug, which would have earned a withdrawal from the market in the late 1990s.

"The issue is not to knock heads, but there is a problem in pharmacovigilance compared to what happened with the Mediator," explains Dominique Maraninchi his side who says wanting to "protect" Anne Castot and Carmen Kreft-Jais' the exposure they have suffered. " The decision to blacklist pharmacovigilance comes as some regional centers (France into account 31) would be endangered.

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Swiss luxury watch resists through Asia

February 12, 2011 - 3:04 pm Comments Off

Despite the rise of the franc, the Swiss watch industry is growing again. In 2010, exports of the sector amounted to nearly 12.3 billion euros, or 22.1% more than in 2009-results that reflected their pre-crisis level, due to the vivacity of Asian market.

After a year of slowdown, how brands have they faced the recovery? Some had anticipated the rise in sales. "In late 2009, our results were already excellent," says Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of Hublot watches. We bought more raw materials and hired 60 people! "Other chains have also relaunched the recruitment as Breguet, Tag Heuer and cores. Some, finally, forcing customers to wait. "For a Panerai or a Montblanc, it can go up to a year, said H. Roderich Hess, former CEO of Montblanc Switzerland.Customers know that the luxury watch requires exceptional skill and they patiently wait. "

The industry is optimistic, however, hampered by the rise of the franc. In an interview with the magazine Bilanz, the director of Swatch, Nick Hayek, estimated at 380 million euro loss for 2010 sales caused by depreciation of the euro. The competitiveness of the Swiss watch has declined.

To fix an exchange rate to their disadvantage, producers have raised prices of their watches: +5% in 2010 for Audemars Piguet and Cartier, who think all over again, like Jean-Claude Biver No teletrack payday loans. "While ensuring the value of our currency on forward markets, we have adjusted our prices four times in 2010, an increase of about 20%," says he.

Subcontractors affected

The rise of the franc was not all bad.It allowed the watchmakers to buy at lower prices for raw materials and components abroad. A strategy has its limits: to get the "Swiss Made", these companies must in Switzerland at least 80% of manufacturing costs for mechanical watches.

If large groups are doing well, this is not the case for their sub-contractors, some 600 Swiss companies that still show the effects of the crisis. "They are affected first and the last to resume growth as brands sell their stock before ordering new," said Jean-Daniel Pasche, president of the Federation of Swiss Watch Industry. After losing 20% of its turnover, the director of Pac Team, Alain Borle, "sees a light at the end of the tunnel.Watchmakers have not really launched new programs, but I think imminent. "

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Le Figaro is the first national newspaper

February 5, 2011 - 8:52 am Comments Off

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphic.

After a bad year in 2009 during which their distribution was down 3.5%, the national daily information (non-press horse) recovered a little breath in 2010. According to final figures from OJD, the monitoring body of the press, broadcasting France paid the eleven national newspapers last year grew by 1.6% over the previous year, reaching an average of 1.598 million copies per day. "We must not hide his pleasure, these figures are good news, says Patrick Barter, Director General of OJD. While the ground lost in 2009 was not returned. But the bleeding has stopped. We are dealing with a real progression for the majority of titles. "

The largest increases, however, are not spectacular.Driven by new formulas, La Tribune and Liberation rose 2.3% and 1.36%, after a particularly trying year 2009 for both titles. Le Figaro retains its position as the leading national newspaper with a circulation of 316,732 copies, France paid an average increase of 0.77%, thanks to the full-year impact of the new formula was launched in September 2009. Sales did well in the second half. In December, Le Figaro has gained 6.3%.

Without displaying a rise in sales, three titles – The Cross, The Team and The World – have stabilized their positions.Currently in transition with the entrance to its new shareholders and capital of the imminent arrival of a new boss for its editorial, Le Monde, third nationally with 286,348 copies daily, has halted the decline in sales on the decline 2010 (-0 bad credit payday advance.59%) being small compared to that of 2009 (-4.1%).

The group suffers Le Parisien

Further decline in revenge for Today in France (-7.82%) and its regional edition Le Parisien (-4.65%), both published by the Amaury group, whose broadcasts had already fallen sharply in 2009. The business daily Les Echos (115,706 copies), which was one of very few titles up in 2009, went through a bad second half of the year which resulted ultimately in a decline of 4.66% of its dissemination France paid over twelve months. The International Herald Tribune has yet to turn down.After falling 15% in 2009, the spread of English-language newspaper owned by The New York Times lost 4.84% last year, dipping below the 20,000 copies. As for France Soir, which was relaunched last March, it reached a circulation of 74,531 copies. Its Russian shareholder, Alexander Pugachev, is 100,000 copies by the end of the year. A new formula was inaugurated in January.

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CSA: Michel Boyon opposed to rapprochement with Arcep

January 19, 2011 - 6:44 am Comments Off

The President of the Higher Audiovisual Council takes a stand against the idea of reconciliation of the APF and Arcep, the telecoms regulator.

LE FIGARO. – Do you support the appointment of a government commissioner in the CSA as envisaged in Arcep?

Michel BOYON. – The question will never be relevant! Certainly, there are commissioners of the government with independent authorities such as the Commission or the Energy Regulatory Authority of competition. For the CSA, which is the guarantor of civil liberties and fundamental respect for pluralism in broadcasting, it would be simply absurd.

What is your position on a rapprochement between Arcep, the CSA and the Agency of frequencies?

This subject is often poorly addressed.There is a tendency in France to focus on approaches by the structures and organizations, so that what counts is the strategies and objectives. You can not play Lego with institutions that have declared their independence, demonstrated their competence, acquired their legitimacy. In our country, the park is well managed Frequency: CSA and Arcep actively participate and work together on such topics as the dividend or digital TV on the move. This cooperation was highlighted three years ago in the plan "France numérique 2012". But remember that the CSA has a great originality. It is a regulator of content, only in France, and whoever has the most power in Europe and worldwide.When he assigns a frequency to a radio or television, it does for a given program, in exchange for free use of the frequency, it requires a chain of obligations that it ensures. The heart of activity Arcep, however, are the competition issues related to networks. Nothing has been said in recent days about the relationship between the two institutions does not bother me. But if some wanted in this way restrict the regulation of audiovisual content, it would be unacceptable.

How the CSA can regulate Internet content?

There is a complete – European directive, law, decree, Proceedings of the CSA – to regulate Internet services business of video on demand. What is not regulated, it is the content posted by individuals on video-sharing sites.Yet it is they who raise the most difficulties in terms of child welfare, dignity of the person or racism and antisemitism. With the TV connected, their impact will intensify. The only course of action today is the referral of a judge. It is very inadequate. We must organize a true co-regulation, starting with strengthening the signaling device, which is not used enough. It should also establish a code of ethics involving publishers and hosts, including the protection of young people, and could lead to a label given by the CSA. We could go further by calling for parental control software filters sites that would not have this label. Finally, the CSA could be empowered to order the withdrawal of illegal programs and even have a power to impose penalties for repeat offenders. For this, we need a law.There is no question that the Internet is a zone of lawlessness with respect to our core values. It is an important topic that transcends borders and I hope that at the next G8 summit, some time will be spent.

Can we settle the issue of Net neutrality amendment by a simple?

The CSA is obviously very attached to Net neutrality. It would be unacceptable to the radio or television suffer from discriminatory choices made by operators, especially based on financial criteria. If we did not warranty this subject, a strong law is needed.

How do you approach the arrival of the connected TV in France?

A year ago, when we talked TVs connected, we never thought to see happen so fast. This is progress for the viewer, but we must anticipate the consequences would be negative.My first fear is that a disruption of the balance of an entire economic sector. For example, publishers of free channels will see their audience is more fragmented, while a portion of advertising revenue will be diverted to the search engines. Furthermore, the connected TV will reduce the role of commercial distributors. French services for video on demand will experience a distortion of competition in foreign service, or hacking video sharing sites. In total, support for the French production is no longer guaranteed as it relies on the sales channels and its components – investment obligations, broadcasting quotas, chronology of media exclusives – would be threatened. It is urgent to make proposals on the subject.The CSA has decided to organize this international symposium next April 28.

Digital radio can it lie fallow?

The CSA has done what the law required it by setting the frequencies and selecting candidates. But the crisis came and blocked the entire device. I am concerned about the reluctance of some operators. Eventually, the radio will not be satisfied with the frequency modulation and long wave. But I think the Internet can only be a supplement to a radio broadcast. Large stations should understand that their brands may wane amid tens of thousands of radio stations broadcast on the Net. Finally, as Chairman of the CSA, I can accept that 30% of French people have access to only ten stations over the air.I rely heavily on the report that the Prime Minister has asked David Kessler.

The personal mobile TV is still not launched in France. Why?

There was a tremor with the initiative of Virgin Mobile, and TDF. Unfortunately, the application of the VAT increase offerings of mobile operators broke the momentum. I urge that this be deferred for three or four years.

When will you launch the tender for two new DTT channels?

As soon as possible. But this launch is subject to the intervention of an order to finance the redevelopment of frequencies to provide the necessary space for two multiplexes that will host the new channels. Must be made before the decree on April 30.

Denis Olivennes raises its first steps in Europe 1

January 13, 2011 - 4:32 am Comments Off

The ball is open. Triggered by the departure of Alexandre Bompard and his replacement by Denis Olivennes as head of Europe 1, waltz directors and animators began rue François I, in Paris, where the seat air station group Lagardere.

Philippe Balland, formerly Head of Programs Europe 1, has requested to leave the house immediately. To replace him, Denis Olivennes announced Tuesday the appointment of Bruno Gaston, formerly director of programs and the antenna 4 and France whom he had worked at Canal +. The date of his arrival has not yet been clarified, but already Denis Olivennes plans to make its mark on the grid station.The three highlights of the radio are in his sights: the morning, a real prime time radio, the clearinghouse between noon and 14 pm and finally the early evening.

Marc-Olivier Fogiel left a respite from his new boss by agreeing to remain at the helm of the morning until June, although a clause in a personal capacity to the binder Alexandre Bompard, would have allowed to leave his post during the season. After initially activated, the facilitator chose to re-enlist under the same conditions as soon as the arrival of Denis Olivennes to Europe 1 was formalized saving account pay day loan. However, his fate for the 2011-2012 season is far from sealed.

The news slot between noon and 13:30 could return to a more journalistic profile. It is currently controlled by the animator Jean-Marc Morandini.The latter is also in control of "Greater Media Direct" and 11:00 to 12:00.

Many sites

Finally, the end of the day has yet to prove itself. In September, Alexandre Bompard had indeed achieved a coup by poaching Nicolas Demorand France Inter to support "Europe 1 Evening" from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. But it was disappointed at the publication of the first hearings of the season during the months of September and October. The output results for the months of November and December January 18 will be the next opportunity to see if he managed to regain control.

Bruno Gaston will open these sites upon arrival. The beginning of September in fact prepares and negotiates the spring before the summer.

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