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Checking a candidate's personal background to management of a company. Mission to analyze the consequences of divorce on the future of a family company. Sensitive information about an acquisition. Who decides to study in an international tender. Investigation to avoid purchasing land in India classified as hazardous for environmental reasons. These varied missions were conducted by companies specializing in competitive intelligence.

French companies have discovered in recent years the interest to better protect themselves and defend their interests.The work of evangelization led by Henri Martre, former president of the public group Aerospatiale, who joined EADS, the prefect Remy Pautrat, the UMP Bernard Carayon of the Tarn and Alain Juillet, a former senior official in charge of intelligence Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister and President of the Academy of Competitive Intelligence, have raised awareness to the business they had to look after their interests.

Effervescence

In this area, however, the state still plays a leading role. Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economy, presented Wednesday in the new Cabinet actions by the public to help national champions to protect against external attacks.These range from business intelligence to the strengthening of security companies and research laboratories, through strengthening the influence of France in the bodies charged with enacting international standards.

The mobilization of state and business organizations as the MEDEF, CGPME and chambers of commerce has created a frenzy. In recent years, French companies in business intelligence have multiplied. The tricolor is the number one public group ADIT (Agency for the dissemination of technological information). It employs 150 analysts in France and 500 foreign correspondents, paid primarily to the mission, and carries 20 million euros of turnover. Its experts have designed the business center of Baghdad French allowing contractors to win contracts in Iraq enjoying the maximum safety.They may have offices and hotel rooms secured, an armed escort to move or ask to arrange a visit to an area. The tricolor is another great CEIS, founded in 1997 by Olivier Darrason, which is present in other sectors. Sign of the emergence of a true industry, the profession is organized with the creation of a professional syndicate.

But much remains to be done. "The market is fragmented," says Philippe Deciduous, CEO of Adit. "The French have a real lack of representation abroad, in Asia and India. They outsource too much of the Anglo-Saxons in countries like India. The expertise in financial matters is Anglo-Saxon, "said Christian Harbulot, founding director of the School of economic warfare.The French are not yet able to compete with the Anglo-Saxons, led by Kroll and Control Risks, a strong presence internationally.

The deal could change, however. "The state will open the capital of Adit up to 66% to create the European leader able to compete with the Anglo-Saxons," explains Philippe Deciduous. The computer services company Altran, the credit insurer Coface, the fund HLD Jean-Bernard Lafonta and Butler Capital funds are in the running. They laid their offerings on Nov. 19. Governments should take a decision by Christmas. Once selected, the two new shareholders will locate Adit Germany, Sweden, England, Italy and strengthen its presence in Brazil, Russia, India and China. Evidence that the intelligence beyond French borders.

New forms of attacks

• The Michelin case or failures in law

In July 2007, Clermont supplier Bridgestone is notified by its Japanese competitor, one of its former executives trying to sell strategic information on truck tires. Following the trial on 21 June, a court in Clermont-Ferrand condemns dishonest former employee to two years suspended sentence and 5,000 euro fine, plus 10,000 euros in damages. But he was acquitted of charges of "violation of trade secrets" and "acts of espionage." "This verdict would probably have been different had we been able to present the detail of the relevant policy, we do not want to do is advertise the hearing.It would introduce the camera in this type of case, "offers Andrew Dietz, the legal director of France Michelin.

• Social networks increasingly monitored

In a large construction company in 2008, the son of the CEO discovers a profile on behalf of his father on Facebook. Knowing that his father sexagenarian stands away from social networks, it alerts the management of IT services group. Facebook will one week to grant their request to close this fake profile. Eight days during which the usurper could announce an acquisition or other major event likely to impact its stock price. Another company has thanked a member of its board of directors, who recounted his day's work every night on Facebook, revealing strategic information.The Labour Court has also recently approved the dismissal for serious misconduct of three employees who had denigrated Alten their hierarchy on the Internet, sullying the reputation of the company.

• From the dark to destabilize competitors

Laboratoires Thea is a good example of influence strategy, the component "offensive" of intelligence. Their rival Monaco Europhta, advised by the Parisian firm Institutions and Enterprises, has spread a rumor about an innovative eye drops Thea, referring to dangerous side effects, based on medical reports biased and false testimony.Thea has conducted an operation against influence-which allowed him to stem the negative impact of libel on its sales to obtain redress in the courts and in October 2007 to buy its competitor.

• The racket takes many forms

Hackers sometimes seek to blackmail companies. An industry group has been paying its employees' payroll and a blocked site, e-commerce was paralyzed a few weeks before Christmas. The web page subscription online broker Saxo Bank has been duplicated and made up with an account number which transferred directly falsified Internet payments on the account of the pirate. Areva has been a target of an impostor posing as an agent of the former DGSE.Attempts at extortion are not reported by the companies who fear a negative impact on their image.

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The history between Raymond Domenech and the French Football Federation has not yet ended. Dismissed for serious misconduct (Editor's note: refusal to shake hands with the South African coach, reading the letter from the players after the exclusion of Nicolas Anelka and non-disclosure of insults by the Chelsea striker at half-time in France Mexico to FFF) in early September after 17 years in the federal fold, the former coach of the France team would, according to The Post.fr, before the Labour Court to enforce its rights.

Tuesday, our colleagues wrote that Domenech claimed over two million euros in compensation to his former employer, or a little over two years' salary! This Wednesday, Connesson Master, counsel for Raymond Domenech said on RTL radio that the former coach of the Blues claimed 2.9 million euros to the FFF. "There is no acrimony and no personal animosity .Simply Mr. Domenech is particularly surprised that there is a political rather than legal, which was taken by the federation, which is to separate despite and in defiance of the provisions of the Labor Code of the latter, and ultimately be the sole responsibility of a collective crisis. In consideration under extremely brutal conditions in age, seniority of my client, we will ask that the severance of which would be due him be paid, and three years' salary either a lump sum of 2,900,000 euros closely, "said Master Connesson on RTL radio.

"We're not at war, yet tempered recently Duchaussoy Ferdinand, the acting president of the 3F. There was a conflict problem, a number of errors that he was charged and that led to his dismissal.There was never any aggression against this situation. There is a financial problem to be resolved at one time or another. "Obviously, that moment has arrived …

What new argument Seloger.com will he reveal to justify its rejection of the hostile takeover of Axel Springer? The question is asked at the Paris Stock Exchange on Tuesday, since the share price was suspended at the request of the company. "As part of good practice agreed with the AMF, the title will Seloger.com suspended Tuesday pending the filing of the reply document containing the reasoned opinion of the supervisory board and the expert's report," has said a spokesman for the group told Reuters.

The independent expert was appointed by the supervisory board in early October to further investigate the conditions of the offer of Axel Springer.The latter, which acquired 12.4% stake in the site with some of its founders to 34 euros per share, reconfirmed the end of September his intention to stay in a bid to 34 euros per share.

This amount was rejected by the supervisory board of Seloger payday loan lenders.com: according to him, does not reflect the intrinsic value of the group and its prospects for growth. In the media, the founders of Seloger.com, Amal Amar and Denys Chalumeau, repeated announcements that the site does not need the German group to develop. On Tuesday, the tone of the speech should not change.

At the Paris Bourse as investors bet at least on a cons-offer or an increase in the amount offered to shareholders by Axel Springer. Since announcing the proposed acquisition on September 9, the title of the French company has always traded at a price level higher than the price offered by the German group.On Monday, the price closed at 35.65 euros per share.

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Competition from BHP Billiton organized. According to the Sunday Times this Sunday, the Canadian pension fund Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (TPPO) would have discussed with Temasek, the Singapore sovereign wealth fund, the launch of a cons-offer for the acquisition of Potash. Goal: cut the grass under the feet of mining giant that has 39 billion dollars to get their hands on the world's largest fertilizer. The British newspaper wrote that the two funds have already found an industrial partner, which could be the Canadian mining company Teck.

For now, discussions are at a preliminary stage but the two funds are considering an offer to either buy or take a minority stake in Potash at a price higher than that proposed by BHP.

The Times and The Sunday Telegraph also reported that Potash is reviewing various options, including a dismantling of its activities to counter the bid from BHP Billiton business

The most brutal crash and the shortest in the history of the U.S. stock market was triggered by an algorithm. This is the conclusion of the police report of the American Stock Exchange about the sudden collapse and dizzying prices on Wall Street last May 6.

Specifically, an order of sale of approximately $ 4 billion, given through a computer program by a broker, has led to a chain reaction because of the widespread use of techniques of speculation "high frequency". These computer programs are playing on seconds to earn millions.

Day "turbulent"

May 6 was "a day early for exceptionally turbulent markets," the report relate. In case the debt crisis in the eurozone, which worries investors.At 2:32 p.m., a broker orders the sale of 75,000 contracts (also called "future"), a value close to $ 4 billion. These futures contracts are bets on rising or falling market. In this case, this decision deals a major stock indices on Wall Street, the S & P 500.

But this order, passed by the Anglo-Saxon by a company based in Kansas, was executed in record time: 20 minutes. The last time this same dealer had carried out an operation the same amount, it took 5 hours. Some traders who watch the market for futures baptized E-Mini also called futures, then become convinced that a cataclysmic event occurred that they do not yet know business cards.Others suspect that the numbers will scroll on their screens are false or incomplete information and limited their purchases.

The panic is fueled by a sale cascade triggered mechanically by software brokerage ultra-fast. In a domino effect of hand, the fall in the market of futures spreads at 2:43 p.m., the stock market. At 2:44 p.m., Apple's stock lost eg $ 23 in two minutes, reports the Wall Street Journal. At 14.45, the E-Mini drop of 12.75% in half a second.

New situation

The market is actually found in an unprecedented situation: the automatic orders to sell are increasing even though there are no more buyers. This explains the collapse in prices. Within minutes, 862 billion disappear. The benchmark Stock Exchange on Wall Street, the Dow Jones lost 10% of a stroke. Shortly before 15 hours, the courses out themselves.But only in part: Wall Street will end the day fall of 3.2%.

"One key lesson is that the event face a nervous market, the automatic execution of a large sell order can cause extreme shifts in sales, it is noted in the report of 104 pages U.S. regulatory authorities. The latter however refused to recommend greater supervision of technical trading "high frequency". Since May 6, systems of automatic suspension of the Exchange have been put in place in case of sudden drop in prices.

Total sees far. While the oil company must submit its ambitions in production until 2014, during a conference to be held in London this afternoon, management has already revealed the outline of the prospects in a document available on their website. The oil giant believes that its production of oil and gas will remain stable in 2011 although it still intends to grow by 2% per year by 2014, thanks to the contribution of new projects.

In the shorter term, the third European oil company by market capitalization, behind Royal Dutch Shell and BP also ensured that his production is projected up to a year in the second half.

During the first six months of 2010, total production was up 6.3%. Total explained that production should be stable next year and that its level will depend mainly on the evolution of prices of oil, policy of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the recovery of production in Nigeria.

The group further estimates that global demand for oil is projected to grow by more than 1% per year on average, a structural component supports the higher prices.

Total states also target a net debt to equity (gearing) of 25% to 30% at end 2010. It was 23% at end June

In early trade, as the oil group is down slightly while the Paris market is changing, her sluggish.

This is a new slap for Danone. Seven months after having tested the group renounces launch in France, Densia, yogurt supposed to strengthen bones. Why? "The tests performed have highlighted that the French are major consumers of dairy products spawning, do not feel the need to consume more calcium," says a spokeswoman for Danone.

The pleasure rather than health

Pre-launch tests of Densia were conducted in Brive-la-Gaillarde (Corrèze) since December and were expected to last between three and six months. No launch date was planned in France for this product is distributed in Spain and Italy.Primarily for women arrived at the age of menopause, Densia was part of Danone products that play the card as healthy as Actimel and Activia is supposed to cover 50% of recommended daily calcium and vitamin D in these two areas No teletrak payday loan .

This is another failure for Danone, after those of Activia and Actimel where the group had been unable to put forward to the claimed benefits the health of these two products. And after that of Essensis other hand, this yogurt packaging fluorescent pink supposed to give a beautiful skin. Launched in 2007, it had been withdrawn from sale two years later.

Danone has probably realized that the future is now in the pleasure and less in health. The group continues to grow stronger effect in the field. He just bought Immedia, the manufacturer of smoothies and launching Fantasia, for young adults.Although Franck Riboud, Danone's CEO, continues to believe that health is still called for, as he confided to Le Figaro, last July.

The law is clear: each person can have only one tax-free booklet, A book or booklet blue. But who knows exactly where his grandparents do not stock a book to his name between the sheets of the linen closet? The Observatory of regulated savings admits that part of the 60 million books is linked to "a significant number of cases" of multidétention the booklet by the same investor. This situation existed even before the normalization of the Livret A, but increased with distribution efforts led by banks such as Credit Agricole and Societe Generale. "I have two savings books, but my savings bank refuses to close one that depends on it," says an investor.

The government, aware of the significant risk of slippage, had threatened the special penalty ": a fine on 2% of the outstanding or additional booklets had been provided by the Act of August 4, 2008. At this stage, however, no penalty has been applied, we recognize the Bank of France. To punish, would it still have the ability to distinguish between the intentional fraud and unintentional multidétenteurs No checking account payday advance."The computerization of some later historical networks did not facilitate the long-term management of these booklets, which have long shelf life support equipment," says the report, acknowledging that fiscal controls "remained limited in scope."

A central

Since the reform of the distribution of the Livret A, efforts are being made to remedy this situation. A central recency bank accounts in France, but it is still not an accurate picture of the holders of tax-free books. Each account is opened or a booklet, the banks have the obligation to consult. These planchent services of the State to establish the second half of 2010 an effective due diligence. "The process is complicated to implement, it is done gradually," said a representative of the Observatory of regulated products.Meanwhile, the Ministers of Economy and Budget have written twice to banks to encourage them to ensure the right information to their customers. What encouraged them to regularize their situation.

After their fine up yesterday, the U.S. equity market should be cautious Friday. The index futures are predicting a slightly higher opening of U.S. markets. Future Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 advancing in effect respectively by 0.36% to 1091.60 points and 0.43% to 1960.10 points. On Thursday, the New York Stock Exchange ended sharply higher, boosted by another round of results in good order. At the close, the Dow Jones gained 1.99% to 10,322.30 points and the Nasdaq 2.68% to 2245.89 points. For its part, the S & P has won 2.25% to 1093.67 points.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro off again on the rise against the dollar in the morning, after the publication of a German Ifo barometer jumped in July, but remained confined to below $ 1.30.The euro was at 1.2956 dollars against 1.2886 dollars late on the eve of the day.

On the macroeconomic front, the session looks very calm. No major indicator is expected in the United States. Wall Street should have their eyes on Europe. Operators should indeed play the card of caution before publication in the evening the results of resistance tests 91plus major European banks.

From the values listed, investors will react to another round of results published the day after the close of Wall Street.

The U.S. computer giant Microsoft seems to have turned the page on the economic crisis with a quarterly profit up 48% year on year, better than expected, more than 4.5 billion dollars.Over the year, net income climbed to 18.760 billion, up 29%, and sales to nearly $ 62.5 billion, up 7%.

Always on the side of values, the Internet retailer Amazon has posted Thursday a net profit increase of over 45% in the second quarter but below expectations. In after-hours electronic trade, the share lost more than 13.5%.

The credit card issuer American Express American issued Thursday a net income group share increased by 3 over one year to over $ 1 billion in the second quarter. The group was encouraged by the recovery of expenses of its customers and lower defaults on credit cards.

Note also the flash memory maker SanDisk has announced a quarterly benefit of $ 257.9 million slightly exceeded expectations.The turnover was 1.18 billion over the quarter against 730 million last year. "The U.S. market is recovering quickly (27%) and becomes profitable, but significant uncertainties remain safe with the new law on the distribution of consumer credit" note the experts at Aurel BGC. The group remains very cautious on the outlook for activity in the United States.

After the government advertisement To reduce the funds allocated to several departments, Jean-Louis Borloo has described some of the measures envisaged to his ministry, according to Les Echos published on Friday. The Department of Ecology and Sustainable Development is indeed an important concern to put on a diet of government: it gives rise to tax benefits more expensive for the state (15 billion euros after Les Echos) that it would reduce to 8.5 to 10 billion euros. Moreover, these measures increase of 800 million euros annually.

In all, nearly two billion euros would be saved by 2012, including one billion on niches "green" these tax benefits related to work "green". Jean-Louis Borloo has raised the deduction available to individuals who install photovoltaic panels on the roof of their home.The shortfall for the State is estimated at 800 million euros. It could therefore be reduced by at least 50% reserved for existing homes.

The list of works "green" that give rise to tax benefits could also be reduced. The tax cuts themselves could also decrease by 10%. As for renovations "non-green", they could lose their advantage of a VAT at 5.5%.

Finally, the government also calls into question his support for biofuels. They enjoy a double benefit: a reduced fee and the requirement for all distributors to offer for sale.