Danone Medical Nutrition acquires

12th June

The group Danone announced Friday the signing of an agreement for the acquisition of Medical Nutrition (NMI), an American company specializing in nutritional supplements for people under medical supervision.

The agreement provides that Danone will pay in cash approximately $ 62 million (51 million) to shareholders of MNI to acquire 100% of the group, Danone said in a statement.

The board of directors of American society has unanimously approved the merger, the CEO Frank A. Newman called "a tremendous opportunity for consumers, employees and shareholders of MNI.

Complementary products

The statement said the "strong complementarities" the two companies "in terms of product lines and distribution channels."Those would cater for the NMI especially the elderly, while those of Nutricia subsidiary of Danone, are primarily intended for infants.

NMI has recorded a turnover of 16 million dollars for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010, multiplied by ten in seven years. Its activities will be integrated into medical nutrition division of Danone, which last year generated in North America 70 million dollars. Danone considers medical nutrition as "the most attractive category of food."

Dell lowers its forecast

11th June

The computer maker Dell said Thursday after the close on Wall Street have spent a sum of $ 100 million to settle charges related to an investigation by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), the regulatory authority of U.S. markets , about his relationship with Intel and its accounting practices.

The legal provision pushed Dell to revise downwards its forecast for first quarter 2011. Net income for the company is reduced by $ 100 million to 341 million dollars. In turn, earnings per share decreased by 5 cents to $ 0.17 Easy Pay day loans.The result before exceptional items is not affected.

The SEC investigation into accounting practices and financial Dell and its business relationship with Intel, accused of anti-competitive practices, the computer maker said in a statement. Dell said it is in discussions with the SEC to settle amicably the investigation, adding that this did not imply recognition or denial of suspicion.

Following the announcement, as Dell was losing 2.5% in trading after-hours trade.

The CAC 40 reassured by Bernanke

10th June

The Awards have finally found the way up. The CAC 40 has changed course several times in the morning to finally get its act together in the afternoon, encouraged by Wall Street. After six consecutive sessions in the red, the CAC 40 advanced 1.96%, to end the session at 3 446.77 points, a turnover of around 4 billion euros.

Other major European markets have also hoisted the green flag. In Frankfurt, the Dax gained 1.98%, and London, the Footsie has won 1.15%. Even mood on Wall Street, where the Dow Jones gained 1.16% and the Nasdaq 1.66% shortly after the close of European stock.

On Wall Street investors were awaiting the publication of the "Beige Book" of the Federal Reserve (Fed), the U.S. central bank, a snapshot report of the U.S. economy.As expected by analysts, the report confirmed a rise in economic activity, but no sign of inflation, reinforcing the idea that the Fed is in no hurry to raise interest rates.

Exports leapt chinoisent

They were also awaiting the speech of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, who was to testify before the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives in the afternoon quick pay day loan. Unsurprisingly, Ben Bernanke has confirmed the speech he gave Monday saying that the economic recovery appeared to be "solid" in the United States.

More good news for the markets, a senior Chinese official, the country's exports have jumped by about 50% in May compared to same month of 2009. This figure should be officially released Thursday pushed Asian stock markets Wednesday.If confirmed, it would exceed by far the expectations of analysts who expect an increase of just over 30%.

In Paris, the other major stock markets, investors were engaged in an intense hunt for bargains on financial and cyclical stocks.

Societe Generale, Arcelor Mittal or ST Microelectronics were among the highest increases of ACC 40.

France opens its market for online games

8th June

The addicted to gambling who resisted the temptation to bet online, on the grounds that the practice was not authorized in France, will be able to satisfy their passion.

According to the decree published in the OJ, the Regulatory Authority online games (Arjel), a specially created, issued 17 licenses, or "amenities" to 11 operators of online games to start from the Paris Global South Africa (June 11-July 11).

The Arjel had received 25 cases corresponding to approximately 35 applications for approval paris sports, horse or Poker. A figure that has evolved steadily, because there is no deadline for submitting applications. One thing is certain, there will be poor candidates because half of the applications have been reviewed by the Arjel. Moreover, the opening of online poker games has been delayed a month because of an obstruction of Malta.

"The educational services are not idle," says Jean-Francois Vilotte, Chairman of the Authority. A number of candidates will not obtain approval immediately, because they are incomplete, we need additional information or have been filed later. "

The Official Journal that published earlier in the night his decree, the lucky few can enter. Provided, said Jean-Francois Vilotte, that computer systems (including safes) are operational and that the game software have been certified by the Arjel.

Like its competitors, Philippe Germond, CEO of the PMU is in the starting blocks. "I feel like the boss of a shop where the shelves are ready, as sellers, there is more than the curtain open," says he.The first operator in Europe paris horse wants to be present on the fifteen licensed sports, from football to rugby to tennis, judo and rowing. He filed his May 18 request for approval for paris horse, and sports of poker. A pad 7400 pages!

Among the operators concerned by the decree, we find also the PMU, the French or Unibet Games, Beturf, BES SAS.

The competition will be difficult. All applicants expect a rapid concentration of the market. Philippe Germond table 4-5 major groups in Paris and a little more sport in poker. Starting from zero, Barrierepoker is 20-25% market share within five years. Marc Simoncini, 20% shareholder Winamax, a site 100% poker is more ambitious. "We want to stay in the top three poker sites in France, says he.I am convinced that those who succeed are the pure poker players. "

Setback to illegal sites

The success of the liberalization of gambling will depend on the state capacity to fight against the multitude of sites which remain outside the law by not asking for approval to the Arjel. They are 25,000 in the world, including 20% in French. On Thursday, the European justice has inflicted another blow. Two licensed operators in the UK, Ladbrokes and Betfair, invoked the freedom to provide services in the European Union to assert their license with the United Kingdom, they could market their offers in the Netherlands. The Justice has confirmed that it was legitimate for a country to ban them, to combat fraud and protect consumers.

Review subdued the VAT reduction in food

7th June

A year after the VAT reduction in catering, where are the conservators of commitments with the government? In the context of reduced public expenditure, where the measure put in place by 1 July 2009 is being challenged for its cost – about 3 billion euros – one of the main unions of restaurant firmly defends the record of restorers.

On the lower prices promised the advance Synhorcat containing figures from INSEE, reduced by 1.7% in prices. Far, indeed, the 3% promised at the signing of the contract establishing the future VAT at 5.5%. But better than the forecasts of the Secretary of State for Trade, Herve Novelli, who requested last December restaurants to limit their price increases, given the economic crisis, the level of inflation.

A decline also practiced mainly by large chains, which have clearly made this issue a sales and communication. Today Synhorcat not hesitate to praise the French restaurant as "cheap": "80% of meals in France costs less than 15 euros," he said beforehand. Not sure the French, whose purchasing power remains a major concern, hear it that way.

An agreement "historic" on wages

On the employment front, too, success is not free No teletrack payday loans. While restaurant owners had agreed, in consideration of the reduction in VAT, to create 20,000 permanent jobs and 20,000 contracts for professional learning or within 2 years, Synhorcat announces that for the moment creations 5700 jobs.The objective, however, seemed difficult to achieve in terms of economic conditions.

The only real success of the VAT reduction: the agreement on wage conditions in the restaurant, described as "historic" by Hervé Novelli. "We are hiring today with a salary 25% above the law", welcomes the Synhorcat. Wages have indeed been reassessed 5% when the non-frames increases leveled averaged 1.1% in 2009. A mutual health has been created, and employees receive an annual bonus equivalent to 2% of their annual salary, capped at 500 euros.

Employees are however not the only benefit from the reduction of VAT in 2009, the catering market has indeed registered a positive growth, and an estimated turnover of 72.5 billion euros, posting also Synhorcat.

The tax loopholes rabottées 10%

4th June

The tax shelters will soon be planed 10%, Francois Fillon warned on Thursday morning in the East Republican. After announcing in early May that he wanted to make five billion euros in savings over five years on tax shelters, the prime minister said his program. The government opted Does the deletion of niches, or a general decline in their level? "Both," explained Francois Fillon.

"In each case, some niches will be deleted. And there will be a movement of the plane by 10%. With exceptions because it should not increase the cost of labor, "he says. Over the years, it is indeed accumulated more than 400 tax loopholes, intended for particular social groups or economic sectors. In total, the Telemachus to win for the state accounts for almost 75 billion euros.

For in order to cope with a deficit which currently stands at 7.5% of GDP, the resources available to the government are now limited, said the Premier. A tax increase seems difficult in France, both the level of tax burden is already high. "Within the euro area, we are among those who have the highest rate. Again, our margins are limited, "said the Premier. More limited, for example, those of our German neighbors.

No removal of tax charges

Same for the amount of charges. "In some sectors, the competitiveness gap with Germany reached up to 20%. We can not win over the German economy, "said Francois Fillon. No question, therefore, to remove some relief.Neither, as announced Wednesday Georges Tron, the Secretary of State for Public Service, to lower or freeze the salaries of civil servants, which may depend on the success of pension reform.

Only possible levers mentioned by the Prime Minister in the East Republican, in addition to the tax loopholes, reducing social spending and a freeze on the allocation of local communities. "But we will not touch the RSA," said Francois Fillon.

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Nuclear Mitsubishi HI setting Europe

2nd June

The market for nuclear reactors following "an upward trend," according to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MIH). The conglomerate of Japan believes that dozens of these reactors should be located in Europe by 2030. And he does not miss the boat. The group is announcing Wednesday the signing of a letter of intent with the Spanish group Iberdrola Ingenieria y Construccion. His goal: to increase its chances of winning several bids for the construction of nuclear power in Europe. "We hope thus to accelerate the introduction of our advanced pressurized water reactors EU-APWR in European countries," MHI said in a statement.

Specifically, the agreement provides that if a contract awarded, MIH supports the manufacturing facilities and the provision of essential equipment.For his part, Spanish will be responsible to install, the grouping of devices and materials that their test. The offer of MIH is based on a pressurized water reactor of 1,700 megawatts (MW), whose rights have been designed for the Japanese market, and adapted to European standards and regulations.

MIH is not his first partnership with a European group. The Japanese already collaborating with the French Areva in a joint venture called TDD, which is developing a medium-power reactor for countries wishing to launch their first nuclear power.

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