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The failure of the sale of the French EPR in Abu Dhabi should not be the tree hiding the forest: large civil contracts, ranging from aircraft sales to the supply of subways or turbines, are points Highlights from the French industry. By themselves, they represent nearly 10% of exports hexagonal. And on those 10%, aeronautics and space account for nearly half. The France can say thank you to Airbus!

In 2009, this particular sector of the export has not escaped the crisis. While major contracts to emerging markets had risen to 30 billion euros in 2008, they fell to 21 billion last year. But the situation was rectified by end of year: fourth quarter 2009, sales have recovered to their levels of early 2008. "Since last October, we see a rebound very clear orders.They are China, and to a lesser extent India and Brazil, which are driving the demand "said Frederic Sanchez, CEO of Fives, a group specializing in providing equipment isolated and turnkey plants for heavy industry, and also president of the International Committee of the MEDEF.

The entrepreneur remains cautious for 2010. "It is too early to say whether the recovery is sustainable. The industrial engineering, from developed countries but also emerging economies, we are very strong competition. Margins are under pressure, "says he. If the backlog of Airbus can see coming in the aircraft sales in 2010, there are no certainties about civil contracts. In all cases in 2009, Africa was the first major outlet for French contracts, including through gas projects in North Africa. Asia came in second.But the Middle East was disappointing, the volume of cases being dropped to the level of 2002.

See also:

The French trade deficit narrowed in 2009

"Idrac:" France takes its place in world trade "

The Japanese auto giant Toyota, which passes through an unprecedented crisis due to the increasing security challenges in several of its models (the Prius brakes, booster car in the world) announced Thursday returning to profit in third quarter 2009-2010. The manufacturer nippon even raised its financial forecasts, while the annual cost of reminders should cost him between 1.3 and 1.4 billion euros.

For the three months from October to December, the world's largest automaker has made a net profit of 153.2 billion yen (1.16 billion euros), against a net loss of 164.7 billion a year earlier .Operating income from Toyota is also back in the green, with a profit of 189.1 billion (1.43 billion) instead of a loss of 360.6 billion for the same period of 2008-2009 for a turnover up 10.2% yoy.

The company said it now expected to conclude its 2009-2010 fiscal year with a net profit of 80 billion yen (610 million euros), whereas previously it expects a net loss of 200 billion payday advance . The operating loss year should reach 20 billion instead of 350 billion expected previously.

We have revised our forecast for 2009-2010 due to factors such as rising sales and cost reductions in all directions, "said in a statement the Executive Director Takahiko Ijichi Toyota."And our emergency plan to increase our profits grew faster than expected," he added.

Toyota said Thursday that the recall of several million vehicles worldwide due to problems of accelerator was going to cost between 170 billion and 180 billion yen (between 1.3 and 1.4 billion euros). The cost of the recall itself should reach about 100 billion yen, and the costs of declining sales that followed between 70 billion and 80 billion, said during a press conference the Chief Executive Toyota Takahiko Ijichi.

At the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Toyota shares ended Thursday on a further drop of 3.52% to 3280 yen. Since January 21, the group's market value has shrunk by almost 22%.

Become a registered "lifestyle" is the ambition of leaders Lacoste for years to come. To do this they have developed the part of accessories in the total turnover. Therefore, the parent company, S. A. Lacoste, who does nothing but manage the image of the brand, decided to resume late 2010 the license granted to the leather Samsonite American for eight years to tell his historical partner, the French industrial Devanlay.

Devanlay, 60% of sales by Lacoste, through the clothing of crocodile license. Since the beginning, these two companies through interlocking shareholdings (Devanlay has 35% of Lacoste and Lacoste 10% stake in Devanlay) work hand in hand.Their goal is to increase the share of leather goods from 4% to 8% of total sales within five years.

"While we have almost 4 000 references per year just in the textile, when we ask a client to appoint a product is always the same means we have work," says Jose – Luis Duran, CEO of Devanlay, where he arrived six months ago, after having been boss of Carrefour. Polo, founded in 1933, sold over 13 million copies a year worldwide. But it represents only 20% of the income of the mark (1.5 billion euros in total wholesale rate).

The crocodile is diversifying

Clothing, which weighed 85% of sales in 2000, none reported more than 60%.Meanwhile, footwear (20%), perfume (15%, produced by Procter & Gamble) or watches (5%) took off.

In total, Lacoste has granted nine licenses for specific product categories in different industries. Latest: mobile phones, the company entrusted with ModeLabs, the first model will come in six months. To develop leather, Devanlay created a joint venture with a French specialist sector Tolomei.

Lacoste plans to continue this diversification. "We are in constant reflection on these topics, explains Christophe Chenut, CEO of Lacoste S. A.We look at the world of home and decorating, mobility with electric bicycles or bikes, we've already made a limited number of strollers with McLaren in the United States, but these ideas must pass through many filters and answer a requirement of internationalization. Each license must also help us recruit and retain a new category of customers. "Bags were well designed to feminize a mark at three quarters male.

The Strategic Investment Fund (ISF), the SWF lights, preparing to take forward a 20% stake of Avanquest Software, a French manufacturer of consumer software is also present in the professional sector with products shipped in the mobile phones. Avantquest Software is ranked ninth among ISVs lights.

In a statement released Wednesday, Avanquest indicates that the ISP will inject 6 million euros through a capital increase that will be conducted in early 2010. The capital increase Avanquest should be a total of 8 to 9 million euros, with retention of preferential subscription rights.Taking as reference the Group's market capitalization at the close Tuesday, the ISP would hold at the end of the transaction, approximately 12% of capital Avanquest.

Meanwhile, the Strategic Fund will acquire 3 million euros in convertible bonds issued by the software publisher. The ISP also expressed readiness to participate in a "future fund raising, once a major project of external growth would, for a total investment of the two transactions exceeding 20 million euros. This second operation would be, if, before March 31, 2011, the participation of ISPs are capped at 20%.

Avanquest has already completed a capital increase in March

The ISP had set the tone earlier this year by partnering with the French association of software publishers (Afdel).The fund, whose capital is owned 51% by the Deposit and 49% by the French state has already chosen other targets in software publishing. He announced his entry with Cegedim, a specialist in customer relations for the pharmaceutical industry in which it would inject 117 million euros. But while health Cegedim is flourishing, that Avanquest is more delicate.

The company co-founded in 1984 by Bruno Van Ryb has changed in size in two major acquisitions in 2007. Avanquest has indeed swallowed Nova Development in the United States and Emme in Europe, which enabled him to climb the third step of the podium European consumer software.But last year, the company saw its sales fall by 10.6% to 104.1 million euros and has posted losses for the second time.

Last March, Avanquest, which has cut its workforce, conducted a capital increase of 7 million euros during which Oddo Asset Management has gone to join other investors (Turenne Capital, OTC Asset Management, After Flora, IDI Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners and AGF Private Equity). The ISP should become the largest shareholder of the company while employees and managers 17.3% of total capital Avanquest.