BP: Abu Dhabi reluctant to invest

11th July

The quest for investors to be difficult for Tony Hayward, BP's boss. According to the special edition of the newsletter Middle East Economic Survey (MEES) to be published Monday, the emirate of Abu Dhabi would be reluctant to invest in the oil. The richest emirate in the federation of the UAE would not be accountable to the U.S. Department of Justice, which wants to want to be informed of any transfer of assets from BP. The Sovereign wealth fund Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), became in 2007 the largest shareholder in Citigroup, is already in full court battle with the giant American banker whom he accused of fraud.

If the information is confirmed, it would be a setback for Tony Hayward, last Wednesday, went to Abu Dhabi, to convince the influential Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed to buy 10% stake BP.

Abu Dhabi, however, may "want to take stakes in certain assets of BP in the region, but provided they have no problems with the U.S. Department of Justice," says MEES.

Leverage counterparts

In addition to the SWFs in the Middle East, BP tries to seduce her American counterparts. According to the Sunday Times this Sunday, the tanker is currently in exclusive negotiations with the U.S. Apache Corporation to sell up to $ 12 billion of assets, including its share in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the largest field North America. Apache, which is worth 29 billion dollars in stock, has already signed with BP repurchases in the past.But this operation would be of a different scale: Prudhoe Bay produces 390,000 barrels per day, or 15% of the production of the North Sea.

The partners in the field of BP, Exxon and Conoco Philips, will certainly have rights of first refusal on the part of BP. This dernierpourrait allow them to buy if they offer the same price Apache. The Sunday Times also understands that the U.S. government would have allowed Exxon to study a possible takeover of BP.

The Sunday Times added that BP would also soon sell its 60% interest in Pan American Energy, a producer in Argentina. The acquisition of this share worth $ 9 billion Chinese CNOOC and try the Argentinian Bridas. BP is also expected to sell various other assets, including its activities in Venezuela and Colombia, worth one billion dollars, as well as those in Vietnam, a similar value.

The government is continuing its investigation

All these operations are part of the constitution by BP to a reserve fund of 20 billion dollars (15.8 billion euros) pledged U.S. authorities to ensure the cleanup costs and damages associated with the tide black.

So he has launched an operation which is expected to completely contain the leak, BP is still feeling the pressure from U.S. authorities. The Justice Department has announced that Sunday, through the voice of Minister Eric Holder would continue to investigate the causes of the spill that pollutes the Gulf of Mexico from late April to determine whether to proceed with indictments.

ALSO READ:

"BP continues to seek investors

"Libya could be interested in BP

In June, the U.S. has destroyed jobs

3rd July

The U.S. economy has begun to destroy jobs, after five months of net creation. In June, the number of job losses in the U.S. totaled 125,000 jobs including in the public, according to figures from the Labor Department. The figure was pulled down by the public sector, the end of the census causing the departure of 225,000 temporary workers hired for the occasion.

More importantly, the private sector alone has created 83,000 jobs. Is much better than the 33,000 net new jobs in the month of May However, analysts expected a figure close to 112,000. "We're going in the right direction but we do not go fast enough for many Americans. We are not moving fast enough for me either, "responded the president Barack Obama.

The increase in the number of private sector jobs due to "modest increases in various industries."The leisure industry in particular has created 28,000 jobs before the summer. Business services hired 21,000 people. Note, the industry continued to create jobs (9,000). The construction sector has meanwhile also destroys jobs (22 cash till payday.000), hit by a decline in new construction.

"Beyond these figures rather in line with expectations, the disappointment is the hours worked and wages," noted economists Exane-BNP Paribas. "Hours worked weekly find their level in April (34.1) and hourly wages shrink by 0.1% over the month." In bad omen for consumer spending.

On the other hand, the unemployment rate, calculated on a different basis, for its part fell 9.7% in May to 9.5% in JuneThe Labor Department said the decline by reducing the workforce and the growing number of discouraged workers who no longer work. "We still expect a gradual recovery in the labor market with unemployment rates remain high in 2010 before improving slightly in 2011," says Julian Thomas, an economist at Natixis.

"In general, the Labor Department report suggests weak growth, but not fallen into recession, say economists for their part of Societe Generale.

A contract canceled for EDF Energies Nouvelles

12th March

EDF Energies Nouvelles, a 50% subsidiary of EDF, announced Friday in a statement, the cancellation of a contract to sell electricity to the United States. It Enxco its U.S. subsidiary has received its customer Indiana Power and Light (IPL) the cancellation notification on the proposed wind farm in Lakefield is currently under development in southwestern Minnesota.

EDF Energies Nouvelles, specializing in green energy, said IPL has decided to unilaterally terminate the contract without giving reasons while the latter had received January 27, 2010 the agreement of local authorities for its implementation.

Enxco studying the possible remarketing of the project from other companies and "the best way to assert his rights and prejudice"

The construction of this wind farm had not yet begun.EDF Energies Nouvelles ensures that this announcement will not affect its operational objective in 2012 nor his 2010 target EBITDA.

"EDF EN: annual results still very strong

Woerth defends decree on the mobility of officials

11th February

Minister of Budget, Public Accounts and Public Administration, ?ric Woerth formally on Thursday at the High Council of State Civil Service Decree controversial mobility agents.

LE FIGARO. – What this decree on mobility will he?

Eric Woerth. – Simply apply the law passed last summer after much consultation! For officials, it will provide real career paths: a government can no longer retain an agent who found a job that interested in another jurisdiction, and it will lose more pay or seniority changing job …

Meanwhile, we are reforming the administration in depth. Services are merged, computerization is progressing: the final positions disappear.For staff whose post was abolished, the law "mobility" obliges the administration to make them three real proposals and to train them if they need while maintaining their full salary. If he refuses, the officer may be placed on standby, after consulting the Joint Administrative Committee (PAC) which comprises unions. Three new offers made on it. If he still refuses, he may be fired after a new shift in CAP.

Unions speak of a "provocation" …

This is not a red flag, but rather a white flag! The future procedure is far less brutal than the current established by the Government Mauroy. When an item is removed today, the official must accept the first assignment given to him. If he refuses, he is regarded as having abandoned his post and removed frames. He loses his rights to unemployment benefits.The rule is so harsh that it is rarely enforced.

The administration therefore pays workers who no longer work?

Twenty layoffs barely held each year for this reason. So, yes, people – especially managers – are paid when their post was deleted. It is acceptable to anyone.

Officials fear being forced to relocate or accept a position unrelated to their skills. What assurances can you give them?

The nurse turned into a sports teacher, is a cartoon! The law provides that the jobs offered will reflect the professional competence of residence and family status of the official guaranteed payday loans . The employer must meet these criteria, with review of the Joint Administrative Committee. And the agent will always go to court if he believes violated the law.The law will be applied to the quality of offers but also the consequences of six straight refusal. I reject both the caricature and the angelic being official, it is a status with rights and duties, including ensuring continuity of public service.

Seven of eight civil servants' organizations boycotted Thursday's meeting. Is this a sign of social tension?

I will chair this meeting, open to everyone to come in today – the crisis, but also the regional approach. The dialogue, at least, remains friendly, dense and direct association between unions and me. The evidence we have signed several landmark agreements, the latter again in November on the health and working conditions. Six of the eight organizations have also signed in mid-2008, a major text that redefines the union representativeness and establishes the principle of majority agreement.A slot is provided for the Assembly in late March to transpose it into law. As for officers directly involved in the reorganization, some feel, it's true concerns. This is normal because we are real reform! For us to respond by taking better account of human realities and providing clear career prospects.

Nicolas Sarkozy spoke on TF1 tenure of contract. Will you work there?

We will settle the issue this year. There are normal situations: people with CSD because they meet occasional needs or those who have chosen a permanent, sometimes better paid than the incumbents. And there are clearly abusive situations: people with recurrent CDD or CDI "sustained" on sustainable positions for no reason not to be tenured. These are cases that we review.The challenge is both financially – these people are already paid by the state – human. We must especially see how their establishment may involve the recognition of their experience. It makes no sense to send them the same competitions as external candidates as they have been working for the State.

ALSO READ:

"Controversy about the job security of staff

"Officials from the vague to the soul

Saab continues to attract the covetousness

9th January

Leaders from General Motors, they would play with the nerves of Saab? After the declaration of the president of General Motors, Ed Whitacre, the U.S. carmaker has decided to continue studying the offers he has received. The evaluation of tenders currently has "no impact on the appointment of AlixPartners, selected to" supervise the gradual closure of Saab ", an appointment must still be validated by the Swedish authorities said General Motors in a statement. The Swedish automaker Saab in trouble Friday was placed in receivership, said the main union for Swedish industry, IF Metall.

A new stage in the process of dismantling Saab has been crossed."It's irresponsible on the part of General Motors of shooting in two different directions, that of a sale and dismantling of a" denounces L?fven Stefan, president of IF Metall, which is a representative member of Board of Directors of Saab. He added: "It is incomprehensible and irresponsible to do this (settlement) without being able to analyze the serious offers that actually exist for Saab. The decision of General Motors is not at all consistent with the messages we have had recently that the company really trying to seriously sell Saab and it was seriously considering the offers it receives.

Spyker and Bernie Ecclestone are in play

Even the bell side Bertrand Rakoto analyst RL Polk. "I am very skeptical about the motivation of executives from General Motors.Although the desire to close Saab has not been openly questioned, the GM executives have repeatedly rejected the dead-line. If they really wanted to close Saab, Spyker they have turned down more quickly. " General Motors has been seeking a year to give Saab a deficit for almost 20 years, as part of its reorganization plan. That did not stop him, after deciding to close Saab, December 18 last, to study the different offers. And to continue the study despite the liquidation court.

Saab less than Volvo?

Several groups, including the Dutch Spyker Genii and funds associated with the treasurer of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has expressed interest in a takeover last minute Swedish Saab. "The strategy of Spyker is clearer than Bernie Ecclestone. Generally, manufacturers have visions longer term.Investment funds have only one idea in mind: profitability. According to most experts, the sale of Saab could bring $ 1.8 billion to General Motors, slightly less than the price of the sale of Volvo (2 billion U.S. dollars). So why the U.S. automaker did he take the suspense so long? Leaders from General Motors may have wanted to "play the show" and try to make a "coup" financially to the perseverance of Spyker. "Leaders from General Motors certainly want to prove before closing Saab, they did everything to find an alternative solution. General Motors wants to heal its image. "

A return announced by early next year by the president of General Motors, which follows the will of the American state to allow General Motors to stand on its own.For this, the automaker decided to get rid of a company "that has never made any money. The closure of Saab is proof that General Motors is not able to handle this kind of brand, "said one expert. To be continued.

The winemakers champions last minute

24th December

"Traditionally, December 24, we make our biggest day of the year prevent Yannick Branchereau, director of Lavinia, a spacious wine boulevard de la Madeleine in Paris. To cope, we have doubled our team, recruited additional sommeliers. "

All the winemakers of France and Navarre are on a war footing for the wake. Yves Legrand, famous cellar in Issy-les-Moulineaux, concurs: "I am more accustomed to December 24 that every night is just the same thing: I see the land Customers who panicked dinner and I am sure. And because I assure them back! The 24 and December 31, I have ten times more, that's all! "

If wine lovers the most cautious have stored, sometimes for quite long, the bottles they will go out these great opportunities, many cicadas take it at the last moment.If it sometimes improvidence, lack of proper storage conditions and insecurity of cellars, often visited just before Christmas, there are many. Whether in the Paris region or province, the winemakers are on the frontline.

With the rise of supermarkets over the past thirty years, winemakers have suffered greatly and they now represent less than 10% market share. 15,000 in 1960, it shrank to just over 2,000 at the dawn of the twenty-first century. But for a year or two, they take up, and we can not count the number of youth going, with varying success. The rules of commerce still exert their rights, especially in this period and, provided that the site is badly chosen, failure is guaranteed.Christmas and new years are their last hope of salvation.

The supermarket has also prepared the end of the year in crowded to overflowing their shelves. Even the hard discount it is set as Lidl, which launched its "Operation Holiday Wines". But unlike wine fairs, which saw an orgy of initiatives, the council is still rare in radius: no waiters, no tastings. Before the avalanche of labels and bottles crammed with hundreds, buyers are still too disoriented, especially as the indications are rare. Nothing has changed.

Different strategies

Despite all their imagination, websites selling wines fail to respond to last minute purchases, as they stumble on logistics, classic puzzle game, but crippling, year-end.Faced with congested routes and congestion, it is almost impossible to have delivered his bottles at the last moment, even a box of wine weighs his weight against a high-tech product, and that flights are frequent.

In alliance with traditional stores, the Internet, however, its breakthrough in an original way, as in Lavinia: "Customers make their choices on the Internet and they place their orders. They come later to retrieve their cards at the store without a tail.In addition, to thank them, we give them gift of an apron. "This system was successfully tested in several stores, as in Decathlon, for example, is particularly suited to wine.

Whether by ordering via the Internet or going to see directly, the passage through the cellar, with the direct purchase from producers in production region, is the best way to square the purchase last minute. The winemakers do not all have the same strategy: Between the cellar Luxury downtown, the proximity to the narrow range, the young neo-wine merchant who has just moved or old wine merchant specializing in the sale of bulk wine, the choice is wide. Enough to embark on a program of exploration of the new year.

Abu Dhabi complaint against Citigroup

17th December

This is a case that could sink a lot of ink. In November 2007, Citigroup and the fund Abu Dhabi Investment Authority had signed an agreement stating that the obligations acquired by Citigroup fund would be converted into common shares at prices between 31.83 dollars and 37.24 dollars. And, for a total of 7.5 billion common shares at specified times, in 2010 and 2011. At the time, the action Citigroup worth $ 30. But he found the meantime, she collapsed, falling to 3.57 dollars. For funds, it is not an option to repurchase the securities Citigroup eight times their price. ADIA has decided to bring charges against Citigroup for "fraudulent misrepresentation". It simply requires the cancellation of the agreement or the payment of four billion dollars in damages.For its part, the U.S. banking group said in a statement that "these allegations are absolutely baseless and intends to defend against it vigorously."

Third consecutive decline of Citigroup

Yet, according to Richard Bove, an analyst at Rochdale Securities, "there is only a simple argument, which should lead to an agreement. It is in the interest of Citigroup to pay the $ 4 billion. And this, especially since it has 250 billion dollars in cash. For now, it is neither more nor less than a language of the deaf between ADIA, which considers itself cheated and wants to recover his money, and Citigroup, by repaying the funds would cause a precedent that would encourage other investors to be reimbursed. Stay tuned … Shortly before the close, the title recorded its third consecutive decline for the week (-2.53%).Monday and Tuesday, the stock has lost respectively 6.33% and 3.78%.

Lacoste develops its accessories

14th December

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.