Archive for November, 2009

ThyssenKrupp size dry in its workforce

November 27, 2009 - 6:06 pm Comments Off

The first group of German steel company, ThyssenKrupp announced Friday the creation of a restructuring plan to scale. Severely hit by the economic crisis that has plunged the global demand for steel, the past fiscal year was the worst in company history, the group had announced last November a loss before tax annual 2.4 billion euros. Excluding items, its loss came out to 734 million euros. So, ThyssenKrupp said Friday that it would cut 20,000 jobs worldwide by the end of September 2010, reducing the number of employees to 167,000.

German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp expects the recovery in global economy to return to the path of growth, but "this fledgling economic recovery remains fragile and we believe that improvement will be slow," said Management Board Chairman Ekkehard Schulz, ThyssenKrupp ."For 2010, the risk of a temporary downturn persists," he said. Given the lack of visibility, the group, which produces steel, submarine or lifts, the coup was adjusted slightly downward Friday its medium-term objectives. It now expects sales of between 50 and 60 billion euros, against a previous target of 60 to 65 billion euros and earnings before taxes "over 4 billion euros, rather than between 4 and 5 billion.

ArcelorMittal, the French rival ThyssenKrupp, has also warned that the recovery in 2010 would be gradual and that the environment remains difficult. This lack of visibility had forced him to deliver a very conservative forecast for the last three months of 2009

Crisis: The worst has been avoided by DSK

November 23, 2009 - 6:36 pm Comments Off

The world has reason to breathe. "Thanks to a swift and bold, which took place in an atmosphere of unprecedented political cooperation, world economic activity begun to rise again," said Monday Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a speech in London at the annual conference of the British employers' federation, the CBI. Believing that "the worst has been avoided," DSK praised the cooperation of various governments and central banks worldwide have injected trillions of dollars into the financial system since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, now considered the "big bang" that precipitated the global financial mess.

However, if this collaboration has borne fruit, it should not be abandoned while the economic recovery remains very fragile, says DSK. "I think we can limit the risk of further storms in choosing the right policies, and maintaining the successful collaboration between states," he pleaded. "We must keep alight the flame of cooperation," he started again, saying that the world is now at a "critical moment" and that "permanence of recovery will depend on decisions taken in the months come by the rulers. " Dominique Strauss-Kahn also called to fight in every possible way to stem soaring unemployment, while reaffirming that States should begin to prepare their "exit strategies".

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The presidency of the G20 must allow Seoul to play in the big league

November 18, 2009 - 5:56 pm Comments Off

Next year, South Korea will chair the G20, the group that includes the twenty largest economies in the world. She is so proud that the story would that President Lee Myung-bak has generously sprinkled his victory with Korean journalists on the flight back from Pittsburgh last September.

But the G20 is especially for Korea the opportunity to switch permanently to the big boys. Member of the OECD since 1996, it still suffers from an image of countries whose development it would get rid of. The prospect of the chairmanship of the G20 now gives him the means to take the step that separates the camp from rich countries.

The government does not say. But the past of heavy industry in Korea, automotive, shipbuilding, which earned him once beautiful success in foreign markets, it sticks a little too much skin.The "green growth" advocates now she must give him the tools to turn the page. "It's a gamble on new technologies and innovation," said Lee Dong-keun, Deputy Director, Department of Economics.

Behind the Japanese

The automaker Hyundai knows, like many Korean business leaders, he launches into this race with a long lag behind the Japanese. "But we are confident and ready to fight," he said. "The technology is a challenge that we face at the same time as we are moving increasingly towards service activities with high added value," added Chung Tong-soo, head of Invest Korea, the national agency promotion of foreign investment in the country.

The government were eleven service activities he wants to deregulate, including banks and health.Two very promising market for foreign investors, which ensures the state, are also associated with major projects related to green agenda of President Lee Myung-bak. The details of their participation have not been finalized, but they are "in December," says Yoo Beom-sik, director of international cooperation in the presidential committee for Green Growth. And until the country increasing the economic zones. No fewer than six are currently under construction.

Norbert Dentressangle invests in solar

November 12, 2009 - 4:50 pm Comments Off

On November 16th is the day J. To this date will begin a public inquiry into the grand scheme of Norbert Dentressangle in Sabran, in the Gard. The motor carrier has build a strong photovoltaic power of 11.5 MWp (megawatt peak), enough to power a city of 3 000. If the case succeeds, Sabran, with 1 600 inhabitants, is one of the few French villages to produce more green energy than it consumes electricity. This is a winery on 70 acres that the photovoltaic plant Financial Norbert Dentressangle, through its subsidiary Norbert Dentressangle Sustainable Development (N3D) will install its solar farm. "It would occupy about 26 hectares," explains Jean-Louis Savoye, chief investment officer for Financial Norbert Dentressangle.

Investment is expected to be approximately 45 million euros.However, the carrier gave no timetable. Prudence understandable because farmers in the south of France, are opposed to the erection of wind turbines or solar panels on cropland. "We do not seek this type of land, warns Jean-Louis Savoye. These are homeowners who have contacted us because they wanted to sell and stop their activity. "We can not always support an activity that is not viable, says the mayor of Arles, Jean-Marc Jorda.Furthermore, we negotiated with Dentressangle it undertakes to restore the land under cultivation on the day he would quit his electrical activity.

Business tax preserved

Another precaution taken by the City Council: "We negotiated in case of removing the business tax without compensation to the State, Norbert Dentressangle pay the equivalent of the amount to the town, 150 000," says Jean – Marc Jordan. This represents approximately 10% of the municipal budget.

After the construction of a roof made of solar panels on one of its warehouses in Lyon, and filing a case under public inquiry into the common Bessan in H?rault (10 acres of solar panels approximately 15 million euro investment), this solar farm project in the Gard is the largest so far devised by N3D."We will work on this activity as an investor in the long term, and also have a social and ecological footprint responsibly as possible", says one in Norbert Dentressangle. In Sabran Photovoltaic Park is located on an elevated plateau natural and should therefore have a limited visual impact, or "nonexistent," according to Jean-Marc Jorda.

The "big" bottom borrowing visibly

November 6, 2009 - 4:31 pm Comments Off

These days, advocates of fiscal orthodoxy seem to score points on the supporters of a massive debt. The president ruled between 25 and 50 billion euros will be invested in projects that build the future of France. That does not mean that the amount of the "great debt" will be too high.

First difference: the Elysee account used to finance part of the "future costs", public aid granted at the beginning of the crisis with French banks, which are paying off. Or 13 billion euros back into the coffers of the state and which will therefore be recycled. While the state had to borrow funds on the market a year ago before re-lending to banks …

Cofinancing

Second difference: The government has always been clear, most projects will be financed by the state and privately.To allow access to the Internet at high speed throughout, for example, the loan will finance a large part of the deployment of a huge network of fiber optic telecom operators but will also put their hands in their pockets . And their "contribution" could well be recorded in the 25 to 50 milliards displayed, provides a government source. Who goes: "It is true, ultimately, he could not keep a lot of money to borrow." Perhaps no more than 15 billion euros …

"Do not the French credibility differs from that of Germany", explained in any case Fran?ois Fillon on Thursday at the World.

In other words, Matignon would prevent total borrowings French (to fund all deficits, "great debt" included) than in 2010, that of German broadcasts.

And to avoid a surge in borrowing rates at which Bercy. The Treasury figures the additional borrowing capacity of France "between 20 and 30 billion euros", said the Premier.

Regardless, the executive does not repeat does not all the time that the important thing is not to set the amount of the loan but to define priorities for the future?

"Borrowing" Focus on new technologies and defense "

"Accoyer:" The prime minister has whistled the end of recreation "on the loan

The airlines put in turbulence

November 2, 2009 - 7:36 pm Comments Off

It's almost a turn on the wing for Air France. In its medium-haul flights, the airline plans to reduce ticket prices. In return, benefits (such as seat selection or meal on board) currently included in the fare paid and would become available to the card. Such a formula is in fact the companies that used by low-cost airline Ryanair and easyJet (see below). For Air France and for British Airways or Lufthansa, the conclusion is the same: after a thrill-back this summer, the traffic looks bleak this fall. "Summer is traditionally a good period for our business, explains a part of Air France.The key event was the start of September and the results are clearly wrong. "Lowered activity in the three European competitors is for the success of low-cost companies, but also in France, competition from the TGV.

For Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa, the evils are the same: the number of passengers falling and business is back on economy class. This causes a drop in revenue and profit lines. British Airways is the most mistreated because she is very exposed to the Atlantic. The company recorded a 7.9% decrease in the number of premium passengers in September. In turn, the economy class traffic was up 0.7%. British Airways has reached an operating loss of 94 million pounds in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009-2010.To redress the balance, the company has begun downsizing.

At Air France-KLM, income (per seat per kilometer) fell 8.1% in the first quarter of 2009 in economy class and 18.2% in business class. In the first quarter of fiscal 2009-2010, the Franco-Dutch company had a net loss of 426 million euros. For now, analysts expect 850 million loss this year. To pass the turbulence, Air France can rely on its network in Africa, Oceania and the Caribbean. "He who holds the company," said an officer.

Freeze

Lufthansa seems to suffer far less from the crisis. It was at the German company that signs of recovery have been the most tangible this summer with an activity greater than that of the 2008 season.The group relies on a greater presence in Asia and a business alliance – Star Alliance – more comprehensive than SkyTeam (which includes Air France-KLM).

To restart, Air France is therefore preparing the revision of the tender medium-mail. It has also launched its new premium class traveler. Objective: To bring the business to the front of the camera. The company also announced in September a plan for voluntary departures than 1 500 people. The news relieved the unions who feared a major plan. Reportedly, in 2007, an audit at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have advocated the abolition of 30% of posts in support functions, that is to say earth, about 10 000 people. "All our social model is based on economic growth, explains a part of Air France. We have 4% growth to begin to reduce our unit costs.This crisis calls into question our development model. "Meanwhile, Lufthansa has frozen hiring since mid-2008, introduced part-time for 3 500 employees. These plans assume a swift economic recovery. So, in France as in Germany, employees are afraid of social plans more consistent if the passengers were slow to return.

"On board the A380 Air France