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After months of discussions, the two alternative operators in France, Energy, Direct Energy and Poweo, will join forces. The first will announce Wednesday morning the acquisition of 46% stake in the Austrian Verbund in the second. The transaction, which amounts to 36 million euros – at a rate of 4.77 euros per share – allows Direct Energy to become the shareholder of Poweo, the company founded and headed by Charles Beigbeder long. The UK fund Ecofin has for its part, 26%, against 9.5% for the investment company Luxempart and 18.5% for the float.

"This is the first step in the formation of a major independent challenger of EDF and GDF Suez, which already book a million customers in the gas and electricity," said Xavier Caitucoli, CEO of Direct Energy.The portfolio of the company amounted to 650,000 customers specifically, while some 350,000 claims in Poweo.

Xavier Caitucoli, there is no question of seeing this combination in the ultimate act of resistance of both companies in a market ultradominé by incumbents. "Instead, we are here to stay. The new law on the organization of the electricity market, adopted recently, gives us more visibility on our margins and gives the end user the opportunity to go freely in the competition and return to regulated rates if desired ".

Eight European banks have failed the tests of resistance imposed on 91 banks on the continent to test their strength in the event of economic shocks, said Friday in a statement the EBA (EBA) responsible for these tests.

ABB said that the banks needed a total of 2.5 billion euros to strengthen. She did not initially detail the name or nationality of the banks that failed the exam, each institution concerned and the national regulators with priority to communicate about it.

According to announcements made simultaneously in each country by banks and regulators, five Spanish banks and a German bank failed.Two banks failed still missing the call, the regulators have not yet communicated all.

ABB said that the results of only 90 banks had finally been taken into account, without further explanation.

All Italian banks, French, Portuguese, Irish and British passed the test.

Almost every week, oil platforms allow leak of oil and gas in the waters of the North Sea, according to British newspaper The Guardian. The newspaper in fact, a document that identifies leaks in 2009 and 2010 reported by the operators of platforms from the British authorities responsible for health and safety, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). For the first time the name appears and the oil companies responsible for more than 100 leaks during these two years.

The Anglo-Dutch company Shell is at the top of this sad track record, with no fewer than 17 leaks "important" or "major" reported. Brent Charlie platform's alone has seven leaks that have escaped 4.9 tons of gas, of which 4.6 tonnes April 26, 2010, which resulted in a suspension of production.The Guardian notes that last Friday, the HSE has threatened to stop work on Brent Charlie. Shell has already stopped exporting oil from this platform and with three more to address safety issues.

With 5.4 tons of oil and gas spilled in two years, French Total heels Shell. Other companies are involved, such as Danish Maersk and Talisman Canada, and the BP already convicted for his role in the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico in March 2010.

"The tip of the iceberg"

During this disaster, other oil companies had assured that such an explosion could not occur on their facilities cheap pay day loans. "Safety is, was and will always be our number one priority. This is our core value, "yet assured in November 2010 Peter Voser, chief executive of Shell.But the figures published by The Guardian seriously undermine these claims and even the importance that companies attach to the security of their facilities.

Leaks reported by operators would, moreover, that "the tip of the iceberg," according to the log information. Condition of anonymity, employees say, in fact, a "code informal" drives them to silence the accident for fear of losing their jobs. Since each stop represents a loss of production, companies prefer to ignore the incident …. sometimes verges and disasters. "We were very, very close on several occasions, said Jake Molloy, general secretary of the union workers in the North Sea OILC. It is sometimes more a matter of luck than good management. Some companies do not care. Because of high oil prices, they are cutting back costs.Some have already been prosecuted. "

»View the complete table published by the Guardian

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The government hopes to facilitate donations between generations. Under the supplementary budget reforming the ISF, he filed an amendment to amend the rules for tax-free cash grants, aimed at children, or failing that, nephews and nieces.

Today, only people aged under 65 years can make a donation to a limit of 31,865 euros per child every six years, provided that the recipient is an adult. Which severely limits the use of this measure introduced in 2007 as part of the TEPA: few were those who could frequently reiterate their giving, while bringing its conditions. Now, if this amendment is passed, the age limit be raised to the donor, until age 80, currently the age limit applies to donations made to the grandchildren.

However, the government plans to extend the period of six to ten years, two tax-free donations guaranteed high risk personal loans. According to Les Echos, the amendment would increase the cost of these donations for the state of about 200,000 euros, while the expenditure had amounted to 190 million euros in 2008.

The tax on estates will also be heavier, to offset the cost incurred by the reform of the ISF. The rates for the last two installments of the tax scale progressive succession on each of five percentage points to 45% maximum. According to the supplementary budget, 1600 heirs should be affected by this weighting, a gain estimated at more than 130 million euros.

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From our correspondent in India.

Christine Lagarde has just arrived on Tuesday, June 7 at Delhi where she will try to convince Indian officials that while emerging markets are booming, it is best placed to her, the European, to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry will meet with Pranab Mukherjee, his counterpart of Finance and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It should also meet with Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Commission Plan. It is no coincidence. There are a few more days, Ahluwalia had been presented as a potential candidate from India. And why not, BRICS, the bloc of emerging economies that account Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Then the rumors were silenced.Officially, Montek Singh Ahluwalia would have exceeded the age limit for a candidate. In fact, Delhi has decided not to enter the race.

Paradoxically, India does not seem interested in carrying the "Battle of the IMF." "There is no shortage of leading economists, diplomats and scholars of talent that could be good candidates. And since the World Bank president has always been an American and a European director of the IMF, it would be logical to try to persuade the fund to elect now a candidate from a developing country, whose influence on the global economy is growing, "protested Anant Goenka, an economics professor.He continues: "Why this silence as China, Brazil and South Africa are on the frontlines demand a change?"

The positions are changing in India

Defeatist, India? "You can say so, but the silence of Delhi shows that Indians are particularly realistic in this matter," says BL Pandit, director of the Delhi School of Economics. It is not a democratic election, the contribution of India to the IMF's reserves is not very high, and finally, everyone here thinks that games are made and, again, the position go to a European. " He acknowledged however that "things are changing rapidly" and that growth is changing latitudes, "it might be that the leaders of the Western world are considering share positions in international forums."

At the last summit of BRICS in China last April, India had not been left to demand a reform of the Bretton Woods for emerging countries. In late May, when Dominique Strauss-Kahn had resigned, Manmohan Singh, who was visiting Addis Ababa, had stormed: "Reform of the Bretton-Woods is a priority for developing countries." He has since changed his tune. On the occasion of the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in late May, the leader of the Indian government said: "A prestigious position must go to the best candidate, regardless of nationality."

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The Portuguese will elect a new majority on June 5, but they have no choice program: right or left, the winner will impose austerity until at least 2014. Three weeks earlier, each major party it will be engaged individually with the EU and IMF.

This loss of political control is the price to pay for a rescue plan to about 80 billion euros on Friday decided in broad terms with the euro area, the 27 EU countries and the European Central Bank. Probably for a period of three years, it aims to put the Portuguese State on the wagon, to launch an "ambitious agenda" of privatization to reduce public debt and, finally, to ease the labor market.It also provides special funding to support Portuguese banks, the amount to be determined.

Unprecedented purge

Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos, caught in the throat by the markets, had no other choice but to surrender Friday to his colleagues.For the Portuguese political class, is doubly bitter pill: it is because they have subscribed to an earlier austerity negotiated with Brussels that Portugal must submit to the unprecedented purge dictated by Brussels, Frankfurt and Washington.

The statement issued after the meeting in Budapest is no ambiguity about the lack of flexibility: "The preparation (from the austerity plan) should begin immediately to an agreement between the parties in the mid-May, and allow implementation without delay of the adjustment program from the formation of new government "in early June.

This update reflects the Trust prior to the impatience of the first major contributors to the single currency, starting with Germany and France. The Portuguese plan is the third rescue launched in less than one year, eleven months after Greece and four months after Ireland.The euro area to be avoided at all costs that instability does not win the Spanish economy, which weighs more than the previous three combined. The plan decided on Friday reflected the distrust of the Europeans and the Portuguese political class, believed to have triggered the crisis by pure electoral calculations.

Friday, "the ministers have made clear in Portugal they do not want to return to the counterparties to help, whatever the election results," reported a witness to the camera in Budapest. Clearly, there is no alternative to the plan to be tied up in mid-May. To avoid any disputes after the polls, the bloc will materialize their aid once acquired "the support of major political parties," the statement said. The future head of government can than apply strictly to the remedy to which it has itself signed.In Lisbon, the latest polls give the center-right and its leader Passos Coelho winners, ahead of Socialist Jose Socrates.

Once the plan is adopted, probably on May 16, during another visit to the euro area, it would take ten days to release funds for Lisbon, says Olli Rehn, Commissioner for Economic Affairs. The IMF should fund the program up to the third, as was the case for Greece and Ireland.

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How far will go the extravagant case of industrial espionage that poisons every day Renault? In the wake of testimony by Patrick Pelata has acknowledged for the first time in Le Figaro, "a number of elements lead us to doubt" and mentioned the idea of a "manipulation" before turning his position as Chief Operating Officer on the spot, the reactions have little overdue. They have mostly endorsed what looks like a sacrifice programmed. Friday morning, Christine Lagarde has considered the No. 2 company "had the dignity to indicate that he might be mistaken, and that if it was proved he was mistaken, he would draw all the consequences. ""I think it's worthy" by Patrick Pelata, said Minister of Economy in claiming that "we arrive at the truth, it gets there quickly, if the suspicions were unfounded, justice, confidence is restored and compensation is paid. "

In the same vein, his counterpart for Industry, Eric Besson, has confirmed that management problems are posed "if it is the manipulation hypothesis, which dominates in the end." Before adding: "I also noted that Mr. Pelata, very dignified and quite logically, has already warned that he would draw the conclusions for himself." Finally, the Elysee does not hide his irritation."This case, bad for the image of the company, not the show great professionalism," has dealt a collaborator of Nicolas Sarkozy.

• The direction of the group's safety should she not slipped by using methods of spooks?

The internal investigation, legal "point of French law", as claimed by Patrick Pelata, was conducted by a team composed of fairly baroque Remi Loincloth, formerly of the DGSE, Marc Tixador, the former PJ Versailles, and Dominique Gevrey defector from the Directorate of Protection and Security of Defense (DPSD) readily described as a "central figure" in this story.Like a bad spy novel, a sum of 100,000 euros has transited into five payments last fall in Madrid via L. Michel, a former paratrooper became a private investigator.

Agreeing to play the "biller for the defense of French interests," it is simply a "short circuit" used to confuse the trail to a mysterious Mabrouk and "external source" who reportedly discovered ghostly accounts opened in Switzerland and Liechtenstein by the three executives on suspicion of espionage. Since this information just communicated orally, have been questioned, the manufacturer does not even seem able to identify his "deep throat": the only employee of security service who knows stubbornly refuses to cooperate.To protect at all costs or to hide an embezzlement to the detriment of Renault? As a confession, Patrick Pelata conceded: "We erred in not involving the DCRI earlier."

• What are the collateral damage to Renault?

The damage in terms of image are significant. While the group had been traumatized by the suicide of three employees of Guyancourt Technocentre late 2006-early 2007, serious questions arise again on his management style. Renault seems to be a company where one can accuse and dismiss employees without evidence, solely on the basis of anonymous testimony. This case falls ill while the group was counting on its electric vehicles-those who have supposedly been spied-to repair its image.Sales of these cars and the entire range will suffer they? Hard to tell because the picture-in determining whether the act of purchase and also depends on products. But the group will leave with a disability. Adding that "it's all business operations that may be seized, as management has been discredited, analysis framework, which adds it will take time before confidence is restored."

• Carlos Ghosn is he in trouble?

If the spy case deflates, the group took a huge risk by raising its CEO at the forefront in the media. In the JDD, January 23, he said he "personally monitoring the progress of this process as and when." The same evening, on TF1, Carlos Ghosn has hammered that he had "certainty" about the guilt of the three frameworks and evidence had "multiple", but did not disclose.On 10 February, at the announcement of the strategic plan, the CEO drove home the point by asking him to "trust" because "tens of people have analyzed the facts." In case of "manipulation", the question remains whether the employees and the government will simply sacrifice his number 2.

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The Central Directorate of Internal Intelligence (DCRI) said this morning that they found "no evidence of espionage" at Renault. Main elements of the investigation, "Swiss bank accounts" charged executives laid off have not been found by investigators. A source close to the investigation even mentions the possibility that Renault has received erroneous information. The account numbers provided in the private investigation were in fact erroneous. Similarly, the survey conducted by the Liechtenstein authorities on suspected accounts under the Renault affair did not work.

The argument weakens espionage. Yesterday, the manufacturer argued the trail of a "manipulation" before his lawyer back on these statements. But on Europe 1 this morning, Mr. John Reinhart said he was inconsistent "absolutely the word manipulation.We are not in that context, for the moment we have no information that contributes in one way or another to say that the original theory, that is to say espionage does not exist ", he argued.

However, this term manipulation was mentioned by the CEO of Renault itself. Patrick Pelata, had indicated during an interview Monday that Renault Matignon "considering now have been a victim of manipulation," says Liberation. Shortly after a spokesman stated that "if we (Renault, Ed) has been the victim of anything other than an attempted espionage, it may actually be a manipulation."

Renault evokes a "settling of accounts in-house"

The manufacturer suggests a settling of accounts internally.Libérationaffirme that Renault suspects that two of the three executives would not have accounts abroad and have been victims of an internal settling of accounts ". Redundant frames are suspected of having received bribes, kickbacks through bank accounts in Switzerland or Liechtenstein. The Chained Duck however recently revealed that two of the three executives have never had accounts in Switzerland. In contrast, "the manufacturer continues to the third suspect, probably Michel Balthazar, a member of the steering committee," according to Liberation free business cards.

The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Jean-Arthuis (UC), said on Canal + that "this case has taken on a mad and I am surprised that we have been able to bring such charges on allegations that apparently no 'had no basis.(…) These species settling of accounts within the company are also detrimental to (its) image, "he added.

Anyway, this episode could reinforce the defenders of the three top executives dismissed 2011A following an internal investigation following the sending of anonymous letters. Especially as the manufacturer would not be celebrating its first case of this type.

Renault had a similar case

Concordant sources, seized by the Paris prosecutor, investigators of the Central Intelligence Allowed (DCRI) will hear on Thursday a former executive of the group graduated in 2009 in similar conditions, Philippe Clogenson. The former marketing director said in the columns of Le Parisien, Aujourd'hui en France he was accused of "touching, through front companies, money paid on offshore accounts from suppliers of Renault.He believes he was unfairly accused of corruption.

"I was also told that there was evidence that the formal charges had been substantiated by the management group's safety," he said. Philippe Clogenson decided, like the three executives recently laid off, file a complaint for "malicious prosecution". Remains to be seen whether the testimony of Philip Clogenson allow the cons-French espionage to advance the investigation.

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The King of results announcements of companies taking a break. So, what are the economic indicators that replicate the hand and should facilitate the meeting this Friday. After the slight rise on Wall Street Thursday night and the reluctance of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the CAC 40 is again expected to open cautiously. Futures on the index in Paris rose 0.08% to 4156 points.

On the macroeconomic front, INSEE presents its monthly business survey (manufacturing, construction and retail trade and car repairs) for the month of February at 8:45. The institute will also provide indicators of its business climate and a downturn in February (8.45) and value indices of orders received in industry in December (12:00).

Once is not custom, no economic statistics are expected in the United States.However, the president of the Central Bank, Ben Bernanke, will participate in the G20 ministerial held in Paris, which will be attended by Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the twenty richest countries in the world. Bernanke will talk about "global imbalances and financial stability" (14 hours).

On the currency markets, the euro is stable against the dollar at 1.3604 dollar.

Lafarge in line with expectations

Lafarge said Friday anticipate a rebound between 3% and 6% (cons -1% to +3% expected in 2010) of cement demand in 2011 after a 2010 financial year marked by overall results online. The world's leading cement has published results in line with expectations.

Bull announces this morning a net profit of 6.5 million euros in 2010, earnings increased fourfold over the previous year, when it reached 1.4 million euros.

A consortium led by Bouygues has been chosen by the state to build the future "at the Pentagon French" on the site Balard, in south-west of Paris, as Le Figaro said Thursday. Information confirmed by the MoD in a statement.

The consortium led by Bouygues includes Thales computers, Sodexo services, Dalkia Energy and FIDEPPP – bringing together the Savings and Natixis – and SEIEF as financial investors.

Eutelsat has released interim results that put it on track to exceed its targets for 2010-2011.

The Government of Côte d'Ivoire has declared Thursday the nationalization of local subsidiary of Societe Generale and BNP Paribas have suspended their activities, including the two French institutions.

Orange filed a complaint against Bouygues Telecom before the Commercial Court of Paris, following the January 1 bug that caused an increase in involuntary SMS. Orange seeking millions of euros in damages.

Workers and employees of Peugeot should be increased by 1.7% with a minimum of 34 euros, from 1 March.

According to the report of the court in Bobigny, including Le Figaro has obtained a copy, the Central Works Council of Air France needs of 20.5 million to continue its activity in 2011 and avoid defaulting .

For the 4000 frames involved, it will be a change in size. GDF Suez is expected to announce when its board next week, the end of stock options in his company. The information transmitted by the website of the magazine Challenges on Thursday, was confirmed to AFP by a spokesman for the group.

GDF Suez CEO Gerard Mestrallet, quoted by the magazine, explains that "the stock options is a good system when used in a balanced, reasonable and equitable." But the scandals, Axa, Elf or Vinci made the system too unpopular.

Free shares

Stock options should be replaced by so-called performance bonus shares to be paid "to some 8,500 executives, representing a wider range," said the spokesman of the group.Specifically, if after two years, the objectives are not met by the employee who benefits, it will see the number of shares assigned to diminish.

GDF Suez plan would also have another way: the allocation of bonus shares without performance targets, to all 220,000 employees of the group. According Challenges, this new program of bonus shares is valued at 100 million euros. Details should be announced next May.

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