International Headlines and Stories

Medel, its official name Lucmagn, is a quiet village of 435 souls nestled at 1332 meters altitude, in the heart of the Alps, in the region of the Lukmanierpass (Grisons). Its inhabitants were just as quiet on their heights until a Swiss mining company, a subsidiary of Canadian Gold NV, may disturb their idyll. Under their feet, in fact hides a gold mine. That company then proposed to exploit this in exchange for 40 million Swiss francs, or about 33 million euros. Against all odds, the villagers declined the offer to two-thirds of the population, after a referendum held in early April.

According to Business Insider, the mine in question, located in a vast pine forest in the snowy peaks and valley Medel, to contain about 1.2 billion dollars of precious metals. The U.S. site information reports that the history of the mine clearly divided the inhabitants of the valley. Some would see a tremendous opportunity in the economic deficient, while others – mostly – highlight their concerns about the environmental impact such a project would succeed.

For its part, NV Gold in talks with the mayor of the small town, more than ever determined to steal the treasure buried by the villagers jealously refractory.

Nestle will soon be able to give free rein to its ambitions on the Chinese baby milk market. After several months of a tight battle with its main competitor, Danone, the Swiss have been selected by Pfizer to buy its infant nutrition business, the Wall Street Journal. The agreement could be signed before the end of the month.

The amount of the transaction be around ten billion. "This operation has a real strategic sense for Nestle, said Andrew Wood, analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, because it deals with good grades and good markets and is performed at a reasonable price. "Nestle has maintained through his status as favorite, because of its financial muscle and posture. He chose to go it alone, while Danone had allied his forces earlier this year with the U.S. Mead Johnson. The French had indicated during February to be interested only in "certain assets, certain brands in some countries," adding that he was not on the verge of acquiring a structuring of the type of Numico in 2008. It might have sinned, according to some experts, by his lack of enthusiasm on this issue. The alliance with Mead Johnson made it more complex to build a competitive offer.

Assets to be sold

Danone, however, could catch up. For competitive reasons, Nestlé will indeed be compelled to give up certain activities, including Mexico, Southeast Asia or South Africa. Danone will then compete with Heinz. The king of ketchup, which carries 11% of its sales with child nutrition, waived bid for the branch of Pfizer, but he is interested in potential sales, particularly in Latin America. Nestlé is about to offer a real nugget, who made last year $ 2.1 billion in sales (+15%). Activity following the acquisition by Pfizer in 2009, the Wyeth for $ 68 billion. Pfizer had announced its intention last summer to focus on the heart of its business. Officially, the pharmaceutical group was still hesitating between an assignment and a split.

Returning to the child nutrition branch of Pfizer, world number five in the sector, with over half of its business in emerging countries, Nestlé could catch up in China. With the SMA brand, Pfizer is already comfortably installed, with 6.7% market share.

Arrived late in the Middle Kingdom, the group of Vevey occupies only the eighth (3.7% market share), behind Abbott. But this market dominated by Mead Johnson, which are born each year 16 million babies, weighs 7 billion. It is set to double by 2015, according to Euromonitor. Number 3 in China, Danone sells more boxes of Dumex baby milk in France. In a rapidly growing market, the cards of infant nutrition are about to be reshuffled in the coming months.

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A rating agency on three, Standard & Poor's, has already withdrawn its prestigious AAA to France. One of his rival, Moody's, could soon follow, warned the Socialist candidate for president Francois Hollande. In the days following the presidential election.

Moody's placed under the supervision of the French debt rating earlier this year, he said in an interview with Journal du Dimanche. It "will make a decision on May 12, he argued. It will not be a consequence of the May 6 vote of the French. I warn, already, for our fellow citizens that there is no confusion (…) For now, I ask in any case to be assessed by the French and not by markets. "

How the candidate can know the date on which the decision will fall on Moody's France? Rating agencies maintain absolute secrecy about the content of their deliberations and their timing, until the publication of their decision. To predict the date of May 12, the candidate is based on the deadline set by the agency between his warning to the country concerned and the actual announcement. Moody's placed its ratings on negative watch on Feb. 14. It must give its verdict, probably too negative for the French-AAA before May 15  

Francois Hollande tried to clear the ground, should he be elected, and while his main opponent, Nicolas Sarkozy, waved the threat of an attack against France markets where Socialist victory no fax payday loan. Today, has defended the PS candidate, turbulence affecting Spain and Italy but not France. "It is particularly irresponsible for the incumbent to use the threat of speculative movements to persuade voters to abandon the alternation," he pleaded.

The first week of the next president, whoever he is, ahead eventful. First Moody's should actually decide before May 15 the fate of AAA it has issued so far in France. Then the Commission will publish its opinion on the stability program of France. This document, sent to Brussels last week, details how the government intends to restore the balance of public finances by 2016. Problem: it takes into account neither the promises of the outgoing president, nor those of his socialist opponent.

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"Choose well, choose Goal!" The old slogan of the number three of the furniture it always goes well. The company creates envy and indeed could, as revealed yesterday, Les Echos, soon change hands.

Reportedly, no less than five French investment funds have indeed shown interest in the brand of furniture from the current owners, Goldman Sachs and Colony Capital funds and OpCapita (former Merchant Equity Partners). Paragraph (Auchan group) looked at the file, but refrained. The name of the Austrian Lutz teaches that attempts since 2008 to enter France, is also advanced.

Officially, however, the group is not for sale. "No process was launched. Goldman Sachs and Colony Capital, which each hold 48.5% stake in Aim, rather sought a refinancing solution, "says a source close to the two actors, who adds:" They received expressions of interest, among others of Axa Private Equity and PAI, but they will refuse the offers if they are insufficient. "

Develop and design the kitchen

The three shareholders hope to sell Aim for 450 or 500 million euros, valuing the company at about six times its Ebitda (80 million euros in 2011). This is less than what was paid for Conforama Steinhoff – nearly seven times Ebitda – but the amount is close to that that the three had paid Kesa (Darty parent) in March 2008, ie 550 million euros.

Under the leadership of a new CEO, Regis Schultz Purpose managed to change course. The brand is losing its image with cheesy a thorough review of its range. More modern, but also more focused on the shelves carriers, such as decorating and cooking business card. And especially to lower prices, more in line with those of its competitors, thanks to tremendous work on own brands and supplies. Particular aim was to ally Cafom (Habitat-unique.com sale …) and joined the Central Purchasing SELECTIS to buy at cheaper prices.

The fleet of approximately 200 stores, almost unchanged for three years, was renovated. Purpose and City, a store designed for smaller and larger cities where the supply of appliances is only available on the terminals, was born in late 2010.

A nice improvement

The efforts are paying. Last year, sales grew 4.2 Goal% (LFL), reaching 1.8 billion euros. The company gained market share for the third consecutive year, from 9.2% in 2008 to 10.3%, despite the loss of eight franchised stores. But Goal acquired almost as many (five) since the beginning of the year, thanks to 200 million euros released by the sale of the walls of twenty-five stores last November. An operation orchestrated by Colony Capital, as he did at Buffalo Grill and encouraged at Accor. "Certainly, Goal has almost no debt and the bride looks very nice. But, with higher rents, its profitability will be even more difficult, "says one industry expert. Especially since prospects are rather gloomy furniture. In 2011, the market had grown by only 1.5%. "Goal should instead focus a competitor, French or European, who can achieve economies of scale in procurement," says this source.

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As of Wednesday, the tourists interested in tours visiting the Louvre will be surprised to see Nintendo equip a DS3. The largest museum in the world decided to replace its old audio guides by video game in relief. Good news for visitors, they will be leased 5 euros, against 6 for an audioguide. In addition to the traditional explanations cassettes, game consoles allow three-dimensional views of some exhibits, like the Winged Victory. A way to contemplate angles unreleased until now. Initially, the Louvre has commissioned 3DS and 1500 should have 5000 consoles eventually. Connected, consoles can be geolocated. We did lose more in the maze of the Louvre, while 70% of visitors come for the first time!

The comments are available in seven languages ​​and include 700 works low interest rate personal loans. Several trips are also avail-able. Agnes Alfandari, head of multimedia at the Louvre, has highlighted the ease of use consoles, equipped with touch screens. An explanation becomes a breeze. The museum should also be able to more easily perform upgrades explanations and evolve. Thus, pathways for people with disabilities should be developed.

This is not the first time the museum opens in new technologies. The Louvre, as the Quai Branly Museum, has its application on the iPhone. Some 200 works are presented. A way for museums to increase their attractiveness to a young audience while increasing their revenue streams.

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"Leonardo da Vinci, the genius at work

The decline in unemployment in the U.S. in March to 8.2% against 8.3%, not fooling anyone. The labor market has actually worsened last month. He created only 120,000 jobs, almost twice less than expected. The favorable review of the February numbers limited to just disappointment. As also those of January proved slightly worse.

According to the Labour Department, the private sector hired only 121,000 people in March, when he was recruited 233,000 people in February. The service sector is the main troublemaker with only 90,000 new jobs, against 204,000 the previous month. Yet on the increase for months, temporary jobs have vanished completely. The new posts have also declined significantly in the transport and independent professionals. In trade and distribution, staff reductions have accelerated.

Even more disturbing was the drop in unemployment is largely due to the cessation of 164,000 job seekers find work. Out of the workforce, they are no longer counted as unemployed.

Misleading effect of a mild winter

Some analysts believe that these figures, on the whole disappointing, confirming the misleading effect of the warm temperatures of winter. We have attributed the relatively strong hiring in December to cyclical factors, while the mild winter would have been an essential support activity. The explanation is not fully convincing because in the construction sector most sensitive to climatic hazards, the trend since February has not changed: the job cuts are modest between 6000 and 7000.

Wall Street will react Monday that these disappointing data, because U.S. markets are closed for Good Friday. The debate on the need for the Federal Reserve, to reconnect with exceptional measures to stimulate the supply of credit is restarted. It had been thought earlier in the week, however, that the continued expansion in industry and services in March, according to the ISM index, the Fed had converted to the wait. If job creation in April again proved mediocre, the U.S. central bank may reconsider the option to buy Treasury bonds to further lower interest rates long term.

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Bad news for laboratories and pharmacies. "In 2012, for the first time, the French market for reimbursable drugs sold in pharmacies will be in recession. After four years of stagnation, it will show a 2% drop in value, "Robert said Thursday Chu, president of research firm IMS Health France. A setback due in part to price cuts and delisting imposed by governments, but also to "a failure of innovation."

Other mature markets will not show very strong growth. By 2015, the pharmaceutical market will grow by +2% to +5% in Japan. It will gain +1% to +4% per year in the United States and other developed countries, IMS provides. "The other European markets are affected but the timing is different," explains Claude Le Pen, an economics professor at Paris-Dauphine and France consultant IMS Health no teletrek payday advance. In Germany, for example, the policy of price reduction was initiated before that of the Hexagon.

Profitability deteriorated

The expiry of patents that protect the original drugs is another factor, important for the retraction of the pharmaceutical market. The peak of these patent losses will be achieved in 2012 with $ 48 billion of revenue at risk of generic competition. In practice this means that four fifths of those sales (about $ 40 billion) will not occur. Generics, legal copies sold of 15% to 70% cheaper by country (55% in France), take place.

Starbucks is more determined than ever to tackle Nespresso. The U.S. coffee chain announced the launch before next summer vacation an espresso coffee machine equipped with a high pressure extraction system. The high-end system, called verismo, was designed in partnership with the German group Krüger. It will work with the Starbucks brand capsules.

Verismo will, initially, sold online, in a selection of chain restaurants and in specialized distributors, while the United States, Canada and "certain international markets." No details were given about the distribution strategy of the capsules (the Internet, in supermarkets …) and their prices.

"France is one of the markets under consideration, such as England or Germany in Europe, said Olivier de Mendez, director of marketing France. But for now, the agreement concerns only the U.S. and Canada. "

"The coffee segment fastest growing"

This launch marks a new stage in the desire for conquest driven by Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, which took over the reins of the company in 2008. Recently asked by Le Figaro (our editions of March 3), he did not want hidden stick as closely to the expectations of customers, wherever they are. In town, in malls, but also "in stations, airports, restaurants, trains and hotels."

The founder will therefore also continue to their home, with this offer premium caps, a growing market. "This segment is the one with the strongest growth in the coffee sector," explains Howard Schultz. "At group level, this is an important innovation that allows people to replicate the Starbucks experience at home, says Olivier de Mendez. The machine will make espresso, latte, coffee and coffee filters lying. "" We now have the opportunity to reach millions of consumers, "commented Jeff Hansberry, in charge of developing distribution channels.

Years ago that Starbucks is trying to sell his coffee out of his own restaurants. A strategy not so easy to implement. The chain, which was allied with Kraft to sell coffee in bags in supermarkets, became angry with the giant global agribusiness and broke the partnership.

Record results last year

In March 2011, Starbucks announced an alliance with the first Keurig and Green Mountain in the machinery sector and pods. This agreement resulted in development since November Keurig machines offering drinks Starbucks in grocery stores and supermarkets. 100 million pods were sold, according to Starbucks. But Keurig machines are low pressure, which does not allow them to make espresso. They offer five different varieties of coffee, but only filter, and two teas.

The announcement of the new agreement between Starbucks and Krüger caused a plunge in stock prices from Green Mountain this weekend. The boss of Starbucks has yet assured that this partnership remained "solid". The stock market especially liked his strategy of moving upmarket. Last year, the company announced record results, and she is determined to put a boost in Europe.

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Apple will host a conference March 7 in San Francisco at 19 am, French time. Program, the announcement of the new iPad, whose invitation to deliver the first image appears.

As every year, rumors are rife about the specifications and new features in Apple's tablet, which should be examined with interest by its competitors.

Two years after the release of the first version, the iPad indeed still dominates the market with 50 million sales, all models, against 12 million Android tablets, and is a reference to the sector.

The new iPad should propose an improved screen, displaying four times as many pixels on the same surface, but could also integrate Siri and why not, be accompanied by an iPad Mini, smaller. This graphic provides an update on the major rumors, according to their reliability.

While the first three mobile operators declared war on the new entrant Free, France Telecom unveiled details of its contract with the fourth operator. The CEO of France Telecom, parent company of Orange, Stéphane Richard said in an interview with Les Echos that the roaming agreement signed with him rent for Free mobile network will report "significantly higher revenue than the original one billion euros" .  

The CEO of the operator partly owned public does not advance on a possible extension of the current contract with free-roaming covering communications for second and third generation-the new 4G standard that will provide mobile users transmission capacity comparable to cable.

Under fire from other operators who feel like Jean-Bernard Levy, CEO of Vivendi and SFR, Orange has offered "the best technological conditions" to Free Stéphane Richard replies that her group has not make gifts to the new entrant. He said that "it is not the economic conditions of homelessness that make attractive offers Free. The controller and the CEO of Iliad, do not they also said that the financial conditions of homelessness clearly incited Free Mobile to invest in its own network? "Stephane Richard also ensures that employees France Telecom is aware "that the contract with free roaming, the recipes for it (…) provides, will partly offset the negative effects of the arrival of the fourth operator in the market." Free delighted 400,000 in Orange, and all operators in a month and a half only, Free Mobile has attracted 1.5 million customers, according to estimates by Stéphane Richard, Free for now refuses to confirm.

Finally, Stephane Richard said he was "quite shocked" by the statements of the President of ARCEP, encouraging operators to draw conclusions from the arrival of Free and reduce costs. The CEO of France Telecom wonders if this is "an invitation to make redundancies, when one tries to save manufacturing jobs throughout the territory," or of "an incentive to share infrastructure. " A track he considers "paradoxical."

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