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The gavel to jackhammer … Business leaders now dare to push the door of auctions. They never are all equipped at an auction conducted by volunteer auctioneers. The amount of auctions of industrial sales (excluding used vehicles) is still marginal, although they jumped 19% to 93 million euros in 2011. "The attraction already noticeable in recent years has increased as a result of the crisis," says Thierry Savy, Secretary General of the Council of voluntary sales. These, which still account for only 4% auction in France, grew two times faster than the market.

"We must be aggressive on price"

Between D and management system of family man, the stakes were driven by familiarity with this process through Internet sales, but largely through the efforts of new players such qu'AVE Auctions, Second Market or the Ritchie Bros. Canada. This group, world leader in the specialty, recorded a turnover of 42 million euros in France last year, against 29 million in 2010. "Customers are attracted to our policy of no reserve price," says Cedric Jandet, marketing director for the Eastern Europe, Ritchie Bros.

"To win public sector contracts, we must be aggressive on price, while protecting our production costs, says Florent Martoia, Martoia construction manager. We can not act on either the cost of labor nor materials. This leaves the equipment. On average, the gain at auction is 25%, but sometimes the prices vary from simple to double. "

Brokers also

And companies want more. "There are more and more participants to sales, says Xavier Godrucheau, president of XXL Auctions, however, prices do not soar." Means buyers are limited and the development of second-hand market is hampered by Banks that do not like finance material more difficult to resell. "We are witnessing a terrible credit crunch since last summer, said Eric Leprince, CEO of Agora Financial and Vice President of CGPME in Paris. Banks resort to litigation, and suddenly chains are organized. "

The world of opportunity is not just auction. Sites such as brokers or Webenchères Agriaffaires appeared on the Internet. "As the sales sites for individuals, we simply buyers and sellers together," said Arnaud Comyn, owner of Ocazoo. CEO Site interencheres.com for auctioneers, Dominique The Coent claims an annual increase of 20% of the audience and 17 million page views per month. "Given the interest of the customer, the auctioneers have understood the need to communicate," says he.

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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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"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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Training remains a major challenge for companies. Especially in times of crisis, where the imperatives of productivity and internationalization require the DGs and their HR managers to work on climbing skills of their teams. Which levers businesses support each day to ensure the professionalism of their staff, how do they organize relations and the division of labor between HR and business managers? This is the theme of the fourth edition of Panorama conducted by HR consulting firm BearingPoint strategy, in partnership with Le Figaro economy, Sciences Po and Ipsos

When asked "why professionalize?", HR departments respond to 43% it is necessary to "secure certain profiles and some skills" and are 35% to emphasize the obligation "to achieve gains productivity "and 30% emphasized the" major alterations "suffered by some functions. "The HRD also mention the direct benefits of this professionalization for employees, is Olivier Parent du Chatelet, a partner with BearingPoint. Valuing employees is cited by 25% of HR and development of mobility by 62%. "

Concretely how firms organize the professionalization they? "The steps of professionalization rest today on a triptych: the training path, career paths and managing a business that includes the GPEC and animation business sectors", the authors of the study.

Several levers

In detail, the Panorama HR BearingPoint emphasizes development over the past fifteen years of corporate universities, the rise of business management, although it remains to this day the "poor relation approaches deployed" , while the definition of career paths is identified by only 40% of HR as a lever for action. "However, the involvement of businesses is a key appears in the definition of career paths. Today they are virtually absent from development approaches: only 19% of the sponsoring business managers, 13% fly them, "says the study.

Another weak link of political professionalization, their low integration. "Most often, different organizational structures are the individual career management and mobility, collective management skills and training, or facilitation of business networks, said Olivier Parent du Chatelet. Split between different levels of HR and business managers or business, they manage their policies and processes without real connection. "This undermines their effectiveness.

One of the recommendations of BearingPoint is also to integrate all of these courses offer a comprehensive HR, "at a crossroads between training, career management and planning of jobs and skills." These policies should also start thinking in terms of generalization, involving both business managers and HR, with a real efficiency target business, competitiveness and employee retention.

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Jerome Chartier is UMP, a member of the Finance Committee.

LE FIGARO. – You've looked at the cost of the quinquennium. What is your assessment of this work?

Jerome Chartier. – We have a collective duty: a constant reminder that the expenses that shall be implemented after the presidential election will still have a fiscal impact after fifty years. Nicolas Sarkozy has not inherited a country virgin 30 years of debt! For example, we still have not finished paying the bill for 150,000 additional officers hired by Francois Mitterrand in 1981 and will continue to assume in the budget settlement of their pension for many years yet. A majority of the degradation of our deficit since 2007 is related to the consequences of decisions taken ten years or thirty years ago, and nobody can deny. Today, when Francois Hollande speaks to hire 60,000 more teachers, it is not an expense for five years only, to 2.5 billion euros as encrypted in its assessment. They would be hired for forty-two years, and it will then pay for their retirement. It is actually 120 billion euros of financial liabilities would weigh substantially on warrants after 2017. That's what a discourse of truth budget. And the deafening silence of Francois Hollande on this reality weighs heavily in his campaign.

Ultimately, what is the cost of this five year period?

In a book dependent, two journalists were obviously looking for a slogan, a five-year 500 billion-and then tried to justify it. This method of working alone demonstrates the total lack of seriousness with which we entered this debate. This hoax has fizzled. The Court of Auditors, in particular, has brought back to reality, which recalls that sum more than half (52%) of the current deficit is a direct legacy of past decisions. She also said that the crisis explains almost 40% of our deficit, to the extent that it has reduced our revenues sharply by almost 50 billion euros in 2009. It has spawned at the same time, like all European countries, the exceptional increase our spending in 2009 and 2010 from 46 billion to protect the French and preserve their jobs guaranteed approval cash loans.

The government's choice to do so would contribute 10% to deterioration

.

The reality is that ever a term of five years had produced so few new unfunded expenses. The economist Henry Sterdyniak, department director at the OFCE, says the same thing. A study just published it is very clear in late 2006 to late 2012, the French public debt would increase by 620 billion euros. It breaks up this way: 275 billion from interest payments, 310 billion from the economic crisis, including 30 billion stimulus policies implemented in 2009-2010, and 60 billion of tax reduction policies some of which are directly related to the crisis. He adds, and it is rare to be said, that the restrictive policies of public spending (fewer officials, non-revaluation of wages, rigorous management of social benefits …) allowed the other hand save 55 billion euros. Conclusion-and it's not me saying it-the responsibility of head of state and government in creating the deficit is greatly reduced at best to 35 billion euros. For the record, it was exactly the estimated cost of the program of the candidate in 2007! And no one can suspect of belonging to Henry Sterdyniak the campaign team of Nicolas Sarkozy.

How do you respond to those who tell you that it is 35 billion too?

35 billion that is exactly the amount of large loan, which finances the structure of French growth in the future, and promises of jobs that go with. Rarely has a presidential term has been provided the opportunity to invest in the future: higher education, research, attractiveness for industrial relocation with the removal of business tax, pension reform … Many of the decisions taken were not included in the 2007 program and the direct result of the crisis. The French now believe that they are healthy decisions for the future of France.

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After two years of strong gains and at times breathtaking, the property prices have stalled throughout France in late 2011. This real slowdown was reflected in the fourth quarter by a stable house prices (+0.1%), according to INSEE statistics, released Thursday. And over one year, prices have increased by "only" 4.3% on average (6.7% for apartments and 2.6% for houses), after increasing 8.5% in 2010 .

However, in the Ile-de-France, the most populated region of France, the annual price increases remained spectacular. It reached 10.6% on average in the départements (small and large crown). And 14.7% in central Paris (after a surge of 17.5% in 2010!). In the capital, house prices have reached new highs in the fourth quarter, with an average price per square meter to 8,390 euros, according to the Chamber of Notaries of Paris-Ile de France.

In seven out of twenty arrondissements, prices even exceed the symbolic threshold of 10,000 euros per square meter. Certain transac-tions go far beyond. On the Champs-Elysees, a 150 m2 apartment has been sold 40,000 euros per square meter in 2011! This new outbreak is partly explained by the low number of Parisian apartments sold (down 14% in the fourth quarter versus the same period of 2010), note notaries. But, "it seems that the trees reach the sky," warns Christian Lefebvre, president of the Chamber of Notaries of Paris-Ile de France, noting a change in trend at the end of last year one hour payday loan. "Over the last three months of 2011, prices are almost stable and in Paris (0.2%). In nine districts, they even declined, "says Thierry Delesalle, notary in Paris.

A correction of 5 to 10% expected

This small market downturn continued in the early years, as evidenced by the preliminary contracts signed in January 8250 euros per square meter on average, according to the Chamber of Notaries. Same thing in other towns in Ile-de-France, where prices began to fall slightly in the fourth quarter of 2011 (-0.7% in the inner suburbs and outer suburbs -0.9%).

"For the first time in years," the Paris notaries anticipate a price decline of 5 to 10% across the region, Paris included. "But this break with the long bull cycle will only be sustainable if new construction is accelerating sustainable in Ile-de-France for several years," they warn. In the rest of France, prices are expected to experience the same slope. Fnaim and notaries as well expect a correction of 5 to 15% on average this year. While some banks have tightened their credit terms and that many households are less confident in their future professionals expect lower sales. Especially since many French have anticipated in late 2011 several devices (PTZ + in the old, lower benefits Scellier …): 828,000 sales have been made between October 2010 and September 2011. High numbers, up 12% year on year.

After three months of decline (-4.1% from July to September) the property prices have started to increase again in Paris in October, according to the barometer MeilleursAgents.com. A start of surprise that Sébastien Lafond, president and founder of MeilleursAgents.com, analysis as an unexpected new tax measures, notammentla taxation of capital gains, announced by the government. "Under pressure to sell before the deadline of 1 February 2012, and therefore to sign a pledge before the end of October, many owners have decided to put their two room flats on the market," said he. This influx of goods would normally increase the downward trend. Yet the opposite occurred. "The arrival on the market of small areas of good quality in the most desirable areas of the capital (central districts) where the supply is almost always less than demand," boosted the market.Seeking a safe haven in times of crisis, buyers have little discussion of prices these homes that have sold "cheap and fast," says Sebastien de Lafond. In Paris, the transactions were small areas and 63% of the total in October, 10 points higher than the average.

7975 euros per square meter on average

As a result, prices have gained 1.5% on average in October according to the monthly barometer, finding the average level found in the month of April in 7975 euros per square meter. Of course, the increase was not uniform in all districts of Paris. I searched the neighborhoods of the eighth arrondissement rose from 3.5 to 4%, while the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth districts stagnated. The suburb has not seen any improvement.

The Paris Bourse should attempt a rebound on Tuesday, a day after falling more than 3%. Around 8:02, the CAC 40 futures contract shown up 1.02%, suggesting a sharply higher opening of the Paris index. The movement should be a European future since the Frankfurt Stock Exchange advance them to 0.68%.

The problems of sovereign debt, however, should hang over the markets. The pressure rises in the euro zone since Moody's announced that the triple A French was threatened. Spain and Italy are always attacked in the bond markets. Finally, Germany is in the viewfinder of many observers who believe the country could experience a domino effect on the market.

But Europe is not the only one to raise the nervousness of the operators.

For now, the rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Moody's reported that U.S. credit rating would not be affected by the failure of these discussions. Fitch, however, said it could revise its outlook on maintaining its AAA rating assigned to the United States. It recalls that it had warned in August that "a failure of the super committee to reach an agreement would likely have a negative result on the rating" of the country.

This news has already had the effect of falling Wall Street yesterday and the stock markets in Asia this morning, confirming the prediction of Japanese Finance Minister, Jun Azumi, said this morning that fearing "a big disappointment in the markets."

Oil rises

Under the spotlight, the United States must deliver on Tuesday the second reading of GDP in the third quarter.

Controllers return to work gradually. After La Rochelle and Paris Sud Est (Gare de Lyon), several sites have voted Friday morning to return to work, like Bordeaux, Reims, Chambery, Dijon, Lyon, St Etienne, Toulouse or Besancon. Other websites should take a similar decision at general meetings planned in the afternoon. The management of the SNCF

Many controllers SNCF had exercised their right to withdraw on Thursday afternoon to work after the announcement of the attack on a colleague on a train on the Corail Lyon-Strasbourg. In an interview with Figaro.fr, the president of the SNCF appealed to the coolness of the railway to resume work soon and would discuss with the unions to turn.Management has undertaken to present an emergency plan with the security services.

Traffic TGV, Corail and TER is still disrupted, although the situation has improved significantly over the entire network, including 8-9 in 10 TGV from and to Paris and a TER of 2. To find out if their train is running, users are encouraged to consult regularly Infolignes site, or call toll free (free from a landline) 0805 90 36 35.

Toll and information site

SNCF always invites customers to delay their trip or take alternate means of transportation. Ticket holders whose train was canceled may obtain a refund, or take any train leaving for the same destination without the need to exchange their ticket. Good news however for users Transilien (train network in the Île-de-France), the Thalys and Eurostar.Traffic on these lines is normal according to SNCF.

"There is no point in penalizing travelers"

The strike controller led Thursday the cancellation of all trains at night, and created a big mess all over the country. According to the station, all passengers stranded at the station in the evening were able to reach their destination or were assisted to find accommodation for the night. According to the Ministry of the Interior, it was not necessary to set up emergency housing plan.
Board trains at the Gare Saint-Charles in Marseille. Photo credits: GERARD JULIEN / AFP