Archive for the ‘technology’ Category

The Real Cost of London Olympics

April 18, 2012 - 4:04 pm Comments Off

 

In his defense, the government ensures that the global event will benefit the local economy. 1500 enterprises had shared a jackpot of € 9 billion of contracts. But experts estimate that less than 1% of GDP growth of the net gain generated by the Olympics for several years.

The major amounts invested for the event.

• Transport: € 7.8 billion

For seven years, considerable effort has been devoted to the modernization of the London transport network, to host 3 million visitors in addition to the 12 million daily riders. New stations were built around Stratford, the Olympic site in east London. A special express train, the Javelin, will link the park to the station King's Cross St. Pancras. But the risk of flooding remains a nightmare for the organizers and authorities in London.

+ Organization: € 2.4 billion

The organization of the fifteen-day competition is funded by private funds from revenue from TV rights, sponsorships, merchandising and ticketing (485 million euros). Some sponsors are involved in providing benefits in kind (eg telecom).

+ Olympic Stadium: 1.2 billion euros

The enclosure of 80,000 seats is the centerpiece of a series of new equipment final, including a swimming pool, a handball court, a velodrome that will find and use a permanent occupants after the Olympics. Each was built by an architect and a different promoter. Other facilities such as the basketball stadium, will be dismantled at the end of competitions.

+ Olympic Village: 675 million

The site of the London 2012 Olympic Village was sold for 634 million euros in a joint venture with Qatari Diar business cards. The village, which adjoins the Olympic Stadium, includes 2,800 new homes. And the contract includes the creation of 2,000 additional.

Security +: € 670 million

This is one of the positions responsible for soaring overall costs. The organizing committee found itself under fire for underestimating security needs. A first estimate "wet finger" of 10,000 agents has been revised upwards to 23,700, doubling the budget to fund these private security guards. A contract with G4S company specializing in 104 million was renegotiated to 344 million. Not to mention the tens of thousands of forces of public order.

+ Ceremonies: 98 million

Entrusted to Danny Boyle, director of Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire movie, the opening ceremony of July 27 should show the "best of Britain". Thousands of extras are being recruited. To succeed in this show of force after that which remained in the memories of Beijing, Prime Minister David Cameron has agreed to double the budget for opening and closing.

= Public budget: 13 billion euros

The note of the Olympics for taxpayers English has continued to fly from the original figure of 3 billion when London won the competition in 2005. The organizing committee is now working on a budget of 11 billion, but a parliamentary report estimated that the bill may reach 13 billion instead. 29 billion and even if we take into account indirect costs for utilities, including the police and military presence.

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The government cleared the Industry File

April 15, 2012 - 7:52 am Comments Off

 

After weeks of uncertainty, the commercial court of Nanterre Friday authorized the takeover of courier Sernam into receivership on January 31 by Geodis, a subsidiary of SNCF. This is-of a partial recovery. Geodis and its subsidiary BMV disburse 750,000 euros to recover clients Sernam, or 200 million euros in turnover, and some employees of the courier company in bankruptcy.

Of the 1441 employees, 833 will join Geodis in their labor pool. SNCF will be offering for reclassification to another 600 employees Sernam which are not included. However, Geodis will recover almost none of the 55 logistics sites of the bankrupt or the 1300 delivery vehicles.

There is another week, the rescue of the company into bankruptcy by turning the fund Butler Capital Partners was far from certain. The subsidiary of SNCF had established conditions of occasions that it seemed difficult to respond positively. It took the mobilization of workers and a very high pressure, during the Easter weekend, Thierry Mariani, Minister of Transport, to push Pierre Blayau, CEO of Geodis, to be flexible to open the way for recovery.

Mobilizing ministers in recent months has, hitherto, to defuse these issues one to one industrial high-risk period for presidential elections. To achieve this, the government relied heavily on public enterprises. This is doubly the case of the SNCF. In the folder Sernam today. But before that, in January, she was involved in the liquidation of its subsidiary, SeaFrance and delivers more than 800 positions in rehabilitation and compensation of around 60,000 euros per employee not included, enough to silence anger.

No fire

In late February, EDF has rescued Photowatt and its 425 employees by announcing a full recovery in one of the few French players in the manufacture of photovoltaic panels. Renault owned 15% by the State, has agreed to secure the backlog of Foundries of Poitou.

The government has also convinced LVMH, the world of luxury, to mobilize one of its subcontractors to save a site in Yssingeaux Lejaby employing 93 employees. In other cases, governments have succeeded in obtaining respite. This is the case of the Petit Couronne refinery (Seine-Maritime), which employs 550 people payday loan companies. She was placed in receivership in late January for six months following the bankruptcy of its parent Swiss Petroplus which the owner, announced the closure. The liquidation was avoided. The deadline for submission of bids is 30 April, between the two rounds of presidential elections.

Another very sensitive site ArcelorMittal Florange. Employees rallied against the closure of the last two blast furnaces in Lorraine.

Nicolas Sarkozy announced in late February for new investment on the site and has led management to ensure that the closure was only temporary. The anger remains, but there was no fire. Three weeks before the second round, the government hopes that no other case does invite the end of this campaign.

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3 questions to Pierre Blayau, CEO of Geodis

What has allowed a resumption of Sernam while it seemed compromised last week?

We gave a period of five weeks before making the actual resumption. It was left to the attorney the time to organize the social aspect of this operation and for us to set up failover, including computers, Sernam to Geodis. Such a delay would pose a risk of deterioration of the financial position of Sernam. After discussion, earlier this week, with the receiver, we have agreed to reduce the actual recovery period to 21 days, May 7 We have been flexible to allow recovery.

One gets the feeling that Geodis is committed to backwards in this recovery?

Contrary to what I read or hear, Geodis has always been voluntary. This operation has a real industrial sense. We will grow in a highly competitive market. We take up staff and customers representing 200 million euros in turnover. We do not increase our fixed costs.

After the takeover by Mory Caravelle last year and now that of Sernam, market concentration French-mail is complete?

Even if there are fewer players, our market is still excess capacity. The process of concentration should therefore continue to favor companies that have a real performance culture.

Warning shot in the markets in Europe

April 11, 2012 - 1:20 pm Comments Off

 

The long Easter weekend has not relaxed the markets, awarded three simultaneous bad news: a weaker recovery than expected in the U.S., that growth has stalled in China, and renewed tensions in the eurozone , with Spain in the crosshairs.

While Asia had started the day down 1%, European stock markets have accused the coup at the close: -3% in Paris, and Madrid, Milan -4.98%, -2.49% in Frankfurt , -2.24% in London. Europe has ended up contaminating Wall Street, down 1% in late afternoon.

Slowing demand in China

Although Spain appears to be the new abscess, fever markets could last as it is based on a disappointing international situation from Asia to America. Across the Atlantic, unemployment continues to fall, to 8.2% in March, but job creation, twice lower than expected, have cast a chill. Ben Bernanke's remarks, noting that the U.S. economy is "far from being fully recovered," did not help.

For its part, China sees its exports not only slow (8.9% yoy) but significantly curb its imports, to 5.3% instead of 9.3% expected. This is a sign that "domestic demand continues to slow," judge an economist at HSBC. Now this is supposed to be the new engine of growth of the country this year.

In Japan, the third world economy, the central bank left its key interest rate unchanged between 0.0% and 0.1%, while the Japanese government hopes that the establishment gives a boost to activity in the fight against a too strong yen, which penalizes companies of the Archipelago.

Pressure on interest rates

In Europe, the OECD observes that "signs of recovery," especially in Germany, but the markets are worried about the fragility of Italy, France and Spain (see below). In one week, the Paris Bourse lost 5%, 6% Madrid and Milan 8%.

Concern that immediately led to considerable tension in the bond market with rising interest rates to borrow ten years in most countries of the euro area. The lifts were for the most significant rates that Spanish and Italian, respectively 5.852% and 5.527%, were dangerously close to 6%. This proves that "the recent liquidity injections from the European Central Bank failed to calm markets," says Natixis. In the eyes of the broker Aurel BGC, they focus "on growth." And tensions will last as long as it will not be at the rendezvous.

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The "march of steel" ends at the Eiffel Tower

April 7, 2012 - 6:16 am Comments Off

 

Blast furnaces Florange the Eiffel Tower, it took them a week and a half walk. The steelworkers ArcelorMittal steel plant in Florange (Moselle), left foot on March 28 of Lorraine, arrived Friday afternoon under the Eiffel Tower. The end point of "the march of steel" to "defend their jobs with people."

The 17 walkers, unionized or not, have traveled over 300 km and symbolically ended their march at the foot of the "Iron Lady", made of steel of Lorraine. "Guys, this is who?", They started showing the Eiffel Tower. "To us," responded in a heartfelt cry from the hundreds of employees to join the marchers.

After traveling their last stage, between the Place de la Republique and the Champ de Mars, the steelworkers came to forming a row, holding each arm, all dressed in orange windbreaker. Other employees have come from the Lorraine ovation. On a placard that read "the shadow of death of the steel industry, more than 3,000 jobs lost in Lorraine, Luxembourg and Belgium."

A concert was scheduled for early evening including Bernard Allison. According to police headquarters, from 4 to 500 people gathered at the foot of the podium. "The sides arrived," "Steel Lorraine will live", had earlier chanted the marchers Republic Square.

"Human Adventure"

One of them, Rudy Crestani, retired Florange 61 years, said "human adventure" experienced by the Steelworkers. "The idea was to fight to save our endangered plant and thousands of jobs. We had an extraordinary sympathy of wind and we realized that our struggle far beyond the borders of Florange, this jewel of the industry, "told AFP Edward Martin, CFDT delegate.

"Many French people are recognized and have had to say:" We're all ArcelorMittal power ", because although the company (…) is competitive, it is not even enough to keep it running, since all these ayatollahs finance believe that it is always cheaper, "he said. The marchers slept in gyms, party rooms, received encouragement from anonymous.

Nicolas Sarkozy attacks

The previous visit of steelworkers in the capital in mid-March, had led to clashes with the police when they wanted to go to the campaign headquarters of Nicolas Sarkozy. Since the president candidate has blamed union leaders Florange, attacking the "permanent CFDT" who "betray the trust of employees." "The unionized workers are not full?, Edward Martin replied Friday.

For Alain Gatti (CFDT), "the movement was hyper-responsible" contrary to what was suggested Nicolas Sarkozy accusing the CGT and CFDT union officials to be "come (s) to insult and try to break (his ) campaign headquarters. "

By engaging their showdown in late February to keep maintaining the site and some 2,500 IDUs, including several hundred are now partially, the unions had promised to make Florange "the nightmare of the government" if the two high- furnaces in the steel plant, dormant for several months, were not given a prompt start.

This standby, "the death warrant of the site," they say, is only temporary and ensures ArcelorMittal due to global demand for steel at half mast. After "broken promises" of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008 in neighboring Gandhinagar-industrial site finally closed in 2009 – Florange has become a political battleground, also involving trade union representatives.

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These engineers who play the card industry

March 26, 2012 - 10:40 pm Comments Off

 

Time in one week (from March 19 to 25) industry has been in the spotlight in France. No fewer than 2280 events have been deployed to try to reconcile the public with an industry rolled by job cuts. In twenty years, more than 460,000 jobs were lost in the sector, according to the Strategic Analysis Centre (SAC), which provides yet for 2020, 3.425 million more jobs in this industry.

Director of the Ecole des Mines d'Ales, Alain Dorison advocates more than ever for the industry and seeks to expose its students as possible with this medium. "We ensure that our students know the industrial and SMEs and we train them to the culture of innovation and creativity," he says.

Innovation and creativity

On leaving school, 80% of engineers are working elsewhere in the productive sector, and 50% leave in companies of fewer than 2000 employees. "The addition of a large group, it is fame and salary levels. But in an SME, the great wealth remains the variety of missions and jobs, "he insists.

With a tray + 6 "design environment" conducted at the Institute of Arts and Crafts of Chambery, Lawrence Noca has hardly hesitated when the specialist outdoor Lafuma offered him a position in the eco-design and . Since 2011 he is Director of Innovation and Sustainable Development group based in Anneyron in the Drome and operates three production sites in France.  

"The textile industry is not the market that we hear first in schools payday loans. Yet there are real problems of production, materials research, "he says. Currently he is working on projects on eco-design hiking equipment and new methods of shaping fabric. "Innovation can be a true way to relocate certain activities," he recalls.

Of wood chemistry in printed electronics

Other rapidly changing industry, paper. "We are in an area where factories are closing, but at the same time moving towards green chemistry, which recovers waste, which will generate employment in the coming years. We talk less and less paper and more and more fiber, "insists Bernard Pineau, director Pagora, the engineering school in Grenoble Institute specializes in the paper.  

"We will of the chemistry of wood, boxes and luxury packaging, printed electronics to a market that weighed 3 million in 2008 and is currently estimated at 89 billion dollars!" Recalls Bernard Pineau. The 60 engineers who drop out each year to graduate have no trouble placing in France and abroad (with salaries of about 35,000 euros per year). But it is true that 40% are apprentices. "A quarter of our alumni now occupy positions of CEO or plant managers," commented Bernard Pineau.

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Labor reform: Monti wants to push through

March 23, 2012 - 9:48 am Comments Off

 

Lack of agreement with the most powerful Italian unions, the CGIL, Mario Monti will try to push through his reform of the Labour Code, which will facilitate dismissals in Italy.

After presenting the text to moderate unions and employers on Thursday night, the Italian prime minister intends to adopt this proposed reform of the Labour Code to the Council of Ministers, this Friday to vote to do so as quickly by Parliament .

"We will make the text so that it prevents any abuse in dismissals," Mario Monti promised Thursday night. Time is running for President of the Council who plays his all on this eagerly awaited by reforming the markets and the European Central Bank.

The confederation CGIL, which refused to sign the text and left the negotiating table, called a general strike. The Democratic Party stands for the first time Mario Monti and promises to fight. The ruling coalition, without which Mario Monti would be powerless, threatens to explode.

On the form, Monti reform aims to modernize an Italian Labour Code dating from 1970, accused of holding back growth. On the merits, it addresses two major problems in Italy: on one side, layoffs nearly impossible in large companies, the other an increasing precariousness of work, without nets worthy of the name.

To break this duality of the labor market – which is found also in Spain – Mario Monti wants to facilitate layoffs by offering social protection to many workers who are deprived, while facilitating youth employment.

Conventional termination

Socially, unemployment benefits would become universal and will last 12 months – 18 months for seniors – and will reach 1,119 euros per month, more than today cash advance loans. Paternity leave would be introduced in some industries. And a fund to support older unemployed will be created. For Stefano Libman, professor of labor law at Bocconi University of Milan, this reform has the merit of "the basis for social protection for the millions of workers now have access to coverage generalized social."

To help youth employment, the reform provides for the rationalization of the types of contracts. In quarantine, they will be reduced to eight. Learning becomes the model contract and will last three years. "In the short term, with the crisis, it will inevitably lead to layoffs. But ultimately, this will create a stable job, "says Stefano Libman.

Blocks where the reform is on the right of dismissal, framed by Article 18 of the Labour Code, which prohibits dismissal "without just cause." In fact, Article 18 does not block a score of layoffs a year, but in the minds he became the symbol of the rigidity of the Italian labor market. The government insists the review. It plans to introduce a form of "conventional rupture" in the French which allows to separate from an employee by paying compensation of up to 24 months' salary.

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The attractiveness of France bend but not break

March 21, 2012 - 6:04 pm Comments Off

 

A chaotic situation in the euro area, decorated with the prospect of a presidential election in France: the cocktail did not much attractive for foreign investors in 2011. In this context, the attractiveness of the Hexagon folded but did not break. The country remained in second place in Europe for the number of foreign investments in 2011, behind the United Kingdom. According to the annual balance sheet submitted by the French Agency for International Investment (AFII), France last year attracted 698 new foreign investment projects that create jobs. If Bercy wants to see "the second best result since more than ten years," it is nevertheless a figure down from the previous year, while the Hexagon had attracted 782 investment. In 2011, investments were divided between extensions of existing settlements (46% of total) and creative (46%). Other projects include the purchase of ailing companies or acquisitions. As usual, many of the investments (60% in 2011) is of European origin. Companies from North America account for 25% of the total-the United States last year have again become the first country-investor in France, and those in Asia for 11%. The emerging countries of taking off no teletrek payday advance.

Some 27,958 new jobs resulted from foreign investment. This figure, down 12% compared to 2010, confirms a basic trend: the size of investment projects knows "a steady decline for several years." The average number of jobs created or maintained by the project was 60 in 2006, 55 in 2007, 50 in 2008, 47 in 2009, 41 in 2010 and 40 in 2010. The Afii explains one side by the proliferation of projects with high added value, which by definition have less need for labor; another, it recognizes "the caution of some investors, which reduce the initial ambition of their projects in an economic recovery remains fragile, "says Afii. "The crisis in the eurozone could cause some wait, which is being squandered. It would also be a lie to say that the electoral event is not regarded in the world, "said Minister of Economy, Baroin.

The challenge for France is important: foreign companies employ more than two million employees in our country, realizing 20% ​​of R & D and entrepreneurship are the source of more than a third of French exports.

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Fender, rock icon, wants to go public

March 10, 2012 - 3:04 am Comments Off

 

The hands of talented British singer and songwriter Eric Clapton, nicknamed "God" (God), she plays alone, the ultimate sound of blues and rock'n'roll. Renowned for its crystal clear sound, the American brand of Fender guitars now also shine on the market scene on Wall Street.

Founded in 1946 by Leo Fender, the legendary American manufacturer of electric guitars, acoustic amplifiers and a record filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to enter "as soon as possible" on the Nasdaq. The date of the introduction, the number of shares offered and their prices have not yet been disclosed.

The company, which will appear on the Stock Exchange under the symbol "FNDR", hopes to raise up to $ 200 million. The inventor of the Stratocaster, the icon of the electric guitar and one of the most popular models in the world, with "use about $ 100 million of revenue raised through this IPO" to repay a portion of its debts, whose amount is close $ 250 million. "In 2011 we were number one in terms of market share in the U.S. in the field of electric guitars, acoustic, and bass amplifiers and electric guitars and basses," the company said.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, owned by the Weston Presidio investment fund, has made 700.6 million dollars in sales in 2011 to a net profit of 19 million. Some 45% of its sales generated outside the U.S., mainly on the European market.

Also Eric Clapton, Fender has among its faithful ambassadors Keith Richards, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Bruce Springsteen or Jimi Hendrix in 1967 who sacrificed his Stratocaster on stage in setting them on fire before smashing against the ground guaranteed approval cash loans.

The inventor of the Stratocaster and Telecaster, Leo Fender, a creative force unmatched, gave his company to CBS in 1965. Fender grew considerably in the years that followed, before passing through an air hole associated with a lower quality instruments. In the 1980s, CBS will sell all its non-media related. A group of employees and investors led by William Schultz and his family and buy Fender to CBS in 1985.

Started from scratch

The new company had to start from scratch, including the sale or factory or machine. The emblem of the American guitar succeeds, however, his recovery, extending its grip on trademarks Guild, Gretsch, Jackson and Charvel excluding professional sound equipment. In 2008, Fender acquired Kaman Music Corporation (KMC), the largest U.S. independent distributor of musical instruments.

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, with a production facility in Corona, California, Fender has continued to cross swords with Gibson, another giant of the electric guitar that Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, is one of the greatest followers. His fetish model, the Les Paul, was designed in the early 1950s. At its heavier and fatter than her rival Stratocaster, the Gibson Les Paul ignites always also rock the world stage.

A nice bonus for employees of Porsche

March 1, 2012 - 11:48 pm Comments Off

 

As manufacturer of luxury, premium luxury. The German carmaker Porsche, fit, will pay a bonus of 7,600 euros to each of its 8,500 employees, under the year 2011.

The manufacturer has the means. Indeed, he beat last year a new record by selling 119,000 vehicles. The company's management intends to reward 'performance and commitment of the workforce. " All employees are concerned, "they work in the kitchen or as an engineer," summarized in a statement Uwe Hück, president of the council. Only downside: this egalitarian reward only applies to employees of Porsche, and not the interim.

Porsche, being acquired by Volkswagen Group, has often been generous with his troops, paying premiums almost every year in recent years. Crisis requires, however, that they were in 1100 euros in 2009, and 3800 euros a year earlier. For 2010, VW and Audi, the two main brands of the Volkswagen empire, as well as Daimler had also spoiled their staff.

The entire German automotive industry is booming. Volkswagen has released record results for 2011. Mercedes (Daimler) and BMW have also posted strong sales last year.

While wage increases are capped by a sector agreement since 2010, the premium German car groups to their employees are a valuable motivational tool. They are modest in relation to the financial health of insolent generous employers.

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Social plans: the HR face the judges

February 21, 2012 - 12:08 pm Comments Off

 

Will it towards a form of judicial dismissals as it once existed an administrative authorization? The high courts have recently banned two French companies to implement a social plan. The reason is simple. These two companies, and Vivéo Sodimedical, loss of competitiveness in the domestic market belong to foreign groups financially healthy and judges have ruled on the lack of economic rationale to implement a social plan. Decisions since confirmed by the appellate courts of Paris and Reims.

"This is a first," protested Nicolas Sauvage, member of Avosial, the influential lawyers' union in labor law, which has just sent a letter to presidential candidates asking them to "take a stand" on the issue. A first for three reasons. "Not only is there no provision in the Labor Code which allows a judge to conclude, before a social plan is triggered, the lack of economic rationale and cancel it in stride, but it intrudes more and doing it in company management, which is prohibited by the Civil Code, "argues Nicolas Sauvage.

The lawyer also notes that only the employment tribunals may cancel an ex post social – and not, ex ante, the high court – because of the absence or insufficiency of rehabilitation measures put in implemented. And therefore condemn the offending companies to pay damages as compensation.

To him, the danger is all the more important that the Social Chamber of the Supreme Court, whose judgments regularly give a cold sweat at all DRH de France, is a crucial hearing next Tuesday in the case Vivéo cash advance. His judgment will be delivered mid-March. After being bought by a competitor in 2010, this French software for bank trading rooms wanted to restructure to cope with the collapse of its activity after the crisis. But as he belongs to a German group to blooming health, the Court of Appeal of Paris has forbidden, while no departure had yet been reached.

Question attractive

According Avosial, confirmation of this judgment to the Supreme Court would create "a huge uncertainty for employers, small or large groups, French or foreign." It would encourage companies to "wait to be on the brink rather than anticipating the tough decisions" that may require the use of downsizing for a company to remain competitive. "The vast majority of restructuring is to sustain an activity and not to make profits to increase capitalization," argues Nicolas Sauvage.

Such confirmation could also be opened "the door to the prohibition of dismissal in France" and harm "to the attractiveness of France and its ability to retain or create jobs," says Nicolas Sauvage.

Also addresses the presidential candidates, Avosial hope that the Supreme Court will recall a fundamental principle of French law which states that there is' no nullity without text. " Verdict in less than one month.