Those who want to buy an apartment in Fort Issy-les-Moulineaux, just outside Paris, have an incentive to hurry. Of the 1600 units under construction, only a few dozen have not yet been sold. The first occupants will move in March 2013 in this brand new neighborhood. The end of a very long history. "The first contacts with the Ministry of Defence, owner of the fort, took place in 1997, says Christophe Provot, deputy mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux, delegate to urban planning. And the sale did not occur until 2010! "

Several causes for these delays in extension. First the different administrations (Ministry of Budget, Ministry of Defence, France Fields …) could not agree on the price of 12 ha. Then, the state and the municipality have long passed the buck who would pay for the removal of 3,000 shells dispatched on that land.

Finally, the state sold the land to the town 60 million, taking charge of the 7.6 million related to site cleanup. The city has invested $ 60 million in additional public facilities (creche, library) and sold the land to developers (Kaufman & Broad, Bouygues …) that offered the highest price.

Result, these apartments are quite expensive: 6500 euros per m² on average. "To have more affordable prices, would have required the State to make efforts and not sell his land at market rate, estimated Loiseleur Raymond, chairman of the SEM (Society of Issy mixed economy. He made another choice. "

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Two billion euros. The Intermat 1350 exhibitors, which was held from April 16 to 21 in Villepinte near Paris, have not mégoté their investments as they exposed construction machinery and construction worth a total of 2 billion. "This very large sum shows business optimism this year," explains Maryvonne Lanoë, commissioner general of the show.

This event is the meeting point for all actors of the French markets, Southern Europe and North Africa. "The trend is quite good, says Philippe Haugenauer, Sales Director France of Japanese Komatsu. We have seen the show many people who have projects, although few orders were signed on the spot. "With a turnover of EUR 18 billion, the Japanese group is the second largest manufacturer of equipment BTP in the world.

Strong rebound of the market

Reinforces a sense that the latest figures released by manufacturers. "The aggregate producers, who are our customers, have a very good first quarter, so a little unexpected," says Michel Herr, CEO of France Sandvik, the Swedish group specializing in drills and milling machines. The reason: the great works decided by the government after the 2009 crisis. "We take advantage of highway construction and high-speed lines, including those linked to Tours and Bordeaux, Michel Herr says. This allows us to benefit from a good order book for the second quarter. However, we lack visibility for the future. "

Despite its 15% growth in its European business in the first quarter, Saubot Alexander, general manager of Haulotte Group, Europe's leading manufacturer of aerial work platforms, believes that "this increase is lower than it should be given the fall market in Europe since 2009. " The activity is still far from the highest recorded in 2007 and 2008. Above all, Europe pales in terms of total growth over the period of Haulotte: 24%.

"The strong rebound in the global market for public works equipment recorded in 2010, to 17%, and 2011, 24%, is due in part because it had collapsed by 50% between 2008 and 2009" , said Maryvonne Lanoë. The activity remains well below the pre-crisis level.

"There are many projects, the problem is now often funding," says Philippe Haugenauer elsewhere. Dynamism that allows Buronfosse Renaud, chief representative of ICASA, the union representing the manufacturers of construction machinery, metallurgy and handling, be optimistic for the current year: "We envision an increase of business activity of the profession of 5 to 7% in 2012. "

One million cases of 24 bottles. This is what qu'Orangina has elapsed in the first four days of its launch large scale in Japan, three weeks ago. "We did in four days half of our annual goal, welcomes Midori Takahashi, in charge of public relations for the Suntory Group, owner of Orangina. We aim 2 million cases a year. "

The brand has a massive arrival on the shelves in Japan. Orangina is supported by an impressive advertising campaign led by U.S. actor Richard Gere, directed in a dream of France under the slogan: "Orangina, the soft drink that drink the French, is finally in Japan!" In supermarkets, it is advisable to mix the soda with red wine, "French". Suntory plays the card of the Hexagon, in a landscape crowded Japanese soft drinks. In 2010, Nobu Torii, head of international development strategy of Suntory and nephew of the founder, had gone to ask the French government for permission to use the tricolor on his promotion.

Japan had long awaited the famous soft drink. In 2009, the Japanese brewer Suntory bought Orangina Schweppes Group for 2.6 billion euros, according to Western press of the time. Then the winds Japanese fleet on the brand. Last year, the launch of Orangina Samurai (lemon flavor) and Orangina Geisha (fish taste) have included the passage of the mark under the Japanese flag.

The pub does not recommend shaking the bottle

Japanese version of Orangina was to be launched in 2011. Fukushima disaster has postponed the launch. The drink, so she immediately found a place in the heart of the Japanese, has disappointed the French living in Japan, who reveal "less pulp and more bubbles." Sugar levels and gasification of the formula was changed at the margin. The bottle-shaped orange mythical underwent a fitness class and finds himself almost as slender as that of Coca-Cola, she sees in grocery stores.

"We tried to be as faithful as possible to the original brand and the bottle, because the Japanese really appreciated this drink in its original form, defends Midori Takahashi. But we need to replicate the formula with Japanese ingredients, and according to the Japanese guns. And the famous bottle could be reproduced at the factory and did not take on Japanese store shelves. "

Result: a pale copy of the original, in French eyes, anyway. Advertising even recommends to the Orangina upside down instead of shaking frantically, without which the drink is exploding in the consumer's hand. Suntory does currently not launch outside the borders Nipponese. But it is not clear, despite the marketing of drums, which could attract foreign in this drink has become a bit bland, neither Japanese nor French.

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Switzerland scored a point in the standoff that pitted him against Washington on banking secrecy. The Federal Administrative Court, one of the highest courts of Confederation, April 5 opposite end of inadmissibility to the IRS claimed that the transmission of names of clients of Credit Suisse, suspected of tax evasion. The judge considers that such data would be contrary to the bilateral tax treaty dating from 1996 and still in force. Switzerland is committed in March 2009, to comply with OECD standards for exchanging information that eliminate the distinction between fraud and tax evasion, but the new agreement, signed in June 2009 between the two countries, n has still not been ratified

.

Swiss court does not take into account an amendment to this agreement, voted on March 5 by the Swiss Parliament, which authorizes collective applications from the IRS. "The court decision complicates the government's position, who wants to reach an agreement with the United States," you recognize in Bern.

Three years after officially renounced its banking secrecy, Switzerland is still leading the fight to preserve the attractiveness of its financial center. She leads him on two fronts: against the United States where the Helvetic Confederation resists transfer of bank data, and at European level by negotiating tax agreements that preserve the anonymity of customers.

The precedent of the UBS case

This is the United States that the battle is the hardest. Beyond Credit Suisse, ten institutions are in the crosshairs of the IRS, with the implicit threat of removing banking licenses. In the case of UBS, who had come to shatter the secrecy in 2010, the Administrative Court had already refused the transfer of data. Until Parliament gives green light and ends in 5000 bank data delivered to U.S. authorities.

Switzerland is in a better position in negotiations with the EU, has always been divided on tax issues. If France calls for an end to bank secrecy, through the automatic exchange of information, other countries including Britain and Germany, Austria, Greece and the Netherlands are tempted to accept the Rubik agreements: a withholding "quick and effective" that pays billions to state coffers – $ 10 billion in Germany in exchange for preserving the anonymity of accounts.

So far, Switzerland has signed two agreements "Rubik" with Britain and Germany. Yet to pass the test of Parliaments. In Germany, the Bundesrat – Upper House – dominated by the Social Democrats could oppose a text "which guarantees the anonymity of fraudsters." His vote, expected in June, will be decisive for Switzerland.

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The Center for Strategic Analysis (CAS) continues its investigation into "the writing to the digital time." After concentrating on last November in the print media, the agency decision support attached to the Prime Minister released Monday in conjunction with the Centre National du Livre (CNL) its first proposals to help "the players book chain to take the turn of the digital ". Chriqui for Vincent, CEO of CAS, digital is "both a promise of new developments in publishing and a threat, as a share of value could escape the small booksellers and publishers if one does not fix clear trade rules. "

"A strong drawback '

Its three notes of analysis devoted to authors and publishers, bookstores and public libraries, the CAS takes priority recommendations to develop the digital book in France. Also attractive prices – "Consumers clearly want a high-price discount paper" – Vincent Chriqui calls for a consolidation of the French distribution of digital book around a single platform. "There are three distribution platforms in France. Booksellers and readers are confused, and this can only help Amazon (the creator of the Kindle reading light, Ed) which has the richest supply, "he notes. Besides the platform that Decitre will also launch in early April payday lenders. To develop a "real market" – the digital book represents just 1% of book sales when it weighs 15% U.S. and 10% in Britain, the CAS also recommends better "interoperability" ie "the ability to download digital files of books on any model of reading lamp or shelf. But this is not the case today: the tablet Kindle does not give access to files in ePub format, for example, "he says. "We think this is an obstacle to the development of the digital book at the same time that interference with the principle of free competition," said Vincent Chriqui.

The institution does not neglect the booksellers, weakened. One objective of CAS is to support the "policy of multi-channel strategy-store sales and Web-traditional bookshops, to prevent leakage of customers to the Internet giants." The low profitability (between 0.6 and 2%) of the booksellers are not given because the means to invest. All of these proposals, which must also preserve "editorial diversity of the French edition" will be sent to the Government.

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Guided by prudence and using a firm fingering, Angela Merkel hopes to finally bring his talents to HRD. German Chancellor, nothing could contribute as much to instill the "culture of stability Germanic" within the European Union that the appointment of his finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, at the head of the Eurogroup. The Financial Times Deutschland, Berlin is active behind the scenes in Brussels to impose this appointment.

The current head of the Eurogroup, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker, whose term expires in June, said he would not re-enlist. Refusing to comment on the rumors surrounding Schäuble, Berlin, however, refrained from any lie. Schäuble "is an excellent Minister of Finance and plays an important role" in the Eurogroup, was content to meet the Chancellor. "A series of appointments ahead" in Europe, she said simply.

Ratage ECB

According to an agreement within the EU, appointments to the head of the Eurogroup, the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB), as Chief of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Director of the European bailout fund (SS) must be negotiated in a block. If Merkel gets the nomination of his finance minister at the head of the Eurogroup, she will forfeit seek the leadership of the MES for the German Klaus Regling, current director of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) fast payday loan.

Angela Merkel, who missed one after the appointment of a German head of the ECB, then the position of chief economist of the institution, actively probe its partners.

The weight of the AAA

Experienced, respected and influential, Wolfgang Schäuble, 69, "has the best cards" to chair this group which brings together the finance ministers of the euro area, ensures the Financial Times Deutschland. Italian Prime Minister, Mario Monti, busy with his duties, and Finland's Jyrki Katainen have both declined the direction of the Eurogroup. Early in the week, Wolfgang Schäuble had implicitly placed in the race, ruling that the countries receiving AAA "are more likely to nominate a candidate" at the head of the Eurogroup.

However, the French president has not given its assent to the appointment of Schäuble. "Nicolas Sarkozy fears that Germany's position becomes too strong," writes the FTD. The paper added that the secretary general of the Elysee, Xavier Muscat, covets the leadership of SS.

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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.

White smoke comes not yet held Monday in Brussels, where a decisive meeting of the Eurogroup on Greece. It comes from the Italian Presidency in Rome, and the headquarters of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.

After a phone conversation with Angela Merkel and Prime Minister of Greece Lucas Papademos, Friday, Mario Monti issued a statement encouraging: "At the end of this conversation, which came in the details and which was conducted in a constructive spirit, three participants were confident that an agreement on Greece can be reached Monday, the Eurogroup. "

So far, mistrust prevailed. Especially since the previous Eurogroup, on Greece, was canceled Wednesday. "This time, an agreement is likely," said Jean Pisani-Ferry, director of the Bruegel think-tank in Brussels. "Otherwise it's too late, there will master more technical details …", he adds.

The challenge of this size Eurogroup is: give Greece its private creditors and the green light to launch the second bailout of Greece, estimated at 130 billion euros, to avoid a default in Greek debt falls from 14.5 billion euros on March 20.

That Greece is committed to the reforms demanded by the troika, beyond the April elections, Germany, Finland and the Netherlands had planned mid-week to split the bailout to not pay, firstly, that the sum needed to rescue private, or 30 billion euros. 

Exchange of debt

But this scenario is complicated, difficult to read for the markets, has been criticized by the IMF and European lawyers, who see it as a source of additional blocking with private creditors, asked to relinquish 70% of the value of their securities. "This option is no longer on the table," said Deputy German Finance Minister, Thomas Steffen. "We are ready to have a solid basis for a decision Monday," says the German Finance Ministry in Berlin.

The European Central Bank has brought his stone to an eventual agreement. Its chairman, Mario Draghi, submitted Thursday night, the vote of the Governors, the exchange of 50 billion euros of Greek bonds, which should allow eventually to redistribute 12 billion euros to Greece, which allocated to debt repayment countries. For its part, the IMF would be willing to contribute to the new rescue plan by a loan of 13 billion euros, reported last night the Wall Street Journal on its website.

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The Greek government plays its survival tonight in Parliament in a vote of confidence but the fate of Prime Minister George Papandreou seemed sealed after the failure of the referendum proposal. According to government sources, the leader of the socialist government has concluded an agreement Thursday with his ministers in which he agrees to resign and make way for a coalition government if they help him win the vote of confidence.In the first nine months of the year, net income rose 21.8% to 388.9 million euros and sales of 9.6% to 3.15 billion euros.

Sales of Hermès saddle-jumped over 18% in the third quarter to 683.2 million euros, the leading luxury group to raise its forecast for annual sales. The group also now expects an operating margin in 2011 "slightly above the historical level" reached last year.