International & World Report

"After a rigorous regime of five open time of the attack by external growth," warned in March industrialist Vincent Bolloré, chairman and largest shareholder of Havas, on the occasion of the annual results of French communications group. First founding of the strategy of conquest, Havas announced Wednesday a majority stake in Host, "the largest independent creative agency in Australia," said David Jones, appointed four months ago, Havas CEO after chairing the network Havas Worldwide (Euro RSCG and Arnold).The group is already present in Australia through the agency Euro RSCG, Red Agency, Arnold Furnace and Media Contacts.

Founded in 2000 by Anthony Freedman, integrated advertising agency Host has 120 staff and advises clients such as Vodafone, Levi's, Coca-Cola Company and Australian companies BankWest, BT Financial Group and Sydney Water. Havas did not provide the amount of the transaction. David Jones said, however, that Host is "growing with double digit growth in its income for five years." Gross margin for the agency, which will retain its name and its current leaders, is estimated at about $ 30 million. "This acquisition is strategic for Havas, is its CEO. This is the largest independent agency in Australia, a brilliant creative agency several times crowned by lions at Cannes.It is also entirely consistent with our model by placing digital at the heart of everything we do. Over 30% of revenues come from digital Host. Finally, with Host and after the acquisition in late 2010 Porda corporate agency in Hong Kong, we increase further the percentage of our revenue in Asia Pacific. "

750 million cash

This external growth "measured but determined," to borrow the words of Vincent Bolloré, must lead the sixth largest global communications to reach 2.5 billion euros in sales within three years. In 2010, revenue was $ 1.558 billion."We now have a healthy balance sheet with cash of 750 million euros, one billion dollars available for acquisitions while in 2005 Havas posted debts of 750 million euros," says its new CEO.

To refine its strategy, David Jones was held in mid-June sixty major Havas executives in Barcelona. The group aims to strengthen in Asia and Latin America as well as in the digital businesses, with "priority given to social networks and geolocation, which represents the opportunity to major transformation of our industry." In 2010, digital accounted for nearly 20% of its revenues. But unlike its big French rival Publicis, which absorbed Digitas, Razorfish and Rosetta, Havas does not increase the scope of redemptions in the industry."We prefer to focus on budgets and talent at the heart of our agencies, rather than isolating them in silos experts, sometimes paid dearly, insists David Jones. That's what we did in recruiting team or Modernista digital with the acquisition of Socialistic. "Havas should also accelerate the deployment of its" microarray ", Arnold and BETC. The first, born in Boston, is a twenty offices around the world. The second, BETC, created in Paris by Mercedes Erra and Remi Babinet, will remain housed in the Euro RSCG network. After an initial introduction to London, BETC could export its "model of start-up" in the United States, Latin America or Asia.

The health of European banks, crucial to the future of the euro zone, is good, has hammered the EBA. This was based on the highly anticipated results of stress tests to measure the strength of credit even if prolonged recession. The supervisor had demanded a hard capital ratio of 5% the EU average was 7.7%. Of 91 institutions screened in 21 countries, eight failed the exam. The eight former "need 2.5 billion euros to build," said ABB.

Like last year, the figure is much lower in the eyes of the challenges faced by European banks, battered by the markets in recent weeks. These data, however, take into account some 60 billion euros to recapitalize by many actors involved European banks since the beginning of the year.Without this, 20 banks have also failed the tests. Above all, 16 facilities succeed narrowly, with a hard capital ratio below 6% which presents itself as the next steps to achieve.

Despite its efforts to restructure its banking sector, Spain realized, like last year, the worst performance: 5 Iberian institutions are recalibrated, including four savings banks, and seven others remain in a tie. Two Greek banks – tested on six – have also failed. Finally, an Austrian completes the list of poor performers.

France is doing well, What are the opportunity to the new Minister of Economy Baroin to praise "the strength of the universal banking model" in French. For its part, Italy, jostled for a week in the markets because of its huge debt, also managed a shot together.Italian banks had greatly strengthened their capital in recent months.

In Portugal, a weak link in the euro area with Ireland and Greece, no banking group is sticky. The Central Bank of Lisbon recalls, however, that the first two private groups in the country, Banco Commercial Português and Banco Espirito Santo proceed in three months to "increases in capital or asset sales."

European Summit on 21

It will take a few days now to say whether this exercise much more ambitious than the 2010 vintage will have served its purpose: to reassure the markets. Time for analysts to compile the exceptional amount of data disclosed by the banking community. In particular, their exposure to sovereign debt will be viewed under the microscope.Even before the publication of its results, check-up was considered inadequate in the trading rooms because it does not test the scenario of a failure of Greece, although its potential impact is partly taken into account.

A fault is the most likely outcome for investors, as European states do not find agreement. The prospect of a summit looming on Thursday for "the financial stability of the euro area and the future financing of the Greek," should restore confidence. Until then, the terms of a second rescue stumbled on participation with the private creditors, as required by Berlin.

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Busy schedule these days. The successor to Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the International Monetary Fund could indeed be announced this Tuesday – Christine Lagarde is the favorite -. But it is Greece that all eyes remain fixed, while growing and sy strikes may last until the vote of the austerity plan by the Greek Parliament which must take place by Thursday. However, it seems, according to analysts, the markets are betting on good news. While the euro area would, as a precaution, already developed a backup in case of a negative vote.

In the wake of Wall Street Monday closed sharply higher, the Paris Stock Exchange has expanded its gains yesterday, Tuesday, in the morning, but irregularly.After winning up to 1%, the Cac 40ne accounted for more than 0.77% in late morning, above the 3825 points, and 0.55% in mid-session at 3817.47 points.

On the currency markets, the euro declined slightly against the greenback mid-term, to 1.4275 dollar.

As for oil prices, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in August gained 0.29% to 90.87 even dollars in mid-session.

Housing: housing starts and building permits up

On the macroeconomic front, the number of starts of new homes increased by 11.4,% year on year in France for the period from March to May, while the number of building permits for these homes has increased 4.3%, according to figures from the Ministry of Housing.

At 18 hours, will be published the figures for registered job seekers and offers collected by the job center in May.

In the U.S., the S & P / Case-Shiller of home prices in April (15 hours) and consumer confidence in June (16 hours) are also expected.

Carrefour jumps, Casino unscrews Accor (3.01% to 29.44 euros) held in mid-session the head of the CAC40, while Alstom (-1.43% to 41.08 euros) was last in the index star. Alstom, which takes 14 hours to its General Assembly on Tuesday.Against a background of optimism about the outcome of the parliamentary debate on the budget austerity in Greece, the banking sector performs well: Crédit Agricole climbed 2.50% to 9.87 euros, Societe Generale is 1.54% to 38.25 euros, BNP Paribas rose 1.10% to 50.71 euros and Natixis gained 1.04% to 3.29 euros.

EADS: + 0.09% to 22.07 euros

China could control dozens of Airbus during a visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday in Berlin, said on Monday sources familiar with the matter.

Carrefour: + 2.16% to 27.02 euros; Casino: -5.10% to 62.54 euros

The distribution group received Monday a "proposal" to create Gama Brazilian joint venture equally owned by both groups in Brazil, the latter to eventually become a shareholder of Carrefour.Casino intends to disturb their alliance, saying the project "hostile", prepared in secret, but against which "has the power to oppose."

In addition, the rating agency Fitch has downgraded the French retailer Carrefour up a notch to BBB +, along with a negative outlook, expressing concern the pace of recovery activities and French pressure from shareholders , said in a statement Tuesday.

Thales: -0.41% to 28.27 euros

According to an internal study cited by the Tribune, the electronics group shows a drastic decrease of 13% of customer satisfaction since the arrival of the new direction.Some regret the centralization of applications and other lack of attention to their concerns.

Lagardère: + 0.92% to 28 euros

Analysts at the Swiss bank UBS raised their recommendation on the title to "buy" against "neutral" before.

Trigano: -4.08% to 22.10 euros

The specialist for caravans and motorhomes has said it expects a sales growth and results in 2011, following growth of 8.2% of its business in the third quarter, which covers the period from March to May

Teleperformance: -6.84% to 19.41 euros

The global call center cut its operating margin target in 2011 because of the recent slowdown in its business in the United States.

BioAlliance Pharma: + 1.83% to 6.12 euros

The biotechnology company said it had filed with the French Drug Agency an application for leave to Phase III clinical trial for Livatag, treatment of primary liver cancer.

CGG Veritas: + 0.06% to 23.2 euros

The group signed with the oil services group Bourbon marine services to offshore oil and gas a charter contract for five years to six new vessels support and assistance to its seismic surveys.

"We resist '. That is what could be read on the sign of one of the protesters took to the streets of Athens on Saturday to protest against austerity measures additional adopted by the Greek government to clean up its public accounts. Responding to the call of the country's two main unions, GSEE (private sector employees) and ADEDY (public sector), the thousands of protesters denounced the identified "social barbarism" After the enhanced supervision of international institutions in their countries . "We oppose the government and the memorandum for these barbaric actions and antisocial," said Gregoris Kalominis, an official of ADEDY.In a joint statement released on the sidelines of the event, the two unions have called for "a different economic policy, with measures of development and social measures that preserve jobs and increase our social and economic rights."

A plea against the recent economic decisions imposed on Greece. Yesterday, the country has received the "troika" (European Central Bank, European Union and International Monetary Fund) the green light for the payment of this summer's fifth installment of the loan of 110 billion euros granted in 2010. But a green light conditioning to "accelerate fiscal and structural reforms in the country", which Moody's rates still at 50% the risk of default within five years. Enough to arouse the wrath of the unions.Indeed, George Papaconstantinou, the Greek finance minister, has already announced it is less than a month an austerity plan for 2011, about 6.4 billion euros.

Hardening of social climate on another front

After nine general strikes, mobilization has been moderate on Saturday. The demonstrators were mostly employees of the public power company PPC, port employees and teachers. An event that went smoothly. Nothing to do with the excesses seen in previous demonstrations.

Mobilization and social deterioration seems rather move on another front, the less supervised by trade unions or political parties. Already experienced in Spain, a spontaneous party Internet illustrates the ras-le-bol of the Greeks, that of "outrage".Now, they do not hesitate to take sides publicly in the political class and physically, according to them responsible of the current situation. For ten days, these "outraged" gather every evening on the Constitution Square, just before the Greek Parliament.

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Arnaud Lagardere is now the sole master on board of a subsidiary of sports rights and live shows, Lagardère Unlimited. Discreetly and after two years of wrestling with his bodyguards, the head of the Lagardère group has decided to dispose of Olivier and Stéphane Schindler Guiguet, numbers one and two sports. Two evictions, revealed by the website of the Nouvel Observateur and La Tribune, which is concomitant to that of Christophe Bouchet, the CEO of Sportfive sports rights agency and principal subsidiary of Lagardère Unlimited.

In 2006, Arnaud Lagardere has the intuition of the potential market for sports rights. He also knows that this activity requires a critical mass consistent. To quickly position, he must hit fast and hard. He does not hesitate to put on the table 865 million euros to acquire Sportfive, a leading market players.

In the process, it will expand this activity with the arrival in the lap of the group of players such as IEC in 2007 and World Sports Group in 2008, followed by the acquisition last year's Best (Blue Entertainment Sports Television) American expert in the representation of athletes and the purchase of 30% stake in the American academy of sports training Saddlebrook. Two operations to "several tens of millions of euros," he admits. Arnaud Lagardere, it is clear that the market for sport and entertainment is its future. "Sport is a market of 100 billion dollars", he still recalled when publishing the final results of the group.

Trading at European level

Aware after the time of acquisition is that of consolidation, it equips its assets in May 2010 of a new structure called the Unlimited, which succeeds Lagardère Sports.She becomes the equal of other major subsidiaries of the media and he becomes the president instead of his lieutenants.

But this tutorial is not enough to take off the activity. In 2010, its sales collapsed by 23% to 396 million and its losses amounted to 96 million euros. In defense of Arnaud Lagardere, new players with deep pockets is coming to the market beginning with the Gulf countries. In addition, the European Commission is considering changing the rules of trading rights to be bought at the European level rather than nationally. What sharpening a little more competition. For the entourage of Arnaud Lagardere, it is clear that to succeed we must therefore focus its resources on a few key disciplines such as football. The head of the Lagardère group has not given up "to be the world's number one sport in five years."

The Paris Bourse started the week on a small decline. Has the image of Asian stock markets this Monday morning, the CAC 40 closed at 3942.53 points (- 0.21%). Today, the London hotel market is closed while Wall Street will not open either and will celebrate Memorial Day (as every last Monday in May).

This Monday was followed in particular the impact that will follow the announcement by Germany to shut down its last reactor in 2022. The country became the first industrial power to abandon atomic energy. Already in China, the values ​​related to coal soared when he appears as the best vehicle for investment, better than solar or wind power in the future.

European side, the news is charged.The Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said was confident Sunday in the payment of the next tranche of EU-IMF loan to avoid bankruptcy for rejecting an article of the German weekly Der Spiegelmettant doubt this release. Note that the Athenians flocked in their thousands on Sunday night in the central square of the capital, before the parliament, the fifth day of a successful mobilization against austerity, modeled on the Spanish "Indignant".

Ireland, she may have to request a new loan to the European Union and the International Monetary Fund if it fails to return on the bond market to raise funds next year, said Minister of Transportation the columns of The Sunday Times.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro retreated slightly against the dollar Monday in a quiet market due to the closing of financial centers in the United States and England. Around 0900 GMT (1100 Paris), the single European currency was worth 1.4291 dollars against 1.4317 dollars on Friday night.

Values ​​on the forehead, that Monday is the day of commencement of trading of shares of Areva. The beginning of the session is particularly volatile for the action that keeps change from red to green leaves about 2% to 29.65 euros.

The group's president, Anne Lauvergeon, also believes that the nuclear reactor projects under consideration will be delayed by about 6 to 9 months because of the review of data on plant safety, said Monday its president .

Renault leaves% to 0.70% 38.79 euros while known to be the name of the successor of Patrick Pelata to senior management. Portuguese Carlos Tavares, 53, an avid sports car and head for the Americas of the Japanese Nissan, Renault's affiliate, should be named the number two automaker French.

Dexia 0.21% leaves% to 2.413 euros. The Belgian-French group will pay no dividend for 2011 due to the cost of asset sales announced Friday, said its chairman Jean-Luc Dehaene, Belgian daily L'Echo.

EADS is virtually unchanged (+0.02% to 22.42%).Its executive chairman Louis Welsh said that he supported the introduction of a veto in the defense sector to prevent hostile takeovers, in an interview with Focus magazine. "It's not about bags and luxury goods, we are in an area of ​​national interest," he said.

Technip leaves 0.43% while the group was selected by Samsung for its Floating Shell gas extraction.

Total (-0.23%) acquired 25% of an exploration license offshore Qatar for an offshore field that extends over 5,600 square kilometers.

Petroleum.The Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said Sunday that the government could impose on oil to reduce fuel prices at the pump if they do not justify the price drops enough found so far by the administration.

Hermes pressure

Hermes was down 0.17% to 179 euros while the group holds a very important meeting on Monday. Saddler said the appeal: the voice of Hermes family shareholders, Bertrand Puech denounces "attempts to destabilize" the company by LVMH. The Adam, she filed a lawsuit that the family can not merge into a holding company.

L'Oreal (-0.06%).Daughter of Liliane Bettencourt, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, June 6 to ask the investigating chamber of the Court of Appeal of Bordeaux to cancel all records Bettencourt, citing a procedural issue attributable to the prosecution Nanterre.

Trading in Meetic is suspended while his American counterpart Match.com Announces Intention to bid for all outstanding shares of the French site. Internet dating site offers 15 euros per share in cash offer for its competitor.Its parent company said already hold 27% stake in Meetic.

Medica (0.83%) announced Monday it had signed an amendment to the credit agreement that was signed in June 2010, taking advantage of favorable conditions in the debt market to increase its financial capacity.

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"Controversy over a plan to double aid to Portugal

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What is the real plan of assistance to Portugal? Since Friday, the question is on everyone's lips in the country. Doubts have been launched by the third television station in the country, Sic, who spoke of the existence of two different versions of the plan signed by the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the Socialist government resigning.

Thus, a first version of the document, signed May 3 by the Socialist government after talks with the troika (EU, IMF, ECB), has been submitted for approval to the two main opposition parties, the PSD (center right) and CDS (right). But it is another version of the text, including changes in schedule, which was eventually signed officially by the government on May 17 in Brussels at a meeting of EU finance ministers.

A surprise for the opposition

This revelation has caused controversy in the country, forcing the Ministry of Finance to explain. In a memo to reporters, he confirmed the existence of "ad hoc adjustments" between "the draft memorandum of agreement" developed in Lisbon and "the final version signed by the Ministry of Finance, the Governor of the Bank Portugal and the European Commission on May 17 low fee payday advance.

Similarly, the outgoing Prime Minister Jose Socrates said the parties had signed "two documents, one with the European Commission, the other with the IMF, and the final text did the" make compatible . But for its part, the president of PSD, Pedro Passos Coelho says "not having been informed of these differences," which he said "are not just small adjustments."

For the socialist Jose Socrates, this mess falls at the worst time. The Prime Minister, who resigned in March following the rejection by parliament of its austerity program, is indeed a candidate to succeed himself for early parliamentary elections on 5 June. This Saturday, surveys conducted for the newspaper Publico and Expresso weekly show that PSD collects between 33.9 and 35.8% of the vote, beating the Socialist Party, credited with 32.3 to 34.1% of voice. CDS (right) remains in third place with 11.3 to 13.4% of the vote.

(With Agencies)

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"Suicide remains as THE SOLUTION." With these terms Remy, France Telecom employee who set himself on fire at the site of Mérignac Tuesday concluded a six-page letter, sent to the director of social relations and the HR group, Brigitte Dumont . This document, which has acquired the website Médiapart, quoted by Le Parisien and Aujourd'hui en France-, dated September 2009, when the company was plunged into controversy following the suicides of several employees.

At that time, Remy already denounced the "cowardly, poverty and lack of managerial responsibility" that prevailed at the highest level of the company.On a smaller scale, pressure from managers suffered by him and his colleagues is also highlighted with specific examples, as the site of Périgueux: "You and you you're welcome physical tomorrow morning, you will help these cons of trading, it will teach you to live, "would have launched one of the managers. "No control, no reaction," protested the employee.

"Those who are left are very poorly"

Citing a "terror management as well," Rémy, 57, talks about his own situation, he said, is the same for most workers over age 50 victims reorganizations. According to him, this category is often placed in positions that have nothing to do with his skills."Frames dispossessed of their power, they do nothing," he described, adding that "those who are abandoned and forced to cope with failure in everyday life are very bad."

At the time, Remy tries to change his position. It was not until a year after sending the email to be reassigned to a job more in keeping with his profile.

The last post

From Florence Baillard-Bordes, coordinator of the CFDT delegate quoted in Le Parisien, Remy was "hopeful" in the first days of taking office last fall. "But since the beginning of the year, he felt very disappointed. He told us that the measures announced were a smokescreen, "referring to the new social contract established by Stephane Richard, successor to Didier Lombard.

Also, last February, he sent another letter, by mail to the site director of Bordeaux Chateau d'Eau and uses the copy shop steward. As responsible for prevention, he mentioned the case of an outstanding colleague and again denounced "the methods that should have been abolished." He wanted to be convened to discuss in more detail but it was never answered. "Rémy was outstanding for several years and has not been heard," says Florence Baillard-Bordes. His family claims now follow "legal, political and social in this case," says Gilbert Hanna, union Solidarity 33.

For his part, Stéphane Richard promises to learn from the suicide of the employee: "I intend to do that this investigation is particularly thorough and transparent," says he.

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Strawberries that taste, crunchy and tasty carrots, strained the farm … in good milk products of the 450 gardeners and farmers grouped under the name the small producer a hit in supermarkets. Latest additions to the range, dairy products available since March in more than one hundred Monoprix Paris. "I sell yogurt 20,000 per month to Monoprix, which has undertaken over one year," said Philippe Ridet, a farmer in the Yvelines Allainville. My products are best valued by at least 10%. "

An approach that meets the expectations of consumers. "The future of agriculture is at the local! Launches Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Agriculture and Food, a staunch supporter of the Small Producer. Import apples from Chile is an economic and social aberration.Consumers understand less and less why, in France, we are bringing products from across the world. "

But to bring supply and demand, it was still necessary to involve the supermarkets. "The idea is to create a link between man-made production, the farmers and consumers," said Stephane Macquaire, Managing Director of Monoprix. It is up to us to further develop this proximity between production areas and our customers. "This loyalty to our customers who have confidence in these products," adds Didier Debievre relations director with the agricultural world at Carrefour.

The latter has also embarked on the process. In the hypermarket Carrefour d'Aix-en-Provence, Ludovic Bonnafoux, a small producer in Grans, near Salon-de-Provence, is two months since the incumbent local provider.Photo of the gardener and his wife Magali is displayed in a large center island fruit and vegetable store online cash advance. Last week, the baskets of pot-au-feu accompanied by a recipe went like hotcakes. "It's just my department, I want it to be perfect," said the gardener, who regularly checks the status of the stand. "This partnership assures me every week and saves me an outlet to sell off my surplus," said Ludovic Bonnafoux.

Distributors to the local search

"The original idea was to allow consumers to know where did the products," explains Nicolas Chabanne, founder of the Small Producer, an association formed in 2003 to assist producers. He began by organizing direct sales at farm, then became known by delivering hospitals, the press and politicians.First and foremost the president, Jacques Chirac at the time. After four years, Bernadette eventually even receive the producers in the hall of the Elysee. Next step by the summer school canteens. Bruno Le Maire, who wants to change the legislation on tendering, will enable them to buy from local producers.

Small Producer of Fame, which was formed in the meantime a limited company, it has gradually win against the distribution. Sold up to 30% more expensive fruits and vegetables appealing all signs, happy to have more than one partner. The small producer, which began with convincing luxury shops such as Fauchon and La Grande Epicerie, now 600 products referenced in a thousand points of sale.Its sales this year expected to exceed 10 million euros, three times more than last year, and hopes to be the beneficiary in one year. His next challenge, decline the concept of small producers in the meat.

"Participation is beyond anything we dreamed. It's fantastic. It is the largest event in a generation in London, "enthused the general secretary of Unite union, Len McCluskey. "There is a palpable anger in this country and hundreds of thousands of people came here to say cash advances pay day loan. According to police, there would be almost half a million people, "he said.

Protesters across the Waterloo Bridge. Photo credits: Paul Hackett / Reuters