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Otis to participate in its World Cup football 2014 in Brazil. The U.S. company will install in Rio escalators and elevators of the legendary Maracana stadium, refurbished for the occasion. Recently it has also equipped the Burj Dubai Khalifa, the world's highest. And he was chosen to implement its latest generation of products to the Empire State Building in New York.

This series of prestigious contracts is part of a long history for the brand created in the 1850s by Elisha Graves Otis, inventor of the elevator. Since then the company has been incorporated into United Technologies, which has other subsidiaries such as air conditioning specialists Carrier or aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.

Otis remains the king of lifts, with 80% of appliances brand in major tours around the globe. What outdo his most serious challenger, the European Schindler, ThyssenKrupp and Kone. "We are the world leader with a market share of around 25%," says Peter Dejoux, president of Northern Europe and Africa at Otis.

Last year, the group continued to race ahead: its revenues ($ 12.4 billion, or 9.6 billion euros) was up 7%, while its profit before tax (2 , $ 8 billion, or 2.2 billion euros) rose by 9%.

400,000 new lifts in China every year

Yet the recent history of Otis is anything but smooth sailing. First, the group has changed its mind. Exit the French Didier Michaud-Daniel, income in the Hexagon head Veritas, the certification specialist. Since mid-February, it was the Spaniard Pedro Baranda is at the helm. In the aftermath, Peter Dejoux took over some of the functions of Bruno Grob, one of the great figures of the company, died suddenly in November 2011. A new management team, while the global landscape of elevators undergoing a profound transformation. "Growth is high (5 to 10%) in emerging countries like China, India and Brazil as the market is spread in France, posting a decline in Southern Europe", illustrates Dejoux Pierre. China, for example, has become the world's largest market for new lifts, with 400,000 units installed each year.

To meet demand, Otis adapt its industrial sites and multiplies in the new El Dorado. The group built an elevator factory in Chongqing, the metropolis of western China, its fourth in the Middle Kingdom. In India, it will triple the capacity of its plant in Bangalore. "We are implementing there partly because these countries are sensitive to what we produced on site, said Peter Dejoux. But, from our factories in China, we serve as the countries of Southeast Asia. "

Moreover, these markets booming, the group has bucked his offer. With Otis brand, it offers high-end products like the Gen2 elevator to consume 60% less energy. But he also established joint ventures with local companies to distribute products from entry level. In India, in Gujarat, it sells brand elevators Trio. Thailand, Indonesia and South Africa, it distributes the references of another elevator manufacturer, Sigma.

In mature markets, the focus is more on maintenance, which often represents nearly 70% of sales. Otis has launched a dozen countries in a service called Elite that can repair elevators and remote … to increase the annual subscription of 200 to 250 euros. Contracts of this type have been subscribed for 80,000 units, a total of 1.8 million elevators maintained by the group in the world.

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The first thing to do while deciding upon an insurance policy is to get the term quotes from various life insurance companies.

 

If it is a voice that carried Washington to moderate the heat-regulating the political class, it is that Jamie Dimon. Basking in the solid background of his bank during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, the CEO of JP Morgan had indeed become the "king" of risk control. And for four years, it is he who plays the role of informal spokesman of the profession when it comes to denounce the excesses or inconsistencies of new financial regulations.

This means that the trading loss of JP Morgan will cause shock waves far beyond the U.S. bank itself. Because the event takes place at the heart of a highly topical debate in the U.S. and Europe: that the application of the Volcker rule. This rule, named after former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, seeks to prohibit banks that collect deposits from households to perform speculative operations. It was incorporated into the enormous legislative package – the Dodd-Frank – pass Congress in 2010 and any revision of financial regulation.

Activity called "cover"

Prevent commercial banks from becoming casino, the idea is consensual. But the implementation creates endless debates. The Volcker rule bans the proprietary trading – made with the bank's own funds and not on behalf of clients – and the management of hedge funds low fee payday loans. The definition of proprietary trading is difficult, however, and all the lobbying power of Wall Street is deployed to make it as restrictive as possible.

In the coming days, no doubt the arguments will carry less! Because JP Morgan has accused its massive loss on an activity called "coverage" – supposed therefore limit the risks taken by the bank, the kind of jobs that financial institutions want to continue in the future and they refuse to qualify speculative activities

.

What happened to JP Morgan will undoubtedly also affect Europe. The Old Continent is currently considering adopting its own "Volcker rule". A group of experts work on the matter at the request of the European Commission. Francois Hollande and included in its program a law of separation of banking activities. Jamie Dimon is in spite of himself to bring water to his mill.

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The specter of drought away with the recent rains. But the winter freeze damage to crops are more than expected as and as spring advances. "That damage is exceptionally large, Xavier Beulin regrets, FNSEA President. In total 600,000 hectares of wheat, canola and barley were destroyed by the cold wave of February. "

In a letter to the Minister of Agriculture, FNSEA asks Bruno Le Maire to trigger the emergency procedure in Europe. It provides "the inclusion of force majeure" as "a serious natural disaster affecting a major agricultural area of ​​operation", so that farmers continue to receive their aid.

The green light from Brussels

Payment of these grants is linked to European compliance by the operator of a number of criteria, including stick to crop type notified in advance. This "rotation" is defined in the declaration CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) that meet the farmers every year in May for the crops they will do next season. These conditions are required to receive direct payments. Other aid, indirect, are related to the implementation of certain agri-environmental standards guaranteed unsecured personal loan. The leaders of the FNSEA have already given the green light from Brussels. They now expect the French transposition.

Activation of this procedure will allow farmers, especially those in the north-eastern France, the winter freeze victims, not to be penalized twice: not only by the lower yield of spring planting, but also by a reduction in aid European sanctioning non-compliance of the crop rotation in their declaration CAP. Finally, the recognition of this act of God must allow an advance on anticipated aid on October 16, instead of early December.

Private insurance side, the amount of compensation that will be paid, should amount to some 70 million euros. But all farmers are far from having signed a contract to hedge. Finally, a new wave of freezing took place last week but it has affected this time departments of the central region, penalizing the orchards and vineyards.

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Benetton where history repeated scandals. There are a few more months, in November 2011, the Italian firm made history again by launching it's ad campaign "UnHate", featuring heads of state kissing.

Alessandro Benetton, son and heir to his wife in 2006 in Venice.

 

"We deliberately forced the line number 9 on our making it extremely low," warns immediately Métroz Thierry, head of the Citroen style. With only 1.27 m high and 4.94 m in length, it must be recognized that this concept car looks more like a shark of the road as a regular limousine. "This vehicle still contains all the genes of future DS," said Frederic Banzet, the brand manager for Chevron quick guaranteed personal loans.

The look of the number 9 is its first asset. Its large headlights stretched blending smoothly into a sculptural grille give it a personality that will not leave indifferent any motorist, whatever and wherever they are. This front is undoubtedly the first DS signature style.

The look of the number 9 is its first asset.

 

The main presidential candidates have one thing in common: they announce tax increases for years to come. None of them claim to return to zero deficit by cutting public expenditure only: they know that the remedy would be too much for the French social model. In addition, candidates are aware that economic growth alone will not fill the public coffers.

On this point, economists are even more cautious. Nicolas Sarkozy expects a GDP growth of 2% from 2014, Francois Hollande 2% in 2014 and 2.25% thereafter. "It would be wiser to predict growth of 1.5%," said Jean-Christophe Caffet, economist at Natixis. "And above all, to the same level, growth will generate less tax revenues spontaneously that during the expansion phase of pre-2007", warning Mathieu Plane, an economist at OFCE.

Mechanically, when the GDP is up, after the mandatory deductions. More profit, this means more corporate tax (IS), higher wages, better social security contributions and income tax (IR), etc.. But according to the type of growth, the correlation is stronger or weaker.

The economy of the early 2000s, characterized by a housing boom, was particularly conducive to tax revenue. And transfer taxes, a tax on real estate transactions, they reported to local authorities 9.6 billion in 2007, against 4.7 billion in 2000. The revenues of the ISF have almost doubled (2.2 billion in 2000, 4 billion in 2007). "Growth was also driven by household spending. A boon to the State whose main tax, VAT, sits on consumption, "adds Jean-Christophe Caffet. Finally, the SI was doped up to 2007 by record profits of banks. In a 2008 report, Philippe Marini, then general reporter (UMP) of the Senate Finance Committee, spoke of the hypothesis of a "bubble" of € 10 billion on tax burden.

"Adjustment Period"

A bubble that broke with the financial crisis. Scarce, taxes and social contributions decreased in 2009. The IS has collapsed, yielding 21 billion in 2009 against 51 billion in 2007. Since then, the tax burden returned to their pre-crisis level, with the exception of the SI (39 billion in 2011). "But if there had been no crisis, levies would exceed 23 billion that they are today. There is indeed a structural loss of revenue, "said Mathilde Lemoine, director of economic studies of HSBC.

In addition, revenues will not recover their train of yesteryear. "The growth model due to housing boom and strong consumer is finished. We have entered a period of adjustment, where wages will rise slightly. VAT, transfer duties, but also social contributions will grow less quickly, "said Jean-Christophe Caffet. So over the spontaneous surge of revenues, as before 2007. That's why taxpayers are involved since 2010. And if the economic growth forecast by the candidates was not at the rendezvous, higher taxes might be higher than 50 billion program of Francois Hollande and 16 billion provided by Nicolas Sarkozy.

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A first in the presidential campaign. Seven of the ten candidates have succeeded on Thursday on the same stage: that of the 66th Congress of the FNSEA in Montpellier (Hérault). Only the far left was missing, including Jean-Luc Melenchon.

All candidates have outlined three major challenges. First, that of the environment, including the management of water, while the French countryside lack of rain for the second consecutive year. Nicolas Sarkozy promised a simplification of administrative authorizations: "It is enough of a preliminary statement" to build dams for irrigation of crops, "up to 350,000 m3." Other candidates have called for better water management. "We're going to crises increasingly frequent and difficult," warned François Bayrou. Also on the environmental component, Francois Hollande has put forward the alternative energy sources. "Biogas, biofuel, biomass, these are new sources of energy and new income for farmers, said the PS candidate. We must share these investments. We will adopt a tax incentive. "

Secondly, virtually consensual: the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). "I welcome the positive signs that the new CAP takes with keeping its budget. Aids represent fair compensation for the farmer to a policy of low prices to the consumer ", ruled Francois Bayrou. Marine Le Pen is the only advocate a judgment of the CAP in favor of a "PAF" (French agricultural policy), that is to say a re-nationalization of aid. "I am here to defend the interests of French gardeners and French consumers. I do not want a Europe which includes agricultural servant of the WTO, "warned the leading frontist. The sovereigntist Nicolas Dupont-Aignan demanded "firm renegotiation of the CAP because we pay $ 7 billion more to the EU budget that we receive."

Reduction in the hourly cost

Finally, the third item listed, competitiveness. France is now the third largest in Europe in trade of agricultural and food products, behind Germany and the Netherlands. "There must be logical and contractual solidarity, to be more competitive. This will be the sense of public investment bank that will support the development of SMEs in the food industry, pleaded Francois Hollande. We will develop a collective and not individual contract between farmers and manufacturers, allowing visibility of volumes but also the prices. "

Nicolas Sarkozy has defended his hand down the cost schedule adopted under his five-year seasonal and the permanent employees that will result from the social VAT. "97% of agricultural workers are covered by a 5.4% decrease in payroll taxes," he repeated. As for the little candidate Jacques Cheminade, which boasts a history of commercial counselor of France in New York, he is committed to "put innovation and research at the center of the debate on agriculture to meet the challenge of 2050, that of feeding 9 billion of men. "

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Since the beginning of the campaign, the Business Institute is screening the proposals of the major candidates. Holland in the program, the single most "budget-" would be the creation of 200,000 contracts "generation" every year. This device is for a company to keep a senior until his full retirement and hire the same time a young person under 25 years, with exemption of social contributions on both jobs for three years. It would weigh between 7.6 and 8.3 billion euros per year, at the end of the quinquennium.

Besides, the cost of 150,000 "jobs of the future" seems almost weightless! It would reach 823 million, including exemptions from employer contributions for – minority – of these jobs in the private sector. More expensive would be the possibility to retire at age 60 and full rate for those who have paid 41 years: $ 4 cheap credit report.5 billion in 2017.

Some measures in the bill forgotten

As for the passage of 75% to 50% by 2025 the nuclear share of electricity generation – which means "to increase the share of non-renewable energy from 15% to 40%" – it would cost 1, 8 billion to the state in 2017, in the form of tax loopholes (and double for the consumer as higher electricity prices).

Finally, the independent think tank the valid order of magnitude announced by the PS 20 billion in additional government spending per year, a lame, totally financed by tax increases. In this detail: some measures have been forgotten in the bill – including all those evaluated today by the Business Institute!

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We can no longer say that sports fans are more addicted to TV land … In 2011 only, the Internet has indeed surpassed for the first time on television as their main source of sports information for young people. This is the main lesson of the annual study that Havas unveiled Wednesday as part of the Global Sports Forum (GSF) of Barcelona, ​​which runs until March 9. Entitled "Globalization and new media in sport", it looks in seven countries on the media behavior of sports fans over 18 years, that is to say, those who inform on the subject at least once a month.

Among them, the fans 18 and 35 years are 36.1% to learn about their sport or favorite team on the web, against 32.1% on the small screen. "Consumption" live "is increasingly complemented by a consumer" share "around the sporting event, explains Lucien Boyer, CEO of Havas Sports & Entertainment, which organizes the GSF. With a plebiscite for the video, since 48% of fans prefer this type of content written contributions. "It must be said that these images are often not available on other media.

Among younger (18-27 years), social networks Facebook and Twitter, growth drivers, topped platforms used, whereas 28-35 years have more trust in traditional media sites. All ages, television is still the media king to watch sports, because 94.3% of fans use it at least once a day for information. "The consumption of sports on the Internet is added to that on the small screen, it does not cannibalize, based Lucien Boyer. People tweet while watching Madonna at halftime of the Super Bowl final: there is a diversity of topics, shared across multiple screens. "

More international meetings

Second great lesson of the study: internationalizing the content, the Web supports the demand of international meetings of the fans. A third of them (35.8%) prefer "largely" local meetings. Apart from the English fans, all would also see more games from foreign leagues on their screens (60 to 80% by country). Globalization of content that plays on the reputation of the championships, especially in football. The prize is awarded to the English Premier League, which manages the feat to bring more fans abroad (58.9%) than at home. Like Barca Catalan (60%). Instead, the French league, still sealed by the fiasco of the World 2010, suffers from a strong lack of image, with only 5% of fans outside the hexagonal borders.

Originality, this year, the panel studied include Poland, within weeks of the start of the Euro 2012 football championship held in the country and Ukraine. A market that stands out from any influence of social networks, for reasons of Internet penetration. His teams also benefit from a more strongly associated with purely sporting values ​​(win games, offering a beautiful game …). This is not the case teams in Western Europe, associated with values ​​of "sports business". Chief among the objectives cited by respondents for these clubs seeking sponsorship, ticket sales and merchandising.

 

To provide a bright future, A Day Elsewhere facelift can not escape. The fund AtriA Capital Partners, majority shareholder of this brand of ready-to-wear "chic" for mature women, changed the executive chairman last year. Mission entrusted to Jean-Pierre Charpentier, "rejuvenate and dress the bride," says the new boss. Reinvigorate, or redressing, businesses to better sell, it's his job. This former CEO of France Loisirs has restored color to both sign Jacadi.

A Day Elsewhere door certainly does not hurt: slight profit, the company posted 187.2 million euros in turnover in 2011, up 3.5% on a comparable basis, 78% achieved in the Hexagon , which are installed 145 of its 215 stores.

However, seniors in the 2010s dressing "younger" and "Zara" than their elders, A Day Elsewhere urgently needed to afford a makeover in an attempt to conquer them. And reach more customers transgenerational, 45 to 99 years. Great first, advertising campaign of 2 million was distributed in a fashion magazine. Innovations emerge every month now, and the shops are gradually déringardisées.

Transfer of production

Exit the columns of a Greek temple and cloud ceilings kitsch. Storefronts are painted in taupe and white. Inside unfolds a light mango furniture. This new concept will rally by the end of March 30 of 215 stores. The loan-to-wear, if he retains the best-selling brand, collections "ceremony" models "cruise", gets a new line: The Essentials. An agreement with Swarovski helped to decorate jackets or coats of crystal knobs, glamourisant tailors declined in gray, black or blue.

As for accessories, an independent designer who has worked for Lancel, reinvented bags and pouches, covering them with bright leather or monogrammed coated canvas. Another, from Chanel Fantasy, has transformed the glass and plastic charms in gold or silver plated jewelry, more likely. Their prices range from 40 to 200 euros. They are made in France, where Jean-Pierre Charpentier also would like to produce more textiles. Fiber polyester, wrinkle resistant, currently produced in Korea, might as well, says he, being in the Hexagon.

A dual source of supply

The group has already relocated nearly 80% of its supply in Turkey and Eastern Europe, retaining only 20% in Asia, less competitive with rising production costs. For some products, Jean-Pierre Charpentier dual sourcing, shared between Asia and Europe. "I have adopted this system of dual-sourcing the day, when I was at Jacadi," he recalls, "we have not received the collection time for a parade." …. ….

These changes should attract 2 million customers registered in the global roster of A Day Elsewhere, Belgium, Luxembourg and Italy. For 2012, openings are provided, with the new concept, particularly in Brazil, with two to three stores by 2013, and the U.S., in department stores. Meanwhile China.

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