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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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Presidential in major cities Paris | Leeds | Lyons | Toulouse | Leeds | Sheffield | Liverpool | Bordeaux | Lille

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.

While the latest statistics show an automotive market at half mast and some European manufacturers are expressing their concerns, the cars bought in France have never reached such high prices. According to The Argus, which published his 2011 portrait of the average car in France, the average price reached 21,181 euros, against 19,767 eurosen 2010. An increase of 1,414 euros (+12%) in one year!

According to The Argus, this trend is explained by the end of the scrappage scheme. And the French did not hesitate to turn to larger cars. The average vehicle in 2011 in France measure 4.19 meters long, 1.76 wide and 1.54 high. It weighs 1266 pounds and consumes 5 liters of fuel per 100km to 126 grams per kilometer of CO2 released.

The luxury SUVs are popular

The Argus notes and a sharp decline in so-called urban cars (-26%). The family (10%), major roads (37%) and minivans (18%) have however taken advantage of this change in consumption pattern. The SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle), including luxury, are also popular. And the price of the latter increased by an average of € 3660! Overall, the share of cars with less than 15,000 euros in sales in 2011 is 19%, from 15,000 to 25,000 euros, 45%, and more than 25,000 euros, 36%. In 2008 these shares were 24%, 46% and 29%.

The study of the Argus corroborates previously published figures by the Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers (CCFA) and published by Challenges. They reported a price increase of 15% compared to 2010. The average price of new vehicles, all brands, has reached 22,800 euros according to the CCFA. A rise in prices seen in all countries where a grant has been established to support the sector.

But if they are willing to spend more to buy a car, the French did not mean abandoning another means of transport, more environmentally friendly. He would have sold more than 3 million bikes in 2011. A figure up 5.5% over the previous year.

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Puma has taken the bull by the horns. At 33, Franz Koch, boss operational in nine months, is in his sneakers and his goals: "Back on the attack" ("return to the attack"), the five-year stimulus offensive launched in late 2010 after two years of restructuring, is, he assures, "on track, although we have much work." It must propel the feline claw in Bavaria, a subsidiary of PPR since 2007, 4 billion in revenue in 2015. 3 billion have been taken last year, thanks to a 11% increase in sales, driven by emerging countries. For 2012, the Olympics and the European Football Championships, the third sporting goods company remains cautious and expects an increase of 5 to 10% of its revenue and 5% for net income.

Sign that times have changed for Puma, the group revives right now with a strategy that he had put a halt in 2009, amid plummeting results: "We started to open its own stores, net balance, last year, "says Franz Koch. So again the griffeétend its own network of 500 stores, needed to control its image. Sales have increased by 9.5%, to 515 million euros. The 2015 plan should get their share in turnover of 17% to 20%.

In France, where Puma had only five clearance shops and a Parisian concept store, a second will open in May. Tens will follow in the world. But the bulk of its sales are made in multi-brand stores and franchises, especially in China (1000 to 1200 franchise worldwide, and one hundred openings are planned).

To restart the machine, Puma, inventor of the "sport lifestyle", sporty daily, draws another lesson from the past: his offer was not enough "cool." Thanks to a campaign on Facebook and stores, Puma seduces young again: darts and table football in the welcome new concept stores. "Our customers perceived primarily as a Puma shoe brand, which represent over half of our sales, we have therefore given to the center of new stores," said Franz Koch cash advance loan no fax.

Back to the roots

Among the new Re-Sweden tennis a 100% recycled vintage sneakers DJ contrast to children who issue jingles with every step. According to a consultant, next winter, new lines dedicated to fight back 10-18 years to Nike or Adidas Neo new brand for girls.

At a time when the loan-to-wear classic suffers, Franz Koch also wants to give more room for sports performance, "the lure less volatile than fashion." Sales of items for football, motor racing, athletics, sailing and golf will rise from 35% of sales to 40% in 2015. Lifestyle and fashion come down from 65 to 60%.

This return to roots sport is based on an acceleration in the sponsorship and sports marketing. The leading football in Africa has strengthened its contracts with the Italian Football Federation and Dortmund, two gun teams in European football championships. And implementation, the London Olympics, the Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt, who signed an online. Her delegation will wear shirts designed by the daughter of Bob Marley.

Puma will also more technical innovations derived products in its sports mode, for example, doubling a black trench for the city of tissue heat reflector, from sailing. To achieve this, Puma must deploy its innovation and provides only 10% of the range were there is little common to all countries. "Over the cycle of product innovation, broke out between different countries, too many products were abandoned, contributing to eroding margins," says one consultant.

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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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The joint complaint of the United States, Europe and Japan against China is not surprising. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has already ruled illegal last summer, Beijing's restrictions on exports of commodities in general. And China's argument that its quota of "rare earths" are intended to "protect the environment and achieving sustainable development" is not fooling anyone.

China, which recorded a trade deficit in February to $ 31.5 billion, supports its industry through subsidies and by keeping its currency, the yuan, at a deliberately undervalued. But at a time when the "Buy European Act", like the "Buy American Act", is invited in the French election campaign, there are concerns of a revival of protectionism in the world.

If one believes the Swiss NGO Global Trade Alert, trade tensions are "at their highest level since the Lehman crisis in 2009" and, since July 2011, "protectionist measures exceeded those due to liberalization three for ". In its latest report on trade barriers, Brussels estimates that European companies "have suffered from a revival of protectionism, especially in emerging countries."

This revival is not just Asia. In Brazil, where growth fell from 7.5% in 2010 to 2.7% last year, the Minister of Finance decided a 30% increase taxes on imported vehicles whose parts are not at 65 % at least "made in Mercosur" (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela) payday loans. The National Confederation of Industry of this country calls for new support measures.

Asia and Latin America in mind

Pretext not to disrupt the balance of payments, while its access to capital markets remains limited, Argentina imposed a series of restrictions "informal" imports: Porsche had to commit to buying wine and oil Argentine olive to bring a hundred cars, and BlackBerry has opened a plant in Tierra del Fuego to continue to sell its mobile phones. More generally, the Mercosur countries have agreed to increase their taxes, up to 35% on all products imported from outside of their block.

At the last WTO ministerial conference in December, its director general, Pascal Lamy, noted that the number of protectionist measures worldwide had increased from 220 in 2010 to 340 in 2011. China has two logical write two MEPs in a recent report: "the temptation of protectionism that conditioning access to its domestic industry to put its head in all new waves of technology (…) and that of the universalist ambitions of foreign market access. "

Certainly, calculates the WTO anti-dumping investigations declined from 213 in 2008 to 153 in 2011. But any return to protectionism today would cost $ 800 billion into the global economy, she warns.

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With rent "premium" (neighborhood prestige) set to 1 255 € / m² / year, Central London (West End, Midtown, City and Docklands) still holds the record for the most expensive place in Europe. Despite a decline in business, the rent "premium" has continued to increase throughout the year because of the shortage of Class A surfaces in the West End and Midtown particular. "This market has been driven by the technology sector, media, telecommunications and accounting firms," ​​says Dan Bayley, Director General for Central London at BNP Paribas Real Estate. The City has a lower rating but if we judge by the latest transaction carried out at 710 € / m² / year in the Leadenhall Building on 17,652 sqm leased by Aon, the insurance brokerage firm and reinsurance.  

Geneva on the top rent is € 818 / m² / year in a market but only on narrow 35 000 m² of offices.

Central Paris arrives in BNP Paribas Real Estate ranked third with an average premium value of 810 € / m² / year, sometimes exceeded in the seventh district, which is now part of Paris CBD (Central Business District).

Moscow climbed to fourth place with a rent of 544 € / m² / year in the downtown core that can reach 800 € / m². Conversely, on some streets listed under the rent reduction: Leningradskoe on Higway, 39, Olympia Park in the building, nearly 30,000 sqm were leased by Kaspersky Lab to 465 € / m² / year flexcheck cash advance.

Milan keeps fifth place at 520 € / m² / year, posting a stable rents despite an increase in transactions of almost 10%. The five other cities do not cross the threshold of € 500 / m² / year. Stockholm, however, comes close with a rent premium of 484 € / m² / year after rising nearly 13% in one year, closely followed by Luxembourg at 480 € / year / m increase of 5.3% …. ….

With 432 € / m² / year, Frankfurt is still the first German city in rental value and activity despite an increase in rents of just 3% and stability of transactions.

Rome maintains its 420 € / m² / year for almost two years despite a fall, this year 12% of its activity. It is also the only city in the Top Ten in not having increased in value during this period.

Munich comes in tenth position to 396 € / m² / year. "The city is experiencing strong growth, which reflects on the office property. Rents have jumped 10% in a year in take-up has almost doubled in one year, from 599,000 m² to 883,000 m², "said Piotr Bienkowski, Executive Chairman of BNP Paribas Real Estate Germany.

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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.

An overwhelming majority of Germans opposed the new plan of aid to Greece, considered the Rhine as a "bottomless pit": 62% were against while 33% are in favor of the second package, according to a survey of Bild am Sonntag. But Angela Merkel is assured of getting a solid "yes" of members of the Bundestag on Monday. However, the majority of the Chancellor will maintain pressure to deny any increase in the German bill, while the finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, no longer excludes a third bailout.

For the seventh time in less than two years, 620 members of the Lower House of Parliament shall meet in extraordinary session to give the green light at the European level against the debt crisis. Each time, Merkel has to struggle to gather behind his own majority. German lawmakers must approve by a large majority a motion detailing the decisions taken in Brussels a week earlier by the Eurogroup, essentially a second aid package of 130 billion euros to Greece. Germany's share is $ 35 billion.

Incentives for a withdrawal of Greece from the euro area

There is no guarantee the success of the second plan, according to Wolfgang Schäuble, who does not dismiss the idea of ​​a new bailout program in the coming years. "We can not say with certainty that the path taken will be successful. It is also possible that this is not the last time that the German Parliament will have to consider financial assistance to Greece, he wrote in a letter to parliamentarians, urging them to approve the bailout plan in Athens. Because I am convinced that this is the track I require your support for this plan. "

For the first time this weekend, a member of the German government has called for an output of Greece in the euro area. "I do not mean to exclude the Grècede the euro area, assured the Minister of the Interior, the Bavarian conservative Hans-Peter Friedrich, but to succeed in creating incentives for a withdrawal that can not be broken." It considered "the greatest chances of Greece to regenerate outside the Economic and Monetary Union." The observers will scrutinize closely the number of rebels in the majority of the Chancellor. Considering that this is the least damaging solutions, many elected officials should vote the plan rather ungraciously.

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