The chief executive of industry group, explains how the deployment of its strategy has helped revive growth.
LE FIGARO. – How was the beginning of the year for Schneider?
JEAN-PASCAL TRICOIRE. – We returned to growth of our business in the first quarter and the trend has accelerated sharply in the second with an increase of over 10%. Our total revenues grew 6.4% in the first half. The acceleration is even stronger in terms of profitability. Our operating income represents 15.2% of sales is up 3.6 percentage points a year. Our net income has more than doubled.We note therefore significantly our growth objectives and margin for 2010.
What were the factors driving this growth?
This performance is clearly the implementation of our strategy and deployment of our program One Schneider. First, we are reaping the benefits of diversifying our end markets and the strong rebound of two growth markets on which we have been able to take strong positions. It is the automation of machines and processes, very strong recovery with growth of over 20%, and the computer. The building and electrical distribution later in the cycle, are now beginning their recovery.
Secondly, our growth is driven by our strong presence in emerging economies.Thirdly, our growth in the smart grid (electricity distribution networks intelligent, Ed) is a strong accelerator solutions in renewable energy, including solar, intelligent management of energy in buildings, factories, homes, power grids, which we will soon add support infrastructure for electric cars. We propose new technologies and new services to our clients to improve their energy efficiency.
What has really changed in Schneider?
In summary, I would say we've turned a group of several brands, structured products, a Schneider Electric, which provides complete solutions to its customers. This change is radical.The teams work together more closely and we respond to the expectations of our customers.
This recovery is also strong in all markets?
We are growing all over the world, but in emerging countries the trend is most pronounced. The growth of new economies is 12 points higher than those of countries "ripe". These countries now represent over 35% of our business.
The momentum will he continue in the second half of the year?
I am counting on a similar dynamic in the second half thanks to the continued deployment of our strategy.
So you dismiss the risk of a relapse of the economy?
I remain cautious of course, but we are calm. We learned and demonstrated during the crisis of 2009 that he had to be flexible and very demanding on the costs. Besides, we not relax our efforts to reduce costs.We are committed to reducing our costs by 1.6 billion euros in three years. Halfway through, we have already achieved more than half of the effort announced.
Will you increase your efforts to research and development?
We did not hit our investment in R & D during the crisis. They still represent about 5% of our turnover. Our business is growing, we will be able to invest even more.
Where are you from the integration of the distribution business of Areva T & D?
The transaction was formally completed last June 7. Nearly 11,000 people have joined us and the teams work together with great enthusiasm. This acquisition will bring about one billion euros in additional revenue in the second half, although with today's level of profitability below that of the group.Our challenge is to move up quickly.
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A standard feature of
life insurance quotes is a set of written terms and conditions which set out whether the policy being sought is a term policy or a permanent one.
Beginning last June, when Valeo has raised its outlook for the first semester, the group's management was expecting a turnover of 4.7 billion euros (+35% compared to the first six months of 2009) and was a operating margin of 6%, a level reached more than eight years.
This optimism came after the announcement of an activity in the first quarter, up 42% thanks to a rebound in production for the automotive sector at a very low cost structure and prices of raw materials declined. The shares had risen 7.5% while then 3.5% over the two sessions that followed the increase.
This Tuesday, July 27, Valeo announces half year results even better than expected turnover stood at 4.787 billion euros (+38%).The bottom line, it passes from red to green, with a profit of 168 million euros in the first six of 2010, against a loss of 213 million euros over the same period of 2009. And the operating margin reached 6.1% against 1.5% a year ago. This is the highest rate for ten years.
The growth of automobile production has been particularly dynamic in Asia (+43%) and especially China (45%). In the U.S., the increase reached 72%! Normal, after a first half of 2009 severely affected by the fall in production and the restructuring of some U.S. manufacturers.
In Europe, sales increased 23% despite the end devices scrappage and stabilization of registrations in the first half of 2010 (+0.2% versus the first half of 2009)."This phenomenon is due mainly to the effect removal of 2009 and the increase in exports outside Europe," the company said in its financial statement.
Now, Valeo expects operating margin for the year 2010 to a level "greater than 5%.
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Time is to digest the Paris Bourse. On Monday, the markets will deliver their verdict on the stress tests conducted on 91 European banks and published Friday after the stock market. Only seven institutions have failed, which means a respectable success rate of 92%. However, 17 banks post notes just averages. What a cool little enthusiasm. On Friday, Wall Street has shown optimistic about the outcome as evidenced by the fence in the green. But on Monday, Asian markets were more hesitant.
The response to stress tests should be the only source of entertainment markets on Monday. Indeed, any macroeconomic indicator is expected in Europe. In the U.S., the Commerce Department will release sales figures for new housing in the afternoon. As for American publications, not big ads not expected for this first day of the week.
As for currencies, the euro climbed slightly against the dollar in early morning trade: 0.05% to 1.2924 dollar.
Featured Banks
Who says interpretation of stress tests, said reaction of the banking sector. This morning at the Paris Bourse, the French banks BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Credit Agricole, Dexia, or BPCE, parent company of Natixis, have all the attention of observers. For the Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde, have no fear: French banks have succeeded in "this difficult test with flying colors, with honors.
Sanofi-Aventis lowered its earnings forecast for 2010
Sanofi Aventis said Friday that the first generic version of the anticoagulant Lovenox was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pay day advance.The supply of the generic, marketed by Sandoz in association with the American company Momenta began in the wake of the approval by the FDA. The news had tumbled 4.25% securities at the close Friday because the Lovenox was the second top-selling drug from Sanofi last year. In a statement, Sanofi-Aventis recalls his "reservations" about the approval by the FDA in regard to "patient safety".
The pharmaceutical group revises accordingly its earnings forecast downward, with "an evolution of the EPS of activities for 2010 of between 0% and -4% compared to 2009 at constant exchange rates. A turnaround from last April when Sanofi evoked a growth in earnings per share from between 2% and 5%.In addition, Sanofi would have views of the U.S. biotech Genzyme after the Wall Street Journal.
Fimalac was released Friday after market up its turnover by 6.9% to 443.2 million euros in the first nine months of its 2009-2010 fiscal year ending September 30.
April Faiveley Group and publish their turnover in the first half after the stock market. Icade and Klépierre unveil at the same time their interim results.
The Regulatory Commission (CRE) had just agreed to the request of GDF Suez to raise gas prices as of July 1. They grow by 4.7%, bringing the increase to nearly 15% since the beginning of the year. Although this further increase was expected, the household energy bill begins to weigh.
However, Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economy, warned Friday that gas prices will not move until 1 January. Consumers will escape upwards so that additional sketched already by 1 October – the price revision is now making quarterly.
The "pause" as required by the Minister is made on behalf of a review of the formula currently allows GDF Suez to calculate its rates. In spring, the regulator had already begun an audit. It will therefore continue, before the drawing, probably new method of calculation.Knowing that GDF Suez is currently conducting a number of renegotiations with producer countries. "I hope that the CRE do an audit of this formula because I'm quite surprised at the speed of execution and I wish that as a result of this audit, we determine if the formula is good," said Christine Lagarde Friday on France Inter.
"The current tariff is not obsolete, but it can be optimized," says one expert dossier.In discussion, the long-term contracts underlying the supply of GDF Suez (with key suppliers such as Russia, Algeria and Norway), while the spot price of gas fall very weakly into account in calculating the formula.
The government takes the hand
"On a more general issue is whether to continue to index the price of oil on gas prices, even though overproduction of gas worldwide has resulted in a fall prices, "says one expert. However, increased consideration of market prices in the establishment of the formula may increase the volatility of rates. In all cases, the balance is difficult to find.
For the government, the record price of gas remains thorny.Early this year he thought he had found a solution by entrusting exclusively to the regulator, on the proposal of GDF SUEZ, the task of settling. But after two significant increases in quick succession, the government, well aware of the unpopular side of the increases among the public, are now forced to return to the game
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On June 24 could mark a turning point in the sequence of events which follow union since the beginning of the year. The day of action against the pension reform held this Thursday at the invitation of the Inter should indeed attract more people than the previous three. Even Eric Woerth not contested. "The mobilization is certainly strong, we expect, we do not fear," said Minister of Labour.
198-point rallies in the sunlight, have been identified in the territory, and calls for strikes in the business (as in Saint-Gobain, Michelin, Total, Airbus, BNP Paribas, L'Oreal, France Telecom, La Poste …) have gone by since the beginning of the week."We also have many echoes of private sector employees who intend to engage in metallurgy, construction or commerce", says it does at the headquarters of the CGT. "There will be the world because people do their calculations and there is a strong sense of injustice grows," added Lawrence Berger, the CFDT. "We will exceed one million, has predicted Bernard Thibault, secretary general of the CGT. Either than May 27, last mobilization date between 395,000 (police said) and one million people (according to the CGT) took to the streets, while the government had not yet unveiled his plan.
Signs of Discontent? Mobilizing transport which should be more punitive than the previous ones, despite the delayed implementation of the reform (2017-2023) in the special regimes. 15% of flights from Orly and Roissy airports were canceled.Traffic will be disrupted in urban transit. At RATP, six out of ten metro will operate at peak times, two to three RER A, RER B on a five … In the provinces, buses, subways and trams 69 cities (Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes …) to turn slowed. At the station, traffic should be guaranteed for two TGV, TER two and a Corail train four.
Sarkozy "listening"
Another sign of discontent rises? The processions will host delegations FO and CFE-CGC, although their confederations do not be associated with mobilization. "We should join Inter at the start but we left the league that had called for demonstrations to go," says Carole Cloudy, Secretary General of the Central Executive.As the CFTC, who left the Inter-months ago, she called yesterday's activists to protest for women's retirement.
As a sign of openness, Nicolas Sarkozy promised on Tuesday to be "listening" and "very attentive" to the discussions this summer with the unions on "the situation of those who started work very early, the situation of those who have difficult jobs and difficult question of polypensionnés. But there is nevertheless unlikely that the mobilization, even important, pushing the head of State to change its text on one terminal (62 years minimum age for a pension, and 67 years of age full rate) key points of the reform.
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The event is sure to attract fans. The Aston Martin led the most famous British spies in the movies "Goldfinger" in 1964 and "Operation Thunder (Thunderball) 1965 will be offered at auction in London next October 27. The highlights of the annual event "Automobiles of London" jointly organized by RM Auctions Canadian houses Sotheby's and Britain, the DB5 driven by Sean Connery – James Bond aka 007 – is an over-equipped model.
It has indeed all the gadgets invented by "Q", the famous scientist in charge of research and development office of MI6 in the series.The purchaser may then take the machine gun that shoots more bullets for security reasons, swivel plates, spreaders with nails, oil, smoke, a sunroof and other shield bulletproof … The car has undergone a thorough technical inspection after several years without moving, can reach speeds of 230 kilometers per hour thanks to its 282 horsepower.
$ 12,000 in 1965
Praised by Aston Martin for the production company EON Productions during the filming, the shooting star was subsequently bought by American radio host Jerry Lee. He then paid $ 12,000 – about 9800 euros to acquire the DB5 and the famous plates "FMP 7B" internationally known.
The sum should be widely exceeded at auction in October, the proceeds will go to the charity of the current owner who works against insecurity and crime. RM Auctions think that auctions should exceed 3.5 million pounds (4.2 million euros). Christian Huet, an expert in car collection of the National Alliance of Automotive experts estimate the high court. Such sums are reached only by him on sales of car racing, and when museums are buyers. Recently a Bugatti Atlantic has been acquired for more than 20 million euros.
"An Aston Martin DB5 is generally estimated at around 200,000 euros. This version accessorised could be at least double or even 450,000 to 500,000 euros, "said the expert. A price he thinks warranted, and which the former James Bond car can be sold later."The fact it was sold in favor of an association could also drive up his price," admits also Christian Huet.
The U.S. investment bank is once again slammed. After being accused of fraud by the SEC, the policeman of the American Stock Exchange, Goldman Sachs is now summoned by an American committee. The Commission of Inquiry on the financial crisis (FCIC) which, by its investigations, seeks to identify the roots of the financial crisis, accuses Goldman Sachs of failing to comply in a timely manner to requests for disclosure and interviews.
The institution would, according to the FCIC, responded voluntarily incomplete and unsatisfactory to queries. Members of the Commission indicated that, after having asked some very specific, it had received investment banking unreasonable volume of documents, nearly 2.5 billion Web pages without an index, which does not meet questions."Our view is that they were very unhelpful, they do not provide us the documents we requested," said its chairman Phil Angelides.
The leaders of Goldman Sachs categorically deny these accusations. A spokesman for Goldman Sachs said the bank "continues to provide the information requested FCIC.
Until now, the French have not felt the effects of policy, expenditure control has been conducted since 2007. For the general revision of public policies (RGPP) merely cut in the organization of the state, culminating with the non-replacement of staff on two retiring. After the controversy arose in Spring 2008 when Bercy had failed to dent the map "families," the executive had resigned himself to not touch, or marginally so, the expenses of intervention, ie policy social and wider economic (costs targeted exemptions, housing subsidies, RSA, assisted contracts …) and subsidies (crops, including transport).
Today, given the magnitude of deficits, the government changed its tune.In framing the letter he sent to all departments, Francois Fillon requires a 10% decline in value of intervention expenditure in the period 2011-2013. "To meet the target of freezing government spending-load of debt and pensions, we can not content ourselves to work on the only day operation of departments," said Baroin's entourage, the Minister Budget. In fact, operating expenses, such purchases, computers or real estate, representing less than 20 billion euros, while the operating expenses weigh 67 billion. The Prime Minister had already announced a cut of 10% within the past week payday loans. Measurement confirmed in the letter of framing.The extension of this plane to political intervention will save 6 billion more to the state by 2013.
Difficult choices
Remains now to determine exactly where the cuts will take place. Discussions between Bercy and the ministries that will lead to arbitrage mid-June, tight ahead, as the operating expenses are political. Social expenditures account for half wicket. For them, it will take "specific reforms," according to the letter of framing. Minister of Youth, Marc-Philippe Daubresse however assured Wednesday that the criteria for awarding the RIAA will not be changed. The other half of the expenditure is made up of sectoral aid.Transport (including rail network of France), agriculture, housing and culture are on the front line.
"More generally, all departments will freeze all spending," insists one at Bercy. Including, therefore, that of Defence, while the military budget law provided an increase in appropriations. But everything should be done to ensure that capital expenditure are chipped to a minimum.
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An afternoon and night to negotiate a little. Finance ministers of the European Union gathered in Brussels on Sunday to develop a European Support Fund before the opening of Asian stock markets in the night. The mechanism would be for the countries of the euro area are experiencing difficulties in refinancing their debt markets.
These negotiations will be tough. If Sweden, which does not belong to the eurozone, said she would not rule of replenishing the fund for assistance, the United Kingdom, he was categorical. It will not contribute to the plan because it is not part of the single currency club.
"I think it is important that we do everything we can do to stabilize the markets …Be very, very clear: if there is a proposal to create a stabilization fund to the euro, it must be left to the Eurogroup countries, "said British Finance Minister, interviewed from Brussels by British news channel Sky News.
Despite these differences, the EU wants to send a strong signal to markets. They have since the beginning of the crisis in Greek, brought little credit to European decisions. On Sunday, the Spanish Minister of Finance, Elena Salgado, has shown great volunteer arriving in Brussels for talks: "We will defend the euro, we believe that we should give more stability to our currency, and we will do what is necessary to achieve that goal. "She also stated that "Spain does not intend to use this fund."
The original idea was that the European Commission to borrow under the guarantee of all countries of the European Union, including those like Britain that do not use the euro, as it is mechanism of the EU, diplomatic sources said.
To validate such a device would require the approval of a majority of the 27 qualified enough that EU ministers meet in Brussels, but the goal is to have a consensus.
An agreement must Tonight
London's refusal to participate could force the euro zone to fall back on a loan facility guaranteed by the only countries using the single currency, an option also being considered.
The contingency plan for defending the single currency will he ultimately guaranteed by all countries of the EU or the only states in the euro area? "It's a question for debate," a diplomatic source admitted to another European country.
The British, they refuse to give their guarantee for loans in Europe, however, are willing to approve in principle the establishment of the Stabilization Fund, according to British sources.The latest proposal on the table talking about a $ 60 billion for the fund, she said.
The euro area is imperative to reach an agreement before financial markets open in Asia on Sunday night to Monday in order to be able to reassure investors after Greece took in their sights Spain, Portugal or Italy.
London also in turmoil
The United Kingdom is, as the euro area in turmoil. The elections on Thursday did not produce a clear majority in Parliament, which is at once suspended. Because of this uncertainty, the pound fell Friday below 1.46 dollars, its lowest in a year.
Markets are particularly concerned about the reduction of budget deficit British, the highest of the major EU countries. It reaches 12% of gross domestic product (GDP).What dig the debt, which could peak at 94.1% in 2011, according to the OECD. The rating agencies expect the presentation of a future austerity plan to degrade or not the "AAA" rating from the United Kingdom.
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