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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Vacationers should take their troubles patiently Tuesday night to Thursday early morning. These three days may indeed be synonymous disrupted air traffic at major airports of Paris and the provinces, due to a strike call launched by six unions of air traffic. Disturbances should begin on Tuesday evening and end Thursday afternoon, the time that the rotations of aircraft back to normal.
In a statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said he had asked the airline to remove 50% of flights at the airport of Orly and 20% of those expected at Roissy Charles de Gaulle.
For its part, Air France announced that 100% of long-haul flights will be provided, and that 80% of its flights short and medium haul routes from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and 50% from Paris-Orly."We can not exclude some flight cancellations throughout the day. Delays will also be possible, "the company said, calling his passengers to see the information updated in real time on its site, under" schedule "and" timeliness of flights, or by phone at 3654 and SMS sending their flight number to 63654 (eg by typing: AF2062).
CorsairFly for its part ensures that the strike "will have no change on the flight program, also expected some delays due to disruptions related. All rotations of the company will be assured. The company also urges customers to check their flights on its website.
The DGAC said that a strike slogan added "stormy weather that could disrupt traffic".More details are expected early Tuesday afternoon.
"A passage in force"
The CGT, CGC, FOR, UNSA UNSA-IESS and ICNA-call for mobilization to denounce the European program for creating Single Sky FABEC, and the dismantling of the DGAC. They denounce as in January and February, the establishment by the end of 2010, a single air control operator for France, Germany, Switzerland and the Benelux countries. "The creation of such a body fusion will inevitably lead to the dismantling of the DGAC, the structure was considered to be efficient in terms of cost, security and service to users," say the unions. Moreover, "this merger will mean the de facto release of all or part of his personal services and the scope of the State Civil Service.
Joffrin Olivier, secretary of the National Air Traffic Controllers CGT:
From our special correspondent in Tokyo
François Fillon has dropped the word naturally. He who rejects the word rigor in Paris, finally telling the truth in Tokyo. "Of all the state budgets, the only one who is not subject to discipline is that of Higher Education and Research, argues the prime minister, at the turn of a sentence imposed before an audience of five hundred Japanese businessmen and under the approving glance of Christine Lagarde.
True to his outspokenness, the Minister of Economy has not taken greater care to reassure the business community Nippon concerned about turmoil in Europe since the sinking of the Greek economy. "There is not in France, I can assure you of hidden deficits. We have a package of structural deficits, but our accounts are audited very seriously, "warned the owner of Bercy.What has been told to François Fillon not without humor: "Unfortunately, there is no hidden revenue either!"
The European austerity plans discussed at length
He came to Japan to reassure businessmen and Japanese bankers, Francois Fillon has long defended the austerity plans implemented in the euro area. The European currency crisis causes, in fact, Japan concern and uncertainty about the strength of the European Union. The major daily newspaper Nikkei has made his One, two days ago, the 30% decline in investment in the euro countries during the first half of 2010 faxless cash advance.
"I understand that, seen from Asia, our operations can sometimes be difficult to perceive and understand.But Japan's national interest is not to turn away from the euro, "Francois Fillon urged by recalling that Europe is" the great market of the developed world with 500 million consumers. Incidentally, he ditch tackle the Anglo-Saxon does not deliver, he says, a "balanced view of the success of the European Union" and invited his audience to read the German press and French.
Before leaving Tokyo, Francois Fillon met with his counterpart Naoto Kan. In addition to macroeconomic issues, the two men discussed several issues of the Franco-Japanese: nuclear, automotive and aerospace.Weakened by his recent defeat in the senatorial elections, the center-left prime minister of Japan can not implement as it sees the budget and tax reforms that could reduce Japan's debt, too colossal.
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Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphics.
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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A new twist to a week of the due date of the recapitalization of the World. Faced with the trio led by the investment banker, Matthew Pigasse with Pierre Bergé and Xavier Niel, a second trio was organized on Sunday afternoon, around the group BY SFA (holding the New Observer, owned by Claude Perdriel) of Spanish media group Prisa (El Pais) and France Telecom operator. In an interview with Journal du Dimanche (JDD) Sunday, the CEO of France Telecom, Stéphane Richard, proves to have "thrown, with Claude Perdriel and Prisa, the basis of an agreement."
15.01% shareholder of Le Monde group, Prisa was reticent after the refusal of the Executive to grant an extension until September to participate in the recapitalization of its ailing partner.The panel chaired by Juan Luis Cebrian put forward its own recapitalization involved with the U.S. Fund Liberty to justify such a postponement of the calendar. Last week, he emphasized its commitment to, inter alia, not to see its share diluted after World recapitalized.
Negotiations on all fronts
The new trio should table this afternoon deadline, a firm offer to provide a contribution of 80 to 120 million euros, against 67% stake in Le Monde group, the balance remaining in the hands of associations of employees, alumni and readers. If the trio is selected, two thirds of the capital would be divided between France Telecom (20%), ACS PAR (40%) and Prisa (40%). Claude Perdriel assumed the presidency of the Executive, Denis Olivennes merely a seat on the supervisory board of the World, which would be chaired by Louis Schweitzer. It remains to see who would hold operational control.The question does not seem to cut Sunday night "even though we reassured on good authority, we are heading towards a cocontrôle between groups Prisa and Le Nouvel Observateur No faxing 1 hour payday loans.
For its part, the boss of France Telecom has consistently received on Sunday evening, the approval of its board of directors to invest the "50 to 60 million euros" in Le Monde. This amount is primarily intended to buy "the participation of 34% of Lagardère in Le Monde Interactive (lemonde.fr …), estimated at between 30 and 40 million euros (the remainder, nearly 20 million euros, being invested in the holding head).
France Telecom is already in discussion with the group Lagardere, which would yield the same time its trademark rights The World.With this operation, the operator expects to realize significant synergies in terms of content and advertising revenue between its sites, those of the World and the Nouvel Observateur. On an investment after all, pleaded Sunday Stéphane Richard, in comparison with the "6 billion that the group invests every year." Especially since Claude Perdriel was anxious to negotiate an option to buy within five years 34% of France Telecom in Le Monde Interactive.
For its part, the trio Pigasse-Bergé-Niel Sunday still pursuing its discussions with various companies in the group's employees to enter into a governance agreement. This would include maintaining their right of veto over the appointment of a newspaper editor, a right to consultation regarding the group's director, and a right to scrutinize the use of the mark World. This agreement should be attached to the tenders submitted this afternoon.The employees will vote Friday before a supervisory board next Monday.
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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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Havana Club Rum, owned by a joint venture owned by the Cuban government and Pernod-Ricard continues to turn heads. For over three years, Bacardi, owned by Cuban exiles, sells in the United States (where the real Havana Club is blocked because of U.S. embargo on Cuba) rum he also called Havana Club, but distilled Puerto Rico. Bacardi claims to have acquired the Havana Club brand in the family of its founder, whose property was nationalized after the Cuban revolution.
To prohibit the marketing copy of this Puerto Rican, Pernod-Ricard (who has also taken action regarding the ownership of the Havana Club trademark in the United States) argued in federal court for the District of Delaware fans rum could be misled about the origin of the product no teletrack payday loans.The court rejected the request of the French group, which has decided to appeal.
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After Greece, Portugal? The degradation of the note by the rating agency Fitch on Wednesday placed the country under the Lusophone market attention. But nothing is to fear the worst: Portugal is not Greece, although the weakness of its economy worries for the future.
"Comparing Greece and Portugal is really too simplistic," wrote economists at the outset of IPC BNP Paribas in a note. Take note first of the country. Greece, with a "BBB +" is two categories below Portugal, rewarded for his share of "AA-". The degradation of the note Portuguese did not, moreover, resulted in a panic on the markets.Shortly after the announcement of Fitch, the cost of insurance on the Portuguese debt increased by only 5 points early Wednesday afternoon, with 139 points, according to Markit data.
If Portugal has a higher score, mostly because its debt is less severe than that of Greece. It should reach 90% of GDP in 2010, when the Athens peak at 123.3% of GDP, according to the OECD.
Reform and credibility
The best that Portugal has maintained its accounts in large part to the reforms already carried out social security and pensions. Result, expenditures related to aging, reaching 16% of Greek GDP between 2010 and 2060, will be limited in the case of Portugal to 2.9%, calculated the European Commission. "The impact of these reforms will be felt in the future, limiting the burden of an aging population," noted economists at BNP Paribas CIB.
Having made these reforms in Lisbon has guaranteed a much greater credibility than that of Greece. Apart from a National Statistics trusted, the country should not face great opposition to social reforms, as demonstrated by the fiscal consolidation undertaken between 2003 and 2007 are essentially the economists.
Concerns for growth
The Portuguese public finances so little to do with those of Greece. But the economic prospects are not rosy, however. "Our concern is growth," says a note Gilles Moec, economists at Deutsche Bank. "We believe that the likelihood of a return to budget deficits of 3% by 2013 (against 9.3% in 2009, Ed) is low."
The country's lack of competitiveness, exports depend mainly on its neighbor Spain, very bad shape.Especially, the level of indebtedness of households and businesses has reached alarming levels, thus jeopardizing any hope of quick recovery in domestic demand and investment. According to Eurostat, household debt represented in 2008, 105% of GDP, and the business 134%. Cons respectively 61% and 62% in Greece.
The large loan can be used to finance part of the additional costs of the Airbus A 400M? More precisely, the envelope of 1.5 billion dedicated to aeronautics of the future. No, says Jean Arthuis, the centrist chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate. "It would contradict everything we have voted, because the credits were for the green plane of the future and that the A 400M, this is not the plane of the future," he said.
This track is actually considered by the government must find a solution to finance the share that goes to France in support of the additional costs of the program. EADS, Airbus' parent company, and seven states customers have agreed on a share of the 7.6 billion financial slippage.The countries have agreed an extension of 3.5 billion euros.
For France, the bill amounts to 950 million including 550 million to cover the rising price of the unit and 400 million in the form of repayable advances on future export sales. The Department of Defense will draw from its budget to fund the increase in price but not advances. Because they are not granted an extension for Airbus to plug a hole but a loan with a rate of interest which the State should pay heavily. As far as the A400M carries a fine international career where his potential is estimated at between 300 and 400.
Another track
The 400 million will be financed from departmental funds, has already said Herv? Morin, Minister of Defense. For supporters of the use of large loan, the A400M is a good candidate.They said it meets the eligibility criteria because it is an aircraft of the future – will be commissioned in 2013 and his life revolves around 40-50 years – it allows Airbus to develop a new range of 'aircraft, it uses 25% of composite material of the future in aerospace, it is still under development, it combines technological innovations that will have benefits in civilian industries, it will create 12 000 jobs in France.
Finally, highlights a very good judge of record, it is mentioned nowhere in the eligibility criteria that excludes borrowing large military aircraft. Technically, the proponents of the use of large loans have a strong case but respects he mind? It is less certain. It will be Rene Ricol, Commissioner General for investment, to judge.
Unless another solution is chosen.It would transfer into the basket of large loan funds research before its adoption, were housed in the general budget of the State. Then, the flexibility found would be used to finance repayable advances from the general budget.
The arbitration shall be made by Matignon in the coming months. But, says one, there is no urgency because the funds will not be paid to Airbus before one or two years.
Toyota has done it again, but this time no further announcement has come offset concerns about her Prius. Not even net earnings for the third quarter … Toyota announced just before closing. In Tokyo, the Nikkei closed at a decline of 0.46%. The Nikkei lost 48.35 points to 10,355.98 and the broader TOPIX, yielded 4.59 points (-0.5%) to 911.09 points.
Crude oil prices continued their decline Thursday in electronic trading in Asia, amid declining grants and rising oil stocks in the United States, according to analysts. In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for March delivery retreated 17 cents to 76.81 dollars, while that of Brent North Sea at the same maturity, lost 30 cents to 75.62 dollars .The crude inventories rose in the U.S. for the third straight week, by 2.3 million barrels – indicating a falling demand – while the market expected them to remain unchanged payday loan lenders .
As Toyota (-3.53%) and its subsidiaries are also affected by the distrust: the supplier Denso has dropped 6.26% and assembler Toyota Auto Body 1.08%. The automaker announced it would recall over 180,000 vehicles in Great Britain to redress the problem of accelerator that has been forced to go along with millions of cars worldwide, Thursday reported several British newspapers , mentioning the mark.Immediately after closing, Toyota has nonetheless announced a net profit of 153 billion yen (1.16 billion) against a loss of 164.7 billion yen (1.25 billion euros) per annum passed over the same period the group has raised its forecast Better Canada under its fiscal year.