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The Board of Casino, unsurprisingly, on Monday rejected the proposal to buy the Galeries Lafayette Etienne distributor 50% of its Monoprix at a price of 1.35 billion euros.

Casino and Galeries Lafayette, Monoprix co-shareholders, put in the public last week disagreed on the valuation of the sign of the city center.

According to a memorandum of understanding, Galeries Lafayette can exercise an option to purchase their shares since 1 January 2012.

But department stores believe that's 50% to 1.95 billion euros, while the casino values ​​to only 700 million, a figure far removed from the evaluation of 1.225 billion euros recorded in its accounts to 31 December 2010. 

"If the Galeries Lafayette confirm their wish to sell their stake in Monoprix, Casino will acquire, in accordance with its commitments under the Protocol, at the right price of the asset," reaffirms Casino Monday.

To break the deadlock, Ginette Moulin, whose family owns 100% stake in Galeries Lafayette, offered in early February at Casino CEO, Jean-Charles Naouri, to sell its 50% price 1.35 billion, representing the average of two-or offers to buy back his hand, at this price.

This last proposal was considered by the council met to approve casino accounts of the distributor, whose annual results will be released Tuesday morning. 

Casino had already announced last Saturday that there was no seller on his part in Monoprix, a strategic asset for the group.

"The board unanimously approved the directors present or represented, except Philippe Houze, (chief executive of Galeries Lafayette and Monoprix CEO) that n did not take part in the vote (…) the position expressed as an assignment of the Casino in Monoprix would be contrary to the interests of Casino, "he said in a statement . 

The price of 1.35 billion represents 9.1 times 2011 EBITDA (excluding debt) Monoprix, Casino believes that this figure compares to a multiple of 5.7 times "for major companies listed ; are European sector "(Casino, Carrefour, Tesco, Ahold, Delhaize, Sainsbury and Marks & Spencer).

Natixis reported Thursday a net profit above expectations in the fourth quarter of 2011, the bank is able to compensate for the decline in revenues in market activities s by controlling its expenses.

The bank, a subsidiary of BPCE (People's Bank-Saving), reports that fourth-quarter net income of 302 million euros, down 32% compared to last quarter of 2010.

According to the Thomson Reuters consensus I / B / E / S, analysts on average expected a net profit of 263 million.

In FY 2011, net income stood at Natixis 1.56 billion euros, down 10% compared to 2010. There is $ 2.6 billion for its parent BPCE.

Relatively less exposed than other French banks to sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone, Natixis said to have yielded in the last quarter of 2011 to 1.6 billion euros in assets in his bank Financing and Investment Banking (CIB) and two billion euros in assets in its portfolio of toxic assets.

In exchange, the Natixis shares gained 7% to 2.50 euros to 10.30, outperforming the European Banking (0.74%). At this price level, the title wins 28.5% since the beginning of the year after falling 41% in 2011.

In a research note, CM-CIC Securities said the "resilience of the economic model" of Natixis.

In corporate banking and investment income of Natixis were down 20% in the fourth quarter. However, they grew 6% in the Investment Solutions division and 2% in specialized financial services.

Constraint as the other banks to adapt its activities to the crisis, Natixis plans to eliminate nearly 280 positions in the BFI. It takes the same time be more selective in choosing clients and wants to stop certain activities of non-strategic markets.

Natixis will pay a dividend of 0.10 euro per share for 2011.

For comparison, BNP Paribas and Societe Generale have finished 2011 with profits of respectively 6 billion and 2.4 billion euros. Net income for the Crédit Agricole group stood at 812 million euros.

In late 2011, the capital ratio of hard Natixis, said core tier one, stood at 10.2%.

The Swedish truck manufacturer Volvo was reported Friday in a lower than expected earnings for the fourth quarter of 2011 and again expect a lackluster fiscal 2012, penalized by a dip in the European market.

From October to December, operating income of world number two sector stood at seven billion Swedish kronor (791 million) while analysts had forecast of 7.2 billion, according to Reuters.

The last quarter of 2010, Volvo had generated operating profit of five billion crowns. 

After enjoying the full recovery of demand in 2010 and during most of 2011, European manufacturers of heavy trucks must now deal with the crisis of sovereign debt in the euro area and fears of a slowdown in global economic activity.

"We maintain our assessment that the market 'Europe of 29' will be about 220,000 trucks in 2012. We anticipate a slow start to the year and a gradual improvement, "the group said in a statement

." We maintain our forecast of continued growth of the North American market at about 250,000 trucks in 2012, "he adds

…… The … backlog fell 7% in the fourth quarter, but the fall is more dramatic in Europe where it has shrunk 24%, overshadowing the 22% increase observed in America The Swedish North

. thinks that the truck market is now stabilizing, albeit at a low level, and should pick up gradually over the years. 

Volvo shows and more optimistic than its competitor Scania, who warned this week that it would reduce its workforce and the volume of some of its investments in anticipation of weak demand in the first half of 2012.

The title Volvo opened up 1.4% to 92.00 crowns.

According to the Uruguayan Minister, Louis Almagro, Nicolas Sarkozy was very upset to see that its proposed regulation, including tax havens, were not retained. Nicolas Sarkozy.

Luis Almagro, Uruguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs, said French President Nicolas Sarkozy was "very upset" with "the failure of the French strategy at the G20" and that he expressed in his statements on tax havens cause of a crisis with Uruguay.

"I think his statement (was dictated by) the bitterness and is linked with the failure of the French strategy at the G20", held in Cannes (south-eastern France) in early November, said M . Almagro in an interview published Thursday in the weekly Busqueda. "The four or five worn by strengths (Nicolas) Sarkozy at the G20 were rejected, as (the idea) to cap prices or on financial issues, etc..He used the G20 as a political platform, but it emerged weakened because the final statement did not address its program. I think it was upset and he has expressed in this unfortunate statement, "he added.

In early November, Nicolas Sarkozy said after the G20 summit that tax havens would be put "beyond the pale of the international community." He said that was part of the capital Montevideo which "did not have a legal framework for the exchange of tax information." These statements have angered Montevideo. The French government then explained that it was a statement on behalf of G20 and not of France and expressed its confidence in the willingness of Uruguay to fight tax evasion.

The rating agency Moody's warned Monday about the risks posed by the rise in yields on French government bonds on the rating of sovereign debt of France in a context of uncertainty on growth.

"The sustained high funding costs amplify the fiscal challenges facing the French government in a context of deteriorating growth prospects, with negative consequences on credit", written Kockerbeck Alexander, an analyst at the agency.

Moody's announced in mid-October that it would monitor and assess the stability of the perspective of the French Aaa rating within three months.

The Greek government expects a budget deficit reduced to 5.4% of GDP in 2012 assuming implementation of the proposed debt exchange expected to reduce the burden of public debt, according to the proposed final budget submitted Friday in parliament.

Excluding the impact of the debt swap (PSI), the project includes a deficit equivalent to 6.7% of gross domestic product next year after 9.0% this year.

The exchange of debt should lead to an issue of new bonds with a nominal value of EUR 70 billion and the payment to bondholders deprived of 30 billion euros in cash.

The parliamentary debate on the budget next week to begin by examining the text in committee, the plenary vote is scheduled for 8 or 9 December.

Coca-Cola, the world of soft drinks, will invest $ 2 billion (1.46 billion) in India by 2017 to develop its activities in this rapidly growing market.

This represents the total investment in India over the past 18 years by the U.S. company.

Coca-Cola India and its partners wish to invest in marketing and brand image, the extension of distribution networks and the development of production capacity, the company said in a statement.

Coca-Cola employs 25,000 people in India, whose growth is the second fastest in the developed economies, it added.

A source close to the government, China is considering investing 50 to $ 100 billion in the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF). Nicolas Sarkozy and Hu Jintao in Beijing, April 28, 2010.

China is considering investing 100 billion dollars to help the euro area to combat the crisis of public debt, reported the Financial Times on its Web site Thursday, citing a government source. "China might be willing to contribute between 50 and 100 billion in the EFSF (European Financial Stability Fund) or to fund a new mounted under his leadership in collaboration with the IMF, according to a person familiar with the intentions of the Chinese leadership" , said the British newspaper.

"If conditions are suitable then something a little over $ 100 billion is not inconceivable," said the person at the Financial Times.

Mersen, ex-Carbone Lorraine, which confirmed its 2011 objectives, supported by strong solar activity, and Asia, said he was careful, however, for 2012 due to economic climate remains uncertain.

The specialist in graphite solutions and electrical components still expects a double-digit organic growth and operating margin above 12% of its turnover.

"The macroeconomic environment is what it is, that is to say today very uncertain, so there is little visibility (for 2012)," said Thomas Baumgartner, CFO, at a conference phone.

"The growth of Mersen was very strong across all areas (…) And we recorded very high billing in the sun ", he added, however.

The group reported Tuesday sales up 11.1% at constant exchange rates in the third quarter to 207.8 million euros, an increase of 14.1% in the first nine months of year to 627.1 million euros.

"Asia represents over 25% of consolidated turnover of the group, over 37% Europe and North America 32%, so we have a well balanced business," observed the Chief Financial Officer group.

Mersen began several years ago marked a profound change in its output segment of the automobile and its focus on solar, wind and emerging markets.

The stock closed Tuesday up 2.12% to 28.19 euros, giving a market cap of around 559 million euros. Since the beginning of the year, as yields 17.81% after rising by 35% in 2010.

The Irish budget deficit has reduced by 4 percentage points of GDP since 2009. Corporate profitability recovered sharply. But deleveraging too fast may influence the activity against becoming productive. Pedestrians in Dublin

If Ireland is still part of PIGS, it can not be in the same category as Greece or Portugal, as progress in a few months by former Tiger European are important. The Irish budget deficit – excluding bank recapitalization needs – fell by 4 percentage points of GDP since 2009. The current account deficit turned into a small surplus. Finally, corporate profitability recovered sharply.

The experts of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of the European Central Bank (ECB) and European Commission, who have just completed their assessment mission in Ireland, are seduced. "The ongoing adjustment is solid.The 2011 budget targets will be achieved and the ongoing structural reforms will also contribute to sanitation, "they note in their report.

However, Ireland is now entering a delicate phase. Or the risk of too rapid deleveraging weigh on activity, against becoming productive. The experts of the IMF, the ECB and the Commission to admit the hint. "Ireland will have to find a balance between the imperatives of debt reduction and limitation of the barriers to growth and job creation," they point out in their report. This sentence harmless and a bit blurry could announce a change in strategy for Ireland. The country needs it, says a recent report by Goodbody Broker.

Make concessions

Indeed, in Ireland, over-indebtedness affects both the public sector, private sector and banks.Simultaneously reducing the three is clearly a bad idea, says the report. If Ireland is determined to meet all objectives at the same time, the evolving recovery will be quickly suppressed. A risk highlighted recently by the Finance Minister Michael Noonan. Especially since the motor only turns in exports. The domestic market remains depressed by lower prices (unit labor costs fell by 15% and commercial property prices have been divided by two).

We must therefore make concessions to one side. But which one? As for households, the government can not do much. The debt reached 220% of disposable income, nearly twice the international average. And fall of financial markets could reduce household net wealth of 250 billion euros. The Irish are going to have to tighten their belts for several years.Make concessions on the public debt is also not in a financial crisis. Ireland recorded a primary deficit of 6% of GDP in 2011. This is the worst result of the euro area.

Remaining banks. They must bring their ratios to 122% loan to deposit by 2013. The challenge today is to allow banks to achieve that clean without excessively penalizing the credit. This will doubtless involve additional time but also further aid from the ECB, economists now believe. Lengthy discussion in perspective.