On Monday, the Swiss lab had already announced the purchase of another biotech, the California BioImagene for about 100 million dollars. And the other major labs are no exception.Sanofi-Aventis has announced the July 1 takeover of the U.S. biotech TargeGen. That's about the 25th agreement reached by the French laboratory with a biotech since arriving at his head Chris Viehbacher in December 2008. These alliances are not confined to Europe and the United States. Earlier this year, bioMérieux has acquired, for 10 to 15 million euros, a Chinese group, Meikang Biotech specializes in the manufacture of rapid tests.

"The major laboratories multiply this kind of agreement from two to three years to overcome a deficit increasing need for innovation in-house and access to proprietary technology platforms," said Vincent Genet, director of the activity of the firm Alcimed health."Smaller biotechs, in turn, can not afford to assume alone the costs of development of their drug candidates."

Progressive Funding

But it is rare that manufacturers take immediately all the risk. Most operations are based on incremental funding. Paid as and drug development, they can be supplemented by royalties on the commercialization of products.

These operations, which often have no impact on buyers for several years, have "nothing to do with mergers with large biopharma," says Vincent Genet. After the acquisition of Genentech by Roche last year for $ 47 billion, Sanofi-Aventis discussed today a merger with Genzyme. The operation seems to stumble on the price.According to the American press, Genzyme seeks in effect more than 18.4 billion dollars (14 billion euros) that Sanofi would have offered.

These mergers, which provide great laboratories of developing products and marketed drugs, may provide access to "a very different economic model," said Vincent Genet. This changes the perception of the laboratory, giving it a more focused biotech. This may also contribute favorably to income through sales made. A biotech can also expand the universe of which seizes lab. This is the case of the manufacturer of Botox, Allergan, valued near $ 20-billion. It would give the buyer access to the cosmetics market and emerging countries.

"Discussions are still in their infancy and there is no agreement expected in the immediate future. Issues such as price and management have not yet been addressed. " Both groups refuse to aAny comment.

According to the U.S. daily, officials from Genzyme, which specializes in products for the treatment of orphan diseases, are studying the amount that Sanofi would pay.In Stock, Genzyme capitalization stood at 14 billion dollars (10.8 billion euros) but the group can require a significant premium given its portfolio of drugs. "If we take as a starting point around the 20 billion dollars that has been discussed before, this puts Genzyme to $ 75 (per share)," said Michael Yee, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets.

Blow to Lovenox that will have to battle against a generic

In exchange, the action Genzyme has skyrocketed 15% to 62.52 dollars at the close of Wall Street. And during transactions unofficial title continued to grow.

Faced with competition from generic drugs, many pharmaceutical companies are looking for external growth.And the more that Sanofi-Aventis has paid this Friday a blow, with the approval by U.S. health officials the first of its generic anti-coagulant Lovenox star, his second top-selling drug in the world. "The FDA today approved the Administrationa first generic version of Lovenox, the FDA announced in a statement posted on its website.

This product is developed by the Swiss Sandoz, the generic arm of Novartis, Momenta and American society.Sales of Lovenox, a drug derived from heparin and more complex to copy a traditional chemical molecule had reached 3 billion euros worldwide in 2009, including $ 1.8 billion in the United States.

Sanofi-Aventis revised downwards its forecast 2010

In the first quarter 2010, sales of this drug was 769 million euros, which was still the second largest group of drugs sold worldwide. The FDA's decision also forced to Sanofi-Aventis to reduce its forecast for earnings per share for the year 2010. Sanofi has not waited for the publication of its results on July 29 to do to the markets. "At this stage, the group plans an evolution of the EPS (earnings per share, editor's note) activities for 2010 of between 0% and -4% compared to 2009 at constant exchange rates," says Sanofi- Aventis said in a statement issued late Friday.

In April, the group had confirmed capitalize on growth in earnings per share from 2 to 5% (at constant exchange rates). But this prediction was made without taking into account competition "potential" of a generic Lovenox.

In the longer term, Sanofi-Aventis said in its statement that it "renews its objectives for 2013, as was disclosed in July 2009. At this point the focus group said two billion euros in savings in 2013 compared to 2008, to prepare for the scheduled loss of patent protecting its key drugs in favor of generic manufacturers.

The sales of Sanofi made in the USA by its anticancer Eloxin fell sharply after the launch of generic versions, while its other cancer drugs, Taxotere, will drop its patent to the public in November in Europe and United States.

In late June, Sanofi announced the acquisition of American TargeGen for 560 million dollars (458.5 million euros) in order to strengthen the fight against cancer.

Two years after the outbreak of the financial crisis of 2008-2009, part of the United States with the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, the European Parliament in Strasbourg approved the text, which was the subject of a June 30 Agreement between the elected and the states of the EU.

In 2011, the bonus must not be disproportionate to the fixed salary and cash bonuses will be capped at 30% of the total premium, or 20% on premiums particularly important.

End outlandish bonuses

Much of the bonus will be paid immediately and will not be after a period of at least three years to allow the employer to recover some cases where investment would not work as expected.

Finally, at least 50% of a total bonus will be paid as contingent capital, which can be recalled in case of banking difficulties, so that taxpayers do not end up in the front line when a bank gets into difficulties.

In the case of banks that receive public subsidies, the text also provides that "no variable compensation should be paid the officers of the institution unless it is justified."

"Europe gets the rules of coaching salaries of bankers and traders with the most aggressive in the world," said a French Green MEP, Canfin Pascal, who negotiated the text. "By limiting the proportion of variable pay in total compensation, this text will finally put an end to extravagant bonuses synonymous with extravagant risks," he added.

A text to the liking of the banking sector

"Two years after the outbreak of the global financial crisis, these tough new rules on bonuses will transform the culture of bonuses and incentives to end the excessive risk-taking", claimed that his side the Socialist Arlene McCarthy, parliamentary rapporteur on file at the agreement in principle on June 30

The text is however not to the liking of the banking sector."We believe that the agreement goes too far, because at the international level, there are already some principles" in the form of recommendations that were made including the Financial Stability Board (FSB), had informed the AFP secretary general of the European Banking Federation, Guido Ravoet after the tentative agreement. "We believe that this is not the public authorities to make amounts, percentages," he added, saying that this responsibility should be left to banks.

"If the international level, it does not follow Europe, European banks have a competitive disadvantage," says Guido Ravoet, who believes that "financial centers like New York, Singapore and Hong Kong will benefit."

"This slowdown is due to the deterioration of the labor market in 2009 and the near stagnation of prices, which have dampened wage bargaining in both countries," according to INSEE, using statistics French and German.Illustration of this slowdown, the increase in the minimum wage was 1.3% on 1 July 2009 in France, against 3% on average in 2008, notes the National Institute of Statistics and studies économiques.En Germany, reductions number of hours of work and temporary suspension of increase weighed on earnings, but the slowdown of the basic wage was only 0.3 percentage points in 2009 compared to 2008.

Since the wage agreements are multi-annual index-some grids had indeed been negotiated before the economic crisis.The new agreed increases in the second half of 2009, however, were "much smaller" than previous years and there were very few new wage agreements during this period, noted INSEE.

Virtually zero inflation in 2009

Taking into account inflation, "virtually zero in 2009 in the two countries' basic pay has" increased significantly "on both sides of the Rhine, but again more in Germany (+2.5% after +0.2% in 2008) and France (+2.1%, after -0.2% in 2008).

This comparison between wages in France and Germany came as the country was criticized by some of its partners, including France, to encourage low wages to enhance its competitiveness at the expense of its neighbors.

Germany argues that governments have no influence on the evolution of salaries – there is no general minimum wage in Germany – and has no intention to curb the competitiveness of its companies.

This is the second refusal of the Court to certify the veracity of accounts – it is an "improvement" since 2008 – but this verdict is in full disorder pension reform … Instead, the family branch and CNAF, pinned for 2008 are certified, this time with reservations. Certification with reservations for the branches as illness, injuries and recovery, as in years past.

Around 8:20, the CAC 40 futures contract on predicted still opening up slightly from 0.2% to 3691 points.

Like the U.S. markets, which also ended up in small and Asian stock markets, changing early this morning in a disorganized.

Euro side, the rebound is confirmed. On Friday morning, about 87 hours, it all round score 1.2400 dollar. There is still less than two weeks, it was worth about $ 1.19. A recovery that is explained more by technical effects that real underlying trend upward, experts said.

Rich economic news in Europe

In France, on Friday released the book "The French economy" of INSEE.The institute will also present the final results of the index of base monthly salary of the first quarter of 2010. At midday, the index value of orders received in the industry in April appear.

In Germany, Destatis publish the producer prices in May In the United Kingdom, the figures on public finances will be available in May. In Italy, these are the industrial orders contained in the agenda.

In Spain, the IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, is received by the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, amid persistent rumors but denied reports of financial assistance to Spain.

Thursday night, Nicolas Sarkozy, following the Summit of Heads of State in Brussels, said there was "no concern" about the financial health of Spain and no plan aid was in the agenda.

Danone: strategy leader in Russia

Danone and Russian Unimilk announced Friday they would merge their dairy operations in Russia and nearby states no fax payday loans. This merger will create a new entity representing a turnover of 1.5 billion euros, the leader in dairy products in Russia with a market share of 21%.

Danone is the majority shareholder of the new company with 57.5% of the capital. "With this transaction, Danone's net debt will increase by 1.3 billion euros," added the group.

Distribution The distribution Leclerc abandons his device "security updates" deployed in 130 of its 520 stores, according to information from Figaro. Too complex and too costly, he failed to derail the bids of Carrefour and Auchan.

The construction group Vinci has won the contract to renovate the Victoria underground station in London, whose work should begin in 2011 and completed in 2018.Transport of London (TFL) of an amount refers to total 700 million pounds (840 million euros) for the entire renovation of the station.

Sanofi-Aventis Lab has obtained the approval from the FDA (Health Authority) for U.S. marketing of its anticancer Jevtana.

Lagardere Guy Wyser-Pratte wrote to the AMF (AMF) to request an investigation on the counting of votes on resolutions presented at the Annual General Lagardere late April, reported Thursday on its site Expansion Internet.

The biotech company Transgene, which held its general meeting on Thursday announced the merger of the functions of chairman and CEO, both assigned to Philippe Archinard.

Rhodia Standard & Poor's said the credit ratings and the prospect of chemical remained unchanged after the announcement of the acquisition of Chinese Feixiang for a little over 397 million euros.

The recent plunge in BP, which has further declined by nearly 10% Monday as London qu'ç New York and whose market value has been reduced by over 45% since the beginning of the accident, certifies that the hypothesis of a bankruptcy is not completely ruled out by investors. Thus, counselors will work to optimize the management of the crisis and to prevent compensation claims do not leak the multinational or make vulnerable, thus creating a hostile takeover. The trio of investors and put together a strategy to enable the group to meet claims over the next five years.

But for now, BP does not confirm this information. A spokesman for the group merely stated: "This is not true, we do not appeal to banks to defend ourselves," adding "we urge banks year round for different reasons.

Senators call 20000000000

The information is then revealed, however, that the U.S. government is more determined than ever to pay the oil company. of compensation for victims of oil pollution and environmental damage and business. It looks particularly dire consequences for fisheries and tourism in the Gulf of Mexico, in a letter to the director of BP in the United States.

International Help

A little more reassuring to the disaster called the "ecological / 11" by Barack Obama, Washington can count on the solidarity internationale.pour cope with the spill. Countries like France, the United Kingdom, Mexico, but also the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam have offered assistance in the form of equipment and expertise.

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"Oil slick: towards an agreement on the compensation fund

The capital increase of $ 21 million planned by Prudential to fund the acquisition of AIA, has also canceled. The abandonment of the proposed fundraising was announced at last night, a harbinger of the abandonment of the operation, confirmed a few hours overnight pay day loans. The failure of this acquisition is expected to cost 450 million pounds to Prudential, including 152.6 million pounds for breach of contract.

For its part, AIG believes it has "several options to consider about the AIA," In a letter to his employees, Robert Benmosche, CEO of the insurer, owned 80% by the State, in counts " more than we had in March. "

Angela Merkel defended Tuesday stiffening. "The euro area can only work if we adopt a culture of stability, which means solid finances. (…) For Germany this culture of stability and strength is not negotiable, "Merkel said in an interview given to farm rather several European newspapers.

The sixteen finance ministers of the Eurogroup, and twenty-seven of the EU had the premiere at a double appointment in Brussels.Combative despite a weakened health, the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schauble, surprised his colleagues by questioning the principles they believed acquired for more than a week. Only the Belgian Minister Didier Reynders, ventured to publicly criticize the incoherence of speech come from Berlin.

Debate Lagarde Schauble

Jean-Claude Juncker, the Eurogroup chairman, acknowledged Tuesday that it had to mobilize "patience" during the debate behind closed doors, among others to intercede in the middle of the night between Wolfgang Schauble and Christine Lagarde. Ultimately, the Sixteen were separated without text or definitive agreement on the implementation of the 750 billion the new "European Stability Facility (ESF).Appointment was made on Friday in Brussels, officially in order to tie 'details practices and legal issues " payday loan lenders.

It is still the control exercised by the Federal Parliament is the heart of the debate. At the launch of the ESF, nine days ago, Germany's partners – including France – have understood that the Bundestag would have something to say once, to vote en bloc from the German plan for stabilizing euro. To the astonishment of his colleagues, Wolfgang Schauble has just announced that German MPs intend to vote each time a country in trouble will come from ticket sales, or for each disbursement."The game is not over," says a German source.

In practice, Berlin wants to have a veto at every stage of the process and content of any austerity plan submitted by a country strangled by debt. In the letter, Germany does not come back on his word. The ESF is European in name only, it is in fact an intergovernmental body to sixteen, with a headquarters in Luxembourg and a board of directors. By law, each country is free to make decisions according to the political career of his choice. "For Germany, this procedure should be a German," the source added.

Christian Saint-Etienne This tactical decision is welcome, I support it fully. She ends the madness of markets, which had lost their compass quick payday loans. These days, the assets were under-dimensioned in relation to their fundamentals. The rebound today is a return to levels before the fall of the markets.

Photo credits: Le Figaro