OpenSkies flies to Washington five times a week

Started quietly on a niche market with any business flights between Paris and New York, L'Avion the company had managed to find its place. It has since been bought by British Airways, which was renamed OpenSkies and that crisis requires, thought for a time to sell. To retract the landing slots at Orly is of such value that it would be a pity to discard it.

If OpenSkies had to stop the line between Amsterdam and New York, however she managed to win the Paris-New York, granting itself more than a quarter of market share. This low cost dedicated solely to the business class will open May 3 next traffic between Washington and Paris, it will operate five times a week B757-200 equipped with 72 seats. The call price will be 1,200 euros return. Other rates, depending on the filling, can reach 4 . It receives about 800 applications per month.Only in a second time that the mediator will intervene if no common ground was found.

A record three refused

"The creation of the ombudsman is not a gimmick, it is a substantive approach, tangible proof that we still develop our customer relationships," says Thierry Laborde. A number of consumer credit in Europe, he faces a sharp decline in its market. The group, which currently refuses to apply for credit in three, is determined to remain selective. "Sometimes you say no in the interest of the client. Have a responsible approach to credit is knowing renounce the production of credit too risky for the borrower as the lender, "says Thierry Laborde. To grow, it relies on the pension, savings, credits for e-commerce and products designed for bank and insurance partners.Consumers themselves, the law still waiting on consumer credit which must include review of the wear rate and the revolving frame.

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Hugo Chavez expropriated a subsidiary of Casino

After the oil, energy, steel and telecommunications, Hugo Chavez continues its process of nationalization of enterprises. The socialist Venezuelan president ordered Sunday the expropriation of the hypermarket chain Franco-Colombian Exito, owned by Casino, which it accuses of having increased its prices for "speculation." Until when will we allow a multinational come to that here? This should go under control of the nation, "Chavez said during his radio program broadcast weekly" Alo Presidente (Hello President).The Venezuelan president had already used this forum a year ago, to threaten international companies, namely Nestle and Parmalat, which he considered responsible for the shortage of milk in his country.

Following the devaluation of the bolivar, the local currency last January 8, Hugo Chavez had threatened that any company would increase its prices by improperly expropriation. The bolivar is trading now at 2.60 Bolivars to the dollar for imports of commodities (health, food, equipment) and 4.30 Bolivars for others (cars, telecommunications, electronics, tobacco, beverages … ).

The Casino Group is present in the Venezuelan market since 2000 through Exito hypermarkets but also Cada supermarkets, leaders in their segment.In total, 60 stores in Venezuela owned by Casino have achieved in 2008 a turnover of 741 million euros, or about 2.6% of total turnover of the group.

The Casino must submit on Monday after-hours trading, its annual sales and one for the fourth quarter of 2009.

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The cold and snow and disrupt the distribution industry

The snow and ice blocking roads and large parts of the French economy. Shipments delayed at stores, industrial production lagged, frozen agricultural products, sites blocked, no area is immune. The lack of salt in some areas may aggravate the situation.

• Transport

"We sold out of salt in Britain. We need between 4,000 and 5,000 tonnes, said yesterday morning the prefecture of Côtes-d'Armor. A freighter was delivered yesterday 400 hundred tons of salt in Saint-Malo. The motorway companies claim to have sufficient stocks of salt, but are not certain of being able to deliver.

The trucks – including those transporting salt – should get up to three prefectural authorities to travel in snowy areas. From his side, Eurostar has restricted the movement of Saturday's train.The main airports remained open, but traffic remains disrupted, with delays and cancellations.

• Agriculture

Agriculture is doubly affected by the weather. The cold wave disrupts production. Leeks, caught in the frozen ground, are difficult to uproot, salads, even in greenhouses, are unusable. Small consolation for the vegetable: the prices of fruits and vegetables are on the upside.

Dairy producers are also victims of bad weather, the milk collection is rendered impossible, especially in Britain. The roads are blocked by snowdrifts. Producers are forced to dump their milk.

• Building

"When temperatures are near zero, it is virtually impossible to sink a concrete" classic ", says one expert.Traditionally, sites are interrupted when temperatures become negative.

This data is taken into account when setting schedules. But this year, the duration of the episode is likely to exceed estimates.

• Distribution

Deliveries are not guaranteed, especially in Britain. For the moment, no shortage is feared, but supply problems are starting to be felt in the spokes.

Fortunately consumers are reluctant to run the stores, despite sales. Declining attendance reaches 60% depending on the charge of a Carrefour in the Toulouse region.

In contrast, the Printemps Haussmann in Paris, he sold a jacket every 7 seconds!

• Industry

Plants PSA Peugeot Citroën, Sochaux and Mulhouse have stopped production Friday night to Saturday because it was delivered in pieces. Trucks suppliers could not move. This represents a lost production of about 2,000 cars.

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Thomson: the debt restructuring approved

The Thomson group, experiencing great financial difficulties, has obtained the agreement of all its creditors to reduce its debt by nearly half, according to a statement.

After the Committee of suppliers and the Committee of the bank creditors on Monday, the Committee of the bond (bond holders of the Company) has approved almost unanimously the plan released December 9. The plan aims to transform part of the debt capital via a capital increase of 348 million euros – and bonds: the objective is to reduce it to 1.55 billion, a decrease of 45%. The debt of the company amounts to 2.84 billion euros.

But there are still some hurdles for the group. The restructuring plan must be submitted to a vote of shareholders of Thomson at the Annual General Meeting and extraordinary will be held January 27, 2010.

Thomson, which employs some 20,000 employees worldwide, intends to rename the name of one of its subsidiaries, Technicolor, and focus on services for film and television, getting rid of other activities, including its subsidiaries Grass Valley (professional video equipment) and Screenvision (advertising for the film).

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A group shaken by strategic shifts

The Accor Group will split into two

Nothing will ever be. Directors of Accor approved on Tuesday a proposed split of the group that plans to separate one side hotel, other services (including Ticket Restaurant). The decision was taken unanimously with a vote, the Strategic Investment Fund (ISF). Accor's second largest shareholder with 7.4% of capital, "sovereign wealth fund to the French" had opposed the project, or at least its timing. In our columns, Gilles Michel, CEO of FSI, had deemed "risky". However, it has joined any of the six independent directors on the board (of twelve). A setback for the fledgling fund in the battle that played out behind the scenes.

Accor cut in half, it was the wish expressed long ago by the fund Colony and the investment company Eurazeo, bound by a pact and initial shareholders with about 30% of capital.They say the best way to value the group ending the discount for holding that penalizes the share price. Gilles Pelisson, Accor's CEO, agreed with their opinion in recent months. He will lead the hotel industry (Accor Hospitality). The new entity combining the services will be headed by Jacques Stern. The deputy director general in charge of piloting the project finance division to completion.

"The split does isno job cuts'

An extraordinary general meeting will be convened no earlier than late June to endorse the project to be implemented before the end of 2010. "I said before the group walked on two legs better, but I always said that the subject was not taboo and it would look on a regular basis, was justified Gilles Pelisson, explaining that two looms Accor had profoundly transformed in recent years.He believes that now is in their interest that they become "pure players". "The central scenario, with the final terms will be decided in the coming months, is a split with two listed companies, a detailed Gilles Pelisson. Accor to action today, you have an action Accor Hospitality and action Accor Services. "

On the job – a concern of the unions – he assured that "the division does not create job cuts as there are no synergies between the two professions.

Eurazeo and Colony Capital have agreed to extend to shares of two companies that will arise from the splitting of the provisions of shareholders agreement between them since May 2008 until May 4, 2013. They also extend within the pact until 1 January 2012 the commitment to retain their shares in Accor and entity services.Conversely, the ISP finds his freedom of action vis-à-vis participation inherited from the Deposit.

Studies conducted by management have shown a separation of two Accor would enable it to "accelerate" the development of both trades. Emphasizing the lack of synergy between hospitality and services that evolve "in environments increasingly different," the work of the board have concluded that once separated these two businesses, "with their own business model, attract a greater number of investors. " According to Sebastien Valentin, an analyst at Societe Generale, services should represent 14% of sales this year of Accor, but two-thirds of operating profit."This poses a problem of balance, because culturally Accor remains primarily a hotel company," says he.

Without the hotel, receive services at 100% of the cash they emerge to finance their development. As for the hotel, without the cushion of safety that brought him the services it should expedite the sale of walls.

For the ISP, a division of Accor is too risky

Thales launches a broad economic plan

Thales wants to become more efficient. In a statement released Friday, the electronics group announced a savings plan that should result in a productivity gain of 1.3 billion euros over 5 years. In exchange, the news was very well received by investors. The title jumped 4.6% to 34.36 euros.

This plan consists of three parts. The first is a reduction in costs of non-quality and improved customer satisfaction. The second provides for more effective processes for engineering, industrial and procurement, while increasing the efficiency of information systems. The last aims to reduce operating costs. The statement does not indicate any reduction in workforce.

Organizational change and leadership

The organization of the group will be structured around three main areas and 7 divisions in charge instead of 6, worldwide.Management will also be affected by the changes since it provided a renewal of the team. For now, the group does not specify which leaders are concerned. According to Voices, this would be Olivier Houssin (responsible for division services and security), Quentin (aeronautics), Marc Darmon (naval) and Richard Deakin (Air Systems).

Thales has this plan to improve profitability, affected by the crisis in air traffic, the budget constraints of state and the weak dollar against the euro. In November, the group reported a stable turnover in nine months. In the first half, operating margin was 1.2% emerged as against 6.6% a year earlier at the same time.

Order Cancellation A 400M: EADS-cons attack

Nothing goes between EADS and South Africa. After the cancellation of an order for eight aircraft from Airbus military transport by South Africa, and the claim of 250 to 300 million euros donated by the South African state as an advance, EADS could jeopardize the partnership with industry in the country.

According to the Tribune on Thursday, the European aerospace and defense "seriously considering to terminate most commands already signed, worth about 400 million euros, in partnership with industry the country (including groups with Denel and Aerosud) and was related to the purchase agreement of the eight A400M.

According to business daily, EADS has also asked the missile manufacturer MBDA, in which it holds a 37.5%, to freeze talks with Denel.MBDA has been negotiating for two years with the South African group to take a 51% in the group.

The difficulties accumulate for EADS while Malaysia Airlines (MAS) announced on Thursday that Airbus had an eight-month delay in delivery of first A380 in a series of six that she had ordered. The company now take delivery of its first A380 in August instead of January 2011. Information which has been confirmed by a spokesman for Airbus. In early November, before the "cost escalation" of the order, South Africa had canceled his order. A new blow for the European group whose competitiveness is already weakened by the weak dollar, which is delayed by at least three years from its original delivery schedule.

At the Paris Bourse, EADS shares fell 2.5% Thursday. The day before the title had already declined by 3.8% and again from 2.09% Tuesday.In case the postponement to 2013 of delivery of 54 Airbus aircraft, commanded by U.S. Airways a big Airbus customer. In the process, Natixis Securities has lowered its price target to 10.50 euros against 13 euros, while remaining "ease" of value.

PSA Peugeot-Citroen at materials green

The car pollutes. As we know, but it is not inevitable. To reduce the "ecological footprint" of cars on the environment, manufacturers focus on two main areas of work. On the one hand, improved engine performance, consume less, on the other hand, the use of organic materials or recycled.

The main challenge today comes from the use of plastics which represent about 20% of the mass of a car. However, plastics are petroleum derivatives. Their price depends on the black and gold resource is not inexhaustible. To address these two concerns, both solutions are preferred: the use of recycled plastics and development of biomaterials. Teams of PSA guide us in three workshops to find solutions.

1.Natural fibers

Natural fibers used in combination with plastic for automotive parts.

The trend has "stalled" on weekends, but confidence remains

Laskine Roland, editor of the Journal of Finance