In crisp TNT, UPS requires a leader

 

It only took a month of discussions that management of TNT Express, a former subsidiary of the Dutch post, accept the proposed UPS. The American giant of more than 400,000 employees whose turnover in 2011 exceeded more than $ 50 billion has evolved its offering at a time when TNT Express through a bad patch. This has indeed posted a net loss of 270 million euros in 2011 against a profit of 66 million euros in 2010.

UPS approached by mid-February, leaders of TNT Express had rejected an offer that valued the company 4.9 billion euros. But to 5.16 billion euros, UPS was unanimous. This acquisition will enable the U.S. group found mainly across the Atlantic to catch up. In the business of courier, transporting small packages, UPS accounted for only 7.7% of the European market against 9.6% for TNT Express, Fedex and 3.3% to 17.6% for DHL, a subsidiary Deutsche Post, according to figures from Transport Intelligence firm.

While approaching, the two biggest names in express transportation become a European leader in size to cross swords with DHL and especially a world champion since their continental positions complement each other. An asset to get the green light from competition authorities even if Deutsche Post yesterday estimated that the European Commission would consider merging with caution.

The new group formed should weigh a turnover of $ 60 billion and 477,000 employees. By comparison, another U.S. giant, Fedex, achieved a turnover of $ 41 billion in 2011 and employs 290,000 people.

Target: 50% of international sales

The presence of UPS TNT in different regions of the world should stabilize as sales in the U payday loans online.S. will increase from 74% to 64% UPS only for the new group and Europe will reach 22% after the operation against 14% for the only American group.

"Why TNT is it very attractive?" Asked Kurt Kuehn, UPS's chief financial officer, during a press conference in Amsterdam: "Because he manages operations in areas of the world that were unserved: Brazil, Australia, Middle East, the road and rail networks in Europe. "The objective announced by UPS is to reach 50% of sales overseas in the next five years against 26% at present. 

Financially, the acquisition should help to achieve one billion euros in savings, once the integration of TNT Express will be accomplished. Clearly, the group provides $ 400 to 550 million euros in savings per year from 2015 through improved efficiency of logistics platforms, an optimization of aircraft fleets, purchasing … However, the CFO UPS declined to answer questions on possible job cuts among the ranks of TNT. The transaction, which must be profitable within the first year, could be completed in the third quarter of the year.

It is likely that the competitor UPS, Fedex, will not thwart the hostile bid. Especially since the competitor UPS does not have $ 3 billion in cash.

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French universities abroad misclassified

 

France is hardly served in international rankings in education. Only four of its representatives are emerging among the 100 institutions classified Thursday morning by the Times Higher Education (THE), a British weekly known for the seriousness of its rankings. France ranks as the seventh largest in the world.

The Paris-Sorbonne University is located between 71st and 80th place of the second international league based on "reputation". It occupied the 91st place last year. Then comes the Polytechnic, which ranks between 91st and 100th place. This year, two new institutions enter the prestigious list: the University Paris-Sud (Orsay) and the University Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris VI), both beyond the 91st place.

"France is well represented in these tables, with four institutions in the top 100, more than Canada, and more than double the number of representatives of China. But the country's authorities should be concerned that such a system of higher education with a long tradition of excellence has its highest ranked institution beyond the 71st, well behind the leading institutions in England and Germany "by Phil Baty, the head of the ranking. And the specialist to wonder: "Maybe the current reforms in the French higher education will they do the difference in the longer term, but for now there is much uncertainty and confusion about the French system, which can affect the country's reputation among scholars throughout the world. "

A "business" full

The study measures the reputation of excellence in both teaching and in research by 117,554 educators from 137 countries. Given a choice between 6000 and institutions were asked what were the best institutions in their field of specialty. The issue of reputation is important in the era of the internationalization of education, as universities compete with each other to attract the best students. And they are buying more and more a "brand" when they enroll in an institution. It has become a "business" in its own right, according to THE.

The first six of the classification, called "super brands" in the study because they crush all others because of their notoriety, are again American universities Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the English university of Cambridge, two new American, Stanford and Berkeley, and Oxford. These universities' dominate the head and shoulders above the other institutions, "the study said.

The U.S. dominates with 44 institutions which are among the first hundred, ten are British, and five are Japanese. Five others were Dutch. Followed by Germany, Australia and France, each with four institutions.

Sarkozy addresses the tax exiles

 

After struggling against tax havens in recent years, Nicolas Sarkozy wants to tackle the tax exile. -Candidate for President, it is not acceptable that some continue to enjoy the benefits of French citizenship without paying a penny in taxes. "I want the tax and nationality are now linked," he said on TF1 Monday. The announcement is accurate. "Any tax exile who went abroad for the sole purpose of circumventing French tax must declare to the French administration as he paid tax abroad. And if it is lower than it would have paid tax on income from capital in France, he will pay the difference, "said Nicolas Sarkozy.

Only the taxation of wealth is concerned. But it is precisely to escape the ISF or the taxation of capital gains that some taxpayers go to Switzerland or Belgium. With this measure, the tax exile would have no financial interest. And if the tax exile showed himself recalcitrant? "If he does not pay, he is pursued by the taxman. However, if he wants to escape measurement, it is of course free to take another nationality, "said Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet Monday, the spokesman of the president candidate. There is no question of deprivation of nationality. This type of penalty is very heavy and could be incompatible with European law.

The 2 million French expatriates, those who move abroad for work or for family reasons, for example, would not be affected by the measure. "I say to expatriates, we will change nothing for them," said Nicolas Sarkozy. They therefore continue to pay tax only in the country where they live. French household working in Germany would pay, as now, the German income tax. Yet to translate into law the difference between the expatriate and exiled, leaving the Hexagon for purely fiscal.

Monday, Nicolas Sarkozy referred to the American system. Indeed, the U.S. tax bind and nationality, even more extensive than would be France if Nicolas Sarkozy was elected. For all American expatriates should pay taxes to their homeland! But the U.S. is an exception in developed countries. European states like France operate on the principle of territoriality – you pay tax where you live. This means that the measure proposed by Nicolas Sarkozy, even if limited to exiles, may involve review of the tax treaties signed between France and its partners. A very heavy work. This is also the argument that had been opposed to the president of the PS Finance Committee in the Assembly, Jerome Cahuzac, late 2010 when he proposed a tax on expatriates. It will also calibrate the measure to be compatible with European law which advocates the free movement of persons and equality before tax.

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A carbon tax applicable to contested 4000 companies

 

Air transportation emits about 3% carbon dioxide (CO2) released by humans into the atmosphere. But according to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its emissions have almost doubled (+98%) between 1990 and 2006 and are expected to increase by 63% by 2020. This is due to the strong growth that the EU wished to include airlines in the industries subject to carbon allowances.

Decided in 2008, this "carbon tax air" has been applicable since 1 January to major airlines transiting through EU airports. According to official documents of the end of 2011, 4291 airlines must be submitted to CO2 quotas, including 28 Chinese companies. Brussels has set an emissions cap for each company, who must buy the equivalent of 15% of its emissions, as carbon credits.

This air tax should bring in 2012 256 million euros to the EU, the Commission said. A pittance compared to $ 3.8 billion represented the German Government, by controlling only Airbus Hong Kong Airlines, threatened. Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for the fight against climate change, repeated his refusal to yield to threats and to revisit the legislation.

The profession particularly hostile

From the earliest discussions on the implementation of these CO2 quotas on airlines, the profession has expressed very hostile. Last November, ICAO, the Organization of International Civil Aviation, adopted a resolution recommending to exempt non-European companies of the carbon tax. 26 of its 36 members including China, the United States and Russia, were signatories. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ICAO call for voluntary measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, implemented worldwide.

In a report published in early 2011, the rating agency Standard & Poor's estimated that the measure Brussels could cost 1.12 billion for airlines in 2012-2013. Since then, the price per tonne of CO2 collapsed on the European market which would reduce the cost to about 700 million euros. But it adds to the severe increase in fuel prices.

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The seller's liability in case of defect

1 – Under what conditions can we invoke the implied warranty?

The seller remains liable after the transaction, housing defects that were hidden at the time of sale, when they "make the property unfit for the use it was destined or so impair that use the acquirer n ' would not have made the decision to purchase, or at least not at that price, if he had knowledge "(Article 1641 Civil Code). Conversely, the seller is not liable for defects that were apparent (Article 1642). Case law judge and are latent defects: the presence of termites or asbestos in housing, lack of foundation, the existence of underground quarries generating instability of the frame, the lack of connection to the public drainage wastewater, or noise pollution caused by insufficient thickness of walls.

2 – The seller may be relieved of responsibility?

The seller can clear themselves by inserting in the deed of sale a clause stating that it will not be required to guarantee the buyer in case of defect. These clauses, found in most deeds, are only valid if the seller is a non-professional and is in good faith. Such is the case, for example, a seller who did not know the day of the sale, the presence of mérules (wood-rotting fungi) in the beams of his house, since the diagnostic technique that had commissioned was not one mention.

However, the vendor apparent bad faith can not invoke this clause, for example when he blocked and painted floors and baseboards to conceal the presence of termites, or has done work to conceal cracks affecting the structure of the frame. Attention, even if the seller does not commit any act of concealment, it can be considered in bad faith when it is aware of the defect and that he did not notify the purchaser.

3 – What might the seller in case of discovery of a latent defect?

If the vendor is found liable for hidden defects by the judge, the purchaser has the option, request cancellation of the sale or reduction of its price (sections 1644 and 1646 of the Civil Code). If he chooses the cancellation of the sale, the seller must refund the purchase price and notary fees. If it chooses a price reduction, it is for an expert to determine the amount. The seller in bad faith can also be ordered to pay damages (Article 1645 Civil Code). Attention, the action in warranty against hidden defects must be brought within two years after the discovery of the defect (Article 1648 Civil Code). It is the vendor to prove that the discovery of latent defects occurred more than two years before the introduction of the lawsuit.

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Reunion: the measures announced

 

The price of gas and electricity for low incomes will fall in Reunion, and those of 40 essential commodities will be frozen at least from March 1 through the efforts of local communities, said Friday the prefect, Michel Lalande. A series of measures taken after a round table of five thirty gathering around him the chairmen of local councils, chambers, representatives of consumer associations, oil companies and professional drivers payday loans guaranteed no fax. All participants in the roundtable have finally launched a "solemn appeal" to calm the population.

The Paris daily reprieve in Normandy

 

The new, bad, is not yet official but could be announced to employees on a works council to be held Monday, February 27: Paris Normandy could file for bankruptcy. According to the union SNJ, the regional newspaper, owned by Hersant Media (GHM), after considering a social "scale" would be forced into this solution and, more broadly, the entire division titles Norman Group Hersant Media, which includes, besides Paris-Normandie, Havre Free daily newspapers, Le Havre-Presse and The Progress of Fecamp, and their weekly supplements.

The direction of DRG does not comment. But the situation of his pole Norman is actually very difficult. The paid circulation daily Paris-Normandie has dropped 23% since 2006 to just 52,606 copies at last count of OJD. That of other securities decreased by 26% in five years.

"We fear to a social minimum, at worst a bankruptcy filing," said the AFP-Benoît Marin Curtoud, delegate from Paris to Normandy SNJ.

Discussions with the Belgian Rossel

While DRG is continuing discussions with the Belgian group Rossel to create a joint venture of leading regional dailies in France, the pole Norman seems to be a final hurdle before the conclusion of an agreement. According to the SNJ, the Company Norman publishing and printing (SNPEI), which publishes such titles and employs 365 employees including 114 journalists have registered last year a deficit of EUR 2 million and annual sales of around 40 million.

For the Hersant Media Group, which has already had to close last November Comareg (Released Sold) resulting in the heaviest social of 2011 in France (1650 employees), the liquidation of Paris Normandy would be a second crushing defeat.

Greece: into an agreement Monday with the Eurogroup

 

White smoke comes not yet held Monday in Brussels, where a decisive meeting of the Eurogroup on Greece. It comes from the Italian Presidency in Rome, and the headquarters of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.

After a phone conversation with Angela Merkel and Prime Minister of Greece Lucas Papademos, Friday, Mario Monti issued a statement encouraging: "At the end of this conversation, which came in the details and which was conducted in a constructive spirit, three participants were confident that an agreement on Greece can be reached Monday, the Eurogroup. "

So far, mistrust prevailed. Especially since the previous Eurogroup, on Greece, was canceled Wednesday. "This time, an agreement is likely," said Jean Pisani-Ferry, director of the Bruegel think-tank in Brussels. "Otherwise it's too late, there will master more technical details …", he adds.

The challenge of this size Eurogroup is: give Greece its private creditors and the green light to launch the second bailout of Greece, estimated at 130 billion euros, to avoid a default in Greek debt falls from 14.5 billion euros on March 20.

That Greece is committed to the reforms demanded by the troika, beyond the April elections, Germany, Finland and the Netherlands had planned mid-week to split the bailout to not pay, firstly, that the sum needed to rescue private, or 30 billion euros payday loans. 

Exchange of debt

But this scenario is complicated, difficult to read for the markets, has been criticized by the IMF and European lawyers, who see it as a source of additional blocking with private creditors, asked to relinquish 70% of the value of their securities. "This option is no longer on the table," said Deputy German Finance Minister, Thomas Steffen. "We are ready to have a solid basis for a decision Monday," says the German Finance Ministry in Berlin.

The European Central Bank has brought his stone to an eventual agreement. Its chairman, Mario Draghi, submitted Thursday night, the vote of the Governors, the exchange of 50 billion euros of Greek bonds, which should allow eventually to redistribute 12 billion euros to Greece, which allocated to debt repayment countries.

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All can be rented on the Internet, but at what cost?

 

After the real success of online shopping sites like eBay, PriceMinister, or the Bon Coin, the new trend is for rent on the Net. Many small e-rental sites, as Zilok, Goopes or Consoloc, abounds on the Web, reflecting the popularity of the French for "eat smart", or just how to use a product when it is needed. Today, the market leader and pioneer in France, e-rents, Argus publishes the first charter, based on tens of thousands of locations identified by the site for three years. "The Argus does not set prices, it indicates to users who have no idea of ​​the rental value of their purpose, how it can be rented and how it can bring," said Alexandre Woog, the founder of a start-up incubated with HEC.

So a bike is rented 10 euros per day, a barbecue 8 euros, 5 euros a vacuum cleaner, a hair remover 10 euros, 30 euros a stereo, a battery 45 euros, a snowboard 7 euros, 25 euros a cement mixer, a road car 55 euro, 1 euro a puzzle, etc.. The list is not exhaustive as rental properties are varied and sometimes unusual: there are spy cameras, to strip bars, disco buses, limousines, and even goats to 10 euros per day, to unravel his garden!

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The loss of triple-A does not interfere with management

 

The downgrade of France by Standard & Poors on January 13 did not have the effect feared. Markets do not collapse, the lending rates did not explode … And executives do not seem affected. According to the latest barometer of Eco-ViaVoice, only 29% of them think that the loss of triple-A will impact their business. Surprising but positive, this result illustrates the gap between the hype and the consequences of lowering "The financial situation of a company, not the triple A which is," says François Miquet-Marty, president of ViaVoice , before adding, however, "this reduction is not confirmed by other agencies, it remains in perspective."

Ineffectiveness of political discourse

Beyond the triple A, the composite index of moral frameworks rose slightly for the second consecutive month at – 48 after – especially in January and 52 – 56 in December, its lowest level since the barometer in 2004. However, for François Miquet-Marty, "it is difficult to talk of improvement, all the remaining indicators, sobering …" For if the frames, as the markets seem less concerned, they are generally pessimistic about the economic activity . For 69% of them, the standard of living in France will deteriorate over the years, where 10% think it will improve, an increase of 5 points. On employment, 82% expect an increase in the number of unemployed.

"At three months of presidential executives do not perceive the candidates' speeches, possible improvement levers on the issue of unemployment," worries Francois Miquet-Marty, noting that "they place little hope in politics. "

About their financial prospects, they remain grim: 41% of executives expect a deterioration of their financial situation in the coming months. Career opportunities remain "weak" for 78% of them. Finally, motivation, stagnant, with 40% of executives reported that their employees are being motivated.

Flat in this context, only a takeoff of the presidential campaign could cause a rise of the honest moral frameworks.

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