In search of money, and anxious to give pledges of liberalism to the business community, the Russian state will sell $ 29 billion 22 billion euros of assets over the period 2011-2013. It is the largest wave of privatization initiated since liberalization of the chaotic Russian economy in the 1990s.
Investors were on the verge of losing patience. Ten months have passed since the announcement last September of a privatization plan. Wednesday, cutting short the rumors, the finance minister, Alexei Kudrin liberal, has finally confirmed: "We will sell a significant portion of our assets in state enterprises, while keeping the blocking majority."
The choice of companies is not yet finalized. The government is working on a list of eleven companies, including banks VTB and Sberbank and Rosneft, Transneft and oil.The Russian railways have been removed from the list at the request of Alexei Kudrin.
According to Russian media, the government must decide between the Ministry of Finance, ready to keep only 51% of assets, and the Ministry of Economic Development, which denies that the state ownership falls below 75%.
Reducing the budget deficit
Therefore unlikely that privatization begin "by the end of the year," warns Elvira Nabiullina, Minister of Economic Development: "We are working to accelerate and increase the volume of privatization," she explained yesterday emerging from a cabinet meeting devoted to the 2011-2013 budget bad credit pay day loans.The transfer of assets should be done gradually, the pace of 9-10000000000 of $ 8 billion euros per year for three years.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the privatization plan is to reduce the budget deficit from 4% in 2011 to 3% in 2012 and 2% in 2013.
But according to some, this is not the main reason: "To curb its deficit, Russia has its sovereign wealth, she did not need privatization. This is done for the Government to send a signal to markets, to show them that the plan to make Moscow an international financial center is taken very seriously, "says Natalya Orlova, chief economist at Alfa Bank.
Since the establishment, on July 7 by President Dmitry Medvedev, a group working on the creation in Russia of an international financial center, the business does not rustle as this: "This is to give investors the opportunity to get used to Russia, "said Natalia Orlova.
According to Alexei Kudrin, Russia's potential is comparable to that of "Dubai, Beijing or Shanghai" and is well placed to trade titles: "The MICEX Stock Exchange held, according to various indices of places from 10th to 19th, RTS Stock Exchange and is ranked ninth for trade in products, "he recalled in June.
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After flirting with bankruptcy last year, the group Technicolor, resulting from the safeguard procedure in February, comes in green in the first half 2010, despite a further decline in sales.
The Group's net profit was 96 million euros in the first six months of the year, while last year it posted a loss of 325 million euros. A benefit to be attributed mainly to reduced losses in the activities of the group arrested or held for sale, valued at 117 million euros in the first half. The former television manufacturer has refocused indeed, during the backup process that will emerge from the ashes of Thomson on the services of content creators for film, television and advertising. In the first half, net income from continuing operations amounted to further 213 million euros.
New Stuff
The turnover of Technicolor however continued to decline from 18.5% a year, to 1468 billion euros. The decline was however lower in the second quarter, from 12.4% to 776 million euros, showing an improving trend. The CEO of Technicolor, Frederic Rose, has indeed found "patterns of improvement and signs of recovery in most activities, and reaffirmed a target of growth of sales in the second half of 2010 no fax cash loans. "Our financial restructuring is now completed, we started to win the trust of our customers," he said.
Frederic Rose has given evidence for the conclusion of two contracts announced Thursday.Verizon has indeed signed a letter of intent for the provision of broadband residential gateways, while DirecTV has signed a contract extension for the supply of decoders.
Surrender of Grass Valley
The second half should also be more positive, with the sale of assets deemed non-strategic. The group had announced in early July the first major sale of its loss-making with the sale of Grass Valley, into three pieces. The first part has already been the subject of a transfer agreement with the U.S. private equity group Francisco Partners. For other assets, "progress is expected before the end of the year," said Frederic Rose.
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Fears of a slowing global economy and optimism of the encouraging results of some American companies, the Asian markets do not know where to turn. The uncertainty has clearly won the Asian market. Despite opening up 1.1%, the Nikkei has disintegrated as the yen strengthened. The benchmark index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange lost a few minutes from 0.45% to close 9,258.41 points. The euro was worth 112.28 yen to 7:00 (-0.48%).
In other areas of the region, the mood is mixed. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong gained 0.52% to 20,370.35 points, the CSI 300 Index of Shanghai shows a slight increase from 0.06% to 2743.14 points, the Seoul Stock Exchange was up 0.65% 3659.85 points, the Sydney Stock Exchange ahead of 0.14% to 4409.80 points, and Mumbai was up 0.42% to 17,953.31 points.In contrast, the Singapore Straits Times Index lost 0.32% to 2939.08 points and Taiwan was down 0.12% to 7702.43 points.
Oil prices were slightly higher Wednesday in Asian electronic trading before the release of oil reserves in the United States, dealers said. In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for September delivery was taking 5 cents to 77.63 dollars a barrel, while Brent North Sea with identical maturity, gained 9 cents to 76.31 dollars . Investors await the release Wednesday of weekly report on the status of stocks in the United States.According to analyst estimates, the reserves of crude will drop by 1.1 million barrels.
With the rise of the yen, export values are again in trouble, including automakers Toyota lost 2.55% to 3,055 yen, Nissan loose 0.65% to 609 yen or Honda was down 1.81% 2605 yen.
This is the most reassuring news announced by the U.S. authorities for more than two months. According to Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen American to oversee cleanup operations in the Gulf of Mexico, BP should be able to contain 100% the gap in the well from which oil flows to by Monday. A new funnel, bigger than previous ones, is currently installed by the British oil.
This funnel, called "Top Hat Number 10", should recover up to 80,000 barrels of oil per day (12.7 million liters), against 25,000 now. The authorities are optimistic that based on their assessments, the well lost more than 60,000 barrels per day. The previous dome will be first removed. A large quantity of oil escape so well for 48 hours.But once the new funnel posed, the results will be immediate, promises Thad Allen.
Since April 20, the day of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon platform off the coast of Louisiana, BP has increased its attempts to clogging, all unsuccessful.
No stop before August
BP was more cautious in its forecasts. Bob Dudley, responsible for managing the disaster, spoke of another scenario where difficulties in installing the new funnel could delay the time from Monday to Thursday.
But authorities are confident: "We have the climate we need," said Thad Allen. The admiral, however, required to calm the enthusiasm that followed the announcement. "I used the word 'contain' and not 'stop'," he commented. According to him, the well would not be closed as well as two-pass will not be completed.These wells, dug deep to inject cement and mud, should not be installed until mid-August. Once the leak stopped, the extensive cleaning and restoration of the ratings will continue.
Anadarko does not pay
On this last point, BP was again struck Friday denied Anadarko Petroleum. The company, which owns 25% of wells responsible for the spill, said she would not pay the $ 272 million that BP is asking her to cover their share of cleanup costs, according to U.S. law known pollution.
On June 18, the tension was raised a notch between the two partners lorsqu'Anadarko stated that the explosion of April 20 on the platform Deepwater Horizon, "was preventable and was a direct result of decisions and actions BP unthinking.
In another e-mail sent Friday, a spokesman for Anadarko, John Christiansen, however, felt that his group remained "committed to working in good faith with BP to reach a satisfactory resolution."
BP is now awaiting the response of Mitsui, which owns 10% of the wells. The British oil giant is claiming $ 112 million for cleanup costs. The company has not yet made its position.
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After presenting the magnitude of reductions in departmental budgets, the British prime minister should explain the method he intends to use to achieve its objectives. The austerity measures unveiled by the government this weekend are particularly severe: the state is considering including reduced by over 40% of the cost of certain departments. However, David Cameron must ensure this Thursday in front of 450 members of his Government that the quality of public services will be maintained in spite of drastic budget cuts.
According to excerpts of the speech published by Bloomberg, the prime minister must detail his plan to replace "the old bureaucratic system with a new democratic system, enabling it to resolve the dilemma between maintaining services and reducing costs.
"We want to give citizens an opportunity to improve public services in our country through transparent, democratic local control, competition and choice," said excerpts from the speech. David Cameron will discuss in particular the possibility for the first time, electing police commissioners Guaranteed payday loans.
For its part, the Secretary of State for reducing costs of administration will scrutinize all the benefits of key government suppliers to reduce costs. The names of companies have not been disclosed.
600 000 public jobs threatened
The British Finance Minister, George Osborne, asked the Ministries of Defence and Education, to make projections based on a reduction in their budget 10% to 20%.But other state services must therefore prepare for reductions of 25% to 40% of their resources. In late June, the Minister announced in Parliament and with all the new budget measures he hoped would reduce the deficit from 10.1% of gross domestic product this year (2010/11) to 1.1 % of GDP by 2015/16.
The Fiscal Responsibility Office has estimated that 600,000 public sector jobs might be eliminated as a result of these forecasts to reduce the deficit.
A significant number of European institutions is convalescing. Analysts estimate that more than twenty banks will be forced to raise over 30 billion euros, following testing of resistance. These tests, which must be published in late July, are expected to account for the ability of banks to support economic and financial extremes, particularly in case of new write-downs.
Already there are signs the sector's difficulties. Yesterday, the banks have asked for more cash than expected from the European Central Bank (ECB), illustrating the fact that institutions are unable to refinance them, and cast doubt upon the state of their balance sheets.Thus, after a special term refinancing operation of the ECB, 78 banks have borrowed just over 243 billion euros.
The concern germany
The latest statements by Axel Weber have also sowed doubt. The governor of the Bundesbank, Germany's central bank – has in fact asked to German institutions to raise funds to prepare for emergencies, in case they would not pass stress tests. The German regional banks, and Monte dei Paschi and Banca Popolare di Milano in Italy, Banco Popular in Spain or the Greek settlements, Portuguese or ireland would be most vulnerable.
INFO LE FIGARO – The defense saved the day during the budgetary decisions. According to our information, the budget of this department will be frozen in 2011. But it will increase by 450 million euros in 2012 and 500 million in 2013. From 2011 to 2013, allocations to the Defence grow by 3.1% in value, while the overall amount given to departments fall of 0.2%.
However, the Defence should have more, $ 3.5 billion over three years if the military budget law, which was planning an increase in expenditures had been met. But the roadmap is no longer tenable given the magnitude of deficit payday loans for self employed. In addition, Defence will recover about $ 2 billion windfall, thanks to the sale of real estate and radio frequencies.Result, the department will not have to increase efforts at downsizing. Neither cutting into programs renegotiated in 2009 as the multimission frigates Frem or equipment Felin infantry (even if the payment could be later). However, some programs not yet started should be deferred. And the operating budget will be reduced.
For its centennial, the fund invests Strategic Investment (ISP), launched there just eighteen months, has chosen to support CGG Veritas. This intervention takes place through the acquisition of the group's shares listed in Paris and New York, up from just over 170 million euros, or 6% of capital. The fund, which became the largest shareholder of the company, ask an administrator to the council table. "This is a significant commitment of ISPs, says Gilles Michel, Director General of public funds. One of our three missions is to strengthen the capital of companies listed on major technological potential. Upon entering the capital of CGG Veritas, we conduct our sixth investment of this type. "
This, incidentally, the third stake in an oil company, after Vallourec and Technip.With a market capitalization of 2.7 billion euros, CGG Veritas is smaller than the other two groups supported by the funds, but the company employed 7,500 strong positions in its areas of specialty. It is a world leader in providing services in imaging for identifying hydrocarbon reserves, both onshore and offshore, it is also the world leader in seismic equipment.
"We are proud to be regarded as a business with great potential by the ISP, and it does not mark a turning point for the company, but it will allow us to further develop the technology to improve the image of the basement" , commented the President of CGG Veritas, Robert Brunck.
Long-term shareholder
The entry of ISPs also aims to secure a capital highly fragmented.IFP (French Petroleum Institute), long the largest shareholder, holds only 4.2%. And the company has 700 funds in its capital.
With the strategic fund, about 10% of the capital are now in the hands of public shareholders and long term. "The presence of ISPs in the capital makes CGG Veritas attractive for other long term investors," said Gilles Michel. For him, securing the capital enables these dynamic companies to focus on growth rather than spending time managing financial issues.
Problem even more crucial that CGG Veritas is an average actor in a sector parapetrolic won by a movement of concentration. Schlumberger has made two acquisitions in quick succession.The industry giant has launched at the end of winter a bid of 11 billion dollars on Smith International, before you spend a few weeks later, one billion euros to afford the French Geoservices. Many observers consider that competitors, including Halliburton, would replicate …
At the last conference on deficits, Nicolas Sarkozy has proposed to amend the Constitution so that at the beginning of each term government embarks on a path of reducing the public deficit. Specifically, the new executive would introduce a law framing current five years. And the statute imposes itself to the draft budget law (PLF) and the draft law on financing of Social Security (PLFSS) annually. "If the budget bill or PLFSS does not meet the defined path, they could be censured by the Constitutional Council," says one at Bercy.
Without repudiating the philosophy of the project, some members of the working group led by Michel Camdessus wish to amend it. They prefer to build a vehicle that already exists: the law of public finance program, including the second version is in preparation for the years 2011-2013.The Act defines a trajectory government deficit over three years and gives rules good governance, such as pledge new tax loopholes or tax cuts on savings elsewhere. Problem: the establishment, without consideration of the reduced VAT in restaurants has shown that the law had little weight. The idea would be to amend the Constitution so that the law needed to Multi PLF PLFSS and easy payday loans. With, as in the government's plan, the Constitutional Council, acting as a lookout. The difference with the law of framing? "The law multiannual runs over three years instead of five, which is more economically feasible.She speaks of actual deficits, while framing the law is based on structural balances, that is to say pensioners in the economy, which nobody understands, "said Philippe Marini, UMP rapporteur of the budget in the Senate.
Skip the election cycle
Another advantage: the law is part of a multi-year regular who, in 2011, is linked with the stability program sent to Brussels. One way to reduce dependence of the electoral cycle. However, some members of the Committee Camdessus have a different vision. Gilles Carrez, UMP rapporteur of the budget to the Assembly, wants only the governance rules of law binding on other multi-texts: "The deficits are too sensitive to economic trends. By cons, it must make mandatory rules of conduct. "The members have three weeks to agree before issuing their report.The question is whether the government will agree to a reappraisal.
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In an interview with Les Echos, Vincent Bollore admits he knew nothing about insurance. For, he joined the board of administrators that Saturday Generali, the third insurer in Europe. A weak point that his mentor Antoine Bernheim, president of the Italian group forced to resign because of his age (85 years), noted in an interview with Le Figaro there a fortnight.
But the owner of the eponymous group Bollor? defends himself by pointing out that he "knew nothing about the origin of transport, while the company he runs a business includes" Transport and Logistics, which accounts for more than 60% of turnover."I do not see anything that would prevent me to learn" the business of insurance, he said.
In any case, his ignorance on the subject does not stop to think that Generali "did not need money ', thus precluding any need to raise capital, as recommended Antoine Bernheim, the" friend of Bollor? family for over fifty years. "
Cesare Geronzi in continuity
Cesare Geronzi, head of Mediobanca, which is the major shareholder Generali which Bollore holds 5% stake, was unanimously chosen to be the new President, if all goes as planned at the meeting General Meeting of April 24. Bollore seeks will be the president.
Antoine Bernheim has tried to respond, so that no one offered him honorary president without at the board of directors. The latter believes that his age was a pretext for his ouster.He does not hesitate to criticize those who will head the group he led between 1995 and 1999 and since 2002, "Mr. Geronzi is not an insurer and he always said he did not want this post ", he said a few days ago.
For his part, Vincent Bollore – the boss of Havas – tells Echos that he thinks the new president "will continue" the development of Generali, which has "crossed the crisis period with the best results, congratulating the Antoine Bernheim passage for his record "excellent".
Bollore will become a shareholder of Generali
Entering at Generali, which is the third European insurer, Bollore intends to prove his "confidence" and "interest" for the group, including the purchase of shares Generali.This would appease the existing shareholders of the group that challenged that Vincent Bollore does not himself.
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