Business News & Financial News

Pflimlin Etienne, President of the Mutual Credit, announced Monday he was resigning his post at the head of the French mutual bank.

"I decided, for personal reasons, to end my functions as president of the National Confederation of Credit Mutuel, and the Federation of Credit Mutuel Centre Est Europe," he wrote in a statement released to the press by Credit Mutuel.

The banking group, in its statement, said that Michael Lucas, the current CEO of the Credit Mutuel will replace Stephen Pflimlin as President from October 14.

Previously, a source close to the group's management confirmed to Reuters that information revealed by the newspaper Les Echos.

"Yes, there is a press release that starts tonight at 18 hours, but I think I'll try to move forward," said the source had told Reuters.

Safran will decide in the coming days to make a bid on Zodiac and, where appropriate, offer a significant premium to shareholders of the aerospace supplier, said Monday the Tribune, citing inside sources.

No hostile bid will be made, the newspaper said, while the offensive Saffron comes a month after an initial rejection of the leaders of the Zodiac.

"Considering that we have more than one in two chance, we'll go, if it has less than one in two chance, wait. This folder will always feel in six months a year," told the newspaper an internal source of saffron.

A spokesman declined to comment Safran information immediately.A spokesman declined to comment Zodiac.

Around 11:25, the action was progressing Zodiac 13.01% to 49 euros on the Paris Stock Exchange after reaching a high of 53.4 euros earlier in the morning.At the same time, Saffron retreated 1.66% to 19.01 euros.

Saffron is able to offer a premium of 30-40% compared to the current course, says the Tribune, the equivalent of the highest historic title in 2007, to 58 euros.

Safran is ready to bring the family shareholders of Zodiac in its capital, the newspaper said, which would dilute the share of the state, now a shareholder group to 30%.

Citing "multiple sources," the newspaper wrote that the family Domange shareholder Zodiac up 9.28%, is not ready to sell, unlike the Peugeot family (5% of capital) who would be willing to cede Units.

Safran will do this for an offer to allow shareholders to retain the family tax benefit they have obtained by signing a pact Dutreil "six years ago and through which they receive a tax exemption on capital of 75%.

In prior postings to the families, Safran said his project is an acquisition of Zodiac, but that it could be achieved by exchange of securities and merger in order to preserve the fiscal pact, The Tribune wrote.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has agreed to sell nearly 2.4 billion euros of its majority stake in its subsidiary WorldPay payment systems to two private equity funds, the latest step in its restructuring plan .

After Friday increased its quarterly results, RBS said it would sell 80% of its business Global Merchant Services, which oversees WorldPay to Advent International and Bain Capital in a transaction valuing the company up to 2.03 billion pounds (2.4 billion euros).

Advent and Bain were in exclusive talks for this operation since late July, had said last month a source close to the matter.Analysts had estimated the amount of the transaction between two and 2.5 billion pounds.

The two companies capital that they are looking to develop activities WorldPay and added that they could conclude other acquisitions.

RBS will however keep a stake of about 20% in WorldPay.The added value generated by this transaction would be approximately 850 million pounds and increase the solvency ratio "core Tier 1" bank by about 30 basis points, the bank said.

"A NEW IMPORTANT STEP"

RBS will receive an initial cash payment of £ 1.7 billion once the deal is finalized and could obtain additional 200 million depending on performance WorldPay.

"The sale of Global Merchant Services is a new milestone in the restructuring program the company," said chief financial officer, Bruce Van Saun, in a statement.

Around 4:45 p.m. GMT, RBS yielded 0.38%, to 51.8 pence in London Stock Exchange, outperforming the Stoxx 600 index, however, brings together the main European banking stocks, which retreated at the same time by 0.74%.

This occurs after the Wednesday of the sale of 318 branches RBS UK counterpart Santander for about 1.65 billion pounds.

Before announcing the sale of WorldPay, the bank reported Friday in an increased profit in the second quarter due to recovery of its loan portfolio and improved its net interest margin, while bad debts Ireland remain problematic.

Several European banks such as HSBC, BNP Paribas and Barclays, have reported strong results this week in favor of a reduction in expenses related to bad debts, but some investors are questioning their prospects.

"THE PERFORMANCE IS A LITTLE LIGHT GBM"

RBS, for its part reported an operating profit of 869 million pounds for the quarter ended June 30, after a profit of 713 million in the first quarter.

The retail banking and commercial banking at RBS have seen their net banking income increased during the quarter but the division of investment bank GBM has had difficult times with a 31% drop in GDP over the first quarter.

"The performance of the GBM is a bit light, but the plus side, the British retail banking seems to be doing well," said Joseph Dickerson, an analyst at London brokerage firm Execution.

RBS said it had seen no return of the investment bank in July, which is fueling fears that the sector does not meet the expectations throughout the year if the soft trend in May and June is confirmed.

"July is generally consistent with the trend of the previous two months," said Stephen Hester. "If customers, uncertain, remain on the sidelines, there is less money in the investment bank."

Impairment losses accounted for 2.49 billion pounds in the second quarter, against 2.68 billion in the first.Excluding the gain on the recovery of its own debt, the bank posted a net income of 250 million pounds, down from the first three months of the year.

In attempting to seize the biotech Genzyme, Sanofi-Aventis hopes to enter a segment long ignored by major pharmaceutical companies, one of rare diseases.

It would appear that the giants of the industry think that investing in this field can be a good way to increase margins, complete the range of products and at least partially offset the impact of competition from generic.

Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline have already tried the adventure but the offer from Sanofi on Genzyme – which could turn around 14.3 billion euros – would be by far the most advanced.

Genzyme is the world leader in treatments for rare diseases.He realized in 2009 a turnover of around 4.5 billion dollars from drug dealing rare inherited disorders such as Gaucher and Fabry disease.

"Genzyme has demonstrated to all that the market for rare diseases can be quite profitable," said Gary Pisano, a professor at Harvard Business School and a specialist in biotechnology.

These drugs for rare diseases, so-called "orphan" can reach astronomical prices and yet are rarely rejected by insurance companies.Cerezyme, blockbuster treating Gaucher disease developed by Genzyme, is an annual treatment cost of over $ 200,000.

This is one of the drugs most expensive in the world and represented the last year a turnover of 1.2 billion dollars.

NEW PERSPECTIVES

They are new opportunities opening up for big pharmaceutical companies that are themselves, most often, little to offer in terms of experimental medicines.

"The era of 'blockbuster' seems gone," says Kevin Gorman (Putnam Associates). "In rare diseases needs to look far the greatest."

Gaucher disease and Fabry disease are characterized by an enzyme deficiency that can cause irreparable damage or even lethal to the organs.Treating such diseases is not accessible to all laboratories and even the big pharmaceutical companies are not equipped to start from scratch in this field.

Design in this field of rare diseases, clinical trials, control of complex manufacturing processes and finally market drugs in highly targeted markets, this requires a special skill mastery that Genzyme to perfection.

Yet, one case of infection occurred at the site last year Genzyme Allston Landing in Boston, led to a shortage of two key drugs and led to a sharp drop in results and a diving action.

Sanofi hopes to capitalize on woes Genzyme to buy cheap.It offers 69 dollars per share, according to sources familiar with the matter, much less than the $ 80 where work is changing before disorders occur manufacturing end of 2008.

According to sources, it is unlikely that Genzyme accepts less than 80 dollars per share. This can be explained by the fact that Genzyme is an asset as rare as the diseases it treats.

It is not likely to be subject to generic competition soon.It has also more than 20 years of experience in the relationship with patient groups in the organization of clinical trials and reimbursement management and regulatory issues.

NOT EASY TO COPY

"The reasons why large groups are eyeing this segment reduced threat of generic products, products that can be expanded to other areas and prices," said Dominic Valder, an analyst at Evolution Securities.

Traditionally, the big pharmaceutical companies focus on drugs prescribed by GPs in a large population of patients with chronic conditions like diabetes, depression, ulcers or cholesterol is too high.

These medicines are made from molecules that can easily replicate génériquiers.

The biotech drugs are on the contrary from protein complex. They are prescribed by specialists for patients in small numbers. They are not easy to copy.

Some heavyweights pharmacy try their luck but so timidly.For Patrick Vallance, head of research at Glaxo, the strategy aims to improve the returns to research and development focusing on areas where the probability of success are greatest.

Glaxo has taken a stake in the Japanese and JCR Pharmaceuticals has entered into an alliance with privately held Prosensa, leading to the launch of a Phase III clinical trial in the second half and bearing on Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Pfizer has acquired worldwide rights to an experimental treatment for Gaucher disease developed by Protalix BioTherapeutics, which if approved, would compete with Genzyme's Cerezyme.

Carphone Warehouse, the first European distributor of mobile phones, publishes quarterly results above its forecast, thanks to smartphone demand, pushing up the stock price of more than 5%.

The British group showed some caution about the economic climate but said he was confident, however, achieve its goal for the year in April.

Of the thirteen weeks to July 3, the first fiscal quarter, sales in stores open at least a year rose 3.7% at constant exchange rates in the European market.

This increase is greater than analysts' forecasts that anticipated growth of 2%, according to a survey conducted by the company.

Carphone has also said that the three new stores opened since April in Britain under the name Best Buy have been successful had a "very positive", without giving figures.

Asked by Reuters about the economic outlook, the group general manager Roger Taylor said: "I am not a prophet of doom. But I do not presume to rapid growth, either."

The title gained 5.09% to 227 pence at 10h00 GMT, the FTSE 100 yielded 0.19%.

The Franco-Dutch Unibail-Rodamco, faced with a lackluster economic environment, will make the cash to shareholders to try to offset the stagnation of its results.

The leading European commercial real estate offers and distribute 1.8 billion euros in cash to shareholders, or 20 euros per share in respect of a return of capital, "he said Wednesday in release.

This operation, which takes the form of a refund procedure premium contribution, roughly the amount of sales, net of acquisitions made since the merger in 2007 between Unibail and Rodamco, the company said.

Unibail-Rodamco has sold four billion euros of assets since the merger and purchased 2.4 billion euros.

The transaction will be subject to an extraordinary general meeting on September 8 for a payment on October 12 and will be funded by four billion euros in credit lines.

Meanwhile, the company said it benefited from renewed investor interest in quality real estate assets to accelerate asset sales and further focus on its biggest shopping malls.

In seven months, Unibail-Rodamco has sold 1.2 billion euros of assets, with an average premium of 9% compared to their appraised values.It plans to sell another 500 million by the end of the year and 2.5 billion by 2012, the Netherlands, but also in France, Spain and Scandinavia.

The land group aims to reduce the number of shopping centers from 95 to 60 by 2012.

NO IMPROVEMENT FOR HIGH

This strategy of refocusing the group on its greatest asset and most cost reflects the uncertainty about the future growth and household consumption.

"I see no reason for a big improvement in overall consumption, but our schools should do better," said Guillaume Poitrinal, CEO, a few journalists."I'm not optimistic about the economic situation in France, but our particular positioning can help us gain market share," he added.

Some analysts also see it as an uncertainty about the continued recovery in property prices.

"Having to pay a special dividend and accelerate disposals may mean that the company does not believe too much in pursuit of the rising property market," commented one of them, who would not be identified.

The company has not yet abandoned its development projects and plans to invest 1.5 billion euros by 2015 to modernize its existing facilities and 5.7 billion for new projects, of which 1.3 billion are actually incurred.He did not rule out further acquisitions.

After the transaction, Unibail will remain the land the least indebted in Europe with a debt ratio increased from 31% to 40%.

Standard & Poor's revised after the announcement, his outlook on the company, which went from stable to negative, while confirming her an "A" long term "A-1 'short-term, and Fitch, which replaced Moody's at the request of the group has assigned a grade "A" long-term debt IDR (issuer default rating).

RESULTS NO SURPRISE

For the first half of 2010, Unibail-Rodamco has published a recurring earnings per share of 4.70 euros, up 0.4% in the first half of 2009, with net rental income of 624 million, down 1 6% (+0.4% at constant perimeter).

Its net asset liquidation stood at 131.00 euros per share, up 2.2% from late 2009 its assets increased by one billion euros to 23.3 billion, ending a two- year decline in the value of its assets.

According to a consensus calculated by the editor of Reuters estimates from a dozen analysts, estimates ranged to 4.51 euros for recurring earnings per share and 130.06 euros for the net asset value (NAV ).

The property has confirmed its growth target of zero to 2% of its recurring earnings per share in 2010, including the impact of capital repayment, after rising 7.1% in 2009, mainly because of low indexation of rents.

The single European property to be included in the Eurostoxx 50, with a market capitalization of 12.5 billion euros, closed up 2.79% in the Paris Bourse to 140.100 euros before the publication of these figures.

Since the beginning of the year, the security loses 8.8%, after rising 44% in 2009.

Manitou Tuesday reported a sharp rise in quarterly sales, but said the second half anticipate a slowdown in orders and a possible impact on delivery times its turnover.

The specialist said all terrain truck build for 2010 growth of 10% to 15% of its turnover, after announcing a 36% increase in sales in the second quarter to 225 million euros, 8.3% throughout the first half, to 387 million euros.

The backlog reached a record level of 5,400 machines at the end of June, said Manitou.

"We focus on our ability to issue orders in a fluid and operational chain still very tense," the group said in a statement.

Manitou has estimated that its order intake for the second quarter allowed him to secure part of his turnover for the second half, but the group expects a slowdown in the second half of the year.

"We continue to believe that these orders are from reports of investment in 2009, the natural cycles of replacement of machinery, and the traditional seasonal effect," the company said.

"However, we do not always signal a real recovery in volumes, either through rental building, expansion of agricultural markets or just a restocking distribution networks," Has added.

The action Manitou closed Tuesday up 1.30%, to 11.68 euros in a market capitalization of around 440 million euros.

Nicolas Sarkozy announced Monday the appointment of Rémy Pflimlin, current head of the press operator Presstalis (ex NMPP) to chair the group France Televisions in place of Patrick de Carolis.

56 years old, Remy Pflimlin, former director of France 3, is the chief executive of France Televisions appointed by the Head of State under the reform of public broadcasting, which had already brought Jean-Luc Hees to head of Radio France.

The term of five years Patrick de Carolis ends next August 24.

"The President intends to appoint Pflimlin Remy as president of the company France Televisions," said a statement from the Elysee.

After the Act of March 2009 on the appointment of chairmen of public broadcasting, the choice of the Head of State requires the favorable opinion of the Supreme Council of Audiovisual (CSA) and the cultural affairs committees of the Senate and the National Assembly.

The CSA has already received the proposal from Nicolas Sarkozy, said the statement from the presidency.

A recurrent rumor until recently gave Alexandre Bompard, current head of Europe 1 (Lagardère Group), a favorite for the job.

Alexandre Bompard is regarded both as close to Nicolas Sarkozy and the businessman Stephane Courbit, which almost redeemed, in tandem with Publicis, the advertising of France Televisions.

THE SITE OF THE BOARD

Remy Pflimlin among other tasks will take a decision on restarting the process of privatization of France Television Advertising, suspended in mid-April by the Board of Directors, chaired by Patrick de Carolis.

The board was then raised uncertainties about the possible maintenance of advertising on its antennae day after 2011, especially after an attack in this direction led by Jean-Francois Cope, president of the UMP group in the National Assembly.

The law of March 2009, which endorsed the decision after the fact of advertising from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 in January 2009, provides for the complete elimination of advertising screens on satellite public in late 2011, when the extinction of the television broadcasting analog.

France Televisions has earned 405 million euros in advertising revenue between 6 hours and 20 hours in 2009 – against 260 million originally projected in its budget.

These advertising performance helped France Televisions to rebalance their accounts in 2009 three years ahead of its business plan and generate a net profit of 19.6 million euros instead of a projected deficit of 135.3 million.

The Board of Directors of France Television said Tuesday, June 29 that a return to balance the books reached in 2009 should continue into 2010.

The action marked rise in BP was Monday at the London Stock Exchange, the oil group has ensured that the containment dome set up the leaking wells in the Gulf of Mexico allowed to siphon off most of the oil 's them escape.

The UK has added a new capture system, to recover most of the dispersed oil would be ready in mid-JuneIt also revised upwards the cost of cleaning the oil spill, now the order of billions of dollars.

Action BP gained 2.7% to 445 pence at 11:18 AM.

BP said Sunday that the dome had helped siphon off the equivalent of 10,500 barrels Saturday, while the leak is estimated between 12,000 and 19,000 barrels per day.

"Finally we see some positive news for BP," said Peter Hitchens, oil analyst for Panmure Gordon.

Another analyst said that if BP is able to recover most of the oil in the coming month and a half, he will have less difficulty in avoiding a fall in the first quarter dividend.This decrease is claimed by some U.S. politicians.

The oil company also said that there was no change in its policy of exploration and production as a result of the spill.

"The exploration and production activity is a long term one must first make all investigations and draw all the lessons," said Clive Christison, one of the leaders of BP.

Spanish Grifols announced Monday the launch of a friendly takeover bid of 3.4 billion dollars (2.8 billion euros) over the U.S. Talecris Biotherapeutics specializes in the treatment of plasma in order to develop in the blood products.

For each action Talecris, Grifols offers $ 19 cash and 0.641 new share without voting rights.

A bid that shows a 53% premium over the average of thirty days of share price of U.S. laboratory.

There is also a good transaction for Cerberus, which owns, through a subsidiary, nearly 49% stake in Talecris.

"They pay a high premium over the market price that the market may not wish to reward short term," said Dirk Schnittke, analyst at CM Capital Markets.

"But it is a good strategic choice for medium-long term and they would not have achieved without preparing their project."

Around 10:30 GMT, Grifols fell nearly 5% to 8.81 euros, while the Madrid Stock Exchange was at equilibrium at the same time.

Including debt, the total redemption amounts to four billion dollars.To finance part of the transaction, Grifols will issue up to 84,000,000 new shares for 900 million dollars.

The Spanish group said Monday he hoped for about $ 230 million of annual synergies of the transaction, unanimously approved by directors of both companies and recommended to their respective shareholders.

The transaction should be accretive from the first year and increase earnings per share of 30% during the second year.

Grifols has given finance its deal, expected to close in the second half, to a syndicate of banks including Deutsche Bank, Nomura, BBVA, BNP Paribas, HSBC and Morgan Stanley.