Lagardère was shown on Thursday determined to see Canal + France go public by March 2011 because of disagreement on the sale of its 20% stake in Vivendi, the controlling shareholder group of pay TV.
Shaken last spring with a campaign of shareholder activist Guy Wyser-Pratte, the media group accelerates the sale of its minority, who constitute a conglomerate discount to its stock price.
Arnaud Lagardère, general partner of the group inherited from his father, was more cautious for the next big sale expected by analysts, that of its 7.5% remaining in the group of aerospace and defense group EADS.
During the presentation of interim results of his group, Arnaud Lagardere seemed more eager than ever to clean up these minority, among which 25% of Amaury, the owner of Parisien and L'Equipe, and 42% of media group Marie Claire.
He particularly stressed his determination to introduce Canal + France in stock while analysts saw it as far a new negotiating tactics of Lagardère, began several months in a poker game with Vivendi, which owns the remaining 80%.
"We go through the process (…), we will not turn on the road," he said during a conference call during the half year results.
GO QUICKLY TO CANAL +
Arnaud Lagardere wants to move quickly to avoid being caught by the tender provided during 2011 for the rights of Ligue 1 for the period 2012-2016, during which an initial public offering by Canal +, the main stakeholder, would the least sensitive.
The chief financial officer Dominic D'Hinnin, responsible for leading the operation, said that if it was not buckled before the end of the year, should wait until March because investors would know the results of Canal + in 2010 before committing.
Lagardère values in its accounts its 20% interest in Canal + France to 1.5 billion euros, or the proportional value of sales options exercised this year by TF1 and M6, which together held 15% of Canal + France.
Analysts doubt that Lagardère, which has no option, can achieve such a valuation at an IPO.
Under a shareholders agreement forged in 2007 when the merger between CanalSat and TPS, without an agreement between two parties on the price of participation, Lagardere could sell its shares on the market.
The Figaro had been reported that Vivendi had refused an offer of 1.35 billion euros Lagardère. Neither group had reviewed the information.
Vivendi has not made any proposal when we gave them (our) money.Their response was: we prefer to keep our money and invest in telecoms, "said Dominic D'Hinnin.
MORE TIME TO LEAVE OF EADS
Regarding EADS, the equation is more complicated. The action has returned 27% since the beginning of the year to close at 17.95 euros on Thursday, but still low and many analysts are convinced that Lagardere will not sell to under 20 euros.
Arnaud Lagardere also said he wanted to first ensure that the program of the future Airbus A350 was well underway before leaving the group's capital.
"There may be delays, or maybe not, we know nothing," he explained."But to be in position to sell those shares in EADS, we want to be 100% comfortable with the development of this aircraft, which means a little more time."
He added that he had the green light from the French government to withdraw and that the issue of the French-German balance in the capital of EADS was not within its jurisdiction.
"I do not expect sales at the end of this year, but if we have an opportunity, it is clear that we will seize this opportunity," he added.
Arnaud Lagardere also said that his discussions with Marie-Odile Amaury, which owns the namesake newspaper group, for a withdrawal had not been completed, while hoping to achieve in 2011, see this year.
He argued that a sale of the Parisien and Aujourd'hui en France, refocusing the group on the organization of sporting events and L'Equipe, increase conflicts of interest with Lagardere, also present in this area Marie-Odile Amaury placed in an "awkward position".
"It is important that we sell," he said. "We're trapped in a company we have no control and which we do not draw virtually no dividend".
18.15: Final Questions of the President: "There is a bank that claims 5 billion euros. What does that mean to you?" "I am conscious of having gone too far, but things do not happen as simply as this does mean that Societe Generale, defends Jerome Kerviel. "Were you made to be traded?" "Probably not, answers Kerviel. At the time, I thought was made for it, because I brought money. "Was there not a way out of it before it explodes?" "It's hard to say, according to ex-trader, which repeats at every he has never hidden. I acted in full sight of everybody. Everything is known and all means in the trading rooms. "Have you no submissions to make? This is the last boom that I tend … We know all about you?" Yes. "There is no mystery Kerviel?" No. It remains none the wiser …
6:06 p.m.: Kerviel was called to the bar."Who are you then, Mr. Kerviel, questioned the president? "My goal was to earn money in the bank" tirelessly answered the trader. It is still "sorry" for having suffered some people, like shareholders. But without the backing of his superiors Kerviel could have done nothing. Okay, but why Societe Generale would she let you do, the response president? Kerviel answers beside the point: "I do not know what degree of knowledge of my superiors." She adds, "I have not been able to circumvent all the controls. Conclusion of the presiding judge: "It is difficult to get you out of your way to change your point of view."
6:04 p.m.: Last question of the defense Button: IEC you know, the bad bank Société Générale? Evasive answer. "The issue is not really there." "I'm sad Master Metzner," concluded Daniel Bouton.With these words, the hearing is completed. Bouton leaves the room.
5:45 p.m. button explains to judges the arbitration function. "Banks are not what Jerome Kerviel tried to do," he pleads. Metzner did not give up its prey so easily. How come no one has responded to various warnings about Kerviel operations? For Button, it is obvious that should have been "fuck Kerviel at the door when the first warnings were issued." Mr. Dumas is accused of blowing the answers to Button. The discussion gets heated. Mr. Metzner has indeed evoke the suicide of another trader in the summer of 2007. For the lawyer the two cases are inextricably linked. Button indignant.
5:35 p.m.: Olivier Metzner continues on his questions.Including the most important: how Societe Generale could she not see the amount of these commitments "stupid"? For Button, one must distinguish between what was seen – and for now no one has proved that Kerviel's superiors were aware of what-should be seen ..
5:12 p.m.: For 20 minutes it is the shareholders' lawyers who have succeeded at the helm. They ask how Societe Generale could compensate its shareholders. Button, "unfortunately," says he can not do anything because it "is not responsible for any" innuendo, certainly not that. As his doctors told him when he was very ill, "you are not responsible for the crisis of Lehman, the banking crisis in the U.S. and now the Greek crisis".It can "reassurance", especially today, the General Socciété will remind, Button, who is not to much.
5:04 p.m.: Kerviel did not meet the wishes of Button. Prosecutors asked him if two and half years after the fraud he is determined to make excuses. He does not refuse them openly, but does not give up. "Of course I recognize mistakes, encouraged by my superiors" Kerviel replied. "50 billion euros you did not lose your cool, slice the prosecutor.
16h50: Button gets to tell his nights. In a strange dream Kerviel admits that he lied, and admitted that no member of the hierarchy has not pushed to defraud. And in this dream, Kerviel explained why he did it. He explained to the tens of thousands of employees of Societe Generale, who also are entitled to answers …A question remains: is it that there is a case where Kerviel's positions had been winning? For Button, of course not. The bank relies on the confidence that gave him his staff. The former CEO is trying a bit of humor. With 1.4 billion won, "the bank might be able to save the souls of young débousselés of trading rooms. Button Kerviel admits to still the tip of talent, and even a "capacity to conceal quite exceptional". With sympathy and physical, it was impossible to be suspicious, finds the former boss of the SG.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) is planning to resume participation of BNP Paribas in a Chinese joint venture asset management for 50 million dollars (38.2 million euros), we learn two sources familiar with the matter.
This would allow the first Japanese bank to enter the Chinese market for the management of funds, estimated at 237 billion euros and could exceed 765 billion euros in five years, according to consulting firm Z- Ben Advisors.
BNP Paribas and MUFG will submit the draft to the Chinese authorities before the end of the month, after rejecting an initial application for minor technical reasons, "said one source.
Once disengaged from SYWG BNP Paribas Asset Management, BNP Paribas will hold only one license for fund management in China and thus in keeping with rules set by Beijing, which prohibit foreign companies from holding more than one license in that market .
VERY ATTRACTIVE OFFER
Over thirty foreign institutions, including JPMorgan, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley, have formed joint ventures in fund management in China, while groups such as Aberdeen Asset Management and T. Rowe Price are looking to break into this market.
MUFG has prevailed over a dozen other candidates for the takeover of parts of BNP, among whom were Japanese Nomura Holdings and Britain's Ashmore Group.
The offer of the Japanese for 33% of BNP Paribas is a ratio of prices on assets under management of approximately 10%, against a normal value of 5%, thus making the supply of MUFG very attractive.
SYWG BNP Paribas was established in 2004 by BNP Paribas and the Chinese broker Wangguo Shenyin & Securities Co, which owns two thirds of the capital.
The joint venture had 10.4 billion yuan (1.2 billion euros) in assets under management at the end of June, 0.49% of the market, against 0.9% at end 2009.
After this assignment, BNP Paribas will not have more than a joint venture in China Fund Management, Fortis Haitong, which manages about 40 billion yuan of assets, or 2% of the market.
The BP has decided that its chief executive Tony Hayward must leave office because of his handling of the spill, and his departure will probably be announced within 36 hours, officials said Sunday, sources close to the group.
The board of BP is due to meet Monday to determine how the departure of Hayward and its replacement by Bob Dudley, the American leader who also oversees the fight against the oil spill, sources said.
Replace Hayward at this stage of operations could be difficult for BP.Well Macondo, which lets out of oil since the explosion of the platform Deepwater Horizon April 20, has not yet been definitively blocked.
If problems occur during the recent operations, Dudley's reputation could also suffer.
But the fact that the leak has been controlled for over a week by a temporary containment has led the company to be more concerned about the future of its chief executive.
According to sources, Hayward acknowledged that he was in the interests of BP let him go.
The British oil giant has lost 40% of its stock value since the beginning of the disaster.The group would not comment on rumors of departure from Hayward, declaring that he was general manager with the full support of the board of directors.
A spokesman for BP declined to repeat the news last week that the board does not even discussed the future of Hayward.
In the Gulf of Mexico, ships trying to stop the leak came back Sunday on the site after being forced to move away from threats of Tropical Storm Bonnie, now dissipated.
The next step is now the operation known as "static kill", which is to inject heavy fluids and cement into a pit pass.
This operation could begin in three to five days, according to Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, who directs operations for the U.S. government.
European shares ended slightly lower Wednesday, ending six consecutive sessions upward, banking stocks have suffered from the perspective of capital rules and more stringent risk for banks.
The increase of the high tech, according to results from Intel, however, helped to significantly reduce losses. Without appease investors who wait with some anxiety the results of stress tests of banks, July 23.
In Paris the Cac 40 index loses and 0.13% to 3632.98 points.The FTSEurofirst 300 index, which gained 8.2% over the previous six sessions, do likewise yields only 0.14%.
The European banking index, which lost more than 1% in session, ended the day on a decline of 0.42%. This is the second segment loss of the day and not as the first meeting. On the contrary, it confirms the high techs gain the most important day of 1.21%.
For banks, BNP Paribas, HSBC and Societe Generale have lost 1% to 2.7%.
For the high techs, ASLM Holdings gained 3.05%. The world leader in machine lithographed raised its revenue outlook for 2010, strong demand for its machines that allowed him to achieve results better than expected second quarter.
U.S. stocks finished lower Friday as investors questioned the robustness of recovery after the announcement of job losses in the U.S. were added to several indicators considered disappointing.
The Dow Jones ended down 0.47% at 9686.48 points, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index also lost 0.47% to 1022.58 points.The Nasdaq composite yielded 0.46% at 2091.79 points.
For the week, the Dow lost 4.5%, the S & P 5% and the Nasdaq 5.9%.
The U.S. economy is destroying jobs last month – 125,000 – for the first time since the beginning of the year, with the end of thousands of temporary contracts in the public sector related to the identification and recruitment of fewer than expected in private.
The unemployment rate however declined to 9.5%, its lowest level since July 2009, the final output for the labor market of some of the unemployed.
The sharper drop than expected industrial orders in May also weighed on the trend.
Another sign of concern, the moving average 50 days of the S & P 500's fell below its moving average 200 days. This configuration, which sees an average short less than an average long known as the "cross of death".
The phenomenon between the moving averages at 50 and 200 days happened the last time in December 2007, shortly after the market had begun a decline that had led the S & P to its lowest in 12 years.
On the front of values, financial values and sensitive to economic cycles have been neglected.The S & P 500 financials fell 1.1%, as well as some consumer values.
Volumes were thin, many players who left the office earlier in the weekend of Independence Day. The markets will be closed Monday.
In contrast, values were sought after biotech news reports that Sanofi-Aventis prepare a large acquisition in the United States.
Biogen gained 5.76% to U.S. $ 49.42, Allergan 62.29 dollars to 7.21% and 5.9% to Genzyme 52.80 dollars.
Growth in manufacturing output slowed in June in Europe, the euro zone even dropped below four months, further indication of lack of breath from the economic recovery in the region.
The final results of the survey conducted among Markit purchasing managers, the PMI manufacturing sector in the euro area stood at 55.6 in June, a level consistent with the flash estimate and slightly below the 55 , 8 May.
Economists do not take the alarm to prevent a risk of sudden halt to growth in Europe, but it seems clear that economic activity has probably reached its maximum rate during the quarter just s' complete and that interest rates should be maintained at low levels until next year.
"In many Western countries, we will see the pace of economic growth slowed in the second half of the year.This is the path that one takes, "said Mark Miller, economist at Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets in London.
"In continental Europe, exports remain an engine of economic growth but I do not know how long this can continue."
In France, growth in manufacturing activity slowed for the second consecutive month the sector has continued to destroy jobs.By dipping to 55.8 in June, the PMI Markit / FASC has reached its lowest level since December 2009.
Similarly, the UK manufacturing activity slowed to its lowest level in 10 months when she had reached a high of 15 in May
In contrast, activity in Germany has kept pace in June than in May, with an index that has emerged even slightly higher than the first estimate published two weeks ago.
The slowdown in manufacturing activity is not unique to Europe and key emerging countries as well as India and especially China are also involved.
While economists do not expect a recurrence of the global economy into recession, some warn that most developed countries could face a protracted period of sluggish growth.
Having already recorded last week its biggest weekly decline in a month, the Tokyo Stock Exchange ended down 0.45% Friday, suggesting investors the opportunity for the Japanese stock market to its lowest close in six months to less than 9,400 points.
After passing downward in meeting new technical threshold to 9780 points, the Nikkei index has increased its loss to 43.54 points to finally dispose 9693.94 points, while the broader TOPIX, 6.50 lost points (-0.75%) to 860.80 points.
The agreement between the leaders of the 20 most industrialized countries in the world (G20) had a limited effect on Japanese markets, in contrast to concerns about the U.S. recovery and the high yen, which were again weighed on exporting groups.
The semiconductor equipment maker Tokyo Electron, and the specialist in digital cameras and Canon have respectively decreased by 2.49% and 1.13%.
Mizuho Financial Group ended at its lowest in seven months to 149 yen (-2.61%), reflecting the intentions of the bank to raise 861 billion yen (7.8 billion euros), a slightly higher expectations, by issuing securities should increase by 38% the volume of shares outstanding.(See)
The announcement of this operation resulted in the decline of other securities sector, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, respectively, finished with a decline of 1.91% and 1.88%.
The United Kingdom came Tuesday in an era of stringency, the Chancellor Osborne has announced an unprecedented austerity plan designed to generate tens of billions of euros in savings over 5 years to eliminate almost all of budget deficit left by Labour.
The coalition government formed last month by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats "has inherited the largest budget deficit in Europe in absolute terms, and" this budget is needed to restore confidence in our economy, "argued the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, presenting his first budget to Parliament.
He unveiled a package of measures to eliminate the deficit completely called "structural" over five years, that is to say the duration of the legislature.The structural deficit is the part of the government deficit which is not related to temporary difficulties in the economy, and therefore does not go away automatically with the recovery.The reduction will require "structural reforms", such as reducing state intervention in certain areas or reduce the number of officials.
The total deficit should be narrowed down to 149 billion pounds (179 billion euros), equivalent to 10.1% of gross domestic product, in fiscal year started in April, only 20 billion pounds in 2015/2016, or 1.1% of GDP.
Drastic reduction of public expenditure
Most of this reduction, which represent a tightening of 40 billion pounds a year older, at the end of the term, provided that what the Labour Party, will come to an unprecedented reduction in public spending.
The budget of each department will decline from 25% on average over four years, except those in health and development assistance, which will be "ringfenced".The precise distribution of these cuts will be announced this fall.
Officials will have to tighten the belt, with a wage freeze for two years except for the smallest, and a hardening of their pension plan.
On the revenue side, the VAT will increase from 17.5 to 20% in January.The tax on gains from capital will swell immediately, and banks, after receiving massive bailout plans in the Labour Party, will go to the cashier, with the introduction next year of a tax that should generate Term 2.4 billion euros per year.
Even Queen Elizabeth will make efforts, a freeze on 9.5 million Euros from its "civil list", the envelope that the state pays for its official duties.
But alongside the Chancellor Osborne has announced a reform of the income tax, which was defended vigorously by the Liberal Democrats on behalf of social justice, and will allow to exempt nearly 900,000 low-income households. He also cared for businesses with targeted measures.
The opposition denounced a budget "bad for growth"
The opposition has strongly criticized this budget.Harriet Harman, who heads the Labour Party pending the election of a successor to Gordon Brown, has denounced "the same old Tories, severely affecting the most vulnerable. She also denounced a budget "bad for growth", emphasizing that the OBR, Constable of public finances, was lowered from 2.6% to 2.3% the official forecast for growth next year, following this budget.
In the City, investors welcomed the ads, dating the book above 1.20 euros, but economists have shown mixed. James Knightley of ING was concerned about the magnitude higher than expected this fiscal tightening, "a painful process that will limit growth, while Paul Robinson of Barclays Capital, has welcomed a budget sufficient clever, "which includes" various measures to limit the impact on the less affluent. "
