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When in 2007 the Merkel government has created an additional income tax of 45%, Germany was against the current. At the time, it was time to lower taxes to encourage work. But the crisis and rising public deficits have changed everything. Germany has become more and more followers. In 2010, the UK has increased to 50% the rate of the highest portion of its income tax (IR). And Italy is preparing to introduce a solidarity tax for employees earning over 90,000 euros.
More surprising number of taxpayers potentially affected by such a tax do not hesitate to ask now open! American side, the billionaire Warren Buffett has called this week for a contribution of "mégariches."In France, Maurice Levy, chief executive of Publicis Group and president of the Afep (French association of private companies), wrote in his name, an article in Le Monde, where he considered it "essential that the effort Solidarity begins with those whom fate has spared. " All indications are that it will be heard as the French government pledged last spring to introduce a tax on high incomes. "Today we are working on the issue of remuneration is said sometimes extravagant," reiterated on Wednesday on Europe 1, the budget minister, Valérie Pécresse.
The majority has already noted last year from 40% to 41% in the final tranche of IR. But this time it is hit with higher incomes (the final installment begins 71,000 euros in annual revenues). And this without creating a new rate of IR.While some lawmakers, like Senator Jean Arthuis centrist, still defend the idea, Nicolas Sarkozy is opposed to any new slice. Since the fall, the government has consistently rejected in Parliament every initiative of his majority to create a slice with 46% annual earnings per share in excess of 100,000 euros.
A million or 150,000 euros of income a year?
The Ministers of Economy and Budget has established a working group of parliamentarians who must propose measures in the fall, in the 2012 budget pay day loans. The idea of the executive, initially was rather taxing high incomes via the company by making non-deductible from corporate tax wages above a certain level. But the government now seems to favor a direct taxation at the household level, a solution advocated by many parliamentarians.Gilles Carrez, the UMP rapporteur of the budget in the Assembly proposes to introduce a contribution of 1% to 2% of annual revenues in excess of one million euros.
Advantage: All income is affected, including dividends and capital gains, not just wages (as with the non-deductibility). The threshold of 1 million French can target very easy – 30,000 homes would be affected. "The measure must be a symbol. This is not to bail out of the state, "said Jerome Chartier, UMP du Val-d'Oise. In fact, 2%, the new tax would yield only 300 million (against $ 1 billion for the portion eg 46%). "Be careful not to pour into demagoguery and rich hunting. The contribution must be calibrated, "adds Philippe Marini, UMP rapporteur of the budget in the Senate.
Problem: all members do not see it that way.Pierre Mehaignerie, the UMP president of the Committee on Social Affairs in the Assembly hopes that the contribution applies from 150,000 to 200,000 euros in annual income for couples and 80,000 euros for a single. At this level, more than 300,000 homes were affected, including many executives. "I understand that. But our people are ready to make an effort if, at the same time, the state reform, "Pierre defends Méhaignerie. The animated discussions ahead in the majority!
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LE FIGARO. -The markets are highly concerned in recent weeks of debt crises. In this context, the economy has not she also helped to disrupt?
Jean-Michel SIX. -If, of course. And we must start by saying that in times of summer holidays, the markets, which were then much lower volumes, overreact to any new economic situation. The lower the index is up or dive in a much more important than what happens in winter.
Right now, they are rather dive …
For several months, both sides of the Atlantic, the signals on growth are not good. United States, including employment prospects are very disappointing. In fact, employment is not really left since the 2008 financial crisis.Labor mobility is limited due to the housing crisis: moving to take a new position, which is much the United States, is difficult because it becomes difficult to sell his house. As for household consumption, it is significantly weakened by the debt levels of Americans. A total of 2011 should result in a 2% growth, which is very disappointing for the U.S., where the pace of activity is generally much higher than in Europe.
Europe, precisely, is it in a perilous situation?
The problem of Europe is the growing divergence between North and South. This is something that worries the markets, which are asking what does that mean in terms of consistency of the euro area.Then, after a strong first quarter, it was believed that the air hole is the second passenger (once the effects of the earthquake in Japan absorbed and oil back to lower levels). But we realize that the sequence is also likely to be poor.
Markets can they regain composure?
It is quite possible to restore calm in September thanks to coordinated action. What happened in July is that we have simultaneously witnessed a loss of U.S. leadership, unable to break the deadlock of debt and a crisis of leadership in Europe in a context crisis on public finances. This is exactly the opposite which would have required!
So how about it?
First, we must continue the work on European Governance. This is critical. Second, the timing of implementation of the second plan is important for Greece.The European Financial Stability Fund will be endowed with significant firepower, which is to say the least-welcome, but there is some impatience markets. It is important not to drag the national parliaments to adopt the device. The political signal must come quickly. Finally, the ECB has played its role, it must continue to appear reassuring.
That's what she tried to Thursday …
The measures announced by President Trichet, in particular the resumption of purchases by the ECB on secondary markets, are extremely positive.
Investors do they always trust in the euro area?
Yes. Investor confidence, especially in emerging countries has not disappeared. She even remained strong, as evidenced by the excellent performance of the euro since the beginning of the crisis.The euro zone faces a crisis of governance, not a crisis of its currency.
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While Apple has announced record results, its rival Nokia, struggling for three years, falls into the red for the second time in its history. The Finnish manufacturer has issued Thursday a net loss of 368 million euros for the second quarter 2011, against a profit of 227 million euros a year earlier. This is the second negative result after the historic loss for the third quarter of 2009.
Nokia, which has an alliance with the U.S. Microsoft to launch phones to counteract the rapid expansion of the Apple iPhone and Android smartphones system (Google), is in turmoil trying to trace the slope.The giant had announced in April the elimination of 4,000 jobs and the outsourcing of another 3,000 due to the phasing out of its own operating system Symbian for the benefit of the Microsoft Windows Phone.
"The difficulties we face in our strategic transformation have arisen more than we expected in the second quarter of 2011," said Nokia CEO Stephen Elop. "But I think our actions to limit the impact of these difficulties began to show positive effects on the health of our business.In addition, we make better progress than expected to achieve our strategic objectives, "he said payday advance low fees.
Job cuts
The Canadian leader, who came to Microsoft last September to address Nokia, however, indicates that "competitive pressure" that is currently experiencing will continue.
In the second quarter, Nokia posted a further decline in sales of 7% to 9.28 billion euros. If he remains world number one by volume, the number of phones it sold plunged 20% to 88.5 million units, against 111 million a year earlier.Its joint venture with Siemens, the supplier Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN), has negatively affected the result with an operating loss of 111 million euros.
In May, Nokia warned that its second quarter results were worse than expected and now that he would not give targets for the full year. The group, which employed the end of June 138,800 people (75,000 at Nokia Siemens), said yesterday that it will "accelerate" its savings plan through "several sources", including job losses and departures replaced.
Thursday late afternoon, the action gained 1.27% to 4.14 euros, but fell below the euro for four mid-July, it operates at its lowest level since 1997.
French hopes of a major Airbus order from American Airlines had started to be felt on June 30. An article in the Wall Street Journal announced an order in effect prior upcoming 250 aircraft from European aircraft manufacturer with the third largest global airline industry .*
These hopes were not disappointed. The official announcement has fallen American Airlines places order for 460 Airbus A320 aircraft with 260 and 200 Boeing 737. This is a record contract in the history of aviation from AMR. Even better, some 365 options on Airbus against Boeing's 100 for those raised. This is a turnaround in favor of Airbus fleet since the American company did not count any European aircraft since 2009."Airbus Boeing enters a pure client, there is a 'mix' Neo A320 and A320, which responds to the risk of cannibalization between the two devices," said Yan Derocles, an analyst at Oddo Securities.
The options are for delivery in 2025, while orders already confirmed will be made within two to eleven. So far, Airbus continues its momentum in the Paris Air Show. Indeed, in June, two historical controls had already been reached: the Malaysian company Air Asia going contract for 200 copies of the Neo-A320 for a total of $ 18.2 billion, while Indian IndiGo in seeking 150.
The A320 shares to glean Neo 737
Strategically, American Airlines hires a phase of renewal of its fleet and intends to reduce its fuel consumption.In fact, the company looks to new generation aircraft, whose engines are designed to consume a minimum of oil. Airbus, the A320 Neo meets this requirement and just walking on the toes of the Boeing 737 Next Generation, delivered since late 2010. Neo The A320 should be available by 2015. American Airlines will be the first U.S. company to deploy this aircraft.
However, the amount of the order was not disclosed, while the company saw the amount of its net loss increase during the second half of 2011, reaching $ 286 million more than estimated by analysts. In addition, the suspense continues as to the entire command must pass Air France KLM during the summer. She will choose only European aircraft? Stay tuned.
* Number of passengers / km, according to IATA.
The project database province of Air France was launched Monday in Marseille, after obtaining the green light last week of the pilots, who approved, by referendum, to 54.7%. The CEO of Air France KLM said in the Figaro challenge of this reform, a crucial activity for medium-haul flights shaken by the low-cost. Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, 65, also returns on future developments in the governance of the group.
LE FIGARO. – You present Monday, there, your future based in Marseille. Why is this project so important for Air France?
Pierre-Henri Gourgeon. – This project is both innovative for our customers – they will be surprised, you see – and for Air France: the audacity this time is on our side. To understand this, it is necessary to realize the context in which this idea was born. In 2009, the company and its employees have taken a huge blow.The crisis came suddenly after several happy years for the company. We lost 20% of our revenue in one year, our cash burn and losses widened. It was very scary. The staff were awaiting a response. And thanks to an intense dialogue, without taboos, we have undertaken several major actions – including the freight. This project bases province was possible because Air France is out of his conservatism, and especially the face-to-face meetings between management and unions that the airline industry in general and our company in particular had the secret …
How does this project address the problems of your business medium-haul?
The medium-haul in Europe suffers the double competition fierce, the TGV and low-cost. It loses money. We had counted 140 active a decade ago, only 128 today.Other major European companies have chosen to throw in the towel. It is not our strategy. I think that Air France should continue to exist in the minds of customers, which means to offer solutions for all their movements. It is in this spirit that we planned to launch our brand TGV (in partnership with Veolia), but this assumes, as I recall, the French rail market is truly open to competition, thus n is still not the case.
So we need to regain market share over the medium-haul. However, there is a potential departure from the province, where our service is not quite satisfactory, because of this organization "spider web" centered on the capital.We can not effectively organize flights from Marseille – and especially in the morning hours – when staff take their mandatory service in Paris – which is now included in all contracts of employment – and when the planes come back every night. So we're going to base one another in Marseille, and it's a very inspiring project in the company.
What savings do you expect?
A gain of about 15% of our operating costs. Air France is productivist! The duration of daily use of each unit will increase from 8:15 to 11:40. The turnaround time will be reduced to half an hour. Pilots and crew will fly more hours, concentrated in fewer days.
So the low-cost …
No. We take some of the low-cost recipes.But we keep the Air France service newspapers, given up, snacks free miles … and the certainty that, whatever happens, the company will take care of the customer. All with very attractive prices, starting at 50 euros each way. We hope with our foundation of Marseille and Toulouse, Nice and Bordeaux win 4.5 million more passengers each year.
Your mandate was recently renewed in a general assembly for four years, but some suggest a transition period of two years instead …
The general meeting renewed my mandate as director for four years, and the Board of Directors has renewed my mandate as CEO for the same period. I am happy because there is much to be done to continue the rehabilitation of that country. In the coming months, we will change the governance of the Air France-KLM, to mark a new stage.When Leo van Wijk, Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Peter Hartman and myself, the four "founding fathers" have created Air France-KLM, we opted for a light structure.
Then we created a joint executive committee, where the representative of one of the two companies also took responsibility for his job or function (cargo, purchasing, marketing …) at the group level. This system worked very well, but it now reaches its limits. To further optimize the operation of the group must now make it more integrated and organized it so that it can accommodate a third company when the opportunity arises.We will therefore create a strong structure at Air France-KLM, which I will be the CEO, while each company will have its operational head.
Who will be that of Air France, which is presented as your successor?
This is a subject that is already running too much ink! Let the time for governing bodies to make their choice. It is true that my mission is to bring out a successor who will win. I have four years to do it off …
Commented very different subject: the order of long-haul Air France and KLM are about to happen. You are strongly "encouraged" to sign a priority with Airbus. When will you decide?
The decision will be taken during the summer. But know that the end of 2010, we concluded that we would both A 350 and Boeing 787.For reasons of timing: the Boeing will be delivered from late 2015, the A350 rather than the end of 2017, or KLM soon need new equipment. For reasons of size, too, Airbus is bigger than the Boeing. As a precaution, finally: to order a single plane that never flew too exposes us to potential production problems in one or another manufacturer.
KLM is a "Boeing company while" on the long haul. Will it a place to Airbus?
Airbus is in any case very attached to that is no longer the case.
And Air France, Airbus essentially client, she will be a place for Boeing?
Boeing also is strongly committed to that!
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The New York Stock Exchange opened Friday at equilibrium in a market cautious before the release of economic indicators closely watched in the United States: the Dow Jones nibbled 0.02% and the Nasdaq 0.06%.
The day before, now, Wall Street had closed on an open rise, encouraged in this direction by the Chicago PMI – and the relief felt on both sides of the Atlantic after the second vote in Parliament in Greece. Voting allows the application of the austerity plan as expected, and the release of 12 billion euros in aid to Athens.However, the agreement of the Eurogroup surl second aid plan, expected this weekend, take a little longer than expected, according to diplomatic sources.
U.S. Policy and Debt
Another current, more American and more uncertain, however, could be followed by operators, mindful of the political context, while U.S. debt back on the front of the stage: the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States Timothy Geithner, in fact, consider soon resign from his post. Information reported yesterday by the Bloomberg financial news agency and other U.S. media, but qualified this morning.
Consumption, construction and industrial activity
In terms of macroeconomic indicators, the first session of July will be charged at least: from 3:55 p.m. will be provided the figures for consumer confidence, ahead of construction spending (16:00).At the same time will be announced on PMI manufacturing (ISM), and the indicator of prices paid. It will however wait until 23 hours to see the statistics of car sales unsecured personal loans.
$ 4.5 billion for Nortel patents
On the corporate side, the maker of BlackBerry phones Research In Motion (RIM), leaving 0.07% after the announcement yesterday of an agreement avoiding, at the General Meeting of July 12, the vote of a motion challenging the operation of its management. Turbulent in recent times, the action RIM has tumbled almost 41% in one year, closing at 28.85 dollars Thursday on the Nasdaq, while the S & P 500 gained at the same time 28.55%.
Apple, Research in Motion and Microsoft, however, are part of a group of six companies that got their hands on the latest patents of the telecoms equipment maker Nortel.The acquisition represents $ 4.5 billion (3.10 billion euros), after an auction that has ruled Google and Intel.
EMC Corp., and Sony Ericsson are the other members of the winning consortium, Nortel said in a statement released Thursday night. Telecommunications giant to the Internet bubble burst, Nortel filed for bankruptcy in January 2009 and has since liquidated most of its assets, raising about $ 3.2 billion.
In any other industry, General Mills (-0.83% to 139.42 dollars) announced Friday the completion of the acquisition of half of the yogurt maker Yoplait, which he was the franchise in the United States. General Mills bought for about $ 1.2 billion (830 million), with the investment fund PAI Partners and the cooperative Sodiaal, 51% stake in Yoplait SAS and 50% of the entity holding world Yoplait brands.
Remote loosen a person trapped in an elevator, detect anomalies before the user being aware of the malfunction, reprogram a remote device according to business needs … Otis is launching its "Elite Service" in test last year: 23,000 units are already equipped in the world, including 1200 in France.
With this kind of innovation, the U.S. manufacturer of elevators installed in 200 countries to strengthen its position as world leader. "We are number one in front of Schindler and Kone and ThyssenKrupp are elbow to elbow, said Bruno Grob, President of the Africa, Northern Europe and East Otis.Our market share for new lifts to 25% and we ensure the maintenance of 1.7 million units. "
The company, which also sells escalators and automatic doors, completed last year a turnover close to EUR 8.4 billion, down 2% compared to 2009. "The crisis we have suffered in the United States or in countries of southern Europe such as Spain, Greece and Portugal," says Bruno Grob. However, profit before tax increased by 5% to almost $ 2.6 billion. Listed subsidiary of Wall Street United Technologies Corporation (Carrier air conditioning, aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney …), Otis does not disclose a target for the current year.
France, a key market
The company did not, however, interest in resting on its laurels, as the business evolves lifts at high speeds.In recent years, China has become the world's largest market for new aircraft. "Over 600,000 sales worldwide this year, 400,000 will be in China, ahead Bruno Grob. We are also a number there and expect to install 75,000 units this year. "The Middle Kingdom is already generating just under 10% of the sales group based in Connecticut.
The United States remains however the most important country for Otis (20% of sales) for the maintenance market is active. A few weeks ago, the brand was chosen to manage the fleet of 68 elevators in the Empire State Building in New York. A contract of $ 80 million. Fortunately, since the fall of residential real estate, sales of new equipment were down 50% in the U.S..
France is also a key country for the group, which owns a factory that employs 600 full lifts people Gien, a component in Argenteuil site and the European distribution center for spare parts at Roissy. The subsidiary hex weighs quite heavy in the accounts: in 2010, it achieved a turnover of 1.16 billion euros. Good health in recent years is fueled by law SAE, which provided a first tranche of work before the end of 2010 to improve the safety of elevators.
So many reasons why our countrymen are so well represented at the head of the company. "The current president, Didier Michaud-Daniel is French and one of its ten most important contributors, six are French," said Bruno Grob.
This is an internal document particularly embarrassing for PSA Peugeot Citroen has revealed to the press the CGT, Thursday morning. While the band prides itself on being the "good student" automakers, Renault face, producing more in France, this policy brief program does nothing less than the closure in 2014 the site of Aulnay-sous Bois, one of the largest employers in Seine-Saint-Denis with 3600 employees and is considering the site Sevelnord at Hourdain, North (2800 employees). Evidence that the government takes the matter seriously, Philippe Varin, the boss of the group, was convened Thursday night at Bercy by the Minister of Industry, Eric Besson, a head-to-head. "
The group is obviously not expected that this confidential document was made public.But unfortunately he found, after a bad manipulation, free access to a computer server manufacturer.
Click image for larger graphic.
The four-page report, called the "secret plan Philippe Varin" by the CGT, was written by two senior executive industrial August 23, 2010. Its purpose was to improve the competitiveness of European sites in 2020 and was to be presented to the general management committee (CDG) on September 8 and the strategic committee of the supervisory board on September 28.
In this note, PSA identifies several mechanisms to "drastically reduce" the "cost of manufacture" on small vehicles by 2020. And so the group plans to reorganize its industrial French.Stating that it is a "recall of decisions emanating from the steering committee group in January 2010," the authors point out that he was "determined an adjustment capability of 200,000 vehicles with an emphasis on site of Aulnay .
Not well seen by the Elysee
About this site, which manufactures the C3 – the best selling car by Citroen – the "social plan" is planned for 2013, and "stop", "Current 2014". "This schedule is consistent with the guidelines of the CDG in January 2010 placing the window listing possible, in the French electoral calendar, in the second half of 2012, the company said, aware that a plant closing announcement would not particularly well seen by the Elysee by the presidential election guaranteed online personal loans.The plant's production fell to 195,000 in 2010, against 418,000 vehicles in 2004 (and 6200 workers), according to the CGT.
Beyond the reductions of fixed costs, estimated at 68 million euros per year, the land transfer, "estimated at 300 million euros", "allows a return on investment of less than ten years." Meanwhile, the increase rates in Poissy, which has become "one major hub in the Paris region, and in Mulhouse, in order to increase the utilization rate of these plants.
About equally explosive, PSA is also considering writing the closure of the Sevelnord – where the partnership with Fiat will stop – in 2015. Under this scenario, the production of large MPV is tilted at the latest within four years, to a low-cost countries.The other option is to maintain the site in exchange for public subsidies.
Aulnay Sevelnord but Madrid are described as sites "away from the criteria of excellence" of the group in terms of logistics, "Urban Environment" and "social costs".
In his defense, the group said, speaking through its industrial manager, Denis Martin, note that the CGT was unveiled by a document "preparatory" now "obsolete" because it "corresponds to a situation of early 2010. The closure of Aulnay "is not relevant today," he stressed, adding that on all the sites he could not comment on the sustainability beyond the horizon " 12 to 18 months. " This does not exclude a close after this period.A central committee (IAC) will be held exceptionally in the coming days on this subject.
According to Jean-Pierre Mercier, Steward Aulnay CGT, the largest employer of the department, "that we live in the plant proves that management carries out its plan for several months with the arrest of a night shift at Aulnay and its inception in Poissy. "
After three potential scenarios developed by the working group of Bertrand Fragonard, president of the High Council for Family Affairs, it was the turn of the Economic Social and Environmental Committee (EESC) to make known its proposals to finance the old age dependency. The two rapporteurs of the text have sent the first draft to all members of the EESC. The final opinion must be considered and voted that the 14 and 15 June before being sent to the government that sought to prepare its reform this summer.
In his text, the Committee stresses the challenge "societal" dependency. Solutions "is to implement new (…) of solidarity, sustainable for families as the public finances over time," says the notice emphasizes that the financing of the loss of autonomy must be on a casting vote by the national solidarity.According to figures cited by the EESC, expenses associated with the dependence reached last year, 33 billion euros, 24 billion to the burden of the community. Population projections are also reported an increase of 25% of people aged over 75 by 2025.
1% on inheritances and donations
To ensure the extra spending, the Committee advocates the establishment of a 1% tax on inheritances and donations out of business transfers and professional tool. "This tax would apply to all products that are not taxed today," said Monique Weber (CFE-CGC), co-rapporteur of the draft opinion.Successions between married or civil unions would then be concerned, like those on certain real property (located mainly in Corsica and benefit from exemptions), works of art, or gifts and legacies made for the benefit of associations .
The Notice also contemplates "the alignment of the full rate of the CSG on pensions (6.6%) on the assets (7.5%). This option, proposed in particular by the MEDEF, Fragonard and the commission did not favor the government but in the EESC could bring 1.7 billion euro. The opinion, however, leaves open the debate and suggests that this increase in the CSG could be applied "beyond a certain threshold of income."Other lines of inquiry such as the introduction of a second day of solidarity, an increase of half a point in the premium pension scheme, a levy on the assets of the highest or the introduction of VAT name, have however been excluded.
The text also stresses that to the increasing share taken by private insurance contracts, several precautions must be met to avoid the rising cost of loss of autonomy in the home, including the poorest.The EESC therefore envisages the creation of "a label given to public contracts respecting the specifications, and introduce government subsidies to help households subscribe to these guarantees.
Finally, beyond the financial recommendations, the project would include a large number of practical recommendations for home support for older people or support for caregivers (family members caring for dependent persons), according Monique Weber. Trails explored by the commission as Bertrand Fragonard.
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For the 9th consecutive year, the Great Place to Work Institute (GPTW) publishes its list of the companies in which to work in Europe. With a small change this year: the two traditional classifications of societies and more than 500 employees, has added the business called "multinational". Test required to integrate this category have been nationally ranked "business in which to work" in at least three countries.
Filed in 16 countries throughout Europe, Microsoft wins first place in the top 25 multinational companies. The U.S. computer giant is closely followed by two compatriots: the biotechnology company Amgen (Applied Molecular Genetics) and the food group Mars.