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The crisis has not spared Burger King, the second fast-food chain in the United States. The steamroller of burgers, present in all U.S. states and 75 countries, with over 12,000 restaurants, would consider themselves to sell. The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, Burger King has begun discussions with several investment companies in recent weeks.

The British firm 3i Group would be in the running, sources said. The content of the talks is still uncertain, however, and it is not certain to lead to a sale of the fast food chain.

This is not the first time, however, that Burger King changed hands. In 2002, a team led by TPG Capital LLC, Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners bought the company for $ 1.5 billion to Diageo, the British beverage giant.They still own 32% of the chain and have a representation of weight on the board of directors, said the Wall Street Journal.

Listed on the Stock Exchange since 2006, Burger King has a market capitalization of about $ 2.26 billion. The information has not been commented on by the American channel, or by 3i Group, said the newspaper said.

Sales at half

Still, that Burger King has trouble getting out of the financial crisis. The fast-food chain has published its 2009/2010 annual results last week. Verdict: The group's worldwide sales have shrunk by 2.3% in 2009/2010, after a slight increase of 1.2% the previous year. The sales that have slumped particularly in North America (U.S. and Canada), where they lost 3.9%. The annual turnover of the group stood at $ 2.5 billion, down 1% from last year.

"During fiscal 2010, we faced the maintenance of high unemployment and a fragile world economy, a combination that has made this year one of the worst in recent history, in environmental terms economy, "commented Group CEO John Chidsey, the reported results.

McDonald's in great shape

An environment that does not seem to affect the group's main rival, the leader McDonald's. The latter announced early August that its global sales had flown by 7% a year in July. Its sales jumped 5.7% in the U.S., 5.3% in Europe and 10.1% in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

In France, QUALIUM Investment Management Company (formerly CDC CI), a subsidiary of Caisse des Depots, have finally decided to keep its stake in the fast food chain Quick, after considering its sale last spring, reported The Tribune last week. Despite the crisis, the brand continued to grow in 2009. Its sales rose 3.7% in volume, for a value of 925.7 million euros.

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Life insurance quotes are the major means of calculating whether the rate of return is going to be worth the initial outlay.

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LE FIGARO. – How do you exercise stress test which is to engage Europe?

Baudouin PROT. – The resistance tests show that European banks are sound and well capitalized. They were conducted using a common methodology and from economic scenarios comparable, if not more stringent than the scenarios used in a similar exercise conducted in spring 2009 by the Americans. These results should put an end to a period of unfounded concern about the health of the European banking system. However, it is essential to economic life that banks trust.

What do you think the score of French banks?

They have passed the test with flying colors.Three reasons: they entered the crisis well capitalized, they have weathered the crisis better than others and have significantly increased their capital by allocating a significant portion of their results for two years. In the end, and in the worst case scenario, the excess equity that French banks compared to the waterline defined by European regulators reached 70 billion euros. This is all the more remarkable that almost all French banks have repaid the government aid, while still 180 billion euros in state support in the European banking system.This is good news for France: our banks are more than ever to finance projects of their clients.

What lessons learned, while the Basel Committee on Banking seems to require more capital?

The French banks have for long argued that, compared to the level reached today, a massive build new capital would be unnecessary and inappropriate. The results of stress tests clearly support this point. Europe needs just as much vigor and rigor, when the economy picks up in many parts of the world. It should not be an excessive overinvestment reduces the ability of all its banks to finance the economy and thus stimulate growth. The decisions to be taken in Basel, the Financial Stability Forum and ultimately to the G20 in November in Seoul, are, for me, a historical significance.Europe must become fully aware of its core strategic interests and defend them.

You leave the presidency of the French Banking Federation at the end of a busy year. What are your reasons for satisfaction?

Both at the heart of the crisis in 2009 that since the beginning of 2010, French banks have never stopped doing their job, providing their customers with the relationship and funding the economy. If the overall image of the banks has suffered, the satisfaction rate of customers vis-à-vis their own bank remained above 80%. This shows the quality of the device relational French banks, through a dense network of trained counselors. Now they have stopped investing in this device even though it is already higher than other European countries cash advance loan.The pace of 30,000 hires per year in IFA has been maintained in 2009 despite the crisis, and will be again in 2010.

A tough job, with advisers attacked by customers …

These difficulties were at their peak a year ago. Since the relational climate has thankfully subsided in the agencies. And with the executive committee of the FBF, we conducted many meetings with regional business leaders in recent weeks: I also note a positive trend in relations. All this is explained by the fact that growth in France in outstanding bank credit to individuals and SMEs is the best in Europe. In late May, outstanding housing loans grew by 5.1%, those SMEs 3.8%, a record in recent times.The latest survey also shows that Oseo the cost of credit, which was an obstacle to investment for 48% of SMEs in November 2008, the remaining 23% only. French SMEs also benefit from a lower cost of credit watch on the European average.

Financial reforms, on both sides of the Atlantic, you feel they fit well?

French banks are convinced that regulatory changes are needed to draw lessons from the financial crisis. That being said, we must make the right decisions. The Anglo-Saxons tend to give undue weight to the ratios, when the quality of supervision is essential. In France, a single supervisor effective – which is still being enhanced – and bank officials have avoided the bad loans that have cost so dear to the American community.The situation is very different.

The paradox is that U.S. banks, causing excesses, emerge from the crisis stronger …

I note that U.S. banks are the only ones to have massively increased their size in their market after the crisis, with the help of taxpayer elsewhere. The crisis resulted in a wave of bank mergers that made JPMorgan, Wells Fargo or Bank of America mastodons much more impressive than before. At the same time, few European banks have grown. Moreover, while all the 13,000 European banks are subject to Basel II since 2008, U.S. banks do not always apply.It is difficult to accept that capital requirements are influenced by demands of countries we are not sure they apply the rules in the same way that European banks.

Added to the tax systems …

The fact that France, the United Kingdom and Germany are the only ones in the world to impose such a tax on banks that can not be cons-productive to the competitiveness of these countries. French banks, in any case, can not afford both to finance the economy, maintain a buffer of high security into equity while financing the budget deficit.

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LE FIGARO. – The network of ERDF is it as bad a condition as the report says the CRE?

Michele Bellon. – First of all, I said that not only this report is not new, but it has not been validated by the CRE. On the merits, ERDF has not slowed its investments in the network. For three years, the curve has inverted the contrary: in 2009, investments have been 2.3 billion euros, up 13.5% compared to 2008. This year we should exceed 2.5 billion euros. In general, it is less the level of investments that benefit them in sharpening our thinking today.We are in discussions with local communities to effectively address all the weaknesses of the network, where it is necessary to optimize the operation.

The cutoff time for users, however, increased significantly …

We must compare what is comparable. I read for example that this time would be cut almost doubled since the early 2000s. Except that we have had unprecedented weather events over a very short period. In 2009, the two storms Klaus and Quentin have been very disadvantageous to our infrastructure. However, thanks to the exceptional mobilization of the company, 90% of customers have been replenished in four days, this period has been reduced to two days during Xynthia in early 2010.If we ignore these weather disasters, the comparison with other European countries shows that in this field, France is well positioned easy payday loans.

An increase in transmission tariffs is necessary?

The problem is not only the issue of tariffs. However, the company is imposed today a number of benefits that do not fall directly within its original specifications. In particular, we assume a significant portion of the costs of connecting wind turbines and photovoltaic systems. These are considerable sums, without them, could be allocated for maintenance and strengthening of the network. I would like, in the near future, the funding of new services entrusted to ERDF is fully identified and compensated.ERDF acting course for development of renewable energy, but we can not only support this growth.

ERDF is in the crosshairs of local authorities, who point to a poor quality of services. What say you?

We have renewed the dialogue. I want to strengthen the territorial proximity with officials, it is even more essential that the unions, which provide electrification project management in rural areas, are members of the National Federation of Local Authorities and licensors.

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The leading Japanese polyester fiber Toray Plastics announced Monday the signing of a 15-year contract with EADS, the parent of European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the supply of carbon fibers. The contract amount is not specified.

Since 2008, the carbon fiber market was stagnant for the aerospace, note Toray. In a statement, said that the needs Toray carbon fiber Airbus will greatly increase with the production of the A350 XWB. The new contract would allow the Japanese firm to "increase [its] offer high-quality materials and high performance aircraft, thereby strengthening its position as a leader for that use."

Toray was released in late March 1 annual sales down 7.6% at 14, 62 billion dollars.The company, which holds 60% market share of carbon fibers for aircraft, however, to table a net profit of $ 278 million for fiscal year 2010-2011, hoping for an increase in demand, particularly in emerging countries and China.

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The wind blows hard recovery Axa Private Equity. In recent months, the French giant's capital is moving on all fronts. His latest feat of arms should be implemented by mid-May through the acquisition of travel booking site on the Internet Go Voyages. As announced in Le Figaro on Friday, the fund has topped the pole Axa Permira and Carlyle to enter into exclusive negotiations with the duo of Groupe Arnault and CNP, a holding company owned by the Belgian financier Albert Frere. The deal would value Go Travel between 300 and 350 million euros.

"We have built for years a strategy of diversifying geographically and by business line (investment, direct fund of funds, infrastructure …). The crisis has largely confirmed our choice ", says Dominique Senequier, who chairs AxaPE.With 25 billion dollars of assets in the portfolio, AxaPE plays in the yard of the largest global funds and in France is arguably one of the "winners" of the crisis. "The rise of AxaPE has been facilitated by the particular difficulties of PAI," said one investment banker.

In February, AxaPE Spotless sold, the manufacturer of Water Scarlet, to BCPartners for nearly 600 million euro cash advance america. Its collection infrastructure is also left on top speed. Allied to the Deposit in a consortium led by Vinci, he won the huge contract in late March from 7.8 billion euros to build the TGV Tours-Bordeaux.A month and a half earlier, Vinci and AxaPE were also selected, this time to install a GSM network in the trains, a contract for 1.4 billion euros.

Negotiations with KBC

As for funds of funds, a job that involves identifying the best managers to invest in their funds, AxaPE poised to grow. The group has entered into exclusive negotiations with NatixisPE in February to resume portfolio (valued 543 million euros) iXEN, NIPartners and Initiative & Finance. Axa is also advanced negotiations for the acquisition of part of the portfolio of 300 million euros at KBC.

"We now have 7 billion dollars in cash. We can move very quickly on opportunities, "says Dominique Senequier.Asked about the likelihood of a sale of its entity by the parent, the insurer Axa, the ruling notes that "AxaPE is part of the multi-expertise of AXA Investment Managers.

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For the first time since the beginning of this century, the global wine market declined in 2009. According to statistics released Tuesday by the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), international trade reached last year's 86.1 million hectoliters (hl), a decrease of 3.6% compared to 2008. "Spared so far by the economic crisis, the global wine market marks a regression in 2009, mainly due to significant declines in demand in major producing countries, consumers and importers," said Federico Castellucci, Director General OIV.

In detail, countries like France, the world for drinking and two for production behind Italy, have seen their demand down by 2.9% and 6.4%. In Europe, Spain, which recorded the largest decline with a fall of 11.6% of consumption (11.3 million hl 29.9 million hl cons in France).Together, these countries account for nearly 47.2% of world production and 28% of demand.

In addition to the crisis there in these countries a change in buying habits, the wine becomes a festive drink but is less consumed with every meal online payday advance. Particularly among the young, who prefer beer or other alcoholic beverages or not.

The "bulk" has the wind in its sails

Producers in these countries could catch up to date on their exports … But the application of some of the biggest importers like Germany or Great Britain (respectively 8.6% and 5.4% of world consumption), also fell last year, 2.4 % and 6%. "Again, the influence of the crisis has reduced demand in the importing countries," says Federico Castellucci.

However, the picture is not entirely black.International trade in wines still represent a significant share of world consumption of wine in 2009, or 36.4%. "This means that more than 3 bottles and a half out of 10 are consumed outside their country of production during the year 2009," says the official. This is especially the bulk (the "Cubis") that took the wind in its sails in 2009. "A pink variety, sold in bulk, the wine of the future in terms of sales," cartoon Federico Castellucci.

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The crisis has not affected the taste for French wine. Instead, it could cause an increase in purchases of this drink is our national reputation beyond our borders with baguette, camembert and blue berets. Last year sales of wine rose 1.2% against a 1.1% decline the previous year, according to latest statistics released Thursday by FranceAgrimer. In total it is 9.512 million hectoliters were sold through supermarkets, which accounted for more than three quarters of the market in France. This represents a value of 3.428 billion euros, representing an average price of a bottle of 3.60 euros. By product type, like last year, pink, feminine and more popular around the summer barbecue, is a strong push cash advance to savings account !!!???!!!???! !.Its sales rose nearly 10% to 715 million euros for a quantity of 2.349 million hectoliters, or one quarter of the hexagonal market. White remains stable with about 17% volume and over 20% in value (699 million euros). Red wine keeps him always on his supremacy with 59% market share but grew by only 1.2% in volume and even lower by 0.9% in value to 2.014 billion euros. Finally, by segment, most wines purchased by French households are in the range of 3-5 euros, "says Caroline Blot in charge of the sector in FranceAgrimer.

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Greece will pay a high price to escape the sinking. The European Commission gave the green light Wednesday to savings plan presented by Athens, while imposing strict monitoring of its implementation. A right of scrutiny of unprecedented severity, but necessary to restore market confidence and avert the specter of a bankruptcy of the country.

"We place our trust the Greek authorities, but we know that the implementation will be difficult," and said the European Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Joaquin Almunia. It is indeed a drastic plan that Athens has agreed to submit and obtain approval from Brussels, Prime Minister George Papandreou had announced new austerity measures.

The goal is to reduce the budget deficit below 3% by end 2012 (against nearly 13% last year).A plan "ambitious" but "achievable", according to Brussels, which does not yet make use of his right eye. "If we consider that the objectives are not met, we will ask the Greek authorities to take additional measures as soon as possible," Mr Almunia warned. And to show its determination, the Commission alongside the initiation of infringement proceedings against Athens for its statistics wrong.

Weak

With this quasi-trusteeship, the EU hopes to avoid bankruptcy of Greece Same Day Payday Loans . But any rumors panicked investors, who demand a risk premium of increasingly high debt to buy Greek.Wednesday, when Greek bonds regained ground, the traders continued to worry about the budgetary situation.

Brussels knows that the window to make adjustments is narrow. Athens will have to submit a report in mid-March, then another in mid-May "If by mid-2010 we have a positive evaluation of the program, then the market share that assessment," assured Mr Almunia.

The event – officially taboo in Brussels – European rescue of a move away then. Not sure however that the final page is turned, because the other weak links in the euro area as Spain and Portugal could be found tomorrow at the forefront. Referring to this risk, the Greek finance minister called Wednesday for the issuance of Eurobonds in the name of European solidarity.So indeed ultimately the future of the euro area could play in the coming weeks.

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