SNCF is mobilizing to appease the discontent of its users. It has just six new commitments, collectively called "guaranteed trip", to improve the service provided to them. Applicable on March 31 and the TGV intercity trains, the new device, designed with consumer groups, will have a budget of 50 million euros.

The "guarantee travel" includes minimizing the impact of the delays complained of increasingly frequent travelers. In case of delay of over an hour and whatever the cause, the SNCF is committed to providing its passengers two options: either full and immediate refund of the return ticket, or can borrow another train at the same price within 48 hours. In the event of contingencies, the SNCF to fund those it has not been resolved transport travel by taxi or a hotel room.  

History of punctuality

The railway company will also make an effort in terms of information. To help customers make their transport choices knowingly, the site will release a historic infolignes.com punctuality of trains and intercity TGV last 60 days. The exact cause delays of more than 15 minutes will also be shown the next day on the internet.

In an interview in Le Parisien – Aujourd'hui en France, the CEO of SNCF Voyages, Barbara Dalibard, said that more work will be provided to inform travelers of their late train, by SMS or email. For this, 30,000 field workers will be equipped with smartphones that will allow them to trace information more easily.

A new "guaranteed seat" finally improve the service offered to passengers overbooked. The skipper will help them find a place, and if necessary outperform the first class. If no seat is still available, the station will offer the customer who had to make his journey standing financial compensation "in the form of travel vouchers of 10 €, 20 € or 30 €.

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While political leaders promises to multiply the SME, 300 business leaders gathered in Evian (Haute Savoie) for three days, from March 22 to 24, during the fourth Spring Campus organized by the association CroissancePlus. They reflected a very real way on how best to grow very small businesses and SMEs to become medium-sized companies (ETI) employing between 250 and 5000 employees. "Growth is the foundation of everything. We must grow faster than its competitors to beat them, "testified Xavier Fontanet, former chairman of the board of Essilor, the world leader in the ophthalmic lens.

"In Germany, large ETI achieving over 500 million euros in turnover increase. They took advantage of a phenomenon of concentration. Seven out of ten bought a small business or a merger between 1996 and 2006, "noted Jacky Lintignat, CEO of KPMG. The French group Altrad, European leader of the scaffold (494 million euros of turnover), was embraced by making 45 acquisitions since 1985 in France and abroad. "Our goal is to double our turnover in the next four years," said Mohed Altrad, president of the eponymous group which opened its capital to three banks CM-CIC Capital Finance, Arkea Private Equity, a subsidiary of Credit mutual Arkea, BNP Paribas and Development and the Strategic Investment Fund.

But entrepreneurs are divided on the interest of bringing investors to accelerate their growth. The start-up Showroomprivé, which sells brands on the Internet, hosted the U.S. fund Accel Partners to expand internationally. "We must not fall into the hands of investment funds and the stock market go," he assured his side Maxime Holder, CEO Paul bakeries, one of three businesses Holder family group. A difficult experience with a fund in Britain, explains this desire for independence. "There is not DNA but the DNA for a company to succeed," commented Olivier Duha, president of CroissancePlus. To allow contractors control their business while allowing them to find money to grow, Jean-Louis Beffa, honorary president of Compagnie Saint-Gobain, has proposed that SMEs can benefit from "equity without right to vote. " The often difficult relationship between large companies and SMEs were also discussed. "Many SMEs do not dare connect to Danone. We must learn to work together, "regretted Franck Riboud, Danone CEO. There is a way to go. SMEs are often reluctant to approach some large groups because they do not always respect the law, including the supervision of payment periods.

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While fuel prices going from record to record in France, a study by German GIZ revealed by Challenges, shows that the French are not the worst off. Every two years, this independent economic research firm analyzes the price of gasoline and diesel in 170 countries. The experts come to update some of the results to reflect the surge in oil prices. The barrel has indeed increased by about $ 20 since the last measurements in 2010.

According to the survey, the price differences among countries are unprecedented. Gasoline is cheaper and 112 times in Venezuela, where it costs 0.17 euro per liter, as in Turkey where it reached 1.91 euro per liter, and 88 times cheaper than in France (1.50 per liter on average).

Subsidies and taxes are the difference

To explain these price differences, GIZ identified four groups of countries. The first category includes all states like Venezuela disconnects the fuel price of one barrel of oil through grants awarded to distributors. It is only country in the top 20 oil producers like Venezuela, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Algeria, United Arab Emirates paydayloans. The price per liter do not exceed € 0.38.

The second set also includes oil-producing countries but the subsidy policy is less aggressive. Accordingly, the fuel price is a little higher, but remains below the market price is around € 0.58 and a liter as in Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Angola or Sudan.

In the third category, however, there are countries whose tax increased the price of a liter of petrol above the market price. This is the case of the United States, China, Russia or Brazil. The fuel is sold from 0.64 to 1.04 euro per liter.

The last group consists of states where governments have established a strong fuel tax. This is true of all countries of the European Union, Switzerland, Turkey but also in poor countries such as Eritrea and Rwanda. At the pump, the price is greater than 1 euro per liter.

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Corsairfly becomes … Corsair International. "A change but not revolution," agrees Pascal de Izaguirre, CEO of the airline of TUI. The leaders of the giant European Tourism chose a facelift to revive the company acquired by Nouvelles Frontieres in 1990 when Jacques Maillot was at the controls. At the time it was called Corse Air International

.

Everything has changed since: the German TUI shareholder meeting in France Marmara Tourinter, New Frontiers and renamed the airline Corsairfly stripped a quarter of its workforce … He has invested hundreds of millions of euros to transform the old a charter company whose regular cabs devices have been fully refurbished mid-2013 with a budget of 36 million euros.

Financially, the subsidiary of TUI could not afford a complete change of name: "Rather than spend a fortune to switch brands, it is better to devote resources to what the customer appreciates the ground or on board" , says Pascal de Izaguirre CEO of Corsair International.  

Erase the image and low-cost charter

A budget of 2.5 million euros will be spent on change of visual identity (logo creation, uniforms, aircraft painting). The first plane scratched white and blue logo of the retro graphics will be delivered in July. The other six, including two new A 330 will follow until mid-April 2013.

But another reason is given by the CEO of Corsairfly to explain the lack of boldness in the choice of name: "The Corsair brand is extremely well known. Hostesses and stewards are known to be friendly and smiling. "The old company Nouvelles Frontieres is certainly an image associated with cheap, but also a Spartan comfort.

"Corsair will celebrate its 31 anniversary this year, little known company such longevity, defends Pascal de Izaguirre. Many have disappeared, new arrivals are. We remove the "fly" but also the name of "smiley" logo TUI, not to hide our group membership, but to erase anything that might suggest the charter or low cost. "…. ….

The team of TUI wants to play the card of elegance, high quality services, while remaining competitive on price. The number of seats "open sea" (comparable to a business class) increases from 24 to 36 in the Boeing 747 and 18 to 26 in the A 330. "We have invested heavily in-flight services, airport lounges to Orly, Pointe-à-Pitre and Fort de France, and soon the meeting …"

New destinations

The relaunch of the company scheduled two years ago falls to one of the worst periods through which the world of air: the rates are low while the cost of jet fuel has stabilized at a very high level that weakens companies.

"This does not undermine our vision and direction, says the CEO of TUI France. We are currently addressing the structural problems of the company and it is not challenged by economic factors. TUI, our shareholder, has powerful resources. He made a choice that takes the long term. "

Corsair International will also review its destinations in September, the company will cease to serve Miami. Instead it will open a line to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, a destination that has grown 15% since the beginning of the year.

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Groupama, Peugeot, Veolia … Many major brands have recently announced a willingness to reduce or completely cut their investments in sports marketing. Yet this phenomenon remain marginal. This is certainly what seems to believe Sporsora, the association of those involved in sports economics, which will publish March 29 at the second conference of the economy of Sport *, the results of its study on the sponsorship of companies.  

Dubbed "Sport in corporate strategy: vision and perception" and carried on the Internet in February 5000 with a major French advertisers file, it brings together the experiences of sponsoring 150 largest advertisers in the Hexagon.

The confidence shown by the marks in the virtues of sports marketing is clear: a large majority of them (68%), in the sponsoring of a component as "full" of their business strategy, and 80% a specific budget dedicated to the promotion of their fame. Better: in times of crisis, and at the hour of streamlining budgets, 61% of advertisers are predicting an increase or stability of these budgets, and 66% of those who already use these modes of communication they retain their confidence, despite the crisis pay day advance.

Distinction sponsorship and patronage

Two thirds of respondents say also that in times of difficulties, it is important to maintain or strengthen sponsorship and patronage. Indeed, 76% say that these channels are different from other types of expressions. Last important lesson of the study, at a time when the concept of return on investment becomes more important as advertisers well distinguished sponsorship sponsorship. For 60% of respondents, the first concept is clearly seen as a mode of communication, and for 62% of them, patronage is identified as an expression of citizenship.

* Dedicated to "The economics of sport in times of crisis, to new growth models." March 29 from 8:30 to 16:30 at the MEDEF headquarters in Paris.

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In these times of crisis, fuel prices at the pump are endlessly to climb. New records were achieved in France last week. Diesel, which represents about 80% of fuel sales in France rose to 1.4584 euro per liter, according to weekly surveys posted by the Ministry of Sustainable Development. It has surpassed for the first time his previous record dating from 2008 to 1.4541 euro.

As for gasoline, a liter of unleaded 95 (approximately 15% of French consumption of motor fuels) euro jumped to 1.6451 and that of unleaded 98 (5%) to 1.6883 euro, beating and both of their records dating back to the previous week, respectively 1.6211 and 1.6610 euro euro.

These sales prices at the pump are national averages calculated by the Directorate General for Energy and Climate (DGEC) from data provided by service stations. But they largely already exceed these levels in some places. Thus, the price per liter of MS 95 has already surpassed last week the symbolic threshold of two euros at the pump of a Parisian park payday advance online.

Since late 2011, gasoline prices beat record after record in France, powered by a dual effect of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that keep crude oil prices at very high levels, and weakening of the euro against the dollar, which boosts the cost of black gold once its converted value in the single currency.

The surge in fuel prices, motorists hitting the portfolio, has elicited numerous comments and proposals from the candidates in the presidential election. The socialist Francois Hollande wants to block temporarily the price of gasoline, as an incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy has described as "populism" and "demagoguery."

(With agencies)

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Four years after the return at the helm of Jean-Paul Baudecroux, indicators of the NRJ Group are green. The station NRJ has returned to the second radio station in France and the pole made of TV NRJ 12, NRJ Paris, NRJ Hits has reached equilibrium. In 2011, NRJ Group posted a turnover of 377.5 million euros (+9.9%) and net profit of EUR 45.6 million (41.2%).

LE FIGARO. – In 2011, the results of NRJ Group rebounded. The dark years are erased?

John Paul BAUDECROUX. – This is the result of hard work on our four radio stations and our television. The sales grew faster than the market thanks to the work of our national and local advertising. Finally, careful management has allowed the net to rebound by 41%.

NRJ can it become the first radio station in France?

We aim to exceed legitimate RTL. I dream that the first radio station in France is French. NRJ collects 6 million listeners a day and all of our stations cumulative 12.13 million listeners per day. The bulk of the work of registration stations has been done and now there are some settings that will bear fruit in one year. On the station NRJ, all our slots have grown and Cauet, in the second season, capitalizing on its success. The morning of Manu made good scores and produce its full effect next season. He signed a contract for two seasons.

After seven years, the television division is finally balanced?

If the end of the year was better, the television division would have made money instead of just at equilibrium. Our channel NRJ Hits became the first music channel on cable and satellite and NRJ 12 is now the third TNT channel, behind TMC and W9 with an audience share of 3.8% on the target of 15-34 years.

Finally, you win money, why would reinvest in a new DTT channel?

Because I like to develop projects and we are not here to make financial transactions on the frequencies. As entrepreneurs, we prefer to construct heritage assets online payday loan lenders. If the Higher Audiovisual Council gives us an additional string, we will invest 110 million euros over five years. But that will strengthen our position in the advertising market. And, more importantly, it will devote our role as the fourth operator private broadcasting French. NRJ 12 already, we just launched the production of a daily French fiction whose 1st release is planned in September. The CSA has the option, giving us a new DTT channel, to rebalance the French media landscape in terms of advertising support for audiovisual production and pluralism around four main actors sound and sustainable.

You have submitted three projects announced chains but you have a preference for Darling HD. Why?

The President of the CSA and a counselor I have questioned my preference and I answered with complete transparency. But if the CSA gives us another channel, we will accept it as our three projects-My NRJ, Chérie Nosta TV and HD are all worthy projects. However, Cherie HD, feminine chain, a target audience of 25 to 49, which corresponds to that already addressed by our advertising. This will allow then to consolidate his power. Above all, we believe that our chain is the female who best meets the public expectations on TNT.

Your broadcasting subsidiary Towercast is it still for sale?

Towercast, which ensures the broadcasting of digital radio and television, thrives, conquered about 20% market share and posted strong profitability. And with the arrival of six new DTT channels in high definition, the broadcast market will continue to rise. We hope to enjoy. However, this asset is not in our heart of business and if an investor offers us a good price, I will examine the proposal.

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This is the season ranking of "best companies"! Wednesday the companies in which to work were rewarded by the Great Place To Work Institute, PepsiCo and Octo Technology plebiscite. Thursday night, the third edition of "Randstad Awards", organized by the working group and temporary recruitment of the same name, has honored the attractiveness of employers to the general public.

The surprise of the Top 20 "images employer" is not so much the identity of the winner, Eurocopter (EADS subsidiary), already No. 1 last year, the criteria that determined the choice of 12,000 respondents and 224 companies that tie in the race.

Compensation in effect makes a comeback in the criteria put forward by the French. She even takes the top spot with 71% response rate, the highest level since the beginning of the study in France, when she held the third position for two. Sign that the issue of purchasing power is becoming more and more in the public and among employees, it is women who put most clearly in the lead compensation criteria of attractiveness.

Aeronautics and media are reversible

The working environment (63%) and job security (54%) are respectively second and third place in respondents' answers, while questions about why companies are investing heavily in time, money and action, seem much more secondary to the general public, be it social responsibility (11%), the diversity policy (10%) or training (16%). As for the interest of jobs or good-life balance working life, are arguments also down this year in the concerns of public opinion payday loans.

Among the sectors that are most dreaming and the French in which they would one day work, aviation retains its pole position with 46% in favor, before the media (40%) and consumer goods industries (36% ). Probably related to the news she had experienced particularly negative in 2011 with the affairs of the Mediator or PIP prostheses, the pharmaceutical industry is one of four diving places and suffers from an image somewhat degraded.

If the helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter continues to lead the ranking of top 20 "Randstad Awards" behind several changes occur. Airbus assumes the second step of the podium, with a gain of four seats, followed by EDF winning eight seats. They succeed Canal + (ranked 8th in the ranking this year) and Thales (16th, down from thirteen seats).

Some companies make good growth, a sign of their appeal to the French, like the SNCF (7th, up 6 places), STMicroelectronics, which jumped 32 places in 18th position, or Safran ranked for the first time this year (19th).

But others simply disappeared from radar Randstad, like Club Med, Sanofi-or Air France-KLM (the company had received an award in 2009). "Even in times of crisis, you have to seduce, to attract and retain the best, in this continuity," Analysis Beharel Francis, president of Randstad in France. In other words, do not ease off on the analysis of its attraction: this must be the watchword for companies, even when unemployment soaring and that candidates are not lacking.

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Greg Smith stormed out of Goldman Sachs and he indicated in a letter. As part of the bank has many grievances vis-à-vis his former employer. It considers in particular that the corporate culture built around teamwork, integrity and humility is not respected. Worse, he stressed that Goldman Sachs does not work for our clients but to boost its own profits. He said he heard company executives call their customers "puppets". He invited the leaders to challenge and to keep customers at the heart of their concerns. At last report, Greg Smith took care of products for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

For its part, the bank responded. "We disagree with the views expressed, this does not reflect how we manage our business," said a spokesman for the Wall Street Journal.  

Both say, this letter made the rounds of American media and social networks. SurTwitter, the reactions are numerous. Here is a selection of crispy from Internet users. First, that of comedian Seth Meyers who believes that reading the resignation letter is funny. Then, one of Heather K Mak who believes that this writing is a ray of sunshine. Finally, ironically, a Greek citizen said someone feels guilty, to Greg Smith my credit score.

This resignation letter Goldman Sachs is a fun read. nyti.ms/xt5H5D

– Seth Meyers (@ sethmeyers21) March 14, 2012

huge ray of sunshine Into the banking world from year former executive director at goldman sachs via @ @ and sustainnyc mchivot nytimes.com/2012/03/14/opi

. – Heather K Mak (@ heatherkmak) March 14, 2012

Finally, a Goldman Sachs Executive Speaks the Truth huff.to / zDVbAO via @ huffingtonpost Finally, somebody is feeling guilty!

– Vic Panagiotakopoulo (@ VPanagio) March 14, 2012

Other reactions go even further since a forged letter of response from the bank's president, Lloyd Blankfein, circulates:

http://www.borowitzreport.com/2012/03/14/a-response-from-goldman-sachs/

Not to mention the comments of a fellow Canadian and parody of the letter, entitled "Why I quit the empire," by Darth Vader.  

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• Nicolas Sarkozy wants to pay the tax exiles

Incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy lashed out at tax exiles Monday night on TF1, the Word of candidate issue, by proposing the creation of "a tax related to nationality," a system "used by the Americans." "Anyone who left France for not paying taxes will make known to the administration the amount of taxes it pays abroad. If it is lower than it would have paid in France, he will pay the difference, "he explained, saying" particularly outrageous "the" category "French people who practice the tax exile.

"The tax exile, is the one who wants to remain French nationality but who do not want to stay in France for taxation. I have all the advantages but no problem! "He insisted. Before warning: "Well, they'll get a surprise."

The spokesman of the president candidate, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, told AFP he would not make "the deprivation of nationality." "If he does not pay, he is pursued by the taxman. (…) However, if he wants to escape measurement, it is of course free to take another nationality, "she added.

However, Nicolas Sarkozy does not want to "touch the expatriate tax status" for professional reasons. "There are two million French people living abroad who are fighting, which conquer markets", he chained, also referring to officials posted abroad. "These French, I do not want anyone to touch anything in their fiscal and legal status. In anything, "he proclaimed.

• a sytème sponsorship by citizens

Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed that he would introduce a system of sponsorship by citizens during the next presidential election if re-elected in May. He had recently discussed a figure of about 3% of the electorate.

On the National Front candidate Marine Le Pen, he wished she managed to collect 500 of sponsorships elected him to run for president, adding that if she had not, it would be "a problem ". "Clearly, I want it to have its sponsorship," said the outgoing president.

"I have long thought that people who vote for the National Front vote for this party, not because they believe in their solutions – they have none – but because it is a cry of anger, c ' is suffering, it is an anxiety, "he said paydayloans. He said that "we do not begrudge people their anguish and suffering, I am simply saying to voters that voting for the National Front is a complete impasse. By voting for the National Front, they encourage one thing, as always, the victory of the socialist candidate. "

• Sarkozy sweeps rumors of funding by Gaddafi in 2007

Asked about the website Mediapart whereby Muammar Gaddafi would have funded his 2007 campaign, Nicolas Sarkozy said that "if he had funded I would not have been very grateful," adding sarcastically that the son of former Libyan leader was probably a "moral compass". In March 2011, at the beginning of military intervention led by France and the United Kingdom in Libya, Seif al-Islam had challenged Nicolas Sarkozy in an interview with Euronews.

"Mr. Gaddafi, who is known to say anything, had even said that there were checks, and although his son's place. When quoting Gaddafi who died and his son who has blood on his hands, and that associated himself with the questions he asked, frankly I think it is fairly low in the political debate, " Nicolas Sarkozy deplored.

• "No load without revenue" for artisans

Artisans will no longer pay payroll taxes as they will not realize revenue, announced on TF1 President Nicolas Sarkozy. "The artisans will be treated exactly like the auto-entrepreneur: you only pay charges that the minute you get a turnover," said the presidential candidate, in response to a question from a craftsman.  

• Lifting of military secrecy in the matter Karachi

Nicolas Sarkozy said he was ready to lift the secrecy-defense in the case of Karachi, while his rival Socialists, Francois Hollande, pledged on Monday to lift it during a meeting at his campaign headquarters with relatives victims of the attack. "I have nothing to hide or even remotely. I am for transparency, "assured the president candidate.

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