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NEWS COVERAGE - FRANCE

ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK
6th of November
Business Sweden in Paris

SHARP RISE IN PROFIT FOR SEVERAL FRENCH BANKS

05/11/2015
The Paris Stock Exchange, Euronext, published results of the third-quarter net profits on Thursday 5th of November
The performance of banks listed on the Paris Stock Exchange demonstrates increased profits and improved dividend
prospects, with exception for Crdit Agricole.
The results are primarily driven by:
Strong performance in retail divisions
Record growth in numbers of new customers in France
Loan growth in France
Most impressive is Socit Gnrale:
28% increase in net profit, 1,13 billion euros (expectations estimated to 840 million euros)
Moreover, Socit Gnrale recently launched an ambitious digitalisation plan in France:
Close 20% of all agencies by 2020, corresponding to 400 agencies
1,5 million euros is invested in the digitalization plan

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BUSINESS SWEDEN

6 NOVEMBER, 2015

FRENCH COMPANIES ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT IN CLIMATE

EFFORTS
04/11/2015

With COP21 approaching, environmental initiatives by French companies are becoming more and more visible
A report published by Accenture this Wednesday shows that:
95% of the companies mentioned in the report integrate climate change in their business strategies
95% of the CAC-40 companies are transparent on their emissions, being judged by the analysts CDP (Carbon
Disclosure Project)
Another example of where French companies engage in climate effort is at the SolutionsCOP21 exhibition, to be held
at Grand Palais 4-10 of December in Paris.

The exhibition aims at spreading information about concrete solutions and initiatives favourable for the environment to
the public
Objective: provide a large target audience with an overview of the many products, services, processes and innovations
either existing or under development throughout the world to fight climate change and its impact
Veolia, ADEME, Renault and La Poste are examples of
French companies that have own pavilions at the exhibition

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BUSINESS SWEDEN

6 NOVEMBER, 2015

SNCF INVESTS HEAVILY AGAINST FRAUD

05/11/2015
SNCF announced this Thursday an investment plan to tackle fraud in the region Ile-de-France
The main motives behind the investment plan:
The annual cost of fraud is estimated to about 63 million euros in the region
The rate of fraud is 7,5 %
Only 42% of the stations are equipped with control gates

The investments amounts to 49 million euros and will be made between 2016 and 2019
The investment plan imply:
Increased number of control gates in 14 of the regions train stations
400 new validation terminals
Increased number of ticket inspectors and informants
The annual cost of fraud is estimated to 500 million euros in France, while the cost of transport in generally lower
compared to other European countries

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BUSINESS SWEDEN

6 NOVEMBER, 2015

SOURCES
1.

http://www.challenges.fr/finance-et-marche/banques/20151105.CHA1272/societe-generale-va-fermer-20-de-sesagences-d-ici-2020.html?xtor=RSS-20

2.

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/2537cbfa-839f-11e5-8e80-1574112844fd.html#axzz3qcJyX8Fh

3.

http://bourse.lefigaro.fr/indices-actions/actu-conseils/les-banques-francaises-rassurent-par-la-solidite-de-leursresultats-4884666

4.

http://www.lesechos.fr/paris-climat-2015/actualites/021385744094-les-entreprises-sengagent-contre-le-rechauffement1172022.php

5.

http://www.solutionscop21.org/fr/presentation/

6.

http://www.lesechos.fr/journal20151106/lec2_industrie_et_services/021456619065-la-sncf-lance-une-operation-zerofraude-dans-les-trains-de-banlieue-1172678.php

7.

http://www.leparisien.fr/flash-actualite-economie/la-sncf-investit-49-millions-d-euros-contre-la-fraude-en-ile-de-france05-11-2015-5250223.php

BUSINESS SWEDEN

6 NOVEMBER, 2015