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☆ Renault, Google expand ties in automotive software
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The logo of Google is pictured during the Viva Tech start-up and technology summit in Paris, France, May 25, 2018. REUTERS/Charles PlatiauPARIS, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Renault (RENA.PA) and Google (GOOGL.O) said on Tuesday that they are expanding their partnership in software services for future Renault vehicles, adding that Google will become the preferred cloud supplier to the French automaker. The partnership with Google will also help Renault accelerate its "end-to-end digital transformation, from the design of the car to its market launch through its production," Renault Chief Executive Luca de Meo said in a statement. Automakers and technology companies including Sony (6758.T), Apple (AAPL.O) and Google, have been working to develop ways to build future cars into platforms more like smartphones, with billable services where key updates are wireless. Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Kevin Krolicki and Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Allianz to pause paid Twitter ads for now - spokesperson
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] The logo of Allianz is seen on a building in Paris, France, April 30, 2020. REUTERS/Charles PlatiauFRANKFURT, Nov 7 (Reuters) - German insurer and asset manager Allianz will halt its paid advertising on Twitter for now, a spokesperson said on Monday, the latest in a wave of similar moves by companies in the wake of Elon Musk's takeover of the social media platform. Germany's Handelsblatt first reported the development. Reporting by Tom Sims; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Google signs solar power supply deal with SoftBank-backed SB Energy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Charles Platiau(Reuters) - Alphabet Inc’s Google said on Tuesday it would buy about three-quarters of the renewable power from SB Energy Global’s Texas facilities, as it aims to operate data centers on carbon-free energy by 2030. Companies are rapidly shifting toward clean energy and transportation as they look to meet environmental and sustainability goals. The $430-billion Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Joe Biden signed in August also seeks to incentivise a shift to clean energy, by providing tax credits. Google will use the energy from the SoftBank Group Corp-backed company, which will have a capacity of about 3 GW by early next year, to power data centers in Texas, Alphabet said. SB Energy’s Orion 1, 2 and 3 and Eiffel solar projects which total nearly 1.2 gigawatts (GW) of capacity are expected to be ready to supply power by mid-2024.

☆ Hermes eyes big price rises, says no sign of slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. "We will probably have price hikes between 5 and 10 percent," Hermes executive vice president of finance Eric du Halgouet told reporters on Thursday, adding this was due to rising labour costs and currency fluctuations. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe company raised prices by around 4% this year and by 1.5-2% on average in previous years. "Sales in Greater China picked up strongly, despite temporary closures due to sanitary measures mainly in Macau, Chengdu and Dalian in July and August," the company said in a statement. ($1 = 1.0222 euros)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Mimosa Spencer, editing by Silvia AloisiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hermes plans big price rises, says no sign of slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"We will probably have price hikes between 5 and 10 percent," Hermes executive vice president of finance Eric du Halgouet told reporters on Thursday, blaming increased costs and currency movements. Hermes, which has waiting lists for its prized $10,000-plus handbags and limits production to maintain exclusivity, increased prices by around 4% this year and by 1.5-2% on average in previous years. That compares with double-digit price hikes at Chanel. "For the moment, we don't see any sign of slowdown in any of our markets,” said du Halgouet. The Hermes figures suggest that "high-end global luxury goods demand has yet to normalise," said Luca Solca, analyst at Bernstein.

Lafarge, which became part of Swiss-listed Holcim (HOLN.S) in 2015, agreed to pay $778 million in forfeiture and fines as part of the plea agreement. "Lafarge made a deal with the devil," Breon Peace, the top federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, told reporters following the guilty plea. At that point, Islamic State took possession of the remaining cement and sold it for the equivalent of $3.21 million, prosecutors said. REUTERS/Charles PlatiauHolcim said that former Lafarge executives involved in the conduct concealed it from Holcim, as well as from external auditors. No Lafarge executives were charged in the United States.

Companies Lafarge Sa FollowHolcim AG FollowNEW YORK, Oct 18 (Reuters) - French cement maker Lafarge pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a U.S. charge that it made payments to groups designated as terrorists by the United States, including Islamic State. The admission in Brooklyn federal court marked the first time a company has pleaded guilty in the United States to charges of providing material support to a terrorist organization. Lafarge, which became part of Swiss-listed Holcim (HOLN.S) in 2015, agreed to pay $778 million in forfeiture and fines as part of the plea agreement. U.S. prosecutors said that Lafarge paid Islamic State and al Nusra Front, through intermediaries, the equivalent of approximately $5.92 million. At that point, Islamic State took possession of the remaining cement and sold it for the equivalent of $3.21 million, prosecutors said.

☆ Two Aveva shareholders plan to oppose Schneider takeover offer
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe logo of Scheider Electrics is pictured at the company's headquarters in Rueil-Malmaison near Paris, France, April 22, 2020. REUTERS/Charles PlatiauSept 23 (Reuters) - Canada-based Mawer Investment Management and M&G Investments, shareholders in Aveva Plc (AVV.L), intend to reject Schneider Electric's (SCHN.PA) 9.5 billion pounds ($10.37 billion) takeover offer, calling the offer "opportunistic". Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterEarlier in the day, the Financial Times reported Mawer's plan to reject the offer. The statement resonates with another investor in Aveva, M&G Investments. "M&G is materially underwhelmed with the opportunistic 31-pound offer from Schneider for the remainder of Aveva, and we're disappointed that the Aveva board has recommended the bid to shareholders," Rory Alexander, fund manager, M&G Investments, said.

☆ Collapsed French merger sends bad TV signal
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Logos of French television networks TF1 and LCI are seen at the Boulogne-Billancourt headquarters, near Paris, France, April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Charles PlatiauMILAN, Sept 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A French attempt to join forces against video streaming giant Netflix (NFLX.O) has fallen flat. “Top Chef” channel M6 (MMTP.PA), controlled by Germany’s RTL (AUDK.LU), and Bouygues-backed (BOUY.PA) rival TF1 (TFFP.PA) announced in May 2021 they were planning a merger. With 3.4 billion euros of combined revenue, the tie-up was meant to create a French TV leader. The failed merger is a bad signal for European broadcasters.

☆ Volkswagen-led consortium files for EU antitrust clearance in Europcar deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Charles PlatiauFRANKFURT, April 19 (Reuters) - A Volkswagen-led (VOWG_p.DE) consortium that has made a bid to buy Europcar (EUCAR.PA) has filed for antitrust clearance with the European Commission, it said on Tuesday, confirming that it expects the deal to be completed by the end of June. EU antitrust clearance is the only remaining obstacle standing in the way of the tender offer, the consortium, which also includes asset manager Attestor Limited and Dutch mobility group Pon Holdings BV, said in a joint statement. The consortium in July launched a bid for Europcar that values the French-listed firm at 2.9 billion euros ($3.1 billion). The 0.50 euros per share offer price can be topped up by 0.01 euros apiece if 90% of shareholders take it up. ($1 = 0.9260 euros)Reporting by Christoph Steitz and Foo Yun Chee, editing by Thomas EscrittOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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