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The European View column was launched in 2004 to provide sharp comment and pithy judgments on the corporate, business and financial issues of the moment across the continent.
Regular contributors to European View include Paul Betts.
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Defensive logic propels M&A revival
Companies that have weathered the crisis better than their competitors and are sitting on strong balance sheets are now taking advantage of acquisition opportunities
Crédit Agricole chief brings banking industry to book
Georges Pauget has just published his first popular book on banking. But probably the most interesting thing about the book is the timing of its publication – for Mr Pauget is set to step down
Essilor keeps its eye on long-term global vision
Essilor’s long-term approach has been part of the French eyeglass maker’s secret of success. The company not only prepares its successions well in advance but is also pretty unusual in directly involving its employees in the choice of their future boss
Jumbo problems hit France’s nuclear ambitions
The new-generation European pressurised reactor, which was supposed to spearhead French exports of the country’s nuclear savoir-faire around the world, appears to be presenting problems for Areva
French upstart takes on the mobile telecom goliaths
French business anomaly Xavier Nel is confident of being able to apply the same successful strategy he deployed for broadband internet access to the mobile telephone business
Trouble is brewing for the beer industry in Russia
A new bill due to be debated in the Duma proposing to increase the excise duty on beer by 200 per cent next year threatens jobs and could further tarnish the country’s reputation with the international investment community
When banks are too big to succeed and too big to fail
Brussels’ demand that banking groups that were granted massive state aid during the crisis shed large chunks of their assets on competition grounds could fuel an unwanted merger and acquisition revival in the financial sector
French reality drama from TF1
Axel Duroux’s short-lived tenure at the TF1 television network is the latest demonstration that the French penchant for cohabitation invariably ends in tears
Veolia muddies France’s corporate governance waters
The board of Veolia recently went public with its solution to replace its executive chairman Henri Proglio when he leaves at the end of next month to take the helm of EDF. On a close reading of the proposed changes, if minority shareholders in both companies are not up in arms, they should be
Murdoch keeps zapping into Berlusconi’s TV empire
Italian broadcasters RAI and Mediaset have adopted unusual tactics to frustrate the development of Sky Italia, News Corp’s successful satellite pay-TV operator and the only real alternative to the country’s incumbents. But Rupert Murdoch’s Sky Italia is proving difficult to intimidate
