Latest news with #Franco-Swiss
Fashion Network
30-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Le Coq Sportif: The bid backed by Xavier Niel and Teddy Riner 'hampered', according to their lawyers
The most likely bid is that of Franco-Swiss businessman Dan Mamane. Born in Toulon, the entrepreneur, as described in his profile in the Swiss media outlet Le Temps, moved to Switzerland at the age of 18 and graduated from HEC Lausanne. The Vaud-born entrepreneur built up his fortune in the electronics trade with the creation of his Powerdata group. He moved into retail in 2021, with the takeover and turnaround of Conforama Suisse, and earlier this year acquired the Ogier ski brand. At his side is former Fusalp CEO Alexandre Fauvet. Les Echos reports that Cédric Meston, head of Tupperware France, may also join the project. Although the details are not known, the fact that he would maintain jobs at the group's head office in Troyes would be a factor, as would the issue of receivables, which would limit the impact on local authority finances. The second offer came from a consortium comprising French billionaire Xavier Niel, judoka Teddy Riner, investment company Neopar, American group Iconix, as well as the current boss of Airesis, parent company of Le Coq Sportif, Marc-Henri Beausire, and the Camuset family, founders of the brand. In a five-page letter dated June 26 and addressed to the president of the court and the Paris public prosecutor - which AFP has obtained - the business law firm August Debouzy "requests the reopening of the debates within the framework of the examination of the draft recovery plans, in that the process followed to date has, in many respects, been vitiated by breaches of the fundamental principles governing collective proceedings." "It appears that the plan presented by the consortium made up of Iconix, Neopar, Airesis and their partners, despite having been duly submitted within the prescribed deadlines, has been deliberately hindered, weakened and then effectively ousted from the examination process," asserts the firm, which denounces a "methodical obstruction by the court-appointed administrators." According to August Debouzy, "the plan presented by the consortium was not rejected because of its economic or legal characteristics, but because the court-appointed administrators decided, from the very first weeks of the procedure, to make the plan supported by Mr. Mamane their own plan." According to the takeover plan made public in May, the consortium is 51% owned by Neopar, an investment company specializing in "company turnarounds" and owned by the Poitrinal family, 26.5% by investors, and 22.5% by the American group Iconix. The consortium had told AFP that it planned to contribute a total of 60 million euros, which would be "injected immediately" into the company. With AFP
Fashion Network
30-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Le Coq Sportif: The bid backed by Xavier Niel and Teddy Riner 'hampered', according to their lawyers
The most likely bid is that of Franco-Swiss businessman Dan Mamane. Born in Toulon, the entrepreneur, as described in his profile in the Swiss media outlet Le Temps, moved to Switzerland at the age of 18 and graduated from HEC Lausanne. The Vaud-born entrepreneur built up his fortune in the electronics trade with the creation of his Powerdata group. He moved into retail in 2021, with the takeover and turnaround of Conforama Suisse, and earlier this year acquired the Ogier ski brand. At his side is former Fusalp CEO Alexandre Fauvet. Les Echos reports that Cédric Meston, head of Tupperware France, may also join the project. Although the details are not known, the fact that he would maintain jobs at the group's head office in Troyes would be a factor, as would the issue of receivables, which would limit the impact on local authority finances. The second offer came from a consortium comprising French billionaire Xavier Niel, judoka Teddy Riner, investment company Neopar, American group Iconix, as well as the current boss of Airesis, parent company of Le Coq Sportif, Marc-Henri Beausire, and the Camuset family, founders of the brand. In a five-page letter dated June 26 and addressed to the president of the court and the Paris public prosecutor - which AFP has obtained - the business law firm August Debouzy "requests the reopening of the debates within the framework of the examination of the draft recovery plans, in that the process followed to date has, in many respects, been vitiated by breaches of the fundamental principles governing collective proceedings." "It appears that the plan presented by the consortium made up of Iconix, Neopar, Airesis and their partners, despite having been duly submitted within the prescribed deadlines, has been deliberately hindered, weakened and then effectively ousted from the examination process," asserts the firm, which denounces a "methodical obstruction by the court-appointed administrators." According to August Debouzy, "the plan presented by the consortium was not rejected because of its economic or legal characteristics, but because the court-appointed administrators decided, from the very first weeks of the procedure, to make the plan supported by Mr. Mamane their own plan." According to the takeover plan made public in May, the consortium is 51% owned by Neopar, an investment company specializing in "company turnarounds" and owned by the Poitrinal family, 26.5% by investors, and 22.5% by the American group Iconix. The consortium had told AFP that it planned to contribute a total of 60 million euros, which would be "injected immediately" into the company. With AFP
AU Financial Review
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- AU Financial Review
The watches that do more than just tell the time
Imagine you're a proud Franco-Swiss watch manufacturer, a tenth the size of market leader Rolex, but somehow you need to appeal to the same set of watch enthusiasts, most of whom already have a dozen or so timepieces. It poses quite a challenge – what would persuade collectors to seriously consider a timepiece like yours? One way is to create pieces that relegate the importance of time to a supporting act. In other words, a watch that rewards your downward glance with a different kind of satisfaction and assumes if it's timing to the second you're after, you'll reach for the phone in your pocket – or wear your Apple Ultra that day.
Maroc
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Maroc
French Expert Praises HM King Mohammed VI's Vision for Africa's Maritime Strategy
Franco-Swiss political analyst Jean Marie Heydt on Wednesday hailed the strategic vision of HM King Mohammed VI in strengthening Africa's maritime role, calling it a timely and ambitious initiative to harness the continent's oceanic potential. 'His Majesty King Mohammed VI has called for an innovative vision to develop Africa's oceanic assets,' Heydt said in comments to MAP following the Sovereign's message to the 'Africa for the Ocean' summit, held in Nice as part of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference. The message was delivered by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, representing HM the King at the event. Heydt described HM the King's approach as 'bold and strategic,' aimed at repositioning Africa within the global maritime landscape while promoting sustainable development and reinforcing African sovereignty over marine resources. Despite being home to 38 coastal states and vast maritime zones, Africa remains underrepresented in international ocean governance, Heydt noted. The Sovereign's appeal, he said, advocates for a strategic reassessment of the continent's maritime priorities, grounded in shared responsibility and enhanced regional cooperation. The Royal vision, he added, focuses on three main pillars: technological innovation, environmental sustainability, and strengthened regional collaboration. He also commended Morocco's 'exemplary' commitment to sustainability and marine protection. Heydt cited the launch of the Atlantic African States Process under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI as a key milestone. 'The initiative aims to establish collective governance along Africa's Atlantic seaboard,' he said. Regional cooperation will be essential to advancing this agenda, Heydt added, noting Morocco's strategic geographic position at the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as its stability and diplomatic reach, make it a key facilitator. He concluded that HM the King's call for a renewed African maritime strategy reflects a comprehensive and forward-looking vision, positioning Morocco as a credible and influential actor in shaping Africa's ocean policy. MAP: 12 June 2025
Canada Standard
05-06-2025
- Business
- Canada Standard
Top French robotics firm goes into liquidation
Aldebaran, renowned for its androids capable of recognizing human emotions, has accumulated debt exceeding 60 million Aldebaran, a French company that blazed the trail in the field of 'empathetic' humanoid robots in the late 2000s, has been put into liquidation, local media has reported. The tech pioneer was placed into bankruptcy proceedings in January, and then in receivership the following month. On Monday, the receiver, along with the auctioneer, announced the "immediate cessation of activity" and termination of their contracts to the company's remaining 106 employees, according to Othman Meslouh, deputy secretary of Aldebaran's social and economic committee (CSE). The Paris Commercial Court passed the verdict earlier in the day. The receiver is now expected to start selling off the company's profitable assets, including its patents, to settle Aldebaran's outstanding debts that have exceeded €60 million ($68 million). In recent months, two takeover contenders, Franco-Swiss businessman Jean-Marie Van Appelghem and Canadian investor Malik Bachouchi, had made bids for the company. However, the former's overture was not backed by the receiver and Aldebaran's management, while the latter was rejected by the court, as Bachouchi earlier told Le Monde. From 2012 to 2022 - considered the company's heyday - it was owned by Japan's Softbank Robotics Group. Some time after it was acquired by the German company United Robotics Group (URG), a subsidiary of the RAG-Stiftung, the situation began to deteriorate, according to Meslouh. He told AFP that the new owner "no longer wanted to invest in the company." This claim was echoed by another anonymous employee cited by Le Monde, who said URG "asked us to be profitable within two years" even though development "cycles take five to seven years." The unnamed engineer also lamented that the owner had underinvested in Aldebaran's research and development. In the late 2000s, the company rolled out Nao, its first humanoid robot, touted as a "versatile educational companion, widely used in classrooms and research labs for its ability to teach programming, foster social learning, and support research projects." The model was followed by Plato, designed to support healthcare and hospitality environments, and Pepper, capable of recognizing and responding to human emotions and specifically tailored for customer-facing roles. According to the company's website, its robots have found application in more than 70 countries over the years. However, the total number of units sold was a mere 30,000, L'Express estimated. (
