Latest news with #Valence
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Telegraph
Train in France delayed? Expect a Gallic shrug of the shoulders and no refund
The thing that I used to love most about France – there are others – was simple: their trains. As a rail enthusiast I've always been green with envy about those marvellous TGVs (les trains à grande vitesse) that hustle you around that vast country and the unique 'bing bong' tannoy that heralds every station announcement. But this year that admiration has turned to anger because with three people to get onto different trains every single one of them was either a disaster or a nerve-shredding 'almost'. First there was the train which was actually a bus that arrived 25-minutes late at Montelimar and which forced us into a high-speed car race across Drome to just manage to catch, by literally seconds, the TGV at Valence that would take my ' belle soeur ' to Lille. And from there to St Pancras. Worse, however, was the TGV that one daughter caught after a three-euros bus journey only for this magnificent beast of an engine to develop a massive electronic fault only a few miles north. It eventually arrived at Gare de Lyon four-hours late which meant she'd missed her connection for London from Gare du Nord. She was so late that she had to find a hotel so that she could at least get back to London 12-hours later for work. The next day her sister caught her TGV OK but it was so late reaching Lille that she was forced to wait for a later train and only her fluent French helped her escape what seemed likely to be a mandatory extra fare. Not quite a three way disaster… that came in trying to get any recompense from the railway authorities in France and Britain, where some of the tickets were booked. Needless to say this is turning into a farce with everyone blaming everyone else but nobody being prepared to pay up and yet still praising my wife for being a 'valued customer'. Not for much longer, I'll wager. These tales of woe on France's – until recently – well-deserved train service are not unique. I've already heard from others who've had horrible delays thus far this summer, much so that there are suspicions that some of the trouble has been caused deliberately by either outside forces or discontented locals. There's not much point in suggesting that we should fly to our holiday destination. Last year my daughters' EasyJet flight from Lyon to London was cancelled only one hour before it was due to take off. That cost them fares for not one but two TGV services – one into Paris and another from there to London. Oh sure, they got back the cost of the cheap flight but of the hefty rail fares there's been not a ' centime ', with neither airline nor insurance company prepared to cough up. This year daughter Number Two was refunded for the four-hours late arrival train from Valence to Gare De Lyon but only to the tune of 60 euros, two-thirds of the full fare. But what about the hotel near the station she had to book into around midnight? Cost 100 euros. And then there was the peak period Eurostar back to London from Gare du Nord next day – which cost 80 euros. What chance of a refund? Are you kidding? Then all we got was an invisible but obvious and very Gallic corporate shrug of the shoulders and the traditional ' desole ' that accompanies what passes for most French apologies nowadays. The state-owned rail company, SNCF, and Rail Europe, who passed the buck from one to the other. And all the while they were asking for an online satisfaction questionnaire to be answered. Mind you, Anglo Saxon came in handy at this juncture.
Business Wire
04-08-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Valence Surface Technologies Acquires C.I.L. Metal Finishing and C.I.L. Electroplating
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Valence Surface Technologies LLC ('Valence'), the largest independent aerospace surface finishing platform in North America, today announced the acquisition of C.I.L. Metal Finishing and C.I.L. Electroplating ('CIL' or the 'Company'), a leading provider of surface treatment for highly engineered products in the North American aerospace and defense market. CIL provides surface treatment to leading U.S. customers and platforms under key approvals, including Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, and their vast group of approved suppliers. Founded and operated by Jim Coskren since 1986, CIL has built a strong reputation for delivering complex, high-quality metal finishing services. The Company's capabilities include plating on wire mesh for EMI and RFI shielding, plating on magnesium, large equipment blasting and refurbishment, anodizing, chem-film, hard metal and precious metal plating, and high-performance painting services — all for mission-critical defense, space and commercial aerospace applications. CIL employs approximately 160 people and operates two facilities in Lawrence, Massachusetts totalling approximately 150,000 square-feet, with capacity for future expansion. The acquisition of CIL marks another milestone in Valence's strategy to seek to enhance the aerospace and defense supply chain through an integrated, full-service platform offering product finishing solutions with industry-leading quality and turn times. David Camilleri, Chairman of Valence, said, 'We are thrilled to welcome CIL's team and capabilities to our platform. We have long admired Jim and the business he's built, and we believe CIL's long standing relationships and proximity to key aerospace customers will significantly improve Valence's service offering in the Northeast region and beyond, while strengthening our ability to offer a complete range of engineered surface treatment solutions to our customers. We closed this acquisition alongside a refinancing, which provides us with additional dry powder for further acquisitions.' CIL's existing management team and workforce will remain with the organization as part of the transaction. Jim Coskren will remain on as Vice President and continue to serve as a driver of growth for the business. CIL operations management, including Mike Venable, Dennis Reidy, Alec Jillson, and Rob Couyoumjian, will remain actively involved in the business through this next chapter of growth. Jim Coskren said, 'Valence is the ideal long-term partner to support CIL's continued progress and innovation. Their commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction aligns with everything we've built at CIL, and we're excited to help drive continued momentum as part of the Valence team.' Valence is majority-owned by ATL Partners ('ATL') and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation ('BCI'), who invested in Valence in June 2019 to accelerate Valence's strategic initiatives and support its continued expansion. CIL represents the eleventh add-on acquisition for Valence since inception, and Valence will continue to pursue attractive M&A opportunities in both North America and Europe. About Valence Valence Surface Technologies is the world's largest independent provider of aerospace product finishing services. With 12 locations and over 5,000 unique industry approvals, Valence processes more than one million parts per month. In addition to being Nadcap accredited, all Valence sites provide specialized metal processing and finishing services to a diversified set of fast-growing commercial aerospace, defense, and space/satellite markets. Valence partners with its customers to deliver best-in-class quality, turn times, and full-service supply chain solutions. About ATL Partners Founded in 2014, ATL Partners is a premier sector-focused private equity firm that invests in commercial aerospace, national security, and transportation & logistics companies. ATL brings deep sector expertise to its investment approach with experienced investment professionals and strong operating executives who have decades of combined experience in each of ATL's core sectors. For more information about ATL Partners, visit About BCI British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) is one of Canada's largest institutional investors, with C$295 billion in gross assets under management as of March 31, 2025. For 25 years, BCI has built its legacy on performance with purpose, helping its 32 public sector and institutional clients deliver on their commitments. From securing pensions to supporting communities, it's investing that matters. Learn more on or connect on LinkedIn.
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amplitude Surgical
VALENCE, France, July 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Amplitude Surgical company has requested Euronext to suspend the listing of its shares (ISIN: FR0012789667, Ticker: AMPLI, eligible PEA-PME) on Euronext market with effect as from the publication of this press release and pending publication of a further press release. About Amplitude Surgical Founded in 1997 in Valence, Amplitude Surgical is a leading French player in the global market for surgical technologies for lower limb orthopedics. Amplitude Surgical develops and markets high-end products for orthopedic surgery covering the main pathologies affecting the hip and knee. Amplitude Surgical develops, in close collaboration with surgeons, a number of high value-added innovations to best meet the needs of patients, surgeons and healthcare facilities. A leading player in France, Amplitude Surgical is expanding internationally through its subsidiaries and a network of exclusive agents and distributors in more than 30 countries. As of June 30, 2025, Amplitude Surgical employed 429 people and generated revenue of nearly €111 million. View source version on Contacts Amplitude Surgical Chief Financial Officer Dimitri Borchtch finances@ +33 (0)4 75 41 87 41 NewCap Investor Relations Thomas Grojean amplitude@ +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 NewCap Media Relations Nicolas Merigeau amplitude@ +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sentence for man who disrupted finish of Tour de France 17th stage
A French court imposed a suspended sentence of eight months on a 30-year-old man for obstructing the finish of the 17th stage of the Tour de France in Valence during the week, French news agency AFP posted on X on Saturday. The man is also banned from attending a sports event for the next five years and will have to pay damages of €500 ($590) to the police officer he brought down. The man attempted to cross the finish line on his own bicycle ahead of the professional cyclists as they approached on the final sprint on Wednesday. A police officer brought him down as the professionals raced past. The sentence was imposed for disrupting the competition and obstructing officials in the course of their duty.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sentence for man who disrupted finish of Tour de France 17th stage
A French court imposed a suspended sentence of eight months on a 30-year-old man for obstructing the finish of the 17th stage of the Tour de France in Valence during the week, French news agency AFP posted on X on Saturday. The man is also banned from attending a sports event for the next five years and will have to pay damages of €500 ($590) to the police officer he brought down. The man attempted to cross the finish line on his own bicycle ahead of the professional cyclists as they approached on the final sprint on Wednesday. A police officer brought him down as the professionals raced past. The sentence was imposed for disrupting the competition and obstructing officials in the course of their duty.
