Barrière group shows a steady development pace (+6.5% this summer)

The group of luxury hotels and casinos Lucien Barriere said Wednesday night in Deauville (Calvados) an increase of 6.5% of its turnover in the summer (June-August), thanks to the casinos.

At a press conference in pre-opening of the Top Resa fair tourism, the group’s president, Dominique Desseigne, said that for 2003-2004 the volume of sales (excluding taxes on gambling) should be above 700 million euros, the turnover amounting to some EUR 410 million, an increase of more than 10% over the previous year.

For the hotel industry, he said, the number of rented rooms grew 3.4% and the occupancy rate reached 72.2% over the period. However, the months of June and July rose by 1.8% and 4.8%, while August was down 2.9%.

Over 10 months, the cumulative increase is 9%, with a rise in overnight stays by 15%. On the site of La Baule, the increase is 38%.

There was the regional disparities, with the UK rose 6%, Normandy 1.3%, while hotels in Cannes saw their business drop by 4%.

“The excitement of the Riviera has decreased, with a Middle Eastern clientele smaller and the success of other destinations in the Mediterranean”, says the group.

The Barrier Group , which launched in September a new trade policy for travel agents with commissions of 10 °%, according to Mr. Desseigne wants “open to new clients.”

For the activity casinos, which will soon merge with Accor Casinos, announced in January, it rose 10% during the three summer months, according Barrier Group . This increase is mainly due, the company said, casinos d’Enghien (north of Paris) and Montreux (Switzerland) whose gross gaming revenue (GGR) have respectively increased by 15% and 24% over the same period last year.

Mr. Desseigne said that the work of restructuring the casino d’Enghien-les-Bains will be completed by end 2005 and be completed in 2006 by a conference center and spa.

He recalled that the work of the Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière, on the Champs-Elysees, should soon begin. The opening is scheduled for 2006. He said the group expected in December in response to its offer for the casino of Toulouse, to be called “one of the top five casinos in France.”

Concerning the merger with Accor, Sven Boinet, a former hired by Accor Group Lucien Barriere , which will be the future president of the new Group Executive Lucien Barriere , said the merger was still expected in “two or three months” Once all the formalities.

He listed, among other synergies from the merger, business synergies, particularly internationally, between the hotels and casinos, cost structures, development. Development that is primarily intended for tax reasons “outside of France,” in a Europe where the future of casinos is considered “very promising”.

The new entity will be owned 51% by the family Desseigne Barrier, 34% by Accor and 15% by the fund Colony Capital.

Accor: The title doped by Lucien Barriere.

Accor is the track this morning boosted by the group’s results Lucien Barriere . It appears at the top of the charts of the largest increases CAC 40 (Paris: news) (2.63% to 31.98 euros). The Barrier Group announced Wednesday an increase of 6.5% of its turnover in the summer (June-August), thanks to the casinos. The group’s president, Dominique Desseigne, said that for 2003-2004 the volume of business should be above 700 million euros, sales amounting to some 410 million, representing an increase of more than 10% compared to last year.

Moreover, regarding the merger of casinos with Accor Casinos, Sven Boinet, a former member of the Accor group recruited by the Group Lucien Barriere , which will be the future president of the new Group Executive Lucien Barriere , said the merger was still expected in “two or three months” once all the formalities. The new entity will be owned 51% by the family Desseigne Barrier, 34% by Accor and 15% by the fund Colony Capital.

Diversion of tens of thousands of dollars at the casino of Aix.

Tens of thousands of dollars were diverted to the casino of Aix-en-Provence, belonging to the group Partouche , a case in which three employees “Pasino” are under investigation, officials said Thursday police and judicial sources .

This case began in October 2003 in this jewel of the group Partouche first casino group in France and Europe, where a dealer is losing patches of play (which are exchanged at the bank against the casino money, ie) in the locker room for employees, the sources said. Partouche then filed a complaint for “theft by employee” to the prosecution of Aix-en-Provence, which opens an investigation by the police general information section of races and games. Tens of thousands of dollars were diverted into what seems to be a case of “barons”, according to investigators, who in December 2003 to conduct the inquiry of 11 employees. Eight were released and three were indicted and jailed in January 2004. Two of them recognize the facts, it was a judicial source said. The three dealers in question were released on probation in June. The eight dealers put out of question in the survey are within the scope of a procedure for dismissal, a situation for which they claimed “there are 15 days to be received by the Mayor” (UMP) of Aix-en- Provence Joissains Mary, “which has been done,” we learned from the mayor. “Mrs. Joissains sent a letter to the Director of Pasino asking for clarification,” they added. These employees will challenge their dismissal before the Labour Court, according to one of the lawyers for dealers. When contacted, the casino management has not made any comments. Opened in July 2001, Pasino – contraction Partouche and Casino – Aix-en-Provence is the largest casino on the surface in France, which met restaurants, a large exhibition space and a room performances of 1,200 seats. The casino features 200 slot machines and game room classic. The facility, spread over 15,000 m2 and employs 250 people.

Combined with Accor, Gates intends to remain a majority.

On the sidelines of the 26th edition of Top Resa Deauville, which opened its doors yesterday, the group Lucien Barriere displays his confidence in the future as its merger with Accor Casinos in its own results. Its president Dominique Desseigne reiterated his desire to remain a majority within the new entity following the merger with Accor Casinos. With 37 casinos and 13 luxury hotels, it will be the first European group casinotier, dethroning the same time Partouche .

Dominique Desseigne seeks to silence the rumor of a majority stake in Accor in the future European leader. Following the merger, it is expected that the family-Barrier Desseigne owns 51% of the combined 34% and Accor. A U.S. investment fund, Colony Capital, also capital of Accor, will hold a 15%, it will give Accor between 2008-2010, according to the shareholders. In this case, Accor may ultimately hold 49% of future casino sector.

A delicate situation for Dominique Desseigne which, despite the future presidency of the supervisory board, is the usufructuary Barrière Group that took over after the death of his wife, his children really are the owners. This is also because they are still minor merger remains suspended at the downstream of the guardianship judge. His decision is expected “within three to four months.”

But already the distribution of roles within the new entity has taken place. Sven Boinet is a former Accor, will take the reins. He renegotiated the debt of the future entity that now has “more than 250 million euros in facilities from banks for two to three years to come.” As for the synergies it believes that commercially, the hotel will benefit from the complementarity of the offer upscale barrier with the most diverse of Accor. Barrière hotels will also be able to rely on the sales teams of Accor. Meanwhile, Sven Boinet intends to reduce costs by consolidating purchasing.

In this context, the Group Barrier waiting for 2004 “results better than expected.” Dominique Desseigne considers it “should achieve a turnover of 700 million euros in 2003-2004, representing a turnover of over EUR 410 million and an increase of 10% activity over one year. ” From January to August, Barrière Group recorded an increase in its turnover by 11.5%, driven by its casino operations (+13%) and hotel (+9%). On this last segment, the group reduced its rates this summer of nearly 3%, which has increased from 3.4% the number of rooms rented. But the powerhouse of the group remains the casinos, particularly those of Enghien and Montreux who have seen their sales increase since January of 15% and 24%.

A casino group Partouche victim of “barons”

Eleven employees indicted for “theft and complicity” in Aix-en-Provence.

The experts call it the casinos “barons”. An agreement between an employee of a gambling establishment and an accomplice outside, intended to cheat the said establishment. Investigators of the sub-directorate of Gaming and Racing Department of the Interior, the General Intelligence Service in charge of casino surveillance, working for several months on a case of this type. Eleven people, all employees of the casino Partouche Aix-en-Provence, have already been indicted as part of a judicial investigation for “theft and complicity” by the local prosecutor.

The case began last March in the cloakroom staff Pasino Aix, a mega-complex of 250 employees, with slot machines, table games, restaurants and theater. By removing his jacket, a dealer dropped inadvertently, a lot of chips on the ground. Employees present were surprised, and prevent the casino management. Such a complaint. A few days later, the Judicial races and games challenges the dealer, indicted and placed in custody. Two other dealers will follow three months later. All three were released and placed under judicial supervision.

Mills of those concerned, and the use of video surveillance of the casino, have enabled police to make arrests among eight other staff. “The process was pretty simple,” says one to the Central Directorate of General Information. The dealer skipping tokens true performance given the supervision of casinos, reported in his acolytes, and remitted to foreign exchange through Pasino hard cash. Investigations are still going around these external complicity.

The indicted employees were notified, under the judicial review, a ban from attending games rooms. A withdrawal to professional certification, required to exercise therein, to be currently under consideration. Several of them also within the scope of a procedure for dismissal, may intend to challenge it before the tribunal. The damage to the group Partouche , first French and European casino operator, would amount, according to investigations, 15 000. There are about ten days, a player slot was robbed, pistol in hand, 7400 Euro Casino Partouche Saint-Nectaire (Puy de Dome). Last July, three people with mini-cameras, laptop and radio and suspected of having played the cybertricheurs Casino Partouche from Beaulieu-sur-Mer were arrested and indicted for “organized fraud”.

The man who wants to bring the “France” in France.

A developer wants to moor the old transatlantic Normandy. Puiblics powers are seduced. Decision on Wednesday.

History may eventually decide against Michel Sardou. “Do not call me anymore France,” he sang in the 1970s, after disarming the Atlantic which had so long been the ambassador of good manners to the French. Today, the homecoming of the former France becomes possible. The ship could moor near Honfleur, at the foot of the bridge of Normandy. In any case the proposed Isaac Dahan, developer of Livry-Gargan (Seine-Saint-Denis), a project that could see a breakthrough this week.

The interest of Isaac Dahan for the boat was a few years. “It was not even for sale! remembers the developer who speaks in a calm voice, but almost inaudible. It was in the aftermath of Sept. 11. The ship was still in Miami. ”

Born in Morocco in 1947, he made his fortune by buying and selling of brownfields and abandoned factories. He is now head of over 35 real estate companies and lives between Paris and the suburbs of Clairfontaine Norman manor, an area between Villerville and Trouville, provided for a cottage and enjoys a superb view over the bay Seine and Le Havre. Isaac Dahan loves discretion. He does not expect his project to make as much noise. ”

His contacts with the nostalgic France have started several months ago. A meeting was held at a hotel in Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique) in April. “We do not know,” recalls Jacques Lhéritier, president of the association for the former France. He wanted to deal quietly and said he had a large group of investors behind him. ”

At this time, the ship had been renamed Norway relisted. Last price? 20 million euros. The sum is modest, because the boat has no engine. He is paralyzed from a boiler explosion that killed eight crew members in May 2003. The ex-France is now motionless on a deserted platform of the huge port of Bremerhaven in Germany. The owner is a company based in Malaysia, Star Cruise, who is eager to get rid of it. Maintenance cost him 500,000 dollars per month.

But Isaac Dahan is not the only one on the case. A Dutch investor, Joop Post, wants to make a hotel-casino theaters in the port of Amsterdam. A Korean, two Americans and a Norwegian-Americans are also in the running. In addition, with steel prices that climb, it might even be interesting to sell the vessel for scrap.

In May, the French promoter went to Bremerhaven to visit the boat. It gives an edge. It is preferred by the seller and the beginning of a plan to recoup the former France. Isaac Dahan plans to develop 600 to 800 hotel rooms, several restaurants, a recreation center and especially childcare international fairs. “It builds on customers who otherwise would not come in the region, the Americans, Japanese and Chinese, in particular,” said the mayor of Honfleur, Michel Lamarre.

In August, everything is ready to sign the deal. Almost everything. Because at that time, Isaac Dahan has not accused anyone of his intentions. Where to moor the ship and its 315 meters in length? Antoine Rufenacht, Mayor of Le Havre, has already said he did not want it. Same end of inadmissibility in Saint-Nazaire, where the boat was built and inaugurated in 1960 by General de Gaulle.

After weeks of research, the choice of Isaac Dahan is on Honfleur. But no question of putting the hand in his pocket to dredge the river Seine, build a new pier, parking, access road … The set is 15 to 20 million euros. Isaac Dahan account rather mobilize state and local governments. But it’s not so easy. “It fell from above, says a close case. He expected everyone to be grateful to him. He brought the France! ”

The businessman did not make any impact on the region or business plan, and has not even demonstrated its financial strength. “He told me face to face his project, but not in detail,” says Christian Fougeray, President of the Chamber of Commerce Auge. “I’m still waiting for answers,” said Anne d’Ornano, president of the general council of Calvados.

The record attracted many local communities, but it is at the state level that will eventually improve. At the highest level of the departments. The prefect Cyrille Schott is responsible for leading the case and more specifically to gather around a table all the public: general and regional councils, ITC, the Autonomous Port of Rouen, Honfleur, etc.. Isaac Dahan should be summoned to explain. According to our information, it’s Wednesday that the meeting will be held in the prefecture of Calvados. Participants appear acquired the project. Anne d’Ornano only keeps a cool head. “This is not France but France, which found the individual who buys the Norway.”

Now, a decision is urgent. Isaac Dahan said he had “an option of booking” on the boat, but the seller, Star Cruise, indicated that it applies “only until October 10. Participants at the meeting after tomorrow will they give their approval to Isaac Dahan? This would allow him to finish the case on time, at a price that should eventually be around 16 million euros.

Then he would return to the Norway seaworthy. “Not to bring something dirty in France,” said the initiator of the project. This would require additional 1-2000000. It should finally towed the boat to Cherbourg to remove asbestos. A site whose cost is estimated at 2.5 million. After 18 to 24 months of refurbishment, the ship would then dock with his new wharf at the foot of the Normandy bridge which was built in the meantime. The France would then be truly back in France.

Belgium: Namur Casino Lucien Selce, candidate for the casino.

Lucien Selce has introduced a new application for a license to operate the casino. It shows its determination to face the Gaming Commission.

Lucien Selce, candidate for taking over the casino of Namur, with particular Eloy Me, one of his lawyers, met the press to introduce themselves, telling their determination to tackle obstacles raised by the Commission on Gambling and Ville de Namur.

Mr. Selce had happened last year in the capital of the casino and was about to lead the board when the fraud was discovered. Since, if the French businessman is so hard to try to become the new dealer of the institution is, he says, he wants to safeguard his investment.

He had contacts with judicial authorities, but he found it rather suspect. I say that my only relationship with Mr. Kaida limited themselves to trading on my investment. I also pledges given showing that the former directors have nothing to do in the casino of Namur, he said.

The problem took shape when the Gambling Commission denied his application. This hostility is not very understandable and certainly does not respect the presumption of innocence, said that Selce further noted that the Commission took into account an anonymous letter and had ignored a letter signed by each staff …

Eloy I added that there were particular obstacle posed by the tax authorities, which requires 38 million euros to supply the tax liability when it is not encrypted and that officials were involved in the fraud. The tax administration wants us to stumble on conditions that we can not accept, “said the lawyer.

Lucien Selce also announced that he had just introduced to the Commission a new license application and he laid before the Council of State requests suspension and cancellation of the previous decision.

About the City, he was surprised that it has launched a new call for candidates, without honoring its commitments, while the offer to lease it holds is not limited in time.

There is urgency for conclusion of the case. On 15 October the Commission probably withdraw its license to the company expansa. This will bring to bankrupt a company profitable with 130 jobs, said Mr Selce.

His history of “France”

A French businessman was about to buy the legendary liner to dock at Honfleur and make it a resort.

He was minus one. Former France, became Norway in 1979, almost did not come home. The ship was ready to leave for Amsterdam when the solution has hexagonal yesterday marked a decisive point. Since the explosion of a boiler in May 2003 in Miami, the ship was disarmed. He went on sale in March. Among the candidates for redemption: one Dutch, two Americans, a Norwegian-Americans, one Korean and one French, Isaac Dahan. His dream dock at the foot of the bridge of Normandy a boat converted into upscale resort, “with shops, conference rooms and spa.

Blur. Dahan has a huge asset: “sympathy for the French history of this ship,” in the words of the owner, Star Cruise. And an equally significant handicap: to force to stay in the dark about his intentions, he fails to convince local communities to welcome the former jewel of the seas. But maintaining the Norway docked in the German shipyard in Bremerhaven, costs 500 000 dollars a month on Star Cruise. The owner gets impatient and starts an ultimatum: the ship is acquired in Dutch, but “if the French Isaac Dahan occurs before October 10.

Yesterday, Cyrille Schott, the Prefect of Lower Normandy, has presided over five hours of talks the last chance. Addressing representatives of the State, local, ICC and the harbor, Dahan has engaged in a presentation. He assured the continuity of his project, supported by Societe Generale, Credit Agricole and Credit Lyonnais. And promised “800 direct jobs and 500 indirect.” “This project is a boost for the economy,” welcomed Michel Lamarre, the mayor of Honfleur, before adding: “How wonderful for all fans of the 60s!” And the participants to express “a commitment to principle.”

New dock. Yesterday afternoon, in the car that brought him to Paris, Dahan signed “contracts with a shovel almost without reading.” He was the king of the world: “The Barrier Group has expressed interest in the four-star hotel, and Partouche do not spit on a casino if the authorities permitted us! “Once the deed of sale signed 20 million euros, the former transatlantic be repatriated to Cherbourg, where the waiting eighteen months of redevelopment.

Meanwhile, Honfleur realize a new dock, parking and a water sanitation system. Or, according to our information, an amount of 17 million euros to be shared among public stakeholders. In return, Dahan will perform parking fees and a fee of EUR 280 000 per year for the occupation of the wharf. She will have to negotiate a license with the company CMA-CGM, France name owner. To give the lie to the song.

Toulouse: Sling tenacious against the bandits.

When the mayor of Toulouse takes the feet in the green carpet.

The former mayor Dominique Baudis, had refused. In contrast, his successor at the Capitol – Philippe Douste-Blazy and Jean-Luc Moudenc, very quickly wanted to build a casino in the Pink City. While the AZF disaster had left behind considerable human and material damage, the Toulouse right thought there was nothing more than an institution of vital games with slot machines. From November 8, 2002, City Council approved the principle of a casino. The opening was scheduled for late 2004 but we can say is missed.

After two years, the casino project is hardly went beyond the drawing board and in this case roulette and slot machines, the mayor has had bad luck, accumulating mistakes and flaws . The tender procedure has already been canceled three times by the tribunal. Among the ten casinotier competing, six have thrown in the towel and the other four remain to decide.

The municipal committee responsible for examining applications has resigned three times. The latest, introduced on May 14, is already out of service: one of its members, Christian Raoust elected UMP, works for a consulting firm linked to one candidate. He therefore tendered his resignation. The next city council, October 8, appoint a fourth committee bidding. Ultimately, the prefecture and the Ministry of the Interior shall validate the choice of the Capitol: Accor Barrier is heavily favored.

The site chosen for the casino also seems able to kill the project along the Garonne, on a floodplain, and adjacent to the Seveso chemical cluster. A building permit in such a place would have a good chance of being canceled.

Besides these problems of form, the mayor faces the frond of a group that raises anticasino, meanwhile, issues of substance. It highlights the risks of gambling generated by such establishments. In France, there are already four hundred thousand gamblers. With heavy consequences on the social and family situation of each.

In Toulouse, the risks seem particularly high that the casino would be located near the popular Empalot great city, where unemployment stands at 33%. The many people struggling, trying desperately – end, do not they will lose their meager resources in the slot machines? It is the fear of militants and elected PCF, with Motivated es, have launched the movement opposing the casino. For them, gambling is a public health problem.

Side of the town hall, it was answered that the casino would create 200 to 300 jobs – report each year 2 million to the city. Opponents dispute those – arguments, whereas the lost money in slot machines would no longer be spent in shops and do more to benefit the local economy. The group launched a petition requesting a referendum. Before even being built in flood zones, the casino is already watering.

Turning to the casino Plombières

After playing for over two hours, a man robbed the casino with her ??face uncovered. A gender specialist …

EPINAL. Casino Plombières, in the Vosges, was robbed by one man acting openly in the night from Thursday to Friday. Showing great composure and relaxation, the perpetrator would not be celebrating his first attempt. Pictures of his exploits have already been taken to another casino and a bank …

At 0 h 50, after playing in different rooms of the casino in the Imperial City Vosges, the man proceeded to ask employees to take a drink. While the latter invited him to visit the bar, he told them he was armed and showed a handgun but remaining sufficiently discreet that no one else, there were still some customers do not notice his approach.

Under the potential threat, but very real, casino employees have obeyed the robber’s request: go to the chest. As is the case in banks, employees are instructed to ensure the safety of customers and therefore do not resist. The attacker would have been put about 13,000 euros before leaving the casino as would any player and get into a vehicle.

The plan “Owl” was triggered by the Operational Centre of the Force and enabled on the various companies of the department. Without success. As he acted openly, the video surveillance cameras have provided valuable information to police. This is a man aged between 30 and 40 years whose actions during the evening could not, it seems, nothing foreshadow.

“All I can say is that this is the first time this has happened to the casino Plombières,” said Stephane Guerin, the director of the institution. “This man is not a regular. We’d never seen in the casino. ”

Prior abuse

Squad Research company Remiremont is investigating. An investigation was quickly placed in the wake of other business. A search is already available since September 21 concerning this individual. Indeed, it is suspected of being the author of several robberies, already committed openly.

It would have operated in Romans in the Drome fleeing on board a foreign car that has high displacement then abandoned after the robbery of the Casino of Saint-Nectaire, in the Puy de Dome.

In the casino, such as belonging to the group Plombières Partouche , during the night of September 20 to 21, the individual had worked in the same manner as Plombieres. He had played in the afternoon and evening before committing his “hold-up at 0:30. During the evening, he had approached the banks, engaging in conversations with employees, stating that he was a security guard looking for a job. He even requested an interview with the director. He deflected two hostesses, as discreetly as in the Vosges, and pick up 7,500 euros.

The “Tom Thumb” of turning assaulted a woman at her home in Tauves always in the Puy de Dome, the day after his “intervention” in Saint-Nectaire to steal his car. He then fled towards the Hollow. A Gueret, he had left the vehicle in the parking lot of a hotel where he had taken only a few hours of rest.

Found its mark Thursday Haute-Marne, where he is alleged to have committed a robbery in a bank branch in Fayl-Billot. The research section of Clermont-Ferrand visited yesterday in Haute-Marne. Video images of the individual are exchanged by different investigators. His picture is of course widely circulated among police and gendarmerie.