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Fighting the inflation: TotalEnergies to keep France fuel price cap in 2024

Move comes as government decides against extending windfall tax

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Fighting the inflation: TotalEnergies to keep France fuel price cap in 2024

TotalEnergies will keep a 1.99 euro per litre cap on French fuel prices throughout 2024, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Wednesday, after the government’s budget bill did not extend a windfall tax on energy firms.
“TotalEnergies took this commitment. I welcome this decision,” Le Maire told RTL radio.

In September, TotalEnergies had said a 1.99 euro per litre cap on fuel prices, originally due to expire at the end of 2023, would be extended at all its petrol stations in France beyond Dec 31 and remain in place “as long as prices remain high”.

But on Oct 6, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne told French news website ActuLyon the French oil giant could end the price cap if the state hit the oil giant with new taxes.

“We think that the prospect of a tax was a means to put pressure on Total, which explains Total’s announcement that it would keep the 1.99 euro per litre cap,” lawmaker Veronique Louwagie with the conservative Republicains told Reuters.

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In September, Le Maire had raised concern about “excessive profits” by refiners but later stopped short of rolling over a windfall tax in the 2024 budget bill, which is currently going through parliament.

Socialist lawmakers proposed an amendment to the budget bill that would have rolled the measure over, but it was rejected in the finance commission.

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France’s antitrust authority said on Wednesday it had questioned companies producing and selling food and non-food items over possible anti-competitive behaviour, without naming any of them.

“(They are) suspected of having put in place anti-competitive practices,” the Autorite de la concurrence said in a statement, adding it would not comment any further.

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The questioning took place on Tuesday, the watchdog said. It comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over food and non-food prices in the country, with the government pressing retailers and global multinationals to agree on price cuts to shield French consumers from inflation.

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Star Entertainment says Hard Rock-led group weighs bid, shares surge

Star Entertainment says Hard Rock-led group weighs bid, shares surge

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Star Entertainment says Hard Rock-led group weighs bid, shares surge

Star Entertainment (SGR.AX), opens new tab said on Monday a consortium led by Florida-based Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos is considering a bid for the cash-strapped Australian firm, sending its shares 20% higher.

A potential takeover by entertainment giant Hard Rock would provide a much-needed financial lifeline to Star, which has been plagued by a regulatory inquiry into its flagship Sydney casino operation and an executive exodus.

Star, which had a market value of A$1.29 billion ($863.66 million) as of Monday’s close, said it has been approached by a consortium of investors which includes Hard Rock Hotels & Resorts (Pacific).

The company said it understands Hard Rock Hotels is a local partner of Hard Rock.

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Earlier in the day, Star said it had received “inbound interest from a number of external parties” but flagged none of them had yet resulted in “substantive discussions”.

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Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection with $100 mln in financing commitments

Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection with $100 mln in financing commitments

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Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection with $100 mln in financing commitments

U.S.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Florida court after securing $100 million in financing commitments from its existing lenders, the company said on Sunday.

The company listed its assets and liabilities to be between $1 billion and $10 billion, according to a court filing.

Red Lobster said its restaurants will be open and operate as usual during the bankruptcy proceedings, and plans to reduce its locations as well as pursue a sale of substantially all its assets.

The restaurant chain also said it has entered into a “stalking horse” purchase agreement to sell its business to an entity formed and controlled by its existing term lenders.

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“This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth,” said Jonathan Tibus, CEO of Red Lobster.

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BMW imported 8,000 vehicles into US with parts from banned Chinese supplier, Senate report says

BMW imported 8,000 vehicles into US with parts from banned Chinese supplier, Senate report says

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BMW imported 8,000 vehicles into US with parts from banned Chinese supplier, Senate report says

German automaker BMW (BMWG.DE), opens new tab imported at least 8,000 Mini Cooper vehicles into the United States with electronic components from a banned Chinese supplier, a U.S. Senate report released on Monday said.

A report by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden’s staff said BMW imported 8,000 Mini Coopers with parts from a Chinese supplier banned under a 2021 law and that BMW continued to import products with the banned parts until at least April.

BMW Group said in an email it had “taken steps to halt the importation of affected products.”

The company will be conducting a service action to replace the specific parts, adding it “has strict standards and policies regarding employment practices, human rights, and working conditions, which all our direct suppliers must follow.”

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Congress in 2021 passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) law to strengthen enforcement of laws to prevent the import of goods from China’s Xinjiang region believed to have been produced with forced labor by members of the country’s Uyghur minority group. China denies the allegations.

“Automakers’ self-policing is clearly not doing the job,” Wyden said, urging the Customs and Border Protection agency to “take a number of specific steps to supercharge enforcement and crack down on companies that fuel the shameful use of forced labor in China.” Customs and Border Protection did not immediately comment.

The report found that Bourns Inc, a California-based auto supplier, had sourced components from Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group (JWD). That Chinese company was added to the UFLPA Entity List in December, which means its products are presumed to be made with forced labor. 

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