We're going to fight so they come here he said

The joint visit Friday Nicolas Sarkozy and Kang Duk - soo, President and founder of the Korean Group STX, partly dispelled the concerns in the shipyard Aker Yards in St. Nazaire (Atlantic ex-Chantiers). "In a few weeks, we are co-owners of the Chantiers de l'Atlantique." "It is a major commitment, it is an undeniable turning point in our industrial strategy," said the President of the Republic, clearly very motivated by the future of the shipyard of Saint-Nazaire and its 3,000 employees at wanting their visit every year.

Personal engagement

On board the ship "msc Fantasia" in construction, Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed negotiations to acquire 9 of the capital of Aker Yards France on value to be determined, and a right of first refusal for the 25 still held by Alstom, which would represent a total of 34 per cent under the French flag.

"Because if Alstom was scheduled to leave by 2010, it is the French State who would buy." Because we want to be associated with all strategic decisions, says the head of State. Therefore, we will be partners of STX, we will return to the Board of Directors. And we will engage us living sites. "In doing so, the French State will apply for the first time the Decree on the protection of strategic judged enterprises. For the rest of the Norwegian group Aker Yards, now named STX Europe, Korean participation amounts to 92.4 from public purchase offer (OPA) concluded in August.

Nicolas Sarkozy is also committed to inform the trade unions about the details of the agreement with STX. He also promised to mobilize personally "to bring content to the order book. In this connection, the President spoke a mysterious Saudi shipowner would intend to order a dozen boats to a cost of $ 1 billion. "We're going to fight so they come here", he said.

Kang Duk - soo was also his impression in reaffirming that his building of Jinhae, Korea, and Dalian, in China, were sufficiently engaged in the production of cargo vessels (LNG tankers, cargo ships, oil tankers and chemical tankers, container ships...) to consider making ships. "The Europeans built ships, more difficult to produce commercial ships, and which emit a larger margin." "It is for this that we decided to build ships in Europe and not Korea," said the CEO to the "Echos", also confirming that his group will formally commit to not compete with the building of Aker Yards on cruise ships, while the duration of this Pact is still defined.

Support and investment

"The shipyard of Saint-Nazaire has also technologies for military vessels. This means that he is ability to export such vessels to third countries in Europe and the Middle East. As LNG carriers, we could specialize the Saint-Nazaire site in new models of LNG carriers comply with the global trend of green, less polluting ships", also believes the Korean boss. Before representatives of employees, Kang Duk - soo pledged an additional burden, a boost to investment, starting with a new portico of $ 20 million to 30 million euros and the maintenance of the management. "He indicated however that profitability was largely insufficient and that it should be restated, note François January of the CFE - CGC. But without giving due on this point.

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