Monaco. Scorpio Tankers Inc. announces a stock buyback programme  bymnews.com 12 Jul 10 The Board of Directors of Scorpio Tankers Inc. authorized a share buyback program of $20 million. Scorpio Tankers expects to repurchase these shares in the open market, at times and prices that are considered to be appropriate by the Company. Scorpio Tankers Inc. is a provider of marine transportation of petroleum products worldwide.

The new Toyota hybrid concept car designed in Sophia-Antipolis  investincotedazur.com 09 Jul 10 The new hybrid concept car was designed by Toyota’s European Design and Development (ED2) team based at Sophia-Antipolis. Japanese carmaker Toyota first unveiled its brand new hybrid concept car known as the Toyota FT-CH (Future Toyota Compact Hybrid) at the 2010 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The FT-CH is the baby brother to the Toyota Prius III, measuring just 3.88m long, 1.74m wide and 1.40m high. Designed by Toyota’s European design team, which is based in Sophia-Antipolis, the FT-CH was “inspired by the 8-bit generation,” according to Toyota, referring to the 1980s generation.

France Telecom Orange: Vast recruitment drive for the Côte d’Azur  investincotedazur.com  08 Jul 10 "Conquest 2015”, France Telecom Orange’s industrial project was unveiled on July 5. It aims to “conquer” four main areas : customers, international development, networks and employee pride. To address the challenge posed by the rising average age of employees in France, the Group plans to recruit 10,000 additional employees from 2010 to end 2012. In 2010, 3,500 permanent recruitments are scheduled. Priority will be given to the 4,700 apprentices currently in the group. France Télécom employs 1,750 people in the Alpes-Maritimes, including 500 at the Sophia Antipolis site, which is one of the top five employers at the Sophia Antipolis technology park.

Foreigners return to Cote d'Azur Hotels  lhotellerie-restauration.fr 07 Jul 10 According to data collected by the Observatory of Tourism Côte d'Azur, there is an increase in the overall volume of foreign hotel stays of 7% over the last five months with 110,000 overnight stays in hotels and additional residences. Only the UK market is falling. The highest recovery (greater than 30%) is observed for clients from the Near and Middle East (including Turkey), Russia and Australia. For Europe, Austrians show the highest increase (+50%), followed by Germans (19%). The presence of Americans and Spaniards grew 9%. Conversely, the Netherlands market is down (-10%), as well as the UK market, which is however, fundamental to Riviera tourism, accounting for more than 20% of total overnight stays.

Edhec Nice builds on financial expertise  FT.com 05 Jul 10 French business school Edhec is expanding into London and Singapore, offering masters and doctoral programmes in both financial centres from January 2011.The French grand école has developed a strength in research and teaching in finance and its PhD in finance, taught in Nice on the French Riviera, has proven particularly popular. Now Edhec plans to triple the size of this programme, enrolling 15 students in both Singapore and London, in addition to the 15 a year planned each year for France. The school will also launch an executive masters degree in risk and investment management in both London and Singapore, in addition to the Nice programme. Della Bradshaw.

Catella Financial Office SAM in Monaco divested to management  property-magazine.eu 01 Jul 10 As from the 1^st July 2010 the Monaco based Catella Financial Office will be owned by the Managing Director Mr Jonathan Dudman. Catella Monaco SAM is a wealth management advisory firm, operating as a multi-family office serving high-net-worth clients and their families. The company currently has 8 employees. Catella acquired Catella Monaco SAM from IMG in 2005. Catella has earlier this year sold Catella Financial Office UK Ltd to the management.

Ex-trader sticks up for Kerviel in fraud trial  rte.ie 11 Jun 10 A former trader at Société Générale stuck up for alleged fraudster Jerome Kerviel at his trial, backing his claims that the French bank knew of risky deals that caused it billions in losses. The bank accuses Kerviel of secretly gambling away €4.9 billion in the huge 2008 rogue trading case. Among other witnesses this week, one ex-colleague said Kerviel's 'stratospheric' stock market risks nearly brought down the bank. A former top boss accused him of lying to cover up the losses. Today the court heard the first testimony by a trading room witness no longer employed by the bank - Benoit Taillieu - who worked as a trader from 1999 to 2006.