French companies. Organization and strategies of the largest companies

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Related Foreign Trade Courses and masters: Master Executive international business - Master in Emerging Markets. Spanish: Comercio Exterior

Objectives: To known the culture, organization and strategies of the largest French companies.

Summary of cases:

The Michelin Group is the world leader in tires with 19.6% of the market. A commercial presence in more than 170 countries. More than 70 production sites in 18 countries every year: 190 million tires and 22 million maps and guides. More than 125000 employees of all crops, including 4000 researchers across Europe, the United States and Asia. Michelin is a global player, present on all markets tire as original equipment and replacement and in the sectors and areas with high development potential. The Group conducted a focused strategy on growth markets where quality and technological content of its products can be more easily recovered. A broad portfolio of brands to cover all market segments.

PSA Peugeot Citroen, 2nd automaker of Europe with 15.5% of the market in 2002 (passenger cars and light commercial vehicles), is the automobile Group that has experienced the highest growth last 5 years (+ 55.1%). With two marks generalists, the legendary stories, the Group seeks to give each, as part of a plan to produce coherent and coordinated international strategies, personalities and clearly stated. In its ambition to development outside Europe, the main areas of expansion of PSA Peugeot Citroen are: Central Europe and Turkey, the markets of Mercosur and some Asian countries, like China. PSA Peugeot Citroen is committed to a growth strategy based on the consolidation of its position in Western Europe, where it holds a 2nd place, and a development outside Western Europe.

Groupe Danone is a world leader in the food industry (by volume): No. 1 World Dairy Fresh, No. 1 World Water conditioned, No. 2 worldwide in Biscuits. The turnover 2002: 13555 million. Commercial presence in 120 countries. Since 1998 the Group intensifies extend its brands and its activities abroad. Recent years have been marked by a quarantine acquisitions or equity participation from Asia, Latin America, Central Europe and Africa Middle East. With 31% of sales in emerging countries, the Group is moving closer to its target of the geographical distribution of revenues to 60% developed countries - 40% in developing countries.

USINOR international industrial Group private traded on the stock market, is the number one steel producer in Europe and ranks among the top companies in the world. Usinor specializes in the production and distribution of steel with high added value. Usinor shares with Arbed and Aceralia ambition to train end 2001 one Group, in size to deploy an offer tailored to the growing globalization of their clients. He specializes in the production, processing and distribution of stainless steel and carbon steel, mainly for markets in the automotive, construction, packaging and appliances. Usinor has acquired an international dimension by taking control of J & L (USA) and Thaïnox (Thailand), taking stakes in Acesita and CST (Brazil) and creating a joint venture with Dofasco in Canada for the supply of plates galvanized in the automotive industry.

Saint-Gobain is a producer, processor and distributor of materials (glass, ceramics, plastics, cast iron.). Present in 46 countries around the world, Saint-Gobain is one of the first Groups hundred industrial world and today employs more than 170500 people. Saint-Gobain is organized into three areas of competence that include several branches where each exercised operational control trades. Saint-Gobain is the world leader in each of its Business. Saint-Gobain is listed on the stock exchanges of Paris, London, Frankfurt, Zurich, Brussels and Amsterdam. 30.3 billion euros in turnover and spends 300 million in spending for Research and Development.

VALEO. Ranked among the first automotive world, Valeo is an independent industrial Group whose activities are entirely devoted to the design, manufacture and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and heavy weight. Valeo employs 69000 people on its 130 production sites, 54 R & D centers, 9 distribution centers in 25 countries in Europe, Asia, North America and South. Revenues by geographic area: the consolidated turnover of Valeo increased by 12.2% primarily as a result of acquisitions the last quarter 2000. The effects of change are negligible. Valeo produces 67% of its turnover in Europe (in growth because of Sylea), 24% in North America (down with automobile production), 6% in Asia and Africa, and 3% in South America.