Bizwatch

Show And Tell
Want to know how much the chief executive of a big company in Britain, the U.S. or the Netherlands earns? Just ask the company. But not in Germany, where pay packages have long been a secret. Only 10 of the 30 firms in the DAX index disclose individual compensation; those who just say no include automakers DaimlerChrysler and BMW, chemical firm BASF and insurer Munich Re. But the pressure's on for greater disclosure. Last week a group of Germany's Social Democratic M.P.s proposed laws to force firms to provide pay details. Justice

INDICATORS In Reverse Fourth-quarter earnings at General Motors, the world's largest carmaker, tumbled 37% due in part to spiraling losses at its European operations and a $220 million write-down of the remaining value of its stake in Italy's Fiat Auto. Change of Tune Global music trade body IFPI cheered a rise in online music that people actually pay for. In the U.S and Europe, legal downloads leapt tenfold between 2003-4, to over 200 million. Calling in Sick Pfizer, makers of Benylin cough remedies, co-launched a range of cell-phone ringtones made to sound like different types of coughing.

Minister Brigitte Zypries is threatening action if companies don't change their stance soon. In Belgium, Parliament is discussing similar laws; the European Commission recently circulated recommendations that would bring all into line with British practices. "Most countries are going for more transparency," says Jean-Nicolas Caprasse of Brussels-based shareholder-rights group Deminor. For bosses there's consolation: Caprasse says greater transparency pushes up pay as executives see what their peers earn — and argue for bigger raises.

Declaring War on Junk Food
Calling obesity a "European-wide problem of epidemic proportions" — no surprise there — the European Commission last week vowed that the battle of the bulge will be a high priority over the next five years. Target No. 1: junk food ads. Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou warned that unless the food industry backs off from marketing sugary, salty, fat-saturated products to youth, Brussels could introduce legislation restricting ads during children's TV programs. In March, the E.C. will begin working with the food industry, educators, health experts and consumer organizations to launch a voluntary scheme promoting healthy eating and exercise. "In and of itself I doubt it will be enough,'' concedes Jim Murray, director general of the European Consumer Association. Also, one man's junk food is another man's job — expect to hear a lot in coming months about the health benefits of chips and chocolate. — By Joe Kirwin

Chemical Brothers
European Commission antitrust police fined three chemical firms €217 million for running a cartel in the market for a widely-used chemical between 1984 and 1999. Dutch firm Akzo Nobel, France's Atofina — now Arkema — and Germany's Hoechst colluded to fix the price of MCAA, used to make food and cosmetics.

The Bottom Line
	There will be two ways to get lucky on a Virgin Atlantic flight.
		RICHARD BRANSON, chairman of the British airline, on plans to install casinos and double beds in the carrier's fleet of six A380 superjumbos, unveiled by Airbus last week