Wednesday, April 21, 2010

產業達人授招‧合法合理


“我的媽呀,竟然貨不對辦!”在現實買賣交易中,這問題也許司空見慣,很多時候,消費者總是睜一隻眼,閉一隻眼,上了賊車後當花錢買教訓,然而若涉及金額龐大的產業時,消費者又能否如此瀟灑?
房貸率創新低,產業發展商“誘惑”層出不窮,點燃消費者對置產的熱情,不過在欲加入置產族時,可別忽略因法令常識不足、交易資訊不透明或遭遇非法業者蓄意欺瞞等,都可能為買產業留下“一失足成千古恨”的陰影。
“法律至上,人人平等”,用在產業上是否亦如此?其實,關鍵在於你對產業法律知識的瞭解有多少。產業交易糾紛千百種,《財富焦點》就請來了產業的法律達人,藉解答各種法律問題,為你的置產安全把關。
國際不動產聯盟青年會員事務委員會總裁兼億達法務辦事處陳佐彬律師早前在《房地產投資的起步一定要賺到――掌握法律知識,保障投資無往不利》講座會中直言:“能否更改法律條例並不重要,最重要是,必須明白置產的法律情形。”
你收拾好心情,準備上課了嗎?
遇人不淑,葬送棺材本?
狀況1:
金融風暴,銀嫂與金嫂分別向同一個發展商買了房子與商店,然而,發展商突然落跑,工程被迫停工,銀嫂與金嫂真是血本無歸嗎?
補救:如果購買的是房屋產業,一般受房屋發展商法令(Housing Developer Act,HDA)保護,資金依然存在信託戶頭(Trust Account)內,即使發展商忽然落跑,這筆錢並沒有完全被捲走,有關當局將根據戶頭的金額分配給回投資者。
由於購買商產沒有信託戶頭,一旦發展商消失,可能很難把錢追回來,儘管提出法律訴訟,也可能很難拿回資金。
如果這名發展商仍在,投資者或可拿回投資金,惟時間是一大問題。
白紙黑字才算數
狀況2:
的新屋,馬上支付訂金(ErnestDeposit),誰知拿到屋子後,卻發現貨不對辦,怒氣沖沖向發展商討回訂金……
補救:進行任何交易,投資者一定要記得“說的不算數,寫的才算數”,一切承諾都要用“白紙黑字”記下。
律師因而扮演重要角色,最好在進行購買合約(Optionto Purchase)之際,就請律師代勞,因為無論是在購買或買賣合約開始,律師收費都一樣。
律師陪同下,至少讓對方知道交易的嚴謹,民眾也不至於在不清不楚情況下進行買賣。
詳閱拍賣文件
狀況3:
金爸爸在產業拍賣會上標中價值8萬令吉的產業,原以為“拾到寶”,結果產業到手後,才發現得承擔前業主拖欠高達10萬令吉的維修費……銀伯伯也在拍賣會上買了隔壁屋,準備打通擴建住家時,發現屋內竟然有“鄰居”,產業到手4至5年後,“鄰居”仍不搬,銀伯伯不夠“鄰居”兇,唯有忍氣吞聲。
財叔在拍賣會購買產業時,拍賣文件注明不會給買方產業正本地契(Original Title),只給副本證明(Certified true copy,CTCTitle),財叔竟接受條件,等到有一天想要出售產業時,才發現原來沒有正本地契,不能進行交易。
3人抓著頭皮,沒想到貪小便宜的代價如此慘重,但不明白,為何別人買拍賣產業卻能賺一大筆。
答:拍賣產業其實有很多風險,第一,必須詳閱拍賣文件(Proclaimation of Sales,POS)內容,否則請律師去瞭解,因為買賣的所有條例都在拍賣文件中,如注明相關產業是否為被火燒以後的殘骸、有無非法居住者、相關銀行是否承擔拖欠的維修、服務費與地稅。
若銀行不願支付拖欠的費用,買方應先瞭解數額;如果產業內有非法居住者,就要視拍賣文件內容究竟指的是不是一間空屋?
沒有拿到正本地契是一項嚴重疏忽,因為沒有正本地契,產業無法轉手。
這些都是消費者必須留意的,尤其拍賣文件中,一般有很多很小的字,都有可能成為投資陷阱。
律師,獅子大開口
狀況1:
阿財收到律師的費用支出(disbursement),發現只是電話收費就一、兩百令吉,令人咋舌!
解釋:第一,消費者必須知道本身權益,律師開價多少,不意味消費者都必須支付,不妨問律師到底以上電話收費的實際情況,律師有回答的義務。
第二,很多人先入為主以為買賣程序很簡單,惟事實上,一項交易牽涉了買家、買家律師、賣家、賣家律師、發展商、發展商律師、賣家銀行、賣家銀行律師、買家銀行、買家銀行律師、土地局、印花稅局,還可能包括買賣合同之前的律師,所以當中已涉及超過10方。
消費者就可以細算電話的收費,基本上,律師一般不會藉這項費用支出來賺錢。消費者可向律師瞭解或拿證據。
買賣雙方避免共用律師
狀況:2
律師費用高,為減低開銷,阿貴心生妙計,即買賣雙方共用一名律師,究竟可行嗎?
解釋:買賣雙方必須先問自己聘請律師原因,大致上是程序上需要與“以防萬一”。
很多人希望節省律師費,其實,買賣雙方在理論上不能用同一名律師,因為律師只能代表一方,若出現糾紛,又只有一名律師,律師該代表誰?這就是所謂“萬一”的情況。
進行交易時,交易者最好儘量不讓對方在沒有律師下進行,畢竟一旦問題發生,很難達到雙方的充份“保護”。
律師多代表買方
狀況3:
阿萬向阿千買房子,兩人唸在手足情深,堅決只用一名律師,但究竟代表誰才是?
解釋:只要雙方同意只雇用一名律師代表買方,交易也能夠進行,當只有一方面的律師時,一般是代表買方,因為律師必須確保產業順利交托給買方。
如果是夫妻或兄弟之間交易,其實沒有利益糾紛時並不會出現任何問題,然而,買賣雙方需自己衡量“萬一”問題。
代表發展商的情形下,若只有一名律師,一般是代表買者,除非這名律師聲明要買者簽署有關協議,即這名律師代表發展商,而非買方。因此,如果買方需要,可另聘請律師代表自己。
賣產業疑難雜症
狀況1:
金爸爸化身賣家,現在得絞儘腦汁佔別人便宜,惟如何爭取有利合約的條例?或至少確保利益不受損?
解答:對於賣方,關鍵往往在於“錢”的市場考量。若賣方對產業做了一些裝修、擴建,身為買方通常關注的是賣方是否獲得相關批准。因此,賣方必須保留完整紀錄,以防交易無法順利完成。
此外,一些賣方可能把房子租出去後再賣產業,買方要空房子還是保留租戶,在賣方同意下,都將成為賣方問題。
若地契注明必須獲得州政府許可,申請有關批准是賣方責任,若賣方未能獲得相關批准,買方有權利不買。
根據買賣合約,14天簽屬合約後,賣方須申請有關當局批准,大概需時4至6個月來取得相關批准,若賣方遲遲不申請,買方有足夠證據證明賣方故意毀約,也有權利提出控訴。
產業可以賣給外國人?
狀況3:
隨最近外資委員會(FIC)表面上取消,老錢興高采烈要把位於柔佛的產業賣給外國朋友,最終計劃告吹,老錢見財化水。
解答:大馬房地產最大問題是市場不夠大,只能賣給道地人。過去,外國人必須通過聯邦政府批准,再獲得州政府批准才能置產。
FIC取消,表面上意味可賣給更多人,但程序上還是有一定問題。以柔佛為例,不是所有產業都可賣給大馬“第二家園”的外國人,這受限於特定地區,此外,還有一些地區,外國人只准買公寓,一些則只准買獨立式洋房。
所以,民眾要賣產業給外國人時,必須先瞭解相關地區的實際情況。
相對區域,大馬產業市場仍是最開放的市場,因為在泰國,其他國家的人必須與當地人結婚或成立公司,才能在當地置產,而在新加坡,外國人不准買有地產業,也受限於特定類型的公寓。
跨州置產須遵循土地法
狀況3:
萬叔要把吉蘭丹產業賣給吉隆坡人,是否必須向州政府取得同意(consent)?
解答:大馬憲法規定,各州負責本身土地法,即土地歸州管,聯邦政府只能在程序上給予共識。
一些州屬如吉蘭丹、沙巴、砂拉越等,州政府不准外國人與其他州屬的人在當地置產,主要是這些地區希望產業由本地人持有,一些地區或已放寬條例,買賣雙方需咨詢有關當局。
根據部份州政府,儘管與當地人結婚,或也只能以當地伴侶身份來買。
結語
想要成為產業達人,應該奉行這句格言“從問題中獲利”,即使第一次置產不如意,也要學會“化悲憤為力量”,同時,唯有走在法律前方,才能讓自己在產業投資立於不敗之地。

法律不通‧買屋或成空


產業捎來陣陣的復甦春風,看著親朋好友都在為產業投資“翩翩起舞”,心裡是否也“心癢癢”?但是,新手上路,是否想過對產業買賣一竅不通,可能為自己留下不可磨滅的陰影。
“曾經就有人因忽略一條法律條例,5年站不起來……”可見,依賴性強往往是投資者最大盲點,連基本法律知識都不懂,誤落圈套也只能怪自己。
是時候彌補自己法律知識的不足囉!本期《財富焦點》再請來國際不動產聯盟青年會員事務委員會總裁兼億達法務辦事處陳佐彬律師,為你帶來產業法律基礎入門,輕鬆學置產。
永久比租賃地契好?
狀況1
小金物色租賃地契(Leasehold),大家都說服他買永久地契(Freehold)的產業……兩者究竟有何差別?
兩者程序其實無太大差異,只是根據租賃地契涉及買賣時,必須拿到另一項州政府許可才能進行。每個州屬需時不一,吉隆坡大概需時2至3個月。
某些產業須獲許可才能交易
但是,有些產業雖屬租賃地契,卻不一定受州屬管制,所以主要視合約內容有沒有相關指定―必須獲得任何許可才能進行交易?如果是,至少需3至6個月才能完成買賣。
一些永久地契其實也可能出現必須獲得有關當局(如工程部)許可的注明,因為發展計劃可能有工程用途考量。
因此,買方的考量不應在於永久地契還是租賃地契,而是地契的注明,以瞭解條例是否將延長交易期限。
東西馬土地法不一
狀況2
小銀擁有沙巴某產業的永久地契,卻有人對他說:“其實是999……”
解答
東馬與西馬土地法不一,基本上,西馬人不能到東馬買產業,而且,東馬所謂的永久地契其實是999年代,意味999年後,還是必須獲得有關當局批准才能延長地契。
這主要與有關當局的計劃相關,如該地靠近大道,有關當局或在日後需擴展大道,進而需要用到該地。
若有關當局沒有特定用途,此土地持有人通常獲準展延地契。
當局有權徵回土地
狀況3
政府突然要收回土地,小財拿著永久地契,真能理直氣壯?
解答
根據憲法,大馬人與外國人都有權擁有土地,不過,無論是永久或租賃地契,一旦有關當局需要該地,在土地徵收權下,仍有權力徵收回該地。
當然,地契內會注明有關當局將賠償,但問題關鍵是賠償數額,因為所謂的市價是在15年內,15年之間的產業市價其實差別甚大。
分層個別地契哪個較“安全”?
狀況1
阿錢拿著分層地契,別人都告訴他分層地契比個別地契麻煩,但在法律上,又該怎麼詮釋?
解答
分層地契的確比較麻煩,因為這猶如買了整棟建築生命的一部份。
管理產業方面,發展商通常只負責管理一年,之後會成立聯合管理機構(Joint Management Body,JMB),由屋主與發展商共同管理建築。
直到分層地契成形,就會成立管理機構(Management Corporation,MC),這時,發展商即可完全“洗手”,不再需為此建築負責。
MC之下,每年會有常年大會,選新的理事來管理大樓,言下之意是投資者必須為此勞碌。
個別地契具自主權
如果是個別地契,投資者具自主權,無須承擔其他管理與服務費等,當然在個人名義下,還是得支付維修費、地稅等。
相對之下,分層地契也比較安全,主要是分層地契涉及太多因素,土地欺詐不易。而個別地契僅牽涉土地局與買方,尤其在沒有銀行貸款下,欺詐行為較易發生。
成立建委會有助置產者
狀況2
發展商倒閉,銀仔拿著舊房的分層地契不知所措……
解答:
舊房分層地契基本上與新房相似,只是一些投資者可能面臨發展商倒閉,而找不到主人來設立共管委員會。這種特殊情形下,投資者可尋求建築委員會批准,如住在吉隆坡者,應向吉隆坡市政局的相關部門尋求協助。
建築委員會的成立對置產者有一定幫助,像一些人可能沒繳維修或服務費,投資者也可向該部門投訴,無須聘請律師,因為該部門有權力變賣屋主的動產,如汽車,甚至有權進入違法者屋裡,變賣其家具等。
雖然至今,未看到諸如此類的執行案件,但可以說是好的開始。
據瞭解,新加坡政府更嚴厲,屋主若6個月不還維修費,政府有權變賣該單位。
建設中房子VS完成屋VS二手屋
狀況1
產業復甦,大發想要脫售已完工,但未有分層或個別地契的房子與店舖……
解答:
若是住宅,轉手無須拿到發展商認同;商業或工業產業,則胥視買賣合同內容,一般上需獲發展商許可(Consent)。
住宅方面,發展商確認屋主的求證(Confirmation)收費通常為50令吉,如果是商產,沒有一定的頂價,可能介於500至1000令吉或產業價值的1%。
買建設中房子可否轉手?
狀況2
大寶買了發展商建設中的房子,突然想轉手
解答
之前法律是不允許民眾轉賣仍在建工的產業,不過2007年後,此交易程序獲准進行,可是仍有基本難度,主要是購屋者向發展商買產業時,可能涉及房貸,並獲銀行100%貸款承擔,惟在產業完成了60至70%時,購屋者突然找到另一買主,該如何處理銀行的貸款承擔,而銀行又是否願意更改相關協議?買方若提早贖回產業,銀行可能施罰款。
另一問題是,發展商也涉及另一家銀行,所以,購買者該如何解除兩者協議是問題關鍵。由於需要買賣雙方達到很好的共識,交易會比較複雜。
剛付二手屋訂金又想轉手
狀況3
大富剛付了二手屋訂金,大財開出更高價,讓大富心生轉賣念頭……
解答
若是二手產業的個別買賣,買者在支付10%產業價後,有人開出更高收購價,買者又有意在買賣合約未完成前轉手,情況更具挑戰。
這是因為若賣方有借錢,買方必須贖回產業,再改由另一個人或銀行來負責。除非買者有辦法與賣者達成協議,以更改買賣協議,再跟第三者簽署新合約,否則只能要求買方多一點耐性,待原來買賣合約完成後再轉手。
買二手屋只需雙方同意
狀況4
大銀想買二手屋,條例怎麼辦?
解答:
以購買觀點出發,應瞭解整個發展計劃的結構,包括是否是永久地契?
若是二手屋,相關條例只要獲得雙方同意或在法律共識下即可成形,如3+1(3個月加1個月)交易期限,在特殊情況下,若兩者達成協議,也可把3+1改成4+1或其他方式。
不能不懂的法律錦囊
狀況1
錢仔趁著房貸率低迷與產業促銷,倉促為新屋下訂金,卻沒想到銀行貸款吃閉門羹,錢仔是否能轉手給小金,又能夠拿回多少訂金?
解答:
若只簽署購買合約,未進入買賣合約,胥視購買合約協定,若當中注明予當事人或其他指定人,則表示當事人可轉手給任何人;若沒有注明,就沒辦法轉名,必須通過其他管道去更改。
一般上,夫妻購買產業,可要求中間商注明“其他指定人”的相關字眼。
在房屋發展商法令(Housing Developer Act,HDA)下,買方支付10%資金後,貸款在14天內被銀行拒絕,根據條例,買方需賠償1%。如果已支付產業的50%或以下,罰款10%;50%以上則罰款20%。
產業五花八門如何選?
狀況2:
金仔心血來潮加入投資行列,惟產業類型五花八門,從住宅、商舖、工廠,到土地,各買賣合約條例與重點又不同,該從何看起?
解答:
首先,需明白是跟發展商還是二手商買產業,因為兩種合約不一,若跟發展商買住宅,將根據房屋發展商法令所訂製的合約進行,除一般資料更改,所有條例都必須遵守相關條例,包括Schedule G(有地房產)、Schedule H(分層地契)等,如買公寓,就會看到分層地契條例,買排屋則看到有地房產條例。
2007年後,服務公寓規劃成住宅,所以也是根據有地房產與分層地契合約來進行。
工廠、土地與商產也有所區分,由於不在HDA下,條例基本上由買賣雙方來訂。通常向發展商置商產時,發展商有本身的標準條例,條約內容基本上可更改,惟胥視雙方協商力量。
因此,嚴格來說,購買商產沒有特定法律條文,只是根據市場需求來訂。
至於多重用途的土地,因為用途上的區分,都會導致合約條例有一定的分別。
HDA有利購屋者
狀況3
準備“錢”進房市的銀仔,看著HDA合約一臉茫然,只依稀記得別人說HDA對購屋者有利,該如何說起?
解答:
HDA屬住宅類型合約,由法律訂製,主要為保護購屋者,並促使發展商遵守一定規矩。
該合約對購屋者有利,因為發展商需依合約分階段收取產業款項,例如首期收取10%定金,待產業建造到某程度時再收取另10%資金。
此外,發展商收取購屋者資金時,必須先獲得建築師批准,收到的錢並非直接由發展商擁有,而是納入信託戶頭。戶頭的錢只能作為發展商基本需要用途,不能涉及利潤,進而對購屋者形成一定保護。
以分層公寓而言,發展商將根據條約中,階段性描述的基本原因向購屋者收錢,例如購屋者購買第15樓層,合約說明未蓋頂不能收錢,發展商就沒有收錢的權利。
買商產如何保護自身權益?
狀況4
財仔想買商產,但一想到商產沒有HDA管制又擔心起來,該注意甚麼才能保護自己利益?
解答:
店屋一般可分為整棟與分層(Strata)賣出,若是分層置產,必須簽署與維修服務收費有關的合約。沒有HDA保障下,置產者須留意發展商本身的標準條例。
一般上發展商擬定的條例會對自身有利,因此,置產者在解讀合約時需更加小心。
發展商條例無一致標準總言之,不同發展商的條例沒有一致標準。
為保護自己利益,第一,須對房地產有基本常識,除透過資料摸索,最簡單方法是找律師,律師有義務向置產者解說有關不公平與必須注意的條例。
大家都知道透過產業以錢滾錢也是累積財富的不二法門,然而,投資產業路上,絕對不能完全靠律師,一旦錯誤發生,更不能只怪律師,只能怪自己沒有一點法律意識,才會“任人魚肉”。

About Company: Harrah's Entertainment


Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates casinos, hotels, and six golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Paradise, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues around $10.8 billion. Harrah’s is owned by Hamlet Holdings[1] (Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group). While Apollo and TPG own a large majority, Blackstone Group LP owns a minority stake in Harrah's. [2]

Recently, The acquisition of Planet Hollywood will provide Harrah's with a contiguous 126 acre property bordering the strip. The vacant lots behind the casinos had been slated for a sports arena large enough to hold a professional basketball or hockey team. The three casinos will have over 8000 rooms which can be directly connected to the arena.
February 19th 2010, Harrah's Entertainment[12] acquires Planet Hollywood Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For more info:
http://www.harrahs.com/harrahs-corporate/index.html

Hulu pushes forward with $9.95 subscription service

Hulu, the popular online site for watching television shows, plans to begin testing a subscription service as soon as May 24, according to people with knowledge of the plans.

Under the proposal, Hulu would continue to provide for free the five most recent episodes of shows like Fox's "Glee," "ABC's "Lost" or NBC's "Saturday Night Live." But viewers who want to see additional episodes would pay $9.95 a month to access a more comprehensive selection, called Hulu Plus, these people said.

Hulu, which ranks second only to Google's YouTube in terms of monthly video streams in the U.S., said it turned an operating profit in its two most recent quarters. The 2-year-old service, which is owned by media giants News Corp., NBC Universal and the Walt Disney Co., generated more than $100 million in revenue from advertising.

For more:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/04/hulu-pushes-forward-with-995-subscription-service.html

How I Did It: Jerry Murrell, Five Guys Burgers and Fries



Sell a really good, juicy burger on a fresh bun. Make perfect French fries. Don't cut corners. That's been the business plan since Jerry Murrell and his sons opened their first burger joint in 1986. When they began selling franchises in 2002, the family had just five stores in northern Virginia. Today, there are 570 stores across the U.S. and Canada, with 2009 sales of $483 million. Overseeing the opening of about four new restaurants a week, the Murrells are proof that flipping burgers doesn't have to be a dead-end job.

There was this little hamburger place where I grew up in northern Michigan. Almost everyone in our town, except the uppity uppities, ate the burgers. Even though the owner had a cat, which he'd pet while cooking. People called them fur burgers, but they still ate them because they were good.

I studied economics at Michigan State. I had no money and needed a place to stay, so I ran a fraternity house's kitchen. I got the cook a raise and let her do the ordering. We started making money, because she knew what she was doing.

For More,
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20100401/jerry-murrell-five-guys-burgers-and-fries.html

About Company: Kahala Group


As one of the fastest growing franchising companies in North America, Kahala Corp is a privately held corporation dedicated to the franchising, development, and marketing of quick-service restaurants.

Kahala Corp is a private corporation, which operates or licenses Blimpie, Cereality, Cold Stone Creamery, Frullati Cafe & Bakery, Great Steak & Potato Company, Johnnie’s NY Pizzeria, NRgize Lifestyle Cafe, Ranch1, Rollerz, Samurai Sam's Teriyaki Grill, Surf City Squeeze, TacoTime and Wafflo restaurants worldwide. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, it is one of North America's largest franchise fast food restaurant companies.[1]

Here at Kahala Corp, we pride ourselves on offering the largest selection of high-quality, quick-service restaurants in North America, we also take great pride in watching people achieve the "American Dream" - owning their very own business. As one of the fastest growing franchising companies in North America and we also take great pride in watching people achieve their dream of owning their very own business. Kahala Corp is a privately held corporation dedicated to the franchising, development, and marketing of quick-service restaurants.

For More info:

http://www.kahalacorp.com/company.php


Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Google Said to Be in Talks to Buy Travel Software Maker


Google Inc. is in talks to acquire ITA Software Inc., a maker of travel programs used by companies including Orbitz Worldwide Inc. and Microsoft Corp., three people familiar with the matter said.

ITA Software, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, may seek about $1 billion, said two of the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions haven’t been made public. The negotiations may not lead to a transaction, said the people.



Google could use ITA Software’s tools, which help users find online flight information, to compete with travel-search features offered by Microsoft. The companies are tussling for share in the U.S. market for online travel, which generated $88.4 billion in sales last year, according to Sherman, Connecticut, travel consulting firm PhoCusWright Inc.

“Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information, and ITA does that for travel,” said Henry Harteveldt, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc. in San Francisco.

ITA Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Wertheimer and spokeswoman Cara Kretz didn’t return phone calls seeking comment. ITA investors include General Catalyst Partners and Sequoia Capital. General Catalyst Managing Director Joel Cutler and Sequoia spokesman Mark Dempster didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

iPad Wi-Fi + 3G Models Available in US on April 30

CUPERTINO, California—April 20, 2010—Apple® today announced that the Wi-Fi + 3G models of its magical iPad™ will be delivered to US customers who’ve pre-ordered on Friday, April 30, and will be available in Apple retail stores the same day starting at 5:00 p.m.

iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. Users can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ user interface. iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models are just 0.5 inches thick and weigh just 1.6 pounds—thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook—and deliver up to 10 hours of battery life for surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching videos or listening to music, and up to nine hours of surfing the web using a 3G data network.*

Company Profile: Shmoop


Shmoop is a website that helps students become better lovers (of literature, poetry, history, and writing). Shmoop has ocean deep analysis of themes, quotes, summaries, and video-audio-photos-links-galore to help students and teachers learn and love these topics.

Check this out:
http://www.shmoop.com

Monday, April 19, 2010

About Company: 1-800-Flowers


1-800-Flowers (NASDAQ: FLWS) is a major floral and gift, retailer and distribution company, in the United States. It was one of the first retailers to use a 24 x 7 toll-free telephone number

and online media and the Internet for direct sales to consumers. The company specializes in retail sales of flowers and gift items within the United States.

The concept of using 1-800-Flowers as a mnemonic phone number originally started with Carl Westcott, who later sold his business to Jim Poage and John Davis in 1982[citation needed]. Their failed business, along with the rights to the toll-free number, were acquired in 1986 by Jim McCann, an owner of several flower shops in the New York City area since 1976.


James F. "Jim" McCann is an American entrepreneur who founded 1-800-Flowers, a corporation based in the United States which was one of the first companies to pioneer and popularize the use of both toll-free telephone numbers and Web sites to sell goods and services directly to consumers.

McCann was originally a social worker and administrator for St. John's Home for Boys in Rockaway, NY. In the early 1970s, McCann worked weekends at a Manhattan flower shop. In 1976, he opened his own flower shop in Queens, NY. By 1986 McCann owned and operated 14 "FloraPlenty" flower shops in the New York Metropolitan Area.

According to his autobiography, "Stop and Sell the Roses", he came up with the idea of building a nationwide flower service while "listening to the radio as he was shaving". In 1986, he bought a nearly bankrupt company in Texas which owned the phone number 1-800-Flowers. McCann changed the name of his chain accordingly.

In 1992 and 1994, McCann established deals with online pioneers CompuServe and AOL, becoming among the first retailers to establish an online presence. Again, the success of AOL and 1-800-Flowers' exclusive agreement with the online provider was very beneficial to the company.

In 1995 McCann established the Web site www.1800flowers.com, becoming one of the first retailers to establish a Web presence. The company went public when it filed its IPO in 1999 under stock ticker FLWS.

As of 2008, McCann continues to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of 1-800-Flowers. He is often sought after to speak on topics of entrepreneurship, marketing and the Internet. He also serves on various corporate boards.

IPad, Nintendo 3DS Sales May Boost Rohm Earnings, President Sawamura Says

Apple Inc.’s iPad and Nintendo Co.’s 3DS game player may help boost earnings at Rohm Co., which makes chips for the devices.

The products “will certainly help boost our sales,” Rohm President Satoshi Sawamura said yesterday in an interview, declining to specify details. “Apple and Nintendo are among our most important clients.”

Sawamura, who this month became the second president in Rohm’s 56-year history, is counting on Apple’s tablet computer and Nintendo’s 3-D portable game player to help sales rebound from the 12-year low in the year ended March 2009. He’s also seeking acquisitions to help the company sustain earnings growth.

For More:
http://preview.bloomberg.com/news/2010-04-20/ipad-nintendo-3ds-sales-may-boost-rohm-earnings-president-sawamura-says.html

Toyota Will Recall and Fix Lexus GX 460 SUVs

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s largest automaker, will recall the Lexus GX 460 sport-utility vehicle that Consumer Reports magazine rated a “safety risk” because the model can roll over in certain driving conditions.

Toyota, which is paying a $16.4 million U.S. fine for violations in the recall of vehicles with defects tied to sudden acceleration, will fix software in the 2010 SUV’s stability control system, the company said yesterday in an e-mailed statement. About 13,000 GX 460s will be repaired, including 9,400 in the U.S. and the rest in countries including Russia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Canada.

“From the moment we heard about this issue, Lexus and our dealers acted quickly to resolve the situation,” Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager, said in the statement. “Our dealers will now personally reach out to customers to set up appointments to make this modification.”

For more:

http://preview.bloomberg.com/news/2010-04-19/toyota-will-recall-lexus-gx-460-suv-official-says.html

Sunday, April 11, 2010

About Leader: Ted Turner

Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III (born November 19, 1938)[2] is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television. As a philanthropist, he is known for his $1 billion gift to support UN causes, which created the United Nations Foundation, a public charity to broaden support for the UN. Turner serves as Chairman of the United Nations Foundation board of directors.[3]

Turner's media empire began with his father's billboard business, which he took over at 24 after his father's suicide.[4] The business, Turner Outdoor Advertising, was worth $1 million when Turner took it over in 1963. Purchase of an Atlanta UHF station in 1970 began the Turner Broadcasting System. Cable News Network revolutionized news media, covering the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986 and the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Turner turned the Atlanta Braves baseball team into a nationally popular franchise and launched the charitable Goodwill Games.

Turner's penchant for controversial statements earned him the nickname "The Mouth of the South".[5]

In addition to donations, Turner has devoted his assets to environmentalism and capitalism. He owns more land than any other American[6] and uses much of it for ranches to re-popularize bison meat (for his Ted's Montana Grill chain), amassing the largest herd in the world. He also created the environmental animated series Captain Planet and the Planeteers. Turner was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame on April 26, 2007.

購轉手產業‧雙方律師有何職責?

梁先生問:購買轉手舊產業,負責買賣合約的律師應該負責處理哪些買賣事務?哪一些可由買方、賣方負責?
答:林若輝律師受詢時表示,代表買方的律師,除了草擬買賣合約,也需負責辦理轉換名字手續、呈上表格給內陸稅收局。
轉換名字的手續辦好後,後來發出的地稅單,名字將是新的業主。
至於賣方的律師,如果買方購買的有關產業仍未償清貸款,在尾數款項償清後,律師將負責辦理解押手續,同時為賣主提呈表格給內陸稅收局。

買主處理門牌稅水電轉名
提到門牌稅、水、電賬戶的轉名,這些將由買主自行處理,在提呈轉名的表格,買主必須簽名,繳交水、電抵押金。
關於水、電賬戶的轉名,如果買主遲遲不去辦理,賣主在給買主通知(假設2週的時間),買主依然沒有行動,賣主可以向水務公司、國家能源提出割斷水、電申請,以便賣主能夠取回他之前繳付的水、電抵押金,同時,避免自己名下的水、電賬戶,繼續由別人使用,要面對使用者不繳費的風險。
身為買主,最好是不要等到賣主申請割電、割水才處理轉換名字手續,到時需另行申請,可能更耗時、費事。
申請這些轉名手續並不麻煩或複雜,抽出半天時間應該可以處理好,如果由律師樓的職員代勞,需另外支付跑腿費。

房產價值悄悄攀升




經過一輪的低谷後,大馬產業市場“重拾”成長動力,產業價值已悄悄攀升,加上利率開始出現潛在的調升空間,促使市場對產業趨之若鶩的心態,未來的產業前景一片光明。
何振順研究私人有限公司董事何振順分享從過去到現在,大馬產業市場的概況,緊貼接下來的產業趨勢,並提供在購置產業時的重要指南,為產業增值加分。
大馬不會出現產業泡沫
眾所周知,產業價值隨著歲月的流逝而漸漸增值,其中產業價格在18年間已飆漲了2.73倍,每年平均取得5.7%成長,而在1992至1995年這段黃金歲月,產業價格也已激增了70%。
何振順不預見大馬會出現產業泡沫,而由於大馬半島的中級產業沒有出現泡沫風險,因此也沒有陷入調整格局。

“產業價格暴漲在高檔產業方面更為凸顯,當中吉隆坡城中城及滿家樂的價格分別飆漲80%至100%,及40%至60%。”

他提到,像新加坡的產業泡沫巨大,其產業價格在4年間走高2.41倍,相等於每年成長24.56%。
他透露,產業與股票市場的走勢仍有關聯,一般上,兩者間中都有一段差距,如6至9個月,所以隨經濟從谷底回彈後,中上級的產業價格也跟著揚升。可惜的是,大馬沒有住宅產業價格指數,無法具體地顯現國內的真正趨勢。

產業價格不易下跌
何振順提到,儘管市場供過於求,不過產業價格都不會下跌,除非遇上經濟衰退,而這種情況在高檔產業方面更顯而易見。

“在這3年間,滿家樂及吉隆坡金三角的產業分別增長68.3%及40.4%,其中前者的商業產業類型也越來越多。”

他強調,在談到高檔產業時,往往衡量標準不能仰賴供需現象,而高檔產業的年成長為12%至18%。

他指出,滿家樂及吉隆坡金三角的供應龐大,因還有很多人不願“出走”至城外地區,他們只是願意“逗留”在距離吉隆坡15至25公里的地方。

“無論城市內地庫是否足夠,人們已朝高檔產業邁進。”

同時,何振順表示,人口迅速成長也令產業供應不斷增長,雪蘭莪州的人口成長最驚人,每年達6%,而吉隆坡也寫下3.5%增長,巴生河流域總計成長4.8%,檳城及柔佛則分別揚升1.57%及2.39%。

“由於吉隆坡沒有太多地庫,所以僅有地庫都只是高檔產業。過去的15至20年間,吉隆坡的高檔住宅產業的年增長率為12至18%。”

地點仍是置業關鍵
在置業的過程中,何振順說,產業地點始終是關鍵,市民可選擇在經濟下滑期間購買產業,待經濟回揚時取得增值,其次是選擇良好信譽及營運紀錄的產業發展商。

他也提到,在購買店舖時須格外謹慎,有時若無法尋求租戶,往往招致虧損的窘境。其他影響的因素包括,店舖產業市值或下跌,當然一旦當地更為商業化,則將捎來更好的回酬。

“而在購買一些商業產業時,特別是作為零售業務,更要謹慎選擇單位,因不同面向會帶來不同的經濟效益,不得掉以輕心。”

中高檔產業將揚升
目前股市表現趨穩,雖然通膨揚升在望,加上借貸成本上升,不過沒有產業泡沫的跡象。
無論城外中級產業,或高檔產業都將一直揚升,至於排屋則已飆升了,所以想趁低購買排屋的人或許已錯失良機了。
而隨城市地區的地庫越來越少,共管公寓也將難以“抗拒”地往次級地點移去,這肯定是未來的趨勢。

律師,獅子開大口?

狀況1:阿財收到律師的費用支出(disbursement),發現只是電話收費就一、兩百令吉,令人咋舌!

解釋:第一,消費者必須知道本身權益,律師開價多少,不意味消費者都必須支付,不妨問律師到底以上電話收費的實際情況,律師有回答的義務。
第二,很多人先入為主以為買賣程序很簡單,惟事實上,一項交易牽涉了買家、買家律師、賣家、賣家律師、發展商、發展商律師、賣家銀行、賣家銀行律師、買家銀行、買家銀行律師、土地局、印花稅局,還可能包括買賣合同之前的律師,所以當中已涉及超過10方。
消費者就可以細算電話的收費,基本上,律師一般不會藉這項費用支出來賺錢。消費者可向律師瞭解或拿證據。
買賣雙方避免共用律師

狀況2:律師費用高,為減低開銷,阿貴心生妙計,即買賣雙方共用一名律師,究竟可行嗎?
解釋:買賣雙方必須先問自己聘請律師原因,大致上是程序上需要與“以防萬一”。
很多人希望節省律師費,其實,買賣雙方在理論上不能用同一名律師,因為律師只能代表一方,若出現糾紛,又只有一名律師,律師該代表誰?這就是所謂“萬一”的情況。
進行交易時,交易者最好儘量不讓對方在沒有律師下進行,畢竟一旦問題發生,很難達到雙方的充份“保護”。
律師多代表買方

狀況3:阿萬向阿千買房子,兩人唸在手足情深,堅決只用一名律師,但究竟代表誰才是?
解釋:只要雙方同意只雇用一名律師代表買方,交易也能夠進行,當只有一方面的律師時,一般是代表買方,因為律師必須確保產業順利交托給買方。
如果是夫妻或兄弟之間交易,其實沒有利益糾紛時並不會出現任何問題,然而,買賣雙方需自己衡量“萬一”問題。
代表發展商的情形下,若只有一名律師,一般是代表買者,除非這名律師聲明要買者簽署有關協議,即這名律師代表發展商,而非買方。因此,如果買方需要,可另聘請律師代表自己。

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Business Travel


Make Your Trip Better Using 3-1-1

TSA and our security partners conducted extensive explosives testing since August 10, 2006 and determined that liquids, aerosols and gels, in limited quantities, are safe to bring aboard an aircraft. The one bag limit per traveler limits the total amount each traveler can bring. Consolidating the bottles into one bag and X-raying them separately from the carry-on bag enables security officers to quickly clear the items.

3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security measure.

Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.

3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.

Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.

Friday, April 9, 2010

About Company: We Take the Cake



"I'm Lori Karmel, the lucky owner of We Take The Cake. Back in 1997, We Take The Cake began as a modest mail-order bakery. This was before I even knew they existed! Well, a few years later, I happened to visit this bakery to buy a cake for my son Sean's third birthday. The rest, as they say, is history...it was definitely love at first bite, and I ended up buying the business!

Since then, I've updated the look and feel of the company to reflect our team's fun, whimsical personality. We've also added custom designs. But there's one thing that we've kept the same...and it's the wholesome, homemade recipes that I fell in love with in the first place."

taken from the website.

Click on the website:
http://www.wetakethecake.com/

About Company: Dean & DeLuca



Dean & DeLuca is a chain of upscale grocery stores. The first one was established in New York City's SoHo district by Joel Dean and Giorgio DeLuca in September 1977. It is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas.

The corner grocery store grew up with the neighborhood, and occupies a busy corner in SoHo in what has become the most vibrant artists’ haven in the world. In the early days, Joel Dean and Giorgio DeLuca traipsed around the world to find artisan-produced foods that pleased their customers, not to mention themselves. They wanted products that fired their imaginations, challenged their tastes and turned dinner into a creative exercise.

Giorgio and Joel’s dream of a place that would offer customers a sumptuous celebration of food, a place to experience all of the pleasures that cooking and eating can bring, the original DEAN & DELUCA, opened for business in September 1977. Artist and founding partner Jack Ceglic designed the original store to evoke a turn of the century food department, with high ceiling fans spinning over a vast array of products that lined the high, white walls. Joel Dean and Giorgio DeLuca searched for handcrafted products and artisan foods and imported their discoveries into their enchanting emporium. On display was a staggering variety of produce and foodstuffs, including many never previously sold in this country.


Click on this link for more info:
http://www.deandeluca.com/

Monday, April 5, 2010

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Present Like Steve Jobs

About Company: Thrillist.com

About Company: Reckitt Benckiser

Reckitt Benckiser plc (LSE: RB) is a British global consumer goods company, making and marketing home, health and personal care products. Headquartered in Slough, near London, UK, it has operations in over 60 countries, including 42 manufacturing facilities, and sales in nearly 200 countries. RB is ranked 6th in the 2008 European Business Week 50,the magazine's annual ranking of the best performing companies within the S&P European 350.

The company's strategy is to have a highly focused portfolio concentrating on its 17 most profitable brands, which were responsible for 62% of net revenues in 2008. 35% of net revenues come from products launched in the past three years, this focus on innovation was recognised by The Economist Corporate Use of Innovation Award in 2009.

In 2008, the BBC broadcast an investigaton into the methods RB used to maintain the market share of the Gaviscon powerbrand.

Brands

These 17 power brands accounted for 62% of Rekitt Benckiser’s net revenues in 2008, and 61% in 2007.[36]

Reckitt Benckiser’s most profitable and most recognised brands are:

This is a list of other brands owned by Reckitt Benckiser:


The company held Platinum status in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 in the Business In The Community CR Index, and in 2009 entered the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

9 Tricks Of The Successful Forex Trader

1. Define Your Goals
Before you set out on any journey, it is imperative that you have some idea of where your destination is and how you will get there. Consequently, it is imperative that you have clear goals in mind as to what you would like to achieve; you then have to be sure that your trading method is capable of achieving these goals. Each type of trading style requires a different approach and each style has a different risk profile, which requires a different attitude and approach to trade successfully. A personality mismatch will lead to stress and certain losses.

2. Choose The Right Broker
It is important to choose a broker who offers a trading platform that will allow you to do the analysis you require. Choosing a reputable broker is of paramount importance and spending time researching the differences between brokers will be very helpful. You must know each broker's policies and how he or she goes about making a market. For example, trading in the over-the-counter market or spot market is different from trading the exchange-driven markets. A good broker with a poor platform, or a good platform with a poor broker, can be a problem. Make sure you get the best of both.

3. Choose A Methodology And Be Consistent
Before you enter any market as a trader, you need to have some idea of how you will make decisions to execute your trades. You must know what information you will need in order to make the appropriate decision about whether to enter or exit a trade. Some people choose to look at the underlying fundamentals of the company or economy, and then use a chart to determine the best time to execute the trade. Others use technical analysis; as a result they will only use charts to time a trade. Whichever methodology you choose, remember to be consistent. And be sure your methodology is adaptive. Your system should keep up with the changing dynamics of a market.

4. Keep Your Timing In Sync
Many traders get confused because of conflicting information that occurs when looking at charts in different time frames. What shows up as a buying opportunity on a weekly chart could, in fact, show up as a sell signal on an intraday chart. Therefore, if you are taking your basic trading direction from a weekly chart and using a daily chart to time entry, be sure to synchronize the two. In other words, if the weekly chart is giving you a buy signal, wait until the daily chart also confirms a buy signal. Keep your timing in sync.

Calculate Your Expectancy
Expectancy is the formula you use to determine how reliable your system is. You should go back in time and measure all your trades that were winners, versus all your trades that were losers. Then determine how profitable your winning trades were versus how much your losing trades lost. Take a look at your last 10 trades. If you haven't made actual trades yet, go back on your chart to where your system would have indicated that you should enter and exit a trade. Determine if you would have made a profit or a loss. Write these results down. Total all your winning trades and divide the answer by the number of winning trades you made.

6. Focus On Your Trades
Once you have funded your account, the most important thing to remember is that your money is at risk. Therefore, your money should not be needed for living or to pay bills etc. Consider your trading money as if it were vacation money. Once the vacation is over your money is spent. Have the same attitude toward trading. This will psychologically prepare you to accept small losses, which is key to managing your risk. By focusing on your trades and accepting small losses rather than constantly counting your equity, you will be much more successful. Secondly, only leverage your trades to a maximum risk of 2% of your total funds. In other words, if you have $10,000 in your trading account, never let any trade lose more than 2% of the account value, or $200. If your stops are farther away than 2% of your account, trade shorter time frames or decrease the leverage.

7. Build Positive Feedback Loops
A positive feedback loop is created as a result of a well-executed trade in accordance with your plan. When you plan a trade and then execute it well, you form a positive feedback pattern. Success breeds success, which in turn breeds confidence - especially if the trade is profitable. Even if you take a small loss but do so in accordance with a planned trade, then you will be building a positive feedback loop.

8. Perform Weekend Analysis
It is always good to prepare in advance. On the weekend, when the markets are closed, study weekly charts to look for patterns or news that could affect your trade. In the cool light of objectivity, you will make your best plans. Wait for your setups and learn to be patient. If the market does not reach your point of entry, learn to sit on your hands. You might have to wait for the opportunity longer than you anticipated. If you miss a trade, remember that there will always be another. If you have patience and discipline you can become a good trader.

9. Keep A Printed Record
Keeping a printed record is one of the best learning tools a trader can have. Print out a chart and list all the reasons for the trade, including the fundamentals that sway your decisions. Mark the chart with your entry and your exit points. Make any relevant comments on the chart. File this record so you can refer to it over and over again. Note the emotional reasons for taking action. Did you panic? Were you too greedy? Were you full of anxiety? Note all these feelings on your record. It is only when you can objectify your trades that you will develop the mental control and discipline to execute according to your system instead of your habits.

Taken From:
http://www.investopedia.com/slide-show/successful-forex-tricks/



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