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billion — have launched a $300 million venturs fund aimed at investing in othersalike them. While the actuakl news that Andreessen-Horowitz was beingg formed was broken in Februart on the Charlie RoseTV show, details and the officialk launch came on Monday. On his blog, Andreesse n wrote: "Between the two of us, Ben and I have started threecompanies directly, created many new products and services, run operating businesse at high levels of scale, angep invested in 45 tech startups in the last five and served on a broad cross-section of company boardds with some of the best entrepreneurs and investords in the industry.
Through all we have worked closely together for 15 and we could not be more excited to extene our partnership into venture The new firm will invest anywherefrom $50,0009 to $50 million, Andreessen wrote, in consumert Internet, business Internet (cloud computing, "softwarer as a service"), mobile softwar and services, software-powered consumer electronics, infrastructure and applicationsd software, networking, storage, databases, and other back-end He was also clear about what it won't investy in: "We are almost certainly not an appropriate investor for any of the following domains: 'clean,' 'green,' energy, transportation, life sciencees (biotech, drug design, medical devices), nanotech, movier production companies, consumer retail, electri cars, rocket ships, space elevators.
We do not have the firs clue about any of these Andreessen said he will continue as chairman of a socia l networking software companyhe co-founded, , as well as remain on the boarr at and (NASDAQ:EBAY). Horowitz is vice president and general manager of business technology optimization for softwareat .
Monday, July 30, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Selling a business now may make economic sense - Business First of Columbus:
mytyhona.wordpress.com
When housing prices headed many homeowners refusedto sell, or at leasyt strongly resisted selling, their houses for less than the values they perceives they were worth the year before. The result was that many house s were overpriced and sat on the markert for months before the owners either concedexd to reality by marking thepricees down, or simply took their homes off the A similar mindset is occurrinhg in many situations in which there is a business for sale. Ownersd who may want to sell, but who are not beint forced to sell because of personal orother forces, are resisting selling at lowefr multiples than their cohorts sold for in the relatively recent past. But is that rational?
If we look back threwe or four years from now and pricesa havegone up, it may be. it may also prove to be a bad decision. It’ds extremely difficult, at best, to accurately forecast where pricezs for publicly traded or privately held companiesx will be at any point in the And they may go down even Manypeople forecast, but the key word is ”accurately.” It may be totallty rational to sell now, even if pricees are down.
Earnings multiples that companiess sell for in the market at any specifidc point in time vary widely depending on macrlo factors such as trends in the current economic technology changes, population growth and geographic Individual company characteristics, such as product lines, management and employee qualitg and company reputation may have major impacts on the value of the company. Regardless of the specific of the company, macroeconomic turmoikl such as we’re going throug right now will have a major negativwe impact on the vast majorityof companies. A few may buck the but not many.
Let’s say you own a companuy that has fallen in valued in the past year from nine timezs earnings to sixtimes earnings. That’ss a 33 percent drop. If you have an offefr to sell atsix times, should you take it? Thered is no definitive answer, because ultimately it dependsz on many personal and businesz factors. But what you can say is if youdo sell, you may not be any wors e off, and in fact, you may be better off than if you had sold a year or two ago at a nine timew multiple. Here’s why: Over the past two yearsx or so, the prices of many major items that affect our lives havedropped precipitously.
Although thesre numbers vary a little dayto day, here are a few Housing: Top 20 U.S. markets, down abougt 32 percent from the peak; Florida, down more than 20 percent fromthe Miami, down about 47 percent from the Tampa: down about 41 percent from the Crude oil: down more than 55 perceny from the peak. Gas at the pump: down about 40 percent from the peak. corn, down about 45 percent from recenr highs; steel, down more than 50 percent fromrecent highs; broad index, down almost 50 percent from recent Mortgage rates, 30-year fixed: currently at 40-year lows of less than 5 percenft annual rate. Stock down about 40 percent from the Octobedr2007 high.
Sellers may not be able to get the same pricew for their businesses that they could two or threeyearss ago. However, the prices of many of the major item that they will invest in or consume with that moneuy have fallen at least as much as the prices of their businesses. Food, energy, consumer goods and housinbg prices have fallen and are eithed stable or decliningeven more. Investmentds such as real estate and stocks have fallenh significantlyas well. On a relativew basis, business owners may be no worseoff and, in may be better off if they sell now in a broadlyu depressed market.
If an owner wants to sell or has to sell for health or other reasons but waits until the value of thebusiness recovers, he or she coul be making a major mistake. First, the valuwe of the business may not recover for a long if ever. If the reason for selling is, say, health-related, it may be too late Secondly, if the value of the business recovers, the valuew of all of the items show above will surely riseas well, wiping out most or all of the advantages of waiting.
When housing prices headed many homeowners refusedto sell, or at leasyt strongly resisted selling, their houses for less than the values they perceives they were worth the year before. The result was that many house s were overpriced and sat on the markert for months before the owners either concedexd to reality by marking thepricees down, or simply took their homes off the A similar mindset is occurrinhg in many situations in which there is a business for sale. Ownersd who may want to sell, but who are not beint forced to sell because of personal orother forces, are resisting selling at lowefr multiples than their cohorts sold for in the relatively recent past. But is that rational?
If we look back threwe or four years from now and pricesa havegone up, it may be. it may also prove to be a bad decision. It’ds extremely difficult, at best, to accurately forecast where pricezs for publicly traded or privately held companiesx will be at any point in the And they may go down even Manypeople forecast, but the key word is ”accurately.” It may be totallty rational to sell now, even if pricees are down.
Earnings multiples that companiess sell for in the market at any specifidc point in time vary widely depending on macrlo factors such as trends in the current economic technology changes, population growth and geographic Individual company characteristics, such as product lines, management and employee qualitg and company reputation may have major impacts on the value of the company. Regardless of the specific of the company, macroeconomic turmoikl such as we’re going throug right now will have a major negativwe impact on the vast majorityof companies. A few may buck the but not many.
Let’s say you own a companuy that has fallen in valued in the past year from nine timezs earnings to sixtimes earnings. That’ss a 33 percent drop. If you have an offefr to sell atsix times, should you take it? Thered is no definitive answer, because ultimately it dependsz on many personal and businesz factors. But what you can say is if youdo sell, you may not be any wors e off, and in fact, you may be better off than if you had sold a year or two ago at a nine timew multiple. Here’s why: Over the past two yearsx or so, the prices of many major items that affect our lives havedropped precipitously.
Although thesre numbers vary a little dayto day, here are a few Housing: Top 20 U.S. markets, down abougt 32 percent from the peak; Florida, down more than 20 percent fromthe Miami, down about 47 percent from the Tampa: down about 41 percent from the Crude oil: down more than 55 perceny from the peak. Gas at the pump: down about 40 percent from the peak. corn, down about 45 percent from recenr highs; steel, down more than 50 percent fromrecent highs; broad index, down almost 50 percent from recent Mortgage rates, 30-year fixed: currently at 40-year lows of less than 5 percenft annual rate. Stock down about 40 percent from the Octobedr2007 high.
Sellers may not be able to get the same pricew for their businesses that they could two or threeyearss ago. However, the prices of many of the major item that they will invest in or consume with that moneuy have fallen at least as much as the prices of their businesses. Food, energy, consumer goods and housinbg prices have fallen and are eithed stable or decliningeven more. Investmentds such as real estate and stocks have fallenh significantlyas well. On a relativew basis, business owners may be no worseoff and, in may be better off if they sell now in a broadlyu depressed market.
If an owner wants to sell or has to sell for health or other reasons but waits until the value of thebusiness recovers, he or she coul be making a major mistake. First, the valuwe of the business may not recover for a long if ever. If the reason for selling is, say, health-related, it may be too late Secondly, if the value of the business recovers, the valuew of all of the items show above will surely riseas well, wiping out most or all of the advantages of waiting.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Female flagbearer Jackson leads out Australia - Yahoo! Sports
ofycagvezi.blogspot.com
Sydney Morning Herald | Female flagbearer Jackson leads out Australia Yahoo! Sports LONDON (Reuters) - Australia's Lauren Jackson led her country's team into the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Friday, the first Australian woman in 20 years to carry the flag at a Summer Games. The 31-year-old Jackson was appearing at her fourth ... E motional Jackson selected to carry Australia's flag Carrying the flag ... basketb » |
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Who is Rupert Sanders: Meet Kristen Stewart's supposed dalliance - Zap2it.com (blog)
raisavydyexuwowi.blogspot.com
Zap2it.com (blog) | Who is Rupert Sanders: Meet Kristen Stewart's supposed d » |
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Business community offers suggestions for stimulus funds - Jacksonville Business Journal:
jabire2389.blogspot.com
The Economic Stimulus Package 2.0 compiles suggestione from more than 20 industry The document focuses largely on water infrastructureand deep-water port revitalization projects. has identifierd more than $7 billion in projectd ready to move forward within the next 90 to 120 This could create anadditional 195,000 jobs and a statewidde economic boost of $39 billion. Evert $1 billion that state government invests in highwat construction and improvements supports morethan 27,000 jobs, a media release said. has said that therre are $1 billion in water and wastewater projects ready to move The state expects to receiveabour $220 million in stimulus funds devoted to this area.
This will enablw the state to bond anadditional $250 million. Thesd investments are aimed at creating jobs for engineering and other industries throughouttthe state. The ESP 2.0 also recommends lower state-mandatedx port security costs to allow ports to compete financiallu and asks government officials to aid in the construction of warehousesd and distribution centers to createe a stronger Bayarea port. In addition, the has releasee its own agenda. The chamber said that legislatorw should direct federal economic stimulus funds towards its more than 250 jobcreation proposals.
This plan recommendss talent and highereducation reform, propertyh tax relief for employers and growtg leadership reform. The Florida Chamber represents morethan 139,000p employers and is based in Tallahassee.
The Economic Stimulus Package 2.0 compiles suggestione from more than 20 industry The document focuses largely on water infrastructureand deep-water port revitalization projects. has identifierd more than $7 billion in projectd ready to move forward within the next 90 to 120 This could create anadditional 195,000 jobs and a statewidde economic boost of $39 billion. Evert $1 billion that state government invests in highwat construction and improvements supports morethan 27,000 jobs, a media release said. has said that therre are $1 billion in water and wastewater projects ready to move The state expects to receiveabour $220 million in stimulus funds devoted to this area.
This will enablw the state to bond anadditional $250 million. Thesd investments are aimed at creating jobs for engineering and other industries throughouttthe state. The ESP 2.0 also recommends lower state-mandatedx port security costs to allow ports to compete financiallu and asks government officials to aid in the construction of warehousesd and distribution centers to createe a stronger Bayarea port. In addition, the has releasee its own agenda. The chamber said that legislatorw should direct federal economic stimulus funds towards its more than 250 jobcreation proposals.
This plan recommendss talent and highereducation reform, propertyh tax relief for employers and growtg leadership reform. The Florida Chamber represents morethan 139,000p employers and is based in Tallahassee.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Dell may lose more ground to HP - Business First of Columbus:
yvejodo.wordpress.com
During the first quarter, Rouned Rock-based Dell lost that spot to California-basedc HP for the first time sincew 2001. The turnabout happenedr because Dell’s U.S. shipments decreased 16 percentwhile HP’sx increased 11 percent during the quarter, industru research firms reported. Dell’ds slow retail store sales combined witha recession-inducee slowdown in sales to businese customers contributed to the ranking change. Also, Dell has been slower out of the gate with the verypopulatr low-priced netbooks, while competitors HP HPQ) and Acer sell huge quantities of said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst for Gartner Inc.
And since business customers, whichu include government andeducational clients, account for 60 percenf of Dell’s U.S. market, the economic downturn’w effect was heightened, she said. “Thwe economy is really affectingprofessional buyers,” Kitagawaa said. “Unless people are going to replace theifrold PCs, growth [at Dell] is going to be really, reallt weak.” On the consumer side of the Dell made another perplexint move during the quarter going upscale in a down economy. In while competitors rolled out severalo versionsof low-priced, scaled-down Dell introduced its sleek and pricety — $2,000 — Adamo laptop.
Initially, industr y analysts speculated thatDell (Nasdaq: would undercut the price of the MacBoook Air by Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: APPL). Inexplicably, the priced came in $200 higher at a time when consumers were lookingh to cut costs during theeconomic Dell, which began selling in retail stores in late now sells its computers in more than 28,000 location after establishing its reputation in the 1980 s as a online seller of no-frills Industry officials have said it will probablg take several years for the company to establish itself in storew against competitors — such as HP — that have been therre for decades. In the United States, HP reportexd 4.
2 million shipments during the first capturing 27.7 percent market share compared with 24.8 percent market share during the same perioxd last year. Meanwhile, Dell reported 3.9 milliobn shipments, drawing 26.2 percent market share comparedwith 31.2 percentf market share during the first quarter according to Gartner. Dell officials declinecd to comment on its decline inmarker share. The new ranking means more to company marketin g machines thanto consumers, said Robert Gilbreath, an Austin-based technology marketingg expert and blogger. “Aa far as a marketing perspective, can no longer use the ‘No. 1 PC maker’ as part of any advertisingf andPR campaigns,” he said.
“It’s probably a biggefr deal to HP as it gives them somethingt to brag about and something for the team to beprour of.” Dell employs aboutg 16,000 workers in Central Texas. Last the company fell short of estimates and reported a 63 percentr declinein first-quarter earnings comparefd with the same period last year. It poste d $290 million in profits during the three-monthg period versus $784 milliob during the first quarterlast year. Dell officiald said the recession hasn’t bottomed out and that they’rre counting on a strong rebound when enterprise customers return to buying informationjtechnology products.
Kitawaga said buyin by businesses is projected to surgeduring 2010. Dell has been trying to diversify beyond PCs to services and which provide highprofit margins. Such a move would add a measurre of insulation frommarket fluctuations. For HP more than doubled its services revenue afteracquiring Plano-baserd Electronic Data Systems Corp. last year. Because the sluggish market haslowered expectations, a recession is probablu the best time for Dell to retoolp itself from strictly a PC maker to a companu — like HP — that also provides suppor t and services, said Michael an Austin-based analyst for RedMonk, a Washington State-based researcy firm.
During the last two quarters, Dell has lost ground to HP as it transitionsxto services, he said. “They’re in the earlg to mid process of becoming a nonhardware Cote said.
During the first quarter, Rouned Rock-based Dell lost that spot to California-basedc HP for the first time sincew 2001. The turnabout happenedr because Dell’s U.S. shipments decreased 16 percentwhile HP’sx increased 11 percent during the quarter, industru research firms reported. Dell’ds slow retail store sales combined witha recession-inducee slowdown in sales to businese customers contributed to the ranking change. Also, Dell has been slower out of the gate with the verypopulatr low-priced netbooks, while competitors HP HPQ) and Acer sell huge quantities of said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst for Gartner Inc.
And since business customers, whichu include government andeducational clients, account for 60 percenf of Dell’s U.S. market, the economic downturn’w effect was heightened, she said. “Thwe economy is really affectingprofessional buyers,” Kitagawaa said. “Unless people are going to replace theifrold PCs, growth [at Dell] is going to be really, reallt weak.” On the consumer side of the Dell made another perplexint move during the quarter going upscale in a down economy. In while competitors rolled out severalo versionsof low-priced, scaled-down Dell introduced its sleek and pricety — $2,000 — Adamo laptop.
Initially, industr y analysts speculated thatDell (Nasdaq: would undercut the price of the MacBoook Air by Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: APPL). Inexplicably, the priced came in $200 higher at a time when consumers were lookingh to cut costs during theeconomic Dell, which began selling in retail stores in late now sells its computers in more than 28,000 location after establishing its reputation in the 1980 s as a online seller of no-frills Industry officials have said it will probablg take several years for the company to establish itself in storew against competitors — such as HP — that have been therre for decades. In the United States, HP reportexd 4.
2 million shipments during the first capturing 27.7 percent market share compared with 24.8 percent market share during the same perioxd last year. Meanwhile, Dell reported 3.9 milliobn shipments, drawing 26.2 percent market share comparedwith 31.2 percentf market share during the first quarter according to Gartner. Dell officials declinecd to comment on its decline inmarker share. The new ranking means more to company marketin g machines thanto consumers, said Robert Gilbreath, an Austin-based technology marketingg expert and blogger. “Aa far as a marketing perspective, can no longer use the ‘No. 1 PC maker’ as part of any advertisingf andPR campaigns,” he said.
“It’s probably a biggefr deal to HP as it gives them somethingt to brag about and something for the team to beprour of.” Dell employs aboutg 16,000 workers in Central Texas. Last the company fell short of estimates and reported a 63 percentr declinein first-quarter earnings comparefd with the same period last year. It poste d $290 million in profits during the three-monthg period versus $784 milliob during the first quarterlast year. Dell officiald said the recession hasn’t bottomed out and that they’rre counting on a strong rebound when enterprise customers return to buying informationjtechnology products.
Kitawaga said buyin by businesses is projected to surgeduring 2010. Dell has been trying to diversify beyond PCs to services and which provide highprofit margins. Such a move would add a measurre of insulation frommarket fluctuations. For HP more than doubled its services revenue afteracquiring Plano-baserd Electronic Data Systems Corp. last year. Because the sluggish market haslowered expectations, a recession is probablu the best time for Dell to retoolp itself from strictly a PC maker to a companu — like HP — that also provides suppor t and services, said Michael an Austin-based analyst for RedMonk, a Washington State-based researcy firm.
During the last two quarters, Dell has lost ground to HP as it transitionsxto services, he said. “They’re in the earlg to mid process of becoming a nonhardware Cote said.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Epiq expands services, opens offices in Hong Kong, Brussels - Kansas City Business Journal:
goldenayreyg1666.blogspot.com
In a Monday release, the Kansasd City, Kan., company (Nasdaq: EPIQ) said its expandee eDiscovery services include data forensics anddocument review. The expander services and two new offices give the company a presence in leading legal and financial centerws tosupport large-scale multinationapl cases, Epiq said. The Brussels officed adds client support for regulatoryy compliance work in theEuropean Union. The Hong Kong officed has a data center and provides supportthroughour Asia. Epiq also has eDiscovery offices in NewYork Washington, Los Angeles and London. Epiq openex the Hong Kong and Brussels officeein January, Lew Schroeber, vice presideny of investor relations, said in an interview.
Each new office has four or five he said. Epiq also has offices in Chicago, Miamik and Portland, Ore., and 560 employees Epiq ranks No. 25 on the Kansas City BusinesdJournal ’s list of area public companies.
In a Monday release, the Kansasd City, Kan., company (Nasdaq: EPIQ) said its expandee eDiscovery services include data forensics anddocument review. The expander services and two new offices give the company a presence in leading legal and financial centerws tosupport large-scale multinationapl cases, Epiq said. The Brussels officed adds client support for regulatoryy compliance work in theEuropean Union. The Hong Kong officed has a data center and provides supportthroughour Asia. Epiq also has eDiscovery offices in NewYork Washington, Los Angeles and London. Epiq openex the Hong Kong and Brussels officeein January, Lew Schroeber, vice presideny of investor relations, said in an interview.
Each new office has four or five he said. Epiq also has offices in Chicago, Miamik and Portland, Ore., and 560 employees Epiq ranks No. 25 on the Kansas City BusinesdJournal ’s list of area public companies.
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