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China Draws In Hotel Giants

September 28, 2010 By

International hoteliers, with New York-listed Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Malaysia’s Hong Leong Group to the fore, are riding the country’s property boom to open new hotels at a dizzying pace, seduced by the potential of China and hurt by weak economies elsewhere.

Undeterred by talk of a growing property bubble, Chinese developers are building palace-like hotels – each competing to be larger and more luxurious than the last – and inviting international companies to manage them.

Mega-events like the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, the ongoing World Expo in Shanghai and the upcoming Asian [Read more...]

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Greatest Single Investment

January 7, 2010 By

employee screening_It is really of great importance to have increase efficiencies, decrease operating and administrative costs, and most importantly, maximize human capital which is the greatest single investment of any businesses. As technology improves, efficiency pressures increase, and prices drop, smart organizations are moving toward more integration. They realize that tapping into outside expert resources makes a lot more sense–and gets them better results. Towards this point, Accurate Information Systems is committed to deliver the investigative employee screening, due diligence and risk mitigation solutions and tools necessary for your business professionals to do their job to the highest possible level. Their network is comprised of hundreds of skilled and dedicated professional researchers possessing the knowledge and expertise to conduct confidential, legal and ethical investigations that are fully compliant with federal, state and country specific consumer reporting and privacy laws.

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High-End Liquor Becoming Costlier

December 8, 2009 By

high-end liquor_China’s leading liquor maker Kweichou Moutai said yesterday it will raise its average product price by 13 percent from Jan 1, a move expected to spark a wave of price hikes in China’s high-end liquor industry.

Moutai referred to “rising raw material costs, the current liquor market situation and corporate strategy requirements”, as the main reasons for the price increase in a statement released yesterday.

Analysts said they had expected such a rise months ago.

“Moutai led the way and many others will probably follow suit, later this year or early next year,” said Huang Wei, an analyst with China Jianyin Investment Securities.

Tong Xun, a beverage analyst at Shanghai-based Shenyin & Wanguo Securities, agreed, saying that “a 13 to 16 percent price increase may boost earnings by 20 to 24 percent, and more companies will take the measure”.

Industrial analysts attributed the surge to two other issues: Growing pressure following a recent increase in consumption tax on liquor sales by the Chinese government, which has squeezed profits, and predicted growth potential for the local high-end spirits market, also the most profitable, in years ahead.

Among high-end liquor producers, Moutai has the most scope to raise the product price. The company’s gap between the product price and sale price is the largest among all the manufacturers. Since 2006, the company has raised its product price once every year. The most recent price hike of 20 percent took place in January 2008.

Guizhou-based Kweichou Moutai, Sichuan-based Wuliangye Group and Luzhoulaojiao Group are the nation’s top three high-end liquor makers.

“There is a high possibility that Luzhoulaojiao will raise its product price soon, following a market test of an increase,” said Teng Wenfei, a food and beverage analyst at Shanghai Securities.

Wuliangye, the second largest player, will also do the same, in a bid to catch up with its archrival Moutai for more profits, predicted Teng.

Moutai’s price hike ignited investor confidence in liquor manufacturers yesterday. Moutai shares rose for the first time in four days yesterday, gaining 3.29 percent to 176.53 yuan.

Wuliangye closed at 29.65 yuan, up by 2.35 percent. Luzhoulaojiao grew by 1.88 percent to 38 yuan.

It is estimated a rise in the product prices from 2 to 10 percent could help liquor makers to boost profitability. “The 13 percentage points will translate into good profits for Moutai,” said an insider.

Despite the fact that the financial crisis hurt the high-end liquor makers, China’s economic stimulus package, recovering economic growth, and the rich liquor culture are boosting the market and encouraging the makers to raise prices.

“By 2020 when China’s urbanization ratio will be higher, consumption of liquor, especially high-end liquor, will grow fast,” said Huang. By Ding Qingfen and Bao Chang, China Daily

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Hyundai Accelerates Away From Japanese Carmakers

October 10, 2009 By

hyundai accelarates away_It’s Hyundai rather than the up-and-coming Chinese or the leaner meaner Americans that has the Japanese seriously worried.

Talk to any Japanese motor company executive and he is likely to say the South Korean car company is rapidly emerging as the most feared competitor to Japan’s world-leading car companies.

“Hyundai is awesome,” said Honda chief executive Takanobu Ito. “They are undoubtedly a threat because their products are cheap, and the quality is improving.”

Nissan senior vice-president Shiro Nakamura agreed. He compared the rise of Hyundai to Samsung Electronics, which has grown to rival Japan’s Sony, and said its cars were riding on their reputation for quality and affordability.

It might take another decade for China’s carmakers to start seriously competing with Nissan, but Hyundai was there already, he said.

“Hyundai is the biggest threat for the Japanese carmakers,” Nakamura said. “They have the technology, but they seem to have cheaper labour.”

To compete, Japanese manufacturers needed to start relying more on their creative “sensibilities” to add value to a product almost like a European designer bag, Nakamura said. Buyers must want to pay more in the same way Japanese gourmet delicacies called kaiseki command higher prices than some Korean dishes.

“We have to offer the equivalents of sushi, tempura and kaiseki to compete against Korean barbecue,” Nakamura said.

Hyundai, which has Kia as an affiliate, recently grabbed a 5 per cent global market share for the first time, despite a declining global market.

These days, Hyundai and Kia form the world’s fifth-largest automotive group and have seen sales surge in the United States and Europe, with only Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, outselling it among the Japanese.

In the US, Hyundai was the only one among the major vehicle makers, including the Japanese, to record better sales last month, up 27 per cent from September 2008.

The Japanese have been battered by the financial crisis, although they are counting on expansion in emerging markets to offset declining sales in established markets such as the US, Europe and Japan.

Christopher Richter, analyst at Calyon Capital Markets Asia in Tokyo, said that Hyundai was growing not only in the US market, where it was taking advantage of a weakened General Motors to grab sales, buthas been strong for years inmerging nations, such as China and India.

Although the Korean won and Japanese yen had been strengthening, eroding the value of overseas earnings for both exporting nations, the yen’s jump had been bigger, further putting the Japanese at a disadvantage, Richter said.

“They are not an act you want to dismiss lightly,” he said. “They are increasingly going to create a bigger challenge to the Japanese.”

Hyundai spokesman Oles Gadacz said the company had no comment.

Tokyo-based Honda has emerged from the global recession in better shape than the other Japanese carmakers.

Honda’s Ito acknowledged as possible threats the US manufacturers, including GM and Ford, which have been reshaping their businesses and preparing smaller fuel-efficient models that are likely to better compete against Honda models.

But he appeared to be merely being polite in talking about the Americans and turned adamant when the topic became Hyundai. “Its growth is fantastic.” NZ Herald.

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Decide What Type Of Business

June 30, 2009 By

offshore-1_If you’ve been thinking of starting a business, it’s really hard to decide where to get started. You may be discouraged because there’s so much information available. Hence, the first step in getting started is to decide what type of business you will start and this will help you avoid studying information that may not be related to what you want to do.

As a matter of fact, one of the newest trends nowadays is conducting business online. Lots of people today have found out that using Offshore Company Incorporation can actually save them money.  This is mainly due to the fact that there are no requirements to maintain their accounts and it also has diminished the need for an accountant that promptly double their monthly savings. Further, since most respectable offshore service providers are legal ad visors which is why there is no longer need for a local attorney eliminating retainers and of course excessively high hourly rates.

What makes it more amazing is that they provide clients with their full expert assistance throughout every step of the formation process; however, their service does not stop there. They will give you any assistance or advice from the moment you choose to incorporate the company and as for long after incorporation as you require. They will advise you on which jurisdiction is best for you and if necessary provide nominees and help you open a bank account.

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