Monday, March 12, 2007
New Century halted
Credit cut off, bankruptcy imminent. Please tell me you could see this coming from a mile away...
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Interesting News on HAL
From the NYT:
HOUSTON, March 11 — Halliburton, the big energy services company, said on Sunday that it would open a corporate headquarters in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai and move its chairman and chief executive, David J. Lesar, there.
The company will maintain its existing corporate office here as well as its legal incorporation in the United States, meaning that it will still be subject to domestic laws and regulations.
Although the announcement of the new Dubai arrangement took many by surprise, Halliburton said that the move was part of a strategy announced in mid-2006 to concentrate its efforts in the Middle East and surrounding areas, where state-owned oil companies represent a growing source of business.
Halliburton, which was led by Vice President Dick Cheney from 1995 to 2000, is currently in the process of spinning off KBR, its military contracting unit, to focus on its business of drilling wells and maintaining fields for oil companies. The company did not say what implications the Dubai development might have for its military contracts. Lea Anne McBride, a spokeswoman for Mr. Cheney, referred questions about the company’s plans to Halliburton.
The Dubai announcement, which Halliburton made at a regional energy conference in Bahrain, comes at a time when the company is being investigated by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission over allegations of improper dealings in Iraq, Kuwait and Nigeria. Halliburton has also agreed to pay billions of dollars in settlements in asbestos litigation.
Halliburton would not elaborate on Sunday on what the shift of its top executive might mean for some of the issues it faces. The move seemed to raise questions about whether Halliburton might gain tax advantages or other benefits.
A Halliburton spokeswoman, Melissa Norcross, referred inquiries to the company’s press release, saying in an e-mail message, “The C.E.O.’s job is global by nature. He will continue to remain attentive to our shareholders, clients and employees around the world.”
Ms. Norcross added, “As companies usually refer to the C.E.O.’s office as the corporate headquarters, that’s what we are doing. Basing the C.E.O. in Dubai to focus on our Eastern Hemisphere growth makes good business sense, as it is the center of our Eastern Hemisphere operations and a global business hub. We will maintain our company’s legal registration in the United States and we are not leaving Houston.”
The mayor of Houston, Bill White, was notified by telephone shortly before Halliburton made the announcement, according to a spokesman, Frank Michel.
“We don’t expect it will have a big impact on employment here,” Mr. Michel said. “We point out that Houston continues to be the center for the international oil and gas business.”
“Having a corporate headquarters is different than it used to be,” Mr. Michel added. “Executives spend a lot more time on airplanes, and we understand that.” He noted that Schlumberger, one of Halliburton’s top competitors, maintains offices in both Paris and Houston.
On the face of it, the decision to move Mr. Lesar abroad appears to point mainly to how the epicenters of the energy business are moving from the mature fields of North America to the younger fields of the Middle East and Africa. It also underscores the arrival of Dubai as a center for energy deal-making and commerce, a role once solidly filled by Houston.
“My office will be in Dubai, and I will run our entire worldwide operations from that office,” said Mr. Lesar, who holds the titles of chairman, chief executive and president, at a conference in Manama, Bahrain’s capital. “The Eastern Hemisphere is a market that is more heavily weighted toward oil exploration and production opportunities. Growing our business here will bring more balance to Halliburton’s overall portfolio.”
Halliburton is incorporated in Delaware and its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Reuters reported that Mr. Lesar said Halliburton would like to list its shares on an exchange in the Middle East, which it could do while maintaining its listing in New York.
Halliburton reported a record $2.3 billion in profit last year and continues to be the dominant oil-field service company in North America, where it generates 60 percent of its operating income.
Over the last several years, an increasing amount of Halliburton’s business has shifted to places like Kuwait, Russia, Libya, Australia, Vietnam, and west and central Africa. And, mirroring trends in the energy business, its customer base is shifting from traditional Western oil companies to national oil companies in developing countries.
Some analysts who follow Halliburton said they did not think the relocation of Mr. Lesar reflected anything more than changes in the energy business.
“They are moving to the center of the Eurasian-African hemisphere and that’s where the bulk of the work is going to be in the future,” said Barbara Struck, an analyst with Energy Intelligence Group, a research firm.
She said she doubted the company was trying to evade laws in the United States. Halliburton has suffered several years of negative headlines, many having to do with its administration of a $16 billion deal to support American military operations in Iraq. Halliburton’s KBR subsidiary has been the subject of a number of investigations for mishandling billions of dollars of housing, food and fuel contracts for American troops and government officials operating in Iraq. Halliburton began spinning off KBR last year.
During Mr. Cheney’s tenure as chief executive, Halliburton bought a company that saddled it with asbestos claims. The company has agreed to pay nearly $5 billion in settlements.
Despite its recent problems, Halliburton posted record revenue, net income and margins last year.
Perhaps the biggest winner could be Dubai itself, one of seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates confederation, which has sought to establish itself as a regional commercial center on par with Singapore and Hong Kong. Most multinational companies, including Halliburton, have made Dubai a regional hub for their Middle Eastern business over the last decade.
HOUSTON, March 11 — Halliburton, the big energy services company, said on Sunday that it would open a corporate headquarters in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai and move its chairman and chief executive, David J. Lesar, there.
The company will maintain its existing corporate office here as well as its legal incorporation in the United States, meaning that it will still be subject to domestic laws and regulations.
Although the announcement of the new Dubai arrangement took many by surprise, Halliburton said that the move was part of a strategy announced in mid-2006 to concentrate its efforts in the Middle East and surrounding areas, where state-owned oil companies represent a growing source of business.
Halliburton, which was led by Vice President Dick Cheney from 1995 to 2000, is currently in the process of spinning off KBR, its military contracting unit, to focus on its business of drilling wells and maintaining fields for oil companies. The company did not say what implications the Dubai development might have for its military contracts. Lea Anne McBride, a spokeswoman for Mr. Cheney, referred questions about the company’s plans to Halliburton.
The Dubai announcement, which Halliburton made at a regional energy conference in Bahrain, comes at a time when the company is being investigated by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission over allegations of improper dealings in Iraq, Kuwait and Nigeria. Halliburton has also agreed to pay billions of dollars in settlements in asbestos litigation.
Halliburton would not elaborate on Sunday on what the shift of its top executive might mean for some of the issues it faces. The move seemed to raise questions about whether Halliburton might gain tax advantages or other benefits.
A Halliburton spokeswoman, Melissa Norcross, referred inquiries to the company’s press release, saying in an e-mail message, “The C.E.O.’s job is global by nature. He will continue to remain attentive to our shareholders, clients and employees around the world.”
Ms. Norcross added, “As companies usually refer to the C.E.O.’s office as the corporate headquarters, that’s what we are doing. Basing the C.E.O. in Dubai to focus on our Eastern Hemisphere growth makes good business sense, as it is the center of our Eastern Hemisphere operations and a global business hub. We will maintain our company’s legal registration in the United States and we are not leaving Houston.”
The mayor of Houston, Bill White, was notified by telephone shortly before Halliburton made the announcement, according to a spokesman, Frank Michel.
“We don’t expect it will have a big impact on employment here,” Mr. Michel said. “We point out that Houston continues to be the center for the international oil and gas business.”
“Having a corporate headquarters is different than it used to be,” Mr. Michel added. “Executives spend a lot more time on airplanes, and we understand that.” He noted that Schlumberger, one of Halliburton’s top competitors, maintains offices in both Paris and Houston.
On the face of it, the decision to move Mr. Lesar abroad appears to point mainly to how the epicenters of the energy business are moving from the mature fields of North America to the younger fields of the Middle East and Africa. It also underscores the arrival of Dubai as a center for energy deal-making and commerce, a role once solidly filled by Houston.
“My office will be in Dubai, and I will run our entire worldwide operations from that office,” said Mr. Lesar, who holds the titles of chairman, chief executive and president, at a conference in Manama, Bahrain’s capital. “The Eastern Hemisphere is a market that is more heavily weighted toward oil exploration and production opportunities. Growing our business here will bring more balance to Halliburton’s overall portfolio.”
Halliburton is incorporated in Delaware and its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Reuters reported that Mr. Lesar said Halliburton would like to list its shares on an exchange in the Middle East, which it could do while maintaining its listing in New York.
Halliburton reported a record $2.3 billion in profit last year and continues to be the dominant oil-field service company in North America, where it generates 60 percent of its operating income.
Over the last several years, an increasing amount of Halliburton’s business has shifted to places like Kuwait, Russia, Libya, Australia, Vietnam, and west and central Africa. And, mirroring trends in the energy business, its customer base is shifting from traditional Western oil companies to national oil companies in developing countries.
Some analysts who follow Halliburton said they did not think the relocation of Mr. Lesar reflected anything more than changes in the energy business.
“They are moving to the center of the Eurasian-African hemisphere and that’s where the bulk of the work is going to be in the future,” said Barbara Struck, an analyst with Energy Intelligence Group, a research firm.
She said she doubted the company was trying to evade laws in the United States. Halliburton has suffered several years of negative headlines, many having to do with its administration of a $16 billion deal to support American military operations in Iraq. Halliburton’s KBR subsidiary has been the subject of a number of investigations for mishandling billions of dollars of housing, food and fuel contracts for American troops and government officials operating in Iraq. Halliburton began spinning off KBR last year.
During Mr. Cheney’s tenure as chief executive, Halliburton bought a company that saddled it with asbestos claims. The company has agreed to pay nearly $5 billion in settlements.
Despite its recent problems, Halliburton posted record revenue, net income and margins last year.
Perhaps the biggest winner could be Dubai itself, one of seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates confederation, which has sought to establish itself as a regional commercial center on par with Singapore and Hong Kong. Most multinational companies, including Halliburton, have made Dubai a regional hub for their Middle Eastern business over the last decade.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
GM's Got A Little Competition For Chrysler
Dr. Z doesn't necessarily want to be eaten up by America's second-most-troubled automaker, apparently. From Marketwatch:
Russia's second-largest automotive company, OAO Gaz Group (GAZA.RS), is interested in acquiring Chrysler from U.S.-German carmaker DaimlerChrysler AG (DCX), German weekly Focus magazine reported Saturday, without revealing its sources.
In an advance copy of a report to be published in Monday's Focus, the magazine says Gaz isn't an unknown partner for DaimlerChrysler, as Chrysler already supplies four-cylinder engines for cars and mini-vans to the Russian carmaker. DaimlerChrysler couldn't immediately be reached for comment Sunday. DaimlerChrysler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche earlier this month triggered speculation about a possible sale of Chrysler when saying "all options are on the table" after Chrysler posted disappointing earnings.
Russia's second-largest automotive company, OAO Gaz Group (GAZA.RS), is interested in acquiring Chrysler from U.S.-German carmaker DaimlerChrysler AG (DCX), German weekly Focus magazine reported Saturday, without revealing its sources.
In an advance copy of a report to be published in Monday's Focus, the magazine says Gaz isn't an unknown partner for DaimlerChrysler, as Chrysler already supplies four-cylinder engines for cars and mini-vans to the Russian carmaker. DaimlerChrysler couldn't immediately be reached for comment Sunday. DaimlerChrysler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche earlier this month triggered speculation about a possible sale of Chrysler when saying "all options are on the table" after Chrysler posted disappointing earnings.
Friday, February 23, 2007
CNBC: Howard Schultz Calls Starbucks "Cookie-Cutter"
Fast Money just reported an alleged leaked memo from CEO of Starbucks Howard Schultz, where he says some have referred to the company as "soulless" and "cookie-cutter," among other things... then goes on to say "others have never been to a Starbucks."
Unbelievable that he would make these comments about his own company!
Unbelievable that he would make these comments about his own company!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Backdoor Backstreet Boys Raid
ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - U.S. agents on Thursday raided the home and offices of boy-band impresario Lou Pearlman, known for launching 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys, as part of a criminal investigation, officials said.
Pearlman has already been sued by the state of Florida for alleged securities fraud involving an employee investment program.
Federal prosecutors and the FBI were investigating "various allegations leveled against Mr. Pearlman and his entities," U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Steve Cole said.
According to the state lawsuit, Pearlman's companies for 15 years have sold unregistered securities in what was called an "employee investment savings account" program, committing securities fraud by implying the money was safe and insured.
But like a Ponzi scheme, according to the complaint, early investors were paid $118 million in dividends from deposits by more recent investors, while $7 million was paid in sales commissions and $50 million went to Pearlman and two other defendants.
It ain't no lie, if you invested with Pearlman, kiss your money bye-bye-bye...
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Farewell, Condoflip.com
Condoflip.com, established to allow for the listing and eventual fire sale of condos, is no more. The website says this succinctly:
How Did The Market Change in 2004 and Beyond? We saw a dramatic shift in how preconstruction condos were bought and sold. The condo boom was driven by overly-ambitious speculators, [editor: ya think?] many of whom had been successful in flipping condos in the past. As condo inventories grew and prices rose many speculators realized that further purchasing was increasingly risky. So, buyers just stopped buying. What Kinds of Results Did Condo Flip See? We saw thousands of sellers, and very few buyers. It didn't make sense for us to maintain a marketplace where there were few buyers.
Personally, I don't know anyone who went there for any reason other than schadenfreude, so it makes sense.
How Did The Market Change in 2004 and Beyond? We saw a dramatic shift in how preconstruction condos were bought and sold. The condo boom was driven by overly-ambitious speculators, [editor: ya think?] many of whom had been successful in flipping condos in the past. As condo inventories grew and prices rose many speculators realized that further purchasing was increasingly risky. So, buyers just stopped buying. What Kinds of Results Did Condo Flip See? We saw thousands of sellers, and very few buyers. It didn't make sense for us to maintain a marketplace where there were few buyers.
Personally, I don't know anyone who went there for any reason other than schadenfreude, so it makes sense.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Ford: Is Any Press Good Press?
Trash-filled Ford Focus crashes when coffee cups, etc wedge under the gas and brake:
Link with video.
On one hand, it's testimonial that someone was willing to spend a lot of time in this car. On the other hand...
Link with video.
On one hand, it's testimonial that someone was willing to spend a lot of time in this car. On the other hand...
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