Largest Corporate Raid recorded

In 1999, Vodafone AirTouch took over German giant, Mannesmann AG, who produced seamless steel pipes and products as such. The deal had been given many names. For all we know, it was not a deal at all! Vodafone calls it a friendly merger, when it was actually a hostile takeover! I am pretty sure that when the workers of Mannesmann took to the streets with banners protesting against the deal, it was far from friendly!

The tries in fact started 3 months earlier, in the dawn of late 1999, when Vodafone had first identified Mannesmann as a target. After months of fierce negotiation in vain, the British cell phone carrier had not much of an option but to try their efforts in something more hostile.  After buying up almost $203 billion worth of the company, Mannesmann, German steel producer and leading in the industry, surrendered to Vodafone. Vodafone had successfully acquired Mannesmann, but it was not over there! The Mannesmann workers gathered and took to the streets in protests against the takeover, and cussed Vodafone and their business. This, not even leaving a scratch on their reputation, had no effect, leading Vodafone to sell of its steel manufacturing, and taking it in, as part of the Vodafone group.

This, to date, is the largest recorded corporate takeover, worth approximately 202.8 billion US dollars.

http://www.dw.de/all-acquitted-in-mannesmann-trial/a-1273617

Source(s):

http://www.investmentweek.co.uk/investment-week/news/2144492/the10-largest-deals

+Andy Rodriguez 

US Treasury left with 10 billion dollars loss, after GM bailout

In 2008 and 2009, one of the world's largest car manufacturer - General Motors, was in a time of economic instability, and was making losses upon losses, hurting the image of the business, as well as the moral of the employees. As GM is one of the largest, the government authorised a bailout, and subsequently bought up about 61% of the country, in shares, about $49.5 billion dollars. This was to protect the US car market from collapse and failure, as well as to stop the shut down of more than 13 car plants, and redundancies of more than 27,000 jobs. This was able to get the business some money, and buy them some time to fix their act. Sure enough - the company reestablished, restarted and reorganised, and continued to do what it has always done best.
The United States Government has now sold its remaining shares in the corporation, with the confidence it can continue on its own. However, it has left the weight of a 10 billion dollars debt, after the share prices dropped dramatically during the reorganisation.
"With the final sale of GM stock, this important chapter in our nation's history is now closed," said US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew.

http://www.sacarfan.co.za/2009/07/judge-approves-general-motors-sale-plan/

The rescue was first administered by President George W. Bush, then hooked onto the efforts of President Barack Obama, when Chrysler was also taken over, while the Canadian government began to get involved. As Mr Jack Lew said, the sale of the stock closes an important chapter in the history of the United States. As the US Government lets General Motors' hand go, it looses 10 billion dollars, however The iBusiness Times believes it was worth it, as it would be more of a headache to patch up 1 million lost jobs and an entire market collapse.
The General Motors chief executive then released his statement,"We will always be grateful for the second chance extended to us and we are doing our best to make the most of it."
The government has done well.

Source(s):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25309673

US Unemployment Rate falls to 5 year low; GDP performance is up as well

The US Unemployment rate has come down to 7%, a 5 year low after approximately 203,000 non-farm related jobs were added to the market. The 203,000 jobs has obliterated the prediction of 180,000. The US unemployment rate is performing well, after coming down to 7.3% in October, 7.1% in November, and now 7.0% in December. If steady rates as such continue, the US economy will come out with fantastic quarter end, and year end results. This will also get the dirty aftermath image of a bad US economy after the recent US government shutdown from peoples minds. As the US unemployment rate falls, the US GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has increased by a well rounded 3.6%. This once more means that the United States of America is gaining a grand image, after the government shutdown. All these statistics will without a doubt keep the US out of the jaws of recession, and hopefully drive the economy into many more years of prosperity and peace. These results have also caused the Stock and Forex markets to jump. An example off the top of my head would be the USD JPY price, jumping all of a sudden, here is an extract of the graph:

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=USDJPY=X&t=5d&l=on&z=l&q=l&c=

As seen, the exchange rate rose dramatically in one go from 101.6 to about 102.9, which is fabulous.

NASDAQ has also crawled up, and we hope to see many more prosperous results.

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/08/04/us_economy_2.jpg

Source(s):

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/10500778/US-creates-203000-jobs-as-unemployment-rate-falls.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25264866

Protests hit American Fast Food sector!

Fast food chain workers across the United States have organised large protests and strikes with their Unions. Workers from fast food chains as large as Wendy's, McDonald's and Burger King refused to work and marched the streets in an attempt to raise the minimum wage level. There are states in the US with no minimum wage, ranging to about 9 to 10 dollars (an hour), with some exceptions. Workers say that the current $7.25 a hour is not sufficient, and The iBusiness Times agrees! How can people who depend on these jobs for their livelihood, run and support their families with a wage that barely meets those of part-time workers who are in university! The iBusiness Times expresses it's support for the workers, and believes that the minimum wage should be risen to at least $15. 

As a worker from Burger King stated, and very correctly as well,"It's a billion dollar company, share a little."

Think about that. And this does not only apply to Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Popeye, and many more! Chief Executive Officers at the top end, who earn from $60,000 to $100,000 a month, can not be a little helpful and scrape a few dollars of their plate for the workers, who would be lucky to earn $1,500 a month? It is plain selfishness.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25239433

At least it is comforting to know that President Barack Obama is trying, and are int he process of, and have also voted on a bill to raise minimum wages to $10.10, which will definitely improve the situation. 

This is what President Obama said, "I’m going to keep pushing until we get a higher minimum wage for hardworking Americans across the entire country."

It is all the workers, the union and the President of the United States (meaning part of the government), versus the Executives of the fast food chains and lawmakers in the United States, who will win? Time will tell.

Source(s):

http://rt.com/usa/fast-food-protest-usa-802/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25239433

Baba Rafi Enterprises: The beginning, the establishment, the expansion

Kebab Turki Baba Rafi is the worlds largest Kebab restaurant chain. Offering top class traditional food from the Middle East, the restaurant grew inevitably, from a small push cart on the side of the road. All of this establishment, growth and expansion was only because of one man. Mr Hendy Setiono. Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Kebab Turki Baba Rafi, started from a push cart on the side of the road, that was destined to be the greatest one day. Now, I could write for ages about the amazing, fabulous, fantastic, top class food they offer, or I could jump to main part. The iBusiness Times was able to get an exclusive interview, with Mr Hendy Setiono himself!!! We asked him about various things ranging from the humble beginnings, to the international growth. So here it is!!! The iBusiness Times' first official interview, with such an amazing man!

1. How did you enter the business?

"The story begun While I was visiting my father, an employee of an oil company in Doha, Qatar, I fell in love with the ubiquitous kebab and was amazed at its popularity. Immediately upon returning to Indonesia, I borrowed US$ 400 from my sister and built my first kebab push-cart in Surabaya. I modified the taste for the Indonesian palette, using beef or chicken instead of lamb and swapping in more familiar Indonesian spices. Open for one week, the lines were so long that another three stands were built within the year. From 2003-2006, I worked to slowly build a brand, opening new carts, stands and storefronts while employing offline and online media techniques to spread the Baba Rafi name. Eager for faster growth, I decided in 2006 to introduce a franchise model. To attract potential franchise investors, the Baba Rafi team participated in company exhibitions, industry fairs and public events - promoting both a “can’t miss” business opportunity and a growing brand. Fifty cities later, and with 1000 plus links in the Baba Rafi chain, it is safe to say Indonesians have enthusiastically embraced the kebab."

2. How did Baba Rafi enterprises start out and then how did it grow?

"We do the development organically. We learn everything about business along the way. We found out that developing business like this has its positive and negative sides but we don’t want to focus on the negative sides instead we keep looking on the positive sides and maintain our targets. So with these attitudes, it brings us here to this point and we don’t settle yet, we still have a lot to learn and to achieve and we are still a young company and our team also in average are young people so we believe that we can reach higher."

3. What are your long term targets for the future? How many outlets do you wish to grow to? 

A: Currently, we are still focusing on Baba Rafi expansion, locally and internationally. Right now, we are preparing to enter the European market. First, we are going to do feasibility study in Amsterdam since we are planning to open the first European outlet there. After that, we have a plan to open several outlets across Europe and Asia such as Vietnam, China and Srilanka. We are also getting some enquiry from other countries as well and we are still analyzing the enquiry before we go further.

4. Are you going to open more businesses under Baba Rafi enterprises in the near future?

"Plan ahead is I want to make Babarafi Enterprise  “Becoming a Fast Growing Company in Asia Region Holding”. I want to see that KTBR would get huge appreciation in Asia and International market through additional outlets in these countries. Our Go International programme is already started with Malaysia and Philippines, right now we are preparing to open several outlets in Amsterdam, Vietnam, China and Sri Lanka. And of course we will still maintain national market share and improve the quality of our human resources."

5. What advice would you give to all the young and budding entrepreneurs who wish to enter the business world?

"One Important advice I would share to other entrepreneurs  out there is that faith to get success is something that we must cultivate deeply before we start anything. Given this, optimism and creativity will be easily stimulated, and this will bring our business successful."

An influential man, gives some expert advice. Amazing. Now, Baba Rafi Enterprises is the group that started the Indonesian interest in Middle Eastern cuisine as such. Yes, there have been other small business and stalls, but Mr Setiono was simply divine. Interpreting Indonesian flavours, into a Middle Eastern dish, and then putting it global. As said, there are plans for expansions, that have either been executed, or are in the process of being executed, and will no doubt be a success! I strongly encourage any readers to go for Baba Rafi in any situation if it is available. The food is fantastic, and the precise reason why Baba Rafi is so successful. It's custom dishes such as the Kebab Unyu and Piscock are fantastic, and shoots wonderful tastes onto a dish that has been going for centuries! Should I say "Kebab Turki Baba Rafi-izing" the dish, will only make it better!

A business with huge growth, and already the largest Kebab chain in the world is among us.

I would like to close by saying congratulations to Mr Hendy Setiono and the Baba Rafi team, and good luck!

Mr Hendy Setiono (CEO and Founder of Kebab Turki Baba Rafi, as well as President Director of Baba Rafi Enterprises) winning the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2009. Congratulations, sir!

One of thousands of Kebab Turki Baba Rafi restaurants! It's Brilliant!

Source(s):
Mr Hendy Setiono himself!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kebab_Turki_Baba_Rafi
http://babarafi.com/new/

European Union punishes banks over "rate-rigging"

Banks. The Financial Sector. One of the largest business sectors in the world. Millions of individuals trust them everyday with large amounts, or even all of their money, to keep it safe and secure. But what happens when they turn on you? What happens when they cheat on you, only to get more money? This happens. 
In business, it is illegal to have agreements with other competing firms, that will benefit you both with no market competition. How does this relate to the article? Eight major banks, including the HSBC, JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, Barclays Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland have been fined for rigging two exchange rates, the Euribor, which the European Union refers to, and the Japanese Yen Tibor. European Union has fined all eight banks, in total fining 1.7 billion euros. The fines ranged from 250,000 to 446 million euros. Barclays Bank was safe however, because it was the group who informed the commission about the rigging activities going on. The Deutsche Bank was fined the most heavily, at around 725 million euros, as it was involved in the rigging on two rates. Broker RP Martin was fined reportedly only 247,000 euros, as it was more lightly involved.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/519738/20131105/euribor-fixing-libor-royal-bank-scotland-rbs.htm

Joaquin Almunia from the European Commission said "What is shocking about the scandals is the collusion between banks who are supposed to be competing with each other" 

I myself agree with Mr Joaquin, and that these influential, multibillion dollar banks must tighten their game and scrap this run! The RBS has suffered enough blows now!

Source(s):

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/eu-fines-eight-banks-record-1-7-billion-euros-for-rate-fixing/articleshow/26857571.cms

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25215560