Posts Tagged ‘Market’
The very terms “software leasing” and “software financing” are confusing to many businesspeople. This is due to the fact that software is typically not seen as something that is purchased over time.
This view is shared by both end-users, and the developers of software. Companies who think nothing of financing a vehicle or a new computer system will stress over how they will pay for expensive new business software. And the producers of software see no need for offering a software leasing or a software financing option.
But times are changing.
Third party equipment finance companies – companies who offer small and medium size businesses equipment financing and working capital – have responded to a need for software financing and software leasing. Thus, they are starting to include software amongst the equipment they finance or lease. There is one big overriding reason for this shift:
The High Cost of Buying Software
The simple fact is this: Software can be very, very expensive. Oftentimes more expensive than the hardware that runs it.
Now, keep in mind that when we are talking about software in this way, we are generally talking about “vertical software”. Vertical software is software that is written for a specific, narrow industry (this can include industry-specific point-of-sale software, ERP systems, specialized databases, etc). It is not software that’s available on the shelf at your local office supply store (the software you see there, even the business programs and operating systems, are “horizontal software” – they can be used across a variety of industries, and are relatively affordable.)
A good, clear example of vertical software is an auto parts store – they use software that’s specifically written for the auto parts industry. Another example is your local jewelry retailer – they likely use a point-of-sale system specifically made for the jewelry industry.
To understand how software financing and software leasing can positively affect a business, it is important to understand the advantages of vertical software first.
For most businesses, Vertical Software usually means far more efficient business processes. In the case of an auto parts store, for example, the software will already anticipate the thousands of automobile makes and models. And will almost certainly be updated every year. The jewelry store’s software will differentiate the subtle differences between two diamonds by any number of categories. And so on.
In fact, these “vertical” software programs are so effective, and become so crucial to day-to-day operations, that businesses often need this type of software to remain competitive. In many cases, it’s not an option to do without.
However, since the software is so narrowly focused, it usually comes with a hefty price tag. The developer will sell relatively few copies as opposed to a word processing program (which will sell in the millions), so they must get a premium for their work. Vertical software can sometimes reach five figures for a single license.
This brings an obvious problem: “Businesses need the software, but it’s very costly to buy outright.”
And that’s where software leasing and software financing come in – business don’t have to “buy” it upfront.
The Advantage of Software Leasing and Software Financing
The advantage of financing or leasing software is clear:
Software leasing and software financing take the huge up-front cost of new software out of the equation. Like most other business equipment, software is now beginning to be seen as a tangible asset (this was not always the case.) This means software can largely be treated as any other equipment purchase in the case of financing or leasing. A business can finance that new ERP system instead of having to budget a huge cash outlay.
This can be very beneficial to the bottom line, as software generally pays for itself over time. In fact, since “vertical” software almost always reduces the cost of doing day-to-day business, leasing or financing said software can actually create a positive cash flow right away.
But Who Offers Software Financing or Software Leasing, and how does it Work?
It’s true that software developers have been very slow to embrace the business model of software financing or software leasing. They would prefer to be paid up front for their software.
Likewise, banks, being part of an “older” industry, are also largely reluctant to finance software.
However, third party equipment finance companies who specialize in small and medium sized business equipment financing often offer attractive software lease and software financing packages. What happens is the equipment finance company pays the developer in full, and then provides the software to the end user under a finance or lease agreement, often at very attractive rates. In all actuality, it’s fundamentally the same as financing or leasing most other equipment.
Of course, like any other financing, the agreements can (and will) vary from traditional fixed rate financing to a “software lease” with a buyout at the end, etc. And the rates and terms also vary – your individual equipment finance company will have more details.
All in all, software financing and software leasing have definitely entered the business consciousness, and because it is so friendly to the bottom line, it is a business model that is here to stay.
Software leasing and Software financing are only a few of the services provided by Crest Capital. Regardless of the size of your company, Crest Capital can provide you with the equipment financing and working capital you need to successfully grow your business. Learn about financing options that can increase your bottom line and reduce your 2007 tax bill with a free online quote today.
Introduction
A venture financing can be structured using one or more of several types of securities ranging from straight debt-to-debt with equity features (e.g., convertible debt or debt with warrants) to common stock. Each type of security offers certain advantages and disadvantages to both the entrepreneur and the investor. The characteristcs of your situation and current market forces will impact the type and mix of security package that is right for you.
Types of Securities
- Senior debt: Which is usually for long-term financing for high-risk companies or special situations such as bridge financing. Bridge financing is designed as temporary financing in cases where the company has obtained a commitment for financing at a future date, which funds will be used to retire the debt. It is used in construction, acquisitions, anticipation of a public sale of securities, etc.
- Subordinated debt: Which is subordinated to financing from other financial institutions, and is usually convertible to common stock or accompanied by warrants to purchase common stock. Senior lenders consider subordinated debt as equity. This increases the amount of funds that can be borrowed, thus allowing greater leverage.
- Preferred stock: Which is usually convertible to common stock. The venture’s cash flow is helped because no fixed loan or interest payments need to be made unless the preferred stock is redeemable or dividends are mandatory. Preferred stock improves the company’s debt to equity ratio. The disadvantage is that dividends are not tax deductible.
- Common stock: Which is usually the most expensive in terms of the percent of ownership given to the venture capitalist. However, sale of common stock may be the only feasible alternative if cash flow and collateral limits the amount of debt the company can carry.
While each of these securities has unique characteristics, they can be grouped into two categories: debt or equity. In structuring a venture financing, the primary question is whether the financing should be in the form of debt or equity.
Disadvantages of Debt to a Company
From a company’s viewpoint, there are two potential disadvantages to debt.
- An excessive amount of debt can strain a company’s credit standing, thereby reducing its flexibility in meeting future long-term financing requirements on a favorable basis. It can also negatively affect a company’s ability to obtain short-term credit. Of course, the form of debt the venture financing takes makes a difference. For example, subordinated debt will have less impact on borrowing capacity than senior debt.
- The venture capitalist has the option of calling his loan if the company is in default of the loan agreement. This remedy, which is not available to him under other financing agreements, puts him in a better position to influence the company’s affairs when it is in default.
Advantages of Debt to a Venture Capitalist
From the venture capitalist’s viewpoint, there are three principal advantages to debt.
- There is a greater likelihood that the venture capitalist will get his principal back and, at least, a small return. Many of the companies in the average venture capitalist’s portfolio are referred to as "the living dead." Needless to say, their performance has turned out to be disappointing. In some cases, these companies are able to repay principal with interest but have limited appeal to potential acquirers or the public. As a result, a venture capitalist with an investment in such a company’s common stock may be unable to recover his investment within a reasonable period, if at all.
- As previously discussed, under certain circumstances the venture capitalist is in a better position to influence the company’s affairs.
- The venture capitalist has a senior claim. However, it should be emphasized that the meaningfulness of a senior claim depends on the marketability of a company’s assets and the amount of equity it has to cushion its creditors’ position. For example, in the case of a start-Lip situation with little or no equity, a senior claim means little or nothing.
Percentage Ownership Needed
While the difference may not be great, depending on the particular circumstances of the company, a debt position involves less risk than an equity position for the venture capitalist. Accordingly, a company should not have to relinquish as much ownership when a financing is in the form of debt. However, this advantage must be weighed against the disadvantages of debt.
No matter how the venture financing is structured, it must be priced so that it is attractive to the venture capitalist. There is no clear-cut answer as to how much ownership a company will have to relinquish to make a financing attractive. Broadly speaking, the greater the potential return perceived by the venture capitalist, the less ownership he will demand. In other words, if a company has a patented product which a venture capitalist thinks is revolutionary and highly marketable, he will undoubtedly settle for less ownership than he would in the case of 4 company with a relatively less attractive product. Thus, his ultimate position will be a business judgment based on his potential return.
Before you enter negotiations with the venture capitalist, you should determine what your company is worth and how much of your company you want to sell. The following procedure can be used to get a rough idea of how much ownership you will have to give up to make the financing attractive.
- Estimate the risk associated with the venture financing. If the investment is very risky, the venture capitalist may be looking for a return as high as 15 times his investment over five years. Conversely, if a relatively low degree of risk is involved, the venture capitalist may be satisfied with doubling or tripling his investment over five years.
- Make a reasonable estimate of the price/earnings ratio applicable to comparable publicly held companies. The market value of the company can then be projected by multiplying forecasted annual earnings by the estimated price/earnings ratio for comparable companies.
- Divide the estimate of the total dollar return the venture capitalist wants by the projected market value of the company. This yields the percentage ownership the venture capitalist will need, as oil the future date, to realize his desired return. It is important to note that any equity financing required during the interim period must be considered in making these calculations.
Case Study
Suppose XYZ Company, Inc., a start-up, needs $500,000. The company’s product appears to have excellent potential. However, because the product is new and unproven, an investment in the company would be extremely risky. Accordingly, it is reasonable to estimate that a venture capitalist would want a potential return of at least ten times his total investment in five years. Management estimates that the company should be able to "go public" at 20 times earnings in five years. Projected after-tax earnings for the fifth year is $1,250,000. Additional long-term financing of $500,000 will be needed at the beginning of the third year.
Scenario I
In the calculations below it is assumed that the venture capitalist who provides the initial financing ($500,000) also provides the subsequent financing ($500,000), and that he wants a return equal to ten times both. However, it should be noted that if the company made satisfactory progress during the first two years, it would be reasonable to assume that the venture capitalist would be satisfied with a lower return on the subsequent financing since it would involve less risk.
Estimate of Total Dollar Return Required Total Investment $ 1,000,000 Estimate of Return Required X 10
$10,000,000
V. Projected Market Value in Fifth Year VI. VII. Projected Earnings $1,250,000 VIII. Estimate of P/E Ratio x 20
$25,000,000
Percentage Ownership Needed in Fifth Year Estimate of Total Dollar Return quired $10,000,000 Projected Market Value of Company in Fifth Year 25,000,000
40% Scenario II
In this set of calculations it is assumed that a second investor provides the subsequent financing ($500,000). The calculations show that the venture capitalist who provides the initial financing ($500,000) would need 20% ownership as of the fifth Year to realize the return he wants. However, since the ownership to be given up for the subsequent financing will reduce his ownership position, he will want more than 20% ownership initially. For example, if it is assumed that 15% ownership will have to be given up for the subsequent financing, the venture capitalist who provides the initial financing would need 23% ownership initially to end up with 20% ownership in the fifth year.
Assume the same facts as Case I, except a second investor provides the subsequent financing for 15% ownership.
Estimate of Total Dollar Return Required Total Investment $ 500,000 Estimate of Return Required X 10
$5,000,000
Projected Market Value in Fifth Year Projected Earnings $1,250,000 Estimate of P/E Ratio x 20
$25,000,000
Percentage Ownership Needed in Fifth Year Estimate of Total Dollar Return required $5,000,000 Projected Market Value of Company in Fifth Year 25,000,000
20%
Thus, it appears that the investment ($500,000) may be attractive to an interested venture capitalist if the principals of XYZ Company, Inc. are willing to give up approximately 23% ownership.
Conclusion
It must be emphasized that the above procedure is highly subjective. And, you should remember that what really matters is how the venture capitalist views the relative attractiveness of a company. Typically, venture capitalists are satisfied with a minority interest. Although a venture capitalist may demand a majority interest, generally they are not interested in operating control. Some of them like to tie the amount of ownership they ultimately get to the performance of the company. For example, a venture capitalist who wants a majority interest initially may give the principals the opportunity to earn part of it back. Such an arrangement can be used to compromise on pricing when there is a significant disagreement between the principals and the venture capitalist.
To entrepreneurs unfamiliar with venture capital, it may appear that the venture capitalist is seeking an extraordinary high return on his investment. However, it is important to understand that, even under the best of circumstances, only a minority of the companies in which the venture capitalists invests will be successful. He is well aware of this, and must make a sufficient return of his successful investments to come out with an acceptable return overall.
Private banking is derived from Swiss, specialized in the fortune management business of providing special financial services, promoting the cooperative value between commercial banks and customers and prolonging customer relationship value chains. The concept of private banking came out in China after 2005. In September, 2005, Swiss Friends Bank Co Ltd started its business in Shanghai and brought the concept of private banking to Chinese market. Since 2007, the profits of private banking were ten fold of other retail business. Therefore, more and more domestic banks began to involve in the private banking.
In recent years, many banks announced to set up their private banking centers. It is without doubt for these banks to occupy some rich men gathering places as their focuses, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen etc. The customers of private banks from China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd grew by 35% than that in 2008. Compared with less than 0.02% private banking customers in the whole customers of China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd, the total assets of private banks accounted for more than 10%, the highest level in all commercial banks. The private banking of China CITIC Bank also rose fast in 2008. Now its customers of private banking are two thousand. The condition of private bank in China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd is 10 million Yuan (1.46 million USD), but China CITIC Bank is 8 million Yuan (1.16 million USD).
In 2007, Chinese private banking rose. Chinese funded banks mainly concluded Bank of China, China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd, China CITIC Bank, Bank of Communications, Construction Bank of China and China Minsheng Bank etc. The foreign funded banks concluded Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
, Citi Bank, Bank of East Asia, Deutsche Bank Group, Swiss Friends Bank Co Ltd, BNP Paribas, Standard Chartered Bank and Edmond de Rothschild.
Chinese private banks are mainly located in the economically developed areas, such as Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen etc. foreign funded banks are in Shanghai and Beijing. Some Chinese funded banks, because of its local advantages, also set their private banks in big cities with huge customer potential, their business spreading a wide area.
By the end of 2008, Chinese millenaries were about 0.5 to 1 million. The reason for uncertain numbers is that Chinese millionaires were accustomed to investment in real estate, such as living houses and shops etc. they expected to benefit from revaluation in real estate, so the numbers fluctuated sharply. The definition of millionaire is that individual floating assets are more than one million USD Except housing.
The global financial crisis, stemmed from the sharp decline of American real estate market, seriously stroke the large European and American banks. Although most private banks escaped from direct hit, they were influenced by the financial fluctuation. The crisis made some investors to transfer their investment to more conservative products, leading to the profit reduction in some private banks.
Taking consideration of the infancy of local financial market, many riches are preferential to manage their fortunes offshore in previous Chinese emerging market. The foreign funded banks occupy the most part of market share. The occurrence of financial crisis makes Asia especially China become the minimal negative influential country and the safest market. In the future, Chinese rich families are even preferential to invest at home, which brings huge development opportunities for Chinese private banking.
In the developed countries, the success of private banking is inseparable with politics, society, economy and law, such as steady currency value, natural advantages of tax rate, long financial history, prosperity in financial market, steady bank systems, sound legal and confidential systems and massive rich experienced financial talents.
By contrast, Chinese private banking market, with huge market potential, needs perfection of supporting infrastructure in its infancy. Chinese private banking market mainly faces the following problems: strictly supervision of finance and the adoption of separate supervises models is unfavorable to the promotion of various businesses; Underdevelopment of financial market (regardless of business tools or means); lack of strong investment bank supports; shortage of necessary systems and organizational structures of private banks.
From the part of Chinese private banking, international financial crisis is not only strikes but also opportunities, on the one hand, the slowdown risk existence in the private banking market, on the other hand, the development opportunities of organizations and talents transferring to Chinese market.
As a whole, Chinese private banking market is still in its infancy and hugely demanded for customers. In two to three years, Chinese private banking market will rise explosively.
The author of this report made a profound investigation and investigation of Chinese private banking, and then wrote this report. Readers can obtain more following information:
- Present situations of Chinese private banking
- Analysis on the market demands of Chinese private banking
- Analysis on the foreign funded banks with private banking in China
- Analysis on the local banks with private banking in China
- Analysis on the factors affecting the development of Chinese private banking
- Analysis on the development trends of Chinese private banking
- Analysis on the influences of international financial crisis on Chinese private banking
To get more details, please visit Research Report on Chinese Private Banking Market, 2009
Everybody would agree that the auto salvage marketplace is a gold mine when it comes to finding great auto salvage deals. But let’s admit it, even with this notion in mind, a lot of people are still wary about purchasing auto salvage in these places. Of course, we cannot blame this people because some auto salvage marketplaces are prone to cheat on their customers. And obviously if this is not true, then everyone should be buying their cars in auto salvage yards and driving away contented with their purchases.
Getting great deals at auto salvage marketplaces is no walk in the park. It is essential that you look through some factors first before you get yourself great auto salvage at a cheap price.
Know what you need. It’s difficult to be going around every auto salvage marketplace when you don’t know exactly what you need and how much exactly you can afford to buy. Listing down the things that you will require would be essential to narrow down your choices. At Automotix, your friendly online auto salvage marketplace, you are sure to find your every auto salvage need. They have new and used auto body parts, wheels, engines not just of varying sizes and prices but for a great selection of auto models and makes.
Find the right auto salvage marketplace. You are sure to find one in your local newspaper listings. You can also call up auctioneers on updates about the nearest and most reliable auto salvage marketplace. And of course, when you go online, you are definitely able to come across hundreds of them in the search engines. And one of the online sites where you can find great auto salvage terms is at Automotix. At Automotix Auto Salvage Marketplace you are sure to find not only repairable and clean auto salvage, they also have a great variety of used auto parts, brand-new auto body parts, wheels, engines, and even lights.
Inspect your finds. At auto salvage auctions, for example, potential buyers are privileged with normally a couple days to inspect the condition of the auto salvage. Of course this is to ensure that their products not only sell as soon as possible but also that their customers get their money’s worth. Bringing along a mechanic would be wise to help you with the inspection process. At Automotix, however, they guarantee that their auto salvage products will satisfy their customer’s needs. Unlike your cheating neighborhood auto salvage marketplace, Automotix conducts initial testing and cleaning to ensure their customers get all their money’s worth. Automotix provides an auto salvage haven not only for car dealers but also for the hobby restorers, the laymen, and for the average auto parts consumers.
Finding what you need especially when it comes to auto salvage should not be too hard with the wide selection of auto salvage marketplace that we now have. But choosing the appropriate auto salvage entails a great eye for detail, some patience, and a talent for haggling for the right price. At Automotix, this should not be a problem.
The general arguments concerning the bailout have gone something along the lines of
Anti Bailout : “The taxpayers should not have to foot a 700 billion dollar bill to bail out Wall Street”
Pro Bailout : “But if taxpayers do not bail out Wall Street the economy will fall apart and those same taxpayers will be hurt”
If we could be sure the bailout would work the second argument has some merit. While the bailout will certainly help the banks, the problem is we have almost no guarantee the bailout will help the real estate market and the general economy.
First let’s look at some recent history of how the Fed has tried to help the troubled real estate market. The Fed usually attempts to lower mortgage interest rates to help the real estate market. By lowering mortgage rates houses become more attractive to buyers. In addition, with lower mortgage rates home buyers can buy more expensive houses with the same monthly payment. Therefore lower rates can help stop falling home prices. So it was not surprising in early 2008 the Fed cut the Fed rate. In normal markets lowering the Fed rate helps banks and causes them to lower mortgage interest rates. And following the Fed cut mortgage rates dropped to 5.5 for a period of time. If they had stayed down we might have averted some of the problems with the current housing crisis. But instead a few weeks later rates had jumped backed up to 6.2. Basically banks said thanks for the lower fed rates but we are not going to alter our mortgage rates.
In fact, over the next few months mortgage rates rose all the way to 6.6. The next big move was acquiring Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. This was one of the largest government takeovers in US history. The move was risky because the government was providing insurance for trillions in loans. And it initially had a positive effect on the housing market. But a few weeks later AIG ran into financial problems. This dominated the news cycle. It was almost as if the government takeover of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae never happened.
So the previous moves the federal government has made to stop the financial crisis have not worked. Should the 700 billion dollar bailout be different? It could certainly help the housing markets. But it might not. Lets look at why.
One of the benefits of the 700 billion dollar bailout has nothing to do with banks. It has more to do with perception on Main Street. The hope is that the bailout will restore confidence in the real estate market on Main Street.
In politics people often talk about news cycles covering up the last news cycle. Basically the last piece of news stays in people’s minds until the next piece of news comes along. The Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac news cycle (and the billions the government will spend on it) only lasted until the next piece of news, which was about a week. While the 700 billion dollar bailout should restore some confidence in the real estate market, that confidence might only last until the next piece of news. And with things happening so quickly that news cycle might not last very long and given the current market the next piece of news will probably be negative.
The other benefit of the 700 billion dollar bailout is that the government is hoping to influence banks to start lending again. The idea is that by taking billions in toxic loans off the books for banks they will start lending again. The problem is that their is no guarantee this will happen. In fact, when the Fed lowered rates banks said thanks but decided that prospects for the housing market looked negative and continued to add restrictions to lending. In a similar fashion banks could say thanks for the 700 billion but we continue to see negative prospects in the housing market and therefore we will continue to have strict lending practices. But thanks for the 700 billion taxpayers.
DATELINE: MIDDLEBOROUGH, MA… Cirelli Marketplace will be the place to be on Saturday, September 6 as Cirelli’s, with the help of several Patriots cheerleaders, kicks off the fall tailgating season at their annual Tailgate Party from 1 pm – 6 pm at 30 Commerce Boulevard in Middleborough, MA. Featuring free food and music Cirelli’s Tailgate Party is an entertaining outdoor community event that is open to the public and fun for the whole family.
Area residents are invited to come and sample tasty tailgate fare, with several Patriots cheerleaders on hand from before 3 pm to kick off the season in a big way. Cirelli’s vendors will be serving up hearty tailgate food, ranging from flavorful hot dogs and hamburgers, to delicious sausage, ribs, steak tips, and chowder from 1 – 6 pm. As an added bonus, this year’s event will also overlap with Cirelli’s popular summer long Classic Car Cruise Night from 4 – 8 pm. Multiple live bands, including a Beatles tribute band, will also add to the festivities.
Cirelli Marketplace also continues to host a local Farmer’s Market outside on Fridays from 4 to 7 pm, showcasing the seasonal offerings of local farmers and crafters.
To join in the fun at Cirelli Marketplace take Exit 6 off of Route 495 and follow Route 44 East to Middleborough, travel 3/4 the way around the rotary and take Route 18 North toward Bridgewater, then take the first right onto Commerce Boulevard, the entrance to Cirelli Marketplace is on the left. Regular Cirelli Marketplace hours are Monday through Saturday from 7 am to 8 pm, and Sunday from 8 am to 7 pm.
From Humble Beginnings
Originally founded in Brockton over 60 years ago, Cirelli Marketplace, the retail division of Cirelli Foods, was originally referred to as Cirelli’s Cash & Carry. Today the 17,000 square foot Cirelli Marketplace provides customers with the opportunity to shop for name brand products at warehouse prices, with no membership fees.
Cirelli Marketplace, located at Cirelli Foods’ Middleborough facility, contains 4,000 on-shelf products, and provides access to any of the other 10,000 items in stock in their warehouse. The Marketplace is a state-of-the-art retail operation offering a wide selection of name brand foods, paper goods, beer and wine as well as a full selection of liquor.
Cirelli Marketplace is located at 30 Commerce Boulevard in Middleborough, MA, with close proximity to Interstate 495, and Routes 44 and 24. For additional information about Cirelli Marketplace please call 1-508-947-8211, email marketplace@cirelli.com, or visit www.cirelli.com.
DATELINE: MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASS.
Cirelli’s Marketplace of Middleborough is pleased to welcome John Santos as the new general manager of the retail division of Cirelli.
Santos, a Seekonk resident, has more than two decades of supermarket and food services. He held management positions with a number of well known companies, including Whole Foods, Purity Supreme, A&P, Angelos and Save A lot. He also ran a restaurant called Senor Santos with his brothers.
Under John Santos’ new management, Cirelli’s Marketplace will be expanding fresh, local produce; in-house baking of specialty desserts; ethnic foods appealing to the growing ethnic mix in the region; and a fuller range of product sizes to choose from.
This summer, under Santos direction and initiative, Cirelli’s Marketplace will feature both a local Farmer’s Market outside on Fridays from 4 to 7 pm and a Car Classic Cruise Night every Saturday from 4 pm to 8 pm.
From Humble Beginnings
Originally founded in Brockton over 60 years ago, Cirelli Marketplace, the retail division of Cirelli Foods, was originally referred to as Cirelli’s Cash & Carry. Today the 17,000 square foot Cirelli Marketplace provides customers with the opportunity to shop for name brand products at warehouse prices, with no membership fees.
Cirelli Marketplace, located at Cirelli Foods’ Middleborough facility, contains 4,000 on-shelf products, and provides access to any of the other 10,000 items in stock in their warehouse. The Marketplace is a state-of-the-art retail operation offering a wide selection of name brand foods, paper goods, beer and wine as well as a full selection of liquor.
Cirelli Marketplace is located at 30 Commerce Boulevard in Middleborough, MA, with close proximity to Interstate 495, and Routes 44 and 24. For additional information about Cirelli Marketplace please call 1-508-947-8211, email marketplace@cirelli.com, or visit www.cirelli.com.
A banker or bank is a financial institution whose primary activity is to act as a payment agent for customers and to borrow and lend money.
The first modern bank was founded in Italy in Genoa in 1406, its name was Banco di San Giorgio .Many other financial activities were added over time. For example banks are important players in financial markets and offer financial services such as investment funds. In some countries such as Germany, banks are the primary owners of industrial corporations while in other countries such as the United States banks are prohibited from owning non-financial companies. In Japan, banks are usually the nexus of cross share holding entity known as zaibatsu. In France “Bancassurance” is highly present, as most banks offer insurance services (and now real estate services) to their clients. http://banks-banking.blogspot.com
Banks have influenced economies and politics for centuries. Historically, the primary purpose of a bank was to provide loans to trading companies. Banks provided funds to allow businesses to purchase inventory, and collected those funds back with interest when the goods were sold. For centuries, the banking industry only dealt with businesses, not consumers. Banking services have expanded to include services directed at individuals, and risk in these much smaller transactions are pooled. http://banks-banking.blogspot.com
Origin of the word
The name bank derives from the Italian word banco “desk/bench”, used during the Renaissance by Florentines bankers, who used to make their transactions above a desk covered by a green tablecloth. However, there are traces of banking activity even in ancient times. In fact, the word traces its origins back to the Ancient Roman Empire, where moneylenders would set up their stalls in the middle of enclosed courtyards called macella on a long bench called a bancu, from which the words banco and bank are derived. As a moneychanger, the merchant at the bancu did not so much invest money as merely convert the foreign currency into the only legal tender in Rome—that of the Imperial Mint.
Traditional banking activities
Banks act as payment agents by conducting checking or current accounts for customers, paying cheques drawn by customers on the bank, and collecting cheques deposited to customers’ current accounts. Banks also enable customer payments via other payment methods such as telegraphic transfer, EFTPOS, and ATM. http://banks-banking.blogspot.com
Banks borrow money by accepting funds deposited on current account, accepting term deposits and by issuing debt securities such as banknotes and bonds. Banks lend money by making advances to customers on current account, by making installment loans, and by investing in marketable debt securities and other forms of money lending.
Banks provide almost all payment services, and a bank account is considered indispensable by most businesses, individuals and governments. Non-banks that provide payment services such as remittance companies are not normally considered an adequate substitute for having a bank account. Banks borrow most funds from households and non-financial businesses, and lend most funds to households and non-financial businesses, but non-bank lenders provide a significant and in many cases adequate substitute for bank loans, and money market funds, cash management trusts and other non-bank financial institutions in many cases provide an adequate substitute to banks for lending savings to http://banks-banking.blogspot.com
Definition
Cathay Bank in Boston’s ChinatownThe definition of a bank varies from country to country.
Under English common law, a banker is defined as a person who carries on the business of banking, which is specified as:
conducting current accounts for his customers
paying cheques drawn on him, and
collecting cheques for his customers.
In most English common law jurisdictions there is a Bills of Exchange Act that codifies the law in relation to negotiable instruments, including cheques, and this Act contains a statutory definition of the term banker: banker includes a body of persons, whether incorporated or not, who carry on the business of banking’ (Section 2, Interpretation). Although this definition seems circular, it is actually functional, because it ensures that the legal basis for bank transactions such as cheques do not depend on how the bank is organised or regulated. The business of banking is in many English common law countries not defined by statute but by common law, the definition above. In other English common law jurisdictions there are statutory definitions of the business of banking or banking business. When looking at these definitions it is important to keep in mind that they are defining the business of banking for the purposes of the legislation, and not necessarily in general. In particular, most of the definitions are from legislation that has the purposes of entry regulating and supervising banks rather than regulating the actual business of banking. However, in many cases the statutory definition closely mirrors the common law one. Examples of statutory definitions: “banking business” means the business of receiving money on current or deposit account, paying and collecting cheques drawn by or paid in by customers, the making of advances to customers, and includes such other business as the Authority may prescribe for the purposes of this Act; (Banking Act (Singapore), Section 2, Interpretation).
“banking business” means the business of either or both of the following:
receiving from the general public money on current, deposit, savings or other similar account repayable on demand or within less than [3 months] … or with a period of call or notice of less than that period; paying or collecting cheques drawn by or paid in by customers
Since the advent of EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point Of Sale), direct credit, direct debit and internet banking, the cheque has lost its primacy in most banking systems as a payment instrument. This has lead legal theorists to suggest that the cheque based definition should be broadened to include financial institutions that conduct current accounts for customers and enable customers to pay and be paid by third parties, even if they do not pay and collect cheques.
Accounting for bank accounts
Bank statements are accounting records produced by banks under the various accounting standards of the world. Under GAAP and IFRES there are two kinds of accounts: debit and credit. Credit accounts are Revenue, Equity and Liabilities. Debit Accounts are Assets and Expenses. This means you credit credit accounts to increase their balances and you debit debit accounts to increase their balances. This also means you debit your savings account everytime you deposit money into it (and the account is normally in deficit) and you credit your credit card account everytime you spend money from it (and the account is normally in credit).
However, if you read your bank statement, it will say the opposite- that you have credited your account when you deposit money, and you debit when you withdraw it. If you have cash in your account you have a positive or credit balance and if you are overdrawn it will say you have a negative or a deficit balance. The reason for this is because the bank, and not you, has produced the bank statement. Your savings might be your assets, but it is the bank’s liability, so your savings account is a liability account which is a credit account and should have a positive credit balance. Your loans are your liabilities but the bank’s assets so they are debit accounts which should have a negative balance. Below where bank transactions, balances, credits and debits are discussed, they are done so from the viewpoint of the account holder which is traditionally what most people are used to seeing.
If you have cash in your account you have a positive or credit balance and if you are overdrawn it will say you have a negative or a deficit balance. The reason for this is because the bank, and not you, has produced the bank statement. Your savings might be your assets, but it is the bank’s liability, so your savings account is a liability account which is a credit account and should have a positive credit balance. Your loans are your liabilities but the bank’s assets so they are debit accounts which should have a negative balance. Below where bank transactions, balances, credits and debits are discussed, they are done so from the viewpoint of the account holder which is traditionally what most people are used to see in http://banks-banking.blogspot.com
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the United States has been in a recession since December of 2007. We are currently undergoing one of the most severe recessions in United States history. Recessions can be times of great fear and widespread panic. A recession is a normal stage of the business cycle. The business cycle is defined as recurring fluctuations in economic activity. The business cycle is comprised of four stages:
1. Expansion- time of economic prosperity and growth, rise in GDP, low unemployment
2. Peak- highest point of economic activity, highest wages, lowest unemployment
3. Recession - slowdown in economic activity, decline in productivity, rising unemployment
4. Trough – lowest point of economic activity, highest levels of unemployment, lowest wages
So, what is a recession anyway and why did it take so long to identify? A recession is two or more consecutive quarters of decline in gross domestic product(GDP). GDP is the total value of all goods and services produced within a country. Since it takes at least 2 quarters to officially identify a recession, the earliest that economists could have identified the current recession was in the 3rd quarter of 2008.
So, what exactly happens in a recession? A recession is a contraction in the business cycle. The supply of goods and services exceeds the demand for goods and services. The decrease in demand for goods leads to layoffs of employees. Increased employee layoffs lead to higher unemployment levels. Higher unemployment causes rising consumer bankruptcies and foreclosures. Laid off employees purchase fewer goods. Money becomes tighter as consumers tighten their belts and spend less. Less efficient companies that are laden with debt are driven out of business. Finally the bankruptcies of businesses leads to a decrease in the supply of goods available and demand begins to slowly recover.
So, how long can a recession last? There is no definitive time limit on a recession. A recession can be as short as a 6 month time period or last for years. A recession that is very severe and long lasting can be referred to as a depression.
So, can any good come out of a recession? Yes. Recessions do have some benefits. They eliminate inefficient suppliers, lower prices, reduce inventory and encourage competition.