Joseph Sherman's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/340655/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/179376-apple-may-be-on-the-verge-of-kneecapping-the-cable-industry?source=feed#comment-819658 819658 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:13:41 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/178036-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-805892 805892
www.bloomberg.com/apps...
Spyker Said to Lead Saab Bids as Beijing Buys Assets (Update3)
By Ola Kinnander, Adam Ewing and Serena Saitto
Spyker Said to Lead Saab Bids as Beijing Buys Assets (Update3)
Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co. has adjusted its plan for Saab to focus on selling the Swedish unit, with Spyker Cars NV emerging as a frontrunner, according to people familiar with the situation.

Spyker, the Dutch maker of $235,000 sports cars, was negotiating details of an agreement with GM over the weekend in Zurich, said two people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are confidential. GM separately reached a deal to sell some technologies for Saab’s 9-3 and 9-5 models to Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., the Chinese company said today.]]> Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:17:47 -0500
www.bloomberg.com/apps...
Spyker Said to Lead Saab Bids as Beijing Buys Assets (Update3)
By Ola Kinnander, Adam Ewing and Serena Saitto
Spyker Said to Lead Saab Bids as Beijing Buys Assets (Update3)
Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co. has adjusted its plan for Saab to focus on selling the Swedish unit, with Spyker Cars NV emerging as a frontrunner, according to people familiar with the situation.

Spyker, the Dutch maker of $235,000 sports cars, was negotiating details of an agreement with GM over the weekend in Zurich, said two people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are confidential. GM separately reached a deal to sell some technologies for Saab’s 9-3 and 9-5 models to Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., the Chinese company said today.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/178036-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-805888 805888
www.bloomberg.com/apps...
Spyker Said to Lead Saab Bids as Beijing Buys Assets (Update3)
By Ola Kinnander, Adam Ewing and Serena Saitto
Spyker Said to Lead Saab Bids as Beijing Buys Assets (Update3)
Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co. has adjusted its plan for Saab to focus on selling the Swedish unit, with Spyker Cars NV emerging as a frontrunner, according to people familiar with the situation.

Spyker, the Dutch maker of $235,000 sports cars, was negotiating details of an agreement with GM over the weekend in Zurich, said two people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are confidential. GM separately reached a deal to sell some technologies for Saab’s 9-3 and 9-5 models to Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., the Chinese company said today.]]> Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:17:09 -0500
www.bloomberg.com/apps...
Spyker Said to Lead Saab Bids as Beijing Buys Assets (Update3)
By Ola Kinnander, Adam Ewing and Serena Saitto
Spyker Said to Lead Saab Bids as Beijing Buys Assets (Update3)
Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co. has adjusted its plan for Saab to focus on selling the Swedish unit, with Spyker Cars NV emerging as a frontrunner, according to people familiar with the situation.

Spyker, the Dutch maker of $235,000 sports cars, was negotiating details of an agreement with GM over the weekend in Zurich, said two people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are confidential. GM separately reached a deal to sell some technologies for Saab’s 9-3 and 9-5 models to Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., the Chinese company said today.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/177530-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-800861 800861
Chaos at Tiger Inc. by Gerald Posner
www.thedailybeast.com/.../

The man behind the billion-dollar brand is desperately trying to save Tiger's financial empire, as his Gillette and Accenture deals now look vulnerable. As Tiger Woods’ image gets tarnished by new daily accounts of dalliances, his workaholic agent, 42-year-old Mark Steinberg, has been scrambling. The goal: less to blunt press reports than to minimize the effect on the golfer’s $100 million-a-year cash stream.....]]> Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:23:58 -0500
Chaos at Tiger Inc. by Gerald Posner
www.thedailybeast.com/.../

The man behind the billion-dollar brand is desperately trying to save Tiger's financial empire, as his Gillette and Accenture deals now look vulnerable. As Tiger Woods’ image gets tarnished by new daily accounts of dalliances, his workaholic agent, 42-year-old Mark Steinberg, has been scrambling. The goal: less to blunt press reports than to minimize the effect on the golfer’s $100 million-a-year cash stream.....]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/177315-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-798189 798189
DECEMBER 9, 2009
Two Major Publishers To Hold Back E-Books
online.wsj.com/article...
By JEFFREY A. TRACHTENBERG

Simon & Schuster is delaying by four months the electronic-book editions of about 35 leading titles coming out early next year, taking a dramatic stand against the cut-rate $9.99 pricing of e-book best sellers.

A second publisher, Lagardere SCA's Hachette Book Group, said it has similar plans in the works.

"The right place for the e-book is after the hardcover but before the paperback," said Carolyn Reidy, CEO of Simon & Schuster, which is owned by CBS Corp. "We believe some people will be disappointed. But with new [electronic] readers coming and sales booming, we need to do this now, before the installed base of e-book reading devices gets to a size where doing it would be impossible."]]> Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:02:38 -0500
DECEMBER 9, 2009
Two Major Publishers To Hold Back E-Books
online.wsj.com/article...
By JEFFREY A. TRACHTENBERG

Simon & Schuster is delaying by four months the electronic-book editions of about 35 leading titles coming out early next year, taking a dramatic stand against the cut-rate $9.99 pricing of e-book best sellers.

A second publisher, Lagardere SCA's Hachette Book Group, said it has similar plans in the works.

"The right place for the e-book is after the hardcover but before the paperback," said Carolyn Reidy, CEO of Simon & Schuster, which is owned by CBS Corp. "We believe some people will be disappointed. But with new [electronic] readers coming and sales booming, we need to do this now, before the installed base of e-book reading devices gets to a size where doing it would be impossible."]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/177075-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-797382 797382
Moody's Puts U.S., U.K. on Chopping Block
BY JOANNA SLATER
online.wsj.com/article...
Moody's Investors Service says the U.S. and U.K. must prove they can whittle down their ballooning deficits to avoid threats to their triple-A credit ratings.

In a report released on Tuesday, Moody's set the two countries apart from other top-rated sovereign borrowers, calling them merely "resilient" rather than "resistant," a label it applied to Canada, France and Germany, where public finances are in better shape.

Moody's released the report as part of an effort, spurred by investor demand, to examine the creditworthiness of the world's most highly rated countries. ]]> Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:15:59 -0500
Moody's Puts U.S., U.K. on Chopping Block
BY JOANNA SLATER
online.wsj.com/article...
Moody's Investors Service says the U.S. and U.K. must prove they can whittle down their ballooning deficits to avoid threats to their triple-A credit ratings.

In a report released on Tuesday, Moody's set the two countries apart from other top-rated sovereign borrowers, calling them merely "resilient" rather than "resistant," a label it applied to Canada, France and Germany, where public finances are in better shape.

Moody's released the report as part of an effort, spurred by investor demand, to examine the creditworthiness of the world's most highly rated countries. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/176347-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-788867 788867
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Goldman Takes Offensive on Pay
Wall Street Journal
online.wsj.com/article...
BY SUSANNE CRAIG

Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs Group Inc.—known for its outsize profits and unapologetically handsome pay packages to go with them—has begun meeting with major investors in an effort to ward off an investor backlash over its record compensation pool.

The private discussions are a first for Goldman, several shareholders said, as the Wall Street firm finds its self on the defensive over its pay, where employees are on track to earn an average of more than $700,000 apiece this year.]]> Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:37:08 -0500
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Goldman Takes Offensive on Pay
Wall Street Journal
online.wsj.com/article...
BY SUSANNE CRAIG

Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs Group Inc.—known for its outsize profits and unapologetically handsome pay packages to go with them—has begun meeting with major investors in an effort to ward off an investor backlash over its record compensation pool.

The private discussions are a first for Goldman, several shareholders said, as the Wall Street firm finds its self on the defensive over its pay, where employees are on track to earn an average of more than $700,000 apiece this year.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/176132-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-786944 786944
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online.wsj.com/article...
BY JOHN D. STOLL AND KATE LINEBAUGH

Facing increasing pressure from his board of directors, General Motors Co. Chief Executive Frederick "Fritz" Henderson resigned Tuesday, leaving the company in the hands of its chairman, Edward E. Whitacre Jr.

Mr. Whitacre, a former AT&T CEO who was brought in by the U.S. government this summer to force GM into a hard-nosed restructuring, will serve as interim chief executive until a successor to Mr. Henderson is found.

"I am now convinced more than ever that our company is on the right path," Mr. Whitacre said at a hastily organized news conference at GM's Detroit headquarters.]]> Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:23:08 -0500
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online.wsj.com/article...
BY JOHN D. STOLL AND KATE LINEBAUGH

Facing increasing pressure from his board of directors, General Motors Co. Chief Executive Frederick "Fritz" Henderson resigned Tuesday, leaving the company in the hands of its chairman, Edward E. Whitacre Jr.

Mr. Whitacre, a former AT&T CEO who was brought in by the U.S. government this summer to force GM into a hard-nosed restructuring, will serve as interim chief executive until a successor to Mr. Henderson is found.

"I am now convinced more than ever that our company is on the right path," Mr. Whitacre said at a hastily organized news conference at GM's Detroit headquarters.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/175882-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-784559 784559
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online.wsj.com/article...
BY NIKHIL LOHADE AND SUMMER SAID

Dubai World broke six days of market-roiling silence early Tuesday morning, saying it was negotiating to restructure $26 billion in debt and anticipated a deal quickly.

The announcement, just after midnight local time, came after Dubai government officials said the emirate wasn't obligated to step in and support the state-owned conglomerate. The disclosure sparked a rally in U.S. markets just before Monday's close.

Stock markets across the United Arab Emirates tumbled in the first trading day since the government announced last week that it would ask for a six-month standstill on debt payments for Dubai World.]]> Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:13:23 -0500
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online.wsj.com/article...
BY NIKHIL LOHADE AND SUMMER SAID

Dubai World broke six days of market-roiling silence early Tuesday morning, saying it was negotiating to restructure $26 billion in debt and anticipated a deal quickly.

The announcement, just after midnight local time, came after Dubai government officials said the emirate wasn't obligated to step in and support the state-owned conglomerate. The disclosure sparked a rally in U.S. markets just before Monday's close.

Stock markets across the United Arab Emirates tumbled in the first trading day since the government announced last week that it would ask for a six-month standstill on debt payments for Dubai World.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/175697-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-783219 783219 www.bloomberg.com/apps...]]> Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:36:15 -0500 www.bloomberg.com/apps...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/170780-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-742570 742570 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:39:42 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/169784-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-736582 736582 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:49:18 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/168836-the-problem-with-iphone-killers?source=feed#comment-733441 733441 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:44:04 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/167648-dividend-aristocrats-3-to-watch?source=feed#comment-724652 724652 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:25:44 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/164577-brazil-do-olympics-make-it-a-better-investment?source=feed#comment-704222 704222 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:02:31 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/164819-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-704212 704212 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:50:14 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/161502-will-chimerica-s-demise-take-down-global-economy?source=feed#comment-678374 678374 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:44:37 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/161130-how-low-can-the-dollar-go?source=feed#comment-674872 674872 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:27:14 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/160623-two-ways-to-invest-in-ukraine?source=feed#comment-669340 669340 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:22:06 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/160376-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-667183 667183 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:45:06 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/160183-the-five-worst-bailouts?source=feed#comment-665488 665488
The Chairman of the Board of Governors Bernanke holds that the bailouts prevented a depression, but do these bailouts have a limit, and do these bailouts set a precedence for the future? ]]> Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:46:51 -0400
The Chairman of the Board of Governors Bernanke holds that the bailouts prevented a depression, but do these bailouts have a limit, and do these bailouts set a precedence for the future? ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/158625-china-is-trying-to-rein-in-overcapacity?source=feed#comment-649363 649363 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:46:42 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/157977-sirius-radio-glowing-or-about-to-burn-up?source=feed#comment-646263 646263 SIRI) recent run-up in price. SIRI has doubled in the past 3 months—while the broader indices have gained some 14%. Inclinations suggest that SIRI experienced an undervaluing greater than the broader markets. But did it? The fundamentals are much less free of pollution than the Midwestern sky. With 3.9 billion shares outstanding, the current PPS puts SIRI market cap at $2.93 billion—or 39% SIRI claims that its current assets are worth: $7.5 billion."

Valuation of future market potential is difficult to determine. Will Sirius increase profitability by attracting more users, gaining economies of scale, by building partnerships. The fundamental question is what is the potential for Sirius' service to ...broadcast in the United States our music, sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic and weather channels for a subscription fee through our proprietary satellite radio systems." If this growth is limited, what new markets can Sirius enter before it becomes a dinosaur. Are they creating a tribe behind Sirius as Apple has been so successful in doing, or are there simply disconnected consumers? How are they listening to their people? These are questions the firm must address.]]> Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:43:48 -0400 SIRI) recent run-up in price. SIRI has doubled in the past 3 months—while the broader indices have gained some 14%. Inclinations suggest that SIRI experienced an undervaluing greater than the broader markets. But did it? The fundamentals are much less free of pollution than the Midwestern sky. With 3.9 billion shares outstanding, the current PPS puts SIRI market cap at $2.93 billion—or 39% SIRI claims that its current assets are worth: $7.5 billion."

Valuation of future market potential is difficult to determine. Will Sirius increase profitability by attracting more users, gaining economies of scale, by building partnerships. The fundamental question is what is the potential for Sirius' service to ...broadcast in the United States our music, sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic and weather channels for a subscription fee through our proprietary satellite radio systems." If this growth is limited, what new markets can Sirius enter before it becomes a dinosaur. Are they creating a tribe behind Sirius as Apple has been so successful in doing, or are there simply disconnected consumers? How are they listening to their people? These are questions the firm must address.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/157785-china-exactly-where-japan-was-in-the-1980s?source=feed#comment-644073 644073 Vitaliy Katsenelson writes "China: Exactly Where Japan Was in the 1980s? - "I know, I may sound like I’m beating a dead horse – how much printer cartridge can one spill over China? – but I have a very high burden of proof to overcome. Let me demonstrate it by this analogy: Let’s rewind 20 years. It is 1989 and I am writing that the Japanese economy is on the verge of severe decline."

Katsenelson makes an interesting point, but needs to consider how the world has changed since the 1980s. In some ways China may be in a weaker situation. It has the large manufacturing base to produce goods cheaply and efficiently, but many other countries are catching up, and some of it is paradoxical. For example, as wages increase, the real estate market drives prices up, and environmental standards start to rise, then the cost of manufacturing in China increases. This will in turn send some of their current customers for other locations. ]]> Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:43:43 -0400 Vitaliy Katsenelson writes "China: Exactly Where Japan Was in the 1980s? - "I know, I may sound like I’m beating a dead horse – how much printer cartridge can one spill over China? – but I have a very high burden of proof to overcome. Let me demonstrate it by this analogy: Let’s rewind 20 years. It is 1989 and I am writing that the Japanese economy is on the verge of severe decline."

Katsenelson makes an interesting point, but needs to consider how the world has changed since the 1980s. In some ways China may be in a weaker situation. It has the large manufacturing base to produce goods cheaply and efficiently, but many other countries are catching up, and some of it is paradoxical. For example, as wages increase, the real estate market drives prices up, and environmental standards start to rise, then the cost of manufacturing in China increases. This will in turn send some of their current customers for other locations. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/157242-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-639103 639103 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:36:51 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/156381-google-how-one-wedding-video-shows-youtube-s-potential?source=feed#comment-633995 633995 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:33:25 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/156024-apple-reportedly-selling-5-million-iphones-to-china-unicom?source=feed#comment-629146 629146 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:25:46 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/154016-buffett-s-betrayal?source=feed#comment-617989 617989 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:09:55 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/145190-positioning-for-when-water-runs-out-part-i?source=feed#comment-607331 607331 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:27:06 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/151098-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-601357 601357
Perhaps more executives and MBA graduates should take note of a recent Global Business Summit at Harvard where Daniel L. Vasella, Chairman and CEO, Novartis AG noted "Business leaders must use their personal moral compasses to make ethical decisions. As for the business’s compass, it should be oriented toward satisfying customers above all stakeholders. That is the orientation that allows for the greatest competitive success and profitability." ]]> Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:33:53 -0400
Perhaps more executives and MBA graduates should take note of a recent Global Business Summit at Harvard where Daniel L. Vasella, Chairman and CEO, Novartis AG noted "Business leaders must use their personal moral compasses to make ethical decisions. As for the business’s compass, it should be oriented toward satisfying customers above all stakeholders. That is the orientation that allows for the greatest competitive success and profitability." ]]>