Caveats to Consider Before Undergoing a Reverse Take Over

January 7th, 2013 Comments off

A reverse take over (also known as reverse takeover, reverse merger, reverse acquisition or reverse IPO) is a superb market entry alternative to the traditional IPO (initial public offering), since it can save the closely held private company seeking to go public in that manner not only time but money as well, while following the roadmap to becoming a publicly traded company.

Although the reverse take over offers a very short execution time period, often less than 3 weeks, the same strategic reasons that are part and parcel of other going public vehicles apply here as well. These considerations include stock options, acquisition financing, retaining a controlling stake in the company, and last, but not least, the lower risk factor when compared to the average IPO (Initial Public Offering). Still, a reverse take over is not without its share of  risks, so prudence and caution are well recommended private company is exploring the feasibility of a reverse take over.

Baggage

Perhaps the biggest drawback to a reverse take over is the baggage that comes with the acquisition company. Whether the target company is a struggling, active business or a shell company that no longer performs day-to-day business operations, the acquisition target company could come with its own specific circumstances, its own set of strings attached, and not all for the better. The

company may have a soiled reputation, such as when AirWays acquired the struggling airline ValuJet, after one of its flights crashed in the Everglades, killing over a hundred passengers.

Legal and Financial Considerations


The company itself could have pending lawsuits, liabilities, sloppy records, or shareholder disputes. For example, there could be unforeseen issues involving labor relations between the two merger candidates. A sobering consideration, at least for the acquiring company, is that once the purchase is complete it thereby accepts legal and financial responsibility for the acquired company’s past, present, and future! All the previous reasons should more than advice to listen to the counsel of your own merger experts, and not the platitudes and assurances of the shell company promoter! Doing otherwise could cause a lot of angst not just among company principals and directors, but an ill-conceived reverse take over could also become a big media story, providing negative publicity when it’s the least needed!

Abuse

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a caution in 2011 warning investors who were thinking about doing reverse mergers. The issuing statement mentioned the high likelihood of exposure to abuse and fraud. The above action was necessitated on account of the less-than-honest practices of certain Chinese companies’ reverse merger activities, which legally allowed Chinese corporations to buy up American shells to bypass federal and state regulators. They were also able to avoid annual reviews, but enjoyed the perks of being publicly traded American companies without abiding by the laws and regulations pertaining to the above-board accounting and bookkeeping practices employed by responsible publicly traded companies.

Dumping

Investors considering a reverse take over should also ponder the chance that shareholders from the acquired company may “dump” their stock at any time. This often happens when shareholders are angry about the merger, are trying to be deceitful, or simply lack confidence in the merger. Stock dumping happens frequently, but is less likely when using a blank check company, a type of shell company created with the specific intent of finding a suitable candidate to merge with.

Lack of Experience

In the traditional IPO process, CEOs and upper management endure a very hands-on approach in the goal of becoming publicly traded, requiring extra attention and resources. The former scenario isn’t the case with a reverse take over, encouraging the participation of private company management staff and CEOs that may come to the public company arena with little practical experience. Oftentimes, they could be downright naïve unless they have prior experience working in the higher echelons of public company leadership. As a parting caution, it’s important to research every detail, not only pertaining to the reverse take over, but the pros and cons of public company administration to ensure complete readiness once the process comes to fruition.

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The comfort of having good insurance

December 19th, 2012 Comments off

If you’re currently in the market for car insurance, you know how difficult and time consuming it can be to search for the best rates among providers. Finding the best car insurance can seem impossible, but there are websites that allow you to browse a variety of rates on one site, like AutoCarInsuranceRates.com. On this site, all you have to do is enter your zip code and you’ll receive access to a rate comparison tool for your area that will help you find the best car insurance rates and comprehensive policies. Using this allows you to compare auto insurance rates right from the comfort of your own home.

When looking for the best rates, you want to consider what is important to you as these criteria change for each person. Some drivers just want a policy that is inexpensive. Others are looking for a policy with high liability limits, reasonable premiums, and low deductibles. Or maybe you’re looking for an insurer that has convenient methods of contact, quick claims service, and high customer service ratings. After you determine what is most important to you, you can begin looking for the best insurance policy for your needs. There are several things to consider before purchasing, like whether you want to be able to access your policy online, if you want to visit a local agency to discuss your policy in person, whether you want a higher limit of liability, if you want a company with a fast claims process, if you’re concerned about the company’s financial stability, if you want convenient payment options, and if you want a company that offers more than one line of insurance.

All insurance companies advertise that they have the best rates, but how do you know which ones really are the best? You have to consider more than just premiums – otherwise, an insurer can draw you in with low premiums but no guarantee of claims payments. Premiums must be charged to a policyholder to ensure it can cover all the claims filed for the year, so if a company charges a very low premium, they risk the chance of going bankrupt because they aren’t financially stable. The best way to find valuable information that is unbiased is to visit consumer sites like JDPower.com, AMBest.com, or StandardandPoors.com. They review financial records of insurers and rate them based on the reports. You can feel confident that this information is truthful and unbiased, making it easier for you to choose what’s right for you. Take time to decide which policy is the best. Minimum requirements will satisfy financial responsibility laws, but they may not cover your assets or protect you or your passengers.

Check out their website today to easily compare rates.

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Finding the right PPI claims

December 13th, 2012 Comments off

The financial market is one that is often misunderstood by customers. Even if you are able to do research on the types of products available, it can be very easy to be misled by people who work in the field because they have so much more knowledge than an outsider. Additionally, the regulations seem to change so frequently that it can be very difficult to walk into a bank or lender and feel confident about the upcoming experience. Unfortunately, many lenders have taken advantage of this over the past several years by misleading borrowers who didn’t know better. This occurred with payment protection insurance more than any other kind of product.

For people who don’t know what payment protection insurance is, it is an insurance policy that is used to protect the borrower if they are no longer bringing in income to make payments due to an unforeseen circumstance. This includes illnesses, disability, death, or job loss. When the borrower can no longer make payments, the payment protection insurance steps in and covers those payments. For many, this is a great investment – however, many lenders were adding it on to people’s loans, mortgages, and credit cards without their knowing. Others were convincing people to purchase the insurance by telling them they had to have it in order for their application to be approved. This misselling became so common that the government stepped in and determined that any borrower who was misled was eligible to receive compensation.

If this has happened to you, don’t wait to get your compensation. The first thing you’ll want to do is research and choose a payment protection insurance claims company with a lot of experience. Their employees will be able to take your case and fight for you with strong knowledge of the laws surrounding it. They can provide you with the best possible advice for your situation and negotiate the largest amount of compensation possible. Once you’ve chosen the company, you can file your PPI claims online easily. Once they receive your form, they’ll look into your situation and determine whether or not you have a case worth pursuing. If you do, the solicitor will negotiate on your behalf. Many PPI claims companies don’t require any payment unless they win you the compensation.

It’s important to address the issue of misselling as soon as possible, so if you think you may have been a victim of this, don’t wait to get your claim submitted! The sooner you submit your claim, the sooner you will find out whether or not you’ll be receiving compensation. Check out www.PPIClaimCo.org for more information.

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Bridging the Gap When Quick Credit is Needed

December 7th, 2012 Comments off

A quick credit bridging loan represents an excellent answer for home sales where there is a gap in financing.  Most property owners who sell their home wish to get into another piece of property as soon as possible.  However, for most of the population this is not possible because the funds simply are not there for the new piece of property.  You may have found the perfect dream home in the perfect location and it may be the perfect price for you, but if the funds are not available to jump on the opportunity, you may be left letting another one slip by until your own home sells.

This is the dilemma that many home buyers find themselves in and this is where bridging loan can bridge the gap between when your old home sells and you can move into your dream home.  A bridging loan may be a little more expensive than the traditional loan, but it can be the answer to getting you into your dream home before the opportunity passes you by.  Bridging loans are often more flexible, sometimes allowing you to pay only the interest and then paying off the principal when your existing home finally sells.

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Quick loans when you need them

December 5th, 2012 Comments off

Quick Loan 101 is a diverse lender that offers a number of different products for Singapore residents.  Quick Loan 101 can make personal loans, payday loans, bridging loans, cash loans, and debt consolidation loans.  Many of the amenities include flexible monthly repayment plans, no hidden charges, and no undisclosed fees for their services.  Understanding how to choose the right loan for your situation is the first step to resolving your financial difficulties.

Personal loans do not require you to use an asset as collateral.  Because of this, lenders are often more picky about who can get a personal loan.  The loan is usually for a fixed amount and a fixed interest rate.  These types of loans can be used for anything and are usually reserved for those that have a little better than average credit.

Payday loans are usually used for those who are having a short term money problem, but who get a regular paycheck.  With this type of loan, the lender allows you to take out a small amount against your next paycheck.  The loan is usually due in full within a couple weeks or months at the most.  These loans typically carry the highest interest rates and are only appropriate for short-term emergencies.

Bridging loans are used to finance projects were to take advantage of short-term opportunities such as buying a house until longer term financing can be obtained.  They are flexible and often use the property that is being sold as collateral.  They are often a higher interest rate than longer term loans.  However, bridging loans can be the answer when you see an opportunity that is just too good to pass up, but don’t quite have the cash to take advantage of it.

A cash loan is similar to a payday loan in that it gives you quick emergency cash when you need it.  Like a payday loan, they are often short term and have higher interest rates than other types of financing.  These types of loans are usually given to people who have a short term, temporary cash problem.  They can be used for anything including a weekend trip to the beach.  The reason is not important, but they will require a short-term payback.

Consolidation loans are used to combine several existing loans and obligations into one payment.  Usually this is done to save one interest or to allow a little bit of extra cash during the month.  A consolidation loan is a good idea if it will lower the interest rates on higher interest financing instruments.  However, they are a little bit more difficult to get than a payday or cash loan, so your credit cannot be in the pits.

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Credit repair & you

November 29th, 2012 Comments off

There are several things you can do if you are one of the tens of millions of Americans whose credit score has taken a hit recently and is now trying to deal with life with a credit score under 620 making it extremely difficult to obtain a loan or a credit card with decent terms. In order to get the best interest rates and be able to get the job, apartment, and insurance you want you should aim for a credit score that is above 760.

Get a credit card if you don’t already have one. If you can’t qualify for a traditional credit card consider getting a secured credit card. Unfortunately it is true that you will only be able to charge up to the amount that you have deposited, so in essence you are paying to use your own money, but it is one of the top three ways to start repairing your credit. Before you decide who you are going to get a secured card through check the company and the fees out thoroughly. There is an extremely wide range of fees and other charges out there and some companies will eventually allow you to transition to a traditional credit card. If you already have a traditional credit card, or when you work your way up to one, remember to use it very lightly. If you can keep your charges down to about 10% of your available credit that will help you increase your credit score.

If you have an established relationship with a lender and you have been a good customer you can write them a letter and ask for something called a “goodwill adjustment”. This is when a lender agrees to simply contact the credit bureaus and erase one late payment made to them from your record. If you only have one late payment in 12 months or so this can make a tremendous difference in your score. If you have an account that has had a bit more trouble than just one late payment you can also ask that the account is “re-aged” if it qualifies. To qualify the account must be still open, and you must make 12 or so on-time payments. If you do this, and the lender agrees, you may be able to erase previous delinquencies increasing your credit score. The lender doesn’t have to say yes but you have nothing to lose by asking.

Review your credit reports and dispute, in writing, anything that is incorrect. Pay special attention to older, smaller charges. The credit bureau is required to verify any charge that you write in and claim is not mine and the older and smaller the charge is the less likely they are to take the time to actually look into it and the more likely they are to simply remove it from your credit report.

If you don’t want to do this legwork yourself you can always hire the work done. There is no shortage of credit repair companies out there to help.

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PPI Information you can actually use

November 23rd, 2012 Comments off


Are you currently paying for payment protection insurance on any type of loan or credit card? Are you unsure whether or not you’re currently paying for this? It is important to know if this is something you are spending your hard-earned money on because many people were missold this type of insurance over the last several years and are now eligible for compensation.

Payment protection insurance is an insurance policy that covers your repayments if you can’t meet them for any reason, including disability, injury, job loss, or death. This is often sold to customers on loans, credit cards, mortgages, store cards, car financing, and more, and it has been discovered that it was one of the most missold financial products out there. The reason this happened is because PPI can add up to 40% to your loan repayments, almost all of which is profit for the banks. Because of this, many people were wrongly pushed into adding PPI; in fact, some were given PPI without even being told about it. In April of 2011, banks were ordered to give compensation payments to anyone who was missold this type of insurance from their institution.

There are a few ways to determine if you were missold PPI. If you didn’t ask for PPI but it was added to the policy; if you were told adding it was compulsory or would give you a better chance of acceptance; if you were not aware payment protection cover was optional; or if you were unemployed, retired, or self-employed when the protection was taken out, you were missold. However, there are many other reasons why you should start a PPI claim.

A specialist at a PPI claims company can help you because they have so much experience. They can pick up on the deception and expression each bank has and know how banks deal with complaints, so they are always able to protect the customer. These companies have a great insight into how much claims are worth, so they can get their client the maximum amount of compensation. Getting your case negotiated by a professional assures you they have the right skills to get you what you deserve.

Many PPI services are no-win, no-fee, so there is no financial risk for you in filing a claim. If you think you were wrongly sold this type of insurance, it is important that you file a claim as soon as possible and be very forward with the information you provide. Don’t spend another penny on an insurance policy you never intended to have – instead, see if your case is eligible for compensation!

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Unanswered questions about the facebook IPO

November 21st, 2012 Comments off

When Facebook first went public, people scrambled to purchase a share of stock in the company. Many people thought it would be a highly profitable stock to have, but since its release it has continued to remain below the price that most people purchased it at on that release day. However, some stock experts believe that Facebook’s stock is looking very promising.

Although they didn’t have the best beginning, they are approaching the end of their third lock-up, which is the biggest of the ones they have had already. However, indicators suggest that no one plans to dump the stock, showing that Facebook might be able to get through this period quietly. Last week Facebook shares spiked by double-digits last week, which implies that the stock might be preparing for resurgence. The company must execute in order for the stock to work long-term, and they are attempting to by seeming they are very committed to returning value to shareholders. Facebook has continued to become more focused on providing products and services that enhance the experience for the user.

Facebook still has a lot to show for their IPO, but analysts have raised their average estimates and upgraded the stock, which is a great sign for the company. It appears that they may begin to surge upward and begin to show their growth potential.

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