How hedge funds work 20. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot An interesting insight to SMEs into the risk management and valuation methods applied by hedge fund managers provides the »Precautions that Pay Off» study in English language by Deloitte. According to the study hedge funds are exposed to ever increasing competition. Their number has almost quadrupled since 1995 and their assets under management almost multiplied …
EU wants to update legislation on internet shopping 19. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot Internet shopping is a constantly growing business. Now the EU Commission wants to revise several EU laws on consumer protection so as to adapt them to the special requirements of the internet. Focal points will be guarantees, rebates and periods of revocation. In the opinion of the Commission, consumer protection in the context of internet …
Accounting principles must be adapted to the needs of SMEs 19. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot Current proposals by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on international financial reporting standards (IFRS) for small and medium-sized entities do not meet with the acceptance of the AG Mittelstand. This study group which is an association of eight organisations from trade, industrial art, hotel and restaurant industry and financial business keeps a sceptical eye …
Target group analysis reduces risk for new products 19. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot The risk attached to the market launch of a new product can be controlled as early as in the planning stage and during the introduction phase of a new product. In his brand new E-Book called »Produktentwicklung und Zielgruppen«, Dr. rer. nat. Jürgen Kaack, who is a management consultant, step by step describes how target …
South of Germany once again taking out most patents 17. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot Yesterday the German patent and brand office (DPMA) in Munich published the »Patentatlas 2006«. This document informs about how innovative the several regions of Germany were in the period from 2000 to 2005. In this context applications for patents were classified into patents applied for at regional and district levels, their technical background as well …
Europe´s economy growing stronger than expected 17. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot The EU Commission yesterday corrected its forecast on economic growth for the EU and the Eurozone. Whereas in autumn 2006 economic growth forecasts were 2.4% (EU) and 2.1% (Eurozone), the latest figures indicate 2.7% for the EU and 2.4% for the Eurozone. According to the Commission, the year 2006 was a remarkable one in which …
Economic growth in Germany forecast to be even stronger than expected 17. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot The Federal Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) has just corrected its growth forcast for 2007 from 1,5% to 2.3%. The new forecast is based on a recent survey from February. After a short period of slowing down at the beginning of 2007, economic growth in 2007 has in the meantime almost …
Linux increasingly interesting to SMEs 17. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot According to the »Open Source in Global Software: Market, Impact, Disruption and Business Models« study by the IDC, 54% of companies, organizations and institutions questioned in this study use open source software (OSS) as operating systems including Linux. This is a clear sign for this alternative software being attractive from an economic point of view, …
Email marketing important for your business success 17. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot The marketing tool of emailing provides three unrivalled advantages. Firstly, no other medium reaches addressees so uncomplicatedly, leads them so rapidly from advertising to buying and makes them acquainted with a company and its products. Secondly, emails are most cost efficient. Thirdly, emails may be generated electronically directly from a database of customers. However, there …
Many companies open to private equity 14. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot About 25% of all German companies are open to the idea of raising private equity capital. This is the finding of the Unternehmensbarometer survey by the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). In particular company founders and newly founded companies are often denied bank loans. »Therefore, a remarkable 35% of these consider …