The Japanese government is reportedly planning to unify all property and land registries across urban, farmland and forested areas in a single ledger powered by blockchain technology According to a report in prominent financial publication Nikkei, Japan is looking to consolidate data from all government real estate databases into one viewable data record. Scattered Data Currently, local municipalities, as well as the justice and land ministries, each maintain their own property registries, the former for taxation reasons. Real estate companies oversee their own databases while large swathes of farmland and forested areas also see separate records, according to the report. Japan’s justice ministry estimates some 230 million plots and 50 million buildings are registered across the country. All of the data, including collateral details and sale prices of properties, could soon be added to a government-operated blockchain ledger. Why it’s needed: Aside from the sheer disparity between the registers, the traditional paper-reliant register is simply not updated enough to reflect the people using the property. A survey by the Justice Ministry reveals 6.6% of urban landowner records and a startling 26.6% in small and mid-sized cities as well as those in mountainous terrain, hadn’t changed in 50 years.
Furthermore, a blockchain platform will also enable data cross-referencing. As the Nikkei writes, “if a portion of the property is farmland, the user is recorded in a farmland register. Combining this with local-level data will make it easier to tell who is responsible for vacant land or buildings.” A manual cross-reference of farmland and residential registers in 2016 found that 20% of agricultural land data was not updated following the death of the original owner wherein the property did not go on to be inherited. The Benefits: The blockchain will see multiple participants and will also be made available to the private sector, with privacy measures. The goal is to improve the efficiency of real-estate transactions, as well as aid the sale and redevelopment of a growing number of vacant properties in Japan. The blockchain register will also benefit discussions with landowners toward redevelopment as well as public works projects in their property’s vicinity. Disaster preparation and recovery efforts will also be boosted. Trial in 2018: The new blockchain-powered register will be tested in select cities come summer 2018. If it proves successful, the Japanese government is looking at a nationwide rollout over the next five years. Elsewhere, another plausible nation-wide implementation of blockchain technology is taking shape in the country. The Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) is pushing banks to trial money transfers over a single blockchain powered by digital currencies, a development that could ultimately replace ‘Zengin’, Japan’s national payments clearing platform operated by the JBA.
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Two bitcoin exchanges in Japan are launching insurance products aimed at preventing losses tied to failed transactions. According to a report from Nikkei, bitFlyer is working with Mitsui Suitomo Insurance, a subsidiary of MS&AD Insurance Holdings Group, which offers non-life insurance products. That product is said to be going live today. Coincheck, another domestic bitcoin exchange, is pursuing a similar product release in conjunction with Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance. While the exact policy details aren't immediately available, the products are said to be aimed at shoring up confidence in digital currency transactions. In the case of bitFlyer, the policy would cover losses for retailers that accept bitcoin in the event that a customer transaction doesn't go through due to technical problems. "The hope is that more stores will adopt bitcoin as a payment method if they are not forced to simply eat such losses," the publication wrote. The move comes months after Japan's government recognized bitcoin as a kind of legal payment method, a policy shift that also formed an oversight framework for digital currency exchanges in the country.
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd will invest an additional US$1bil in Southeast Asian online retailer Lazada Group, boosting its stake by nearly a third to 83%, the two companies said in a joint statement.
The move doubles Alibaba’s investment in the firm after last year’s deal to buy a controlling stake in Lazada for about US$1bil.
Lazada, founded in 2012, is headquartered in Singapore and also operates in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
In the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, Lazada had about 23 million annual active buyers, according to Alibaba’s annual report. - Reuters Rolls-Royce has unveiled a sporty version of its Dawn convertible. Called the Black Badge edition, it is set to be the jazzed-up version of the Dawn with black paintwork, black interior and even a black Spirit of Ecstasy and matching grille. Inside there is mandarin-coloured accenting that helps lighten-up the dark surroundings and includes a strip of orange lighting at hip-height to illuminate the cabin at night - something Rolls-Royce claims is evocative of the sunset. Other interior trim includes some stunning aircraft-grade aluminium that is bonded together with carbon fibre to create a unique surface. More than six coats of lacquer are added after the trim has been left for 72 hours. The pieces are then finely polished before being assembled inside the car. The car still has the 6.6-litre V12 you'll find in the standard Dawn, but power has been upped from 563bhp to 593bhp – enough to propel the Dawn Black Badge from 0-60mph in just 4.7 seconds, which isn't bad for a car that weighs more than 2.5 tonnes. This is thanks to an increase in torque too, now with a staggering 840Nm of it on board. The steering has also been sharpened up to give more feedback to the driver and make the car much easier to manoeuvre around sharp bends and down narrow country roads. As you accelerate, however, at motorway speeds the steering becomes weightier to heighten the security and feel through the wheel. The idea behind this sporty variant is to offer the luxury touring experience that Rolls-Royce is famed for, at lower speeds, and a more engaging drive at higher speeds - or as Rolls-Royce put it, when the driver wishes to 'push on.'
The Dawn Black Badge is available to order now, with the car making its debut at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. Prices have not been released yet, but are expected to be considerably more than the standard Dawn's tag of £264,000. We have great news for you! Starting from today, you can deposit money easier than ever! Maybank Berhad, Public Bank Berhad, CIMB Bank Berhad, Hong Leong Bank Berhad, RHB Banking Group and AmBank Group are available now. Deposit now, trade and get profit with FBS! No commission, no middlemen, just fast depositing! FBS is known as a broker that really cares about its clients. We are proud to keep going in this direction - providing easy, profitable and joyful trading conditions. Try to deposit with one of the banks today and change your life for the better tomorrow with FBS. Did you get a chance to look at what I discovered after studying the research behind 10,000 hours of sales calls? Now we know EXACTLY why top producers close more sales than anyone else... But before you click on that link, I want to drive home a few IMPORTANT facts about life in the 21st century. There are three unfortunate "sales challenges" we face in today's environment. Here are the three "sales realities" that are affecting your sales today -- no matter what industry, niche or product you sell. First -- look around you. Look at your nightstand. Look inside your pocket. Chances are, you'll see a smartphone. Nearly every person seems to have one these days... How does this affect our ability to sell in the 21st century? Quite simply -- information about you, your product, service, reviews, competition... and price... is at the touch of a fingertip these days. It's so easy for your prospect to dig up anything. If they see something they don't like... or something better... they're gone. That's one sales reality of the 21st century. Here's number two: Everyone has a smaller wallet these days. Frankly, the economy has not improved as much as we'd like to think it has since 2008. Consumer spending is still unstable. And that means you have to fight that much harder to make a sale. If you sell to businesses, be prepared for a battle. However -- if you know the "seven key results areas" top performers focus on... and how they practically avoid negotiations and "price wars"... You can make sales without "fighting prospects." That's "sales reality" number two. Here's the last one: The world is getting smaller and smaller. Just 25 years ago, the idea of a "video phone" was still science fiction. And now, anyone on Earth with a Skype account can talk with people half-way around the world... face-to-face. What does this mean for you? It means anyone can sell to anyone. Back in the day, there were "regional areas" for sales teams. Companies would break up territories. Today, you're competing against practically anyone, anywhere. That's tough, but it doesn't have to be.
A former professional football player, Lewis Howes’ world came crumbling down when he sustained a career-ending injury. Broke and sleeping on his sister’s couch, he struggled to figure out a new career plan. Fast-forward a decade, and Howes is living an entrepreneur’s dream.
The founder of a multi-million-dollar online company and a respected business coach, speaker, podcast host and author, Howes has mastered the art of starting a business and wants to help others do the same. “To me, greatness is becoming the best version of yourself and then using your gifts to support others in becoming their best selves,” Howes said.
1. Invest in Quality Relationships
Networking is something at which Howes clearly excels. Not only does his “School of Greatness” podcast get more than 1 million monthly downloads, but Howes also frequently hosts very famous names. Recent guests include infomercial creator and former “Shark Tank” star Kevin Harrington, Wyclef Jean and Cesar Millan. “Once I started making money, I moved to New York City to surround myself with like-minded entrepreneurs, and my network of influencers started to build,” he said. “That’s been everything — investing in quality relationships and adding value to them before ever asking for anything in return.” Howes has dedicated multiple episodes of his podcast to this topic. In the episode, “How to Build a Millionaire’s Network With Keith Ferrazzi,” he covered tips for finding mentors and ways to bring value to a relationship, along with the importance of caring about others. And in "How to Make Powerful Relationships With Influencers," he shared advice on what not to do when forming connections, along with tips for reaching out. It's no surprise that his show is one of the top-ranked Business and Self-Development podcasts on iTunes.
2. Find Your Vision
Starting a business is hard work. Howes has long advised to have a clear vision of where you’re headed to increase your chances of success. “You have to have a crystal-clear vision of what you want to create in the world and how your unique talents are going to make it happen,” Howes said. “If you don’t, take the time to figure that out before you invest time and money into a vision you aren’t that excited about for the long haul. Hard work and focus won’t get you to success if you’re not committed to your vision and know exactly why you’re working so hard.” In a 2015 interview with Experience Life, Howes said that entrepreneurs who lack this vision tend to move aimlessly from one activity to the next. “We’re picking up the scraps and tasks that others didn’t want in their vision, and we wind up going through life unfulfilled," he said of those who make this mistake. 3. Take Action to Figure It Out Howes said that entrepreneurs have a tendency to spend too much time thinking rather than doing. “They want to figure it all out before they invest in their idea," he said. "But you have to take action to figure it out. Get feedback from your audience. Learn from the failures. Start taking action and testing your idea in front of real people before it’s ‘ready.’ That’s how you figure out what people really want.” For Howes, taking action toward his vision started with becoming a self-taught LinkedIn expert. While broke and recovering from his football injury, Howes spent hours on LinkedIn every day familiarizing himself with the social network and learning the best ways to make connections. “That led me to coaching other people on how to use the platform and eventually to doing webinars to other people’s audiences on the same topic,” he said. 4. Find Your Niche “Consulting is one of the easiest part-time side hustles you can try out,” said Howes. “Whatever you are an expert at or have a unique skill set for, someone is looking for that solution to their problem. Find out where those people are and start talking to them. You’ll be surprised by how much you’ll learn and how many ideas will come to you as you start just by offering your expertise to the people who are looking for it.” Howes demonstrated this concept by consulting as a LinkedIn expert during his early days. He also offers a variety of training products to help others find their visions and bring them to life. For example, his School of Greatness Academy is a 10-week digital boot camp that allows participants to surround themselves with like-minded people and be held accountable for reaching their goals. He also offers The Greatness Mastermind, an exclusive program limited to high-level entrepreneurs. 5. Remain Gainfully Employed Starting a business is hard enough without having to worry how you’re going to pay the bills. Much of Howes’ career has been devoted to entrepreneurial efforts, but a quick glimpse at his LinkedIn profile reveals that he’s also held various day jobs to keep money in his bank account. “Don’t quit your day job right away to follow your dreams,” Howes said. “Stick with a steady source of income as long as you can while you develop your passion project. It takes the pressure off of your new product to make money while you are developing it and doing the foundation work.” Take Howes' advice and start your entrepreneurial efforts as a side project. When it evolves into something bigger that can sustain your lifestyle, you’ll know the time has come to devote yourself to it full time. 6. Hire the Right People Recognizing that he can't achieve his biggest dreams on his own, Howes believes it's important to surround himself with talented people. To that end, he offers tips for hiring a team of people who are invested in the bigger picture. “And that means finding and training those people,” he said. “That requires patience, which can be tough but is totally worth it. I’ve learned a lot from hiring the wrong people and the right people. You can’t teach work ethic or attitude, but you can teach skills.” Assembling a team to assist with his thriving business has helped Howes understand the importance of delegation. Letting go can be hard, but he advises other entrepreneurs to stop trying to do it all. “You have to be willing to let other people support you, even if they don’t do it exactly like you would,” he said. “It’s the only way to grow.” 7. Stay Grounded From Tony Robbins to Scooter Braun, Howes’ “School of Greatness” podcast is a revolving door of big names. One thing he’s noticed about the most successful people he’s interviewed is that many have daily spiritual practices to keep them grounded and focused on what’s important. “For some, that’s meditation, for others exercise, or time away from their devices,” Howes said. “But pretty much everyone who has achieved massive success has committed to a daily habit of grounding themselves in their purpose.” During a May 2016 interview with Mark Divine of the "Unbeatable Mind" podcast, Howes revealed that gratitude is his way to stay grounded. “It’s a daily practice, it’s a way of being, it’s something I’m constantly doing,” he said. “With my team, I’ll ask them what they’re grateful for… and I think that brings in more positivity, brings in more abundance when I’m in that place, as opposed to when I’m negative and coming from a negative mindset.”
HONG KONG (June 23): Stanley Ho, Macau gambling king and one of Asia's richest men, has stepped down as chairman of Hong Kong conglomerate Shun Tak Holdings Ltd, with his daughter Pansy Ho taking over the position.
The elder Ho, 95, who founded Shun Tak — with business spanning from property to transportation — and served the board for 44 years, will take on the title of chairman emeritus, the company said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Friday.
Ho, who heads one of the world's most lucrative gaming businesses through his flagship firm, SJM Holdings, would also cease to be a director or officer at Shun Tak, the company said.
The flamboyant tycoon is one of Hong Kong's best known businessmen. Shielded from challengers by a four-decade monopoly on gambling, Ho helped transform Macau from a sleepy peninsula dotted with seedy, windowless gambling dens into the world's biggest casino centre.
If you think the appetite to acquire niche brands in beer, wine and alcohol is over, guess again. Diageo PLC (NYSE: DEO) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the premium tequila brand Casamigos. What is amazing here is the price tag — up to $1 billion! Equally amazing is the notion that actor George Clooney is also one of the backers and owners of the Casamigos brand.
While the percentage of ownership and the payouts were not publicly disclosed, it seems as though Clooney just made more money off his designer tequila brand than he makes on his movies. Diageo's press release shows that the "up to $1 billion" valuation is based on an initial consideration of $700 million. A further potential of up to $300 million is based on a performance linked earn-out over 10 years. Casamigos was created in 2013 by founders Clooney, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman. Casamigos was shown to have reached sales of 120,000 cases in 2016 and Diageo's press release confirmed that the brand is on track to reach over 170,000 cases by the end of 2017. The transaction is currently expected to close in the second half of 2017, and Diageo expects the transaction will be neutral to its earnings per share for the first three years and accretive thereafter.
Casamigos will join the other Diageo brands of Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies; Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas; Captain Morgan; Baileys; Don Julio; Tanqueray and Guinness.
U.K.-based Diageo's total revenue, in dollars, was $14 billion for its fiscal year ending June 30, 2016. Its American depositary shares traded in New York have a market value of $75 billion, and the $121.99 share price compares with a 52-week range of $99.46 to $123.48. According to a 2016 CNBC piece, Casamigos was almost an accident and shows that Clooney and his friends used a distiller in Jalisco, Mexico, to develop the tequila. According to Statistic Brain, Clooney's average annual earnings were about $19 million. The site also showed that his film salary was $20 million for "Money Monster" and $20 million plus a revenue share for "Gravity." If celebrities were shy about starting brands or investing in brands before, they probably won't be shy about that now.
Billionaire Wang Jianlin’s Dalian Wanda Group Co. was in focus on Thursday as the shares and bonds of its units plunged.
Wanda Film Holding Co. tumbled 9.9% in Shenzhen, its biggest loss since January 2016, while Wanda Properties International Co.’s US$600mil 2024 notes plunged 10.1 cents on the dollar to 101.7 cents as of 12:06 p.m. in Hong Kong, the biggest drop on record, according to Bloomberg-compiled data. Wanda Group representatives couldn’t immediately comment.
Both companies are units of Wanda Group, the property-to-entertainment conglomerate that stood out in recent years for making acquisitions in Hollywood such as the purchase of Legendary Entertainment. Wang is China’s second-richest man with a fortune of US$31.1bil, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
There is speculation about political risks surrounding the Wanda Group, said Castor Pang, head of research at Core-Pacific Yamaichi HK. “We don’t know if this is true yet. The most important factor of doing business in China is the company’s political stance. It is important for the company to ’stand at the right side’. Political risks are the factor that is most difficult to evaluate in China. Even it is just a rumor, investors will choose to sell off first.”
Wanda Properties’ US$600mil 2018 note also dropped 4.5 cents to 97.4 cents.
“There are rumors going around that some onshore accounts are selling Wanda-related bonds,” said Carol Pang, director of fixed income at Zhongtai International Holdings Ltd. in Hong Kong. “Given the market is jittery on some local companies’ scandals recently, people are simply selling before it’s too late.” Wanda was the first Chinese firm to own a major Hollywood film production company with the US$3.5bil purchase of “Godzilla”-maker Legendary Entertainment last year. In November, Wanda agreed to buy Golden Globe Awards producer Dick Clark Productions for US$1bil. Wanda is the biggest operator of movie theaters in America after his AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. purchased Carmike Cinemas Inc. Sources: Bloomberg |
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