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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Internet search leader Google is taking another step beyond information retrieval into grocery delivery.
The new service, called Google Shopping Express, will initially provide same-day delivery of food and other products bought online by a small group of consumers in San Francisco and suburbs located south of the city. The company, based in Mountain View, Calif., didn't say how many people will be part of the test.
If the pilot program goes well, Google Inc. plans to expand delivery service to other markets.
"We hope this will help users explore the benefits of a local, same-day delivery service, and help us kick the tires on the new service," Google said in a Thursday statement.
The delivery service is part of Google's effort to increase consumer reliance on the Internet, so it will have more opportunities to show online ads, which generate most of its revenue.
Google has learned that the more time people spend online, the more likely they are to use its dominant search engine or one of its other popular services, like its YouTube video site or Gmail, that include advertising.
The delivery service also could spur merchants to buy more online ads if Google's same-day delivery service encourages consumers to do more of their shopping online. Having to wait days or, in some cases, more than a week for the delivery of online orders ranks among the biggest drawbacks to Internet shopping.
It's a problem that Amazon.com Inc. and eBay Inc., which operate the largest e-commerce sites, already have been trying to solve by offering same-day service in some U.S. markets. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, also offers same-day delivery in five markets.
A mix of national, regional and neighborhood merchants are enlisting in Google Shopping Express. The best-known names on the list include Target Inc. and Walgreen Co. All the merchants in the Google program will sell certain items through a central website. Google has hired courier services to pick up the orders at the merchant stores and then deliver them to the customer's home or office.
Although the couriers will be working on a contract basis, they will be driving Google trucks and wearing company-issued uniforms.
It remains unclear whether Internet shopping and same-day delivery can be profitable. Online grocer Webvan collapsed in 2001, largely because it couldn't devise a pricing plan that would pay for the costs of same-day delivery without alienating shoppers unwilling to pay too much extra for the added convenience.
Google is still trying to figure out how much to charge for its same-day delivery service. For the six-month test period in the San Francisco area, consumers won't have to pay a surcharge. Google instead will receive a commission from participating merchants.
The expansion into same-day delivery comes at the same time that Google is preparing to close some of its older online services so it can devote more attention and money to other projects.
The realignment has irked some Google users. The biggest complaints have centered on Google Reader, which allows people to automatically receive headlines and links from their favorite sites, and iGoogle, which allows Web surfers to design a page consisting of the Google search engine surrounded set up other online features, such as local weather reports and stock market quotes.
Google Reader is scheduled to close in July and iGoogle will shut down in November.
Google shares fell $8.47 to close at $794.19 on Thursday.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/google-deliver-goods-quickly-online-shoppers-213009918--finance.html
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BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Senior bondholders in the Cyprus's Laiki Bank will be wiped out because the bank will be wound down, while senior bondholders in the Bank of Cyprus will also contribute to the recapitalization of the banks, euro zone officials said.
"Laiki bank will have to be resolved... so yes, senior bond holders, along with the others, will be wiped out there," the chairman of euro zone finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, told a news conference.
"(Bank of Cyprus) needs to be recapitalized and the contribution to this recapitalization must come, inevitably, from senior bondholders, junior bondholders, shareholders and, to some extent, we don't know to what extent yet, also from uninsured depositors," he said.
(Reporting By Jan Strupczewski)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senior-bondholders-face-haircut-cyprus-025325780--business.html
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The Cypriot, left, and EU flag are seen at the Cypriot delegation building in Brussels on Sunday, March 24, 2013. The EU says a top official will chair a high-level meeting on Cyprus in a last-ditch effort to seal a deal before finance ministers decide whether the island nation gets a 10 billion euro bailout loan to save it from bankruptcy. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
The Cypriot, left, and EU flag are seen at the Cypriot delegation building in Brussels on Sunday, March 24, 2013. The EU says a top official will chair a high-level meeting on Cyprus in a last-ditch effort to seal a deal before finance ministers decide whether the island nation gets a 10 billion euro bailout loan to save it from bankruptcy. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Bank employees protest outside the ministry of finance on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Thousands of bank employees took part in a protest that ended outside the Cypriot parliament. Politicians in Cyprus were racing Saturday to complete an alternative plan raising funds necessary for the country to qualify for an international bailout, with a potential bankruptcy just three days away. Banner at right reads: "Who voted for you members of parliament? The Troika?" (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades speaks on his phone in his car as he arrives at the airport in Brussels on Sunday, March 24, 2013. The EU says a top official will chair a high-level meeting on Cyprus in a last-ditch effort to seal a deal before finance ministers decide whether the island nation gets a 10 billion euro bailout loan to save it from bankruptcy. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Bank employees protest outside the ministry of finance on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Thousands of bank employees took part in a protest that ended outside the Cypriot parliament. Politicians in Cyprus were racing Saturday to complete an alternative plan raising funds necessary for the country to qualify for an international bailout, with a potential bankruptcy just three days away. Banner at left reads: We fight not only for our jobs but also for people's savings" and banner at right reads: "Dimitriadis resign, you and your consultants". (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A bank employee holds a placard that reads in Greek: ''Bums, Traitors, Politicians, Same'' protest on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Thousands of bank employees took part in a protest that ended outside the Cypriot parliament. Politicians in Cyprus were racing Saturday to complete an alternative plan raising funds necessary for the country to qualify for an international bailout, with a potential bankruptcy just three days away. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
BRUSSELS (AP) ? After failing for a week to find a solution at home to a crisis that could force it into bankruptcy, Cypriot politicians were turning to the European Union on Sunday in a last-ditch effort to help the island nation forge a viable plan to secure an international bailout.
Politicians are under pressure to come up with a solution quickly, with the European Central Bank threatening to stop providing emergency funding to Cyprus' banks after Monday if there is no agreement on a way to raise 5.8 billion euros ($7.5 billion) needed to get a 10 billion euro rescue loan package from the International Monetary Fund and the other European countries that use the single currency.
If Cyprus fails to secure a bailout, some of its ailing banks could collapse within days and rapidly drag down the government and possibly force it out of the euro, a huge threat to the stability of the currency used by more than 300 million people in 17 EU nations.
Despite the danger, Europe's biggest economy maintained a hard line. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said "if possible we want to avoid seeing Cyprus sliding into insolvency."
But, he added in an interview with the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag published Sunday that Cyprus cannot expect compromise over the threat of bankruptcy and possibility it could leave the eurozone.
"I'm also known for not giving in to blackmail, by nobody and nothing," he said.
The original plan, agreed to in marathon negotiations earlier last week, called for a one-time levy on all bank depositors in Cypriot banks. But the proposal ignited fierce anger among Cypriots and failed to garner a single vote in the Cypriot Parliament.
The idea of some sort of deposit grab has returned to the fore after Cyprus' attempt to gain Russian financial aid failed this week, with deposits above 100,000 euros at the country's troubled largest lender, Bank of Cyprus, possibly facing a levy of up to 25 percent.
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and his finance minister traveled to Brussels for meetings with European Union leaders.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy was chairing a meeting, but a spokesman insisted his role was not to force a deal but to encourage discussion.
To avoid bankruptcy or the collapse of its banking system, Cyprus needs significantly more than the 10 billion euros the international creditors are willing to lend it. They fear that more loans would balloon the country's debt level to an unsustainable level. For that reason, the country must somehow raise the additional money.
Cyprus has "to fulfill a difficult mission to save the Cypriot economy and avert a disorderly default threatening the economy if there is no final deal for the loan agreement," government spokesman Christos Sylianides said in a written statement Sunday.
Officials fear that a Cypriot bankruptcy, which would likely force the country to become the first eurozone member to leave the currency bloc, would roil markets and result in uncertainty that could engulf other weaker eurozone nations, leading to capital flight and higher government borrowing costs.
Anastasiades was also set to meet IMF Chief Christine Lagarde and ECB President Mario Draghi.
If the Cypriots agree to a plan on Sunday, the IMF, European Central Bank and European Commission will then determine whether it meets the requirement that Cyprus' debt, including any new bailout loan, be sustainable over the long run.
Any new proposal would then have to be approved Sunday evening by the Eurogroup, the gathering of finance ministers from the 17 EU countries that use the euro currency.
Their decision might come only as a broad political agreement, with technical details to be hammered out in the coming days. But without an agreement in principle, the ECB is likely to pull the plug on the country's banking system.
Cyprus already took significant steps toward cementing a new plan Friday night, when lawmakers voted to restructure ailing banks, restrict financial transactions in emergencies and set up a "solidarity fund" that should act as the vehicle for raising funds from investments and contributions.
The bank restructuring will include the country's second largest lender, Laiki, which suffered heavy losses after being exposed to toxic Greek debt. The restructuring and the sale of Greek branches of Cypriot banks are expected to significantly lower the 5.8 billion euros that the country needs to raise on its own to secure the rescue loan package.
Cypriot banks have been closed this past week while the plan was being worked out, and are not due to reopen until Tuesday. Cash has been available through ATMs, but many have run out quickly.
______
Associated Press writer Elena Becatoros in Nicosia, Cyprus, contributed to this story.
______
Don Melvin can be reached at https://twitter.com/Don_Melvin
Juergen Baetz can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jbaetz
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By Erika Solomon
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Rebels seized an air defense base near Syria's strategic southern international highway on Saturday, activists said, a gain that could bolster opposition fighters trying to secure supply routes to the capital Damascus.
Syria's southern provinces bordering Jordan and Israel have become an increasingly significant battleground as the capital comes into play, with President Bashar al-Assad's forces and his loyalist militias hitting back hard to prevent rebel advances.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a network of sources across Syria, said the base commander was among those killed in the two-week battle for the air defense site in Deraa province bordering Jordan.
"Fighters from the Nusra Front, Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, and other battalions seized control of the 38th division air defense base, near the town of Saida on the Damascus-Amman highway, after 16 days of fierce clashes," the Observatory said.
The Nusra Front is an Islamist militant group suspected of links to al Qaeda and blacklisted by the United States as a "terrorist group". Its forces, which include foreign fighters, have come to increasing prominence in the revolt.
Videos published by opposition activists showed cheering fighters driving tanks around the base and loading boxes of ammunition onto flatbed trucks. The rebels also said in the videos they had freed dozens of prisoners held at the base.
A video uploaded by the Observatory showed what it said was the body of base commander General Mahmoud Darwish lying in a pool of blood in a bathroom.
Other activist videos showed the corpses of soldiers in camouflage fatigues scattered in the grass outside the base, shot in the head.
It was not immediately possible to verify the pictures or opposition reports. The Syrian government has severely restricted access to Syria for foreign journalists and international aid groups.
CLASHES NEAR ISRAEL BORDER
Fighting has also raged near the border with Israel, which is increasingly concerned Islamist rebels may be emboldened to end the quiet on the Golan front maintained by Assad and his father before him during their four decade rule of Syria.
Israel captured the Golan plateau from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war.
Rebels on Wednesday overran at least three towns near the Israeli-Syrian disengagement line but appeared to lose ground after militias loyal to Assad pushed them back in a fierce battle.
Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Observatory, said he recorded one of the heaviest single death tolls for rebels in the fighting near the Israeli border.
"We have 35 fighters recorded by name and at least 20 more missing, this is a huge number to be lost in a single battle and shows how hard they (Assad's forces) are fighting for these areas," Abdelrahman told Reuters.
He said the pro-government militias involved were made up of fighters from Syria's Druze minority, a sect which for some time had stayed on the sidelines of the conflict but now increasingly appears to be throwing its weight behind Assad.
Their involvement could increase sectarian bloodshed in Syria, already wracked by tensions between the Sunni Muslim majority that has led the uprising and the Alawite minority to which Assad belongs.
Tit-for-tat kidnappings and killings between the sects have become common as the uprising spiraled into a bloody civil war that has killed more than 70,000 people.
Alawite opposition campaigners, increasingly concerned for the fate of their community as fighting continues, will meet this weekend to discuss options for supporting a democratic alternative to Assad's rule and try to distance themselves from security forces attempts to crush the revolt.
(Editing by Sophie Hares)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-rebels-seize-embattled-southern-province-111154873.html
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In an incredibly candid, four-hankie Tumblr post about his dad's last days fighting cancer, Dax Shepard writes from the heart about his relationship with his father ? and offers a sweet gllmpse at the strong bond between the actor and his pregnant wife Kristen Bell.
The Parenthood actor, 38, who tweeted on March 20 a link to his first blog post, starts his story with a bang: "My father, Dave Robert Shepard Sr., died on either December 30th or December 31st, depending on what time zone you were in.... He was dead at 62 years old. Small cell carcinoma was to blame. It originated in the lungs and then travelled with great speed to all corners of his body."
PHOTOS: Dax and Kristen's fun-filled romance
"He chose me to deal with all the doctors and creditors and landlords. It was the only project we ever teamed up on. We never built a tree house or a soap box derby car together, but you would have never known it by watching us tear through chemo decisions and radiation plans," Shepard writes. "We were two great minds with one single thought: get into the end zone gracefully."
The long post is an incredibly moving and thoughtful tribute to his rakish, charming, imperfect father who struggled with alcoholism. But tucked into the essay is also a little ode to his expectant wife.?
PHOTOS: Kristen Bell's baby bump style
Bell, 32, flew in and surprised father and son at the hospital, he recalls. "It was an amazing, incredible, perfectly timed surprise. She lifted her shirt up and he put his hand on her swollen stomach. He left it there for the better part of an hour. He was smiling from ear to ear, sitting contently, unable to put together a sentence, but still capable of connecting to the new family member we were creating. He wasn?t going to make it to the birth, but that didn?t get in the way of him meeting the new baby. It was an emotional and triumphant moment. One I will never forget. If I live to be a thousand, I will still be in debt to my wife for giving him that one last thrill."
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The news that Google Reader is to be closed down for good later this year has hit a lot of us really hard. For many it's the go-to way of getting their daily news fix, and for others -- including everyone on staff here -- it's an integral tool to help us get through the working day. There will be alternatives, but we will miss Google Reader.
One such alternative is Feedly, and the team has announced a huge influx of new users. In the first 48 hours since the announcement by Google, Feedly has seen 500,000 new Google Reader users join their ranks. Not bad numbers, considering the service is supposed to be in decline. Feedly also has clients for iOS, Chrome, Safari and Firefox, so it's got a big chunk of the bases covered. The reason behind the influx is most likely the fact that Feedly is developing their own system to transition Google Reader users over seamlessly when turn off day finally arrives.
Feedly has also announced how they're coping with the increased user base, including massively increasing their bandwidth and adding new servers. And, if you're all about function and less about fashion, the Feedly team has also written up some sweet tips on how to make it less pretty and more functional. Great stuff.
Source: Feedly
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/5F0tC-HQf44/story01.htm
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(Reuters) - U.S. futures regulators are looking into whether high-speed traders indulged in "wash trading," a strategy in which they improperly buy and sell futures contracts without taking a position in the market, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the probes.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is investigating suspected wash trades by high-speed firms in futures contracts tied to crude oil, precious metals, agricultural commodities and the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index, among other underlying instruments, the people told the Journal.
Wash trades are banned under U.S. futures law.
Investigators also are looking at the two primary exchange operators that handle such trades, CME Group Inc and IntercontinentalExchange Inc, the paper reported.
Regulators are concerned the exchange systems are not sophisticated enough to flag or stop wash trades, the people said. (http://link.reuters.com/fyc76t)
"We actively enforce rules prohibiting wash trading, and we are in the process of developing technology to prevent wash trades as prohibited by CME and CFTC at the trading-engine level," a CME spokeswoman told the Journal.
CME plans to introduce new technology in the middle of this year, she said.
An ICE spokeswoman told the newspaper that the exchange operator has employed wash-trade filters for years, and "we continue to enhance them."
Neither CME not ICE would discuss details of communications with regulators about their filters. No exchange operator has been accused of wrongdoing, according to the Journal.
None of the parties were immediately available for comment by Reuters outside of regular U.S. business hours.
(Reporting by Sakthi Prasad; Additional reporting by Mridhula Raghavan in Bangalore; Editing by Chris Gallagher)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-regulators-probing-high-speed-traders-wash-trades-031647522--finance.html
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BAGHDAD (AP) ? An al-Qaida-affiliated group in Iraq has claimed responsibility for a carefully planned assault on the Justice Ministry in downtown Baghdad last week. The attack, involving car bombs and gunmen disguised as police, killed at least 24 people.
In a statement posted online on Sunday, the Islamic State of Iraq said the "blessed raid" was "vengeance for the Sunni women" held in the prisons of the Shiite-led government. It described the ministry building as a "tool to fight, terrorize, jail, torture and kill Sunnis."
The Thursday attack in downtown Baghdad came less than a week before the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, showing how vulnerable this country remains to insurgent attacks.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/al-qaida-affiliate-claims-iraq-ministry-assault-071600952.html
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Open a command prompt as an Administrator.
Enter slmgr /upk and wait for this to complete.
This will uninstall the current product key from
Windows and put it into an unlicensed state.
Enter slmgr /cpky and wait for this to complete. This will remove the product key from the registry if it's still there.
Enter slmgr /rearm and wait for this to complete.
This is to reset the Window activation timers so the new users will be prompted to activate Windows when they put in the key. This should put the system back to a pre-key state.
Hope this helps you out!
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Optify has released?a study?looking at the use of autoresponders by a randomly selected group of 500 B2B companies from the?Inc. 5000 2012 fastest-growing companies list. The findings of the study indicate that even among these leading companies, few observe best practices in the use of autoresponders, with the highlight result being that only 24% use immediate autoresponders for their marketing automation programs. Read the rest at MarketingChart.
Tagged as: Marketing Automation, Statistics, Table, Website Marketing
Rate, Then Comment Below
Source: http://trends.e-strategyblog.com/2013/03/15/failure-of-b2b-companies-to-use-autoresponders/9436
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Hyderabad
Hyderabad is one of the top five cities to look out for in the country. With its retail, residential, and IT realty picking up, this city is set to experience all round development. If you are planning to invest in any kind of property then you will probably mediate through real estate agents. How do you choose the right real estate developer? Real estate agent related customer grievances are many. Here are some quick pointers from Hyderabad?s well-known real estate agents to guide you in picking the right broker.
Reputation: The reputation of the realtor should precede him. The best way to draw up the final list of agents is by asking your neighbours, friends and acquaintances to share their contacts of agents. Mohammed Ansari of Ansari Estates99 says ?Gaining the trust of clients is crucial in our job profile. If the client is satisfied then our chances of expanding clientele base becomes easy through word-of-mouth.?
Specialised agents: It is best to devote your time into someone who specializes in homes/offices in your category. Whether your need is mid-level or high-end, acquiring the services of an agent who deals majorly in the same is helpful. Ravindra Reddy from Uneed Estate quips ?Our specialty is mid and high range residences. A lot of research goes from a real estate agent?s end before the property is shown to the customers. A good agent will check necessary requisites such as legal paperwork, the amenities, locality, etc.? Remember to select an agent who caters to your range specifically.
License to practice: Property dealing license is mandatory in India. Though you will find many operating without one, it is advisable to opt for someone who owns a license. The terms and conditions and requirements for the license are different all across the India but basics are the same. The validity of the license is for 5 years after which it can be renewed.
Money matters: Before finalizing the agent, do not forget to ask about their fees. Agents might skip discussing money with the customer. SKM Basha from Deal a Loan agrees ?It is better to sort out money matters before signing the deal to avoid unnecessary hassle from both ends.?
Take your time and opt for the best from the lot. It is a business relationship between you and the agent and property dealings take a while before its closure. Therefore, it is better to partner with someone you are comfortable. All the Best!
Namrata Ekka, MagicBricks.com Bureau
Source: http://content.magicbricks.com/choosing-the-right-real-estate-agent-in-hyderabad/
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A federal prison inmate in Seagoville who is a member of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang had nearly six more years tacked on to his prison term for attacking another inmate who he believed was gay, the U.S. Justice Department said.
John Hall, 27, was sentenced Thursday to 71 months by U.S. District Judge Reed O?Connor after pleading guilty to violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
The additional prison time will be added to the sentence Hall is already serving.
Hall had pleaded guilty to the hate crime charge in November 2012.
In December 2011, Hall attacked the inmate because he believed he was gay or was involved in a sexual relationship with another male inmate, federal authorities said.
?Hall repeatedly punched, kicked and stomped on the victim?s face with his shod feet, a dangerous weapon, while yelling a homophobic slur,? according to the Justice Department.
The victim was beaten unconscious. After the attack, he had multiple cuts to his face, a broken eye socket, and broken teeth as well as a tooth knocked out.
?Brutality and violence based on sexual orientation has no place in a civilized society,? said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Salda?a of the Northern District of Texas, added: ?This prosecution sends a clear message that this office, in partnership with attorneys in the department?s Civil Rights Division, will prioritize and aggressively prosecute hate crimes and others civil rights violations in North Texas.?
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The appearance of a small sinkhole Tuesday has closed down an entire block in Washington D.C. Why are there so many sinkholes??
By Mai Ng?c Ch?u,?Contributor / March 12, 2013
EnlargeResidents were evacuated and cars were relocated after a sinkhole opened up on a sidewalk in front of a?building block in Northwest Washington D.C.
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Initial reports said the hole located?at the 1900 block of Baltimore Street NW is about 25 feet deep. But police later described the hole as just three to four feet deep. It isn't expanding into the street,?Washington City Paper reports.?
The police spokeswoman told the Washington Post?that officers did not measure the hole and that it's not clear where the 25-foot-deep estimate came from.
Fire officials said the sinkhole is affecting what looks like a waterpipe that may be in the process of collapsing. Meanwhile,?Washington D.C.'s Transportation Department are investigating what caused the hole to develop.
The D.C. sinkhole was the fourth one in the US to make headlines after the one that killed a sleeping man in Florida earlier this month.
On Sunday, a sinkhole estimated 25 to 30 feet wide and 10 to 12 feet deep formed underneath an eastern Pennsylvania house, forcing the owner to vacate it.
A Missouri man survived an unexpected fall into a bell-shaped sinkhole which measured?18-feet deep and 10-feet wide?while walking on the fairway of an Illinois golf course on Friday.
One week earlier, Tampa, Fla., had its second sinkhole in a week, about 12 feet round and 5 feet deep. It is located just?two miles from the?30-feet wide and 60-feet deep that demolished a Seffner home and swallowed a man while he slept on March 3.
As science journalist Stephanie Pappas wrote in 2010,?sinkholes, according to the US Geological Survey, are most common in Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. The ground in these states is rich in sedimentary rocks. When groundwater flows through these rocks, it erodes them, creating caverns that can suddenly collapse.?
Earlier this month, the Monitor's Patrik Jonsson described how human activity can contribute to sinkholes.
Changes in drainage due to construction or agricultural irrigation have been known to activate mass outbreaks of sinkholes, where dozens of sinkholes can suddenly appear next to drainage wells and farm fields. Drought followed by heavy rains can also instigate sinkholes as heavy, water-logged earth presses down on limestone caves suddenly devoid of buoyant water. The two previous deaths attributed to sinkholes both involved professional well drillers whose activities cracked the top of limestone caverns, causing collapse.
"Humans can [destabilize karst landscapes] by drawing down water tables or irrigate too much, increasing the weight of the mass of materials that sits on top of the void," says Jonathan Martin, a geologist at the University of Florida, in Gainesville. "Humans can modify the environment" enough to cause sinkholes.
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MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO - (Marketwire - March 11, 2013) - easyhome Ltd. (TSX:EH) (the "Company" or "easyhome"), Canada's largest merchandise leasing company and a growing provider of financial services, today announced its results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2012.
easyhome delivered record revenues and strong earnings growth in the fourth quarter of 2012. Revenue for the quarter increased 4.9% to $51.7 million, driven primarily by the expansion of the easyfinancial Services business and the related growth of its consumer loans receivable portfolio. Net income for the quarter was $3.8 million, up from $2.6 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2011. Reported earnings per share for the quarter was 32 cents compared to 22 cents for the fourth quarter of 2011.
During the fourth quarter of 2012, the consumer loans receivable portfolio experienced a record level of growth, increasing by $11.1 million compared with growth of $4.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. The gross consumer loans receivable as at December 31, 2012 was $70.7 million compared with $47.6 million as at December 31, 2011.
"We are pleased with the financial performance of all of our business units during the quarter," said David Ingram,?easyhome's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The additional financing that was secured at the beginning of the fourth quarter allowed us to continue growing our?easyfinancialbusiness, improving profitability now and into the future. Additionally, we are encouraged by the improved operating results of our leasing business. The restructuring activities that we completed earlier in the year are beginning to positively impact results and the exchange of stores that was completed at the end of the quarter will benefit the operating income of our leasing business throughout 2013."
For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2012,?easyhome?generated revenues of $51.7 million, an increase from $49.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. At the store level, including?easyfinancial, same store revenue growth for the quarter was a strong 9.0%.
On a segmented basis,?easyfinancial?Services revenues increased 40% to $10.9 million from $7.8 million for the same period last year. The improvement is a result of the increase in the consumer loans receivable portfolio from $47.6 million to $70.7 million. The Company's leasing operations recorded revenues of $40.2 million, down from $41.0 for the same period last year due to the reduced number of stores. Franchising operations recorded revenues of $0.5 million, relatively unchanged from the same period last year.
Operating income, which is income before interest expense and income taxes, increased 38% to $5.8 million from $4.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. As a percentage of revenue, operating income was 11.2% compared to 8.5% in the fourth quarter of 2011. Excluding the net gain realized on the sale of the U.S. corporate stores and the impact of increased stock based incentive compensation plan expenses, adjusted operating income increased by $1.9 million or 46.3%.
Net income increased to $3.8 million or 32 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2012, compared with net income of $2.6 million or 22 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2011.
For the full year,?easyhome?recorded revenues of $199.7 million, up 6.0% compared with $188.3 million in fiscal 2011. Operating income for the period was $17.7 million compared with $15.3 million in fiscal 2011, an increase of 16.0%. Adjusted operating earnings for fiscal 2012, excluding the restructuring and other charges, was $17.3 million, an increase of 13.5% over fiscal 2011. Both operating income and adjusted operating earnings for 2012 compared to 2011 were negatively impacted by a $1.5 million increase in stock based incentive compensation plan expenses, driven by the year over year rise in the Company's share price.
Earnings per share increased from 81 cents to 93 cents. Net income, adjusted for unusual items, was $10.5 million compared with $9.6 million for the last year. On a per share basis and excluding unusual items, earnings per share was 87 cents compared with 81 cents a year ago.
Cash flow provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $58.2 million. Included in these cash flows was a net investment in the?easyfinancial?Services consumer loans receivable portfolio of $31.4 million. If this net investment in the loan portfolio was treated as cash flow from investing activities, cash flow from operating activities would be $89.6 million. This cash flow from operating activities enabled the Company to invest in the portfolios to drive future revenue growth of all business units and maintain its total dividend payments for the quarter.
Looking ahead,?easyhome's strategic focus remains unchanged. The Company will focus on growing?easyfinancial, increasing the profitability of the leasing business and growing the franchise network.
The additional financing obtained in 2012 will allow the Company to grow its consumer loans receivable portfolio unencumbered during 2013. Additionally,?easyfinancial?expects to open a further 25 to 35 locations during 2013 and expects these locations to be stand alone sites.?easyfinancialwill also focus on continuing to grow its consumer loans receivable portfolio at existing locations. The Company anticipates a loan book of between $95.0 and $100.0 million by the end of 2013.
David Ingram commented, "The Company's view of the North American economic situation suggests that 2013 will be another challenging year, particularly impacting the purchasing decisions of consumers. As a result, easyhome Leasing is not expecting significant growth and does not intend to significantly grow its leasing footprint. Rather easyhome Leasing will continue to drive profitability enhancements across its existing store network."
Mr. Ingram concluded, "My thanks go out to our entire team who have worked tirelessly to provide access to millions of cash and credit constrained consumers for goods and services neglected by mainstream financial services. This was our eleventh consecutive year of growing revenues and producing positive net income."
The Company does not plan to open any new corporate stores during 2013. Of course, should an economic recovery begin to take hold, these expansion plans for the leasing business will be reviewed in the future.
Fortunately, the Company's strategy of developing complementary business units is now somewhat mitigating the impacts of a negative economy on its revenue. While the Company is anticipating low growth within its leasing business, this is more than offset by the strong growth expected from easyfinancial. Ultimately, easyhome is targeting total revenue growth of between 8% and 12% for 2013. As such, next year is expected to be a record year for both revenues and earnings.
Donald K. Johnson, Chairman of the Board, commented, "The Board is pleased with the overall performance of the Company during 2012. Both revenues and net income have shown continued growth and the Company's management has taken the necessary steps to support the Company's strategy for sustainable growth."
The Board of Directors has approved a quarterly dividend payment of $0.085 per share payable on April 16, 2013 to the holders of common shares of record as at the close of business on April 5, 2013.
As of March 11, 2013,?easyhome?Ltd. operated 191?easyhome?leasing stores (including 9 consolidated franchise locations), 100?easyfinancial?locations and 49 franchise locations.
easyhome?Ltd. is Canada's largest merchandise leasing Company, offering top quality, brand- name household furnishings, appliances and home electronic products to consumers under weekly or monthly leasing agreements through both corporate and franchise stores. In addition, the Company offers a variety of financial services, including loans and prepaid cards, through its?easyfinancial?Services business.?easyhome?Ltd. is listed on the TSX under the symbol 'EH'. For more information, visit?www.easyhome.ca.
The above analysis refers to certain financial measures, including same store revenue growth, gross consumer loans receivable, adjusted earnings, adjusted operating earnings and adjusted EBITDA, which are not determined in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). These measures do not have standardized meanings and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. These measures are defined in our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the period which is available on SEDAR or on the Company's website at?www.easyhome.ca?or can be determined by reference to our financial statements. We discuss these measures as we believe that they facilitate the understanding of the results of our operations and financial position.
This news release includes forward-looking statements about?easyhome?Ltd., including its business operations, strategy and expected financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as 'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends', 'plans', 'believes' or negative versions thereof and similar expressions. In addition, any statement that may be made concerning future financial performance (including revenue, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects about future events is also a forward-looking statement. Forward- looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions, including expected growth, results of operations and business prospects and are inherently subject to, among other things, risks, uncertainties and assumptions about our operations, economic factors and the industry generally. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us, due to, but not limited to important factors such as our ability to enter into new lease and/or financing agreements, collect on existing lease and/or financing agreements, open new locations on favourable terms, secure new franchised locations, purchase products which appeal to our customers at a competitive rate, cope with changes in legislation, react to uncertainties related to regulatory actions, raise capital under favourable terms, manage the impact of litigation (including shareholder litigation), control costs at all levels of the organization and maintain and enhance our system of internal controls. We caution that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which may not be appropriate for other purposes. We are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law.
easyhome Ltd.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
(unaudited)
(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)
easyhome Ltd.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)
(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars except earnings per share)
easyhome Ltd.
David Ingram
President & Chief Executive Officer
(905) 272-2788
easyhome Ltd.
Steve Goertz
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(905) 272-2788
www.easyhome.ca
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easyhome Ltd. is Canada's largest and the world's third largest merchandise lease company. Browse: |
Source: http://www.franchising.com/news/20130312_easyhome_ltd_reports_fourth_quarter_and_full_year_.html
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