TA Global Acquires Hotel Business In Kushan, China

TA Global Bhd's (TAG) wholly-owned Swiss Liberty Sdn Bhd, has signed a sale and purchase of shares agreement with Kingdom Hotel Investments to acquire the hotel and business of Swissotel Kunshan in Kunshan, China.

This was done via the purchase of the entire issued shares of Kingdom Kunshan Ltd (KKL) of 4.031 million shares of US$1 each for a cash consideration of RM185.500 million. (US$1=RM3.0535), the company said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia.

KKL owns 100 per cent of the equity of First Shanghai Hotel Group (FSHG) and 100 per cent of the equity of Sino Dragon Asset Ltd (SDAL) which in turn owns 65 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively, of the equity of Kunshan Mamlaka Hotel Company Limited, a China incorporated company, which is the registered owner of the hotel property and business.

The hotel, rated a 5-star with 387 guest bedrooms, is prominently located in the city centre of Kunshan, along the western edge of Kunshan Economic and Technological Development Zone.

TAG said the proposed acquisition would be funded from internally-generated funds and external borrowings.

Meanwhile, the original cost of investment in the hotel was US $59.3 million.

In the statement, TAG said the proposed acquisition would further enhance the company's hospitality operations in major cities worldwide and expand its existing hospitality properties portfolio in China.

It will also provide a steady revenue stream and enhance revenue contribution from its hospitality division to the company.

World stocks down ahead of US growth figures

World stock markets mostly slipped Friday as investors braced for growth figures for the U.S. economy, the world's largest, and worried about debt problems in large economies like Japan.

Markets were still rattled from the previous day's credit rating downgrade of Japan by Standard & Poor's. Rival agency Moody's Investors Service later said that the U.S. rating outlook remains under pressure, increasing the likelihood that it might fall to 'negative' from 'stable' over the next two years due to high levels of debt.
orld stock markets mostly slipped Friday as investors braced for growth figures for the U.S. economy, the world's largest, and worried about debt problems in large economies like Japan.

Markets were still rattled from the previous day's credit rating downgrade of Japan by Standard & Poor's. Rival agency Moody's Investors Service later said that the U.S. rating outlook remains under pressure, increasing the likelihood that it might fall to 'negative' from 'stable' over the next two years due to high levels of debt.

Against that backdrop, the U.S. economic growth figures for the fourth quarter will be crucial to markets.

Economists on average forecast that the economy expanded at an annualized rate of 3.5 percent in the October-December quarter. If they are right, it would show the economy has consistently gained speed since hitting a rough patch in the spring, when Europe's debt crisis hurt sales of U.S. exports and crimped business activity.

How well consumer spending picks up will be key, as it accounts for three quarters of the U.S. economy and a fifth of global growth.

"The financial markets have been taking a rosier view of U.S. economic performance in recent weeks, largely on indications of stronger than expected consumer purchases during the holiday season," said Stephen Lewis at Monument Securities in London.

However, he noted growth is still unlikely to be strong enough to fill spare capacity, meaning the economy still has plenty of idle resources such as factories and workers. Unemployment, which has remained stubbornly high despite the recovery, is a top concern for the Federal Reserve, which has shown no indication of wanting to tighten its monetary policy anytime soon.

In Europe, eyes were on Spain, where the government reached a deal with unions on raising the retirement age to 67 from 65. Along with measures to bolster the troubled savings banks, the pension reform plan is a key component in the country's fight to ease tensions over the debt crisis.

Madrid's exchange was among the top risers in Europe -- gaining 0.4 percent -- as the pensions deal offset the news that Spanish unemployment rose back above the 20 percent level in the fourth quarter.

Elsewhere, Britain's FTSE 100 was 0.7 percent lower at 5,920.05 while Germany's DAX gained 0.1 percent to 7,163.20. France's CAC-40 was down 0.1 percent to 4,056.93.

Europe's debt crisis has eased over the past weeks on signs that governments are committed to a broader, bolder strategy to regain market confidence. Public borrowing rates have fallen and the 17-nation euro has rallied sharply. On Friday, thorld stock markets mostly slipped Friday as investors braced for growth figures for the U.S. economy, the world's largest, and worried about debt problems in large economies like Japan.

Markets were still rattled from the previous day's credit rating downgrade of Japan by Standard & Poor's. Rival agency Moody's Investors Service later said that the U.S. rating outlook remains under pressure, increasing the likelihood that it might fall to 'negative' from 'stable' over the next two years due to high levels of debt.

Against that backdrop, the U.S. economic growth figures for the fourth quarter will be crucial to markets.

Economists on average forecast that the economy expanded at an annualized rate of 3.5 percent in the October-December quarter. If they are right, it would show the economy has consistently gained speed since hitting a rough patch in the spring, when Europe's debt crisis hurt sales of U.S. exports and crimped business activity.

How well consumer spending picks up will be key, as it accounts for three quarters of the U.S. economy and a fifth of global growth.

"The financial markets have been taking a rosier view of U.S. economic performance in recent weeks, largely on indications of stronger than expected consumer purchases during the holiday season," said Stephen Lewis at Monument Securities in London.

However, he noted growth is still unlikely to be strong enough to fill spare capacity, meaning the economy still has plenty of idle resources such as factories and workers. Unemployment, which has remained stubbornly high despite the recovery, is a top concern for the Federal Reserve, which has shown no indication of wanting to tighten its monetary policy anytime soon.

In Europe, eyes were on Spain, where the government reached a deal with unions on raising the retirement age to 67 from 65. Along with measures to bolster the troubled savings banks, the pension reform plan is a key component in the country's fight to ease tensions over the debt crisis.

Madrid's exchange was among the top risers in Europe -- gaining 0.4 percent -- as the pensions deal offset the news that Spanish unemployment rose back above the 20 percent level in the fourth quarter.

Elsewhere, Britain's FTSE 100 was 0.7 percent lower at 5,920.05 while Germany's DAX gained 0.1 percent to 7,163.20. France's CAC-40 was down 0.1 percent to 4,056.93.

Europe's debt crisis has eased over the past weeks on signs that governments are committed to a broader, bolder strategy to regain market confidence. Public borrowing rates have fallen and the 17-nation euro has rallied sharply. On Friday, the common currency was down slightly from two-month highs to trade at $1.3695 from $1.3729 in New York late Thursday.

Wall Street was headed for a lower opening, with Dow futures down 0.1 percent to 11,938 and S&P 500 futures losing 0.1 percent to 1,294.

In Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average dropped 1.1 percent to close at 10,360.34 as traders reacted to the news -- revealed after the close the previous day-- that Standard & Poor's has lowered Japan's long-term sovereign debt rating one notch to AA- due to its ballooning public debt.

Investors dumped shares in banks, which own large amounts of government bonds. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Japan's biggest bank, fell 2.7 percent. Mizuho Financial Group, the No. 2 banking group, declined 1.2 percent and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group retreated 1.6 percent.

Analysts said signs of weakness in some of the world's leading economies were causing investors to think hard about stocks and whether now was a time to jump in, stay put, or head for the exits.

The rating given Japan on Thursday -- its first downgrade in almost nine years -- is the same rating given to China, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The news sent the dollar as high as 83.18 yen late Thursday from 82.20 yen. On Friday it was trading at 82.63.

The downgrade is a stern reminder to Japan that it faces consequences for letting its debt swell to twice the size of gross domestic product. The government estimated Japan's public debt would swell to 997.7 trillion yen ($12 trillion) by March 2012, up from 943 trillion yen this year.

Elsewhere, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0.7 percent at 4,774.90 as the first estimates of the economic cost of east coast flooding -- possibly the most expensive natural disaster in Australia's history -- were released.

South Korea's Kospi declined 0.3 percent to 2,107.87 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.7 percent to 23,617.02. Shares in Indonesia and Thailand were all lower.

China's Shanghai Composite index gained 0.1 percent to 2,752.75. Benchmarks in Taiwan and New Zealand were also higher.

Benchmark crude for March delivery was down 1 cent at $85.63 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.69 to settle at $85.64 a barrel on Thursday.e common currency was down slightly from two-month highs to trade at $1.3695 from $1.3729 in New York late Thursday.

Wall Street was headed for a lower opening, with Dow futures down 0.1 percent to 11,938 and S&P 500 futures losing 0.1 percent to 1,294.

In Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average dropped 1.1 percent to close at 10,360.34 as traders reacted to the news -- revealed after the close the previous day-- that Standard & Poor's has lowered Japan's long-term sovereign debt rating one notch to AA- due to its ballooning public debt.

Investors dumped shares in banks, which own large amounts of government bonds. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Japan's biggest bank, fell 2.7 percent. Mizuho Financial Group, the No. 2 banking group, declined 1.2 percent and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group retreated 1.6 percent.

Analysts said signs of weakness in some of the world's leading economies were causing investors to think hard about stocks and whether now was a time to jump in, stay put, or head for the exits.

The rating given Japan on Thursday -- its first downgrade in almost nine years -- is the same rating given to China, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The news sent the dollar as high as 83.18 yen late Thursday from 82.20 yen. On Friday it was trading at 82.63.

The downgrade is a stern reminder to Japan that it faces consequences for letting its debt swell to twice the size of gross domestic product. The government estimated Japan's public debt would swell to 997.7 trillion yen ($12 trillion) by March 2012, up from 943 trillion yen this year.

Elsewhere, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0.7 percent at 4,774.90 as the first estimates of the economic cost of east coast flooding -- possibly the most expensive natural disaster in Australia's history -- were released.

South Korea's Kospi declined 0.3 percent to 2,107.87 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.7 percent to 23,617.02. Shares in Indonesia and Thailand were all lower.

China's Shanghai Composite index gained 0.1 percent to 2,752.75. Benchmarks in Taiwan and New Zealand were also higher.

Benchmark crude for March delivery was down 1 cent at $85.63 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.69 to settle at $85.64 a barrel on Thursday.
Against that backdrop, the U.S. economic growth figures for the fourth quarter will be crucial to markets.

Economists on average forecast that the economy expanded at an annualized rate of 3.5 percent in the October-December quarter. If they are right, it would show the economy has consistently gained speed since hitting a rough patch in the spring, when Europe's debt crisis hurt sales of U.S. exports and crimped business activity.

How well consumer spending picks up will be key, as it accounts for three quarters of the U.S. economy and a fifth of global growth.

"The financial markets have been taking a rosier view of U.S. economic performance in recent weeks, largely on indications of stronger than expected consumer purchases during the holiday season," said Stephen Lewis at Monument Securities in London.

However, he noted growth is still unlikely to be strong enough to fill spare capacity, meaning the economy still has plenty of idle resources such as factories and workers. Unemployment, which has remained stubbornly high despite the recovery, is a top concern for the Federal Reserve, which has shown no indication of wanting to tighten its monetary policy anytime soon.

In Europe, eyes were on Spain, where the government reached a deal with unions on raising the retirement age to 67 from 65. Along with measures to bolster the troubled savings banks, the pension reform plan is a key component in the country's fight to ease tensions over the debt crisis.

Madrid's exchange was among the top risers in Europe -- gaining 0.4 percent -- as the pensions deal offset the news that Spanish unemployment rose back above the 20 percent level in the fourth quarter.

Elsewhere, Britain's FTSE 100 was 0.7 percent lower at 5,920.05 while Germany's DAX gained 0.1 percent to 7,163.20. France's CAC-40 was down 0.1 percent to 4,056.93.

Europe's debt crisis has eased over the past weeks on signs that governments are committed to a broader, bolder strategy to regain market confidence. Public borrowing rates have fallen and the 17-nation euro has rallied sharply. On Friday, the common currency was down slightly from two-month highs to trade at $1.3695 from $1.3729 in New York late Thursday.

Wall Street was headed for a lower opening, with Dow futures down 0.1 percent to 11,938 and S&P 500 futures losing 0.1 percent to 1,294.

In Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average dropped 1.1 percent to close at 10,360.34 as traders reacted to the news -- revealed after the close the previous day-- that Standard & Poor's has lowered Japan's long-term sovereign debt rating one notch to AA- due to its ballooning public debt.

Investors dumped shares in banks, which own large amounts of government bonds. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Japan's biggest bank, fell 2.7 percent. Mizuho Financial Group, the No. 2 banking group, declined 1.2 percent and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group retreated 1.6 percent.

Analysts said signs of weakness in some of the world's leading economies were causing investors to think hard about stocks and whether now was a time to jump in, stay put, or head for the exits.

The rating given Japan on Thursday -- its first downgrade in almost nine years -- is the same rating given to China, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The news sent the dollar as high as 83.18 yen late Thursday from 82.20 yen. On Friday it was trading at 82.63.

The downgrade is a stern reminder to Japan that it faces consequences for letting its debt swell to twice the size of gross domestic product. The government estimated Japan's public debt would swell to 997.7 trillion yen ($12 trillion) by March 2012, up from 943 trillion yen this year.

Elsewhere, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0.7 percent at 4,774.90 as the first estimates of the economic cost of east coast flooding -- possibly the most expensive natural disaster in Australia's history -- were released.

South Korea's Kospi declined 0.3 percent to 2,107.87 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.7 percent to 23,617.02. Shares in Indonesia and Thailand were all lower.

China's Shanghai Composite index gained 0.1 percent to 2,752.75. Benchmarks in Taiwan and New Zealand were also higher.

Benchmark crude for March delivery was down 1 cent at $85.63 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.69 to settle at $85.64 a barrel on Thursday.

A SWOT analysis of Jamaica's economy

SINCE the start of the year I have received many questions (both locally and internationally) about the prospects for Jamaica's economy in 2011 and beyond. Perhaps more so today than in previous years, persons are understandably more curious about Jamaica's prospects for growth. This is understandable because with the world coming out of a very significant global recession, there are many realignments of investment portfolios taking place, and investors are more cautious, after being ravaged by the global events since 2007.

Investors also are becoming a lot more conscious of global investments, and understand that true diversification is not just among asset classes but more importantly between economies. This is an underlying ph
Nine Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces at Luhur forest in Jharkhand's Latehar district in the wee hours on Friday.

"Nine bodies of the Maoists were recovered after the encounter at Luhur jungle under Barwadih police station," Latehar Superintendent of Police Kuldweep Diwedi told PTI over phone.

Security forces comprising CRPF and the district police have also recovered arms and ammunition from the spot,

To know more click hear
ilosophy that Jamaican policymakers need to understand as we craft policies around the economy. As a result of improvements in technology and investor awareness, there are greater choices across economies when choosing where to put money to work. So that even an individual investor can open an online brokerage account and invest overseas in what they consider a more attractive and predictable environment. This, I believe, will be the scene for investors from 2011 going forward, and will be to the disadvantage of countries that do not get their investment environment right.

One particular question being asked is, what are the prospects for the Jamaican economy and investments in particular? I don't believe that this question can be answered in a "one size fits all" sort of way, as it depends a lot on the type of investment one is involved in. For example, while I believe that there are significant growth prospects for small businesses, it depends on the type of business one is in and the approach to that business development.

What I would therefore like to do in this article is look at a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of the Jamaican economy. This requires much further discourse for anyone looking at an investment or business opportunity.

The table outlines generally the SWOT of the Jamaican economy as I see it, and provides an indication (based on interpretation) of where businesses and investors should be looking for 2011 and beyond.

US stock market daily report (26/01/11, Wednesday)

President Obama's State of the Union address gave stocks a boost today, helping the Dow Jones rise above 12,000. Last night in Obama's address, he promised to focus on job creation and lowering corporate tax rates. Investors were confident in future business after the President said he wanted to close corporate tax loopholes for the first time in 25 years and use that revenue to lower tax rates. It was also encouraging to hear Obama is in support of a five-year freeze on discretionary spending, resulting in the deficit being lowered by $400 billion over the next 10 years. Investors were very pleased with Obama's plans, helping them look past today's weak reports on earnings. Stocks were rising today; the Dow passed the key 12,000 mark. 

 

Today was the first time since 2008 the Dow has been at this level; it is an encouraging sign for the markets. Analysts are crediting today's increase to higher investor confidence following the State of the Union address. Investors also waited for the Federal Reserve's comments on the Central bank's two day policy meeting that ended today; the news didn't heavily affect the markets since investors were pretty sure today's report would show interest rates remain unchanged, which they did. The markets surly didn't rise off of today's corporate earnings. After the close yesterday, Yahoo gave fourth quarter results that came in under what analysts were expecting, sending shares down over 2% in today's session. Shares of Bowing were also falling, as the company said it expects to see earnings per share for the year to be less than analysts were expecting. Boeing said fourth quarter earnings were at $1.56 per share, more than the $1.11 per share analysts forecasted.

 

 

Stocks gave up some of their earlier gains, but managed to remain in the positive; all three major indexes were still rising, with the NASDAQ making the most gains. Commodities were rising; both gold and crude oil prices were increasing following yesterday's losses. As the dollar fell versus the pound and the yen; the greenback rose against the euro. With just under an hour left in the trading session, the Dow was still at a gain of 20 points.

HUL Q3 net marginally declines at Rs 637.5 cr

Hindustan Unilever (HUL), the country's largest fast moving consumer goods company, has posted a marginal decline of 1.78 per cent in net profit at Rs 637.51 crore in the third quarter ending December 31, 2010 as compared to Rs 649.11 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Total income during the period under consideration, however, increased from Rs 4,573.23 crore to Rs 5,127.71 crore.

With sustained double-digit underlying volume growth in the domestic consumer business (13 per cent), net sales grew 12 per cent during the quarter and ahead of the market in aggregate. Home and personal care business grew by 11.6 per cent with competitive growth in both laundry and personal wash. Laundry portfolio was further strengthened with Rin delivering record volume growth.

Harish Manwani, chairman said: “Our strategy is working and is reflected in the consistent double digit underlying volume growth over the last four quarters and ahead of market growth. We continue to strengthen our leadership in core categories, even as we invest to build opportunities for the future. In an inflationary environment, we will manage our business dynamically, through judicious pricing actions and increased focus on cost effectiveness, while ensuring that we remain competitive in the market place.”

Personal wash grew ahead of the market with Lifebuoy growing strongly post the relaunch and the premium portfolio continued to deliver robust growth. Personal products grew strongly at 20 per cent across categories with skin care delivering a particularly strong performance.

Skin care growth was innovation led, both on the core and in emerging segments. Fair and Lovely, Ponds White Beauty and Vaseline Healthy White continued to deliver robust sales growth. Both Hair and Oral performed well across the key brands. Dove Hair range was relaunched with Fiber Actives and in Oral, a new variant Close-up, Fire-Freeze. was successfully introduced. Foods business grew 11.3 per cent.

In tea, Red Label was relaunched continuing to deliver double-digit growth. Coffee growth was robust, across conventional and instant coffee, with price point packs performing particularly well. Knorr soupy noodles sustained its strong momentum and is now available nationally. Ice-cream grew by 31 per cent with good growth across formats.

Pureit continued to expand its franchise with product offerings across multiple price and benefit positions. Overall, the water business grew strongly and in line with action standards. Input cost inflation continued to rise during the quarter.

Cost of goods sold went up by 220 bps, as a result of steep rise in material costs, especially in commodity sensitive categories. A&P spend grew by 17 per cent to maintain market competitiveness and to develop emerging categories. Consequently, operating margins were lower by 320 bps.

Financial income increased by Rs 38 crore through further improvement in working capital and sound treasury management. Profit after tax but before exceptional items declined by 2.1 per cent, while net profit declined by 1.8 per cent.

The shares of HUL were trading down 0.77 per cent at Rs 295.60 on the BSE at 1:12 pm.

Australia slowly emerges as prime market for online retail

Australia is fast-gaining a reputation as a global hub for online shopping, with no less than US giant internet retailer eBay reportedly alluding to the Aussie market as a viable and standout business consideration for web retailers.

The remarks made by eBay chief executive John Donahoe came weeks after a debate was spawned by giant Australian retailers led by Gerry Harvey, when the group called on the federal government to consider the imposition of GST on online purchases originating from Australia.

The group, which also comprised of Solomon Lew and the head of Myer and David Jones, drew flak from Australian consumers, who scored the retail group's position as self-serving and insensitive of shoppers' general welfare.

Harvey pushed forward his suggestion amidst fluctuating performance of the retail sector even during the peak of the holiday season, when shoppers were expected to accelerate their local spending.

Retailers blamed the emerging behaviour of local consumers, in which they turn to online shopping for its offering of more convenience and more savings. Australian retailers explained that internet sellers are able to provide cheaper products due to their lower operations cost.

Harvey also scored that fact that online retailers are not paying local taxes as he asserted during his initial campaign for GST to be imposed on online providers that "if I think something is right I'll fight for it, always have."

Yet his campaign appeared to have adapted a milder tone lately as Harvey revealed that his recent back-pedalling was mostly caused by attacks that he described as increasingly becoming "vicious and hateful."

Australian retailers have been complaining that they are absorbing significant losses owing to the present environment in the industry and reports are swirling around that many retailers are rethinking their current approach to combat rising rent costs and to reach more customers.

Chief of Australian retailers' concern is the prohibitive costs of land leases in the country as Myer chief executive lamented that the business climate in the US is more accommodating for retailers, citing that "in California, some of the largest shopping centres are well out of the cities where the land and rent are a lot cheaper."

However, consumer group Choice reminded the retailers that they may be missing the real reason why they are lagging behind and sales are on a downward spiral.

Choice campaign director Christopher Zinn told The Australian that "the big chains should recognise that it's their high prices, limited range and poor customer service that increasingly encourage people to use the internet."

Business-community support gives Falcon his wings

Christy Clark leads the opinion polls among candidates for the B.C. Liberal leadership. George Abbott is well positioned as the compromise choice.

Mike de Jong is the sleeper, whose vote tally may well surprise his rivals. Moira Stilwell and Ed Mayne are the undisputed also-rans.

But Kevin Falcon stands out from the six-pack of leadership hopefuls in one regard -- endorsements from the business community.
The Falcon campaign has been trumpeting its support from business and corporate leaders in a series of press releases.

Each sets out the latest inductees into Falcon 20/20, described as "a group of B.C. business people who believe that Kevin Falcon's experience and vision for B.C. make him the clear choice to be the best premier."

The 20/20 moniker -- a play on the slogan "clear vision, clear choice" -- echoes the Top 20, the group of corporate leaders that backed Social Credit during the Bill Bennett era.

Falcon is an unabashed admirer of Bennett and cites him as a leadership model in a recent video where he tries to underscore the differences between his more team-oriented leadership style and that of the current premier, Gordon Campbell.

But where the names of Bennett's Top 20 were kept secret (until leaked to Vancouver Sun columnist Marjorie Nichols during the 1986 Socred leadership race), the members of Falcon's 20/20 are a matter of public record.

The group is chaired by Ryan Beedie, president of the Beedie Group, one of the province's largest developers of industrial property and one-time would-be buyer of the Vancouver Canucks along with Tom Gaglardi.

Also a member of Falcon's 20/20 is Gaglardi, chairman and chief executive officer of Sandman Hotels, grandson of the legendary Social Credit highways minister, "Flying" Phil Gaglardi.

Other key members: Kyle Washington, Seaspan International. Christian Chia, Open Road auto dealerships. Terry McBride, Nettwerk Music. Cam McNeill, MAC Marketing home builders. Roger Hardy, Coastal Contacts/ Clearly Contacts.

Peter Armstrong, Rocky Mountaineer tourist train. John O'Neill, O'Neill hotels and resorts. Restaurateurs Stan Fuller (Earl's), Jeff Fuller (Joey's), David Aisenstat (Keg), Rick Jaffray (Cactus Club) and Emad Yacoub (Glowbal).

Plus, in no particular order: Carolyn Cross, Ondine Biomedical. Samir Manji, Amica Mature Lifestyles. Matt Young, Innovative Fitness. Zahra Mamdani, Wear Else Fashions. Paolo Kalaw, Frontier Dental labs. Tom Greenough, Tom Tar Roofing. Eric Carlson, Anthem Properties.

Sarah MacNeill, MacNeill Yakamoto Recruitment. Rob Macdonald, Macdonald Development real estate. Jeff Booth, Build Direct building materials. Salim Karim, Inn House Retail. Jim Case, Travelers Financial. Paul Hemsley, Hemmera environmental consultants.

Leah Costello, Curious Mind Productions. John Vickerstaff, Network Bonding and Insurance. Bob Cross, Bankers Petroleum. Lance Sparling, Wakefield Home Builders. Lorraine Cunningham, Cunningham Group. Tom Kramer, Canadian Utility Construction. Steve Ashforth, Glastech Contracting.

George Horie, Sanctuary TV series. Martin Charlwood, Uniglobe Travel. Chuck van der Lee, Ananda Holdings, restaurants. Greg Fleck, Service Works Distribution. Tina Osen, HUB International insurance brokers. Riaz Pisani, Contac Services online supply management.

Christopher Philps, Fairborne Homes. John Frostad, Shearers Foods. Suki Sekhon, CRS real estate. John Pacey, Verathon Medical. Holly Gordon, iPOWOW online market research. Steven Dean, Oceanic Iron Ore. Glenn Bailey, Bailey Group business consultants. Sam Gudewill, Pacific Group. Roger Finnie, Pemberton Insurance. Eric Savics, Haywood Securities.

The press releases tout Falcon as the get-things-done guy in the Liberal government, which readily explains his attraction to business leaders. But being top-heavy with such connections also makes him a target for accusations that he'll favour business over the public interest.

Indeed the New Democratic Party Opposition pounced on Friday, noting that a charter member of the Falcon 20/20, Roger Hardy, was urging customers of his Clearly Contacts business to join the Liberals and vote for Kevin Falcon.

The firm, as the New Democrats noted, had already benefited from a Falcon-led decision to relax regulations regarding sale of glasses and contacts. True, though as Hardy noted in his letter to customers, the change also benefited consumers.

"Today, thanks to legislation introduced by the B.C. Liberal Party last year, the doors have been opened to competition in our industry, dramatically reducing the price of contact lenses [and] eyeglasses. This legislation will save British Columbians millions of dollars over the next five years." Then the pitch to join the party -- "it takes two minutes and costs only $10" -- and vote for his man Falcon, "a candidate with experience and a willingness to make changes that require leadership, and benefit all British Columbians."

Hardy's is just one of the 49 names on Falcon's list. Look for the New Democrats to open a file on each of them, just in case Corporate Kevin proves to be as popular with Liberal members as he is with the business sector.