Mac Alpha Share Discussion Threads

[energyi] 02/10/2006 08:48

TIPS for starting a business:

[energyi] 02/10/2006 08:36

Adelson: Las Vegas Sands Billionaire Chief Ups Ante On Macau
Chris Noon, 03.14.05, 8:49 AM ET

NEW YORK - Doers and doings in business, entertainment and technology:

Sheldon Adelson

Pair of aces? Las Vegas Sands (nyse: LVS - news - people ) and Hong Kong's Regal Hotels International are to team up on a hotel-casino project in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau.

The Vegas-based casino operator is headed by Sheldon Adelson [=341809], the 11th-richest person in the U.S. and the 19th-richest person in the world. He is looking to up the ante after the Macau government ended the four-decades-old gambling monopoly of another billionaire, Stanley Ho. The project in Macau's Cotai area will offer around 1,500 rooms, a casino and a showroom as Sands looks to recreate the Las Vegas Strip of the Orient. Regal Hotels Executive Director Donald Fan [NO TEAR] has been quoted as saying his company will invest up to $260 million in the former Portuguese colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1999. Regal Hotels already boasts five hotels in nearby Hong Kong, and two in Shanghai. Las Vegas Sands, which raised more than $690 million with an initial public offering in December, is the third-largest U.S. casino company behind MGM Mirage (nyse: MGG - news - people ) and Harrah's Entertainment (nyse: HET - news - people ).

More

@:

[don muang] 02/10/2006 07:56

I assume people reading this thread are aware of the following company:

Completion of Fundraising
RNS Number:0135E
Macau Property Opportunity Fund Ltd
05 June 2006

Macau Property Opportunities Fund Limited

Successful completion of #105 million fundraising

The Board of Macau Property Opportunities Fund Limited (the "Company") today
announces that the placing by Collins Stewart Limited raised gross proceeds of
#105 million. The Company, which was advised by West Hill Corporate Finance
Limited, has an issued share capital of 105,000,000 ordinary shares (the
"Shares"). All the Shares have today been admitted to trading on AIM.

The Company will focus on investing in property opportunities, primarily in
Macau, but also potentially in the Western Pearl River Delta region and, in
exceptional circumstances, greater China. The Company is in ongoing discussions
regarding a number of potential acquisitions.

Property management advice will be provided by Sniper Capital, which has an
established track record managing an existing private Macau property fund.

Macau, which is currently the only Chinese city where gambling is legal, is
attracting substantial foreign investment. This investment, allied with
increasing tourism numbers, a booming gaming industry, new transport
infrastructure and new leisure facilities combines to provide a powerful growth
dynamic to the property market.

The Company intends to target, principally, niche developments of the type which
are often overlooked by large developers and which offer opportunities to
achieve an attractive total return through their location, sector or '
value-added' potential. Sniper Capital will look to add value through the
development, refurbishment, redevelopment, change of use and repositioning of
properties.

There are currently several large-scale developments being undertaken in Macau,
such as the new mega-casinos and hotel complexes. Sniper Capital believes that
there are significant opportunities to achieve an attractive return from
investments in smaller developments or developments independent of, while
complementary to, the large casino and hotel sites.


--oo--

[wiganer] 09/3/2006 07:21

Interesting stuff.

I have a small interest in this area via a few shares in Wynn Resorts.

[energyi] 09/3/2006 06:34

The Macao Special Administrative Region is comprised of the Macao Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane. It is located on the southeast coast of Mainland China, at the west of the Pearl River Delta, about 60 km to the southwest of Hong Kong. Macao is a trade city that has always had a free market economy, a simple and low tax regime, the status as a free port and an independent tariff region.

Macao – Key Data 2005
Area................... 28.2 sq km
Population............. 488,000
Gross Domestic Product: USD 11.58 billion
Gross Domestic Product per capita USD 24,329
Visitors............... 18.70 million
Export Value..........: USD 2.48 billion
Import Value..........: USD 3.92 billion


More maps:

= = =

The following factors contribute to the fast development of Macau real estae market and investments:

+ #1 casino city in the World with US$ 6+ billions gaming revenue projected for 2006.

+ >10% GDP growth and per capita GDP of US$ 24,300 in 2005 (per statistics and census service).

+ Voted as #1 Asian city with the "Best Economy Potential" for 2005-2006 by fDI (Foreigh Direct Investment) magazine.

+ 500,000 population driving to become the biggest center of gaming, tourims, conventions, entertainments and luxury retail industries in East Asia.

+ 20+ millions visitors with many tourist attactions such as the United Nation's World Heritage Site.

+ 60,000 new jobs being created that attract influx of new immigrants and expatriate professions.

+ US$ 12+ billions investments to build mega convention-casino- hotels: Venetian, Wynn, MGM-Grand, StarWorld, Crown Macau, City of Dream, Shangri-la, Four Seasons, Marriott, Sheraton, InterContinental, Hilton, Regal, Dorsett, Fairmont Raffles etc.

+ 1/3 of average housing price in Hong Kong, high local housing affordability and active re-sales property and rental market.

+ 10 - 20 years mortgage loans for up to 50% appraised values for qualified foreign property investors.

+ 0% local capital gain tax for property sales, plus low corporate and individual income tax rates attractive to business enterprenuers and professional workers.

+ HK$ 1,500,000 in investment and bank reserve in Macau to qualify for investment residency visa, with advantages such as free visa travel to 56+ countries, 12 years free education and medical cares in Macau etc.
. @:

= = = = =
LINKS:
Macau Hub ......... :
Tax Havens ........ :
Start Business Tips :
Macau Links. : : :

[energyi] 09/3/2006 06:33

Viva Macau receives clearance for take-off

1 March 2006

South China Morning Post

Viva Macau was approved for take-off yesterday after the city's aviation officials awarded south China's newest carrier exclusive rights to 15 international destinations from the former Portuguese colony.

Completion of the sub-concession agreement after eight months of talks with state regulators put the carrier on course to launch its first regional flights in June, with management touting airfares about 25 per cent lower than market rates.

"Macau is an increasingly popular travel destination and we are making a firm commitment: Viva Macau will be a key partner in driving our city's tourism growth," president Ngan In Leng said.

About half of the destinations awarded to Viva Macau are believed to be outside Asia.

Chief executive Andrew Pyne said Viva Macau would begin with regional destinations in June. However, it also expected to fly to Europe and the Indian subcontinent before the end of the year.

"We are still looking at a June start but the exact timing depends on the availability of aircraft," Mr Pyne said. "I'd like to buy the newest generation of composite aircraft from Boeing or Airbus, but, with delivery slots not available until 2009, [they] are struggling to supply the interim lift to secure a multibillion-dollar order for 12 aircraft."

He said the final deal would be finalised "in days rather than weeks" with Viva Macau expected to offer tickets on the internet by the end of next month.

[energyi] 15/1/2006 21:22

Report: Secrets of Doing Business in Macao:
https://www.britcham.com/asp/DispAttachment.asp?Id=282&Func=Article

Notes:
IPIM (Macao Trade & Investment Promotion Institute):


AMCM: quasi Central Bank :
27 banks, 4 with headquarters

report transactions of more than MOP 100,000
Total assets: 171.3 billiom = (USD 21.4 billion)
wealth management is underdeveloped

Tax rates range from 0 -12% (12% is on profits over MOP 300,000)

[energyi] 03/4/2005 12:35

Betting on the Strip
Gaming magnate Sheldon Adelson announces plans for a strip in Asia's Las Vegas. Hint: it's big
BY ILYA GARGER/MACAU

Monday, Mar. 21, 2005
With its kilometers of flashing neon and monster casinos that look like billion-dollar monuments to kitsch, the Las Vegas Strip might seem impossibleot to mention inadvisableo replicate. But Sheldon Adelson, the CEO of Las Vegas Sands and the city's richest developer, thinks America's gambling mecca is ripe for cloning. Last week he flew to Macau, the only place in China where casinos are legal, to unveil a glittering scale model of the Cotai Strip, a $12-15 billion development modeled on Las Vegas' famed stretch of luxury hotels and gaming dens.



Macau has been undergoing an economic boom since the local government ended a longstanding monopoly and opened the casino business to foreign investors in 2002. But the Cotai Strip takes the boom, and the city's glitz factor, to a whole new level. The first part of the project, slated for completion in 2007, includes Hilton, Marriott, Dorsett, Sheraton, InterContinental, Regal and Four Seasons hotels and casinos in addition to Adelson's own Venetian Macao. Besides more than doubling the number of hotel rooms in the city, the 1.3-km Cotai Strip's initial phase will boost entertainment and business facilities with an arena for concerts and sporting events (including NBA games) and a convention center. By the time the strip is finished in seven to 10 years, it will feature 20 hotels with an average of 3,000 guest rooms each.

Adelson says he's encouraged by the success of his Sands Macao casino opened last May. The Sands is already approaching $1 billion in gambling revenue (compared with an annual take of $450 million at Adelson's Las Vegas flagship, The Venetian) and is expected to break even in the next few months. Adelson is so confident in his vision of a Vegas of the Eastn idea that he says came to him in a dream that he's trademarked the phrase "Asia's Las Vegas." And why, by the way, does Asia need a Las Vegas? Says Adelson: "Because it doesn't have one."

@:

[energyi] 03/4/2005 12:33

Sheldon Adelson
Posted by: K Bailey
Posted on: June 25, 2004, 4:55 PM PDT

Story: Organizer cancels Comdex 2004

While reading my Newsweek I see that Sheldon Adelson has his sites on Macao, a former Portugese colony in China which is set to become the new Eastern Las Vegas. Always ahead of the curve, I thought. Minutes later I hear COMDEX has been canceled. Although it was under his management during the years when exhibitors were becoming alienated with higher prices and when the show "floors" were virtually bursting at the seams, exhausting attendees, he knew when it was time to go. Practically broke when he started the company, he created and grew a concept that previously didn't exist. After deciding things had run their course, he sold the company for $2billion. It seems odd the present owners of the shows blame the demise of the brand on him. I believe he moved on and no one had the vision to fill his shoes

@:

[energyi] 03/4/2005 12:13

Sheldon Adelson
Number: 16222
Subject: Business
Source: Sun (Las Vegas, Nev.)
State: Nevada
Title: Sheldon Adelson
Author(s): Steve Kanigher
Year: 1999
Publication date: April 25-29, 1999
Summary: The Las Vegas Sun examined the story of "...Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who parlayed the sale of the world's largest trade show into [the] construction of a major casino on the famed Las Vegas Strip."
Category: Contest Entry
Total pages: 28
Keywords: backgrounding Comdex The Venetian The Sands Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority labor unions rags-to-riches political contributions charity philanthropy resorts hotels entertainment controversy business mogul deal-maker

[energyi] 03/4/2005 12:09

Sheldon G. Adelson
Chairman of the Board
Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Sheldon G. Adelson is Chairman of the Board and principal owner of Las Vegas Sands Corp., the parent company of The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and Venetian Macao Limited in Macao, China. A dynamic entrepreneur, business visionary, and venture capitalist, Mr. Adelson's business career spans five decades.

Growing up in a poor immigrant family in Boston, he went to work at a young age hawking newspapers on local street corners, and owned his first business by the time he was twelve. In the years that followed, he worked as a mortgage broker, investment adviser and financial consultant. To this point in his career, Mr. Adelson has created and developed to maturity more than 50 different companies, including COMDEX, a tradeshow he developed for the computer industry. At his direction, COMDEX became the world's largest trade show with a presence in more than 20 countries.

...MORE: