Stephen Darori's Blog (11)

For frustrated investors looking to justify the ban of credit default swaps (CDS), look no further than last week’s corporate bankruptcies of Canadian newsprint producer AbitibiBowater Inc. (ABWTQ) and U.S. shopping center developer General Growth Properties Inc. (GGP). In both of these cases, credit default swaps became an actual bankruptcy catalyst - for the first time ever. In the lead-up to both bankruptcies, the lenders who had debt outstanding - who would have the right to vote on any reor… Continue

From the beginning of the credit crisis and ensuing recession, it has become conventional wisdom that “no one saw this coming”. Anatole Kaletsky wrote in The Times of “those who failed to foresee the gravity of this crisis” – a group that included “almost every leading economist and financier in the world”. Glenn Stevens, governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, said: “I do not know anyone who predicted this course of events. But it has occurred, it has implications, and so we must reflect on… Continue

SOCIALISM You have two cows. You give one to your neighbor. COMMUNISM You have two cows. The State takes both and gives you some milk. FASCISM You have two cows. The State takes both and sells you some milk. BUREAUCRATISM You have two cows. The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then throws the milk away. TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income. VENTURE CAP… Continue

A brief history of innovation: In the beginning, there were lone inventors who changed the world. John Harrison was one of the most prominent – the clock-maker became famous and (eventually) rich in the 18th century by building a clock so accurate and so resilient in the face of changing temperatures and constant rocking that it could be taken on board a ship and used to calculate the ship’s longitude. In doing so, Harrison pitted himself against the might of the Royal Observatory, which had bee… Continue

Caution. Uncertainty. Opportunity. That's the theme from members of the Angel Capital Association (ACA) as they consider 2009. In December, the ACA reported on a mid-November survey of its membership that indicated that due to the recession, investments had decreased in 2008 from 2007 levels and were anticipated to decrease in 2009. However, some angel groups increased their investments in 2008 and anticipated making new investments in 2009 as new opportunities arise from difficult economic cond… Continue

New regulations could retard the innovation our economy needs. Just when the economy needs risk-taking the most, risk-takers are under the most threat. The Treasury now wants venture-capital firms declared as systemic risks and put under tight restrictions as part of the broader re-regulation of financial firms. Venture capitalists argue that since they don’t use debt and their firms are comparatively small, they shouldn’t come under rules designed for highly leveraged, too-big-to-fail banks. Ho… Continue

VC is not an industry Far from merely an excusable slip of the pen, the self serving pronouncement in the title of Bill's article is indicative of how many Venture Capitalists see themselves; as the center of the universe of innovation. A balsy statement for VCs to make considering that they hold no assets (I'll explain). Some of them go even further by correlating their, should I repeat dismal performance to the capacity of disruptive innovation and even the lack of great entrepreneurs. It is… Continue

EUROPEAN INVESTMENTS OFF SHORE HOLDING COMPANY European Investments Offshore Holding Company is the holding company of the AK European Group. AK European Investments is the largest of 19 independent offshore holding companies. There is no legal or other reason why the 19 holding companies should be consolidated. If they were the Group would rate as one of the largest private companies in the world and possible the largest in terms of cash flow and net after taxes profit. The Group is also known… Continue

RESUME OF DR STEPHEN DARORI – Dr. Stephen Darori is the Group CFO and Senior VP Investment Manager of three Divisions Investment Divisions of European Investments Off Shore Holdings Company based in Geneva, Switzerland. He heads the High Technology Investments Division, the Alternative Energy Investments Division and the Alternative Investments Division. European Investments Off Shore Holdings Company is the holding company the Group also known as the AK European Investments Group. AK European I… Continue

Mr. Sharon Weshler, you are the wrong person to post this nonsense. You for 4 years had two distinct Linkedin Accounts. Your current one with a picture 10 years old and another one that has now " disappeared” showing you with a shaven head.( God knows why you need to shave your head as part of your deception but you deceived only yourself). 1000's of Linkedin members have more than one Linkedin account and Linkedin does not expressly forbid anyone from having more than one account but God Knows… Continue

RESUME OF DR STEPHEN DARORI – Dr. Stephen Darori is the Group CFO and Senior VP Investment Manager of three Divisions Investment Divisions of European Investments Off Shore Holdings Company based in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Stephen Darori heads the High Technology Investments Division, the Alternative Energy Investments Division and the Alternative Investments Division.. European Investments Off Shore Holdings Company is the holding company of the AK European Investments Group. AK European Inves… Continue