Shaw Capital Guide to Business Loans from Family & Friends

Shaw Capital Management and Financing – The key to successful financing is structuring loans right. Avoid Debt Management Scams.

An estimated half of all small businesses depend on private investments from family and friends for startup or expansion. Shipping giant UPS was launched when 19-year-old entrepreneur Jim Casey borrowed $100 from a friend to start the company nearly 100 years ago in Seattle. And when teenager Fred DeLuca open a sandwich shop in 1965 with a $1,000 check from a family friend, Subway (now 25,000 restaurants) was born. Friends and family are the single most important outside funding source for small business in America. But there are risks, and "F&F" money must be approached carefully.

Shaw Capital Guide to Business Loans from Family & Friends - Action Steps. The best contacts and resources to help you get it done.

Put a financing facilitator to work. Small business loans from friends and family often go awry because they haven't been properly structured and administered. Sign up a service that will prepare documents, create repayment schedules, bill, collect payments and provide year-end tax statements.

I recommend: Virgin Money (formerly CircleLending) has been a pioneer in private loan administration. The firm helps manage transactions such as small business loans between private parties — especially family and friends.

Shaw Capital Management and Financing – The key to successful financing is structuring loans right. Avoid Debt Management Scams - Offer equity in your business. If your business is a corporation or LLC, your funding source can become an equity investor, buying shares in your business.

I recommend: At Intuit's MyCorporation.com web site, you can incorporate a business or form an LLC online for as little as $149, plus state filing fees.

Put your plan in writing. Even with family and friends, you need to put a business plan and request for funding in writing. Make it as detailed, professional and realistic as you can. Aim for full disclosure of all potential risks.

I recommend: A terrific place to find help writing your plan is Bplans.com.

Arm yourself with finance facts. The better you understand the intricacies of financing, the more likely you are to succeed.

I recommend: "Financing Your Small Business: How to Borrow Money from People Your Know," is a helpful booklet produced jointly by SCORE and CircleLending.

Shaw Capital Management and Financing Guide to Business Loans from Family & Friends - Tips & Tactics . Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide. Plan your approach in advance. Think about your ideal loan and how it would work, and have those details at hand. Be yourself when you approach people for money. Don't try to suddenly come off like a big corporate executive. That's likely to be a turnoff. Don't borrow more than your friend or relative can afford to lose. Let them name the final amount. You don't have to get it all from one person. Agree on terms and formalize the agreement in writing. If it's a loan, this should specify an interest rate, repayment schedule and whether the loan is secured or not.

Shaw Capital Management News -Foreign Exchange Markets 2010 Part 4

Prospects therefore remain disappointing, and are being made worse by the differences that exist between member countries. The European Central Bank therefore faces a difficult situation. It continues to forecast “moderate” growth and “moderate” inflation; but it is being severely criticised for failing to address the problems of a two-speed economy, and for its unwillingness so far to face the threat that the deteriorating situation in Greece could quickly begin to destabilise other member countries and have serious consequences for the financial stability and growth prospects of the entire area.

It is not surprising therefore that investors and speculators have started to reduce their exposure to the euro.

Shaw Capital Management News - Foreign Exchange Markets 2010 Part 4: - The critical question therefore is whether the fall of the euro is now over. Since the currency is unlikely to receive any real support from the general background situation in the euro-zone, everything depends on the developing debt situation, and particularly on the situation in Greece; and also on the possibility of support operations from stronger member countries and from the European Central Bank, and the European Commission. The situation remains uncertain. The central bank appears to be reluctant to offer help, and the German government, which might have been expected to become involved, has also made no response so far.

Shaw Capital Management News - But the European Commission has endorsed the latest plans by the Greek government to introduce an across-the-board freeze on public sector wages and cuts in allowances that are expected to reduce the overall public sector wage bill by around 4%.

This may encourage support from elsewhere; however the Commission has warned that it will not tolerate any slippage from the target and will if necessary demand tougher action from the government to ensure that it stays on course.

But it is far from clear that the Greek government can obtain the necessary support in parliament even for the present proposed measures, and so the uncertainty will continue.

It is therefore likely that there will be further falls in the euro over the coming weeks.

Sterling has improved slightly over the past month, helped by the weakness of the euro.

Shaw Capital Management News - The background situation in the UK remains unattractive, and there have already been threats that its AAA credit rating is at risk unless there are credible measures to reduce the massive fiscal deficit after the forthcoming general election is over.

Shaw Capital Management News - Foreign Exchange Markets 2010 Part 4: - The European Central Bank therefore faces a difficult situation. It continues to forecast “moderate” growth and “moderate” inflation; but it is being severely criticised for failing to address the problems of a two-speed economy, and for its unwillingness so far to face the threat that the deteriorating situation in Greece could quickly begin to destabilize other member countries and have serious consequences for the financial stability and growth prospects of the entire area.

But the UK is not constrained by membership of the European single currency system, and so there is no immediate risk of a default on its sovereign debts.

It has therefore been able to benefit from the problems affecting some other European countries.

Shaw Capital Management News - Foreign Exchange Markets 2010 Part 4: - The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics indicate that the UK just managed to move out of recession in the final quarter of last year. The estimate of growth of only 0.1% in the quarter was a considerable disappointment, and it is expected that it will be revised higher; but clearly the economy is not performing very well.

Government spending remains strong, and there was a surge in retail sales in the run-up to Christmas; but the anecdotal evidence suggests that consumers became much more cautious again in January.

The latest meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England was concerned by the poor reaction so far to the dramatic measures that have been introduced to counter the recession, and reacted to this situation by leaving UK base rates unchanged once again at 0.5%.

Shaw Capital Management News - Foreign Exchange Markets 2010 Part 4: - It clearly has no intention of moving to an “exit strategy” until there is convincing evidence that a sustainable recovery in the economy is underway.

It did announce that purchases of market securities under the quantitative easing programme would now be discontinued after the £200 billion target has been reached; but its main priority is to continue to provide support for the fragile economic recovery.

Fiscal policy is also likely to remain unchanged until after the election, because the necessary measures to reduce the huge deficit will be unpopular, and might influence the outcome of that election.

Sterling is therefore receiving no real support from the domestic background situation, and in other circumstances might have been expected to move lower.

Shaw Capital Management News - Foreign Exchange Markets 2010 Part 4: - But the problems affecting the other major global currencies, and particularly the problems affecting the euro, have at least delayed any further falls. The yen has improved over the past month, despite a generally unfavourable domestic background situation, and some attempts by the Japanese authorities to prevent its appreciation against other currencies.

It has achieved an enhanced “safe haven” status in the current storm in the currency markets, and on the back of the relative success of its exports. But conditions in the Japanese economy remain very weak, and there has even been the threat of a downgrade of its credit rating unless measures are introduced to reduce its massive fiscal deficit.

However it does not appear that this threat will prevent the new Japanese government from introducing further measures to stimulate the economy, and urging the Bank of Japan to intervene in the markets to weaken the yen, and so its prospects remain very uncertain.

Shaw to Assist Toshiba in Providing Support Services at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

BATON ROUGE, La., Mar 22, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- In response to the tragic events in Japan, The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE: SHAW) will assist Toshiba Corporation in providing support services for the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in Japan.

As an extension of the relationship the two companies have shared since 2006, Shaw will assist Toshiba with mitigation, remediation and recovery services at the plant. A team of experts from Shaw's Power and Environmental & Infrastructure Groups has mobilized to provide services both on the ground in Japan, as well as engineering, analysis, assessment and design from the U.S.

"The people of Japan have experienced an extraordinary tragedy. It is our hope that Shaw's nuclear, remediation and emergency response expertise will assist in bringing prompt resolution and relief to the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station," said J.M. Bernhard Jr., Shaw's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Our relationship with Toshiba spans the globe. We are ready to help our partners and friends in their response to the events that resulted from this unprecedented natural disaster."

Shaw has extensive experience in nuclear, environmental and natural disaster services. In the aftermath of some of the largest disasters in recent history, Shaw rapidly and effectively mobilized its workforce to provide support following the events at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear power plants, hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and earthquakes in Haiti, Northridge, Calif., and Sumatra.

The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE:SHAW) is a leading global provider of engineering, construction, technology, fabrication, remediation and support services for clients in the energy, chemicals, environmental, infrastructure and emergency response industries. A Fortune 500 company with fiscal year 2010 annual revenues of $7 billion, Shaw has approximately 27,000 employees around the world and is the power sector industry leader according to Engineering News-Record's list of Top 500 Design Firms. For more information, please visit Shaw's website at www.shawgrp.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information about our current and future prospects, operations and financial results, which are based on currently available information. Actual future results and financial performance could vary significantly from those anticipated in such statements.

Among the factors that could cause future events or transactions to differ from those we expect are those risks discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended February 28, 2010, May 31, 2010 and November 30, 2010, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Please read our "Risk Factors" and other cautionary statements contained in these filings. Our current expectations may not be realized as a result of, among other things:

•             Changes in our clients' financial conditions, including their capital spending;

•             Our ability to obtain new contracts and meet our performance obligations;

•             Client contract cancellations or modifications to contract scope;

•             Worsening global economic conditions;

•             Changes to the regulatory environment;

•             Litigation or arbitration decisions;

•             Failure to achieve projected backlog.

As a result of these risks and others, actual results could vary significantly from those anticipated in this press release, and our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, the occurrence of certain events or otherwise.

SOURCE: The Shaw Group Inc.

The Shaw Group Inc.

Gentry Brann, 225-987-7372

gentry.brann@shawgrp.com

Shaw Capital Guide ‘Easy’ Cash Offers Teach Hard Lessons: Warning

Shaw Capital Management and Financing – Warning Advance-Fee Loan Scams: ‘Easy’ Cash Offers Teach Hard Lessons

Looking for a loan or credit card but don’t think you’ll qualify? Turned down by a bank because of your poor credit history?
You may be tempted by ads and websites that guarantee loans or credit cards, regardless of your credit history. The catch comes when you apply for the loan or credit card and find out you have to pay a fee in advance. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, that could be a tip-off to a rip-off. If you’re asked to pay a fee for the promise of a loan or credit card, you can count on the fact that you’re dealing with a scam artist. More than likely, you’ll get an application, or a stored value or debit card, instead of the loan or credit card.

Shaw Capital Management and Financing – Advance-Fee Loan Scams: The Signs of an Advance-Fee Loan Scam Warning

The FTC says some red flags can tip you off to scam artists’ tricks. For example:

• A lender who isn’t interested in your credit history. A lender may offer loans or credit cards for many purposes — for example, so a borrower can start a business or consolidate bill payments. But one who doesn’t care about your credit record should give you cause for concern. Ads that say “Bad credit? No problem” or “We don’t care about your past. You deserve a loan” or “Get money fast” or even “No hassle — guaranteed” often indicate a scam.
• Banks and other legitimate lenders generally evaluate creditworthiness and confirm the information in an application before they guarantee firm offers of credit — even to creditworthy consumers.
• Fees that are not disclosed clearly or prominently. Scam lenders may say you’ve been approved for a loan, then call or email demanding a fee before you can get the money. Any up-front fee that the lender wants to collect before granting the loan is a cue to walk away, especially if you’re told it’s for “insurance,” “processing,” or just “paperwork.”
  
  Legitimate lenders often charge application, appraisal, or credit report fees. The differences? They disclose their fees clearly and prominently; they take their fees from the amount you borrow; and the fees usually are paid to the lender or broker after the loan is approved.
  
  It’s also a warning sign if a lender says they won’t check your credit history, yet asks for your personal information, such as your Social Security number or bank account number. They may use your information to debit your bank account to pay a fee they’re hiding.
• A loan that is offered by phone. It is illegal for companies doing business in the U.S. by phone to promise you a loan and ask you to pay for it before they deliver.
• A lender who uses a copy-cat or wanna-be name. Crooks give their companies names that sound like well-known or respected organizations and create websites that look slick. Some scam artists have pretended to be the Better Business Bureau or another reputable organization, and some even produce forged paperwork or pay people to pretend to be references. Always get a company’s phone number from the phone book or directory assistance, and call to check they are who they say they are. Get a physical address, too: a company that advertises a PO Box as its address is one to check out with the appropriate authorities.
• A lender who is not registered in your state. Lenders and loan brokers are required to register in the states where they do business. To check registration, call your state Attorney General’s office or your state’s Department of Banking or Financial Regulation. Checking registration does not guarantee that you will be happy with a lender, but it helps weed out the crooks.
  A lender who asks you to wire money or pay an individual. Don’t make a payment for a loan or credit card directly to an individual; legitimate lenders don’t ask anyone to do that. In addition, don’t use a wire transfer service or send money orders for a loan. You have little recourse if there’s a problem with a wire transaction, and legitimate lenders don’t pressure their customers to wire funds.
  
  Finally, just because you’ve received a slick promotion, seen an ad for a loan in a prominent place in your neighborhood or in your newspaper, on television or on the Internet, or heard one on the radio, don’t assume it’s a good deal — or even legitimate. Scam artists like to operate on the premise of legitimacy by association, so it’s really important to do your homework.

Shaw Capital Management and Financing – Advance-Fee Loan Scams: Finding Low-Cost Help for Credit Problems

If you have debt problems, try to solve them with your creditors as soon as you realize you won’t be able to make your payments. If you can’t resolve the problems yourself or need help to do it, you may want to contact a credit counseling service. Nonprofit organizations in every state counsel and educate people and families on debt problems, budgeting, and using credit wisely. Often, these services are low- or no-cost. Universities, military bases, credit unions, and housing authorities also may offer low- or no-cost credit counseling programs. To learn more about dealing with debt, including how to select a credit counseling service, visit ftc.gov/credit.

Shaw Capital Management Korea: World Economy and Raw Material Shortages

Shaw Capital Management Korea: World Economy and Raw Material Shortages - We have seen major developing economies like China and India apply the brakes earlier this year, as inflation grew on the back of commodity shortages.

World growth was running at 4.5%, only 1% or so below the record growth rates of the mid-2000s. This was too fast for raw material supplies to accommodate with current technology.

Shaw Capital Management Korea: - World productivity growth has been slowed down by this raw material shortage … this in our view was the cause of the sharp slowdown in 2006 which in its turn caused the collapse of demand for houses in the US and so the sub-prime crisis.

It will take a decade for new technology and possibly new supplies to allow renewed productivity growth; with plentiful supplies of raw materials this was the era of computer-led growth in productivity.

As growth has been slowed worldwide, so already slow growth in developed countries has slowed even further. This is inevitable.

If these countries were to speed up, demand for commodities would rise faster, spurring sharp price rises, which in turn would force them to slow back down.

Shaw Capital Management Korea: - It is convenient to focus on shortage of credit and excess debt post-banking crisis. But the fundamentals would not permit much growth even if there were plenty of credit and no debt; if the latter situation were the case, then monetary policy would need to tighten. As it is monetary policy can remain easy with the banks in endless disarray.

Seen against this background, the slowdown is natural and should not surprise us. Equally natural is that equity markets are settling, while bond yields fall, with inflation being held down and return on capital depressed by slow productivity growth.

Shaw Capital Management Korea: World Economy and Raw Material Shortages - However, none of this implies a return to recession in OECD countries. This would be prevented by a return to quantitative easing and even a deferral of fiscal tightening. Governments and central banks in the OECD are under no pressure from inflation to force down activity. Debt/GDP ratios are rising and this is forcing fiscal tightening. But the pace of this is a matter of choice.

Shaw Capital Management Korea: World Economy and Raw Material Shortages - “As far as monetary policy is concerned, the need remains to stimulate recovery of the banks since they remain the primary channel of intermediation”

Furthermore there are investment opportunities in the present environment: high returns to technological advance in commodity use, for example, and to exploration for new sources of supply.

Exports are growing well, as capital goods flow to the fast-growing developing world. Consumption is no longer depressed but rather beginning to grow.

Shaw Capital Management Korea: World Economy and Raw Material Shortages - As far as monetary policy is concerned, the need remains to stimulate recovery of the banks since they remain the primary channel of intermediation, despite all the ways in which firms and individuals have managed to find alternative finance sources since the banking crisis.

This points to further quantitative easing. Interest rate policy has become irrelevant; the rates at which private loans are being made bears little relation any more to the rates of interest on government short-term loans.

Shaw Capital Management Korea: The very low rates central banks are charging banks for loans are merely a subsidy to banks; better instead to release banks from the neurotic demands currently being made by regulators for much more capital, for greater caution in loan-making and so on.

Meanwhile it is time to restore official interest rates to their proper function as regulators of the private rate of interest; they should now be raised towards more normal rates.

Shaw to Release Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2011 Earnings April 11

BATON ROUGE, La., Mar 25, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE: SHAW) will hold a conference call Monday, April 11, 2011, at 9 a.m. Eastern time (8 a.m. Central time) to discuss the company's financial results for the second quarter fiscal year 2011.

Financial results and a slide presentation will be posted on Shaw's website at www.shawgrp.com at approximately 8 a.m. Eastern time that same day.

Interested parties may either dial 1.800.471.6718 to listen to the conference call live or access a live audio webcast on Shaw's website at www.shawgrp.com. A replay of the conference call will be available after the call by telephone, as well as on the company's website. To listen to the replay by telephone, dial 1.888.843.7419 and use pass code 29395871#.

The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE:SHAW) is a leading global provider of engineering, construction, technology, fabrication, remediation and support services for clients in the energy, chemicals, environmental, infrastructure and emergency response industries. A Fortune 500 company with fiscal year 2010 annual revenues of $7 billion, Shaw has approximately 27,000 employees around the world and is the power sector industry leader according to Engineering News-Record's list of Top 500 Design Firms. For more information, please visit Shaw's website at www.shawgrp.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information about our current and future prospects, operations and financial results, which are based on currently available information. Actual future results and financial performance could vary significantly from those anticipated in such statements.

Among the factors that could cause future events or transactions to differ from those we expect are those risks discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended February 28, 2010, May 31, 2010, and November 30, 2010, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Please read our "Risk Factors" and other cautionary statements contained in these filings. Our current expectations may not be realized as a result of, among other things:

•             Changes in our clients' financial conditions, including their capital spending;

•             Our ability to obtain new contracts and meet our performance obligations;

•             Client contract cancellations or modifications to contract scope;

•             Worsening global economic conditions;

•             Changes to the regulatory environment;

•             Litigation or arbitration decisions;

•             Failure to achieve projected backlog.

As a result of these risks and others, actual results could vary significantly from those anticipated in this press release, and our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, the occurrence of certain events or otherwise.

SOURCE: The Shaw Group Inc.

The Shaw Group Inc.

Gentry Brann, 225-987-7372

gentry.brann@shawgrp.com

Purchase Order Financing Site Highlighted in Entrepreneur Magazine

Shaw Capital Management and Financing - Financing professional Dan Casey’s PurchaseOrderFinancing.com has been cited as an example of a lending option for small businesses.

Shaw Capital Management and Financing sharing information, tips and advice on factoring and accounts receivable financing and factoring to avoid scams and other fraudulent transactions. Information focus on the importance of choosing the right firm and understanding the intricacies of this financing alternative and what pitfalls to avoid.

The February 2010 issue of Entrepreneur magazine has singled out PO finance leader PurchaseOrderFinancing.com as an example of one of several commercial financing options available to small businesses short on cash or credit. Feature article “What To Do When the Bank Pulls Your Line of Credit” lists a number of options – including community banks, credit unions, and other alternative sources – with examples of specific providers of each. (Article page 42, company citation page 47.)

“We’re delighted that a prestigious publication like Entrepreneur has mentioned our company as a go-to source for our kind of commercial financing,” says company founder and CEO Dan Casey. “It’s an honor.”

Dan’s company provides businesses with the additional working capital they need to take advantage of large-order sales opportunities. Purchase order financing enables such transactions by leveraging the finances of the client's potential customer, not those of the client itself.

Casey explains, "What our clients all have in common is the ability to demonstrate a business opportunity with the promise of profit. We base our approval on that profit potential - not on the current balance sheet. How it works is we open a Letter of Credit to pay the suppliers, so our clients can take on the job without having the capital themselves." He goes on to state that his company can secure up to 100% financing of up to $25 million, usually within 7 to 14 days. The site features a broad range of topic pages to help businesses unfamiliar with PO financing such as:

Purchase Order Financing Blog - News and updates from the PO financing industry

What is Purchase Order Financing - General overview of the PO funding process

Apparel PO Financing - Detailed overview of funding options for the apparel and garment industries

Government PO Financing - Information on the online government contract marketplace and the available options for funding

When business owners encounter their "biggest-ever" sales opportunity, many unnecessarily pass it up for lack of working capital. PO financing is a tool that connects businesses with the money they need to make their big opportunity a reality. "Say you get a large purchase order from a good customer,” offers Dan Casey. “We can open a Letter of Credit to pay your supplier, so you can take on the job without having the capital yourself. Everybody wins."

Although the website was launched in January, 2009, the company behind it has been finding creative financial solutions for clients since 2002. Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, importers and exporters are among the kinds of businesses that may consider purchase order financing. The process can not only facilitate the immediate business opportunity at hand, but often may also result in the promotion of the client's business to a significantly higher competitive category.

The Entrepreneur article does caution that businesses that take a long time to have their goods manufactured face higher costs for purchase order financing; the shorter the turnaround the better.

Dan Casey has owned and managed businesses in finance, consulting, manufacturing, advertising, technology and other industries throughout his career. "PO financing is a new concept to some people, but it’s easier to use than you might think,” notes Casey,” Every case is different, but the process always starts the same way - with a conversation about the profit potential that a specific business opportunity promises."

PurchaseOrderFinancing.com serves as the link between small businesses and the working capital they need to seize an atypically large business opportunity. This website is the newest addition to the structured finance firm founded by Dan Casey in 2002 which develops and implements creative financial strategies for commercial clients with working capital challenges. Dan Casey, Founder and CEO. A graduate of DePaul University in Finance, Dan has orchestrated an extraordinary career in starting and building businesses.