Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Home improvement retailer Home Depot is still locked into a battle over the security breach it reported in September that put 56 million credit cards at risk. However, the fight is no longer against cyber criminals, but rather consumers affected by the breach and government agencies. To date, the retailer is involved in "at least 44 civil lawsuits" in the US and Canada.

The number of legal actions that Home Depot is facing was uncovered in a November regulatory filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. While the 44 civil suits from affected customers aren't unexpected, Home Depot says that more claims could be coming, including those on "behalf of customers, payment card brands, payment card issuing banks, shareholders or others seeking damages or other related relief, allegedly arising from the data breach." Home Depot believes that payment card issuers will make claims, the result of which could have an effect on its financial position.

Civil actions aren't the only issues that the company is dealing with, as government agencies are also conducting investigations. Home Depot believes that agencies could seek injunctive relief, something that would increase costs for security, have a negative impact on system operations and information collection, and put the company "at a competitive disadvantage with other retailers."

"We are also facing investigations by a number of state and federal agencies. These claims and investigations may adversely affect how we operate our business, divert the attention of management from the operation of the business and result in additional costs and fines," reads the filing.

For investors there is some silver lining, as the company took out a $100 million insurance policy for network security and privacy liability before the intrusion occurred. Under the insurance policy the Home Depot has a $7.5 million deductible, but at this time it only believes $15 million will be reimbursable. So far, the Home Depot has spent $43 million in relation to the breach. However, the company indicates that the full cost of the incident is still unknown.

Even with $43 million spent on the breach, the Home Depot was able to achieve growth in its third quarter results. For the period ending November 2, the company saw a 5.2 percent sales growth year-over-year. Customer transactions were up by 11.1 million compared to 2013, with a total of 355.4 million.

The filing does give some additional clues to the how intrusion occurred. According to Home Depot, the intruder used the user name and password of a vendor to "enter the perimeter of the company's network." Afterward, the intruder was able to gain elevated system rights to access other network areas in order to "deploy unique, custom-built malware" in the Home Depot's self-checkout systems.

By Electronista Staff

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Home Depot faces 44 civil lawsuits from breach, spent $43M on fallout

Home Retail Group(HOME)had a torrid time after the recession. With Argos struggling for several years, it was relying on Homebase to keep growing. However, the tide has turned and Argos has become one of the most promising brands on the high-street, while Homebase is suffering in a challenging market.

To ensure some security, Home Retail is revamping Homebase. It admits in its recent half-year results that the DIY chain suffers from "inconsistent store operating standards and a large estate with low sales densities that result in a challenged financial model."

That's why there will be a significant reduction and streamlining of the business - 30 stores are expected to close in the next financial year, with the aim of reducing its estate size by 25% by the end of FY2018 (roughly 80 store closures).

This is anticipated to result in a smaller, more secure company.

However, analysts at Citi Research believe that this could result in significant costs to an already struggling business, noting that there are "only 65 Homebase stores coming up for lease expiry or renewal over the next three years." This could result in "a high degree of paid lease exits."

UBS is of a similar mind-set, stating that "gross margins could remain down given clearance costs from closures."

The rapid growth of online retailing in the home improvement sector seems to be the driving force behind the store closures. With consumers now more inclined towards a simpler shopping process - the click and collect method - it is becoming unnecessary to maintain warehouse sized stores. This already seems to be influencing sales at Homebase, with the first-half report highlighting a 46% increase in mobile device visits, partially helped by increase in use of the "reserve and collect" scheme. This resulted in a 12% "multi-channel" sales increase, now accounting for 7% of Homebase total sales.

But it is not just Homebase that is suffering from shifting consumer preferences. Kingfisher's(KGF) B&Q also has to reduce its estate portfolio, although it plans to reduce store size rather than quantity through its "Right size Right place" scheme. Parallel to this plan will be an increased emphasis on "Click, Pay and Collect", similar to Homebase's new strategy.

Travis Perkins'(TPK) Wickes brand is also downgrading its estate, as it too looks to embrace the online revolution.

It seems to be Kingfisher's Screwfix is the only DIY home improvement retailer to excel at the moment, announcing 23% growth in half-year sales. However, due to its appeal to smaller tradesmen, it is difficult to analyse how much of its success is down to the public's shopping preferences.

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DIY industry benefits from self-improvement

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Handyman Services | Tucson, AZ - American Handyman Service - Video

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There are hundreds of people advertising their handyman services already. But we like it to become thousands! How great will it be to find all kinds of handyman services from individuals right in your neighborhood? What would it be like if we could all help each other with the handyman services we truly like? It's like trading a nasty job for a hobby. And it works like that on both ends.

Does your neighbor Peter know everything about computers? And he doesn't have time to walk the dog every day? Mayby Julia from accross the street who would love to trade these handyman services and both people can do what they like and what they are good at.

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A Reddit post asking if gardens were illegal in New Zealand was met with a slew of jokesters taking the mickey out of Kiwi society.

New Zealand: land of the long white cloud, flightless birds and furry fruit of the same name, and, apparently, garden bans.

Following a question posted on social media forum Reddit asking if gardening in New Zealand was illegal, a satirical thread on the topic has gone viral.

"My friend told me he heard that you can't have a garden in New Zealand. That it is illegal. I'm not sure if this is true. I Googled it, but got no founds. Could you guys please tell me? And please no hate I know this question might be insulting to some of you," Reddit user WhyNotSmeagol asked.

Playing along, Kiwis Redditors were quick to back each other up to maintain the confusion.

Sacredsnowhawk posted a sarcastic tale of his family's continued run-ins with NZ's garden Gestapo.

"My brother was killed in the Moutua Gardens protest. My uncle lost an arm in the 1981 Spring Bok-choi Riots. My sisters were arrested and thrown into prison, without trial, by a police-led mob after they were discovered re-potting gardenias. Every day I live in fear, alienated by my community for having relatives marked by the Green Thumb. I envy the dead.

Poster Muter asked 'what is garden?' and why he hadn't heard of it before.

"Holy s**t I just googled it. So pretty. Why aren't we taught this stuff in school?"

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Updated: Wednesday, 26 Nov 2014 15:05 | Comments Un De Sceaux and stablemate Vautour are vying for favouritism for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival

Ruby Walsh believes Un De Sceaux will take chasing in his stride ahead of his first run over fences in the Killinan Beginners' Chase at Thurles tomorrow.

The six-year-old is already one of the favourites for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March, without ever having jumped a fence in public.

His Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Vautour made a breathtaking debut over fences on Sunday and the pair look to be two of the most exciting recruits to chasing for some time.

Un De Sceaux is unbeaten in nine outings and signed off last season by winning two Graded races at Auteuil.

The inveterate front-runner won many fans with his exuberant style over hurdles, something Walsh does not expect to change now he goes over fences.

Walsh told Racing UK: "I imagine it will be fast and furious as he likes to get on with it.

"His schooling has been pretty much like Vautour's and hopefully he can do the same when he goes to the track.

"You're a bit of a passenger on his back, but I was quite taken with the way he jumped hurdles in Auteuil and so was Barry Geraghty (who rode him to win in March), obviously they are bigger than the hurdles in England and Ireland.

"The way he jumped at Auteuil, you'd say fences won't be a problem. In fairness to him, as keen as he is, he is quite intelligent so hopefully he'll be the same (over fences).

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Trailblazing Un De Sceaux set for chasing debut