Chinese carmaker Zhejiang Geely will acquire Swedish Volvo from American Ford Motor. Geely has come a long (and fast) way from its modest beginnings as a motorcycle parts manufacturer to what is now China’s 12th largest automotive manufacturer. Being the 12th may not mean a lot in other markets, but consider two things: First, China […]
As even small businesses grow their companies overseas through outsourcing, international customer outreach, mergers or global investing, future business professionals are going to need a solid understanding of international business culture in order to find any kind of job, let alone keep their edge. From CEOs to marketing assistants, being able to work with different […]
Tomorrow, the trial against four executives of the UK-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto will open in Shanghai. The executives have been charged with stealing commercial secrets and receiving bribes and are facing up to 20 years in prison. Both the protection of intellectual property and anti-corruption laws are important domains of the legal environment in […]
Have you ever heard of Li-Ning? You will. Li-Ning is a Chinese sportswear company with about 1 billion US$ in annual revenue and more than 7,000 stores in China. The company was founded in 1990 by Li-Ning, a Chinese gymnast who won three gold medals in the Summer Olympics of 1984. To Li-Ning, starting a […]
eBay has been in several ruffles with french luxury goods maker LVHM. Recently, LVHM, that holds the rights to such well-known brands as Hennessy, Kenzo, Givenchy, Dior Perfumes, or Tag Heuer, has sued eBay over misuse of its Louis Vuitton brand. As its customers frequently misspell Vuitton, eBay has purchased keywords from search engines such […]
It seems that Spyker and GM have finally reached a deal. After initial rumors that the deal is off, Reuters reports of signs that GM has agreed to sell the Saab brand to automaker Spyker of The Netherlands for a total of US$ 400 million.
The times when Western hotel chains where the ones expanding in Asia seem to be over. As the International Herald Tribune reports, the latest trend is Asian hotel chains opening hotels in European locations. Raffles will open the Royal Monceau in Paris, where both Peninsula and Shangri-La Hotels will also be opening new properties soon. In […]
Last year Maerklin, German manufacturer of high quality toy trains slipped into bankruptcy. As the Financial Times Germany reports, former US rival and market leader in the United States, Lionel has shown keen interest in acquiring the ailing German company. While there seemed to be tangible urgency to find a new owner originally, 2009 has […]
As has been reported, the Kraft-Cadbury takeover battle is almost over. After Kraft has upped its offer, the board of British chocolatier Cadbury has approved the takeover. Only very few voices remain opposed to the deal now, including its founder’s, George Cadbury’s great-granddaughter, Felicity Loudon. In an interview she said that Kraft had no idea what […]
As readers of this blog know, I enjoy reporting the blunders companies make in international markets. But I have to admit that it’s almost as much fun to find examples of multinationals adapting their products for host markets. Such adaptation (a.k.a. local responsiveness) is one of the key choices such firms face (along with decisions […]
I just realized something. With all the discussion around Google’s threat to leave China, many people seem to have forgotten (including myself, I admit), that this may indeed be China’s century. With an abundance of qualified labor, smart (albeit not always fair) economic policies, unlimited foreign reserves and much more, China is on the way […]
Cultural awareness is key in any international business activity. Cultural divides should be accounted for in marketing, negotiations, product design, and other important decisions. One must analytically consider the best way to promote a product given the target audience. It is argued that differences among cultures can be explained according to four dimensions of culture: 1. Individualism – “I” […]