Competition

Hooters and Twin Peaks, what’s the difference

October 4, 2011 Ainsley Brown Leave a comment

In what has been deemed by some commentators as the battle of the breastaurants, for all the obvious reasons, the suit is actually between Hooters and one of its former executives whom it accuses of taking its trade secrets before his departure. Double entendres aside trade secrets and the alleged taking of them are no joke. Trade secrets are the life blood of a company as they represent a major if not the sum total of a business’s competitive advantage.

Brand Management, Competition, Litigation

Kenya Trending on Twitter

September 27, 2011 Ainsley Brown Leave a comment

By Kamau Wanguhu Ardent twitterzens will have noticed in the past two days two distinct Kenyan topics that have been trending: firstly the passing on of Prof Wangari Maaathai a Nobel peace prize winner, great conservationist and former Member of Parliament. Secondly has been #Things stronger than the Kenyan shilling, a tongue in cheek commentary on the tanking of the Kenyan

Banking, Commercial Awareness, commodity, Competition, Consumer Protection, Money Market

Corruption and the Kenyan Economy

May 6, 2011 Ainsley Brown Leave a comment

Fuel… If not the high cost of it, it’s the effect on the economy and inflation, if not that then lately it has been the lack of it.

commodity, Competition, Consumer Protection, Corruption, Economy, Energy, Government Policy

EU Shoe Tariff: Balancing Competing Interests

November 18, 2009 Ainsley Brown Leave a comment

By: Ainsley Brown There is nothing new with European Commission having to balance competing constituents – both market and geographic. The case remains the same with the anti-dumping duties put in place in 2006 to protect EU shoe manufacturers from cheaper Chinese and Vietnamese imports. The EU will decide tomorrow if it will continue or end the duties on the cheaper Chinese and Vietnamese

Commercial Awareness, Competition, EU, Government Policy, Regulation, Tax, Trade, WTO

Philip Morris Sues Irish Government

October 13, 2009 Ainsley Brown Leave a comment

By: Ainsley Brown Philip Morris – yes that Philip Morris – the tobacco giant is set to sue the Irish government. And, why? The substance of Philip Morris’ claim is that the new Irish law that came into force on July 1 banning the display of cigarettes in stores is anti-competitive. As a public health measure the new law was

Brand Management, Competition, Government Policy, Health, Litigation, Marketing/PR, Regulation

Telstra To Be Broken Up

September 15, 2009 Ainsley Brown Leave a comment

By: Ainsley Brown The Australian telecommunications group Telstra is to be broken up in a move to spur competiotion. The telecommunications giant, according to Australia’s Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, would be forced to separate its retail and wholesale arms if it does not do so voluntarily. The government – a 12% part owner – for its part hopes Telstra will

Competition, Government Policy, Telecommunications

Take Over Talks Between IBM And Sun Microsystems Collapse

April 8, 2009 Ainsley Brown One comment

By: Ainsley Brown In what would be the largest acquisition in IBM’s history, talks to take over its rival Sun Microsystems have collapsed. The deal worth an estimated $7 billion broke off after Sun Microsystems’ dissatisfaction with the share price IMB was offering consequently it terminated IBM’s exclusive negotiating status. In response IBM withdrew its offer. All of this could

Competition, Corporate

New Canadian Competition Rules To Be Tested Sooner Rather Than Later

April 2, 2009 Ainsley Brown One comment

By: Ainsley Brown The Suncor Energy Inc. attempted take over of Petro-Canada is going to prove to be the first test of the amended and some would say controversial Competition Act. According to the new rules the Competition Bureau has a 30 day tome frame in which to either approve the C$19.2 billion deal or issue a second request from

Competition, Corporate, Energy

Yet Another Chapter In The Northern Rock Saga.

March 26, 2009 Ainsley Brown Leave a comment

By: Ainsley Brown The troubled – nationalized – UK mortgage lender is back in the news yet again. I guess the headline should have been: Northern Rock, The Never Ending Story. However, the good news this time is that it’s not about shareholders trying to use the Human Rights Act to bring a case against the government for compensation. No,

Banking, Competition, Government Policy, Investment

What happens when regulation lags behind innovation?

February 3, 2009 Ainsley Brown 3 comments

By Charles Kamau Wanguhu In the development of new legislation and regulations to keep pace with innovations and developments in a sector of the economy in whose interest are the regulations? Furthermore in keeping pace with innovation should regulation be geared to maintaining status quo or enabling new innovations? What are the opportunities for capture of regulatory authorities by

Banking, Competition, E-Commerce, Sustainable Development, Telecommunications