“Commercial Awareness Is Global.”
By: Ainsley Brown Is China growing more hostile to foreign investment? Many would answer the question with a resounding, YES, especially given the recent Cabinet announcement of a panel to review foreign mergers and acquisitions (M&A). However I think it’s all a matter of perspective – are the Chinese doing anything different than what the United States, Canada or the
By: Ainsley Brown In a move that would be the first of its kind, a state-owned Chinese bank could take control of a US retail bank. The Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has reportedly signed a deal to acquire the majority stake in the US subsidiary of Bank of East Asia. The deal signed during the recent state
By: Ainsley Brown With a 50% fall in prices over the past 18 months, coupled with lower subsidies coming from Europe, the global photo-voltaic (PV) sector is poised for dramatic change. Look for a wave of mergers and acquisitions lead by either large US or Chinese firms. Most of the targets, consisting of smaller companies who can no longer produce
By: Ainsley Brown Judge David Hammerschlag – German for hammer blow – does just that, delivers a hammer blow to the investment bank JP Morgan. In the case of JP Morgan Australia Limited v. Consolidated Minerals Limited, Judge Hammer Blow , sorry I just couldn’t resist, I mean Judge Hammerschlag has ruled that the fees the bank charged Consolidated Minerals
By: Ainsley Brown The stage was for a very interesting court battle in Australia pitting advisor against former client; at stake the fees that the advisor could charge. While the case remains interesting the deep probing spotlight that it promised on investment banking fees alas may not materialize. JP Morgan Chase, the investment bank is suing its former client Consolidated
By: Ainsley Brown The question that faces Australian securities regulators is what to do about two or more Chinese state owned enterprises together owing substantial shareholdings in an Australian company? At first blush it would appear that this is a case of China take over fear, however there is much more to the story than this. Indeed, there is a
By: Ainsley Brown NON!! says its owners .The French luxury goods, LVMH has denied that it is in talks to sell its 66% stake in Moet Hennessay to Diageo. According to the Times LVMH, has denied that it is in talks with Diageo, the world´s largest drinks company, to sell its 66% stake in Moet Hennessy. It was reported that
By: Ainsley Brown General Motors (GM) this week in another move in its restructuring plan has taken further steps to divest itself of its European operations. First it was Swedish Saab now it’s the UK’s Vauxhall. According to the report in the Times GM is prepared to sell Vauxhall at a discount price – you could even say at a
By: Ainsley Brown In court papers presented to creditors in early April, the Swedish car maker, Saab explained that it has had extensive contacts with about 20 potential buyers. Saab, which is being cut lose by General Motors (GM) as part of its own restructuring efforts, filed for bankruptcy in February. In filing for bankruptcy Saab is hoping to buy
By: Ainsley Brown Happy Easter everyone. Since it’s the Easter season I thought I ought to get into the sprite of things – well the secular aspects to the season anyway – and do an Easter story. So here is a little story about Cadbury, yes Cadbury the chocolate maker. The UK confectionary – the maker of the Creme Egg