Managing The Dragon

Last Friday, the Canadian government approved China’s biggest overseas energy acquisition, a $15.1 billion takeover of Nexen Inc. (NYSE: “NXY”) by CNOOC Ltd. (NYSE: “CEO”). State-owned CNOOC is China’s largest offshore driller, while Nexen is a Calgary based independent energy company that operates in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and offshore West [...]

The pending auction of the battery business of A123 Systems, Inc. (OTC Markets: “AONEQ”) will present yet another test for the U.S. expansion plans of Chinese companies interested in becoming global players. On October 16, A123, a Massachusetts-based company that designs, develops, manufactures, and sells rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and energy storage systems, filed for bankruptcy [...]

In his keynote speech at the opening of the 18th National Congress of China’s Communist Party, Hu Jintao, the outgoing President of China, set a new target for economic growth, saying that China should double its 2010 GDP and per capita income by 2020. “On the basis of making China’s development much more balanced, coordinated and [...]

For the first time since 2003, China has surpassed the United States as the world’s largest recipient of global foreign direct investment (FDI). During the first six months of the year, FDI flows to China totaled $59 billion, a slight decline from $61 billion in the first half of 2011. Meanwhile, FDI flowing to the [...]

In recent weeks, many of the large international retailers have announced changes in their expansion plans for China. Home Depot (NYSE: HD), the large U.S. do it yourself chain, is closing stores, as is Tesco PLC (LSE: TSCO.L), the large U.K. retailer. Even the two earliest entrants into China’s retailing industry, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) [...]

All signs point to the fact that Chinese companies are gearing up to make more overseas direct investments (ODI) in coming years. Moreover, there are indications that they are likely to find more welcoming arms than they have in the past — at least in some circles. First, there’s the anecdotal evidence. Just in the [...]

The world’s beleaguered financial services industry may begin receiving much needed capital support from an unexpected source—China. Reflecting the relative strength and growth of their country’s underlying economy, Chinese banks and securities firms are now following the examples of their industrial cousins and stepping up overseas expansion plans. Ever since I’ve been in China, the [...]

On September 17, the United States notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its request for consultations with China on “China’s measures providing subsidies such as grants, loans, foregone government revenue, the provision of goods and services and other incentives contingent upon export performance to automobile and automobile-parts enterprises in China.” Under WTO rules and [...]

Last week, the Ford Motor Company (NYSE: “F”) announced that it will launch Lincoln in China in the second half of 2014. Ford is currently in negotiations with potential dealers with a goal to establish an independent dealer network for the model that will offer a new level of personalized service not currently offered by [...]

The June edition of the HBS Alumni Bulletin focused on Harvard Business School (HBS) alumni operating in the global economy. As a 1973 graduate with a Master Degree in Business Administration (MBA), I was pleased to be one of those featured. Other featured alumni include Sunil Bharti Mittal (Owner/President Manager Program 27, 1999) who is [...]