Bad times, good deals
Forbes.com 4/28/2008
by David Harding and Ted Rouse
For executives with the right combination of readiness, prudence, and guts, economic turbulence can actually be one of the best ways to improve a company's competitive position. Bain & Company analysis shows that companies that made acquisitions during the last downturn generated almost triple the excess returns of companies that did so during prior boom years.
North African gas provides ready European supply option
Oil & Gas Journal 4/14/2008
by Julian Critchlow, Roberto Prioreschi, and Joseph Scalise
Europe's natural gas supply will undergo its biggest structural changes in a generation as nearby gas deposits approach depletion. The relatively short distance between North African natural gas fields and Europe's consumer markets makes North Africa the most attractive source to meet future European demand.
The consequences of China's rising global heavyweights
MIT Sloan Management Review 4/7/2008
by Orit Gadiesh and Till Vestring
Playing to win in China is the only option for multinational companies that want to preserve their global position. But the playing field over the last few years has changed rapidly. China's middle market is growing faster than the premium and low-end segments combined. Multinationals can learn from emerging Chinese champions that offer compelling "good-enough" products--those that are sold at prices low enough to attract China's fast-growing segment of midlevel consumers.
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How to win in emerging markets
MIT Sloan Management Review 4/7/2008
by Satish Shankar, Charles Ormiston, Nicolas Bloch, Robert Schaus, and Vijay Vishwanath
With growth slowing in the mature markets of North America, Japan, and Western Europe, some consumer goods companies have figured out how to tap into the purchasing power of a new and growing middle class in the emerging markets of Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. In this mostly uncharted terrain, the right strategies separate the winners from the losers.
Distribution lessons from mom and pop
Harvard Business Review 4/7/2008
by Carlos Niezen and Julio Rodriguez
Even though many big-box chains have penetrated major cities in Latin America, the fact remains that as much as 80% of the world's population still shops at the local convenience store. If you want your international growth strategy to succeed, you have to figure out mom and pop channels.
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