Business planning
RWE, Germany's second-largest utility, is accelerating its debt reduction strategy by announcing plans to sell its non-core waste management business, RWE Umwelt, next year. The sale is part of the company's efforts to focus on its core electricity, gas, and water activities and reduce its €17.
Business planning
Russia's economic landscape remains shrouded in uncertainty, casting a shadow over Western investment despite the pioneering efforts of companies like BP. A report by Expert Analytical Centre and West Bridge Consulting highlights the divergent views among Western business leaders on Russia's investment climate. The BP-Russia joint
Corporate finance
South Korea's poultry industry has been crippled by the region's outbreak of avian flu, with the third-largest chicken processing company, Cherrybro Food, defaulting on its loans and sales plummeting 80% this year due to the virus. The disease has been reported in 10 countries across Asia,
Corporate finance
McDonald's Japan reported a group net loss that more than doubled in 2003 due to lacklustre sales and a significant charge related to the cancellation of a consultancy contract with Den Fujita, its founder and former CEO. The company aims to restore its brand image and rebuild trust
Business planning
Niall FitzGerald, Unilever's chief executive, is preparing to step down at the age of 58, after leading the company through a period of significant growth. Under his tenure, Unilever has delivered a total return exceeding that of the European food and beverage sector by 25 per cent. While
Business planning
Comcast, a US cable operator, has launched a surprise Dollars 62.5bn hostile bid for Walt Disney to create the world's largest media group. The attempt to create a new force in television and film distribution marks the biggest challenge yet to Michael Eisner, Disney's long-serving
Corporate finance
South Korea's largest chemicals company, LG Chem, saw its net profit more than double in the fourth quarter due to brisk sales of its mainstay PVC products to China. The company's strong performance followed a difficult year in 2003, marked by the war in Iraq, SARS,
Corporate finance
General Motors has taken a unique approach to expanding its automotive business by forming joint ventures with minority stakes in smaller rivals, instead of taking control. This strategy has yielded some benefits, including purchasing savings from extra scale and access to new technologies. However, the financial benefits remain uncertain, with
Corporate finance
United Technologies Corp.'s Otis division saw a 37% profit increase in the fourth quarter, driven by strong sales of air conditioning equipment and booming Chinese demand for building infrastructure. This success comes on the heels of similar positive news from General Electric regarding Chinese orders, suggesting a broader
Corporate finance
As consumers increasingly face challenges steering traditional wire trollies in a straight line, Supercart is poised to revolutionize the industry with its plastic alternatives. According to Mike Wolfe, chief executive of Supercart, plastic trollies eliminate wheel wobble, are lighter, easier to clean and maintain, and can be recycled. The company,
Corporate finance
Boots, the UK-based health and beauty retailer, is set to invest more in cutting prices and extend store opening hours to combat the rise of supermarkets in its market. The move comes as the company unveiled better-than-expected Christmas trading figures, with a sharp increase in discounts to shoppers failing to
Corporate finance
Sainsbury's has released another disappointing trading statement, leaving investors and analysts questioning the company's strategy and leadership. Despite a 2% increase in like-for-like sales over the past four weeks, the third quarter as a whole saw only a 0.1% increase. This lackluster performance has raised
