Our analysts are constantly monitoring global news and evaluating the implications for international businesses. Here are a few articles from this week’s headlines highlighted by our research team:
North Korea Deploys Missile - The Wall Street Journal
“Possibility of a military confrontation remains low despite North Korea’s repeated provocations. However companies like General Motors are already building contingency plans to evacuate workers and productions from South Korea if tension continues to rise.”
-Shijie Chen, Practice Leader for Asia Pacific Research
L’Occitane goes Brazilian - FT beyondbrics
“French cosmetics group L’Occitane is to roll out a new brand of cosmetics produced in Brazil. The move may seem to be a logical play in Brazil’s premium market, where growth remains strong, but domestic production will allow products to avoid high import duties. Time will tell which is more costly in the long run: import duties or the additional Custo Brasil incurred by producing domestically.”
-Clinton Carter, Director of Research and Product Development for Latin America
M&A Deal Volumes Down for Emerging Markets: Survey - Reuters
“After a slow year in 2012, we anticipate M&A activity in emerging markets in 2013 to increase substantially. Record corporate cash reserves, low interest rates, accessible capital markets, and limited organic growth in western markets all point toward heightened competition for attractive targets this year.”
– Sam Osborn, Senior Analyst for Strategic Research
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