Activist hedge fund Steel Partners entered Japan to take major stakes in underperforming companies and actively press for corporate changes. But seven years later its takeover attempts remain unsuccessful, thwarted by poison-pill defences and cross-shareholdings. Whether corporate governance as a strategy could work in Japan looks increasingly questionable.
Activist hedge fund Steel Partners entered Japan to take major stakes in underperforming companies and actively press for corporate changes. But seven years later its takeover attempts remain unsuccessful, thwarted by poison-pill defences and cross-shareholdings. Whether corporate governance as a strategy could work in Japan looks increasingly questionable.
Microfinance investment opportunities have been well received by Credit Suisse clients seeking socially responsible investments. They provide a "double bottom line": a positive financial return (despite the global financial crisis), and a social impact by offering first-time access to financial services to the poor.
Microfinance investment opportunities have been well received by Credit Suisse clients seeking socially responsible investments. They provide a "double bottom line": a positive financial return (despite the global financial crisis), and a social impact by offering first-time access to financial services to the poor.
FWD is a young home-grown entrant in the Asian insurance market, which is dominated by giants such as AIA, Manulife, Prudential and AXA. Its mission is to change the way people feel about insurance by leveraging technology to create relevant products, make the buying process more efficient, customer- and distributor-friendly, and then scale up the business.
FWD is a young home-grown entrant in the Asian insurance market, which is dominated by giants such as AIA, Manulife, Prudential and AXA. Its mission is to change the way people feel about insurance by leveraging technology to create relevant products, make the buying process more efficient, customer- and distributor-friendly, and then scale up the business.
Headquartered in Japan, NEC Corporation is a leader in IT and network technologies with more than 125 years of history. This three-part case study focuses on one of its country affiliates, NEC-India, which had been operating for over 70 years and had a unique role in NEC’s business.
Headquartered in Japan, NEC Corporation is a leader in IT and network technologies with more than 125 years of history. This three-part case study focuses on one of its country affiliates, NEC-India, which had been operating for over 70 years and had a unique role in NEC’s business.
When staff as well as investors participate in a profitable exit by a global private equity firm, the industry pays attention. KKR’s sale of CHI, a garage door manufacturer, for a 9.8X multiple of invested capital (MOIC) made headlines in early 2022 as one of KKR’s highest returns since the 1980s and for CHI’s hourly workers and truck drivers for whom the pay-out would be life changing.
When staff as well as investors participate in a profitable exit by a global private equity firm, the industry pays attention. KKR’s sale of CHI, a garage door manufacturer, for a 9.8X multiple of invested capital (MOIC) made headlines in early 2022 as one of KKR’s highest returns since the 1980s and for CHI’s hourly workers and truck drivers for whom the pay-out would be life changing.
This case explores the organizational practices of GitLab, an “all remote” company with more than 1,000 employees located in 59 countries. GitLab solves the challenges of employees working in an online-only environment by relying extensively on asynchronous modes of coordination.
This case explores the organizational practices of GitLab, an “all remote” company with more than 1,000 employees located in 59 countries. GitLab solves the challenges of employees working in an online-only environment by relying extensively on asynchronous modes of coordination.
For over 60 years, Bluebell, a major actor in the luxury B2B ecosystem, has been helping Western luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Davidoff, Moschino, Manolo Blahnik or Jimmy Choo enter key Asian markets.
For over 60 years, Bluebell, a major actor in the luxury B2B ecosystem, has been helping Western luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Davidoff, Moschino, Manolo Blahnik or Jimmy Choo enter key Asian markets.
In 2010, ACTIS embarked on an ambitious project to build a pan-Middle East and Africa (MEA) payments platform. It had purchased Mediterranean Smart Cards Company (MSCC), a bankcard issuer with operations across Africa, and had identified a follow-on target, Visa Jordan Card Services (VJCS) as part of its buy-and-build strategy, and another potential acquisition in South Africa.
In 2010, ACTIS embarked on an ambitious project to build a pan-Middle East and Africa (MEA) payments platform. It had purchased Mediterranean Smart Cards Company (MSCC), a bankcard issuer with operations across Africa, and had identified a follow-on target, Visa Jordan Card Services (VJCS) as part of its buy-and-build strategy, and another potential acquisition in South Africa.
With the publication of CK Prahalad’s “The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid” (2005), the poor were suddenly seen as a potential market in the eyes of multinational corporations (MNCs). Although poor, the BOP is a large and growing market.
With the publication of CK Prahalad’s “The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid” (2005), the poor were suddenly seen as a potential market in the eyes of multinational corporations (MNCs). Although poor, the BOP is a large and growing market.