The Economist (February 9)
Foxconn is scaling back its plans to build a giant plant in Wisconsin. “At first glance, the Foxconn reversal confirms that American manufacturing is in trouble.” Other “recent wobbles” have included a Tennessee plant closing by Electrolux and Caterpillar’s disappointing results. “A closer look, however, suggests manufacturing is undergoing a revival, especially among agile smaller firms and those using advanced techniques.”
Tags: Caterpillar, Disappointing, Electrolux, Foxconn, Manufacturing, Plant, Revival, Tennessee, U.S., Wisconsin
Bloomberg (April 4)
“Foxconn’s chairman won’t have long to celebrate.” The takeover of Sharp will prove far easier than its turn around. “With a sprawl of businesses making appliances, solar equipment and flat panels for mobile devices, Sharp is seeing its earnings deteriorate every quarter, yet as part of the rescue deal, Gou pledged to keep the company intact, respect its independence and try to preserve jobs.”
Tags: Appliances, Earnings, Foxconn, Gou, Panels, Rescue, Sharp, Solar, Takeover, Turn around
New York Times (March 30)
“There’s nothing pretty about the details of Foxconn’s deal to take control of Sharp. And fixing Sharp, the loss-making Japanese electronics manufacturer, will be a tough slog for Foxconn.” But this transaction may just make history. It presents Exhibit A that Japan is capable of the sort of corporate reform critical to overhauling its economy.”
Tags: Corporate reform, Economy, Electronics, Foxconn, History, Japan, Loss-making, Manufacturer, Sharp
The Economist (February 13)
Japan’s corporate-governance code emphasizes “shareholder rights and the duty of outside board directors to promote them.” This means Sharp’s external directors will fear “being sued by shareholders if they opted for the INCJ’s much lower bid,” perhaps more than they fear pressure from METI and others to favor the Japanese bid. A deal with “Foxconn would show that Japan is changing its attitude to outsiders. One reason it may come off is that as a failing firm, Sharp matters less for national pride. A foreign takeover of a more successful firm would be different.”
Tags: Corporate governance, Directors, Foxconn, INCJ, Japan, METI, Shareholder rights, Sharp
New York Times (December 30)
Negative press coverage of companies like Apple and Foxconn has caused them “to make changes, like raising wages, limiting work hours and providing chairs with backs instead of stools at workstations.” This should be a major catalyst for change. “For companies operating in China and earning billions in profits, corporate responsibility demands that workers be treated and paid fairly.”
Tags: Apple, China, Corporate responsibility, Foxconn, Press coverage, Workers
