NPS emerges as major shareholder for Samsung; The National Pension Service (NPS) owns over 5% of shares in more than half of 55 firms among South Korean top 10 conglomerates’ affiliates

NPS emerges as major shareholder for Samsung

2014.03.18 15:20:08

The National Pension Service (NPS) owns over five percent of shares in more than half of 55 firms among South Korean top 10 conglomerates’ affiliates.  Read more of this post

Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) rejected the takeover of a local glass lens company by Essilor which has a 47% global market share. This is the first rejection of a corporate takeover since 2009

2014-03-17 18:06

Essilor’s bid to buy lens firm rejected

By Yoon Ja-young
SEJONG CITY ― The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) rejected the takeover of a local glass lens company by Essilor Amera Investment, the biggest player in the global market. This is the first rejection of a corporate takeover since 2009. Read more of this post

Brothers Prahlad Rai and Kunj Bihari Agarwala have constantly moved with the times to make Rupa Garments a leading player in the country’s innerwear business

Rupa Garments: The Inside Story

by Samuel Kim | Mar 18, 2014

Prahlad Rai Agarwala (right), Kunj Bihari Agarwala

Brothers Prahlad Rai and Kunj Bihari Agarwala have constantly moved with the times to make Rupa a leading player in the country’s innerwear business Read more of this post

Looming property default in China raises fears of broader crisis; Nomura said the number of ghost towns has spread beyond the well-known disaster stories of Ordos and Wenzhou to at least eight other sites

Looming property default in China raises fears of broader crisis

Nomura said the number of ghost towns has spread beyond the well-known disaster stories of Ordos and Wenzhou to at least eight other sites

By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

6:51PM GMT 17 Mar 2014

China faces the biggest property default on record as credit curbs threaten to break the housing boom, leaving a string of “ghost towns” across the country. Read more of this post

Beijing’s Propaganda Crisis; With the rise of the Internet, people have gradually lost faith in CCTV and other state-run media.

Beijing’s Propaganda Crisis

MARCH 17, 2014

Contributing Op-Ed Writer

By MURONG XUECUN

BEIJING — Early last month, the state-run Chinese Central Television prominently featured a report on the sex industry in the southern city of Dongguan, China’s capital of sin. CCTV reporters brought hidden cameras into hotels, saunas and massage parlors to capture vivid scenes of parading prostitutes, negotiations for sexual services and erotic dancers. Read more of this post

Joko Appeals to Nation’s Early Struggles

Joko Appeals to Nation’s Early Struggles

By Fana F.S. Putra, Erwin Sihombing & Markus Junianto Sihaloho on 08:58 am Mar 17, 2014

Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo waves to supporters during an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) campaign rally in Jakarta on March 16, 2014. (EPA Photo/Adi Weda); Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, center, who is running for president as the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) candidate, smiles as he speaks to journalists during a legislative campaign tour in Jakarta on March 16, 2014. (AFP Photo/Adek Berry) Read more of this post

Despite Scandal, Indonesia Election Could Entrench Political Dynasties

Despite Scandal, Indonesia Election Could Entrench Political Dynasties

By Andrew R.C. Marshall on 11:11 am Mar 18, 2014

Makassar. In this is a scrappy, traffic-choked port city in South Sulawesi, everybody knows your name. If, that is, your name is Limpo.

The family of Syahrul Yasin Limpo, the second-term governor of this resource-rich Indonesian province, has dominated local politics for three generations, and a fourth waits in the wings. Read more of this post

– Indonesia offers pay-television distributors lucrative business, with millions of television owners and low penetration of paid programs, giving viewers alternatives to monotonous, limited programs on the country’s free-to-air television

Pay-television competition gets tougher with new players 

The Jakarta Post | Business | Mon, March 17 2014, 12:25 PM

Indonesia offers pay-television distributors lucrative business, with millions of television owners and low penetration of paid programs, giving viewers alternatives to monotonous, limited programs on the country’s free-to-air television.
Although the market is entrenched by old players, media firms are still keen on joining the battle by starting up their own pay-television firms, each trying to provide their own interesting features — from content to price — to hook customers.
The Kompas Gramedia Group and politically wired tycoon Aburizal Bakrie’s media empire, PT Visi Media Asia (VIVA), are among those planning to enter the industry this year, both tapping the huge potential offered by quadrennial soccer tournament FIFA World Cup 2014 to help pool their initial subscribers. Read more of this post

Blitzmegaplex cinema chain operator PT Graha Layar Prima to raise $41M in IPO, debt-for-equity swap with Korea’s CJ and HK’s IKT

Blitzmegaplex set for IPO, debt swap

Anggi M. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Business | Tue, March 18 2014, 12:06 PM

From one screen to another: Two people buy tickets from machines at a Blitzmegaplex blitzcard corner at Grand Indonesia shopping center, Jakarta, on Monday. The operator of the Blitzmegaplex cinema chain, PT Graha Layar Prima, is offering 140 million shares to the public at a price of Rp 2,800 (25 US cents) to Rp 3,300 apiece. JP/Nurhayati Read more of this post

High logistics costs still harming RI competitiveness; With the poor condition of infrastructure and high logistics costs, it will be difficult for Indonesian industries to compete with their ASEAN peers

High logistics costs still harming RI competitiveness 

Nadya Natahadibrata, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Business | Tue, March 18 2014, 12:04 PM

With the poor condition of infrastructure and high logistics costs, it will be difficult for Indonesian industries to compete with their ASEAN peers, especially when the common market agreement comes into effect in the region, according to the Indonesian Logistics and Forwarders Association (ALFI). Read more of this post