Asia

After twenty years of market creation in China, what will it look like as it reaches maturity, and what will this mean for western companies? Part one of a three-part series looks at the emergence of business-to-business markets.

A new product emerging onto the world market is setting the bar much higher for pipe construction. Alan Stothard, managing director of IQS International, explains how Huachuang steel reinforced HDPE pipe can deliver significant financial and environmental savings.

After a period of rapid expansion, Saxon Energy Services is developing a management framework to support its growing global footprint. Supply chain director Shaun Anderson talks about implementing the Saxon Management System, lean and six sigma, and a new Oracle ERP platform.

China’s ICBC Financial Leasing Co has signed an agreement with Airbus for a total of 50 A320 aircraft, including 30 A320ceo and 20 A320neo.

The aircraft purchase agreement was signed in Beijing as part of a series of Europe-China agreements signed in the presence of visiting German chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao.

As of 31 July 2012, there were over 700 A320-family aircraft in operation with 15 Chinese airlines.

Australia’s Sundance Resources has accepted a takeover offer from China’s Hanlong (Africa) Mining Investment.

Hanlong will acquire 100 per cent of the company for A$0.45 per share, a lower price than previously offered last October.

India’s GVK has been granted environmental approval for its Alpha Mine and Rail Project in Queensland, Australia.

Following a four-year long assessment process, Australia’s federal environment minister Tony Burke has given an approval decision to construct and operate the Alpha Coal Mine and a railway line between the mine and the port at Abbot Point, near Bowen.

Irish healthcare services provider United Drug has agreed to acquire UK and US clinical services businesses Bilcare Global Clinical Supplies from India-based Bilcare.

The deal, which is worth $61 million, is expected to complete on 31 August 2012. As part of the agreement, Bilcare will retain its clinical supplies business in Asia.

Bluescope and Nippon Steel have formed a $1.4 billion joint venture encompassing BlueScope’s ASEAN and North American building products business.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the world's biggest contract chipmaker, has agreed to invest €276 million into the Dutch manufacturer ASML.

ASML will use the money for the research and development of next-generation lithography technologies, including extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology and 450mm lithography tools.

ASML is one of the world's leading providers oflithography systems for the semiconductor industry, manufacturing complex machines that are critical to the production of integrated circuits or chips