One of China’s biggest online entertainment companies is rapidly disappearing from the publicly listed realm, with word that Shanda Games (Nasdaq: GAME) has become the latest US-listed Chinese firm to receive a management-led buyout offer. The news came as a surprise to me, since many believed that Shanda’s parent, Shanda Interactive, wanted to follow a strategy of listing its various units individually after it made its own privatization 2 years ago. But from another angle, this de-listing plan isn’t all that unexpected since Shanda Games’ shares have languished since they were first listed in 2009. Read Full Post…
Tag Archives: Baidu
Baidu Finishes Nuomi, Tencent Eyes Dianping
A couple of Internet M&A deals are in the news as we head into the final days before the Lunar New Year, with word that leading search engine Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) has purchased more of group buying site Nuomi, while top Internet company Tencent (HKEx: 700) may be eying restaurant ratings site Dianping. The first deal could reflect a new pattern for Baidu, which has mostly bought controlling stakes but made few outright acquisitions in its recent spree of major purchases. Meantime, the latter deal would look good for Tencent if it was really happening, though I have major doubts about whether it is. Read Full Post…
News Digest: January 25-27
The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on January 25-27. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.
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- Renren (NYSE: RENN) Sells Remaining Stake In Nuomi to Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) (PRNewswire)
- Tencent (HKEx: 700) Acquires Dianping – Sources (English article)
- Citic Securities (HKEx: 6030) To Build International Operations Base In Shenzhen (HKEx announcement)
- Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) China Chief Unveils Aggressive Growth Plan For China (English article)
- TCL (HKEx: 1070) To Enter Gaming Market With Consoles, TV Products (Chinese article)
China Auditors, US In Dangerous Game Of Brinksmanship
I was a bit surprised to read that the US securities regulator is taking drastic action against the 4 main auditors for New York-listed Chinese firms, in its bid to get them to hand over records for companies suspected of financial fraud. Investors were also probably surprised by the move, which sparked a sell-off in shares of many of the US-listed Chinese firms that could suddenly lose their auditors if the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) executes its decision. That decision had the SEC say it will impose a 6-month suspension on the China arms of the “Big 4” US accounting firms from doing audits on any US-listed companies. Read Full Post…
Tuniu Races To Internet Bull Market
When does an 87 percent rise in your share price in just 3 months make you a laggard? The answer: When your name is online travel agent Qunar (Nasdaq: QUNR), and the 87 percent rise makes you the worst performer among a quartet of Chinese Internet companies to make New York IPOs at the end of last year. The sudden surge in investor interest towards these companies will almost certainly lead many Chinese Internet firms to speed up their New York listing plans in the first quarter of this year, starting off with word that Tuniu, another online travel services firm, is accelerating its plans for a listing in the next few months. Read Full Post…
Shuanghui’s New Name, Baidu’s New Look
We’re in that brief window of time each year between the western and Chinese new years, so perhaps it’s appropriate that we’re getting reports of new looks at fast-rising food maker Shuanghui International and online search leader Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU). Shuanghui has just released an announcement saying it will officially change its name to WH Group as part of a new globalization campaign. Meantime, separate media reports are saying that Baidu is experimenting with adjustments to its signature home page, in a revamp that would be its first in 7 years. Read Full Post…
Qihoo Resignations: Trouble Brewing?
Normally the sudden resignation of a quarter of a company’s board would ring alarm bells for many investors, but just the opposite seems to be the case for controversial software security specialist and rising online search star Qihoo 360 (NYSE: QIHU). The company’s shares jumped nearly 6 percent during the latest trading session in New York, and then managed to maintain most of those gains even after it announced the resignation of 2 of its 9 directors after the market closed. But that kind of performance seems normal for Qihoo these days, as investors buy heavily into the bullish growth story for its search business and ignore a number of potential warning signs, including these latest resignations. Read Full Post…
LinkedIn Takes New Step In Slow Road To China
Online professional networking leader LinkedIn (NYSE: LNKD) took a big step towards entering the lucrative but tricky China market last week when it created a new China chief position and filled it with an industry veteran as it explores a formal service launch. The move was just the latest in the company’s slow and careful approach to China, and could boost its chances of success in a market that has proven difficult for other global giants like Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO) and eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY). Read Full Post…
Wandoujia App Store Gets Big Funding, Sale Ahead?
App stores have suddenly become a hot ticket in China’s online space, with word that 4-year-old operator Wandoujia has just landed $120 million in funding from a group led by Japanese tech investor giant Softbank. The deal comes just a half year after online search leader Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) acquired another app store, 91Wireless, for more than $1 billion, leading me to wonder if Wandoujia could soon become a target for one of China’s cash-rich and recently very acquisitive top Internet companies. Such a purchase would certainly make sense for names like e-commerce leader Alibaba and social networking giant Tencent (HKEx: 700), which, along with Baidu, are all spending heavily to build up their mobile Internet business. Read Full Post…
2014 To See Consolidation For Web, Retail
It’s quiet outside as markets reopen on this first work day after the New Year, so I thought I’d start off 2014 with some predictions for the year ahead in the sectors that I cover. Generally speaking, I do think the first half of the year will see a continuation of strong momentum that began in late 2013 for many sectors. But that momentum will slow as we near the mid-year mark, and 2014 could end with a whimper as the Chinese economy continues to slow and Beijing pushes for higher quality growth. Read Full Post…
Baidu Cranks Up Anti-Piracy Campaign
Just days after announcing a new acquisition designed partly to rid its various sites of piracy, leading search engine Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) has removed all pirated material from one of its popular video sharing sites. The timing of this move looks quite interesting for a number of reasons, including the fact that Chinese media are saying Baidu has just been fined by Beijing for piracy violations. The move also comes just 6 weeks after Baidu was sued for piracy by China’s leading video sites, which took the action in an unusual alliance with Hollywood’s most powerful trade association. But perhaps most interesting is the fact that the US could soon release its latest list of the world’s most “notorious” piracy sites, and Baidu has no desire to see its name appear on the list. Read Full Post…