Hints and tips:
...In the insurance industry, where Buffett does much of his business, Berkshire is known as a provider of “Friday-night money” — a place that struggling insurers can turn to for backing when everyone else...
...Ondrej Vlcek will move up from his current role as president of the consumer business to chief executive....
...“Chief executives love that approach, striking while the iron’s hot,” said Morris. “Nat will call an investor up and ask, ‘Where are you? Doing business in China? Will you be there tomorrow?...
...Without clients they had to work quickly and aggressively to build a business, promising clients better pay deals and more critical success....
...What the architects of the merger forgot was that innovation at mature companies requires strategies that will work for rivals as well....
...is dodging the moment: there will be no interviews and no big party populated by City and industry giants (Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy himself inquired about celebrations)....
...Someone who has seen him work says: “He rules Terra Firma with a rod of iron, so no one else speaks in negotiations, even if he is accompanied by a team of people, which is unusual in private equity.”...
...Industry professionals are doing their best to be upbeat about their prospects in public, but increasingly behind the scenes they are preparing for a business drastically smaller than the one that existed...
...The 31-member board includes business people such as Goldman Sachs chief Lloyd Blankfein, Lehman’s Richard Fuld and GE’s Jeff Immelt – as well as Gwyneth Paltrow. Send your comments to observer@ft.com...
...On the differences in doing business with China as opposed to Japan: Historically, the Japanese have been willing to go into long-term contacts at prices that induce supply....
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