...Cemex’s Foreign Direct Investment In little more than a decade, Cemex, Mexico’s largest cement manufacturer has transformed itself from a primarily Mexican operation into the third largest cement company in the world behind Holcim of Switzerland and Lafarge Group of France with 2007 sales of $21.7 billion and more than $2.6 billion in cash flow. Cemex has long been a powerhouse in Mexico and currently controls more than 60 percent of the market for cement in that country. Cemex’s domestic success has been based in large part on an obsession with efficient manufacturing and a focus on customer service that is best in the industry. Cemex is a leader in using information technology to match production with consumer demand. The company sells ready-mixed cement that can survive for only about 90 minutes before solidifying, so precise delivery is important. But Cemex can never predict with total certainty what demand will be on any given day, week, or month. To better manage unpredictable demand patterns, Cemex developed a system of seamless information technology - including truck-mounted global positioning systems, radio transmitters, satellites, and computer hardware, that allows Cemex to control the production and distribution of cement like no other company can, responding quickly to unanticipated changes in demand and reducing waste. The results are lower costs and superior customer service, both differentiating factors for Cemex. The company also pays lavish attention...
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...Exercises Lecture 2. The Rise of Multinational Companies Case: MUELLER: China Bound? (A), (B) and (C). (308-358-1, 308-359-1 and 308-360-1). Discussion Questions: 1. What are the primary ownership advantages of Mueller? 2. What are the major ways in which Mueller could serve the China market? 3. What are their primary advantages and disadvantages?? 4. If Mueller decided to invest in China, what would be the main functions of its subsidiary? 5. How could the risks involved in the FDI to China be managed? Lecture 3. The Myth of the Global Company Case: Lafarge: From a French Cement Company to a Global Leader (304-019-1) Discussion Questions: 1. What are the main characteristics of Lafarge’s internationalisation strategy and competitive competences and how do these differ from those of other cement companies such as Cemex and Holcim? 2. What were the assumptions underlying Lafarge's strategy and how justified were these? 3. To what extent is Lafarge a French company with foreign operations, as distinct from a global MNC, and how is it likely to develop as a MNC? 4. What are the implications of Lafarge’s growth for the internationalisation of other French firms? Lecture 4. Competing Capitalisms in the 21st Century Case: Messier's Reign at Vivendi Universal (9-405-063) Discussion Questions: 1. What was Messier's strategy in transforming CGE into Vivendi, what assumptions was it based on and how justified were these? 2. What does this transformation reveal about the French business environment...
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...LafargeHolcim Cement Limited‖ Prepared by Asmina Akter; ID-35 Mohoan Chowdhury; ID-46 S. M. Yusuf Mallick; ID-71 Md. Harun-Ur-Rashid; ID-73 Supervisor Suborna Barua Assistant Professor Department of International Business University of Dhaka Date of Submission: 01.07.15 1|Page Letter of Transmittal 1st July, 2015 The Course Instructor Suborna Barua Department of International Business University of Dhaka Subject: An application for acceptance a term paper on “Merger of Equal of LafargeHolcim Cement Limited” Dear Sir, It is a great pleasure to submit you a term paper on ―Merger of Equal of LafargeHolcim Cement LTD‖. This paper is prepared to learn the motives, process, integration and result of merger of Lafarge and Holcim two giant cement company. We request you to excuse us for any mistake that may occur in the paper despite of our best effort. We believe that you will view all mistakes with your generous consideration. Yours sincerely Asmina Akter, ID-35 Mohoan Chowdhury; ID-46 S. M. Yusuf Mallick; ID-71 Md. Harun-Ur-Rashid; ID-73 Department of International Business (MBA 7th Batch) University of Dhaka 2|Page Executive Summary Corporate restructuring is becoming popular day by day and merger and acquisitions are being considered as the big steps towards corporate restructuring. Being a part of strategic issues, merger and acquisitions are subject to lots of issues related to strategic planning, time management, resource...
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