AIG bidders see future in Asia as bailed-out insurer retreats
BusinessWeek 3/2/2010
by Andrew Frye and Sapna Maheshwari
Rising demand in the Asian insurance market, coupled with the U.S. life-insurance market's 15 percent contraction last year, is prompting large, established carriers like AIG to invest their efforts in expanding into Asian markets. China's insurance market, which was the world's sixth largest in 2008, expanded by an average 30 percent annually since 1978 to 1.1 trillion yuan ($161 billion) last year. Phil Leung, the Shanghai-based head of mergers and acquisitions for Bain & Company in China says that AIG is positioned very well to tap into the Asian growth, as they already have "a very good presence in Hong Kong and Thailand and...a very strong presence in China."
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Energy-saving cars move into the spotlight in Geneva
New York Times 3/2/2010
by Jack Ewing
With the automotive industry at whim of precarious economic conditions, auto companies are investing in an array of different technologies that can enable them to meet changing consumer needs in their production lines. One of these new technologies is electric-powered vehicles, aimed at reaching the new market of well-heeled, environmentally conscious buyers. Industry analysts claim that the opportunity to reap the benefits of investing in the mass production of these vehicles exists. "Interesting customer segments are waiting desperately in some cases for these products,'' said Gregor Matthies, a partner at the consultant Bain & Company in Munich.
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Electric cars 'ready to go' before public
New York Times 3/1/2010
by Jack Ewing
Pushed by governments eager to do something about global warming and fearful of missing a technology shift, companies are moving ahead anyway and beginning to increase the production and sale of electric vehicles. This shift toward electric vehicles represents a huge leap of faith for the automakers, especially as they emerge from the worst industry downturn ever. To be able to produce electric cars in a few years, they must invest billions now without knowing how deep the market will be. As a result, said Mr. Matthies of Bain & Company, automakers will band together to share the cost of developing electric vehicles. ''It is a real stretch for the manufacturers, which is why we will see more and more cooperation,''
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February 2010

Audi gears up for premium brand assault
Financial Times 2/28/2010
by Daniel Schäfer
The recent lavish unveiling of Audi's new top of the range A8 sedan in December highlights Audi's huge confidence in their ability to become the darling of the premium car segment. However, as demand has been rapidly returning to the premium car market in recent months, Audi's top competitors, such as Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, and Daimler, doubt about Audi's real ability to surpass them have emerged. Gregor Matthies, partner at consulting group Bain & Company, says Audi is nevertheless a challenger as it has made a name as a trendy and stylish brand.
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Headline role
Financial Times 2/25/2010
by Stefan Stern
A precarious economic situation can provide chief executives with the opportunity to make strategic moves for their firms. However, such bold moves require that execs take responsibilities whether they succeed or fail. Despite the possibility of failure, many strategists encourage bold and decisive action. In a new paper, Winning in Turbulence, part of the Harvard Business Press "Memo to the CEO" series, Darrell Rigby of Bain & Company urges considered action, claiming that "turbulence creates extraordinary threats and opportunities."
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