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Chase Kimball

Editor's Choice

  • Innocents Abroad: Wynn vs. the FCPA

    By Chase Kimball - July 8, 2012 | Tickers: LVS, WYNN | Editor's Choice

    I do not envy Steve Wynn.  Well that's not true: I do, in every aspect, except having to do business with the Chinese government.  He and any other Laowai ("foreigner" in Mandarin) has to deal with an incredibly complex web of back-scratching, face-saving, and outright bribery in order to get a deal done.  

    I remember a wine importer friend of mine from Shanghai (by way of New York) telling more »

  • Will Starbucks Commit to Tea?

    By Chase Kimball - July 2, 2012 | Tickers: SBUX, TEA | Editor's Choice

    Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) is making some confusing decisions lately.  After re-designing their logo to stray away from being known specifically as a "coffee" company, they seem to be offloading their tea concept, Tazo, to a tea-only retail location.  It seemed by re-designing the logo and promoting non-coffee items, Starbucks paved the way to seriously build out their other offerings (tea).  But by planning to open a tea only store, they more »

  • Where to put Natty, Busch, and Michelob?

    By Chase Kimball - June 28, 2012 | Tickers: BUD, SAM, BREW, HEINY, TAP | Editor's Choice

    Although the rumors of AB InBev (NYSE: BUD) taking over Grupo Modelo are just that, rumors, the implications of such a transaction are causing visions of antitrust fairies to dance in our heads.  By buying the other 50% of Modelo (they already own a 50% non-controlling stake), AB InBev will crack the 20% mark of the global beer market by volume.  As of 2011, Modelo held 2.9% and AB more »

  • It's Last Call, and Molson Coors is Lonely

    By Chase Kimball - June 20, 2012 | Tickers: TAP, SBMRY.PK | Editor's Choice

    Today, Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP) finalized their $3.5 Billion buyout of StarBev and officially created Molson Coors Central Europe.  This acquisition brings aboard such recognizable brands as Apatinsko, Kamenitza, and Staropramen.  Huh?  I'd never heard of them either.  Apparently, Starbev had $1 Billion in sales last year, mostly in its home countries of Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro.  This would constitute (according to a more »

  • Would you Like some Congee with your 12-Piece Bucket?

    By Chase Kimball - March 2, 2012 | Tickers: MCD, YUM | Editor's Choice

    I lived in China last year and was witness to what can only be described as some "interesting" eating habits.  Although I lived in Shanghai, easily the most Western and cosmopolitan city in the country, one can still find some incredible oddities by US standards.  I remember one night eating at a "choose your own snake" restaurant before going to a nightclub next door that would rival anything in New more »