Adidas takes over Reebok

[Franconicus]

Many posts here are concerned about the ruined economy in socialistic Europe. The capitalistic model in the US leads to a much better economy.

Despite of that you hear of German companies taking over their American competitors (Daimler, Telekom, Adidas). How weak is the German economy really?

[IliaDN]

And who told it is weak?

[Meneldil]

Just to name a few : Crazed Rabit, PJ, Kaiser. Basically all the people who dislike Europe for some reason

Germany is not a dead horse yet, and although things aren't going very well in France, I'm still confident my country economy will get better in a distant future.

[IliaDN]

Well if that is what you call bad, than Russian economy is near zero rating.

[Al Khalifah]

British economy isn't doing too badly at the moment, although it is in somewhat of a slowdown at the moment, the drop in interest rates today should help perk things back up again.

[JAG]

I was amazed they dropped interest rates, never expected it, it should however help the ecnomy so it is good.

And as I have mentioned many times, the EU nations economies are fairly fine.

[PanzerJaeger]

Just to name a few : Crazed Rabit, PJ, Kaiser. Basically all the people who dislike Europe for some reason

What the hell? I was born there and go back every year and spend my hard earned American cash.. If I didnt like Europe I wouldnt care about the negative turns it has taken in recent history.

Germany is not a dead horse yet, and although things aren't going very well in France, I'm still confident my country economy will get better in a distant future.

Despite the socialistic turns I dont agree with, the German economy will always be strong because Germans are excellent industrialists, hard working, and very efficient in general.

PS. Franc, I didnt know Reebok was an American company.. I thought their boxes have the Union Jack on them. Also, who wheres Reeboks anymore?

[Grey_Fox]

I do... Adidas runners are too narrow for my feet (and no, I am not obese, but 12.5 stone and 5 11').

[Franconicus]

[QUOTE=PanzerJager] If I didnt like Europe I wouldnt care about the negative turns it has taken in recent history.
QUOTE]
What negative turns? That we introduced democracy and stopped invading other countries? Put the blame on the US.

[Sjakihata]

Germans are excellent industrialists, hard working, and very efficient in general.

lol

[Don Corleone]

Reebok is on it's way out. I don't disagree, and I've noticed as well that there's a lot of German ownership of formerly American companies. But it's a two-way street. Opel is actually owned by Ford (oops, the secret is out). GM also sells cars globally under different names. American companies know that by using their own brand name, they cause an anti-American backlash that hurts their bottom line. Typically, when an American company buys a European one (we're not legally allowed to buy Japanese or Chinese ones), it's done through a trust and the company becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary, not a division.

On a similar note, I don't quite understand this... why are the Germans buying our underperforming companies? Chysler was dying when Daimler bought it. Reebok is in terrible shape (and even combined Adidas/Reebok are way behind Nike). And now, I'm hearing rumors that Lufthansa is looking to purchase United (the lead loser in a field of incompetents).

[Louis de la Ferte Ste Colombe]

Reebok is on it's way out. I don't disagree, and I've noticed as well that there's a lot of German ownership of formerly American companies. But it's a two-way street. Opel is actually owned by Ford (oops, the secret is out). GM also sells cars globally under different names. American companies know that by using their own brand name, they cause an anti-American backlash that hurts their bottom line. Typically, when an American company buys a European one (we're not legally allowed to buy Japanese or Chinese ones), it's done through a trust and the company becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary, not a division.

On a similar note, I don't quite understand this... why are the Germans buying our underperforming companies? Chysler was dying when Daimler bought it. Reebok is in terrible shape (and even combined Adidas/Reebok are way behind Nike). And now, I'm hearing rumors that Lufthansa is looking to purchase United (the lead loser in a field of incompetents).

Opel is GM, not Ford... Ford is Ford. Looks like they don't fear American backlash much

You sure can buy Japanese company, check out who owns Nissan... Or Mazda.

To be honest, I don't think anyone give a ratass who owns what where. Those times are over.

Buying declining company can be a very good moneymaker... Ironically, it was the case of Adidas in the 90's when Adidas was doing poorly. French venture bought it, sold it back, made money in between... Now Adidas is a winner.

Nissan was also a loser 10 years ago, bought and revamped. It's not anymore.

Buying loser is cheap and that's good profit if you turn them in winners. It's not really easy, see Chrysler, it does not work all the times... But there are nothing wrong in buying losers per se.

Louis,

[Franconicus]

Opel is actually owned by Ford (oops, the secret is out). GM also sells cars globally under different names. American companies know that by using their own brand name, they cause an anti-American backlash that hurts their bottom line. Typically, when an American company buys a European one (we're not legally allowed to buy Japanese or Chinese ones), it's done through a trust and the company becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary, not a division.

Sorry Don, Opel is part of GM. They bought it before WW2 and left the name. Ford sells cars under its own name in Europe and is quite successful. Although Ford has 'European' brands, too. Jaguar, Landrover and Volvo.
The reason for the European brand name is not Anti-Americanism. Otherwise we would not buy McDonalds or CocaCola the way we do . Please forget this anti-Americanism rubbish. The US car compamies have special developments for the European market. They would not be able to sell the same cars they sell in the US. So they sometimes prefer European names.
One comment: Korean manufacturer Daewoo introduced its car on the European market a couple of years ago. They were quite successful. Their image is: cheap and low fuel consumption, ideal for inner cities. Now they are a GM brand to and GM decided to rename them into Chevrolet. Chevi has a total different image here. Big, very BIG, very fuel consuming, expensive, good for the upper class. They will lose market share - and not because of anti Americanism.

On a similar note, I don't quite understand this... why are the Germans buying our underperforming companies? Chysler was dying when Daimler bought it. Reebok is in terrible shape (and even combined Adidas/Reebok are way behind Nike). And now, I'm hearing rumors that Lufthansa is looking to purchase United (the lead loser in a field of incompetents).

Why buying an underperforming company? I guess because it is cheap. The German companies want to have the access to the US market. Daimler sold some cars in the US but with the infrastructure of Chrysler and the image of being American they hope to sell more. Same with Addidas and Lufthansa.

[Don Corleone]

You're right about Opel being GM, not Ford. That's my mistake. You're wrong about American companies and rebranding though. I suppose I should have clarified that, that it relates to industries where an American name brand isn't already well established, or even part of the marketing, by marketing Americana (such as Coke & McDonald's).

But Microsoft seriously considered establishing a front company for Europe & renaming Windows for this very reason.

By the way, I hope Lufthansa DOES buy United. If there's one thing you Europeans beat us on hands down, every single time, is quality & value of air travel. I hate coming home after I've been in Europe for a month or so, especially if I have to take an American carrier home. American airlines, (in general, not the specific AA) are embarassing in comparison to other countries. Even China's air travel services are way, way ahead of American ones.

[Louis de la Ferte Ste Colombe]

You mean rebranding to avoid American backlash?

Are you serious?

There might be plenty of reason to drop or keep a brandname; GM is known as Opel in Europe, but GM is fairly conservative with brandname even in the US. Ford is different. Sometimes a big aquisition will determine whether the name is kept or not. Plenty of reasons... but American backlash is not one of them. The very fact that "selling America" works is a proof of that.

It's sure that if you try to sell eco friendly product using a US flag, you're in for some fun each country got an image a brand can play with. You can't massmarket UK food in France either and I would not call UK backlash... On the other hand, I guess UK umbrellas or ties, or that kind of stuff sell well and play with their british image.

Business is businnes. Consumers are not militant if you put aside the 1% of crazy guys who will have odd ideas anyway.

Louis,

[Don Corleone]

Fair enough, Louis. You're putting it much more eloquently then I (which really sucks, since English is my first & your second) language. You are right, that 'consumer predjudice' is a more accurate term then 'anti-American backlash'.

[Franconicus]

You're right about Opel being GM, not Ford. That's my mistake. You're wrong about American companies and rebranding though. I suppose I should have clarified that, that it relates to industries where an American name brand isn't already well established, or even part of the marketing, by marketing Americana (such as Coke & McDonald's).

But Microsoft seriously considered establishing a front company for Europe & renaming Windows for this very reason.

Well, GM is our biggest customer, so I should know it
I think it depends what kind of goods you want to sell and the image you sell. Coke and McDonalds were very successful because they were American. Just sounds like American lifestyle and was very cool Same about music. American and English music dominate the market.
If you try to sell cars - the American image is not very good. Still better than Romanian though
American computer hard and software is well accepted, IBM, Dell, Microsoft ... .

By the way, McDonalds had a hard time over here. First there was this cow desease. People stopped eating beef and that hit them hard. Then came the Iraq war and McDonalds was concerned because of their American image. So they announced that they were McDonalds Germany, a pure German company with German suppliers ... . Treason! Stone them to death, I say!

[Louis de la Ferte Ste Colombe]

Mac Donald France is one of the most successfull subsidiaries of the group... Isn't there a French manager in line for CEO job there?
I have not gone to Mc Do in 10years, but I got to say they do deliver both an American image while keeping some local touch.
Since Pulp fiction everyone knows about Mc Donald in France have Royale and beer. In Japan they got Teriaky burger.

I don't like their food, but they do a terrific job at mixing local culture and ways of delivering products while marketing the American way of life.

Back on topic... Adidas was said dead 10 years ago, good job bouncing back.

Louis,

[Ser Clegane]

American airlines, (in general, not the specific AA) are embarassing in comparison to other countries. Even China's air travel services are way, way ahead of American ones.

If I can avoid it, I will never ever again fly with "US Airways" ... when it comes to food and other services this was by far the stingiest airline I ever used

[Al Khalifah]

Opel is Vauxhall in the UK. Same cars, same outrageous torque steer, one and a half times the price.

[Louis de la Ferte Ste Colombe]

If I can avoid it, I will never ever again fly with "US Airways" ... when it comes to food and other services this was by far the stingiest airline I ever used

Continental sucks too... I had to go to Cleveland a few times, and you got little options beside Continental.

To be fair, I found that US companies fare better when flying across the pond than within the US. Flying within the US is truely dreadful. Thanks god the booze is ok at the airport

Louis,