TECHNOLOGY
Microsoft to buy Revolution
Microsoft Corp on Friday agreed to buy startup Revolution Analytics, which makes tools to sift through data, to help the company build up its cloud-services business. Terms were not disclosed. The deal was driven by the growing volumes of data that companies are contending with and the need for more software that can help analyze information, Microsoft said in a blog. Mountain View, California-based Revolution Analytics makes a statistics programming language called “R” that helps analyze data. Revolution Analytics chief community officer David Smith said in a blog post that the deal would spread the use of advanced analytics within Microsoft products, including the Azure cloud service.
Acquisitions
Adidas to sell Rockport Co
Private equity firm Berkshire Partners and athletic shoemaker New Balance are buying Rockport Co from the Adidas Group. The deal is scheduled to close later this year, but financial terms were not disclosed. Rockport sells men’s and women’s shoes and boots. As part of the deal, New Balance affiliate Drydock Footwear LLC is set to join with Rockport Co to create the Rockport Group. Drydock’s brands include Cobb Hill, Aravon and Dunham.
Energy
Oil, gas limit GE revenue
General Electric Co (GE) on Friday posted increased revenue and net income for the fourth quarter, but was held back from even better results by a sputtering performance from its expanding oil and gas division. The company calmed investors by maintaining its guidance for this year’s profit, despite the low oil prices that are hurting its oil and gas operations, and a stronger US dollar that is hurting exports. GE reported net income of US$5.15 billion, up from US$3.21 billion in the same quarter last year. Revenue rose 4 percent to US$42 billion in the period, but fell short of the US$42.4 billion expected by analysts.
Beverages
Anheuser-Busch buys Elysian
Anheuser-Busch said it is buying Seattle-based craft brewer Elysian Brewing Co for an undisclosed amount. It is the latest in a string of craft brewery acquisitions by Anheuser-Busch as it tries to counter soft sales of its own brands, such as Budweiser. Anheuser-Busch and Elysian announced the deal on Friday and said it would bring the brewer’s popular beers — most notably Immortal IPA — to a greater number of consumers. The deal includes Elysian’s brewery business and its four Seattle brewpubs. It is expected to close by the end of the first quarter. Anheuser-Busch is the US arm of Belgian-based Anheuser-Busch InBev SA, and is the world’s largest brewer.
Internet
Expedia to buy Travelocity
Expedia on Friday said it is buying rival Travelocity in a US$280 million deal merging two of the largest online travel operators. The all-cash deal calls for Expedia to acquire its rival from travel software firm Sabre Corp and follows a 2013 agreement in which Expedia powered the tech platform for Travelocity’s US and Canadian Web sites. Expedia operates other travel Web sites, including Hotels.com and Carrentals.com. Sabre manages online reservations for airlines and hotels. Last year it sold travel Web site lastminute.com.
NEW MARKET: The partnership opens up India to the Dutch company, which already has a strong hold in the semiconductor market of South Korea, Taiwan and China ASML Holding NV entered into a partnership agreement with Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd aimed at ramping up India’s goal to develop domestic chip-manufacturing capabilities. The Dutch company’s technology would help power Tata Electronics’ planned 300 millimeter (mm) semiconductor foundry in Gujarat, according to a joint statement from the two companies on Saturday. The signing of a memorandum of understanding coincides with a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Netherlands, which is looking to deepen bilateral relations with New Delhi. ASML, whose top customers include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) and Samsung Electronics Co, makes lithography machines that can print
TECH RELIANCE: Growth is increasingly reflecting an unequal K-shaped distribution, where technology sectors outperform and other industries struggle, an expert said Standard Chartered Bank has significantly raised its forecast for Taiwan’s economic growth to 9.5 percent this year, up from 7.6 percent previously, citing surging artificial intelligence (AI) demand driving exports, semiconductor production and investment. The upgrade reflects a sustained AI supercycle that continues to fuel demand for advanced chips and technology infrastructure, which form the backbone of Taiwan’s exports, the bank said in a report this week. “We raise our 2026 growth forecast to reflect a much stronger-than-expected first-quarter GDP figure,” Standard Chartered senior economist for greater China and Asia Tommy Wu (胡東安) said in the report. Driven largely by a 35.3 percent
Tokyo Electron's Taiwan unit today said in a written response that it respects the judicial process, takes the court ruling seriously and would not appeal in the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) trade secrets case. Last month, a court fined the Taiwan unit of Japan's Tokyo Electron NT$150 million (US$4.74 million) in a case involving trade secrets related to TSMC's sensitive chip technology.
Two of Taiwan’s international carriers, Starlux Airlines Co (星宇航空) and EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空), have retained the five-star airline rating awarded by international airline review organization Skytrax. Starlux was awarded the distinction for a second consecutive year, while EVA Air received it for the 11th straight year, Skytrax said in statements released yesterday and on Thursday last week, respectively. The five-star rating is considered one of the airline industry's highest honors and is awarded following professional audits of airline product and frontline service standards, Skytrax said. The ratings are based on in-depth assessments using unified global quality standards rather than customer review scores
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