By Wayne Arnold
January 18, 2012
(segment)
Samsung’s $41 billion investment splurge should ring alarm bells at its competitors. At least half of the Korean conglomerate’s planned outlays will probably go to expanding its global lead in smartphones and the chips and screens that drive them. It’s a bold bet in a slowdown, if its bet pays off Samsung could lengthen its lead over the likes of Apple.
Samsung Electronics hasn’t announced just how much it plans to invest from the parent group’s big number. But if history is any guide, its share should be at least $21 billion for expanding production and R&D. Relative to forecast annual revenue, that’s about 26 percent more than what Apple plans to invest this year. Competitors should worry, because chances are Samsung won’t put that into microwaves and dishwashers, but rather into its more profitable smartphones and flash memory.
Korea’s tech companies have made great strides against Japanese and U.S. rivals. A falling currency – the won has weakened 60 percent against the yen over 20 years – helped the likes of Samsung break into the global consumer electronics market. Now, the company is the world’s largest maker of televisions, memory chips and smartphones. It leads the market for flash memory drives and state-of-the-art digital screens, so it not only competes with Apple but supplies it with parts.
http://blogs.reuters.com/breakingviews/2012/01/18/samsungs-41-bln-binge-may-shake-apples-tree/
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(The original article)
Samsung Group plans record $41 billion investment in 2012
ReutersReuters – 23 hours ago
(1/17/12)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/samsung-group-record-investment-2012-001506979.html
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