Business news for Mon, 17 Dec 2007 & with word chain. 8 news.

SOUTH Korea's largest retailer Lotte Shopping Co plans to acquire a stake in a Chinese discount-store chain to expand its presence on the Chinese mainland, the Seoul-listed company said in a regulatory filing yesterday. Lotte agreed to buy a 49-percent stake in CTA Makro, which now operates five discount stores in Beijing and two in Tianjin, from SHV Holdings NV for 57.6 million euros (US$82.90 million). The Netherlands-based SHV Holdings IV now operates CTA Makro with a 49-percent stake while China Trade Association Property Corp Ltd owns 51 percent. Lotte also plans to open another outlet in Beijing next year, according to the statement. However, the acquisition plan is still awaiting China's regulatory approval. Shanghai Daily's call to CTA Makro yesterday was not answered. The retailer, which controls more than 40 percent of South Korea's department store market and 14 percent of discount stores, is preparing to open new outlets through land purchases and buying existing

CONSUMER confidence is falling, the odds of a recession have risen, analysts predict the worst holiday shopping since 2002 - and retail-industry executives are buying their companies' shares like never before. Limited Brands Inc Chief Executive Officer Leslie Wexner and eight other executives bought a record amount of stock last month after prices fell to a four-year low. Dillard's Inc director Warren Stephens made the biggest insider purchase ever as shares of the Arkansas-based department store chain headed for the steepest decline since at least 1980. Cambiar Investors LLC, Royce & Associates LLC and Becker Capital Management Inc say insider buying foreshadows a rebound. The last four times executives added to their holdings, the Standard & Poor's Supercomposite Retailing Index rose an average 9.9 percent in the next three months, topping a 6.2-percent average rise in the S&P 500 Index. Retail company officials increased their investments by US$346.4 million since the start

(AP) -- Zebra Technologies Corp., which makes bar code and plastic card printers, said Monday it completed its approximately $145 million acquisition of Navis Holdings LLC. Zebra, based in Vernon Hills, Ill., agreed to purchase the supply chain logistics provider in October. Privately held ...

Zebra Technologies Corp. today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Navis Holdings, LLC., a global solutions provider for managing logistics, assets, inventories and cargo flows across the supply chain.

Companies are under huge pressure to deliver what's needed when it's needed. Make sure you have the technology and know-how to be a nimble part of a supply chain.

Domino's made its name in pizza delivery by promising delivery within 30 minutes, but a lawsuit caused the chain to abandon that pledge. Now, Domino's plans to rebrand itself around a play on the old slogan.

Chilean retailer buying the super market chain.

The chain was almost brought to its knees by debt. Bill Grimsey, brought in to sort out the mess, tells Helen Power about his 100-day plans.