Trump Administration Defends Anthropic AI Restrictions in Ongoing Federal Lawsuit 
Changchun Targets EV Growth as China’s Auto Industry Consolidation Accelerates 
South Korea Signals Possible Interest Rate Hike as Inflation Remains Elevated 
US Stock Futures Rally as U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Boost Market Sentiment Despite Ongoing Strikes 
OpenAI Eyes Massive 10GW Ohio Data Center Campus in Potential $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Deal 
Wizz Air Beats Profit Forecast as Cost Controls Offset Industry Challenges 
Hanmi Semicon Shares Surge After $33 Million SpaceX Investment 
Gold Prices Drop as Strong Dollar, Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions Weigh on Market Sentiment 
Asian Currencies Mixed as Dollar Slips on Iran Peace Hopes and Fed Rate Outlook 
Honda Leadership Crisis Deepens as Retired Executives Challenge CEO Toshihiro Mibe’s Strategy 
Gold Prices Slip Weekly Despite Friday Rebound as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Hopes Grow 
Dollar Stabilizes as Markets Weigh Middle East Ceasefire Prospects and Central Bank Policy Outlook 
Pakistan Economy Grows 3.7% in FY2026 Amid Strong Fiscal Performance 
Meta AI Strategy Faces Challenges as Zuckerberg Admits Mistakes in Internal Memo 
Meta Partners With Reliance to Launch First AI-Powered Data Center in India 
Asian Stocks Slide as Tech Selloff Deepens and US-Iran Conflict Escalates 
US Dollar Heads for Weekly Loss as Iran Peace Deal Hopes Boost Risk Appetite 
Shinsegae’s retail unit, Emart, may fully acquire Starbucks Korea as it is said to be in talks for the possibility of buying another 50% stake in the company. Currently, Emart owns 50% shares, and the remaining half is still owned by the coffee chain’s American headquarters.
Emart’s intent to raise shares in Starbucks Korea
According to The Korea Herald, the discussion about the acquisition of the other 50% shares was revealed on Monday, July 26. After the deal is sealed, Emart will then raise its stake at Starbucks Korea to 70% and sell 30% to GIC.
Based on the regulatory filing that was forwarded early this week, Singapore’s GIC Private Limited that was formerly known as the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, will purchase the remaining 30%. The negotiation with Starbucks Coffee’s HQ is said to be ongoing.
Insiders stated that GIC Private Limited’s 30% stake in Starbucks Korea is worth ₩800 billion or around $693 million. It was added that the deal could also close soon and as early as this week. The South Korean unit of the coffee chain is said to be valued at more or less ₩2.7 trillion.
Moreover, one of the conditions that GIC stated for the investment is for Starbucks Korea to go public in four or five years' time. In any case, industry experts are convinced the deal will bolster Emart’s profits. However, SB’s HQ may ask for higher royalties which are currently five percent of the total yearly sales.
“If Emart acquires 100% in Starbucks Korea, Emart will see its operating profit grow by 70 percent but Starbucks headquarters could ask for higher royalties as part of the sales,” Samsung Securities analyst, Park Eun Kyung, stated in a report.
Starbucks Korea’s finalization of ownership
Pulse News reported that the negotiation is already in the final stages, and everything could be done within this week. Once the Shinsegae Group fully acquires Starbucks Korea, GIC will come on board to own 30% of the stakes as part of the funding scheme.
Meanwhile, Emart’s shares reportedly increased to as high as ₩165,000 after the Starbucks Korea acquisition was revealed. The retail company will gain full management control of the coffee chain once the papers are signed and completed.
