BizLink to take over industrial solutions firmPRODUCT MIX BOOST: The binding deal with Germany’s Leoni is part of the wire harness maker’s long-term diversification plan, BizLink’s Liang saidBy Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterWire harness maker BizLink Holding Inc (貿聯控股) on Friday announced that it had reached a binding agreement with Leoni AG to acquire the German company’s Leoni Industrial Solutions for 451 million euros (US$522.9 million) in an all-cash transaction. BizLink chairman Roger Liang, center, and other company executives attend a news conference at the Taiwan Stock Exchange in Taipei on Friday. Photo: Chen Rou-chen, Taipei TimesLeoni Industrial Solutions last year reported revenue of 430 million euros. “BizLink’s acquisition of Leoni Industrial Solutions will boost our technical and service capabilities, solidify our global scale, bring us closer to customers and gain access to new industrial customers,” BizLink chairman Roger Liang (梁華哲) said in a statement. “The acquisition brings forward our long-term diversification plan and will provide BizLink with immediate gains within multiple secular growth industries.”The Leoni Industrial Solutions deal comes after BizLink completed the acquisition of Leoni’s electrical appliance business in 2017 and Speedy Industrial Supplies Pte Ltd last year.

Medigen to develop next-gen vaccine on Beta variantBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterMedigen Vaccine Biologics Corp (高端疫苗) is planning to develop its next-generation COVID-19 vaccine by using a sequence of the Beta variant of SARS-CoV-2, which was first detected in South Africa, the company said in a statement on Thursday. The company’s animal tests showed that a booster shot built on the Beta variant prompted immunity in hamsters against all variants of the virus, it said. The logo of Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp is pictured at the entrance to the company’s facility in Hsinchu on Aug. 31. Medigen in May conducted research on whether a third dose of its current vaccine would bolster immunity against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, the company said. Hamsters that were given two shots developed on the original virus and a third shot based on the Beta variant developed the highest antibody levels, regardless of whether they were infected with the Alpha, Beta, Gamma or Delta variants, the company said.

Members of the public have filed 300 to 400 light pollution complaints per year since the promulgation of the Light Pollution Control Guidelines (光污染管理指引) in March last year, the EPA has said. While the EPA is the government authority in charge of dealing with light pollution, Lin said, all that the agency could come up with for combatting the issue was a set of guidelines — the Light Pollution Control Guidelines. Light pollution should be considered when these assessments are conducted, and the government should regulate it in the same way that the Air Pollution Control Act (空氣污染防制法) regulates air pollution and the Noise Control Act (噪音管制法) regulates noise pollution, he said. The existing Light Pollution Control Guidelines mainly serves as a reference when government agencies receive complaints from the public, he said. “A provision regulating light pollution should be added as the final component of environmental impact assessments,” he said.

Gasoline, diesel prices to rise by NT$0.1 per literBy Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterCPC Corp, Taiwan (CPC, 台灣中油) and Formosa Petrochemical Corp (台塑石化) yesterday said they would raise gasoline and diesel prices by NT$0.1 per liter this week, effective today, after keeping their fuel prices unchanged last week. Prices at CPC stations would rise to NT$28.3, NT$29.8 and NT$31.8 per liter for 92, 95 and 98-octane unleaded gasoline respectively, while the price of premium diesel would increase to NT$25.4 per liter, CPC said in a statement. Prices at Formosa stations would rise to NT$28.3, NT$29.7 and NT$31.8 per liter for 92, 95 and 98-octane unleaded gasoline respectively, while the price of premium diesel would increase to NT$25.2 per liter. Formosa said in a separate statement that surging natural gas prices had led to increased demand for fuel for power generation, which in turn pushed up crude oil prices. However, a stronger US dollar and an unexpected increase in US crude oil inventories capped the increase in oil prices last week, Formosa added.

EDITORIAL: Reinvesting during China’s outagesOver the past two to three decades, Taiwan’s tepid economy has been routinely compared with China’s rapid growth. China’s continuous growth has led some to think that it would leave its rivals, including the US, far behind. In the peak season for manufacturers, Beijing has had to resort to power rationing because of electricity shortages in some parts of China. Whatever its goals, Beijing’s unexpected power rationing has not only affected Chinese industries, but also foreign companies, including those in Taiwan. The business environment in China — from regulatory tightening to Evergrande Group’s financial turmoil to the recent power rationing — is deteriorating, pushing investment risks higher.

Local firms taking risk in ChinaBy Liu Ming-te 劉明德In the short, medium and long term, Taiwanese businesses operating in China are likely to face three major problems. In 2018, China imported more than 80 million tonnes of coal from Australia, or more than 20 percent of total coal imports that year. As a result, Taiwanese businesses operating in China will in the foreseeable future likely experience frequent power outages and must prepare for them to increase in duration. Taiwanese businesses operating in China might therefore come under significantly increased pressure from local governments, including with regard to taxation, environmental regulations and labor disputes. Finally, if Taiwanese businesses operating in China believe that the CCP would not know how much money they have made, then they are naive in the extreme.

Third quarter is busiest for Asia IPOs on record with US$56 billion in dealsBloombergAsia has had its best third quarter on record for initial public offerings (IPOs), even with Hong Kong turning quiet as many firms put listing plans in the regional powerhouse on hold amid China’s sweeping regulatory clampdown. Photo: BloombergAsia’s record third-quarter came despite the slowdown in Hong Kong, one of the world’s busiest listing venues. That saw listing volumes in the financial hub dip to US$6 billion in the third quarter, trailing South Korea for the first time in four years. Chinese firms that had initially eyed Hong Kong or US listings might opt to raise money privately instead as they wait for the clouds to clear. London-based insurer Prudential PLC fetched US$2.4 billion in a Hong Kong share sale last month in one of the territory’s biggest follow-on offerings of the year.

However, Los Angeles extended the NL West race for at least another day, rallying past the Milwaukee Brewers 8-6. San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey, center, grounds an infield ball during their MLB game against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Friday. San Francisco went through a quick congratulatory handshake line on the diamond after their game. In San Francisco, LaMonte Wade Jr added a sacrifice fly as the Giants (106-54) continued to leave their mark in the franchise’s storied history. They were hardly fancied to win in the talented West, with the Dodgers and the Padres considered the favorites.

US commissioner of soccer resignsAFP, LOS ANGELESLisa Baird, who was under fire for her handling of sexual misconduct allegations against a head coach, resigned on Friday as commissioner of the top US professional women’s soccer league. Baird’s decision was announced in a statement posted on the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Twitter account and came just hours after she said that the league was calling off this weekend’s matches across the US. “The National Women’s Soccer League on Friday has received and accepted Lisa Baird’s resignation as its commissioner,” the league said. US internationals Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe were among the players who have criticized the league’s handling of the Riley allegations. FIFA said that it was “deeply concerned” by the case and would seek further details from US soccer authorities about the issues raised.

Brady-Belichick match sparks a betting surgeAP, ATLANTIC CITY, New JerseySportsbooks say that the showdown between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick — which is to be played tomorrow morning Taiwan time — is shaping up to be the most heavily bet on NFL game of the regular season. Then-New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, and head coach Bill Belichick attend a practice session in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Jan. 18, 2018. “Tom Brady has always been popular with FanDuel customers. Brady played quarterback for the Patriots for his first 20 seasons before leaving last year to lead Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl victory. [New England rookie quarterback] Mac Jones wants to show he belongs, and say: ‘Move over, Brady, it’s a new era.’”

Men’s table tennis team bag silver for Taiwan in QatarStaff writer, with CNATaiwan on Friday finished second in the men’s portion of the Asian Table Tennis Championships after losing to South Korea 1-3, tying their best record in the category. 12 Jang Woo-jin 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 7-11. 27 Chuang leveled the series against Lee Sang-su, winning 11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 11-8 in the second game, but Feng lost to An Jae-hyun 10-12, 9-11, 12-14. In the critical fourth game, Chuang lost to Jang 9-11, 7- 11, 5-11. In the women’s doubles, Chen Szu-Yu and Li Yu-jhun lost 9-11, 10-12, 11-8, 9-11 to Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee of India in the round of 16.

Players pulled over breaches: CTFABy Jason Pan / Staff reporterThe Chinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA) yesterday suspended the manager of the men’s national soccer team and dismissed four players for breaching COVID-19 protocols ahead of an international match. Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei TimesAssistant manager Yeh Hsien-chung (葉獻中) would serve as interim team manager, the CTFA said. On Sept. 11, Yu, Chen, Pai, Tuan and Lin allegedly went out drinking, and did not show up for the team’s breakfast meeting the next day, it said. Von said the accusations were unsubstantiated, adding that CTFA secretary-general Fang Ching-jen (方靖仁) had hurt the team with the sudden suspensions. “I only received the notification today that the CTFA has dismissed four key players on the team, while also suspending me,” Von said.

Commission exonerates five executed after 1970 Taiyuan Prison InsurrectionBy Lee Hsin-fang and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Transitional Justice Commission yesterday posthumously exonerated five prison inmates who were executed after the 1970 Taiyuan Prison Insurrection. The five Taiwan independence advocates, held at the prison in Taitung County, seized weapons and broke out of the facility, but were later captured. A sixth prisoner, Cheng Cheng-cheng (鄭正成), who was involved in the insurrection, evaded being executed as the five claimed he had been their hostage. The commission yesterday exonerated the five of all criminal charges. Chiang’s younger sister, Chiang Yueh-wei (江月瑋), broke down in tears following the announcement of his exoneration at a news conference held by the commission in Taipei.

COVID-19: CECC to offer BioNTech in next vaccination roundSYSTEM BUG: Forty-two THSRC workers allegedly used a loophole in a hospital’s vaccination booking system to get their second COVID-19 shot early, media reportedBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is to be offered in the 10th round of vaccinations, which start on Wednesday, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday, as it reported 10 imported cases and no local infections or deaths. A vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is pictured next to some syringes in an undated photo. The CECC reported 10 imported cases of COVID-19 among travelers from nine countries, but no new local infections or deaths. The imported cases arrived from Indonesia, Japan, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Singapore, Somaliland, Thailand, the UK and Vietnam, the center said. The center has asked the local health department to look into the matter and enhance hospital management, Chen said.

North Carolina Courage coach fired over sexual misconduct allegationsAFP, LOS ANGELESThe North Carolina Courage on Thursday fired head coach Paul Riley after fresh allegations of sexual misconduct swept across the top professional women’s soccer league in the US. He is the second NWSL coach to be dismissed this week after the league terminated Washington Spirit coach Richie Burke’s contract following an investigation into allegations of verbal and emotional abuse. The Athletic reported that two players, Sinead Farrelly and Meleana “Mana” Shim, had made allegations of inappropriate behavior against Riley. Farrelly, who played for Riley at three different teams in different leagues, accused the coach of “sexual coercion” while he was her coach at the Philadelphia Independence. Riley told her “we’re taking this to our graves” after the incident.