It sells mainly consumer electronics and has 15 million users and distribution facilities in almost 60 cities.

FORBES: China Just One Reason Wal-Mart Stock Gets To $75

Internal consolidation is another option: Bertelsmann is likely to buy out the rest of barnesandnoble.com, an online bookstore in which it has a 40% stake, and merge it with its wholly owned bol.com, which sells mainly in Europe.

ECONOMIST: Bertelsmann

Tata Sons, with the biggest China operation, mainly sells Range Rover cars, made in Britain, and IT services, largely employing local Chinese staff.

ECONOMIST: India and China

Because Airbus mainly manufacturers its aircraft within the eurozone, but sells them in dollars, it is highly vulnerable to foreign exchange fluctuations.

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