Chinese hotpot chain Little Sheep has announced that it has completed the integration of eight additional franchise restaurants, increasing the number of self-managed restaurants it owns to 143.

Chinese electronics retailer Suning has confirmed that the company will buy 66.67 million shares from the Japanese electronics retailer Laox at a price of JPY12 per share.

French-based Sofitel has announced that it has signed three new contracts for hotels in the eastern and southeastern regions of China. These new Sofitel properties are already under construction and are scheduled to begin opening from the end of 2010.

It is reported that U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital is to buy a 18% stake in China's electronic retail giant Gome for USD400 million.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has reached an agreement with the Bank of East Asia on an equity transaction, in which ICBC will acquire a 70% stake in the Canadian subsidiary of BEA for CAD80.25 million.

According to Vincent Chow, general manager for the Hong Kong-based jewelry company Chow Sang Sang, the company plans to invest about HKD50 million this year in opening new stores in mainland China.