Handout Unit 1


1. Answer the following questions about the article


 1. How was last month different from the period of the past three years?
 2. Why do CEOs aim to merge with other companies?
 3. What was the reason for the previous slowdown?
 4. What do the statistics say and why shouldn’t CEOs worry about them?
 5. Why and when did the idea of the conglomerate go out of fashion?
 6. What is Comcast and what is the motive for the bid they have made recently?
 7. What should CEOs be aware of when merging?
 8. Why do CEOs fail to merge successfully?
 9. What is the herd instinct and why should CEOs not always follow it?


2. Match the verbs in column A with expressions in column B

cut

          alliance

keep

          distribution channel

announce

          growth

make

          difficult situation

struggle

          resources

stay

          costs down

dominate

          an assumption

spot

          award

make

            to sell

improve

          statistics

add

          a good target

quote

            the bill

share

            portfolio

diversify

          chances of success

win

          takeover bid

experience

            ahead of competition



























3. Take turns to explain the following words to each other.


SYNERGY

               MARKET SHARE

COMPETITOR

               SHAREHOLDER

INVESTMENT

               PARTNERSHIP

MERGER

               TAKEOVER BID

ACQUISITION

               PORTFOLIO

CEO

               TARGET

STATISTICS

               CONGLOMERATE

CORE COMPETENCE

               FAILURE

HERD INSTINCT

               VERTICAL INTEGRATION

PREDATOR

               CORPORATE CULTURE



4. Dilemma and decision. Fill in the gaps.


TO BE AWARE _____ THE CONCEPT OF LINKED P______________

TO INSIST _____ UNSEGREGATED F_____________

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY BASED _____ SOCIAL   R________________

TO D___________ 7% OF P________________   PROFIT TO N________________ ORGANIZATIONS

UNILEVER IS ONE OF THE LARGEST C________________  P__________________ COMPANIES

TO FIND C________________ GROUND / HAVE A LOT IN C__________________

TO FORM A CORPORATE   A_________________

A MERGER BETWEEN TWO S___________________ DIFFERENT CULTURES

TO ASK FOR C________________ BEFORE AGREEING TO SELL


5. Translate into English


zajistit rychlý růst

prodej státních firem

střety osobností vedoucí k neúspěchu

nedávná nabídka na převzetí

být znepokojen vývojem fúze

pokus rozdělit podhodnocenou firmu

založit výzkum na špatném předpokladu

snížit účet za elektřinu

pobočka v hodnotě miliard dolarů

mít náskok před konkurencí

soustředit se na jádro podnikání


6. Answer the questions about the article WB Unit 1


1.      What is Novartis?

2.      What has it announced?

3.      What is Sandoz?

4.      How big is the German generics market?

5.      Why did many companies with generics subsidiaries try to get rid of them?

6.      How do generics companies do business?

7.      What do they do to remain competitive?

8.      What do health activists oppose?