商务英语 Unit 12 Corporate Alliances and Acquisitions 教材：新视野商务英语（下）

Unit 12 Corporate Alliances and Acquisitions Objectives Language Focus Skills Business Communication Key Vocabulary lead-in Reading Homework

Objectives When the learners finish learning this unit, they should be able to providing information on corporate alliances and acquisitions collecting information on corporate alliances and acquisitions

Language focus phrasal verbs Modal verbs of obligation

Skill Writing: minutes Reading: When egos collide Listening: Meetings

Business Communication Role-play

Key Vocabulary Joint venture merger acquisition takeover

Lead-in 1.This exercise gives students an opportunity to check if they have understood fully the differences between mergers, joint ventures and acquisitions. Ask the pairs of students to read the text and underline the words which told them the answers. 2.The purpose of this short pre-listening extract is to get students thinking and talking about why mergers fail. As an introduction, ask students if they know anything about the merger of Volvo and Renault.

Words and expression parallels: distinctions textbook: perfect rivals: competitors inevitable: unavoidable prerequisite: requirement peers: people who hold similar positions clashes: strong differences of opinion imperatives: urgent demands

Language Focus Modal verbs of obligation 1.These modal verbs can be used to express different degrees of obligation 2.We use must to talk about what we personally consider to be important. e.g. I must finish this report today. 3.We use have to to talk about an obligation imposed by someone else. e.g. I have to attend a meeting.

4. We use mustn’t to indicate that it is important not to do something, for example because it is forbidden. e.g. You mustn’t adjust the screen. 5.We use don’t have to/needn’t to indicate that there is no obligation to do something--- you can do it if you want to, but it is not necessary. e.g. You don’t have to/needn’t come in early tomorrow.

Reading 1.The text describes the contribution managers’ egos can make to fail mergers. There are few vocabulary issues, but students may have problems with some. 2.key: This alliance would have brought considerable financial advantages to both companies and would have made them the leader in their sector. It would have increased their R&D budgets.

The deal did not go though because the CEOs of the companies failed to agree. Nicholas Bates explains that many senior business people find it difficult to get along with their peers because they have such strong and sometimes almost ‘psycho-pathological’ personalities. The author points out that the Ciba-Sandoz merger worked because senior personnel were either ready for retirement or willing to give up their posts for other ones. A successful merger is possible if CEOs are willing to make the necessary compromises to bring about the most advantages for their shareholders. This means that CEOs must put the company’s interests before their personal desires for power.

Homework 1. listening to the tape after class. 2. reciting the new words and the text of key vocabulary. 3.writing a composition.