日志
【读学英语】抢先版第二期：英国政府对米国公司说不？
||
【读学英语】抢先版第二期：英国政府对米国公司说不？
http://bbs.Anti-CNN.com/thread-218808-1-1.html
Hello, it's Tim Y here.
如果一家米国大食品公司强行收购一家中国大食品公司，你觉得中国政府会如何反应？
如果中国政府反对这项收购，你觉得网上舆论会支持还是反对中国政府？
会不会遭到米国公司、米国政府甚至于中国网民“以行政手段干涉商业行为”的强烈抨击？
现在，让我们来看看正在英国发生的这种事情吧。
糖果食品业米国老大、世界第二大的Kraft公司对英国最大的糖果企业Cadbury公司的强行收购和反收购事件已经闹了几个月了。Kraft本周二大幅 提高收购价后，Cadbury董事会宣布全票通过决议，同意接受收购出价，并推荐股东们接受。前不久Cadbury董事们保卫英国186年标志性老公司的 豪言壮语余音未散，金元大炮一响，尘埃就已经落定。董事们毕竟还是经济动物啊。
不过此事非纯商业活动那么简单，很快就有政治大人物出场了。要知所为何事，请看昨天泰晤士报快讯：
From The Times
January 19, 2010
Gordon Brown warns America's Kraft over Cadbury job cuts
The trade union Unite has warned that Kraft plans at least 10,000 job cuts worldwide
Robert Lindsay and Ian King, Deputy Business Editor
GordonBrown today fired a warning shot at Kraft, outlining his determinationto secure jobs at Cadbury, the 186-year old maker of Dairy Milkchocolate, which has agreed to be taken over by the American companyfor £11.9 billion.
The Prime Minster was speaking after theboard of Cadbury, which employs 45,000 staff including 9,000 in the UK,announced that it would recommend an 850p a share offer from Kraft,ending one of the City's most fiercely contested bid battles.
Thetrade union Unite has warned that Kraft plans at least 10,000 job cutsworldwide to slash costs and repay the cash it will need to borrow forthe deal.
Mr Brown said this morning: “The one thing I want tosay is this: we are determined that the levels of investment that takeplace in Cadburys in the United Kingdom are maintained.
“Andwe are determined of course, that at a time when people are worriedabout their jobs, that jobs in Cadbury can be secure,” he added.
Kraft was at pains today to reassure Cadbury’s staff about the takeover.
IreneRosenfeld, chairman and chief executive of Kraft, said: "We have greatrespect for Cadbury's brands, heritage and people. We believe they willthrive as part of Kraft Foods."
Roger Carr, chairman of Cadbury,added: "We believe the offer represents good value for Cadburyshareholders and are pleased with the commitment that Kraft Foods hasmade to our heritage, values and people throughout the world."
Thetakeover — which Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, had stronglyopposed — is likely to be seen as something of a landmark in theBritish corporate sector.
Lord Mandelson, who was unable tointervene in the bid process, nonetheless warned Kraft last month: “Ifyou think that you can come here and make a fast buck you will findthat you face huge opposition from the local population . . . and fromthe British Government.”
The deal ends a proud history forCadbury as an independent company. The chocolate maker, famous forbrands such as Dairy Milk and Wispa, dates back to 1824 when JohnCadbury, a Birmingham Quaker, began selling cocoa-based drinks in histea and coffee emporium.
The deal was struck after Kraft, whichowns Milka and Toblerone, agreed to increase the cash element of itsoffer, from 300p to 500p, cutting the proportion of its own US-listedshares on the table.
The offer that values the business at 840pa share, plus a 10p special dividend. Shares in Cadbury rose by 3.65per cent, up 29.5p, to 837p in early trading.
Kraft bought Terry’s, another well-know British chocolate company, in 1993 and closed its York factory two years later.
Thetakeover bid has created a huge outpouring of resentment againstforeign takeovers of British companies, particularly in Cadbury’sBirmingham birthplace. In the past four years, more than £292 billionhas been spent by foreign companies buying British rivals.
Duringthe past decade, household names such as P&O, O2, Abbey, BAA,Jaguar Land Rover, the glass manufacturer Pilkington and the steelmakerCorus have all succumbed to foreign takeovers, along with a clutch ofelectricity and water companies. But few have aroused as strongfeelings or emotions as the Cadbury bid.
Kraft suffers from apoor reputation among many in the food industry because it makes mostof its money from processed cheese and meat. It originally tabled a£10.9 billion bid for Cadbury in September last year. The bid wenthostile in November as Kraft made its proposals direct to Cadbury’sshareholders over the heads of its board.
However, Cadbury and its shareholders strongly resisted, obliging Kraft to raise its terms.
TheTakeover Panel confirmed this morning said that Hershey and Ferreromust either make a firm offer for Cadbury or admit they will not enterthe fray by Monday, January 25.
Ferrero, the maker of Nutella,has already indicated it will not make an offer for the company.Hershey is understood to be more likely to compete with Kraft forcontrol of the British confectioner, but few believe that Hershey canoutgun Kraft, which is five times its size.
Comments
Martin Akehurst wrote:
What the hell can Brown do? He's grabbing a populist cause that he has no possibility whatsoever of solving.
January 19, 2010 11:09 GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
Colin S wrote:
Desperate statement from a desperate man.
January 19, 2010 11:08 GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
Geoffrey Woollard wrote:
I'mwith Peter Mandelson on this one. Cadbury is an iconic brand ofwonderful chocolate that is proudly British. The shareholders' interestis important, but not all-important. I would have been very doubtfulabout Hershey and I am doubtful that Kraft can add anything to Cadburyand the Americans may do harm. And, besides, as a Cambridgeshire man, Icannot forget the company's association with Chivers Hartley at Histon.
January 19, 2010 11:04 GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
问题：
1. Kraft和Cadbury的中文名称是什么？
2. "...ending one of the City's most fiercely contested bid battles."里，the City是什么意思？
3. "The trade union Unite has warned that..."里，The trade union Unite是什么意思？
4. 代表政府说话的是哪几个人？他们是什么职位？
5. "The deal was struck after Kraft, which owns Milka and Toblerone, agreed to increase the cash element of its offer, from 300p to 500p, cutting the proportion of its own US-listed shares on the table."里，"cutting the proportion of its own US-listed shares on the table" 是什么意思？
6. 哪句话说明了英国人对此次收购的情绪？
7. Kraft名声如何？哪句话说明了其名声？
8. "The Takeover Panel confirmed this morning said that Hershey and Ferrero must either make a firm offer for Cadbury or admit they will not enter the fray by Monday, January 25."
上句里，Hershey and Ferrero是什么？
9. 从最后三条读者评论里，可以看出他们对政府干预有信心还是没有信心？
10. 英国政府反对收购的原因和理由是什么？
问题有点多，但这篇文章基本上难点不是很多。可能对有些文化背景不了解会造成理解困
(Tim Y)
http://bbs.Anti-CNN.com/thread-218808-1-1.html
Hello, it's Tim Y here.
如果一家米国大食品公司强行收购一家中国大食品公司，你觉得中国政府会如何反应？
如果中国政府反对这项收购，你觉得网上舆论会支持还是反对中国政府？
会不会遭到米国公司、米国政府甚至于中国网民“以行政手段干涉商业行为”的强烈抨击？
现在，让我们来看看正在英国发生的这种事情吧。
糖果食品业米国老大、世界第二大的Kraft公司对英国最大的糖果企业Cadbury公司的强行收购和反收购事件已经闹了几个月了。Kraft本周二大幅 提高收购价后，Cadbury董事会宣布全票通过决议，同意接受收购出价，并推荐股东们接受。前不久Cadbury董事们保卫英国186年标志性老公司的 豪言壮语余音未散，金元大炮一响，尘埃就已经落定。董事们毕竟还是经济动物啊。
不过此事非纯商业活动那么简单，很快就有政治大人物出场了。要知所为何事，请看昨天泰晤士报快讯：
From The Times
January 19, 2010
Gordon Brown warns America's Kraft over Cadbury job cuts
The trade union Unite has warned that Kraft plans at least 10,000 job cuts worldwide
Robert Lindsay and Ian King, Deputy Business Editor
GordonBrown today fired a warning shot at Kraft, outlining his determinationto secure jobs at Cadbury, the 186-year old maker of Dairy Milkchocolate, which has agreed to be taken over by the American companyfor £11.9 billion.
The Prime Minster was speaking after theboard of Cadbury, which employs 45,000 staff including 9,000 in the UK,announced that it would recommend an 850p a share offer from Kraft,ending one of the City's most fiercely contested bid battles.
Thetrade union Unite has warned that Kraft plans at least 10,000 job cutsworldwide to slash costs and repay the cash it will need to borrow forthe deal.
Mr Brown said this morning: “The one thing I want tosay is this: we are determined that the levels of investment that takeplace in Cadburys in the United Kingdom are maintained.
“Andwe are determined of course, that at a time when people are worriedabout their jobs, that jobs in Cadbury can be secure,” he added.
Kraft was at pains today to reassure Cadbury’s staff about the takeover.
IreneRosenfeld, chairman and chief executive of Kraft, said: "We have greatrespect for Cadbury's brands, heritage and people. We believe they willthrive as part of Kraft Foods."
Roger Carr, chairman of Cadbury,added: "We believe the offer represents good value for Cadburyshareholders and are pleased with the commitment that Kraft Foods hasmade to our heritage, values and people throughout the world."
Thetakeover — which Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, had stronglyopposed — is likely to be seen as something of a landmark in theBritish corporate sector.
Lord Mandelson, who was unable tointervene in the bid process, nonetheless warned Kraft last month: “Ifyou think that you can come here and make a fast buck you will findthat you face huge opposition from the local population . . . and fromthe British Government.”
The deal ends a proud history forCadbury as an independent company. The chocolate maker, famous forbrands such as Dairy Milk and Wispa, dates back to 1824 when JohnCadbury, a Birmingham Quaker, began selling cocoa-based drinks in histea and coffee emporium.
The deal was struck after Kraft, whichowns Milka and Toblerone, agreed to increase the cash element of itsoffer, from 300p to 500p, cutting the proportion of its own US-listedshares on the table.
The offer that values the business at 840pa share, plus a 10p special dividend. Shares in Cadbury rose by 3.65per cent, up 29.5p, to 837p in early trading.
Kraft bought Terry’s, another well-know British chocolate company, in 1993 and closed its York factory two years later.
Thetakeover bid has created a huge outpouring of resentment againstforeign takeovers of British companies, particularly in Cadbury’sBirmingham birthplace. In the past four years, more than £292 billionhas been spent by foreign companies buying British rivals.
Duringthe past decade, household names such as P&O, O2, Abbey, BAA,Jaguar Land Rover, the glass manufacturer Pilkington and the steelmakerCorus have all succumbed to foreign takeovers, along with a clutch ofelectricity and water companies. But few have aroused as strongfeelings or emotions as the Cadbury bid.
Kraft suffers from apoor reputation among many in the food industry because it makes mostof its money from processed cheese and meat. It originally tabled a£10.9 billion bid for Cadbury in September last year. The bid wenthostile in November as Kraft made its proposals direct to Cadbury’sshareholders over the heads of its board.
However, Cadbury and its shareholders strongly resisted, obliging Kraft to raise its terms.
TheTakeover Panel confirmed this morning said that Hershey and Ferreromust either make a firm offer for Cadbury or admit they will not enterthe fray by Monday, January 25.
Ferrero, the maker of Nutella,has already indicated it will not make an offer for the company.Hershey is understood to be more likely to compete with Kraft forcontrol of the British confectioner, but few believe that Hershey canoutgun Kraft, which is five times its size.
Comments
Martin Akehurst wrote:
What the hell can Brown do? He's grabbing a populist cause that he has no possibility whatsoever of solving.
January 19, 2010 11:09 GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
Colin S wrote:
Desperate statement from a desperate man.
January 19, 2010 11:08 GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
Geoffrey Woollard wrote:
I'mwith Peter Mandelson on this one. Cadbury is an iconic brand ofwonderful chocolate that is proudly British. The shareholders' interestis important, but not all-important. I would have been very doubtfulabout Hershey and I am doubtful that Kraft can add anything to Cadburyand the Americans may do harm. And, besides, as a Cambridgeshire man, Icannot forget the company's association with Chivers Hartley at Histon.
January 19, 2010 11:04 GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
问题：
1. Kraft和Cadbury的中文名称是什么？
2. "...ending one of the City's most fiercely contested bid battles."里，the City是什么意思？
3. "The trade union Unite has warned that..."里，The trade union Unite是什么意思？
4. 代表政府说话的是哪几个人？他们是什么职位？
5. "The deal was struck after Kraft, which owns Milka and Toblerone, agreed to increase the cash element of its offer, from 300p to 500p, cutting the proportion of its own US-listed shares on the table."里，"cutting the proportion of its own US-listed shares on the table" 是什么意思？
6. 哪句话说明了英国人对此次收购的情绪？
7. Kraft名声如何？哪句话说明了其名声？
8. "The Takeover Panel confirmed this morning said that Hershey and Ferrero must either make a firm offer for Cadbury or admit they will not enter the fray by Monday, January 25."
上句里，Hershey and Ferrero是什么？
9. 从最后三条读者评论里，可以看出他们对政府干预有信心还是没有信心？
10. 英国政府反对收购的原因和理由是什么？
问题有点多，但这篇文章基本上难点不是很多。可能对有些文化背景不了解会造成理解困
(Tim Y)
