Business English in Fiction. Практикум

Unit 4

осведомленность относительно ситуации, в которой нахо- диться предприятие (оно заложено, срок закладной истекает в ближайшее время, нет источников рефинансирования), и пы- таетесь убедить оппонента в выгодности вашего предложения (предлагаемая цена включает средства на погашение долга по закладной, на выплату долгов мелким акционерам и др.), а также указываете на отсутствие другого выхода из сложив- шейся ситуации (невозможность найти источник рефинанси- рования за такое короткое время). Вы называете окончатель- ный срок для принятия решения.

В: Вы, владелец предприятия, проявляете нежелание продавать предприятие, которое является делом всей вашей жизни, выражаете надежду на возможность решить проблему другим способом (попытаться найти источники рефинанси- рования), задаете уточняющие вопросы по предложению (о цене, о сроках), выражаете недовольство, что решение надо принимать так быстро, но в конечном счете уступаете и со- глашаетесь сообщить свое решение в назначенный срок.

Section III. Writing

Vocabulary Practice

Translate the following sentences into English in writing. Use the Vocabulary list for the translation of the bold

words and expressions.

1.Вы знакомы с продукцией этой фирмы?

2.Мы попытались продлить срок действия закладной,

но нам отказали. Тогда мы решили предложить кредиторам по закладной лучшие условия и надеялись, что они их при-

мут. Но они все-таки нам отказали.

3.Я надеюсь, мы сумеем организовать посещение этой выставки.

4.Я считаю, что при данных обстоятельствах наше

предложение довольно справедливо. Вам следует его рас-

смотреть.

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Business English in Fiction

5.Новый выпуск акций намечен на начало следующего года, ипокупнаяценана них будет длявас вполне приемлема.

6.Мы в курсе вашей финансовой ситуации на сего-

дняшний день. Она совсем не благоприятна. Ваши акционе- ры несут убытки. Что вы собираетесь предпринять, чтобы исправить положение.

7.– Вы должны вернуть долг (погасить заем) в течение

недели.

–Почему так срочно? Мы не можем сделать это в та- кой короткий срок.

–Хорошо, мы готовы пойти на уступки и назначаем крайний срок через 2 недели, на 1 сентября.

8.Наша компания расширяется, несмотря на жесткую конкуренцию. Мы открыли несколько новых филиалов за по-

следнеевремя. Нашакционерныйкапиталсоставляет… . Наши товары вполне конкурентоспособны и хорошо продаются.

9.Сколько у тебя осталось денег на счете?

10.Он думает, что у него преданный персонал. На са- мом деле, они обманывают его на протяжении многих лет.

Вся компания подвержена коррупции.

Test

1.

Match the words on the left with their meanings on the right.

aproportion of the profits

6.mortgagee 6. with little warning, little time for the prepa-

Unit 4

2.

Find a synonym for each of the words on the left from the list on the right.

3.

Fill in the gaps with suitable words from the list below.

1.The… for setting in our budget is next Tuesday.

2.These people are quite… to you, they will never let you down.

3.I’m… with your products, I have seen them at an exhibition.

4.If you make mutually satisfactory… we are ready to consider your offer.

5.They borrowed a certain sum of money from the bank and the… is due next month.

6.We enjoyed staying at your hotel. Thank you for your… .

7.Do you think it’s a good idea to… to complete this project in six months?

1.loan

2.familiar

3.undertake

4.deadline

5.loyal

6.arrangements

7.hospitality

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Business English in Fiction

Unit 5

Skills: Reading, Speaking, Writing

Section I. Reading

Background information to the extract from A. Hailey’s novel “Hotel”.

Независимый отель (St. Gregory Hotel) находиться на грани финансового краха. Его владелец (Warren Trent) готов принять предложение крупного владельца сети гостиниц (Curtis O’Keefe), который хочет купить отель. Неожиданно его посещает президент банка (Emile Dumare), у которого есть встречное предложение.

Vocabulary Guide

Here is the list of words and expressions commonly used in business communication. You will come across these words in the text that follows.

Look through the list carefully before you read the text. It will help you to understand the text adequately.

Learn these words and use them in the conversation you will have to make up as a business communication assignment in the Roleplay Section of the unit.

Unit 5

The Text

Read the Extract. Pay attention to the words and expressions in bold letters and keep them in mind. Check the Vocabulary list while reading the text.

Christine Francis came in quietly, as usual sensing his mood. “Mr. Emile Dumaire would like to speak with you. I wouldn’t have disturbed you, but he insisted it’s urgent.”

Trent grunted. The vultures were gathering, he thought. Though on second thoughts, perhaps the simile was hardly fair. A good deal of money from the Industrial Merchant’s Bank, of which Emile Dumaire was president, was tied up in the St. Gregory Hotel. It was also Industrial Merchant’s which, months earlier, had refused an extension of credit as well as a larger loan for refinancing. Well, Dumaire and his fellow directors had nothing to worry about now. With the impending deal their money would be forthcoming. Warren Trent supposed he should give that reassurance.

He reached for the telephone.

“No,” Christine said. “Mr. Dumaire is here, waiting outside”. Warren Trent stopped, surprised. It was highly unusual for

Emile Dumaire to leave the fastness of his bank to make a personal call on anyone.

A moment later Christine ushered the visitor in, closing the door as she left.

“I apologize, Warren, for the abrupt intrusion without an appointment. However, the nature of my business left little time for niceties.”

They shook hands. The hotel proprietor waved his visitor to a chair.

“What business?”

“If you don’t object, I’d prefer to take things in order. First permit me to say how sorry I was that it was not feasible to accede to your loan request. Unfortunately, the sum and terms were far beyond our resources or established policy. However, I am here today with a purpose which I hope may offset some of the unfortunate aspects of that earlier occasion.”

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Business English in Fiction

“That” Warren Trent asserted, “is extremely unlikely.” “We’ll see”. From a slim briefcase the banker extracted sev-

eral sheets of paper covered with penciled notes. “It is my understanding that you have received an offer for this hotel from the O'Keefe Corporation.”

“You don’t need the FBI to tell you that.”

The banker smiled. “You wouldn't care to inform me of the terms?”

“Why should I?”

“Because,” Emile Dumaire said carefully, “I am here to make a counter – offer.”

“If that’s the case, I’d have even less reason to speak out. What I will tell you is that I’ve agreed to give the O’Keefe people an answer by noon today.”

“Quite so. My information was to that effect, which is the reason for my abrupt appearance here. Incidentally, I apologize for not being earlier, but my information and instructions have taken some time to assemble.”

The news of an eleventh-hour offer – at least, from the present source –– did not excite Warren Trent. He supposed that a local group of investors, for whom Dumaire was spokesman, had combined in an attempt to buy in cheaply now and sell out later with a capital gain. Whatever the suggested terms, they could hardly match the offer of O’Keefe. Nor was Warren Trent’s own position likely to be improved.

The banker consulted his penciled notes. “It is my understanding that the terms offered by O’Keefe Corporation are a purchase price of four millions. Of this, two millions would be applied to renewal of the present mortgage, the balance to be a million cash and a million dollars in a new issue of O’Keefe stock. There’s an additional rumor that you personally would be given some kind of life tenancy of your quarters in the hotel.”

Warren Trent’s face reddened with anger. He slammed a clenched first hard upon the surface of his desk. “Goddam, Emile! Don’t play cat and mouse with me!”

“If I appeared to, I’m sorry.”

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Unit 5

“For God’s sake! If you know the details already, why ask?” “Frankly,” Dumaire said, “I was hoping for the confirmation that you just gave me. Also, the offer I am authorized to make is

somewhat better.”

It was obvious that Curtis O’Keefe had a difector in his own organization, possibly someone at O’Keefe headquarters who was privy to high-level policy. In a way there was ironic justice in the fact that Curtis O’Keefe who used espionage as a business tool, should be spied upon himself.

“Just how are the terms better? And by whom are they offered?”

“To reply to the second question first – at present I am not at liberty to say.”

Warren Trent snorted, “I do business with people I can see, not ghosts.”

“I’m no ghost,” Dumaire reminded him. “Moreover you have the bank’s assurance that the offer I am empowered to make is bona fide, and that the parties whom the bank represents have unimpeachable credentials.”

The hotel proprietor said, “Let’s get to the point.”

“It was about to do so.” The banker shuffled his notes. “Basically, the valuation which my principals place upon this hotel is identical with that of the O’Keefe corporation.”

“That’s hardly surprising, since you had O’Keefe’s figures.” “In other respects, however, there are several significant dif-

ferences.”

For the first time since the beginning of the interview, Warren Trent was conscious of a mounting interest in what the banker had to say.

“First, my principals have no wish that you should sever your personal connection with the St. Gregory Hotel or devorce yourself from its financial structure. Second, it would be their in- tention—insofar as is commercially feasible -to maintain the hotel's independence and existing character”

Warren Trent gripped the arms of his chair tightly. He glanced at a wall clock to his right. It showed a quarter to twelve.

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Business English in Fiction

“They would, however, insist on acquiring a majority of the outstanding common shares—a reasonable requirement in the circumstances—to provide effective management control. You yourself would thus revert to the status of largest minority stock holder. A further requirement would be your immediate resignation as president and managing director. Could I trouble you for a glass of water?”

Warren Trent filled a single glass from the Thermos jug on his desk. “What do you have in mind – that I become a busboy? Or perhaps assistant doorman?”

“Scarcely that." Emile Dumaire sipped from the glass then regarded it. “It has always struck me as quite remarkable how our muddy Mississippi can become such pleasant tasting water.”

“Get on with it!”

The banker smiled. “My principals propose that immediately following your resignation you be appointed chairman of the board, initially for a two-year term.”

“A mere figurehead, I suppose!”

“Perhaps. But it would seem to me that there are worse things. Or perhaps you’d prefer the figurehead to be Mr. Curtis O'Keefe.”

The hotel proprietor was silent.

“I am further instructed to inform you that my principals will match any offer of a personal nature concerning accommodation here which you may have received from the O'Keefe Corporation. Now, as to the question of stock transference and refinancing. I'd like to go into that in some detail.”

As the banker talked on, closely consulting his notes Warren Trent was wondering who among the city's business leaders, was behind Emile Dumaire? Who might care enough to run the financial risk of maintaining the St. Gregory as a traditionally independed house? Well, whoever it was, he supposed he would learn soon enough.

The stock transaction which the banker was spelling out was fair. Compared with the offer from O'Keefe, Warren Trent’s personal cash settlement would be smaller, but offset by a retained

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