Company relationship

1. A man trying to persuade a woman to marry him is said , in old-fashioned English, to woo her. In the same way , when company A wishes to merge or form an alliance with another company B, company A is said to woo B.

2. Before marriage there is a period of courtship, and this (again old-fashioned) expression is used to talk about two companies who are discussing the possibility of merging.

3. When it is uncertain whether a marriage is going to take place, commentators talk about on-off romance.4. People who suddenly enter a relationship may be said to leap into bed with each other, and the

expression is used in the article about two companies who agree to form an alliance.5. In same cultures, when two people marry, a sum of money called a dowry is given by one family (usually

the bride’s) to the other. The article refers to a sum of money to be invested in the join venture using the word.

6. A relationship between two people that ends unhappily ends in tears. A joint venture that is abandon may be referred to in the same way.

1. Lovers - people involved in a sexual or romantic relationship. 2. Alliances – relationship formed between countries or organizations.3. Liaisons – sexual or romantic relationship.4. One-night stands – relationship lasting only a short time.5. Spider’s web – insect a trap for being very difficult to get out of

RENAULT, VOLVO IN ‘PRELIMINARY’ TALKS: MERGER WOULD CREATE NO. 4 AUTO FIRM

Stung by mounting global competition, Renault of France and AB Volvo of Sweden are exploring a possible merger that would create the world’s fourth larger auto company and the biggest truck maker. Volvo confirmed that it and Renault are in ‘ preliminary’ talks. Government-owned Renault declined to comment except to say that it is actively seeking partners.“Firing on all cylinders.” “Up to speed again”. “Back in top gear”. To the relief –and pride- of most Swedes, the motoring metaphors have been flowing thick and fast for Volvo, the country’s biggest manufacturer. Thanks to a dramatic recovery in profits, memories of the ignominious collapse at the end of 1993 of Volvo’s plans to merge with France’s Renault have faded fast.Neither company would discuss details nor comment on the likely outcome of negotiations. But individuals in both countries said the talks have covered a wide range of options, including collaboration in both car and truck operations and perhaps even a full-scale merger of the two concerns eventually.People familiar with the talks emphasized that no immediate agreement is in the offing and that some very formidable corporate and political hurdles would have to be cleared before any alliance takes place. One person said the obstacles to a major alliance may be insurmountable. Industry analysts also wee skeptical about a combination of two such disparate vehicle makers.Volvo returned a 12-fold growth in pre-tax profits in the first nine months of the year to record a surplus of SKr 12.7 billion, on turnover of executive who has emerged as the new dominant figure in Volvo, the company is firmly embarked on a new strategy to focus on its core vehicle-making operations.By the end of 1996, it intends to have sold off is non-core activities, raising a total of some SKr 40 billion to finance the future development of cars and trucks. Today, there is a widely-held view in the industry that Volvo Truck Corporation is already in strong shape. At the nine-month stage, worldwide unit truck sales were up 38 percent at 49.400, delivering a jump in operating profits to SKr 2.7 billion.

Mounting – raising, climbing

Ignominious – disreputable, scandalous, inglorious

Fad – craze, fashion, agony, temporary fashion

Offing- setting, backdrop, framework

Surplus- plus

Formidable – dreadful, fierce

Insurmountable –insuperable, hopeless

Emerge - emanate

Firmly- strongly, resolutely

Embark – launch, leave, set sail