商务口语：商务对话实战

    In this conversation, Oscar Davidson, the owner of a chain of retail¹ clothing stores, is talking to Kathleen Harbrough, his financial manager, about a big deal one of his competitors has just concluded.
    Kathleen: Have you heard the news, Oscar? The InFashion merger² with Artingdales has just been approved.
    Oscar: Yeah, I heard. They’ve just leap-frogged ahead of us by a good margin³. Our 265 shops nationwide pales in comparison to their 710. On top of that,they now have a top manufacturer as part of their operation.
    Kathleen: For sure. Most analysts⁴ think that Debusy Manufacturing was the crown jewel of Artingdales.
    Oscar: This really gives InFashion a huge competitive advantage over us. Do you have any news on potential acquisitions we might go after?
    Kathleen: Actually, I do. You may be a little surprised at this one. I’ve been checking up on Clarisa Exclusives.
    Oscar: Clarisa! They’ve never shown any interest whatsoever⁵ in a merger, and they would probably never agree to an acquisition.
    Kathleen: I know, but the time might be right for a takeover.It’s not a well-known fact, but their finances are in poor shape. Actually, they could turn out to be a Sleeping Beauty. I think their assets are highly undervalued in the industry.
    Oscar: Wow, that would surely put us back in the thick of things. OK, Kathleen, give me a report on the finances involved as soon as you can. Let’s go after them!
    参考译文：
    在以下这段对话中，Oscar Davidson是一家服装零售连锁店的老板，而Kathleen Harbrough是他的财务主管。他俩正谈论一个竞争对手刚完成的一笔大买卖。
    Kathleen: 嘿，Oscar, 你听说了吗？InFashion和Artingdales已经成功合并了。
    Oscar: 我听说啦。他们已经大步向前，把我们远远甩在后面了。你看，全国范围内，我们只有265家店，而他们却有710家。另外，现在还有一个顶尖的制造商加入了他们的行列Kathleen: 的确如此。大多数分析家都认为Debusy制造公司是Arlingdales最具实力的拳头部门。
    Oscar: 这无疑给Infashion增加了不少竞争砝码，而我们已处于劣势了。对了，对于我们下一步的收购计划你有什么目标吗？
    Kathleen: 当然。或许你会有些意外，但我现在确实在关注Clarisa专卖店。
    Oscar: Clarisa！他们对合并可从来没有过什么兴趣，我想他们更不会同意被收购。
    Kathleen：我知道，但此一时，彼一时，现在也许正是收购的最佳时机。他们的财务状况可以说是一团糟，但这个事实却鲜为人知。可以说Clarisa现在还是一个“睡美人”。据我所知，他们的资产被业界大大低估了。
    Oscar ：好啊，那肯定会使我们脱离困境的。这样吧Kathleen，你尽快给我一份涉及相关财务状况的报告，是 我们大显身手的时候了！

1 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

2 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

3 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。