2023考研英語閱讀巨獸出擊
Retailing The beast goes on safari
零售業 巨獸出擊
Can Wal-Mart make it in Africa?
沃爾瑪能在非洲得償所愿嗎?
FOUR billion dollars doesn t count as an every day low price , but Wal-Mart, the world sbiggest retailer, hopes it has found a bargain.
對全球最大的零售商沃爾瑪來說，40億美元可不是 天天平價 ，但它還是希望自己撿到個大便宜。
That is how much the Arkansas-based Beast of Bentonville hasoffered to acquire Massmart, a retailer with 288 stores in 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
這只阿肯色州的 本頓維爾巨獸 ，向Massmart開出了41億美元的價碼，想收購這個在撒哈拉以南地區的14個非洲國家、擁有288家門店的零售商。
On September 27th Massmart s management confirmed it is in exclusive negotiations tosell the South African-based firm to Wal-Mart.
9月27日，Massmart的管理層確認了獨家業務談判，計劃將公司在南非的業務出售給沃爾瑪。
The deal is being overseen by Andy Bond , who ran Wal-Mart s British arm,Asda.
掌管沃爾瑪旗下的英國阿斯達公司的邦德，負責這項談判的進展。
As Massmart s shares initially traded above the offer price, it suggests some investors thinkthere may be other bidders, and that Mr Bond might have to come up with some moremoney to clinch the deal.
由于Massmart的股價已經高于收購價，投資者猜測會有其他買家競標，這樣的話，邦德先生就不得不加大籌碼來搞定這一單。
This is the clearest sign yet that Africa is now near the top of the agenda for the world sleading businesses.
然而這是最清楚的一個信號：在全球主要業務的日程安排上，非洲正逼近榜首。
The continent still has its problems, but it is no longer hopeless as this newspaper oncedescribed itespecially for anyone wanting to be part of a fast-growing consumer market.
這塊大陸雖然問題猶存，但已經不再是 前途渺茫 本刊曾經這樣描述過它，尤其對那些想要在快速增長的消費市場里分一杯羹的人。
Last year, while the global economy struggled with the aftermath of the financial crisis,Africa as a whole continued to advance and is expected to grow by at least 4.3% this year.
去年，當全球經濟在金融危機的余波中起伏掙扎時，非洲經濟卻是一路向上，今年的預期增長率至少在4.3%。
Some economies, such as Nigeria and Ghana, are racing ahead.
一些經濟體在增長競賽中齊頭并進，比如尼日利亞和加納。
As the middle class and urban working class expand rapidly, food consumption is expectedto grow strongly, along with sales of other consumer products.
由于中產階級和城市工人階級迅速擴張，預期食品消費將有強勢的增長，同時帶動著其他的消費商品。
There had been speculation that Wal-Mart would go for Shoprite, a rival African retailer,but Massmart offers a lot of products besides food, which is more in keeping with theexpanding range of products that Wal-Mart sells elsewhere.
曾有推測說，沃爾瑪要收購另一家有競爭力的非洲零售商：Shoprite，但是Massmart會提供除食品以外的多類商品，這與沃爾瑪在其他地區的銷售增長幅度保持得更加一致。
Massmart operates under nine different names, including Dion Wired and Builders Warehouse .
Massmart旗下有九家分號，包括Dion Wired和Builders Warehouse。
Wal-Mart, which has built its recent success on world-class logistics, is said to be particularlykeen on Massmart s low-cost distribution system.
業界認為，最近成功建立起世界級后勤管理體系的沃爾瑪，會特別熱衷于Massmart低成本的分銷系統。
Initially, Massmart would be barely visible within Wal-Mart s global empire, which this yearis expected to earn profits of around $14 billion on sales of $405 billion in more than 8,500outlet under 55 different names in 15 countries.
起初，Massmart并不入全球帝國沃爾瑪的眼，本財年沃爾瑪通過遍及15個國家、55家分號的8500多家門店，預計銷售額達到4050億美元，凈利潤大約140億美元。
It is the growth potential of Africa that is appealing, especially as sales have disappointedof late in America, even though Wal-Mart has been well-placed to benefit from consumerstrading down.
真正吸引它的，是非洲的增長潛力，尤其在近期，即使沃爾瑪瞄好了 降級消費 來從中盈利，它在美國的銷售額也沒有達到預期。
Critics of the deal point out that some of Wal-Mart s international adventures have gonebadly, most notably its expansion into Germany, which it eventually abandoned.
收購計劃的評論家指出，沃爾瑪的一些國際冒險進行的很糟，尤其是在德國的擴張計劃，最終是鎩羽而歸。
But there is a world of difference between the mature, highly competitive German marketand using its global clout to shape an African market that is still in its infancy.
但是德國市場和非洲市場有著天壤之別，前者成熟且具有高度競爭力，而后者尚在襁褓之中，沃爾瑪可以利用自身的全球影響力隨意地搓圓揉扁。
It will have to deal with unions, which have been agitating recently at Massmart, perhapshaving got wind of Wal-Mart s potential offer.
收購計劃還得應付工會，也許是風聞了沃爾瑪潛在的雇傭意向，Massmart的工人們開始躁動不安。
But outside America, Wal-Mart is not the ideological enemy of organised labour that it is athome.
其實在美國本土之外，沃爾瑪并不是勞工組織在意識形態上的敵人。
And it has thought sufficiently hard about social engagementespecially since it got greenreligion in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrinathat it knows it will need to view South Africa sblack-empowerment laws as an opportunity not a cost.
而且它確實很充分地考慮到了參與社會活動，尤其是在美國卡特里娜颶風的余波中，沃爾瑪產生了綠色宗教。沃爾瑪知道自己要把南非的 黑人權利 法律視為機會，而不是成本支出。
Massmart s management is reportedly negotiating with the expectation of being retainedafter the acquisition, which seems plausible given their local knowledge and impressivetrack record. Mr Bond is certainly no good ol boy from Arkansas.
據報道，Massmart的管理層正在商談，希望兼并后保留原班人馬，看起來，他們熟悉本土，且有驕人的工作業績，這個提議是合情合理的。
But nor is Mike Duke, Wal-Mart s chief executive, who took the top job after heading itsinternational operations.
但邦德先生顯然不是阿肯色州的好男孩，沃爾瑪的CEO麥克?杜克也不好相與。
The bid for Massmart is an attempt to gain a first-mover advantage by one of the world smost sophisticated companies, and it is likely to be seen as the moment when the beasts ofthe corporate world recognised that Africa is the next big growth market.
在完成了全球業務主管的任務后，麥克?杜克接管了沃爾瑪。對Massmart的競價只是全球最復雜公司的一次嘗試，目的是獲取先動優勢。它更像是一個重要契機：公司界的巨獸視非洲為下一個巨型增長市場。
And what if it all goes wrong, as it might?
如果這一切錯了呢?
The great thing about being a big beast is that you can lose $4 billion and barely notice.
作為一只巨獸，無非就是損失了40億美元。
Retailing The beast goes on safari
零售業 巨獸出擊
Can Wal-Mart make it in Africa?
沃爾瑪能在非洲得償所愿嗎?
FOUR billion dollars doesn t count as an every day low price , but Wal-Mart, the world sbiggest retailer, hopes it has found a bargain.
對全球最大的零售商沃爾瑪來說，40億美元可不是 天天平價 ，但它還是希望自己撿到個大便宜。
That is how much the Arkansas-based Beast of Bentonville hasoffered to acquire Massmart, a retailer with 288 stores in 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
這只阿肯色州的 本頓維爾巨獸 ，向Massmart開出了41億美元的價碼，想收購這個在撒哈拉以南地區的14個非洲國家、擁有288家門店的零售商。
On September 27th Massmart s management confirmed it is in exclusive negotiations tosell the South African-based firm to Wal-Mart.
9月27日，Massmart的管理層確認了獨家業務談判，計劃將公司在南非的業務出售給沃爾瑪。
The deal is being overseen by Andy Bond , who ran Wal-Mart s British arm,Asda.
掌管沃爾瑪旗下的英國阿斯達公司的邦德，負責這項談判的進展。
As Massmart s shares initially traded above the offer price, it suggests some investors thinkthere may be other bidders, and that Mr Bond might have to come up with some moremoney to clinch the deal.
由于Massmart的股價已經高于收購價，投資者猜測會有其他買家競標，這樣的話，邦德先生就不得不加大籌碼來搞定這一單。
This is the clearest sign yet that Africa is now near the top of the agenda for the world sleading businesses.
然而這是最清楚的一個信號：在全球主要業務的日程安排上，非洲正逼近榜首。
The continent still has its problems, but it is no longer hopeless as this newspaper oncedescribed itespecially for anyone wanting to be part of a fast-growing consumer market.
這塊大陸雖然問題猶存，但已經不再是 前途渺茫 本刊曾經這樣描述過它，尤其對那些想要在快速增長的消費市場里分一杯羹的人。
Last year, while the global economy struggled with the aftermath of the financial crisis,Africa as a whole continued to advance and is expected to grow by at least 4.3% this year.
去年，當全球經濟在金融危機的余波中起伏掙扎時，非洲經濟卻是一路向上，今年的預期增長率至少在4.3%。
Some economies, such as Nigeria and Ghana, are racing ahead.
一些經濟體在增長競賽中齊頭并進，比如尼日利亞和加納。
As the middle class and urban working class expand rapidly, food consumption is expectedto grow strongly, along with sales of other consumer products.
由于中產階級和城市工人階級迅速擴張，預期食品消費將有強勢的增長，同時帶動著其他的消費商品。
There had been speculation that Wal-Mart would go for Shoprite, a rival African retailer,but Massmart offers a lot of products besides food, which is more in keeping with theexpanding range of products that Wal-Mart sells elsewhere.
曾有推測說，沃爾瑪要收購另一家有競爭力的非洲零售商：Shoprite，但是Massmart會提供除食品以外的多類商品，這與沃爾瑪在其他地區的銷售增長幅度保持得更加一致。
Massmart operates under nine different names, including Dion Wired and Builders Warehouse .
Massmart旗下有九家分號，包括Dion Wired和Builders Warehouse。
Wal-Mart, which has built its recent success on world-class logistics, is said to be particularlykeen on Massmart s low-cost distribution system.
業界認為，最近成功建立起世界級后勤管理體系的沃爾瑪，會特別熱衷于Massmart低成本的分銷系統。
Initially, Massmart would be barely visible within Wal-Mart s global empire, which this yearis expected to earn profits of around $14 billion on sales of $405 billion in more than 8,500outlet under 55 different names in 15 countries.
起初，Massmart并不入全球帝國沃爾瑪的眼，本財年沃爾瑪通過遍及15個國家、55家分號的8500多家門店，預計銷售額達到4050億美元，凈利潤大約140億美元。
It is the growth potential of Africa that is appealing, especially as sales have disappointedof late in America, even though Wal-Mart has been well-placed to benefit from consumerstrading down.
真正吸引它的，是非洲的增長潛力，尤其在近期，即使沃爾瑪瞄好了 降級消費 來從中盈利，它在美國的銷售額也沒有達到預期。
Critics of the deal point out that some of Wal-Mart s international adventures have gonebadly, most notably its expansion into Germany, which it eventually abandoned.
收購計劃的評論家指出，沃爾瑪的一些國際冒險進行的很糟，尤其是在德國的擴張計劃，最終是鎩羽而歸。
But there is a world of difference between the mature, highly competitive German marketand using its global clout to shape an African market that is still in its infancy.
但是德國市場和非洲市場有著天壤之別，前者成熟且具有高度競爭力，而后者尚在襁褓之中，沃爾瑪可以利用自身的全球影響力隨意地搓圓揉扁。
It will have to deal with unions, which have been agitating recently at Massmart, perhapshaving got wind of Wal-Mart s potential offer.
收購計劃還得應付工會，也許是風聞了沃爾瑪潛在的雇傭意向，Massmart的工人們開始躁動不安。
But outside America, Wal-Mart is not the ideological enemy of organised labour that it is athome.
其實在美國本土之外，沃爾瑪并不是勞工組織在意識形態上的敵人。
And it has thought sufficiently hard about social engagementespecially since it got greenreligion in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrinathat it knows it will need to view South Africa sblack-empowerment laws as an opportunity not a cost.
而且它確實很充分地考慮到了參與社會活動，尤其是在美國卡特里娜颶風的余波中，沃爾瑪產生了綠色宗教。沃爾瑪知道自己要把南非的 黑人權利 法律視為機會，而不是成本支出。
Massmart s management is reportedly negotiating with the expectation of being retainedafter the acquisition, which seems plausible given their local knowledge and impressivetrack record. Mr Bond is certainly no good ol boy from Arkansas.
據報道，Massmart的管理層正在商談，希望兼并后保留原班人馬，看起來，他們熟悉本土，且有驕人的工作業績，這個提議是合情合理的。
But nor is Mike Duke, Wal-Mart s chief executive, who took the top job after heading itsinternational operations.
但邦德先生顯然不是阿肯色州的好男孩，沃爾瑪的CEO麥克?杜克也不好相與。
The bid for Massmart is an attempt to gain a first-mover advantage by one of the world smost sophisticated companies, and it is likely to be seen as the moment when the beasts ofthe corporate world recognised that Africa is the next big growth market.
在完成了全球業務主管的任務后，麥克?杜克接管了沃爾瑪。對Massmart的競價只是全球最復雜公司的一次嘗試，目的是獲取先動優勢。它更像是一個重要契機：公司界的巨獸視非洲為下一個巨型增長市場。
And what if it all goes wrong, as it might?
如果這一切錯了呢?
The great thing about being a big beast is that you can lose $4 billion and barely notice.
作為一只巨獸，無非就是損失了40億美元。
