Guide to Reading
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Businesses can expand in many different ways. One way is through reinvesting internally generated funds, which can also be paid out to the owners in the form of dividends. Another way is through combinations called mergers. Two kinds of mergers, horizontal mergers and vertical mergers, take place for a number of reasons. Some firms merge to become bigger or more efficient. Others merge to eliminate their rivals or to change corporate identity. Some mergers may result in a conglomerate, or even a multinational if the business has manufacturing or service operations in a number of different countries.
Content Vocabulary
merger
The consolidation of two separately-owned businesses under single ownership. This can be accomplished through a mutual, "friendly" agreement by both parties, or through a "hostile takeover," in which one business gets ownership without cooperation from the other. Mergers fall into one of three classes -- (1) horizontal--two competing firms in the same industry that sell the same products, (2) vertical--two firms in different stages of the production of one good, such that the output of one business is the input of the other, and (3) conglomerate--two firms that are in totally, completely separated industries.
income statement
A statement of the revenues, expenditures, and profit for a business, household, or government entity over a given period of time. An income statement also goes by the names profit and loss statement, earnings report, and operating statement. This is one of two key financial statements for an entity. The other is a balance sheet, which is a statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth at a given point in time.
net income
A common term for profit, as the difference between total revenue and total cost. When used in the real world of business wheeling and dealing, this notion of net income general refers to accounting profit rather than economic profit. The "net" aspect of net income indicates that some (that something being cost) is deducted from total or "gross" income. Other common terms used in this same context are net revenue and net earnings.
depreciation
A more or less permanent decrease in value or price. "More or less permanent" doesn't include temporary, short-term drops in price that are common in many markets. It's only those price declines that reflect a reduction in consumer satisfaction. While all sorts of stuff can depreciate in value, some of the more common ones are capital, real estate, corporate stock, and money. The depreciation of capital results from the rigors of production and affects our economy's ability to produce stuff. A sizable portion of our annual investment is thus needed to replace depreciated capital. The depreciation of a nation's money is seen as an increase in the exchange rate.
cash flow
horizontal merger
The consolidation under a single ownership of two separately-owned businesses in the same industry. An example of a horizontal merger would be two soft drink companies merging to form a single firm. A horizontal merger should be contrasted with vertical merger--two firms in different stages of the production of one good, such that the output of one business is the input of the other; and conglomerate merger--two firms in totally, completely separate industries.
vertical merger
The consolidation under a single ownership of two separately-owned businesses that have an input-output relationship, in which the output of one firm is the input of another. An example of a vertical merger would be a soft drink company merging with a sugar company to form a single firm. A vertical merger should be contrasted with horizontal merger--two competing firms in the same industry that sell the same products; and conglomerate merger--two firms in totally, completely separate industries.
conglomerate
multinational
Academic Vocabulary
Reading Strategy
Comparing
Companies in the News
Reinvesting for Monster Growth
Growth Through Reinvestment
Main Idea
Estimating Cash Flows
Reinvesting Cash Flows
Reading Check
Summarizing
What is the benefit of reinvesting cash flow in a business?
The Global Economy and You
Know Your Manners
Growth Through Mergers
Main Idea
Economics and You
Types of Mergers
Reasons for Merging
Multinationals
Reading Check
Contrasting
How do conglomerates and multinationals differ?
Case Study
7-Eleven