To merge, to combine or come together.
Those two companies used to be competitors, but now they have merged into one company.
When the two companies merged, many people were laid off.
(When two companies merge there are often man problems, including layoffs.)
(They plan to merge with a much lager company, so they will lose their identity.)
merge v.(使) 合并，结合，并入; 相融; 融入; 渐渐消失在某物中;
combine v.(使) 结合，组合，联合，混合; 兼有; 兼备; 使融合(或并存); 同时做(两件或以上的事); 兼做; 兼办;
laid off n.(通常指因工作岗位不足的) 解雇，裁员，下岗; 休养; 疗养; 养伤; [词典]下岗；解雇;
merge with [词典]和……联合; 会师;
identity n.身份; 本身; 本体; 特征; 特有的感觉(或信仰); 同一性; 相同; 一致;
To acquire, to buy or take possession.
Some big companies grow by acquiring other companies.
One way to protect your business is to acquire your competitors.
(The best way to acquire a new skill is to find a great teacher or program and practice every day.)
(We need to acquire new technology as soon as possible because we are out-o-date)
acquire v.(通过努力、能力、行为表现) 获得; 购得; 获得; 得到;
take possession 网络占有;
out-o-date adj.过时的; 缺乏新信息的; 陈腐的; 失效的; 过期的;
An agenda, a plan or list of items to be discussed at a meeting.
The agenda for the meeting is still unclear.
What are the main points on the agenda for the meeting?
(He may have a hidden agenda that hides his real plans, so let's be careful what we say at the meeting.)
(There are too many items on the agenda, so we need to cut it down and focus on fewer things.)
agenda n.(会议的) 议程表，议事日程;
cut it down [词典]削减; 减少使用; 砍倒（树木）;
A contract, a written document that defines the rules in a relationship.
A contract isn't usually useful until things begin to go badly in a relationship.
According to our contract, their first payment is due next week. 下周到期
(Even a good contract won't help if a business relationship isn't built on trust .)
(The contract was too much in their favor, so we didn't sign it.)
(It took a long time to agree on a contract because their lawyers kept finding issues that kept us apart.)
contract n.合同; 合约; 契约; (雇用杀人的) 协议;
go badly [词典]（工作、事情等） 进展不顺利;
payment n.付款; 支付; 收款; (将付或应付的) 款额，款项; 报答; 报偿;
due adj.由于; 因为; 预定; 预期; 预计; 到期;
agree on [词典]对某事（物）有同样看法，商定（同意）某事或商定做某事;
Assets&liabilities, assets are what you own and liabilities are what you owe.
Knowing the assets and liabilities of a company helps to determine a company's value.
The company had more liabilities than assets so we decided not to invest.
(Their assets were rapidly increasing in value each year, so we decided to invest.)
(What is call when two companies combine into one? ) When two companies combined into one, it's called a merger.
(They have to pay a huge tax penalty, so they have lost value due to the increase in their liabilities.)
Asset n.有价值的人(或事物); 有用的人(或事物); 资产; 财产;
liability n.(法律上对某事物的) 责任，义务; 惹麻烦的人(或事); 欠债; 负债; 债务;
merger n.(机构或企业的) 合并，归并;
penalty n.惩罚; 处罚; 刑罚; 害处; 不利; (对犯规者的) 判罚;
tax penalty 网络税务罚款; 税收罚金; 税惩罚;
(To buy or take possession?) to acquire
(A written document that defines the rules and relationship.) contract
(What increases if a company makes a large profit?) its assets
(What increases if a company has to borrow a lot of money?) its liabilities
(It took a long time to agree on a contract because their lawyers kept finding issues that kept us apart.)
(What do you need to define the rules of business relationship?) A contract
(What is needed to determine the value of a company?) it's assets and liabilities
(He may have a hidden agenda that hides his real plans, so let's be careful what we say at the meeting.)
(We don't know what's on his agenda, so we need to be careful what we say.)
make profit 获利
