Reading 11 - Answers
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1.C
2.C
3.A
4.D
5.C
6.B
7.A
8.D
The merger was stopped "on competition grounds", meaning that the new company might become a monopoly in some places.
The market thought that the merger was a good idea, and when it failed, share prices fell by 40%.
"We will decide where to go from here" means that the board will not know what to do until after the meeting.
"Profits from ... cutting jobs". Woolard's wanted to pay fewer people, and use some of Timsson's staff instead.
The writer says that Woolard's will probably not stay independent, and will find it hard to avoid a takeover (which happens when someone buys a majority of its shares).
Predators - those who might want to buy the comapny - are "attracted by the low share price". The lower the price, the cheaper the company.
Woolard's is "loaded with debt", and any company that buys Woolard's would have to pay the money that Woolard's owes.
The writer thinks Woolard cannot remain independent - it costs too much to run, and it owes a lot of money, and the competition is too strong. He is pessimistic.