韓國流行樂市場一家獨大?
Two Korean companies are competing to take over SM Entertainment, one of Korea’s largest entertainment companies.
兩家韓國公司正爭相收購SM娛樂，SM娛樂是韓國最大的娛樂公司之一。
compete to RV爭相～acquire(v.)收購acquisition(n.)收購
HYBE, the agency behind popular boy band BTS, and Kakao Entertainment, a subsidiary of a Korean tech giant, have both announced plans to buy stakes in SM Entertainment following its founder Lee Soo-man revealing that he is selling his shares in the company to boost its value.
在SM娛樂創辦人李秀滿透露將脫手自己持有的股份以提升公司市值之後，韓國男團BTS經紀公司HYBE與科技巨頭子公司Kakao娛樂皆宣布計畫收購SM娛樂的股份。
stake(n.)股份、股權share(n.)股份stock(n.)股票
SM Entertainment is a big name in South Korea’s K-pop industry.
SM娛樂為南韓K-pop產業的巨頭。
a big name知名企業或人物
In 2020, it opened the international K-pop academy, SM Institute, in Seoul.
2020年，SM娛樂於首爾成立了國際K-pop學院「SM Institute」。
The academy offers a three-year program that focuses on fostering K-pop talents.
這座學院提供為期三年的課程，旨在培養K-pop人才。
foster(v.)培育、培養、栽培
Meanwhile, HYBE has gained a footing in the K-pop industry through its social platform, Weverse, which features live concert streaming and an online series called “Learn! KOREAN with BTS.”
同時，HYBE透過其社交平台Weverse，在K-pop產業取得一席之地，平台主打演唱會直播和一個名為《Learn! KOREAN with BTS》的網路系列節目。
gain a footing取得一席之地regain one’s financial footing財務狀況好轉
Last week, HYBE purchased a 14.8% stake from Lee and offered to buy another 25% from other shareholders, with the combined investment totaling $900 million.
上週，HYBE從李秀滿手中購得14.8%的股份，並提出向其他股東購買25%股份的計畫，總投資額達9億美元。
shareholder(n.)股東investment(n.)投資
If the deal goes through, this would make HYBE the largest shareholder in SM Entertainment.
收購案若通過，將讓HYBE成為SM娛樂公司最大的股東。
As a response to these moves, Kakao Entertainment, which already owns a 9.05% stake in SM Entertainment, is expected to make a counter offer against HYBE’s current bid.
作為對HYBE收購的回應，已經收購了SM娛樂9.05%的股份的Kakao娛樂，預計將對HYBE的當前出價提出反擊。
response to…對～的回應counter offer更高的出價
However, as the bidding war heats up, analysts predict that more suitors are likely to emerge and make their offers.
然而，隨著這場收購爭霸戰白熱化，分析師預測將出現更多收購者出價購買SM娛樂的股份。
suitor(n.)有意收購者
Jang Cheol-hyuk, the CFO of SM Entertainment, has slammed HYBE’s recent takeover bid, calling it a “hostile move” to completely take control of the K-Pop industry.
SM娛樂財務長張哲赫批評HYBE的收購行為，並將之視為企圖壟斷韓國流行音樂產業的「惡意之舉」。
slam(v.)批評、抨擊=criticize=panhostile(adj.)敵對的dominate(v.)佔首要地位、主宰、稱霸、統治monopolize(v.)壟斷monolopy(n.)壟斷、獨佔
Jang has noted that if the firms were to be combined, not only would HYBE artists be prioritized over SM Entertainment artists, but “the combined entity would create a monopoly by taking 66% of the total K-pop market revenue.”
?哲赫指出，若兩家公司合併，不僅對HYBE旗下的藝人的重視會優先於SM娛樂自家藝人，而且「合併後，市場收益率將高達66％，韓國流行音樂市場將落得一家獨大的局面」。
prioritize(v.)確定⋯⋯的優先次序priority(n.)優先考慮的事market revenue市場收益