Business Negotiations in the News

There have been two high profile negotiations reported in the news this week: General Motors-Penske and General Electric- Comcast.

GM-Penske

As part of its bankruptcy restructuring, GM planned to sell its Saturn brand. It had been negotiating with Roger Penske, who in turn had been negotiating with Renault-Nissan. Penske was unable to reach a deal with Renault, and the entire deal fell through. As a result, GM announced on Thursday that it will close all Saturn dealerships nationwide.

GM started Saturn in 1982 in order to compete with Japanese imports. The brand did well, and people liked its policy of no-hassle sales. However, sales had been declining, especially during 2009.

Read the Detroit Free Press account of the collapsed deal here: http://www.freep.com/article/20091001/BUSINESS01/910010457/1318/Collapse-Saturn-deal-stuns-GM

GE-Comcast

GE, parent company of NBC Universal, is negotiating with Comcast, the cable company, to spin off NBC by giving Comcast a 51% ownership. GE, which currently owns 80% of NBC, would buy the additional 20% from Vivendi. The new company would be entertainment focused and include some Comcast properties such as the Golf Channel.

CNBC is reporting that “Comcast would merge content assets that it values at as much as $6 billion, along with cash, so that it would take a 51% ownership stake. GE would control 49% and—as part of the spin off of NBC Universal—would be able to contribute as much as $12 billion in debt to the spun off entity...” (Read the full report here: http://www.cnbc.com/id/33123120 )

The negotiations are still ongoing and no deal has been struck.

THE PROGRAM WAS GREAT! MY SEMINAR LEADER AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE KEPT ME CONSTANTLY STIMULATED. I NOW AM BETTER PREPARED TO GO INTO AN IMPORTANT NEGOTIATION MEETING AND STAY IN CONTROL, WHILE FINISHING THE MEETING SATISFIED.

Deanna D.

CASE MANAGER at THE JACKSON LABORATORY

IF YOU HAVE THE TRAINING BUDGET AND TWO DAYS TO SPARE, YOU'LL STRUGGLE TO FIND A PROGRAM MORE FAR-REACHING, ON-POINT, AND INSTANTLY IMPLEMENTABLE.

Jeff G.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER at THE M.K. MORSE COMPANY

EXCELLENT COURSE, BRINGS MORE CONFIDENCE IN MY ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE. I THINK THIS COURSE IS A MUST FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WHO DEAL WITH CUSTOMERS.

John S.

CHIEF ENGINEERING MANAGER at EXXONMOBIL

THIS WAS VERY EFFECTIVE WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON BOTH-WIN NEGOTIATING.

Kathleen L.

SENIOR ANALYST at BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN

THE KARRASS CLASS WAS THE SINGLE BEST TRAINING CLASS/SEMINAR I HAVE EVER ATTENDED. EVERY TIME WE DID AN EXERCISE IT TAUGHT YOU WHAT TO DO DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME. THANKS.

Kim C.

PROCUREMENT at AMERICAN EXPRESS

THIS PROGRAM HAS GREATLY INCREASED MY CONFIDENCE AND ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE FOR MYSELF AS WELL AS MY COMPANY.

LaDonna E.

SENIOR STRATEGIC BUYER at HALLMARK

THE NEGOTIATING CLASS WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. THE INSTRUCTOR PROVIDED AN INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO EVERYDAY LIFE.

Mary S.

INTERNATIONAL SOURCING at FMC TECHNOLOGIES

WE NEGOTIATE EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES, BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. THIS COURSE DEFINES THE PROCESS AND PROVIDES TECHNIQUES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESSFUL RESULTS.

Phillip H.

VICE PRESIDENT at GE

PRIOR TO THIS CLASS I FELT AS THOUGH I WAS GETTING EATEN ALIVE BY INTERNAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH SALES REPS. NOW I FEEL PREPARED TO CHALLENGE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING AND BET TO THEIR REAL NEEDS.

Steve Q.

PLANNER at HONEYWELL

MANY PEOPLE FAIL TO ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL BECAUSE THEY DON’T SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO NEGOTIATE A WIN/WIN AGREEMENT WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES. THIS CLASS IS AN EYE OPENER TO THIS DYNAMIC..

Stuart B.

CONTRACTS MANAGER at HEWLETT-PACKARD

Negotiation Research October 7, 2009Business Negotiations in the News

Negotiation Research October 7, 2009
Business Negotiations in the News