reported speech - has offered

[musicgold]

Hi,

Please refer to the underlined part in the following sentence. I feel that it should be ‘had offered’ if one follows the rules of reported speech. Is this common?

The company announced yesterday morning that it has offered to acquire XYZ Corporation.

Thanks,

MG.

[Bridget]

has offered - present relevance

Similar:

Sally said/says she not coming to the party.
John said he hated/hates prescritivists.

With the present, you can be quite sure the speaker believes that both Sally and John feel the same way at the moment of speaking as they did at the time of the their original utterances.

[OddThomas]

Yes, indeed. If the company said that it made the offer sometime in the past and was just now revealing it, then had offered would be better.

[Bridget]

Yes, indeed. If the company said that it made the offer sometime in the past and was just now revealing it, then had offered would be better.

What does "Yes, indeed" refer to there?

[Bridget]

The company announced yesterday morning that it has offered to acquire XYZ Corporation.

As a default form and without more context, I'd read that as "the offer still stands". Note also that "sometime in the past" does not apply there. If you need to emphasise present relevance, use the present from.

Here, it would be different case:

The company announced that it had (at sometime in the past/once) offered to acquire XYZ Corporation.

[musicgold]

Bridget and OT,

Thanks for your comments.

MG.

[musicgold]

Hi folks,

What if the operation the company is talking about has been concluded? Consider the following example. Would the use of 'had obtained' be appropriate here?

The company announced yesterday that it has obtained a $20 million secured loan on one of its property.

Thanks,

MG.

[Bridget]

The company announced yesterday that it has obtained a $20 million secured loan on one of its properties.

Yes, the present perfect for "hot news". It's fine.