Frank was so excited that he almost jumped up. His years of financial intuition told him that this would be the most "wonderful" operation in his career.
Thorne, who was far away in New York, fell into complete and despairing silence after receiving another threatening call from a creditor.
Outside the office, there was the clamor of debt collectors, the price of SORN on the stock software hovered around $0.5, and the bankruptcy liquidation process had begun to move relentlessly.
Once the company goes bankrupt, it means he will lose everything and will never have a chance to turn things around.
In this abyss of despair, a phone call illuminated his vision like a faint phosphorescent flame.
In the group's legal department, a confidant who barely maintained his loyalty spoke urgently over the phone, "Sir! Good news! A fund manager just inquired about the group's core assets and debt structure! I told him about our freehold land in Manhattan, our waterfront development rights on Long Island, and our Class A construction qualification files!"
Thorne's heart skipped a beat. "Fund manager? Who's he? Are you sure you're willing to take over our shares and inject capital into us?"
"The initial contact was very cautious. They were all agents, and their backgrounds are still unclear, but their approach is very sophisticated! They seem very interested in our high-quality assets, especially the price range of those plots of land... Anyone willing to invest resources to investigate at this time is definitely a player of some importance! Sir, we have... a chance of being taken over?!"
Hope! This word was like a shot of adrenaline, instantly injecting it into Thorne's dying heart.
"Tell them that as long as the price is right, any terms can be negotiated! As long as it doesn't lead to bankruptcy and liquidation, everything is negotiable!" Thorne's voice was hoarse and trembling with excitement, and the fire of survival rekindled in his eyes.
However, this hope was like a stone thrown into the water, causing only brief ripples.
The subsequent plan proposed by the "Joint Bailout Fund" (a shell company controlled by Frank) made Thorne feel like he was falling into an ice cave.
The core of the plan is extremely harsh: it requires that nearly 80% of Thorne Group's equity be sold in a package at almost zero cost to another shell entity controlled by the "Joint Bailout Fund"; at the same time, the remaining high-quality assets such as Manhattan's core land and Long Island development rights must be packaged and transferred as "restructuring guarantees."
This is equivalent to completely draining the last value of the Thorne Group, leaving only an empty shell on the verge of bankruptcy.
"This is robbery! Outright robbery!" Thorne roared into the phone, his whole body trembling with anger and humiliation.
He tried to bargain, but the agent's voice on the other end of the line was icy, leaving no room for maneuver: "Mr. Thorne, this is the only viable rescue plan under market conditions. You are aware of your company's situation, and you don't have much time to consider it."
Thorne sat slumped in the middle of his cluttered office, his expensive tie ripped and torn. Outside the window, sirens blared and protesters chanted. On the screen, SORN's stock price bounced back and forth by half a dollar, each dip like a knife stabbing his heart. Bankruptcy was imminent, meaning nothing, debt, and even possible jail time.
Despair washed over him like an icy tide. In the face of utter destruction, any form of existence became a luxury.
Finally, Thorne, in a voice as dry as sandpaper, gave instructions to the cold phone number: "...Sign...We...accept all the conditions."
As long as he could avoid immediate bankruptcy and liquidation, as long as he could retain a glimmer of hope... even if it was only a very slim glimmer of hope, to survive by relying on the few remaining assets, or to fantasize about the possibility of turning things around one day in the future with the help of the remaining legal structure, he had to swallow this fatal bitter pill.
…
A few days later in Chicago, Frank reported to Reeves with a confident smile on his face: "... Speaker, not only did we successfully cast the hook, we also brought the bait, which is enough to drive the fish crazy and leave it with no choice. The old man is desperate and has no choice but to take the bait! Because he has no other choice. Ha! How ironic! He will probably have to bite his teeth and swallow his blood to sign that 'indenture'! Our agent has obtained his autograph."
"Well done, Frank!" Ribbs praised and said coldly, "After the acquisition is successful, I want to meet Thorne in person!"
"Don't worry, it won't take long!" Frank smiled triumphantly. "To kill someone... you must also destroy their heart. Speaker, I now truly understand the essence of what you said."
Frank's "leveraged buyout" was like a divine move, accurately and powerfully piercing the bankruptcy cloud of the Thorne Group.
In just over a week, the mysterious "Joint Rescue Fund" quietly swallowed up as much as 65% of Thorne Group's outstanding shares through a series of dazzling capital operations, debt-to-equity agreements and low-price purchases, completely reversing the shareholder structure.
After Frank completed the acquisition of Thorne Company, Ribs picked up the phone and called Kroon of the New York Red Blood Gang.
"Kruen." When the call was connected, Reeves' voice was full of decisiveness.
"Mr. Speaker!" Kruen's voice came immediately, with respect.
"Tell your men to retreat. From now on, Thorn Group is my company." Ribs said succinctly, "Don't touch it again."
"Understood! Understood! Do it immediately!" Kroon's voice was filled with excitement and a hint of relief. The long-term, high-intensity harassment was also a drain on his gang, but he didn't dare show any sign of slacking off. "Don't worry, Thorn Group guarantees that not a single screw will be lost!"
Ribs paused for a moment, his tone showing a rare hint of approval: "This cooperation went very smoothly. You did a good job, Kron."
Kroon was flattered by these words, and he responded immediately: "Mr. Speaker! I should thank you! It was you who took action to completely get rid of the beasts Stanley from the Crips Gang who were oppressing us! Now our Red Blood Gang is in Chicago... hehe, we don't have to worry about people's faces anymore!" Kroon's words were full of awe for Reeves' methods and his imagination of dominating Chicago in the future. This was what he was most grateful for.
"Yeah." Reeves responded, "You helped me deal with Thorne, and you also made great contributions in the crazy attack on the Thorne Group in New York."
"That's my duty! I have no choice but to do my job for you!" Kron quickly expressed his loyalty. He knew that climbing up the ranks of Ribbs was the greatest guarantee for the future stability and expansion of the Red Blood Gang in Chicago.
Ribs understood the meaning and hidden ambition behind Kroon's words; this was exactly what he needed. He spoke slowly, "Very good. We'll have much more to collaborate on in the future."
"Yes! Mr. Speaker!" Kron's voice was filled with excitement and anticipation. "I'm waiting for your orders at any time!"
After hanging up the phone, Reeves couldn't wait to personally deal with the "father-in-law" who had caused Ao Guanhai to have a lame leg.
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