Chapter 189 Negotiations with Apple
After hearing Li Jianxi's idea of "looking forward to having a grandchild", Zhang Junfeng's mood suddenly improved. He was originally worried about how he should convince Li Fuzhen to work harder with him and try to have a baby as soon as possible. After all, he had promised her not to rush to have a child not long after getting married.
Although it was due to unexpected reasons, he had to break his promise after all. If Li Fuzhen couldn't be persuaded, he could only stare anxiously!
According to his understanding of the old man (Zhang Fushan), if he knew that what he said was a lie, he could not guarantee that the stubborn old man would come over with his cane and beat him up! Anyway, they lived close to each other now, so it would only take a few more steps to come and cause trouble for him.
…
Apple's office in Cupertino, California, USA.
Interim CEO Steve Jobs warmly received a person who claimed to be an agent of Comet Capital and several Goldman Sachs staff. Some time ago, in order to raise funds for the development of new products, Steve Jobs did run back and forth between these financial institutions, trying to get a considerable investment from them.
However, after visiting many companies, no one was optimistic about Apple, which was already in danger. After all, Apple is no longer the future giant that could compete with Microsoft in computer operating systems. Although these financial institutions are "stupid and rich", they have no interest in investing in Internet companies like Apple that have been going downhill and whose market value is still shrinking! At this stage, due to funding issues, the company's new product development progress is quite slow, and it is even possible that the company will stop working completely at any time due to a complete break in the capital chain. This situation is undoubtedly a huge "bad news" for Jobs, who is now eager to make some achievements to prove himself! ...
So when Jobs heard from his subordinates that a bank representative had actually come to visit him, he was surprised, but he also realized that perhaps this time he could solve the problem of R&D funds that he had been longing for!
"Mr. Jobs, we are here this time because an investment company that has cooperated with our Goldman Sachs in many aspects has seen the potential of Apple and is willing to make an investment in Apple. I have also heard from my colleagues that you visited our bank to apply for a loan before, so we plan to help both parties sign a line to see if we can bring about a cooperation...", the leading Goldman Sachs representative first explained the purpose of the visit.
"Hello, Mr. Jobs. I am Mugur Hosking, the investment director of Comet Capital. My boss is very optimistic about Internet companies. Although Apple's performance in recent years has been somewhat unsatisfactory, it has developed many 'epoch-making' products after all. Coupled with the return of Mr. Jobs, my boss thinks that Apple will surely rise again in your hands and become an Internet giant that is not inferior to Microsoft~!"
The people present had different thoughts when they heard Mugur Hosking flattering Jobs. Especially the Goldman Sachs representative who came with them, his face looked a little embarrassed. They had never expected that this guy who came with them would say such flattering words before they even started to discuss the investment. What if the other party raised the price next? !
When Jobs, the person involved, heard that someone was so optimistic about him and thought that he could lead Apple to rise again and even catch up with Microsoft, he even thought that he had met a soulmate in life. At the same time, he also became very interested in the boss of Comet Capital. Who is he? "...Mr. Hosking, with all due respect, who is the boss you are talking about? Can you tell me more about it later?" Jobs asked curiously. The assistant beside him found that the content of the live chat was getting more and more distorted, so he quickly pushed Jobs under the table, signaling him not to forget the "business".
Jobs realized it belatedly and then smiled awkwardly, "Of course, Apple welcomes any investment that would interest us, but how much is Comet Capital willing to invest in Apple?"
"According to Apple's current total market value, we at Comet Capital are willing to invest 100 million US dollars in exchange for 25% of Apple's shares." After the topic returned to the matter of investment and shareholding, Mugur Hosking did not say anything else. He directly took out the investment plan materials that had been prepared long ago from his handbag and handed them to the other party. He also quoted his own price according to Zhang Junfeng's previous instructions.
When Jobs heard that the little-known Comet Capital could provide them with 100 million US dollars in one go, he was in a very good mood. If they really had a cash flow injection of 100 million US dollars, he could say with certainty that the new products they were developing recently would definitely be successfully developed.
But here comes the trouble. Although he is currently the interim CEO of Apple, he does not hold any shares in Apple.
Moreover, it is still unknown whether the old guys on the board of directors are willing to transfer 25% of the company's shares at once!
"...Ahem, Mr. Hosking, we see your sincerity. But isn't the 25% stake you requested a bit high? Even though Apple's current market value is not optimistic, I'm afraid the members of the board of directors will not easily agree to this offer~!" Jobs quickly expressed all the concerns in his mind.
The flattery of Mugur Hosking had more or less worked, and Jobs still had a certain favorable impression of the representative of Comet Capital. And if the other party was really optimistic about him and the future of Apple as he said, then it would be very beneficial for him to introduce Comet Capital into Apple and become one of the major shareholders.
You have to know that last year, in order to convince those greedy guys on the board of directors, Jobs gave up many interests and promised a lot of benefits. They reluctantly agreed to Jobs' promotion and kicked out the former CEO Amelio.
"Mr. Jobs, even if Apple's board of directors has other objections, this is the fact. Investment institutions will determine the value of investment based on the current actual situation. And the current market value of Apple is only over 300 million US dollars. Under this circumstance, I think there should be no other financial institution other than Comet Capital that can offer a higher investment price and fewer shares!"
(End of this chapter)