Just over two days after Chung Mong-sun and Shin Dong-byung reached a cooperation agreement, Hyundai Group did receive overseas financial assistance worth more than 1 billion US dollars from Lehman Brothers. Peter Fuld even stated that if there is any subsequent need, they can provide a loan of no less than 2 billion US dollars.
As long as Hyundai Group can still provide something of equivalent value as collateral, he would be happy to see someone deal with Comet Capital and the arrogant Zhang Junfeng. He still remembers the humiliation and embarrassment Zhang Junfeng gave him at the celebratory party of JPMorgan Chase last year!
Later, Peter Fuld sent people to conduct a detailed investigation of Zhang Junfeng and learned that the other party's base camp was in Goryeo. He then began to think about supporting "thugs" in Asia to deal with Zhang Junfeng and Comet Capital, while he would stay behind the scenes as a logistics officer providing ammunition and a commander directing the operation.
…
Having successfully obtained a large amount of financial support, the Hyundai Group has reversed its previous downward trend and started a fierce battle with traders in the stock exchange market and the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group.
This abnormal behavior quickly attracted the attention of Zheng Mengjiu. When he heard his subordinates report this news, Zheng Mengjiu frowned, and couldn't figure out which force had come to protect Hyundai Group? Otherwise, given the current situation of Hyundai Group, how could they mobilize enough funds to start share repurchases of multiple companies at the same time? You know, this is not a small amount, and it is definitely not something that Hyundai Group can afford!
"Chairman, the situation has changed significantly now. Should we continue to push forward the acquisition?" The trusted subordinate looked at Chung Mong-koo, hoping to get the latest instructions from him.
"Continue to push forward the acquisition and at the same time, make arrangements with KB Bank. We may need more financial support in the future!" Chung Mong-koo gave the answer without much thought. At this point, there was no point in backing down.
If he wants to take back everything that belongs to him, he should take advantage of this opportunity and make it happen in one fell swoop. If he misses the opportunity, he doesn't know how long he will have to wait to take over more companies under the Hyundai Group!
Even if Zheng Mengxian found a big backer, he didn't think there would be any financial institution that could provide continuous financial support to compete with them. After all, with the industrial chain and overseas sales capabilities of Hyundai Group alone, it is still unknown when such a large amount of money can be recovered. The more money is invested, the more it is locked up. There will be no other result except asking for trouble! "Yes, Chairman! I will arrange it now!" Hearing Zheng Mengjiu's order to continue to promote the acquisition without fear, the subordinates nodded happily. If they can follow the other party to take over those subsidiaries and establish a new Hyundai Group, it will definitely be an extremely glorious thing!
"…Should we also inform Comet Capital?" The subordinate quickly thought of another aspect and hurriedly spoke up to remind them.
Zheng Mengjiu waved his hand and replied firmly, "I will call Comet Group myself. Just take care of other things here!"
"yes!"
…
Tokyo, inside Hilton Hotel.
When Hitomi Shimatani learned that Zhang Junfeng, the company's major shareholder, was planning to visit Sony to discuss business and asked her and Ayumi Hamasaki to go with her as guest translators, she felt terrible!
My goodness, she is a singer from a small entertainment company. It would be fine if she was asked to be a tour guide, but why did she have to accompany her to visit a large company like Sony? She also had to act as an interpreter. Isn't this too different from what President Matsuura said before?
Ayumi Hamasaki's eyes flashed with eagerness. If she could have the opportunity to follow Zhang Junfeng to meet some high-level and big figures in the big Japanese companies, it would definitely be a great thing for her! "Of course I have no problem. If Tong-chan is in trouble, I can accompany President Zhang."
Seeing that Ayumi Hamasaki, who came with her, was so proactive, Shimatani Hitomi had no choice but to bite the bullet and say that she could also attend and there would be no problem.
Hearing the two people's statements, Zhang Junfeng smiled with satisfaction. In fact, they had arranged an interpreter for their business trip to Japan. The reason why they arranged tasks for the two women was more to give them some "benefits", which could be regarded as the "benefits" of being a tour guide. As for how much benefit they could bring to them, it depended on their own abilities.
According to the previous arrangement, Zhang Junfeng and others arrived at the office building of Sony's headquarters that afternoon. Looking at the layout of the lobby on the first floor, Zhang Junfeng was also quite impressed by Sony's decoration style, which was as steady and simple as ever!
The pure black background wall adopts an uneven design, which is full of texture. The four letters "SONY" are inlaid on the white background board, which is particularly eye-catching. The rectangular radial design on the ceiling seems to echo the background wall, and the staggered length makes the whole space full of modernity.
…
Because they had made an appointment in advance, the front desk staff confirmed with the company's senior management and quickly took the group to the conference room on the upper floors.
Perhaps because they had waited for several minutes and no Sony staff had come yet, Ayumi Hamasaki, Hitomi Shimatani and others looked at the decor in the conference room with great interest, while Wu Xiuying walked to the wide window and looked into the distance.
Zhang Junfeng behaved quite calmly. He leaned back in a soft chair, taking a sip of the coffee that the staff had just brewed and handed to him from time to time. He did not look like he was here to discuss important business, but more like he was here for sightseeing.
A few minutes later, Sony's senior executives came to the conference room to meet with Zhang Junfeng and others.
"Mr. Zhang Junfeng, nice to meet you! I am Seito Yoshida, the vice president of Sony. I heard that Comet Capital is interested in acquiring Columbia Pictures?" A middle-aged man with glasses and gray hair introduced himself and confirmed his purpose with Zhang Junfeng.
Zhang Junfeng also went straight to the point and explained his point of view, "We have plans to acquire Columbia Pictures. As for whether the acquisition can be successful, it depends on whether our two companies can reach an agreement. If we can't reach an agreement, then Comet Capital will also consider other American film companies~!"
Upon hearing that Zhang Junfeng was not the one from Columbia Pictures, Yoshida Seito, who had originally wanted to take the opportunity to ask for a price and give the other party a good beating, immediately gave up his original idea.
Sony is not in a good situation now. Not long ago, its market value reached an unprecedented peak. But now with the Nasdaq index of U.S. stocks plummeting, the Internet industry is facing an unprecedented crisis. Sony, which has always claimed to be a technology company, has also suffered a heavy blow. Not only has its market value fallen by nearly 40%, but the company's headquarters is also facing a financial crisis.
Not long ago, the company's top management held a key work meeting. In addition to announcing the need to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, they also had to find a way to obtain a large amount of capital turnover in the short term. Only in this way can they survive this "cold winter" and subsequently look for opportunities to turn defeat into victory and turn the tide in one fell swoop.
…
"When Sony acquired Columbia Pictures, it cost more than 600 billion yen (about 4.8 billion U.S. dollars). If Comet Capital wants to acquire it, we can sell it for 5.5 billion U.S. dollars!"
"...5.5 billion US dollars?! Are you kidding, Mr. Yoshida?" Zhang Junfeng was shocked by the outrageous acquisition price proposed by the other party. He thought that the other party would make a fuss about the acquisition price, but the way they were greedy was simply unbearable to watch!
"...As far as I know, since Sony took over Columbia Pictures, the company's revenue has been declining year by year in the past few years, and its net profit has also been falling again and again, right? Under this circumstance, Columbia Pictures is probably not worth even 4 billion US dollars, right?"
Yoshida Seito's face turned ugly when he heard that Zhang Junfeng knew the situation of Columbia Pictures very well. It seemed that the other party was well prepared. He would not fall for ordinary rhetoric at all. This was not a good thing.
"... Then what does Mr. Zhang Junfeng think Columbia Pictures is worth now?"
"Just over 3 billion, less than 4 billion US dollars! As for the acquisition, we, Comet Capital, are willing to invest 3.4 billion US dollars to buy it from you." Zhang Junfeng said with a bright smile, as if in his eyes the price of 3.4 billion US dollars was only 34 million, not such a huge fortune.
Ayumi Hamasaki, Hitomi Shimatani and others who were watching from the side were also trembling in their hearts when they heard the conversation between the two. No wonder their president specifically told them to behave well and not to annoy Zhang Junfeng! Even the top executives of their top consortiums in Japan might not be so powerful, right?
The ownership of a large company with a market value of billions of dollars was decided in a conversation?! Ayumi Hamasaki looked at Zhang Junfeng with a strange look in her eyes. No wonder Matsuura Shengren was so flattering and respectful in front of Zhang Junfeng, the young major shareholder! If she could get Zhang Junfeng's favor and support, she would not only become the queen of the Asian music scene, but she would also have a chance to carve out a path in the European and American markets and compete with those top singers!
Thinking of this, Ayumi Hamasaki became more determined to find a chance to take down Zhang Junfeng in the next few days and make him her "servant"!
...
After fierce bargaining, Zhang Junfeng kept the acquisition price at 3.5 billion US dollars. Seeing that the other party was still not giving up, he simply said that if they could not acquire the company at this price, then Comet Capital would give up Columbia Pictures!
The performance of Disney Film Company in the United States is even more outstanding. Even if they cannot obtain the operating rights, going there to become a top-ranked major shareholder and receiving dividends every year is also a good choice!
This combination of hard and soft tactics really stumped Yoshida Seito, the vice president of Sony! If he agreed to such a low acquisition price, he would become the "big sinner" of Sony, and even the company's top management would use him as a "scapegoat" and put all the losses from the sale of Columbia Pictures on his head.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Zhang Junfeng. I'm sorry that I can't agree to it. Such a low purchase price needs to be discussed by the company's top management before a decision can be made. I'm just the company's vice president and I can't make such a decision on the spot." Yoshida Seito did not make a positive response, but planned to report the matter and let President Howard Stringer make this "difficult" decision.
Zhang Junfeng was not surprised by Yoshida Seito's reply. He just smiled and expressed the hope that they could give a definite answer as soon as possible and not make Comet Capital wait too long.
…
On the business car back to the hotel, Ayumi Hamasaki enthusiastically asked Zhang Junfeng if he would really take advantage of the situation to acquire Columbia Pictures if Sony agreed. Zhang Junfeng just smiled and didn't answer.
Wu Xiuying, Zhang Junfeng's assistant, also realized Ayumi Hamasaki's little thoughts. Seeing that Zhang Junfeng did not answer him, she was happy to see him make a fool of himself.
…
Seeing that Zhang Junfeng ignored her, Ayumi Hamasaki was somewhat dissatisfied but could not get angry on the spot, so she had to keep silent. When she returned to the company to complain to Matsuura Shengren about this matter, she did not receive the expected comfort and guidance, but was instead blamed by the other party.
There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6, 9, and bar!
"Are you crazy? How could I tell you, an outsider, something like this that involves business secrets?" Matsuura Shengren was a little disappointed. This woman was usually quite smart, why did she act so stupid at such a critical moment?
As the person in charge of the company, Matsuura Shengren naturally knew what Zhang Junfeng was up to. Negotiations are often a psychological contest between the two parties. If one party rashly reveals its cards, it will be easily controlled by the other party! "...I didn't mean it..." Ayumi Hamasaki felt a little wronged after being scolded. She obviously just wanted to take advantage of the gap between questions to get close to the other party, and didn't think too much. But because of her "ignorance", she made such an obvious mistake in front of the other party. This is simply stupid!
"Teacher, can you help me think of another solution? Otherwise I will really have no chance. You don't want to let Shimatani Hitomi get away with it for nothing, do you?" Ayumi Hamasaki, feeling unwilling, had to call out the name she hadn't used for a long time, trying to get Matsuura Masato to help her once.
Hearing this familiar yet unfamiliar name, Matsuura Shengren's mood became complicated. He and Ayumi Hamasaki met when they were singing in KTV. At the beginning, they quickly got together because of their common interests, and Ayumi Hamasaki also became a signed singer of the company under his guidance.
However, as time went by, the incompatibilities and conflicts between the two became more and more. Ayumi Hamasaki, who was very career-oriented, decisively chose the latter between Matsuura Seito and her career, and the two parted ways.
Thinking of the past, Matsuura Shengren took a deep breath, and then gave her some advice helplessly. Since Zhang Junfeng didn't ask her not to be a tour guide, she could go there as usual tomorrow. Then find an opportunity to sincerely apologize and show that she didn't mean to pry into Comet Capital's business secrets, and get the other party's understanding. I don't think Zhang Junfeng, the big boss, would have the same opinion with her. As for how to maintain the relationship in the future, he couldn't help.
…
The next morning, watching Ayumi Hamasaki sincerely apologizing to him, Zhang Junfeng calmly waved his hands, indicating that he did not take the other person's affairs seriously.
Just as Zhang Junfeng was planning to take a group of people to Tokyo for sightseeing, the cell phone he was carrying with him suddenly rang.
When Zhang Junfeng heard Zheng Mengjiu's voice coming from the other end of the phone, his expression gradually became serious, although he was originally quite relaxed.
It turned out that Chung Mong-koo said on the phone that Hyundai Group and Chung Mong-seon had obtained a large amount of financial support from somewhere, and now they have clashed with them several times in the stock market, and the acquisition progress of those subsidiaries has been seriously delayed.
"…Have you found out who provided the massive financial support to Hyundai Group? Don't tell me it was the Blue House. Even Mr. Dae Jong's reputation is not enough to provide so much money for Zheng Mengxian to squander~!" Zhang Junfeng asked in a low voice.
As far as he knows, with so many subsidiaries that need to be acquired, the funds needed for the acquisition will not be less than 1 billion US dollars, and may even reach around 1.5 to 2 billion US dollars.
In order to deal with so many acquisitions initiated by so many funds at the same time, even if Hyundai Group already holds a certain amount of shares and has an advantage, they will still need to come up with at least hundreds of millions of dollars to deal with it.
Moreover, once the money is invested in the acquisition of company shares, it is obviously unrealistic to cash it out in a short period of time. So who has the ability and sufficient funds to support Zheng Mengxian?
"…I'm sorry, we haven't been able to find out the specific person behind the scenes yet. We only know that Hyundai Group's overseas accounts received a large amount of funds in a short period of time. Chung Mong-sun used this money to launch an anti-takeover action…" Chung Mong-koo on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment before continuing.
The current situation has exceeded Chung Mong-koo's expectations. If it continues like this, their previously carefully designed grand plan of acquiring subsidiaries to establish a new Hyundai Group will be aborted ahead of schedule, which he absolutely cannot accept.
Zhang Junfeng was speechless for a moment when he heard the bad news from Zheng Mengjiu. It was a sure win, but unexpectedly there was such a problem. It's really a case of good things taking time to come!
After thinking for a moment, Zhang Junfeng immediately reminded the other party, "Since Zheng Mengxian thinks that he can compete with us head-on with a large amount of funds, we should change our thinking and approach and try to fight with them on those subsidiaries that are not very important."
"We will make them spend as much money as possible on those companies, and then go all out to acquire shares of other more important companies. We will use this as a 'diversionary tactic'. I don't believe that Hyundai Group will be able to get a large amount of money to compete with us after spending so much money!"
After hearing Zhang Junfeng's proposal, Zheng Mengjiu's eyes lit up. If they really followed the other party's suggestion, maybe they could trick Zheng Mengxian again. As Zhang Junfeng said, the money that Hyundai Group is using now can't be blown by the wind. If it is all used up, can Zheng Mengxian make it out of thin air again? If he really has this ability, how could they have encountered a financial crisis before?
"I understand, President Zhang, don't worry. With your plan, we will be able to successfully take over those important companies!" Zheng Mengjiu, who regained his confidence, vowed.
——————Dividing line——————
Just as Zhang Junfeng and Chung Mong-koo were discussing how to successfully seize the operating rights of those subsidiaries from the Hyundai Group, in the Lehman Brothers Building in New York, USA, Dick Fuld, the soul figure and president of the company, was looking at the documents brought by his subordinates with an increasingly ugly expression.
"Marefak! Was this loan approval done by Peter Fuld? What on earth is he doing? Providing loans to such a company, doesn't he know that he is wasting the company's precious funds?!" Dick Fuld slammed the table angrily, unable to hide his dissatisfaction on his face.
The subordinates beside him were also complaining crazily in their hearts. The person who did this was Dick Fuld's nephew, who also held a very high position in the company. As subordinates, how dare they go against him?
…
After venting, Dick Fuld slowly adjusted his emotions and gave orders to his subordinates in a low voice. He asked them to bring Peter Fuld over. He wanted to ask why this bastard did such an outrageous thing! However, what Dick Fuld did not expect was that Peter Fuld, who had just received the latest news from Goryeo, was in a very good mood. He even encouraged Hyundai Group's Chung Mong-sun on the phone, asking him to make persistent efforts to completely bring down Hyundai Kia Automotive Group and Comet Capital behind it. (End of this chapter)