Episode 283 I guess I have the body type of David after all
M&A (Merge & Acquisition)
In Korean, it is called a merger or acquisition, and it means that a company or individual purchases the stocks of another company and takes ownership and management rights of that company.
Anyone interested in the economy has probably heard the term ‘hostile M&A’ at least once. As you can guess from the term, it means forcibly pursuing a merger or acquisition despite the opposition of the target company.
In other words, it also meant that the company’s wishes were not taken into consideration.
As management is appointed through shareholders’ resolution at a general shareholders’ meeting, the outcome depends on who secures more shares, so it was common to put all effort into purchasing stocks or securing friendly shareholders.
“I asked what you would do if I formed a fund for M&A?”
The shock that a simple word had on the audience was quite significant.
“Sprout Investment is doing fundraising…?”
“I heard that CEO Dylan has never done fundraising before…”
“Wouldn’t that be a really big problem?”
The faces of Ingenta executives, who had been relaxed, became increasingly serious.
Chairman Jack Grant also couldn’t hide his agitation and asked me with trembling pupils.
“That company… “Isn’t this a place that only invests with its own funds?”
“It has been like that until now. But there’s no law that says it’s going to be like that all the time, right? Exceptions are laws that can be broken at any time.”
“Why on earth are you doing this?”
“Because I can’t see my people getting hurt.”
Jack Grant looked at Jamie as if he were dumbfounded.
“Are you saying that you are going to break the principles you have followed just because of that farmer?”
“What’s wrong?”
“At most, the compensation is only a few hundred thousand dollars. “Right now, CEO Dillon is unable to make a rational decision at all.”
“no. I am now more rational and cool-headed than ever. From their perspective, it may be hundreds of thousands of dollars at most, but for Jamie here, it is a matter of pride as a farmer and protecting the land he has maintained since his grandfather. “Regardless of the amount, the determination and mindset are different.”
“her···. “This is true.”
Jack Grant let out a hollow laugh that came from the beginning, but he could no longer refute it easily.
Probably because I knew that the paddle I threw was not just a threat.
In fact, it was half threatening and half sincere.
If Jack Grant remained stubborn and did not give in to his pride, I had no choice but to take appropriate action.
Here are my honest thoughts.
‘Wow, that guy is so stubborn. Just bend over now!’
To put it bluntly, what use would I make if I purchased a large grain company?
The essence of my job is to make buds that have not yet ripened into flowers, not to care for giant trees that are already fully grown.
Therefore, I also did not want to go to an extreme situation.
“for a moment···. “Can you give me some time?”
These were the words quietly uttered by Chairman Jack Grant, who frowned.
“no. Please decide right now. “I am a very busy person.”
Jack Grant let out a light sigh at the firm tone.
“Then, please leave the room for a moment.”
“Well, that’s about it.”
I secretly smiled and walked out of the conference room, holding Jamie’s hand.
Jamie, who was dragged out, couldn’t hide his bewildered expression and asked me.
“I had no idea things would go this far. “I never thought there would even be talk of hostile M&A…”
“I didn’t know either. But they treat us like insects over there, so we have to let them know. “If you get bitten by a flying insect, it can sting a lot.”
“ah···.”
Jamie, who was lost in thought as if he was mulling over my words, hinted.
“really···. thank you.”
“Fighting like this is no problem.”
“no. That’s not it… What you said earlier about the pride of being a farmer. That really means… I was so grateful. “I felt like the wounds I had received so far were being washed away.”
“No, it’s natural.”
“In fact, there are more than one farmer suffering from Ingenta’s tyranny. “If you just listen to the rumors around you, there are quite frequent cases of people being sued for patent infringement and having to quit farming, or paying huge compensation and suffering economic hardship.”
“I guess so. “It’s like throwing your belongings into someone else’s house and treating them like a thief.”
“Moreover, the opponent is a large seed company. It’s an opponent that small farmers like us can’t compete with. This is a situation where you can’t help but shed tears of blood. Dylan fought on behalf of those farmers. “On behalf of them, I would like to express my sincere gratitude.”
“Oh my, why are you like this? “I don’t really have that intention…”
I felt embarrassed when I saw Jamie folding his back so that the top of his head was visible.
To be honest, I didn’t do it out of a sense of duty, but I felt very embarrassed because I had a tendency to get angry during arguments.
While I was arguing with Jamie for a while about whether or not I should receive an audit, I received a call that I could come into the conference room.
When I entered the conference room, everyone’s expressions were sour that it seemed like they had been in an argument.
“So, what are you going to do?”
Jack Grant pursed his lips and opened his mouth with difficulty.
“The lawsuit… “I’ll pretend it never happened.”
“And?”
“yes?”
“Is that really the end? “What about the damage to Jamie’s farm?”
“no! “What kind of damage have you suffered?”
“You guys have never tried farming yourself, right?”
It was clear that these guys only knew how to play business games and had never even done a shovel.
“Blue Earth Farm has been homebreeding canola for the past 60 years. We have also developed seeds with disease resistance suited to the region. However, Ingenta GM canola was trespassed and naturally crossed with Jamie’s canola. Because of this, self-cultivation has become impossible, and seed development has also become impossible. The scariest thing is that now that it is a single variety, if any disease spreads, the crop will be wiped out without any countermeasures. How much blood was lost? “You can’t say that a huge company like Ingenta will just pass by without any sense of responsibility, right?”
The situation has completely turned over, and now the initiative has completely passed to me.
“What nonsense…”
“what the. How far-fetched? “Then would you like to go to the farm and see how serious the situation is?”
The impression of Ingenta executives was crumpled like a piece of paper due to the shocking situation of being called in to extort money and then being defrauded in return.
It’s not just about money, it’s probably that they don’t like the fact that they can no longer put pressure on farmers because of this precedent.
widely!
I lightly hit the desk with both hands and stood up.
“You haven’t decided yet? “Then let’s call it a day.”
“How much do you want!?”
He smiled brightly at Jack Grant, who was making a noise.
“Wouldn’t it be okay if I give you about $400,000, as you requested, to relieve my pain at least a little?”
“Okay… From now on… “Let’s not look.”
In the end, it was a roundabout answer that said he would accept my offer.
“I keep seeing you and I’m trying to make love to you? And next time, not me, but this person here.”
I tapped Jamie on the shoulder in front of them.
“In the next few years, you’re going to see this guy, not me. And now her heart sinks at how fortunate she was for this decision. Sounds like bluff? “Maybe it’s real?”
So, after chatting incessantly as if making a joke alone in front of the Ingenta executives, I confidently left the conference room.
widely.
The conference room door closed, and only then did he murmur with a refreshed expression.
“I guess I have the body type of David.”
***
On the way to New York Kennedy Airport in Jamie’s truck.
Since my schedule in Korea was very pushed back, I was planning to board a flight to Korea right away.
“There were a lot of twists and turns, but it worked out well in the end. “I won’t argue anymore.”
“Thanks to Dylan. thanks···.”
“Uh-huh! No more thank you! That’s because I didn’t ask to be thanked. Still, you will be grateful, so if you are that grateful, just focus on your work now. That’s my true gratitude.”
Jamie, who was holding the steering wheel, bit his lip gently.
“As I was sitting there earlier, all sorts of thoughts came to mind.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I was ashamed of myself for not being able to say a word there. This is something that happened to me, and it’s right that I take responsibility… ”
“Jamie can’t deal with a company like Ingenta.”
“I know very well. So I was very angry, and then I realized it. In order to protect myself and my family, I need to increase my strength. “I have a goal to become such an influential person that no large power can do anything recklessly.”
“no···. “Well, not that much.”
“What would have happened if I had never met Dylan? In the end, we would have entered into a lawsuit and had to pay a huge amount of compensation. If that happened, the situation would have become worst. Crops reflect the farmer’s heart. If you’re out of your mind, there’s no way your crops will produce properly. “That’s how my life would slowly fall apart.”
I was a little worried that I had harmed an innocent farmer for no reason.
“really···. I will work hard. I will not blow away the precious opportunity Dylan gave me like a fool. “Not only to repay Dylan, but also to protect his family.”
I glanced at Jamie’s face from the corner of my eye at the sight of Jamie’s determination to fight.
Rather than emotions such as resentment or resentment, emotions such as desire, anger, and hope were seen.
‘Jamie needed something like that.’
From what I could understand, Jamie had a docile personality and his lack of enterprising tendencies was his flaw.
However, this incident seemed to have filled that space, so it seemed like it could be a blessing in disguise.
“Jamie.”
“yes?”
“I believe it. But don’t be impatient. All you have to do is follow the roadmap Jamie came up with. If you keep going like that, you will definitely see good results someday. “Isn’t that what farming is like?”
When the car stopped at the signal, Jamie, who was staring at my face, smiled and nodded.
“of course. And the result is… I will definitely take it to Dylan first.
It was Jamie’s monologue that somehow seemed to hypnotize himself.
***
Lucas Officetel, Seongdong-gu, Seoul.
Weeeeing
“Ah, dust. “After being away from home for a few days, I became nothing more than a dust maggot.”
I decided to do a deep cleaning, which doesn’t happen every day, and grabbed a vacuum cleaner for the first time in a while.
I tend to just sweep the broom as much as possible because of the in-laws in my house who get all crazy whenever I run the vacuum cleaner, but I couldn’t just ignore it today.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
“Niaooong!”
“Miyaowong!”
It wasn’t funny to see the black cats following the vacuum cleaner and constantly barking at them.
“Stop it, you guys! “I didn’t know that vacuum cleaners were scary!”
As a joke, I thrust the vacuum cleaner at the cats, and the startled Samtan brothers screamed and scattered like lightning.
“Kkeukkeuk, do you finally understand how scary this deacon is?”
I was giggling and watching the scene, and for a moment I let out a scream without realizing it.
“uh? Oh no, black bullet! “You bastard!”
Heuktan jumped up onto the shelf and knocked over the water cup with his front paw.
“Aaaah…”
The water mixed with baking soda inside poured out, turning the entire area into a sea of water.
Heuktan came to my side, frozen like a stone, rubbed his head against my leg and slowly disappeared.
“ha···. I can’t believe I had an accident like this. “Just leave that bastard alone!”
But what can you do?
I’m the one who scared them in the first place.
I took a dry towel and wiped away the liquid that had soaked the shelves and drawers.
“Oh, I poured a lot. really.”
At that time, I was grumbling and diligently removing the moisture.
An old notebook kept in a drawer caught my eye.
At a glance, it appears to be soaked in water.
“Huh! Oh, no! “How much does this cost?”
It was an independence activist’s graffiti book that was auctioned off at a Chinese auction house, and it was bought for a whopping 150 million won.
“ruined···.”
I opened the notebook in despair at the miserable, swollen appearance of the person who had already drank a lot of water.
“uh···?”
The inside page was filled with letters I had never seen before.