The Celestial Group, a renowned player in the southern province, remained obscure beyond the realms of the tea
aficionados due to its vertically-oriented industry niche.
Zara, however, had never encountered the name Celestial Group before. Her approach to tasks was nothing short
of direct and capable, without a hint of sloppiness.
Sitting at her desk, pen and paper in hand, she responded over the phone, “Mr. Alder, I’m curious to know how you
envision my collaboration.”
Omas’s voice crackled on the line, “I’d like you to utilize the Banks Family name and converse with their top brass.
In case they wonder why you, the dignified lady of the Banks Family and its proprietor, are intrigued by a tea
company, you can spin them a tale. Tell them that your grandfather developed an insatiable fondness for their tea
in Madagascar. As such, your plan involves purchasing the company, and you can maintain a tone of opulent
determination.”
“Understood!” Zara agreed without the slightest hesitation, “Mr. Alder, give me ten minutes. I’ll swiftly delve into
the company’s fundamentals, draft an acquisition outline, and touch base with you.”
Omas’s voice assured, “Alright, I’ll be awaiting your updates.”
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Closing the conversation, Zara initiated a search for Celestial Group’s particulars on her computer. After gathering
useful insights, she ruminated for a moment before reconnecting with Mandra.
Omas’s voice greeted her on the other end, “How have you grasped this, Miss Banks?”
Respectfully, Zara reported, “Mr. Alder, I’ve acquainted myself with their situation. This is a private joint- stock
enterprise, with Eric Robbs, the founder, holding the reins. It began as his personal venture, but following the
economic opening-up in the 1980s, their tea venture soared. They gradually climbed the ladder to become one of
the top five tea companies in the southern province…”
“Ten years ago, Celestial Group underwent a shareholding reform, with intentions to go public via a main board IPO.
Despite receiving guidance from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the IPO endeavor ultimately faltered
due to modest profit margins and earnings instability. A few years back, they made an attempt on the New Third
Board, but pulled back due to a low valuation, poor liquidity, and unmet financing aspirations…”
“At its pinnacle on the third board, their market value barely surpassed a billion. Their financial reports during that
period weren’t impressive. Declines in the tea market hit their profits, and reduced tea production impacted their
earnings and market value. Additionally, a local powerhouse in the the southern province tea sector, Jenkins
Groups, also faced challenges. Although they managed a backdoor listing, their market value skyrocketed initially
but then dwindled. Currently, it hasn’t even reached two billion. Thus, the financial prospects for the tea industry
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are rather dim.”
“In the case of Celestial Group, while they do manage to amass millions in profits annually, these gains fail to ignite
much excitement in the capital market. Their repeated failures at IPO suggest that their founder, Eric Robbs,
aspires to cash out by going public, but the inability to do so has kept him stuck.”
“Should he hold onto this path, he might collect thirty to forty million dollars a year, if fortune favors him. Less
fortunate outcomes could leave him with zero profits or even losses. Over the next two decades, his net income
from Celestial Group would likely not exceed six hundred million.”
“Should we offer him a deal, guaranteeing that he walks away with over six hundred million in a single move, sans
gambling clauses or waiting periods? Under such circumstances, there’s no reason for him to decline our
acquisition. Calculated based on his 78.5% stake, we’re looking at a total bid of roughly seven hundred and sixty
million.”
“Of course, the final price will depend on our conversation with Eric Robbs. Through dialogue, we can analyze his
current mindset and expectations. If all goes well, and assuming a secure stance, I suggest
setting the psychological price at eight hundred million. However, I’ll quote him six hundred million initially, aiming
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to secure him within a range of seven hundred to seven hundred and fifty million.”
“Do you have full confidence in this?” Omas inquired.
“Absolutely,” Zara responded confidently, “Entrepreneurs like Eric Robbs have been in the real business for
decades. They earn every bit of their money with meticulous care. Overnight riches in business are a rarity for
them. If he seeks to cash out via an IPO, the odds are against him. Given his sizeable consumption habits, he likely
hopes someone can just swoop in, take the burden off his shoulders, and retire gracefully with a substantial sum.
Being the controlling shareholder, he’s well placed to make such a move.”
Pleased with her assessment, Omas remarked, “I’m currently in Poole. How long do you think it’ll take you to close
this deal? If it’s imminent, I’ll wait for two days. Otherwise, I’ll proceed with other matters and return after you’ve
concluded.”
Checking the time, Zara offered, “Sunset is approaching here, and you should have over an hour left in Poole. If all
goes well, I should secure his agreement before the sun sets on your end. Once he nods, I’ll immediately transfer a
deposit of one hundred million dollars. Our legal team can then proceed with the transfer formalities overnight.”
“One hour?” Omas responded with a smile, “That sounds perfect. I’ll await your update. Once he agrees and you’ve
made the deposit, let him know you will dispatch two consultants to his base on Celestial Mountain for preliminary
inspection. Make sure he’s informed and prepared for their arrival!”
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