221. Comedian
On the day Hoyoung and Jo Jung-sik left the Hanbo Group takeover table, Ho-young and Jo Jung-sik really only ate and then dispersed to their respective companies.
During the meal, Jo Jung-sik asked, ‘Isn’t Dae-hyeon taking Hanbo?’
And the days passed in vain.
Hoyoung received a phone call.
– hello? Is Chairman Yoon Ho-young’s phone number correct?
“Right?”
– hello? My name is Lee Min-soo, the president of Jeil Bank, whom I saw once before.
Hoyoung smiled in contemplation.
However, he did not give off any pleasant hints in his voice, but instead answered bluntly.
“ah. okay. How did you get my direct number?”
– Chairman Jo Jung-sik of Myungsung Group taught me. I think you can call me at this number.
This, too, was something Hoyoung had given Jo Jungsik a word in advance.
If he gets a call, tell him to give Hoyeong’s direct number.
“You contacted me through Chairman Cho Jung-sik. By the way···. What did you call me for today?”
Hoyoung asked pretending not to know.
Lee Min-soo paused for a while as if it was difficult for him to speak up.
– The other day, I contacted you because I had something to tell you about the acquisition of Hanbo Group.
“Hanbo? Isn’t Hanbo decided to be taken over by Daehyun Group?”
– Ah, that doesn’t mean that we decided to take over completely…
“Or not?”
– There were a lot of problems in the full-scale negotiations with the Daehyeon Group, so I’m contacting you again. I was wondering if you are still thinking about taking over Hanbo.
Hoyoung started to laugh.
His predictions were right.
As alumni of Seoul National University’s Department of Economics, it was clear that they put on a show like this to inflate the acquisition price.
Of course, the Daehyeon Group really had no intention of taking over the Hanbo Group.
So when Hoyoung took Jo Jungsik out of the conference room, it was clear that he was quite taken aback.
‘Now is the time when Daehyun is busy normalizing his management deficit. In the meantime, it’s ridiculous to take over Hanbo while taking on 1 trillion in debt.’
Hoyoung calmed down his laughter and spoke in a calm voice.
“Just a few days ago, we and Myungsung were clearly willing to do that. But after coming out like that that day… This is because we started the acquisition of Sammi. The financial situation is not good.”
– Sammi?
“yes. Didn’t Sammi go bankrupt not too long ago? I want to go in the direction of taking over right away without going through court receivership at all. We are going to start the steel industry within this year no matter what.”
– okay···.
Lee Min-soo answered in a voice that seemed to be crawling.
I would have never thought that Hoyoung would come out like this.
In particular, I didn’t expect to contact Sammi right away the moment Hanbo’s takeover agreement broke down.
However, what Hoyeong said earlier was a clever lie.
It is true that Myungsung Group is currently pursuing the acquisition of Sammi Steel.
It was clear that if Lee Min-soo doubted what Ho-young said and tried to find out whether it was true, only the answer that it was true would come back.
However, Jo Jung-sik and Ho-young were planning to acquire ‘both’ Hanbo Steel and Sammi Steel and operate major steel companies at once.
In other words, the acquisition of Sammi Steel is separate from the acquisition of Hanbo Steel.
However, Lee Min-soo, who did not even dream of such a thing, couldn’t help but feel sick.
Ho-young, who thought it was enough, told Min-soo, pretending to be interested.
“By the way, why the hell did the negotiations with Daehyun go wrong?”
– Huh, with Daehyun?
Lee Min-soo answered in surprise as if he didn’t know if Ho-yeong would ask.
– That’s Hanbo Steel’s technology and the steel that Daehyun is using now…
Lee Min-soo continued to explain for a while.
The materials used were different, and the economic situation was… I called Hoyoung and released everything I had prepared to make this excuse.
– So, how about we meet and talk one more time? This time I want to treat you to a nice meal.
“Hmm···. Okay. I’ll try to match the time with Chairman Jo Jung-sik of fame and get back to you. Could you give me your contact information?”
– yes. My number is…
Lee Min-soo gave me the number in a voice that said, “Thank you,” and hung up the phone.
Hoyoung smiled in contemplation.
In fact, it was in the early 2000s that the Daehyeon Group took over the Hanbo Group, which was under court receivership in its original history.
If you think about it in reverse, it is no different from saying that there is nothing urgent for Korea First Bank right now.
‘However, President Lee Min-soo’s position must be different.’
Lee Min-soo must have reported to everyone that as the president, he would be able to sell the Hanbo Group, which is under court management at the upper level of Korea First Bank.
And, of course, the higher ups would have reacted positively to that willing report.
However, if it breaks down now, it is clear that the upper management will be disappointed in him.
If Lee Min-soo is aiming for a higher place than the president, the blow will be big.
‘If I’m not aiming for a high place, there’s no way I’ll try to make a profit for the company by going along with Daehyun.’
Hoyoung thought everything fit together.
.
.
.
1 week later.
Hoyoung and Jo Jungsik arrived at a high-end Japanese restaurant in Gangnam.
It was because President Lee Min-soo asked him and Jo Jung-sik to meet here today.
“Thank you so much for coming here. President. I will greet you properly again.”
Lee Min-soo bowed his head.
It was clearly different from the last time I saw it.
And, crucially, Daehyeon Group’s Jung Heon-soo was not present at this event.
‘Are you going to quietly fall?’
Hoyeong put off her thoughts about Jeong Hun-soo and sat down in a chair.
As soon as they sat down in their chairs, as if they had waited, the waiters started bringing various foods.
It seemed that Lee Min-soo had placed an order in advance to come in on time.
“Would you like to have a meal first and then talk?”
“I see.”
Then the meal continued for a while.
As if they were looking at the liver on purpose, they didn’t even mention anything related to the acquisition of the Hanbo group, like people who had nothing to do with it.
“Are you both not drinking? I have a special request for sake from the owner. How about a glass of it?”
“Sakera… How are you? Chairman Yoon?”
“Good. Let’s have one drink at a time.”
When Ho-yeong’s permission (?) was granted, the manager immediately called an employee and brought sake, and the conversation began in earnest as alcohol began to flow in.
“The reason I asked to meet you two is…”
“Of course, it must be because of the Hanbo Group.”
“That’s right. Could you listen to me for a second?”
Jo Jung-sik nodded, and Min-soo Lee began to speak passionately.
He explained why the Hanbo Group should not be disbanded as it is, starting with the individual reasons for the people and ending with the impact it will have on our country.
And with the sudden withdrawal of the Daehyeon Group, the work that the creditors of the Hanbo Group had prepared so far has become a waste, and when it becomes a waste, Hanbo will eventually have no choice but to disband.
Like a salesperson rather than a bank president, he sold the Hanbo Group to Hoyeong and Jo Jungsik.
‘Isn’t there a part that fits quite right? But… it’s shallow.’
However, to Ho-young, who knew everything about the future and listened to him, it seemed like he was just joking around.
“So the bottom line is that you want us to take over the Hanbo Group again?”
“yes. That’s it. I’m not in a position to say this, but please. President.”
Hoyoung deliberately stroked his chin and pretended to be worried.
Then, after a while, he opened his mouth again.
“All right. Hanbo Steel and Hanbo Construction are essential to us as well. I think it would be a good idea to properly talk about acquisitions again.”
“ah! Thank you very much. Chairman Cho Jung-sik…”
“I am of the same opinion as President Yoon said.”
“okay. Then tomorrow… no, right now, I’ll prepare the documents.”
Lee Min-soo, with a smile on his face, was ready to return to work at any moment.
Hoyoung raised a hand to stop him.
“Wait. Chief Lee. Before that, there is something I would like to ask you.”
“yes. Say anything.”
“So, how much debt do we take on? A few days ago, at the negotiating table, I heard that at the end, Executive Director Jeong Heon-soo would take on a whopping 1 trillion won, but we cannot afford that.”
“Of course, Hun-soo… No, 500 billion won, which was negotiated before Executive Director Hun-soo Jeong came out, is all it takes. I’m sorry for causing confusion.”
Unlike Lee Min-soo, who bowed his head in a polite manner, Ho-young slightly narrowed his forehead.
“Five hundred billion. It seems a little difficult now.”
“yes?”
“This means that it has become difficult to take on 500 billion won in debt.”
Lee Min-soo’s pupils visibly shook.
“Uh, why?”
“Didn’t I tell you on the phone a week ago? They say they are entering into negotiations to acquire Sammi.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Sammi’s debt is about 500 billion won. We decided to embrace 1/2 of them, or 250 billion won in debt. So I can’t afford to pay all 500 billion.”
Lee Min-soo looked at Ho-yeong blankly with his mouth wide open as if the world had collapsed.
Things were going in a direction he never expected.
“If you can’t afford 500 billion… how much?”
“Even so, I will show my utmost sincerity. If I squeeze out all the money I have and the money I don’t have, I think I can cover about 400 billion won.”
“4, 400 billion…”
Lee Min-soo’s words decreased.
He was shaking his head quickly.
It was a calculation of whether the Hanbo Group’s creditors would be satisfied with the money of 400 billion won.
‘I barely hit 500 billion, but it’s a whopping 100 billion lower than that… It’s a ridiculous amount. However…’
Lee Min-soo glanced at Ho-young.
Hoyoung’s expression was filled with all the world’s regrets.
If things hadn’t gone wrong, I would have been able to take over Hanbo…!
“If 400 billion is too much, it’s really unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. I guess we’ll have to find another way. The company has been struggling a lot lately. A large amount of 100 billion is us too…”
Hoyoung said in a weak voice.
It was to the extent that anyone could see him as a person who was discouraged because he was unable to achieve what he wanted to achieve due to a lack of budget.
Of course, it was the same for Lee Min-soo.
Lee Min-soo looked at Ho-young and organized his thoughts.
Then, as if he had made up his mind to do something, he looked at Hoyoung and said.
“Then, are you sure you can afford 400 billion won?”
“yes?”
“If 400 billion is possible. I’ll do my best to talk to the company. Just trust me.”
Lee Min-soo said with a spleen expression.
and Hoyoung
‘Ugh.’
He was having trouble holding back the laughter that leaked out.
