The Charismatic Charlie Wade

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.”
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 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 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!”