Chapter 403 Acquisition
Everyone turned to look outside when they heard the commotion.
Sure enough, William was walking this way with his assistant.
"Mr. Brown is really here!"
"Thank goodness, we're saved!"
"..."
Seeing William approaching, Hayden quickly went to greet him.
"Mr. Brown, please come in."
William glanced at him without saying anything and entered the shareholders' meeting room.
Hayden immediately gave up his main seat to William and sat to William's left instead.
All the shareholders took their seats, with Bianca and Chase also present.
Bianca looked at William's handsome face, shyly bit her lip, and sat more ladylike.
"Mr. Brown, can you really help the Taylor Group get through this crisis?" one shareholder asked eagerly.
All eyes focused on William.
William's gaze swept across everyone present and said in a deep voice, "I plan to take over the Crown District project from Ascend Global Group, and I'll also work on clearing things up with the government departments as soon as possible. The Crown District project will be able to resume construction soon."
The shareholders all showed delighted expressions.
"That's wonderful. If the Crown District project is handed over to the Brown Group, things might go more smoothly."
"As long as the Crown District project doesn't stop, the company's cash flow can operate normally, and we won't face bankruptcy."
"But..." William spoke again, "I can clean up this mess, but I have one condition."
At his words, everyone's attention turned to him.
Hayden asked, "What condition?"
"I will purchase seventy percent of the shares from all shareholders in Isabella's name, at one-tenth of the current stock price."
William signaled to David to distribute the share purchase contracts to all the shareholders present.
"This is the share purchase contract I've prepared. All of you need to sign it."
Hearing William's words, everyone present was stunned.
Including Hayden.
Hayden frowned, "Mr. Brown, what do you mean by this?"
"Can't Mr. Taylor understand?" William asked back in a deep voice. "Am I not being clear enough? Or is your comprehension lacking?"
William's commanding presence as someone in power immediately silenced Hayden, whose face turned pale.
Just then, Chase stood up somewhat unhappily and said, "Mr. Brown, purchasing seventy percent of our company's shares at one-tenth of the price—how is that different from just giving the company to Isabella?"
If everyone sold seventy percent of their shares, that meant seventy percent of the total shares would be sold to Isabella, which would give her seventy percent of the Taylor Group's shares.
She would become the company's largest shareholder, the controlling shareholder, the actual person in power.
Then what would he be?
He was supposed to be the future leader of the Taylor Group.
Hearing this, William narrowed his eyes slightly with a somewhat puzzled expression. "I may not understand what Chase is saying. As far as I know, isn't Isabella also part of the Taylor family? I'm not purchasing these shares in my name, but in Isabella's name, so in the end, the company still belongs to the Taylor family. I don't know why Chase has such a big problem with this?"
Chase was at a loss for words.
Although that's what he said, there was still a real difference between the shares being in his hands versus in Isabella's hands.
Just as Chase didn't know how to respond, William suddenly stood up. "Forget it, seems I've misunderstood. I've decided not to get involved in this matter after all."
With that, William made to leave.
Hayden and the shareholders immediately panicked. "Mr. Brown, what are you doing? Are you not going to help us anymore?"
William frowned and said in a deep voice, "Actually, I decided to help the Taylor Group for Isabella's sake, since Ms. Taylor once saved my sister. I've always remembered that favor."
"But from what Chase just said, I get the feeling that Isabella doesn't seem to have much to do with the Taylor Group. If that's the case, then my actions are unnecessary."
"After all, I have no relationship with you either. If I didn't owe Isabella a favor, I wouldn't need to get involved in the Taylor Group's affairs. Besides, whether the Taylor Group goes bankrupt or not has nothing to do with me."
William's implication was clear: if the Taylor family treated Isabella as an outsider and minded him purchasing the Taylor Group's shares in Isabella's name, then he wouldn't deal with this matter anymore.
Hayden quickly said, "You've misunderstood, Mr. Brown. Who said Isabella has nothing to do with the Taylor family? She's my own daughter, I'm her father, she's part of the Taylor family. In the end, aren't these shares still the Taylor family's?"
Chase's face remained sour. He said unhappily, "Dad, if all the shares are transferred to Isabella's name, then Isabella will become the company's largest shareholder. I won't allow that to happen!"
If Isabella became the controlling shareholder, what would he be?
Hayden shot him a cold look. "Shut up, you don't get a say in this!"
"What's this 'yours' and 'mine'? Isabella is also a member of this family. You're her brother. Her shares are your shares, and your shares are her shares!"
"Nothing is more important than family bonds," Hayden said.
Chase wanted to say more, but William spoke up: "Chase, the Taylor Group's current situation will lead to bankruptcy within a year. Not only that, if you can't repay the bank loans on time, you'll face high penalties and interest. The Taylor Group's stock price has already started to plummet, and this still isn't the lowest point. I believe in a year, the Taylor Group will be worthless!"
"By then, you'll not only have nothing, but you'll be heavily in debt with no hope of recovery."
"If you're smart, sign this share purchase contract, and you'll still have the remaining thirty percent of shares. When I save the Taylor Group, you can still get some dividends from your shares each year. But if you insist on holding onto these shares, all you'll end up with is massive debt."
"I've said all I need to say. Whether to sign or not is up to you!"
The shareholders present began discussing among themselves.
"Yes, if Mr. Brown isn't willing to take over this mess, what use are the Taylor Group's shares? In the end, they're just garbage."
"And we'll have to bear massive debts and face lawsuits from the bank."
"Selling seventy percent of the shares is better than losing everything later."
"..."
What William just said was simply stating facts, because this was indeed the Taylor Group's current situation.
The shareholders weren't stupid either. When disaster struck, having someone willing to take over and save their lives was good enough. They could even keep thirty percent of their shares, which left them some room.
"Mr. Brown, I'm willing to sign!"
Some decisive shareholders immediately opened the share purchase agreement and signed it.
Chase watched as the shareholders began signing and clenched his fists.
Hayden pulled Chase outside the meeting room and whispered in his ear:
"Now is not the time for you to confront William. William is purchasing the shares in Isabella's name. Are you afraid Isabella will run away? Aren't Isabella's shares our family's shares? Later, I'll have Isabella hand over the actual management rights of the company to you."
Chase's eyes flickered at these words.
What he was worried about was indeed losing actual management control of the company for him and Hayden.
After all, once Isabella owned seventy percent of the Taylor Group's shares, she could immediately replace him and become the new chairman.