Omniscient Investment Point - Chapter 256



Only Noblemtl

256. Whip and Carrot – 2

(1)

It’s hard being a journalist these days.

Even considering the difficulty of getting hired, the treatment is not good regardless of major or minor.

– In the case of large newspapers, the starting salary is around 5,000, but after 10 years, it is at the level of a deputy manager at a large company, and after 20 years, it is at the level of a section chief. In other words, when others take two steps, reporters take half a step.

This is what Lim Hong-cheol said.

In fact, journalists are not recognized by people like they used to be.

In the 2000s, the term “rags” to refer to journalists became almost standard language.

‘I don’t understand.’

These people not only don’t make much money, but they also live off of other people’s insults.

Perhaps because of this, there was a surge in reporters who gave up on people’s evaluations.

In other words, those who should be wielding the pen like a sword to check power are instead parasitizing it.

Here, power does not necessarily mean political power.

These days, people are obsessed with economic power, or in other words, the bribes given by the conglomerates.

I too have taken advantage of that tendency, and today I couldn’t help but take advantage of that psychology.

‘There’s no way around it in the capitalist world.’

With these words, both I and the reporters are granted an indulgence.

“Now, let’s take Daehyun Motors as an example. I personally respect Chairman Park Hee-sun of Daehyun Motors Group. She has raised Daehyun Motors to the ranks of the global Big Three and is successfully preparing for the era of eco-friendly cars.”

It was a well-known fact.

Daehyun Motors has been successfully transforming its vehicles into gasoline, hybrid, electric, and even hydrogen vehicles.

I believe this success is due to Park Hee-sun’s ability.

“However, behind the success, there was the ability of the CEO, but there is also a legacy from those before him. That is the gasoline car. In short, it is no exaggeration to say that the profits from gasoline cars are well-prepared for the era of eco-friendly cars. Isn’t that right?”

As it turned out, I ended up giving a speech, but the reporters nodded their heads.

“But if we were to immediately dispose of gasoline and produce only electric cars! Does that make sense? Wouldn’t that be impossible?”

This logic was rather the content of the reports that reporters had written so far.

While preparing for RE 100, I would like to ask you to adjust the speed a bit.

What can we do if we can’t get green energy right now?

Of course, it was the logic of the conglomerates, so the reporters took it and wrote it down.

Maybe that’s why they nod their heads more vigorously.

“Of course not. The same goes for RE 100. It needs speed control. Speed ​​control that suits Korea. But honestly, it’s a bit slow. It’s not like that.”

I sided with them and agreed with their logic for once.

Of course, these people also have no choice but to agree with my logic to some extent.

So the reporters nodded once again.

“That’s why I said let’s speed things up. So, the presidents who run large groups are saying that they can’t keep up with that speed right away. So, what should we do? Of course, we need to talk. If we talk and then compromise, wouldn’t we be able to create an appropriate speed?”

“you’re right!”

“We think the same way!”

As expected, as soon as I threw the carrot, the reaction wasn’t bad.

At this, I raised my glass with an excited expression.

“First, let’s have a toast!”

“Cheers!”

“For!”

Then he continued speaking.

“Communicate or not. I think this is important. Then, we need to narrow the differences and come to a conclusion. In short, we need a social consensus. Isn’t that right?”

Once again the answer came back yes.

“Well, then, we need to define the subject that should form a social consensus here. I think journalists should naturally take on one axis.”

How could anyone dislike it when they are being promoted to their role?

Their voices are getting louder and louder.

“In particular, since they are messengers for both sides, please give them more space. Sometimes, call me or Chairman Hyun Ki-hyuk, and sometimes, call the conglomerate chairmen. If you hold a press conference like that and inform the public, social consensus can naturally be concluded. Isn’t that right?”

“you’re right!”

“Right!”

Now I’m being gaslighted.

‘Reality might be a bit difficult.’

Will the conglomerate leaders actually comply with their demands?

(2)

After a while, for some reason, reporters made Park Hee-sun, the chairman of Daehyun Motor Group, the subject of the headline.

『Park Hee-sun, a businesswoman who knows how to communicate』

“If there had been no Park Hee-sun in the Republic of Korea, we would have lost the initiative in future cars.”

『Park Hee-sun is serious about being eco-friendly, so she never gives up despite poor hydrogen car sales performance』

『One thing Park Hee-sun has to overcome is the group’s dominance』

『When will the restructuring of Daehyun Motors’ management structure be completed?』

‘This, the effect of carrots is better than I thought?’

Even so, I didn’t think the reporters would do this for no reason.

– Sir, I’m leaving.

In fact, Im Hong-cheol contacted me and told me that this is the reason why the reporters brought up the Daehyun Cha and Park Hee-sun issues that I mentioned.

– Did you know that Daehyun Motors is the only one among the top 10 conglomerates in Korea that has circular investment?

“I know.”

Circular investment refers to increasing capital among affiliates of a group in the form of A investing in B, B investing in C, and C investing in A again.

It was the most efficient way to strengthen the group’s control with a small stake, but it caused a big problem during the IMF era.

If one of the affiliates fails, they all fail in a chain reaction.

So, I don’t know how much pressure the subsequent governments put on the conglomerates to resolve their circular investment issues.

As a result, many conglomerates have transitioned to a holding company system, and over the past 20 years or so, most teenage groups have dissolved their circular investment structures.

“As far as I know, Daehyun Mobis owns Daehyun Motors, and Daehyun Motors owns Gear Motors, and Gear Motors owns Daehyun Mobis again… Isn’t this how the circular investment structure is formed?”

– You know exactly.

As expected, it is possible to own a company with a small stake, but the problem is that it is vulnerable to government pressure and ESG, which has become a recent trend.

However, since there have been few vulnerable affiliates so far, the possibility of a chain reaction collapse of the group is very low.

– Then, do you also know that Chairman Park’s homework is to secure shares of Daehyun Mobis?

“Yes, I know. That’s why Daehyun Mobis’ stock price is like that, like that.”

– Hahaha, yes yes, that’s right. That’s why Chairman Park always wanted to join hands with external forces.

“What if it’s an external force?”

– Of course he’s a capitalist. He has absolutely no interest in managing Daehyun Motors.

“Well, it seems like it would be difficult for any capitalist.”

– Of course. Putting aside the fact that they have a lot of money, how many private equity funds have this kind of ambition to get their hands on Daehyun Motors later on?

The reason why Hong-cheol Lim explains at such length.

I tilted my head and asked.

“Are you really hoping that our JTS will acquire shares in Daehyun Mobis?”

– Yes, that’s right. I think a few reporters went and leaked to Daehyun what the CEO had said at the last press conference.

“ah······.”

The content was like this.

The reporters seemed to feel that I only recognized Park Hee-sun among the successors to the conglomerates.

Actually, there are a few more, but I would rate him as the best.

So, as I talked more about what I had been feeling in my heart, it seemed like Park Hee-sun’s abilities were emphasized.

Anyway, it was clear that experienced reporters were saying that JTS could be a white knight to solve Daehyun’s weaknesses.

– How about it, what do you think?

“I have ideas, but money always seems to be the problem.”

– That’s right. Even if you want to be a white knight, money is the most important thing.

“Also, it seems like it will take quite some time. If we touch Daehyun Mobis in a short period of time, there will be problems with the stock price.”

The problem here is that there is concern that Daehyun Mobis’ stock price will soar too high.

Daewoo Mobis has a market capitalization that is incomparable to the stocks I have acquired so far.

I took a quick look while talking to Hong-cheol Lim, and the market cap was 25 trillion.

‘If we appear as white knights, this will be the highest price we can get.’

And if the upper limit is reached several times, it will quickly exceed 30 or 40 trillion.

In that case, will we be able to secure the shares as we initially planned?

However, block deals were not easy.

Who would want to hand over the shares of Daewoo Mobis, which is doing well, to us?

Even if there was, it clearly seemed like it would take time.

– First of all, I have confirmed that it makes sense, so I will contact you again.

I don’t know what his intentions are, but Hong-cheol Lim said this and hung up the phone.

‘What on earth is this guy doing?’

Little by little, I’m starting to get curious.

What if I’m curious?

‘I guess I’ll have to find out about this myself.’

(3)

Lim Hong-cheol hung up the phone and got out of the car with a smile.

This is the place where I was scheduled to meet with an executive from Daehyun Group.

His name is Jaehoon Ahn, and at the young age of forty this year, he was appointed as the head of the Daehyun Mobis Management Efficiency Headquarters.

It was an unprecedented move for anyone to see that the position was vice president, not head of headquarters.

We met while working at an economic newspaper, and we met up quite often during that time.

“Welcome~”

Today, he greeted Im Hong-cheol and asked him a question after ordering expensive and delicious raw fish.

“What about Representative Jang? What did he say?”

In fact, Lim Hong-cheol heard Chairman Park Hee-sun’s true feelings from Ahn Jae-hoon.

I hope that someone trustworthy capitalist will emerge as a white knight, break the cycle of circular investment and transform the company into a holding company system.

But who can you trust?

– You meet Jang Su-myeong once.

Park Hee-sun is a CEO who believes in ability more than people, so she entrusted important tasks to Ahn Jae-hoon.

Before becoming the head of the Management Efficiency Headquarters, Jaehoon Ahn discovered many people who would take responsibility for the future of Daehyun Motors in the Human Resources Development Office.

This time, I was planning to ride on Im Hong-cheol and see Jang Su-myeong.

“You are positive.”

“also······.”

The longevity he saw was quite reasonable.

I do not have a philosophy that unconditionally criticizes the chaebol system, nor am I a person who 100% believes in the professional management system.

“But money is an issue. It seems like it would take quite a bit of time.”

“That’s obvious. But I think if we meet and discuss this issue, we can come up with a good answer.”

“Oh, then, shall we make some space?”

“Yes, I would like you to make it as soon as possible.”

Lim Hong-cheol smiled faintly.

In his view, Ahn Jae-hoon and Jang Su-myeong had similar personalities.

Once you come to a conclusion, you don’t necessarily have to take a shortcut, you just go straight······.

‘If we could just coordinate issues like funding, this could be a good deal, right?’

But should we say that Jang Su-myeong knows how to step on the accelerator better than Ahn Jae-hoon?

After a while, Ahn Jae-hoon’s phone rang.

“What? Jang Su-myeong contacted me and said he wanted to meet the chairman?”

“······!”

An exclamation mark appears in Lim Hong-cheol’s eyes.