Growth-type Super Rich

Chapter 314 - 224: Is 2 Billion Not a Small Sum?

I’m doing business with you, not talking about friendship here.

I’m taking such a big risk just for your 15% shares? Principal, you’re underestimating my appetite. 25% is my considered demand; otherwise, I wouldn’t consider anything less than 30%."

Gu Bai’s words made the whole dinner quiet; no one dared to speak.

"How about we both take a step back, 20%? Panda will definitely continue to fundraise later. I can make the decision that when we start the C-round funding, your Black Swan Group will have priority financing rights."

After thinking for a long time, Principal Wang came up with a compromise, although this plan was still hard for him to accept. After all, an internet company may go through a dozen funding rounds from the angel round to listing. Taking out 20% of the shares in the B+ round, after several more rounds, with Gu Bai’s financial strength, he could very likely become the largest shareholder.

Gu Bai looked into Principal Wang’s eyes and after a long pause, whispered, "I can accept 20%, but the valuation must drop to 8 billion."

"Isn’t that a bit too much?"

Everyone could hear the anger in Principal Wang’s tone.

Gu Bai didn’t care at all and still said calmly, "I never believe in the so-called priority financing rights; Principal, you don’t have to sell me a dream. I’m a very practical person who only cares about actual benefits.

If Panda TV can turn things around after the B+ round funding, I can still make a profit even if I maintain 20% equity without dilution, so I don’t care about so-called priority financing rights.

Even if I invest and Panda TV remains half-dead, then your priority financing rights are worthless, meaningless.

In that case, I’d rather get some immediate benefits. You can call me short-sighted or greedy, but those are my conditions: either yield 25% shares at an 8.5 billion valuation, or 20% shares at an 8 billion valuation, you choose one."

Gu Bai’s tone was fearless.

And the reality was true; Principal Wang had no choice but to choose Gu Bai; this is the priority of capital!

Looking at the smiling Gu Bai in front of him, Principal Wang suddenly recalled what Wang Jianling had earnestly said to him.

"Gu Bai never puts himself in a weak position. As soon as he starts seeking cooperation, it means he is in a dominant position; he never does anything he isn’t sure of.

Actually, the instinct of a businessman is to seek benefits and avoid harm, but I’ve never met a young man with such sharp eyes as Gu Bai. From the establishment of Black Swan Capital to now, every business action is at the forefront, needing only a small amount of capital and effort to soar directly. Don’t think he only has a few hundred billion as a base now, but once his business circle is built, it will be a cross-entity, cultural, financial, large-scale business empire.

And being able to come up with such a large amount of money for charity at the outset of his career to gain favor with the upper class, which young person can do that? You should know he’s only 20 years old, a cycle younger than you.

If it’s not because he’s extraordinarily gifted, then it’s because he has a stunning background preparing all this for him, but no matter which point he holds among these, you need to befriend him."

Now Principal Wang finally tasted the meaning of Wang Jianling’s words. He had dealt with many young businesspeople, but none were more challenging than Gu Bai.

If Gu Bai knew Wang Jianling rated him so highly, he wouldn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

After all, his rise was all granted by the system, and mostly came from future insights and coincidences.

But all coincidences melded together, creating his mystery.

"8 billion valuation, 20% shares."

Finally, Principal Wang chose to compromise; compared to sacrificing 5% more shares, he preferred to lower the valuation a bit.

"Then you should start the financing; when your funding starts, our group’s investment team will directly discuss financing matters with you."

Gu Bai didn’t waste any words; since the main direction was already set, the subsequent work could be handed over to his people.

Although the negotiation was over, the atmosphere remained quiet; seeing this, Gu Bai joked, "20% of the financing is 1.6 billion; can you give me credit? How about I pay half first and make up the rest later?"

After hearing Gu Bai’s words, Principal Wang rolled his eyes and said, "Stop it; I’d believe anyone said they had no money except you. If you said you had no money, I’d rather die than believe it! You got over 12 billion out for charity and built hope schools, didn’t you?"

Gu Bai sighed.

"You don’t know the difficulty of running a business; you also know our group is still positioned as an entertainment group. If I don’t contribute socially, who knows, our company might get shut down one day.

Do you know the ’cold winter’ of the entertainment industry is coming? It’s not for self-preservation."

Although he knew Gu Bai had a point, Principal Wang couldn’t help but mock, "Even if you’re right, couldn’t you donate less?

Wasn’t 2 billion enough? You had to add another 10 billion? I think you’re just burning money!"

Gu Bai smiled lightly and didn’t argue back; after all, his charity funds were provided by the system, and telling them wouldn’t make them understand.

Du Jun took the opportunity to interject during their conversation, "Brother Bai, speaking of the entertainment industry, since the Spring Festival began, the film projects your group invested in started to be released. How’s that going? You should have earned quite a bit, right?"

"They’re just small projects; how much could they earn? Just small change."

"A few billion at least, right?"

Gu Bai glanced at Du Jun with a teasing look, "Are you mocking me?"

Du Jun: "???"

"Did I work hard for months just to make a few billion?"

"Then how much do you say you should earn?"

Gu Bai thought for a moment and slowly said, "There’s only one major TV project, ’Fuyao,’ which might earn four to five billion. There are more than ten movie projects, which would make about seven to eight billion, plus some scattered peripheral industries, about twenty billion in total."

"Hiss!"

Everyone inhaled sharply upon hearing Gu Bai’s words.

Du Jun was so frustrated by Gu Bai that he wanted to hold on to his philtrum, afraid he might faint suddenly.

"20 billion and you call it small change?"

"Any single project I invest in is tens of billions. If 20 billion isn’t small change, what is it?"

After carefully thinking about various large project investments that had been revealed, people realized that Gu Bai was right. Not to mention the Hongye Building Materials acquisition case a couple of days ago, just the cinema line investment of Black Swan Film and Television was close to a hundred billion. 20 billion indeed seemed like small change in Gu Bai’s eyes.

"Although I have to admit that 20 billion is small change to Brother Bai, I don’t know why I have this urge to beat him up."

"+1"

Gu Bai looked at these playful second-generation wealths and simply smiled silently.

After goofing around for a while, Du Jun turned serious again and said to Gu Bai, "Brother Bai, our nightclub is all set to go. It can open any time you decide."

The new CLUB had already been prepared before the New Year and was named by Gu Bai as Black Swan CLUB.

The name translates to Black Swan Bar. No one had any objection to the naming, as from preparation to opening, the CLUB was led by Gu Bai. In terms of shares, Gu Bai’s 40% made him the absolute major shareholder. Additionally, with the growing fame of Black Swan Group, naming the CLUB Black Swan could ride the wave of its popularity, making it appear more upscale.

Gu Bai pondered for a few seconds and then slowly replied, "Then let’s do it in the next few days, while Principal Wang and I are still in the Capital City, to boost the momentum a bit."

"National Husband, what do you say?"

Although Principal Wang didn’t have the best connections in the entertainment circle, it was still easy for him to invite a few celebrities to bolster the scene, plus he had the star mentor group from Creation 111.

A nightclub opening with over a dozen celebrities attending would be a huge hype in itself.