When the whole world was attracted by the crazy terrorist attacks in Mumbai in the evening, the conference room of Starbucks headquarters in Seattle, after a discussion and quarrel, they fell into silence.

Andy Smith chose the opportunity to make Starbucks unable to resist. The board members and the directors of the three major committees focused their gloomy eyes on Howard Schultz, a spiritual figure in Starbucks who has returned to power this year, and the face of Starbucks's Jobs.

His series of reform measures have indeed reduced Starbucks' losses, reduced the impact of the financial crisis, and regained its brand value.

At the same time, large-scale store closures and layoffs also made investors lose confidence in Starbucks, resulting in the current price, giving Andy Smith the opportunity to acquire Starbucks in full.

"Maybe we can convert those 1.2 billion convertible bonds into common stock..."

Finally someone broke the silence, Chief Financial Officer Michael Casey sighed in his heart and said something that was not a solution.

"That's a self-destruction. Let's not talk about whether this common stock will affect Andy Smith's acquisition plan. The key is that this will completely lose the trust of investors.

Under the financial crisis, do you want Starbucks’ stock price to fall into junk stocks? Don’t forget that this will not only dilute the other party’s shares, but also dilute our own. I don’t agree!”

"I also disagree. Andy Smith has tens of billions of cash. Since he decided to acquire Starbucks and has absorbed so many shares, he has definitely started to make arrangements long ago. He has definitely thought of various plans to deal with our counterattack.

Let’s just say that we have lost the initiative and cannot stop the other party from entering the Starbucks board of directors. The other party’s people have not appeared yet, which only shows that the other party’s ambition and appetite are too big, so big that they want to completely control Starbucks company..."

This time the talk was about the main members of the nomination and corporate governance committee. When he spoke, he looked at Howard Schultz and several company executives who had been frowning, but he sneered in his heart.

The three committees and directors of the Ministry of Education are optimistic and welcomed by Andy Smith's entry, because no one will threaten their position. Only the group of executives who have long controlled the company will reject and worry.

Howard Schultz looked around the expressions of the people in the conference room, and his heart was filled with gloom, because the scattered and even shares he formulated could usually prevent major shareholders from interfering in the company's operations and allow management to better control the company.

But there are also disadvantages, just like when facing the wealthy Andy Smith, they can't take out any extra shares to introduce the White Knight to block the footsteps of Andy, the barbarian.

The only way to fight back is the Poison Pill Plan, but in the face of directors who have caused huge losses to reject assets, the possibility of implementing the Poison Pill Plan did not exist from the beginning.

Howard Schultz even thought of the group of directors present for the joining of Andy Smith, the super rich man, which made Starbucks' stock price rebound against the trend and caused their asset value to soar.

"I need to talk to Andy Smith in person, and I believe he will recognize our corporate culture and behavior. After all, this is the cornerstone of Starbucks. As long as Starbucks is not shaken at all, we should be optimistic about welcomeing the new directors to join.

As for Andy Smith's position...

"Dongdong--"

Just as Howard Schultz made a compromise helplessly, the door of the conference room was knocked, and soon a staff member pushed the door open and entered, and rushed to Howard Schultz on the far-off seat with a panic expression and said, "Boss, a group of people came outside to see you, and the person in the leader claimed to be Andy Smith's representative."

Howard Schultz's pupils shrank slightly, and everyone in the conference room had different expressions, so the other party finally took action.

"Please come over."

After the staff left, Howard Schultz smiled helplessly: "Let's listen to each other's thoughts."

Everyone in the conference room also had a serious expression and nodded silently. There was no way, now there was no way to stop Andy Smith, who had a share of comparable shares than everyone present.

Not long after, under the guidance of Starbucks staff, a group of business elites in suits and ties, with sharp eyes walked into the conference room.

A tall white man in his thirties, smiling, reached out and shook hands with Howard Schultz, led by Starbucks, and exchanged greetings.

"Hello, Mr. Schultz, I'm glad to meet you, I'm the plenipotentiary of Mr. Andy Smith, Olin Smith."

Howard Schultz, who shook hands with Olin Smith, stared slightly, smiled on his face, and said, "I'm glad to know you, please sit down."

Neither of the two sides had any traces and quickly sat down on both sides. Then, Olin Smith took out some documents and handed them to Howard Schultz opposite him, and smiled and said, "This is Mr. Andy Smith's proof of shares and authorization letter."

After Howard Schultz took it, he smiled at Olin and then looked calmly. The 2%, 3%, and even 0.5% stake certificate made Howard sigh helplessly.

After looking through it, Howard's face smiled again. While handing the documents to David Pace, the executive vice president beside him, he asked Olin: "I don't know what Mr. Andy Smith thinks?"

"This acquisition of Starbucks by Mr. Andy Smith is just a normal commercial acquisition. Starbucks is a very excellent coffee chain retail company. Mr. Andy Smith is very optimistic about its development potential.

Of course, Mr. Andy Smith is also a loyal customer of Starbucks. Starbucks has ended its overly aggressive and blind expansion strategy, although sales growth has slowed significantly and its performance is facing severe challenges.

However, with Mr. Schultz's return, a series of rectification measures have made Mr. Smith feel that Starbucks will enter a new stage of growth.

So, Mr. Smith is very interested in joining the Starbucks family."

Hearing Olin Smith's words, the Starbucks people present looked at each other. They didn't believe that Andy Smith would implement the acquisition plan so vigorously just to join the Starbucks board of directors.

“Thanks to Mr. Smith for being so optimistic about Starbucks’ development, and we also welcome Mr. Smith to join.

However, Starbucks initially achieved the separation of equity and control a long time ago. This time, Mr. Smith joined Starbucks with a 25% stake, which is undoubtedly a subversion to Starbucks.

I would like to ask, do you want to take control of the company to the board of directors?”

Hearing Howard Schultz's straight-forward words and questions, Olin Smith's smile slowly curled up, his face was serious, and his bright eyes looked at the other party and said, "Let me tell you a good news first. Through the acquisition, Mr. Andy Smith now holds 30.1% of Starbucks shares."

"Wow..."

"How is it possible..."

"this..."

Listening to the whispering of Starbucks' whispering to each other, Olin Smith continued after just a brief pause.

"To be fair, as a business company, Starbucks has something to be praised for its corporate social responsibility, which comes from the persistence and excellent corporate culture established by the management.

But Starbucks is ultimately about seeking benefits for shareholders, and this is the true meaning of its global shareholder meeting. Business is so cruel.

In business, Starbucks wants to open a store on one hand, but the contradiction between the speed and quality represented by this is always irreconcilable. As time goes by, the irreconcilable contradictions we see have become more and more irreconcilable.

Mr. Smith believes that Starbucks needs a clear future development plan and strategy, rather than closing and laying off employees after repeated expansions. Therefore, Mr. Andy Smith hopes to serve as the chairman and chief strategy officer of Starbucks!”
Chapter completed!