Donnie looked at Luke Jackson and asked, "So Mr. Jackson, are you threatening me now?"
"Of course not!" Luke Jackson said casually, "I just want to tell you, Donnie, about a very real issue, and we can assure you that after we invest in your company, we will not be involved in the management of the broadcasting station. The company will still be under your control, Donnie. However, we need to see profits, and that requires a detailed discussion.
But as long as you can guarantee a corresponding profit for us each year, the company will always be yours!"
This must be the current equivalent of an earn-out agreement, right?
Donnie quickly grasped the crux of the matter.
And all the negotiations between both sides were oral at this point. Donnie believed that if he really agreed to the other party’s investment proposal, they would definitely engage in all sorts of trickery in the business contract. They would never really leave such a company with substantial influence in his hands.
But they were also casually telling him that he could only cooperate with them—if he didn’t, there would be dire consequences.
"I need to consider this matter carefully and am currently unable to give Mr. Jackson a definitive response!"
Donnie needed more bargaining chips in his hand, but all that required time. Thus, Donnie wanted to stall Luke Jackson.
"Of course!" Luke Jackson still looked overly complacent, "But our company doesn’t wish to drag this out too long, so one week. One week later, we hope to get a definitive response from you, Donnie!"
"So this is your final piece of advice?" Donnie understood Luke Jackson’s implication.
"If you must think of it that way, Donnie, I have no objections!" Luke Jackson said with a smile as he left Donnie’s side.
Although Luke Jackson had left, Donnie was destined to be ill at ease tonight because just after Luke Jackson’s departure, Owen Young from General Electric approached him.
General Electric was founded by Edison, but back then the company was called Edison Electric Light Company. After accepting funding from old Morgan, Edison Electric Light Company merged with two other similar companies to become General Electric, with Edison serving as the president at that time.
However, as the conflict between Edison and the Morgan Consortium grew, Edison was ultimately ousted from General Electric.
The person who took over from Edison to become General Electric’s most successful president in its history was Charles Cosu, who now has become the chairman of General Electric, with the position of president handed over to Owen Young.
Compared to the dazzling Charles Cosu, Owen Young was much less well-known.
Owen Young’s greatest achievement at General Electric was expanding the company’s product range from business customers to the general consumer market and initiating the consumer credit financing business (GECC) in 1930, providing installment plans for the purchase of toasters and electric stoves.
"It seems, Donnie, that your conversation with Luke didn’t go very smoothly!"
Owen Young appeared overfamiliar as he approached Donnie.
Donnie smiled and said, "Before I have a conversation with you, Mr. Young, I don’t think I’ll easily make any offers regarding Atlantic City Broadcast!"
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"Haha!" Owen Young laughed heartily and said, "Luke just can’t always think this problem through. Since we’re in competition, as the party being competed for, it’s natural to listen to multiple offers before giving an appropriate price!"
"So you’re saying, Mr. Young, that General Electric’s offer is going to be even more attractive than Westinghouse’s?"
Donnie asked noncommittally.
Owen Young smiled and said, "Our company is willing to pay 1.2 million US Dollars for a 60% stake in Atlantic City Broadcast. Additionally, on behalf of Morgan, I would like to invest in the hotel you and Nucky are planning to build in Atlantic City. If you agree, Donnie, Morgan is prepared to offer you a 5 million US Dollar loan with the lowest interest rate in the US!"
Just now, Donnie had been wondering why no one from Morgan appeared among the group, initially thinking that the other party might not be interested in his business. Unexpectedly, they had sent Owen Young to be the negotiator!
"Mr. Young, regarding the business in Atlantic City, as you have seen the people behind us, I believe they share the same goal as you. So, at this moment, let’s talk about the Atlantic City Broadcast matter first. We should discuss each matter one by one – as the saying goes, we eat bread bite by bite, right?"
Owen Young nodded with a smile, "That’s true. So Donnie, does this mean you’re ready to accept the offer from General Electric?"
Donnie shook his head, "My answer is the same as the one I gave to Jackson. I cannot give you any answer right now, I need to think about this."
Owen Young spread out his hands, "OK, that’s reasonable. However, we hope not to wait too long, a week at most. I believe within a week, Donnie, you will have made up your mind. As for our company being stronger and more confident than Westinghouse, I would rather not talk about it to you, to avoid giving the impression that General Electric is leveraging our power over others!"
Wasn’t that said already?
Donnie sent Owen Young off with a smile.
This time no one approached Donnie, but his mood wasn’t lifted by the solitude. The only certainty for Donnie was that both Luke Jackson and Owen Young came for Atlantic City Broadcast, and those who hadn’t approached yet were here for the matter of legalizing the gambling industry in Atlantic City.
They hadn’t come to see him because they were currently in talks with Nucky.
In their minds, the power to speak on this matter lay with Nucky.
As long as they could secure Nucky, Donnie wouldn’t pose much of a problem!
In the end, Donnie’s gaze fell upon Ban Johnson. If he wanted more leverage, securing Ban Johnson was a critical link.
But Donnie couldn’t approach Benn now, even though both Luke Jackson and Owen Young already knew the reason for Benn’s visit.
"It seems that your conversations with those two didn’t go very smoothly!"
Harry rejoined Donnie’s side.
Donnie showed a smile, "When the lion bares his fangs, he’s always able to charge unobstructed through the savannah!"
Harry asked in confusion, "So, are you planning to give up your interests?"
Donnie’s gaze drifted to the distant Atlantic Ocean bathed in moonlight and said calmly, "I have never seen any creature lie down and await the hunt when faced with being hunted!"
Harry argued, "But even if those animals chose to flee or resist, their fate remains unchanged."
Donnie did not respond to Harry’s words; instead, he asked Harry, "Dear Harry, are we friends?"