After chatting with Shen Zhiyi for a while, Zhao Chen got up and prepared to go to the company.
2.6 billion acquisition, 100 million deposit.
The funds arrived early and the team arrived early.
Everything seemed so smooth and sincere.
But he always felt that something was wrong.
Nine o'clock in the morning, Henglong Building Meeting Room.
Zhou Huai is chatting with Chen Xi and Zhang Qingxue.
At this time, Zhao Chen pushed the door open and entered.
Seeing Zhao Chen, Zhou Huai stood up with a smile on their faces:
"Chairman Zhao, morning. Excuse me."
Zhao Chen sat down opposite him:
"Mr. Zhou is too polite. What's the emergency for coming here so early?"
Zhou Huai smiled:
"It's not urgent, I just want to finalize the Due Diligence process as soon as possible.
Once the funds are in place, time is the cost. Complete the due diligence one day earlier and deliver the goods one day earlier, so everyone can worry less."
Zhao Chen nodded:
"Understood. What specific requirements does Mr. Zhou have for due diligence?"
Zhou Huai waved his hand:
"Just the normal procedures. Financial Data, legal compliance, asset ownership - these should be checked and looked at.
Our team here has been brought here to cooperate with your company's time arrangement."
He paused and added:
"Just make the process faster, don't be too detailed."
No need to be too detailed?
Zhao Chen's brows moved slightly.
He didn't speak, just glanced at Chen Xi.
Chen Xi answered:
"Mr. Zhou, Due Diligence is the standard procedure for acquisition.
2.6 billion transaction, some details still need to be carefully verified."
Zhou Huai nodded:
"I understand. What I mean is, focus on the general direction.
Don't worry too much about small issues. Once the business is done, it's easy to talk about anything."
This was said with perfect accuracy.
But Zhao Chen heard it - he didn't care about Due Diligence.
In other words, he thinks it's not important.
For a 2.6 billion acquisition, due diligence is not important?
Zhao Chen The seed of doubt in his heart has grown a little bigger.
Due Diligence started in a hurry the next day.
Two days later, Chen Xi walked into Zhao Chen's office holding a stack of documents with a strange expression.
"Zhao Zong, that's a bit interesting."
Zhao Chen raised his head:
"How to say?"
Chen Xi put the file on his desk:
"Jiahe's team is very cooperative, they give you what you ask for, and they never delay. But--"
She paused:
"The questions they asked were very superficial."
Zhao Chen looked at her.
Chen Xi Open the file:
"Finance Department points. They mainly asked about the revenue and profits in the past three years, but they hardly asked about the cost structure, Gross Margin changes, and the aging of accounts receivable."
"As for the assets, they asked for the property ownership certificate and lease contract of Jiangbei Complex, but they only glanced at the property ownership of several other residential projects."
"Legal Department points are even more perfunctory. They flipped through the materials on potential litigation risks prepared by Sister Qingxue and said 'no problem'."
She closed the document:
"Zhao Zong, this is not normal. A normal acquirer will ask for every detail. They are better, like..."
"It seems like a formality." Zhao Chen finished for her.
Chen Xi nodded:
"Yes."
Zhao Chen was silent for a few seconds.
"Keep watching," he said. "If there is anything unusual, please tell me at any time."
Three more days later, Chen Xi came to Zhao Chen's office again to report on the progress.
This time her expression was more complicated.
"Zhao Zong, Jiahe proposed that they want to end the due diligence early."
Zhao Chen raised his head:
"Ahead of time?"
"Yes." Chen Xi said, "They said that the core data have been read, and the rest are details and will not affect decision-making.
I hope that all the procedures will be completed before Friday and the contract can be signed next week."
Zhao Chen's fingers tapped lightly on the table twice.
"They're in a hurry."
"It's very urgent." Chen Xi said, "It's abnormally urgent."
Zhao Chen thought for a while:
"How did you respond?"
"I said we should follow the procedures and investigate what should be investigated. But their attitude over there..."
Chen Xi paused:
"It doesn't matter a bit. I feel like they don't care whether we check or not."
Zhao Chen leaned on the back of the chair and looked out the window.
2.6 billion transaction.
The other party doesn't care about details.
Don't care about the risks.
Don't care about anything that might go wrong.
What do they care about?
In other words, what do they really want?
"Let them go," Zhao Chen said, "At their own pace."
Chen Xi was stunned for a moment:
"Don't worry..."
"What are you worried about?" Zhao Chen looked at her, "Worried about them finding the problem? Or worried about them not being able to find the problem?"
He smiled, the smile was very light:
"I want to see what they want to do."
Finally, Due Diligence a week later.
Chen Xi came to the office with a document, and the expression on his face could not be said to be excitement or confusion:
"Zhao Zong, Jiahe's Due Diligence is over."
Zhao Chen raised his head:
"So fast?"
"One week." Chen Xi said, "A whole week. All procedures have been completed."
She put the file on Zhao Chen's desk:
"This is a due diligence report. Zhou Huai has confirmed it and has not raised any objections."
Zhao Chen opened the report and scanned it quickly.
Financial Data, No problem.
Legal compliance, no problem.
Asset ownership, no problem.
All questions, no problem.
Not really no problem.
It's because the other party didn't delve into it at all.
"They had this attitude the whole time?" Zhao Chen asked.
Chen Xi nodded:
"From the first day to the last day, there was no questioning, no pulling.
Whatever we offer, they accept. Whatever we explain, they accept."
She paused:
"Zhao Zong, this is not like an acquisition, this is..."
"This is about buying a product that you know very well and does not require detailed investigation." Zhao Chen said.
Chen Xi looked at him.
Zhao Chen No explanation.
He just looked out the window and was silent for a long time.
Then he spoke:
"When is the signing ceremony?"
Chen Xi said:
"Friday Afternoon. Zhou Huai suggested that after signing the contract, we hold a small cocktail party so that the two teams can get to know each other."
Zhao Chen nodded:
"Then follow their arrangements."
He paused:
"I want to see what they want to do."
July 14, Friday, three o'clock in the afternoon. Henglong Building.
The signing ceremony was simple.
Representatives of both parties signed the contract, exchanged documents, shook hands, and took photos.
Zhou Huai smiled throughout the entire process, was polite and impeccable.
"Chairman Zhao, happy to cooperate." He extended his hand.
Zhao Chen Hold:
"A pleasure to work with."
Zhou Huai smiled and said:
"There is a small cocktail party in the evening, in the banquet hall of the hotel next door. Chairman Zhao must come, let's have a drink."
Zhao Chen nodded:
"Definitely."
At seven o'clock in the evening, a hotel banquet hall next door to Henglong.
The reception was beautifully arranged.
Champagne Tower, buffet table, melodious piano sound. Guests stood in twos and threes, chatting in low voices.
Zhao Chen was standing by the window holding a wine glass.
Chen Xi and Zhang Qingxue were by his side. Su Wantang didn't come today - she said this kind of occasion was not suitable for her.
"There are a lot of people here." Chen Xi glanced at the venue, "Jiahe's team over there, there are a few unknown faces."
Zhang Qingxue pushed up his glasses:
"The man in the gray suit is their legal person in charge, I know him. The others should be their LP representatives."
Zhao Chen nodded and said nothing more.
His eyes moved slowly among the crowd.
Zhou Huai is chatting with several people, smiling all over his face.
Everything was so normal and smooth.
It's so smooth that it makes people go crazy.
Suddenly, the door of the banquet hall was pushed open.
Several people came in.