You're in No Position to Negotiate

Tony strode into the room. Seeing Norman again, he found him much calmer than he had been the night before.

"Well? Have you thought it over?"

Tony asked with a smile.

Norman looked up at him. "I'll agree to let you buy into Oscorp, but you have to agree to one thing, too. I want a share swap!"

It was the only solution he had come up with after thinking all night.

Oscorp had to accept Tony's investment to survive. To prevent Tony from taking over once he came aboard, swallowing Oscorp whole, and kicking him out, Norman needed a safeguard of his own.

That safeguard was a stake in Stark Industries.

At present, Tony held all the shares in Stark Industries. Even if Norman owned some of its shares as well, he would pose no threat to Tony.

Oscorp, by contrast, had numerous shareholders. Once Tony came aboard, he would be entitled to acquire their shares, potentially causing Oscorp to change hands.

Thus, although a share swap would pose no threat to Tony, it could prevent Norman from being forced out and left with nothing.

Tony raised his eyebrows slightly and flatly refused. "No. You're in no position to negotiate."

"You only have two options now: watch the Osborn Group go bankrupt, or accept my investment."

"Beyond that, you have no other choice."

At those words, Norman's seemingly steady composure instantly gave way to frenzy.

"Impossible! I know you just want to swallow my Osborn Group whole. I'm telling you, even if I die, I'll never let you get your way!"

As he spoke, Norman began struggling violently again.

The Human Enhancement Serum had already destabilized his emotions. Now, provoked by Tony, he became even more frenzied.

Tony watched quietly, his expression as calm as ever.

After a long while, Norman regained control of himself. Only then did Tony break his silence. "Have you thought it over?"

The same question, in the same tone. Tony acted as though he did not remember being turned down just moments earlier.

Seeing this, Norman could not help giving a bitter smile.

"So you think you've got me cornered?"

"Aren't you afraid I'll actually destroy the Osborn Group rather than accept your offer?"

Norman's voice was full of resignation.

He had indeed lost control earlier, but however frenzied he became, he was still the head of the Osborn Group.

His supposed frenzy had therefore been largely a performance for Tony, an attempt to secure better terms.

But Tony was not only calmer than he had imagined, he was downright cold.

"It's just the Osborn Group. If it's destroyed, it's destroyed. It doesn't belong to me yet anyway. Do you think I'd feel bad over something that isn't mine?"

"But it's different for you. The Osborn Group is your life's work. If it really went bankrupt, could you bear to let it go?"

Tony countered with a smile, and Norman lowered his head in defeat.

He understood that he had lost. It was not that he was inferior to Tony, but that their bargaining positions had been unequal from the start.

"You win. I'll accept your investment. I hope you can bring the Osborn Group back from the brink."

After saying those words, Norman seemed drained of all vitality, as though he had aged considerably.

Tony frowned at the sight of him.

"I told you, I won't interfere with the Osborn Group's operations. You'll still be in charge."

"Investors might go back on their word, but I, Tony, keep mine."

Norman abruptly raised his head and fixed his gaze on Tony. He had already prepared himself to be forced out.

Yet Tony seemed genuinely intent on keeping his promise.

"Do you really mean that?" Norman asked uncertainly.

Tony spread his hands. "If you knew me well enough, you'd know that dealing with company affairs is what I hate most."

Hearing this, Norman suddenly remembered Tony's reputation as a playboy, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Although he was somewhat speechless, being able to remain at the helm of the Osborn Group was undoubtedly good news.

"Thank you."

Norman said it so softly that Tony might not have caught it without his keen senses.

Tony smiled casually, turned, and left the room.

Once he reached the living room, Tony's voice rang out.

"JARVIS, call Potts."

"Certainly, sir. The call is connected."

"Hi, Tony. What's up?" Potts's voice came through.

"Contact the Osborn Group and prepare to buy a stake."

"Also, track down the Osborn Group's shareholders and buy up all their shares."

On the other end of the call, Potts froze for a moment.

"What did you say?"

"The Osborn Group agreed to let us buy in?"

Potts sounded incredulous.

They were both top-tier conglomerates. Aside from share swaps between companies with existing business ties, why would any of the major conglomerates in the same industry let another industry giant buy into their company?

Naturally, Potts's voice was filled with astonishment.

"Don't worry. I've already settled everything you're concerned about. Just do as I said."

Tony spoke confidently.

On the other end of the call, Potts nodded firmly.

"All right. Leave it to me. I'll get on it now."

Without waiting for Tony's approval, Potts hung up.

After ending the call, Potts immediately sprang into action, assembling a negotiating team and sending them to the Osborn Group.

As she set things in motion, the Osborn Group also received a call from Norman.

Since he and Tony had already reached an agreement, Stark Industries acquired its stake in the Osborn Group much faster than an investment normally would have taken.

In a single afternoon, both sides settled all the details. Stark Industries acquired a ten-percent stake in the Osborn Group for ten billion US dollars.

Once the deal was settled, Potts wasted no time approaching the Osborn Group's major shareholders, seeking to buy all their holdings.

With the Osborn Group losing money year after year, these shareholders had long wanted out. Stark Industries was undoubtedly a lifeline for them, so the negotiations went pleasantly for both sides.

Within three days, Stark Industries had secured fifty-five percent of the Osborn Group's shares in one fell swoop, becoming its largest shareholder.

Norman, the company's head, was left with only forty-three percent, while the remaining two percent traded on the stock market.

In other words, if Tony wished, he could now launch a takeover, forcibly acquire Norman's shares, and swallow the Osborn Group whole.

But just as he had said, he was a playboy who did not particularly enjoy managing companies. Running Stark Industries alone already stretched Potts's abilities to their limit, so Tony had no designs on Norman's shares.

And so, a corporate upheaval that shook the entire upper echelon of the United States came to an end in just three short days.