Softpow, Japan’s largest investment company, manages assets worth 100 trillion won.
What was the intention of the founder of such a huge investment company to contact a small company like WHTS Company?
If it was normal, it might have come into my eyes by chance, but since the time of the request to meet is the New Year, it’s too complicated.
It was only natural that entrepreneurs’ first steps in the new year would draw attention. If it is at the level of Chairman Jeong-eui Shin, who owns assets of 100 trillion won, every little thing will be reported.
‘What is the intention of wanting to meet me on the first step of the New Year?’
If I had to force myself to think of the reason, after the Acorn concert, Watts had a lot of overseas visitors as famous singers uploaded daily videos and short live performances.
In particular, there was a clear increase in the number of visitors from Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand, which are strong in K-pop, so Watts may have caught the eye of Chairman Jeong-eui Shin.
“Is there anything else to talk about when meeting Chairman Jeong-eui Shin, besides investing? This is Softpaw recognizing us!”
Park Tae-sik, who brought the news from the side, was drinking a bowl of kimchi soup by himself.
Well, honestly, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t happy either. That’s because the name ‘Shin Jeong-ui’ has a different weight felt among investors.
“What if it’s not for the purpose of equity investment?”
“If it’s not an investment, is there any reason to ask to meet there?”
“You might even want to take over. In the Japanese market, the label ‘Made in Korea’ is a reverse premium.”
Whether it be electronic products, automobiles, or even platform services, Japanese people tended to wear sunglasses first if they were made in Korea.
So, if Shin had approached with Watts’ Japanese service in mind, he could have taken a 100% stake purchase and merger.
“I don’t know if investments are coming in, but handing over the entire company is a bit… … I don’t like it.”
Park Tae-sik listened to my explanation and his expression became extremely serious.
I tap him on the shoulder and tell him.
“Maybe this is a good opportunity. If you are a large investor like Softpow, the amount you offer will be staggering.”
“Hey, what do you look at people for? Do you not know that I am a corpse without loyalty?”
“Even if you sold only your stake, the minimum price would be in the tens of billions?”
When the word 10 billion came out, Park Tae-shik’s mouth fell open. Anyone who comes to that amount is bound to be surprised.
“You know there’s no guarantee that Watts will continue to do well, right? This success could be a temporary fad due to the Acorn concert.”
“I know that. but… … .”
“Besides, the future of Acorn Coin is also full of variables. It is not strange that 99% of the market price suddenly collapsed one day.”
In fact, similar cases have already existed in the future.
A legendary incident in which virtual currency, which cost more than 100,000 won per piece, collapsed by 99.99% in one day, becoming 1 won per piece.
So, in order to make a profit in a cool way, it was the right decision to sell the company at the right time and use the money to buy stable bitcoin.
If it is possible to invest 10 billion in virtual currency at this time, it would not be a dream to become one of the ten richest people in Korea.
* * *
The news that the WHTS Company was invited to Softpaw’s New Year’s meeting spread quickly.
In particular, Cy Club had the tag of being a native SNS, so the fact that it was recognized by Japanese investors became a good news story for domestic media outlets.
However, there were also people who were not happy with the news of this investment, and it was the WHTS Company employees who were the parties to this news.
“Is the news real? The news that Softpow is investing in our company.”
“It was just a meeting. There is no such thing as a confirmed investment yet.”
“Chairman Shin Jeong-eui’s New Year’s meeting is not just a meeting. It’s like a kind of investment meeting where promising companies of the year are invited. So, they said that just putting your name on it would increase the value of the company.”
At first, two or three people were talking, but as soon as the word soft pow came out, even the passing staff sneaked up to the side.
“Will the company grow bigger with investment?”
“It could be, or Softpow could buy the WHTS Company altogether.”
“If the company is sold, what about the CEO?”
“maybe… … would you quit? Originally, startups start with the sale of a large company in mind.”
When word comes out that the CEO may change, the agitation of the employees grows.
“Then I can’t… … There is no one who takes care of the employees as well as the current CEO. The same goes for the year-end party this time.”
“that’s right. I took my parents to a party and they loved it.”
“My friends were also envious when they saw the photos. Living in a luxurious hotel banquet hall, when will I come back? But if the company is sold… … .”
It was then. Someone from the side of the partition ‘thump!’ Knock loudly and shout.
“Who sells the company?”
Employees look in the direction of the sound in surprise. There stood Lee So-young, eyes wide open.
“manager. That doesn’t mean it sells, it means it might.”
“Does our representative look like that? Absolutely not, so don’t worry and go to work.”
As usual, the situation would have ended right here. But because this issue is so serious, someone has the courage to ask the question.
“Does the team leader know the results?”
Momentarily, Lee So-young’s words were blocked.
To tell the truth, it was because she, too, was nervous because she didn’t know what the investment would turn out to be.
‘What can I do? I got angry and threw it out, but I can’t say I don’t know… … .’
Just in time, I see Park Tae-sik walking this way. To Lee So-young, he seemed like an angel of salvation.
“Director Park! wait a minute!”
Park Tae-sik is caught by Lee So-yeong and dragged in front of the staff without knowing why.
“What are you doing?”
While thinking about what to do, Lee So-yeong throws a fastball thinking that she doesn’t know what to do.
“Didn’t we say we were attending Softpaw’s New Year’s event?”
“There was an offer.”
“I heard that it is a large-scale investment, but has the management policy been set?”
“hmm… … that is… … .”
While Park Tae-shik takes a break, Lee So-young and all the staff gathered perk up their ears.
“It is canceled.”
“why? What conditions did you say were not right?”
“no. Quite the contrary.”
Park Tae-sik looks back at the staff and continues with a smile.
“We declined the invitation from Softpaw.”
* * *
Shin Jeong-eui, chairman of Softpow Group, has held a New Year’s interview in the company’s conference room every New Year.
The custom was the same this year as well.
“Only 5% of the companies we invest in are making a profit. All the rest are loss-making companies that can’t make a profit. Why am I investing in this company… … .”
From noble mtl dot com
His New Year’s interview had the meaning of announcing the year’s prospects, but the bigger concern was which companies were invited to the interview.
click. click.
At the invitation company seat prepared next to the interview place, the flash baptism of reporters is already incessant.
Among the companies invited by him, ‘unicorn companies’, commonly referred to as blockbuster startups, appeared frequently, so the reporters’ enthusiasm for coverage naturally grew hotter.
“SoftPow is aiming for 1 billion mobile subscribers this year, and in order to complete that plan, we plan to make massive investments in IT platform companies this year.”
Chairman Jeong-eui Shin’s eyes are directed toward the invited companies under the podium.
“First, I would like to introduce Play Gow, a company that has secured many subscribers in Southeast Asia.”
He explained each of the nine companies he invited, what vision they had, and how they would grow together.
After the introduction of all the companies, the time for individual questions finally came to the reporters.
“Chairman, what do you think of the current situation in Japan? I would appreciate it if you could also tell us about your relationship with neighboring countries.”
“I wonder if you will invest more in entering the US market.”
“President! There is a statistic that domestic investment decreased last year. Is it the same tone this year?”
No matter what kind of questions the reporters asked, Chairman Jeong-eui Shin answered without hesitation. The process was so skillful that to a stranger, it seemed as if it had been concocted in advance.
“This is Kazuo Yoshida from Misaka Shimbun. I would like to ask you a question about the companies invited to this New Year’s event.”
When it is the turn of a reporter with a particularly large body, the hall suddenly becomes quiet. He was a journalist known for asking difficult questions.
Chairman Shin Jeong-eui knew that, so he nodded with his back straight.
“As far as I know, I heard that a total of 10 companies were invited to the event today. But for some reason, I can only see 9 companies at the venue.”
“It’s because one company was unable to attend due to circumstances.”
When Chairman Shin Jeong-eui’s remarks came out, the hall was stirred.
What kind of company would reject the New Year’s event of the Softpow Group, where the value of a company soars just by being invited?
The reporter knows in advance, and leads the conversation to a more sensitive topic.
“I heard that the company that declined the invitation was a Korean SNS company, is that correct?”
“I heard that.”
The buzzing gets louder. Just refusing to participate in the New Year’s event feels like a scoop, but that’s a Korean company!
At this rate, the first page of tomorrow’s newspaper was confirmed.
“What kind of place was it that rejected Softpaw’s New Year’s invitation? What a blessing this seat is.”
“It must have come from the anti-Japanese temperament of Koreans.”
“Tsk tsk, that’s why you kicked away the blessing that came rolling in because of your pride. It is an extremely befitting act.”
“First of all, if you do good, you have to be grateful. Koreans are always like that.”
Negative words are pouring in from all sides. Then, belatedly, the secretary made a probationary remark.
“The companies that were unable to attend expressed their intention to participate very politely.”
However, the secretary’s explanation did not reverse the atmosphere.
The non-participating companies had already been stigmatized as rude and careless companies in the world, and reporters were not the ones to give up on such provocative material.
“everyone. Please refrain from making statements that are not true.”
As the secretary tries to explain again, Chairman Jeong-eui Shin, who has been watching, shakes his hand.
“All right. Let it be.”
“Ha, but the president.”
“I won’t listen to anything you say. That reporter must have already planned what kind of article to publish before asking me the question.”
Chairman Jeong-eui Shin’s prediction was exactly right.
After the New Year’s event, in less than 10 minutes, breaking news about what happened at the event was pouring out in the portal news section.
[single! A company that did not attend the New Year’s event of President Shin Jeong-eui comes out! The venue is shaken by an unprecedented situation.]
[The identity of the company that refused the New Year’s invitation from Chairman Jeong-eui Shin is a Korean SNS company!]
At first, articles based on facts came out, but gradually they became speculative, and eventually flowed to the provocative side of the extreme right.
[What is the inside of the company that refused to invest in Softpow? Is it an expression of confidence that you can succeed without receiving Japanese investment?]
[The situation in which Takeshima is marked as Dokdo on the map provided by Korean SNS… … .]
[An anonymous informant claims that the Korean social media company that rejected the New Year event sponsors an anti-Japanese group!]