Chapter 383: Acquisition of Jiasu Airlines! New payment system!
When Xu Cang and Yue Sheng arrived at the gate of Japan Jiasu Airlines, Xu Cang didn't react much, after all, he had been here once. Yue Sheng came here for the first time, and he was even more surprised. The architectural style of Jiasu Airlines was very similar to the style of the 1970s and 1980s in China. He couldn't help but laugh and said, "I feel like I just went to Guoda Airlines in 1985. Is this the third largest airline in Japan? Why does it have such a rotten and dilapidated atmosphere?"
"Just like their model." Xu Cang sighed.
Jiasu Airlines is mainly engaged in local transportation and has a long history, and has a good reputation in China. However, with the withdrawal of aircraft such as McDonnell Douglas, if Jiasu Airlines does not reform itself, it will only decline.
When he reached the door, Xu Cang spoke to the guard, and soon someone came to greet him. The guard was particularly surprised when he saw Yue Sheng behind Xu Cang.
Soon, the two were welcomed to the office of Ji Chuan Yixin, president of Jiasu Airlines.
After seeing Yue Sheng, Ji Chuan Yixin couldn't help but stand up and said politely, "Mr. Yue, I didn't expect you to come."
As the largest airline in China, China Airlines must be given due respect.
Yue Sheng hummed and pointed at Xu Cang: "I'm following him, and I'm responsible for paying the money."
Unlike Xu Cang's simplified Japanese, Yue Sheng's Japanese is extremely fluent. Moreover, in front of outsiders, Yue Sheng is serious and his tone is extremely deep, which makes him appear aggressive.
Ji Chuan looked at Xu Cang intently: "Mr. Xu, when we parted that day, I thought you were just in a whim, but I didn't expect..."
"My suggestions are never made on a whim." Xu Cang smiled and sat down on a sofa, while Yue Sheng sat next to him: "It's been a while now, what do you think?"
Ji Chuan was silent for a moment, but he didn't sit down. After a long time, he had to admit: "Now, I have to admit that Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 will be the mainstream narrow-body aircraft in the future. Anyone who doesn't use these aircraft is looking for a gap in operation. However, some problems cannot be solved just by recognizing them."
"Your aircraft are so diverse. There are MD-80s, MD-87s, MD-90s, Douglas DC-9s, Douglas DC-10s, and even rubbish like the YS-11. It's really amazing."
When Xu Cang mentioned the previous models, Ji Chuan Yixin's reaction was okay, but when he mentioned the YS-11 in particular, even Ji Chuan Yixin couldn't help but twitch his mouth.
The McDonnell Douglas and Douglas aircraft mentioned above were both foreign, which didn’t matter to Jichuan Yixin. The key point was that the YS-11 was Japan’s first independently developed propeller civilian aircraft.
Although if Ji Chuan Yixin were to make his own evaluation, he would also say that the YS-11 is a piece of rubbish, but it would be a bit harsh coming from a foreigner.
Fortunately, Ji Chuan Yixin was well-mannered and only laughed dryly twice. Yue Sheng, on the other hand, could hardly hold back his anger. Xu Cang's insults really hit the nail on the head. He saw Ji Chuan Yixin's face turn green, which was really funny.
"You focus on local airport transportation, so you have a large mass base. However, in the past decade, your profits have been getting lower and lower, and now you are almost bankrupt. Haven't you ever thought about the reason?"
Ji Chuan's eyes dodged. "After the Boeing 737-300, Boeing's narrow-body aircraft has become quite perfect. And then there is the Airbus 320. The operating costs of these two aircraft are much lower than other aircraft... So, we have opened up a gap with other airlines."
"So, I told you before that if you want to be reborn, you have to remove the rotten flesh and replace those old models. Now McDonnell Douglas and Douglas aircraft still have buyers in the second-hand market and can be sold at a good price. In another five years, the value will at least be cut in half."
Ji Chuan paced back and forth in the office. "I understand this. But if we replace the planes in such large quantities, where will the new planes and pilots come from? Currently, the 737 and 320 are in short supply abroad. Unless we increase the price, we simply cannot buy enough 737 or 320 in a short period of time, even for second-hand planes. However, our current situation does not allow for gradual reform. In addition, and most importantly, we do not have that much money. According to calculations, we must purchase at least 27 737s or 320s in a short period of time to meet our transportation needs. 27 planes, where will so many planes come from?"
"As for money, I have it!" At this time, Yue Sheng, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up: "Xu Cang and I came here just to be money bags."
"You?" Ji Chuan's eyelids jumped. "Does National Airlines want to get involved? However, I know that National Airlines has sufficient funds, but buying 27 planes at once is also a huge investment, right?"
"Who said we should buy a new plane?" Xu Cang suddenly said, "Why not just buy a second-hand plane?"
"Second-hand aircraft? I just said that even in the second-hand market, you have to queue up if you want to get an aircraft. If you want to jump the queue, you have to pay more. This is the current aircraft market. To be honest, five years ago was our last chance to save ourselves. At that time, we could still carry out relatively mild reforms, but after Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas, we knew that the era of competition between Boeing and Airbus had arrived, and all other aircraft would be swept into the garbage dump, but it was too late by then."
Ji Chuan Yixin asked with some doubt: "Or are you going to add more money?"
"It's impossible to add money. There are nearly 30 planes. If I add money for each one, the extra expenses will be too high and it doesn't suit my style."
"If we don't pay extra, where will all these planes come from?" Ji Chuan frowned, "Who else can deliver them to our door?"
Xu Cang snapped his fingers: "That's right!"
"You don't need to worry about how I get enough planes. What I want to talk about today is that after I get enough planes and pilots, I will use these as my capital and become a major shareholder of Jiasu Airlines."
Ji Chuan's eyelids twitched wildly, but he did not refuse directly. The current situation of Jiasu Airlines is very bad, and the only thing left is word of mouth. People continue to choose Jiasu Airlines based on consumption inertia, but it is unknown how long this consumption inertia can last.
Therefore, the Japanese civil aviation industry is extremely pessimistic about the prospects of Jiasu Airlines. Japan Airlines wants to acquire Jiasu Airlines not for its old aircraft, but simply for Jiasu Airlines' customer base.
Therefore, in terms of assets, the actual scale of Jiasu Airlines is already very small. If Xu Cang can get close to 30 aircraft and pilots, you must know that if you want to match 30 aircraft, you need more than 80 captains and 150 co-pilots. Only such a scale can ensure safe and smooth operation.
From any perspective, pilots are also a huge asset. With more than two hundred pilots and nearly thirty aircraft, the total value of these assets can definitely make him a major shareholder in Jiasu Airlines.
But the key is, how did Xu Cang get so many planes and pilots?
"If you came alone, I might think you were joking, but if Mr. Yue from NUS Airlines came to guarantee it, it would be worth considering."
Yue Sheng looked at Ji Chuan Yixin jokingly: "Your information is as closed as your company. Xu Cang's background has completely surpassed mine. Do you think I can vouch for him?"
"What?" Ji Chuan looked at Xu Cang in disbelief.
However, Xu Cang just waved his hand and said, "It's just some empty reputation. At this stage, my funds are indeed not available, and I have to rely on Chairman Yue. Mr. Ji Chuan, if this is the condition, can you agree?"
Ji Chuan Yixin's eyes flickered: "To be honest, if the conditions are like this, I can agree to it without a doubt."
The investment in aircraft and pilots is extremely huge. It is precisely because of the exaggerated investment that Jiasu Airlines has been hesitant and missed the transformation period.
In the end, they are no longer able to reform themselves.
However, now that someone is willing to spend a lot of money to help Jiasu Airlines reform, it is naturally acceptable. When they considered accepting the acquisition by Japan Airlines, wasn't it also to use the power of Japan Airlines to reform themselves?
As long as the goal is achieved, what does it matter which path we take?
"But you have to give me a practical plan."
Because it involves negotiating an acquisition with Japan Airlines, if he is not sure, Ji Chuan does not want to make drastic changes at this time. If something goes wrong and it affects the merger with Japan Airlines, then he will really be in a desperate situation.
"A feasible plan?" Xu Cang said with a smile, "Do you know why I came to Japan this time?"
Ji Chuan raised his eyebrows, not expecting the topic to turn to this. However, he still knew something about this: "Are you going to attend that hearing?"
"Yes, it's that hearing." Xu Cang said, "As for a feasible plan, of course there is one. Time is running out. Do you have any connection with the five major Japanese newspapers?"
"I do know an editor-in-chief of the Asahi Shimbun. What's the matter?"
Xu Cang smiled and said, "Whether it's based on friendship or money, before my hearing, you must publicly announce that Jiasu Airlines supports me in the most eye-catching page of the Asahi Shimbun."
"What?" Ji Chuan Yixin suddenly let out a sharp whistle: "You don't know what the domestic public opinion is like now. If we support you so openly, we will be affected. We are originally focusing on the domestic market, and domestic public opinion has a great influence on us."
“What if I say public opinion will turn around?”
"What?" Ji Chuan didn't believe it at all: "You probably don't understand how the domestic public opinion is against you now. You want to reverse it? What a joke."
At this moment, Yue Sheng stood up and said, "Xu Cang, why waste time talking to them? Anyway, they had already planned to squeeze out the last bit of value from this company when they were considering agreeing to merge with Japan Airlines. Do you believe that Japan Airlines can help you reform? Anyway, it doesn't matter who you sell it to. Japan Airlines is not going to offer a very high price in its current state. We can increase the price and sell Jiasu Airlines to us."
Yue Sheng looked at Xu Cang and said, "The funds originally used to purchase aircraft and pilots should be used to acquire Jiasu Airlines in advance. After that, when your bank in Europe releases the loan, you can use it to purchase aircraft and pilots. How about that?"
Xu Cang smiled and said, "Okay, although this is not quite the same as the plan, it is indeed clean and thorough. Explaining it to them and making them believe it is indeed a very tiring task."
After saying that, Xu Cang looked at Ji Chuan Yixin and said, "How about it? We will give you a satisfactory price. You don't need to ask any more questions, and I don't want to explain anything. Just sell Jiasu Airlines to us."
Ji Chuan was stunned. He had never expected that things would develop to this point. However, as Yue Sheng said, the shareholders of Jiasu Airlines had indeed completely given up on the company. They did not expect Japan Airlines to be kind enough to help reform Jiasu.
Therefore, those shareholders just want to make a final profit from selling Jiasu Airlines. So, it doesn't matter who they sell to, as long as the price is high.
Japan Airlines' current situation is indeed not very good, so the price offered is not high. It is precisely for this reason that the negotiations between the two parties have not made any progress.
If Xu Cang could offer a suitable price at this time, Ji Chuan felt that the deal could be done.
"Xu Cang... I really don't know what you are doing." Ji Chuan looked at Xu Cang intently, his face a little dull. If Xu Cang was not a complete idiot, then there must be an extremely large plan behind it.
"You don't need to worry about what I do. Just complete the acquisition as quickly as possible." Xu Cang said with a smile, "You are the president, not a shareholder. After the equity conversion is completed, you will still sit in your current position."
"Our legal team will be here tomorrow at the latest, and we hope to notify the shareholders of Jiasu Airlines as soon as possible. If you cannot complete the acquisition before the hearing, then it will have no value at all, and the acquisition will be stopped."
Ji Chuan's eyelids jumped. The time was very tight. However, when negotiating the acquisition with Japan Airlines, Jiasu Airlines had already started relevant preparations. If it was just a change of buyer, then there would not be a big problem.
"I will notify the shareholders. I hope that as you said, your legal team will arrive on time tomorrow."
Xu Cang didn't say much, just hummed, then gave Yue Sheng a wink, and the two of them left Ji Chuan Yixin's office together.
After going downstairs and walking a distance, Yue Sheng uttered a low voice: "Xu Cang, if this matter does not develop according to your plan, all my money will be wasted. Even if it is me, I am afraid that those people on the board of directors will want to bury me."
To be honest, if Jiasu Airlines cannot complete the transformation in a short period of time, it will be abandoned by the times . After quickly losing its last batch of loyal passengers, it will be a complete negative asset.
Of course, if it can develop according to Xu Cang's plan, then Jiasu Airlines will not only be able to revive, but also become an excellent means to take over Japan Airlines.
Although he had confidence in Xu Cang, such a large investment was a burden for Guoda Airlines. If the results were not good, Yue Sheng would probably have to resign.
However, for Yue Sheng, the temptation to enter the decision-making level of Japan's largest airline is great. It is not just about how much money can be made, but about the display of one's ability.
Isn't the purpose of life to save face? Even Yue Sheng is no exception.
Entering the decision-making level of Japan Airlines as the chairman of Japan Airlines is definitely a very prestigious achievement.
Moreover, from a practical perspective, if he could influence Japan Airlines' decision, he would be able to gain more benefits in future cooperation with ANU Airlines.
"It's okay, you won't be buried." Xu Cang smiled and said, "The development of things now is not quite what we expected, but it's okay this way, so that we don't have to work with that group of insects later and have to think about dealing with other irrelevant things."
"I will contact the company's legal department and ask them to send a team of lawyers to complete the acquisition in the shortest possible time." Yue Sheng looked at Xu Cang and said, "If it is to acquire Jiasu Airlines, then the money I prepared will be used up. The money for the subsequent purchase of aircraft and pilots should be paid by you. There will be no problem with the money you borrowed from the European bank, right?"
"There shouldn't be any problem. It's just a matter of going through some formalities."
"You are really courageous. Kingfisher Airlines is now a gold mountain. You can mortgage it at will. If you can't pay it back, won't the gold mountain be gone?"
Ask yourself, if Yue Sheng were allowed to choose, he would definitely not do something crazy like mortgaging Kingfisher Airlines.
"If you don't have the guts, you will just rely on making money honestly and peacefully, and in the end you will still be controlled by others. I can't wait any longer." Xu Cang suddenly said, "Chairman Yue, I don't know if I can ask you for a favor."
Yue Sheng rolled his eyes: "No!"
"Hahaha, I'll just assume you're capable." Xu Cang said naturally, "There is a fruit drying factory in Hokkaido. I originally planned to go there after attending the hearing to introduce their fruit drying production line. However, Pratt & Whitney is urging me to go there, and I guess I won't have time to go to Hokkaido. I have to go directly to the United States. If possible, can you help me go to Hokkaido? The price of introducing the production line is negotiable. It won't be much money anyway."
At the end, Xu Cang added: "It's Hokkaido, just treat it as a trip. Guoda Airlines doesn't have anything to do right now, so do you need to go back immediately?"
"Okay, Xu Cang! I even specifically asked our company's appointed representative to go easy on your company's investigation. That's it, you still treat me as an errand boy?"
Xu Cang was very shameless: "Since you can't leave, just go and relax for a while."
Yue Sheng snorted heavily: "What do you want a fruit drying production line for?"
Xu Cang narrowed his eyes and said, "It's about Tiandong Airlines. I wanted to do fresh fruit air transportation, but I stole the business of a fruit company. That company involved the livelihoods of many people, and then there was a commotion."
"You are not their parents, do you have to find a way out for them?"
"Forget it. After all, I stole their business. It's just one more production line. Besides, dried fruits may become popular in the future, so it's okay to plan ahead."
Yue Sheng clicked his tongue: "Dried fruit? If it's all dried, how can it still be called fruit? You can eat fresh fruit, but you have to be sick to eat dried fruit. How can it become a trend? I think it will only become a trend if everyone in society is sick."
Xu Cang just remembered that dried fruits were indeed popular for a while. Even if it was not on a large scale, there should still be some market for it, and at least he would not lose money.
Of course, he didn't want to make money from the dried fruit business, he just wanted to deal with the surging public opinion.
"Will you help me?"
Yue Sheng was annoyed by Xu Cang: "Help, help, help, you keep saying it, keep saying it, it's so annoying."
After saying that, Yue Sheng waved his hand in disgust, shook off Xu Cang, and walked forward.
Xu Cang smiled and followed.
…
At the Erhai base, a slightly unfamiliar figure came into Qin Xin's office. It was Zhao Ning, the intern Qin Xin recruited from the Chunxia Group at the very beginning.
Although Zhao Ning's position is not high, he can barely be considered a veteran of Spring Airlines.
Now Zhao Ning works in the HR department and is considered a junior leader. He has shed his childishness and is now more intellectual.
As soon as Zhao Ning came in, Qin Xin stood up and motioned for Zhao Ning to sit anywhere.
However, the boss was standing, so Zhao Ning didn't dare to sit down: "Boss Qin, what do you want to talk to me about?"
"Nothing special." Qin Xin smiled and said, "How are you doing in HR?"
Zhao Ning hurriedly said, "Very well, President Qin. Thank you for your concern."
In fact, Zhao Ning's ability is ordinary, but he has an advantage in promotion because of his previous experience with Qin Xin, otherwise he would not have his current position. Zhao Ning is very self-aware of this.
"It's okay. You've been through all the hardships with us. The company will take good care of you in terms of promotion in the future. You can rest assured about that."
Zhao Ning was overjoyed when he heard this: "Thank you, President Qin, thank you, President Qin."
"It's okay, no need to thank me, you deserve it." Qin Xin changed the subject: "By the way, where is your brother?"
"My brother?" Zhao Ning was startled: "He is at home now."
Previously, Zhao Ning's brother Zhao Fei helped manage some of the company's computer affairs. Later, when the company grew, Zhao Fei also resigned.
"At home." Qin Xin paused: "Did he find investment for his software?"
Zhao Ning shook his head. "No! Who wants his software? Besides, he is working on some electronic payment system. I wonder if payment can only be done by banks. Can third parties do it too?"
In this era, online banking has already appeared. Therefore, Zhao Ning naturally equated electronic payment with online banking. It was based on this concept that she felt that her brother Zhao Fei was fanciful.
"Why not? All we need to do is get the electronic payment license and solve the problem of third-party custody of funds." Qin Xin suddenly said.
"Hmm? Electronic payment...license, what is that?"
Qin Xin did not explain to Zhao Ning, but said solemnly: "Find your brother here, we want to invest in his project. Also, if possible, let him make a standard mobile phone installation package for FeiTalk. I remember the software is called this. We will recommend this software on every flight. Whether it is R&D expenses or software promotion, we will take care of it. He just needs to be responsible for software development. In addition, the electronic payment system is very important..."
"Is it important?" Zhao Ning scratched her head. To be honest, this had touched her blind spot in knowledge. However, Qin Xin was willing to invest money, so that his brother would have something to do, which was better than working for nothing at home.
"I can talk to him about it." Zhao Ning asked puzzledly, "But is this thing really that important?"
Qin Xin nodded heavily: "It's very important, Xu Cang said...it's very important."
