Now that Ross was back in New York, he went into the office the next morning, looked at the papers for the company Tim wanted to buy, and then sat there, deep in thought.
Ross wanted to tell Tim that Tim should try to buy the company , which Ross and Tim had already gotten the owners to lower from 75 million to 65 million in price, for anywhere from 50 to 60 million.
However, Ross also knew that, realistically, he had already gotten the owners to lower ten milliion in price, if he played "hardball" it might cause the whole deal to fall apart, and the owners to walk away.
Ross called Tim, and said. "I'm home. I dont know why I'm so bothered by this company. Maybe its "All in my head" as another friend of mine likes to say. I'm thinking of proposing a lowball offer of fifty million in price, and then starting the bidding from there. The concern I have, is that if we get these guys mad, and try to buy it for one third less than the price they wanted, they could say "Fuck this", and walk away without having any more discission. Two questions. One, how important is it to you that you buy this company, and two, what would be the top price you would be willing to pay for it with where we are now. Also, how much more would you like me to get them to lower it, from a realistic standpoint?" Ross said.
Tim laughed. "Thats a lot of questions, Ross. So, my answers in order to your questions, my friend. Realistically, since fifty million is one third less than what they originally wanted, they might well walk away and tell us to go to hell if you come in that low. Fifty five million would be the lowest offer I could see making them, and be prepared to negotiate up from there. While I would like them to lower the price more. If they say no to fifty five million, negotiate up from there two or three mil at a time. fifty seven five, sixty, etc. Realistically, I dont think we can offer less than sixty million for them to listen. I would be willing to pay sixty two five, but if they wont come down anymore, we have to talk it over between you and me, and I have to think about it hard" Tim said.
"I'll tell you what, how about we do lunch tomorrow at the usual place to give me time to get work cleared up today, and then try to meet them Wednesday? Is that acceptable?" Ross said.
"Most certainly. One pm tomorrow, Shun Lee. We will confirm tomorrow, and I plan to see you then. Take care" Tim said, and hung up,.
Ross called the other party.
"This is Ross C. I am home from a business trip, and will be in town all week. I just spoke to Tim Patrick. I need to have a meeting with him tomorrow to discuss details of things, and then can we meet you Wednesday sometime. By then everything would be worked out" Ross said.
"Most certainly, Ross. One pm Wednesday, your office" The other party said.
When Ross got off the phone, he texted Tim. "We are a go for one pm Wednesday. See you tomorrow at Shun Lee" Ross said.
Ross spent that day, analyzing the company in and out, up and down. He had not been dealt with or faced something this complex in a long time. He felt wary because of the look of the project, and due to the fact that it was for Tim Patrick, bis most important friend and client"
With Tim's monthly work done, Ross lost his patience for the day, took the papers, and left the office at five.
"I'm done here. Will see you all tomorrow" Ross said.
"Ross, are you okay? You seem upset about something?" " Vic said with concern.
"Thanks for your concern, Vic. Without getting into any unethical personal business discussion, regarding Tim. I will just say that Tim and me are trying to negotiate to buy a company. The process is not going smoothly, I'm uncomfortable with it, and Tim and me will hopefully have to figure things out with the other party to make it happen" Ross said.
"Okay, Ross. Take care. Hope you and Tim can work it out with the people. See you tomorrow" Vic said.
Ross jumped into an Uber home. He felt frustrated. When he got home, he slammed his briefcase and the papers in his den, and went to find Kayley .
Kayley came out of the bedroom. "I heard that. I know you are upset about something. What happened?" Kayley said.,
Ross kissed Kayley. "Hi,. honey. There is the best person I've seen all day. Well, let's just say that this company potential buy deal is very frustrating. I'm leery of it, unless some of it is in my head. I need to have lunch with Tim tomorrow to see how badly he wants this company, and whether he would prepared to drop it if we cant figure out, and how upset he would be if he had to drop it" Ross said.
Kayley giggled. "A lot more.. complex then selling oil wells to dozens of investors"
"In a different way, honey. I dont feel sharp. The old Ross before recently would have figured this out very quickly and the deal would have been signed. I almost feel like I've lost my edge so to say to figure out mega deals with Tim. Maybe its because with Fritz, me, and Steve, we are all on the same side trying to sell things. Tim has his own huge company to run, and I am his representative. I want to make this work for him, but I'm not sure I can" Ross said.
"Fine, then do your best, and ask him how important it is for him to have the company. If you got them to lower the price ten million already, maybe they will lower it some more. If not, tell Tim your thoughts, and ask him what he wants to do" Kayley said.
The next day, Ross met Tim for lunch at Shun Lee.
"Ross, throwing all thoughts on the table. If we have already gotten them to lower price ten million, and you still dont like it, something must be really wrong in your mind. Just say it. Dont worry about offending me or thinking you are wrong for saying it. I want to hear it" Tim said.
Ross sighed. "Okay, Tim, fine. First, my thoughts are, Hidden tax burden that you may have. Hidden debtors. Hidden inventory that might not bring you as much as you think it should, and be worth your time. My fear. If we say all this to them, they might well get offended and tell us to go fuck ourselves. Straight question. Hopefully we can work this out. If we dont, you take the chance, and buy it, and both of us are wrong, and things tank, would you be willing to say that I just made a human mistake, and take it as a tax write off?" Ross asked.
"If you mean would I fire you because you messed up judgement if the deal goes bad? Then no of course I would not fire you. My thought. We offered fifty million, which we know is lowball. We sit with them, see what they say, and then we talk, and I make my decision" Tim said.
"Okay, fine, thank you. Now, let's enjoy our lunch like we always do, and not swirl this around. We cant control what they say tomorrow. Only what we say, and what you and me decide, with you of course having final say because it would be your company. Let';s just see how it goes" Ross said.
The next day, Ross and Tim met the other party at the other party;'s office.
"Okay, so you saw the details. We lowered the price ten million. What do you say? What would be your lowest and highest offer, and what would you compromise at?" The other party said.
Ross sighed. "Lowest offer is fifty million. What do you say?" Ross said.
"One third off for a seventy five million dollar company? I think you are using business negatiation tactics of lowballs, and know I cannot do that" the other party said.
"Fine, make me an offer" Ross said.
"Sixty Two five" The other party said. Ross looked at Tim, who shook his head.
"As you can see, Mister Patrick says no to that price. Come down more" Ross said.
"Sixty mil" The other party said,.
Tim shook his head again.
"Lower price please?" Ross said.
"Fffty seven five, and no less. Seventeen mil less for what I originally asked. I'm beginning to think Tim and you are not serious, and feel like saying firm to that offer" The other party said.
"Would you be willing to do fifty five?" Ross asked.
"Yes, if Mister Patrick pays all of our legal and transfer fees. I know that will cost him more, but, we have knocked off twenty million in price" The other party said.
Tim nodded.
Ross sighed. "Reluctantly, yes. Please give us all names of attorneye and reps of yours so that Mister Patrick's attorney, and me can contact them to discuss this" Ross said.
"I will contact them myself, and they will contact Mister Patrick and you" the other party said.
Ross sighed. "Okay, then thank you, this meeting is over, and we will go about the situation" Ross said.
Ross and Tim walked out.
"Are you angry at me?" Ross said.
Tim laughed. "No of course not. We got them to lower the price twenty mil. That is very good. You get, your usual fee for doing this for me, and.. a small piece of the company as a gift, when we finish everything, as a gift for figuring this out for me, and as a celebration for you doing something for me that you have not done in a long time. Now please do me a favor. Drop me off at my office, and take the car home. I can see you're fighting it. " Tim said.
"Thanks for the concern and the company piece buddy. Friends forever. Have a good night. We will talk tomorrow, and discuss this, and everything else. " Ross said.
Ross dropped Tim off, and then took the Uber home.
It was 330, and Kayley had just gotten home.
"Wow, that's early. Did you guys figure out and get your company?" Kayley asked.
Ross sighed. "I hope so. We have an agreement in principle as they like to say. We are going to draw it all up in legal contract and then everyone signs. It may take a bit, but I have every reason to believe it will go through" Ross said.
"I'm glad for you and Tim.. Ah.. please no leaving for any side trips to OKC this week,. Just stay here, work on this, do your regular work, show up, and live normally. " Kayley said.
"I am not going anywhere near OKC this week. I have a company to look at with a fine tooth comb. RossShell . With this hopefully on its way to being done for Tim. I want to catch my breath and do that. Fritz and Steve can handle the details of the shopping mall,. I will just talk to them, and figure it out from up here" Ross said.
"Let's go out to dinner to celebrate" Kayley said.
"You are on, teacher. I will shower, change, and we will do just that" Ross said.,
Ross showered, put on jeans, and then Kayley and Ross went for Italian food.
As Ross and Kayley ate dinner, Ross sighed and reflected in thought.
Two deals in one week, hopefully, that seemed relatively "Easy" after all the complex things that had caused Ross to slow down in the first place.
Was it possible that such things could happen,, especially two potentially big deals at one time?
Ross did not know, and knew he had no choice but to work through it, do what he had to and would see what happened.
Ross wanted to tell Tim that Tim should try to buy the company , which Ross and Tim had already gotten the owners to lower from 75 million to 65 million in price, for anywhere from 50 to 60 million.
However, Ross also knew that, realistically, he had already gotten the owners to lower ten milliion in price, if he played "hardball" it might cause the whole deal to fall apart, and the owners to walk away.
Ross called Tim, and said. "I'm home. I dont know why I'm so bothered by this company. Maybe its "All in my head" as another friend of mine likes to say. I'm thinking of proposing a lowball offer of fifty million in price, and then starting the bidding from there. The concern I have, is that if we get these guys mad, and try to buy it for one third less than the price they wanted, they could say "Fuck this", and walk away without having any more discission. Two questions. One, how important is it to you that you buy this company, and two, what would be the top price you would be willing to pay for it with where we are now. Also, how much more would you like me to get them to lower it, from a realistic standpoint?" Ross said.
Tim laughed. "Thats a lot of questions, Ross. So, my answers in order to your questions, my friend. Realistically, since fifty million is one third less than what they originally wanted, they might well walk away and tell us to go to hell if you come in that low. Fifty five million would be the lowest offer I could see making them, and be prepared to negotiate up from there. While I would like them to lower the price more. If they say no to fifty five million, negotiate up from there two or three mil at a time. fifty seven five, sixty, etc. Realistically, I dont think we can offer less than sixty million for them to listen. I would be willing to pay sixty two five, but if they wont come down anymore, we have to talk it over between you and me, and I have to think about it hard" Tim said.
"I'll tell you what, how about we do lunch tomorrow at the usual place to give me time to get work cleared up today, and then try to meet them Wednesday? Is that acceptable?" Ross said.
"Most certainly. One pm tomorrow, Shun Lee. We will confirm tomorrow, and I plan to see you then. Take care" Tim said, and hung up,.
Ross called the other party.
"This is Ross C. I am home from a business trip, and will be in town all week. I just spoke to Tim Patrick. I need to have a meeting with him tomorrow to discuss details of things, and then can we meet you Wednesday sometime. By then everything would be worked out" Ross said.
"Most certainly, Ross. One pm Wednesday, your office" The other party said.
When Ross got off the phone, he texted Tim. "We are a go for one pm Wednesday. See you tomorrow at Shun Lee" Ross said.
Ross spent that day, analyzing the company in and out, up and down. He had not been dealt with or faced something this complex in a long time. He felt wary because of the look of the project, and due to the fact that it was for Tim Patrick, bis most important friend and client"
With Tim's monthly work done, Ross lost his patience for the day, took the papers, and left the office at five.
"I'm done here. Will see you all tomorrow" Ross said.
"Ross, are you okay? You seem upset about something?" " Vic said with concern.
"Thanks for your concern, Vic. Without getting into any unethical personal business discussion, regarding Tim. I will just say that Tim and me are trying to negotiate to buy a company. The process is not going smoothly, I'm uncomfortable with it, and Tim and me will hopefully have to figure things out with the other party to make it happen" Ross said.
"Okay, Ross. Take care. Hope you and Tim can work it out with the people. See you tomorrow" Vic said.
Ross jumped into an Uber home. He felt frustrated. When he got home, he slammed his briefcase and the papers in his den, and went to find Kayley .
Kayley came out of the bedroom. "I heard that. I know you are upset about something. What happened?" Kayley said.,
Ross kissed Kayley. "Hi,. honey. There is the best person I've seen all day. Well, let's just say that this company potential buy deal is very frustrating. I'm leery of it, unless some of it is in my head. I need to have lunch with Tim tomorrow to see how badly he wants this company, and whether he would prepared to drop it if we cant figure out, and how upset he would be if he had to drop it" Ross said.
Kayley giggled. "A lot more.. complex then selling oil wells to dozens of investors"
"In a different way, honey. I dont feel sharp. The old Ross before recently would have figured this out very quickly and the deal would have been signed. I almost feel like I've lost my edge so to say to figure out mega deals with Tim. Maybe its because with Fritz, me, and Steve, we are all on the same side trying to sell things. Tim has his own huge company to run, and I am his representative. I want to make this work for him, but I'm not sure I can" Ross said.
"Fine, then do your best, and ask him how important it is for him to have the company. If you got them to lower the price ten million already, maybe they will lower it some more. If not, tell Tim your thoughts, and ask him what he wants to do" Kayley said.
The next day, Ross met Tim for lunch at Shun Lee.
"Ross, throwing all thoughts on the table. If we have already gotten them to lower price ten million, and you still dont like it, something must be really wrong in your mind. Just say it. Dont worry about offending me or thinking you are wrong for saying it. I want to hear it" Tim said.
Ross sighed. "Okay, Tim, fine. First, my thoughts are, Hidden tax burden that you may have. Hidden debtors. Hidden inventory that might not bring you as much as you think it should, and be worth your time. My fear. If we say all this to them, they might well get offended and tell us to go fuck ourselves. Straight question. Hopefully we can work this out. If we dont, you take the chance, and buy it, and both of us are wrong, and things tank, would you be willing to say that I just made a human mistake, and take it as a tax write off?" Ross asked.
"If you mean would I fire you because you messed up judgement if the deal goes bad? Then no of course I would not fire you. My thought. We offered fifty million, which we know is lowball. We sit with them, see what they say, and then we talk, and I make my decision" Tim said.
"Okay, fine, thank you. Now, let's enjoy our lunch like we always do, and not swirl this around. We cant control what they say tomorrow. Only what we say, and what you and me decide, with you of course having final say because it would be your company. Let';s just see how it goes" Ross said.
The next day, Ross and Tim met the other party at the other party;'s office.
"Okay, so you saw the details. We lowered the price ten million. What do you say? What would be your lowest and highest offer, and what would you compromise at?" The other party said.
Ross sighed. "Lowest offer is fifty million. What do you say?" Ross said.
"One third off for a seventy five million dollar company? I think you are using business negatiation tactics of lowballs, and know I cannot do that" the other party said.
"Fine, make me an offer" Ross said.
"Sixty Two five" The other party said. Ross looked at Tim, who shook his head.
"As you can see, Mister Patrick says no to that price. Come down more" Ross said.
"Sixty mil" The other party said,.
Tim shook his head again.
"Lower price please?" Ross said.
"Fffty seven five, and no less. Seventeen mil less for what I originally asked. I'm beginning to think Tim and you are not serious, and feel like saying firm to that offer" The other party said.
"Would you be willing to do fifty five?" Ross asked.
"Yes, if Mister Patrick pays all of our legal and transfer fees. I know that will cost him more, but, we have knocked off twenty million in price" The other party said.
Tim nodded.
Ross sighed. "Reluctantly, yes. Please give us all names of attorneye and reps of yours so that Mister Patrick's attorney, and me can contact them to discuss this" Ross said.
"I will contact them myself, and they will contact Mister Patrick and you" the other party said.
Ross sighed. "Okay, then thank you, this meeting is over, and we will go about the situation" Ross said.
Ross and Tim walked out.
"Are you angry at me?" Ross said.
Tim laughed. "No of course not. We got them to lower the price twenty mil. That is very good. You get, your usual fee for doing this for me, and.. a small piece of the company as a gift, when we finish everything, as a gift for figuring this out for me, and as a celebration for you doing something for me that you have not done in a long time. Now please do me a favor. Drop me off at my office, and take the car home. I can see you're fighting it. " Tim said.
"Thanks for the concern and the company piece buddy. Friends forever. Have a good night. We will talk tomorrow, and discuss this, and everything else. " Ross said.
Ross dropped Tim off, and then took the Uber home.
It was 330, and Kayley had just gotten home.
"Wow, that's early. Did you guys figure out and get your company?" Kayley asked.
Ross sighed. "I hope so. We have an agreement in principle as they like to say. We are going to draw it all up in legal contract and then everyone signs. It may take a bit, but I have every reason to believe it will go through" Ross said.
"I'm glad for you and Tim.. Ah.. please no leaving for any side trips to OKC this week,. Just stay here, work on this, do your regular work, show up, and live normally. " Kayley said.
"I am not going anywhere near OKC this week. I have a company to look at with a fine tooth comb. RossShell . With this hopefully on its way to being done for Tim. I want to catch my breath and do that. Fritz and Steve can handle the details of the shopping mall,. I will just talk to them, and figure it out from up here" Ross said.
"Let's go out to dinner to celebrate" Kayley said.
"You are on, teacher. I will shower, change, and we will do just that" Ross said.,
Ross showered, put on jeans, and then Kayley and Ross went for Italian food.
As Ross and Kayley ate dinner, Ross sighed and reflected in thought.
Two deals in one week, hopefully, that seemed relatively "Easy" after all the complex things that had caused Ross to slow down in the first place.
Was it possible that such things could happen,, especially two potentially big deals at one time?
Ross did not know, and knew he had no choice but to work through it, do what he had to and would see what happened.
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