E-Ladies: Navigating the Wired World
Chapter 141: Episode 141: Smoke Bomb Released and US Dollar Acquisition 2

Chapter 141: Episode 141: Smoke Bomb Released and US Dollar Acquisition 2

"Hi, about that... we haven’t even discussed the price yet," Zhou Xueyin shrugged her shoulders.

"What if the group is willing to pay 8 million for the acquisition? What do you think about that?" Li Lingli was straightforward. With her understanding of the 51buy website and the Chinese market situation, she directly stated Zhou Xueyin’s psychological price.

"8 million... That really is a tempting offer. However, I have already been in touch with CBIS, so it’s only courteous to wait for their quote, don’t you think?" Zhou Xueyin said politely.

After all, if it’s an international enterprise that acquires it, then the private company will become a foreign enterprise, which indeed has a certain prestige. If a Chinese company acquires it, there won’t be much change in the nature of the company, at most it will just have a backing. When choosing, one would still tend to choose a foreign enterprise.

"That’s fine, it’s the end of the year anyway, and the acquisition won’t be affected by this one or two days’ delay." Hearing Zhou Xueyin say this, Li Lingli knew what was going on, "Just compare after you get their price!"

"Sure, I’ll let you know once I have news!" Zhou Xueyin smiled politely, "May I ask why your group wants to acquire our website? Isn’t your group all about magazines?"

"It’s precisely because we’ve been hit by the internet that we can’t help but transform!" Li Lingli spoke with difficulty.

The decline in sales of newspapers and magazines is a sight for all to see. Due to the impact of the internet, many computer-related magazines and newspapers have all announced their discontinuation. Fashion pictorials and food-related ones are a bit better, but still, one quarter is not as good as the last.

If we don’t combine efforts online and offline, I’m afraid we won’t last many more years...

"I understand, so you saw our collaboration with Fashion Xinrui and thought there might be a chance at redemption, which is why you want to acquire us?" Use us as a lifeline?

"Of course, that’s part of it, but it still depends on what you think." Li Lingli said, making polite conversation.

"Alright, I get it. As soon as I get a reply from CBIS, I’ll inform you of the result!" Zhou Xueyin certainly didn’t want to be the lifeline for such a large magazine group.

Whether it’s out of selfishness or self-preservation, this magazine group could not possibly revive itself just by acquiring one or two online media companies. They still need to figure things out on their own...

The decisions made at the top can directly determine the fate of the group. Though successful examples like Fashion Xinrui are right in front of them, they still stubbornly refuse to follow the online media path. Now, severely impacted, they begin to panic. Who can they blame?

"I’m sorry, I’m just a selfish person, I have my own ideals, my own thoughts, I won’t be your lifeline..." After leaving Fashion Xinrui, Zhou Xueyin stood under the towering CBD, looking up and slowly saying.

She truly could exhaust all her efforts to save one person, but she could not risk the livelihoods of all the employees to save a dying group.

After all, she knew that Ya Rui, who had been good to her, already had a way out, so even without her help, Ya Rui could still live well.

Waiting for the review result was a long process. Perhaps because her post had been deleted, Zhou Xueyin no longer received any acquisition calls. Although William Lee occasionally visited 51buy, he did not mention the acquisition anymore.

Without the other party bringing it up, she couldn’t very well ask, so she could only wait anxiously for their response.

"Jixiang, do you think it’s hopeless? CBIS, such a big group, probably doesn’t care about our little profit, right?" After New Year’s Day in 2008, and still no response from them, Zhou Xueyin asked with concern.

"Don’t overthink it, perhaps they just have too many media platforms to review. Plus, it’s winter break in Canada now; it’s normal not to get a reply..." Li Jinshaw comforted Zhou Xueyin, "Take it easy, stop worrying, and rest well!"

Indeed, after all, being an international group, they need to wait for the right time to expand into the overseas market. Just keep waiting!

During the Spring Festival return-home period, due to heavy snow in the south, transportation was disrupted, and most of the southern employees of 51buy stayed local for the New Year.

Rarely, for the first time, the four founders of the company spent the Spring Festival together. Zhou Xueyin hosted them and thoroughly let them experience the New Year atmosphere in Beijing, touring the temple fairs and having great fun.

On the first working day after the Spring Festival, William Lee called to extend New Year’s greetings and brought Zhou Xueyin an exhilarating piece of news: "Hello? Miss Zhou, Happy New Year. CBIS has finally completed the market value assessment of your company!"

"Really? I’ve been waiting for so long, finally..." Although Zhou Xueyin wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, she still didn’t dare to be careless until she received confirmation of the acquisition.

"I’ll just tell you outright, we reviewed a total of 50 small and medium-sized websites this time, and actually, your website scored the highest during the review! Whether in terms of business value or integrity, it’s way ahead of the others!" William Lee spoke seriously.

"Yes! That’s fantastic!" Zhou Xueyin exclaimed with joy.

"However, the group has some misgivings about an expenditure of 1.8 million that’s intended for repaying an investment company. Could you explain what that’s about?" William Lee asked, puzzled.

"Oh, about that expenditure..." Zhou Xueyin honestly explained everything about Da Boyi to William Lee.

"So Miss Zhou is such a loyal and righteous person!" William Lee said admiringly, "Since that’s the case, then there’s no problem!"

"CBIS has decided to acquire your company for 20 million US dollars!"

"How much?" The amount greatly exceeded Zhou Xueyin’s expected value, and she confirmed it repeatedly.

"20 million US dollars!"

"130 million RMB! My goodness! Are we really worth that much?" After converting the exchange rate, Zhou Xueyin nearly cried. It was about 50 million RMB higher than her expected value.

"And it will be paid in US dollars, not in shares!" William Lee added.

"Great, when do we sign the contract?" Zhou Xueyin was no longer concerned about anything else, only eager to sign the contract and get the money...

"Sometime in April, after the group fully resumes work. They’re still on holiday in Canada right now..." William Lee said apologetically.

"Okay, no problem!" As long as it was certain that the other party wanted to buy and the price was settled, the acquisition was as good as done.

"Then, it’s a pleasure doing business with you! Bye!"

"A pleasure doing business with you! Thank you for your hard work! Goodbye!"

The call ended, and Zhou Xueyin shouted out loud, "We sold it for 130 million!"

"How much?" Everyone in the company asked in unison.

"130 million, 20 million US dollars! Our company is worth 20 million US dollars!" Zhou Xueyin said excitedly.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!" Everyone in the company was screaming, having never seen so much money in their lives.

Zhou Xueyin truly hadn’t expected the forum she worked so hard on to be worth this much; likely, no other media group in China could offer such a price.

Regardless, selling was a commendable achievement, and now it was time to work even harder to create value.