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墨書 Inktalez
"Isn't The Coca-Cola Company's development in Germany going well? Why has it come to the point where you need to ask for my help?"
Strasser was quite surprised by the arrival of Henry Ford. In his impression, a company like Coca-Cola should be thriving.
In the timeline before Strasser's crossing over, Coca-Cola was the largest beverage company in the world, holding a 48% market share globally and ranking among the top three beverage companies in two categories. It was also the largest distributor of juice drinks worldwide.
In the class taught by Strasser, students almost bring Coca-Cola to school every day. Strasser thought that The Coca-Cola Company must be doing very well at this time.
"You think too highly of us," Henry said with a wry smile.
"We Coca-Cola only holds a certain market share in the United States, and its performance in Europe is quite dismal. If it weren't for being at my wit's end, I wouldn't have personally come to seek your help, Chancellor."
Henry, being single, candidly shared the current situation of The Coca-Cola Company with Strasser. Although this might not yield any advantages in negotiations, he needed to gain Strasser's support. When it came to company interests versus personal interests, Henry made his choice decisively.
"So, what is your purpose in coming to see me today?"
Strasser seemed to understand Henry's intentions.
"That's right, it's exactly as you think. We at The Coca-Cola Company need to leverage the power of the Germanic people and the Labour Party to develop the market in Germany, including utilizing your propaganda machinery."
"Why don't you approach the Social Democratic Party? They are the largest party in Germany."
"I certainly know that the Social Democratic Party is the largest party, with the greatest influence in Germany, and the cost we need to pay to approach them is even smaller.
But I also know that the Social Democratic Party has already decayed, and their audience is all middle-aged and elderly people, which does not fit our company's target audience at all.
Moreover, the Social Democratic Party does not have a gun in their hands. In my opinion, they cannot compete with the leader."
Henry couldn't say that it was because he hadn't found a way to contact the higher-ups of the Social Democratic Party. Of course, what was mentioned above was indeed part of the reason. He could only pin his hopes on Strasser's ethnic group and the Labour Party to help revive The Coca-Cola Company.
"Mr. Henry, as an Old Party Member of ours, it is naturally no problem for the Labour Party to support your company. However, expanding into this market is not within our business scope, so we need to study it carefully," Strasser said, his eyes darting as if he was pondering something.
"Leader, The Coca-Cola Company is willing to donate forty-nine percent of its shares in Germany to the Labour Party to support your revolutionary cause."
Henry had a keen ability to read the room; seeing Strasser's demeanor, he understood what he needed.
To be honest, Strasser was quite tempted by Henry's proposal, which was different from Hitler accepting large enterprises' political donations.
Those large enterprises directly donated money, and in the future, if Hitler wanted to continue receiving funding, he would need to maintain the interests of these large enterprises. The ethnic group and the Labour Party directly seized shares of private enterprises, effectively nationalizing them. Even if there was a fallout later, these shares would belong to the country, eliminating concerns about being held hostage by capitalists. Furthermore, if the ethnic group and the Labour Party could acquire some shares of private enterprises in advance, it would be more convenient and cost-effective when Strasser came to power and initiated reforms in capitalism and industry, as there would be no need to target so many people.
"No, that's not enough. One share of The Coca-Cola Company's Germany division is not sufficient; I want forty-nine percent of the entire Europe headquarters."
Strasser decided to take a bigger step. He was in desperate need of money, and the profits from the Germany market were not enough to satisfy him.
"I'm afraid this is not something that I, as the chairman of a small Germany division, can decide. Moreover, I believe those executives would not give up the entire Europe market for just one Germany division."
Henry felt a bit troubled.
"No, they will, because what they are doing is a guaranteed profit."
Strasser was ready to present a new concept to Henry. He picked up a pen and began to scribble on the paper, then tore off a sheet and handed it to Henry.
"Take a look at this."
Henry took the paper and immediately widened his eyes, because what was written on it was something he had never studied in college.
"A betting agreement?"
"That's right, it's a betting agreement." Strasser explained the concept of a betting agreement to Henry. A betting agreement is an arrangement made between the acquirer (including investors) and the transferor (including financiers) at the time of reaching a merger (or financing) agreement, regarding uncertain future circumstances.
If the agreed conditions occur, the financing party can exercise a certain right; if the agreed conditions do not occur, the investing party can then exercise a certain right. Therefore, the bet agreement is actually a form of option.
"Specifically, in the bet agreement between we and your company, it means we ethnic group Labour Party will provide various services for The Coca-Cola Company.
If your company turns all profits into gains in the major countries of Europe within a year, The Coca-Cola Company will need to donate forty-nine percent of its shares in the Europe headquarters to the ethnic group Labour Party without any compensation. If we fail to do so, we, the ethnic group Labour Party, will not charge any fees.
After listening to Strasser's introduction, Henry was stunned for a while, feeling somewhat confused. He sensed that he was encountering a completely new area of knowledge, and the terms proposed by Strasser opened a door for him.
"Originally, options can be played like this?" Henry sighed with emotion.
"So, Mr. Henry, how do you feel about my proposal?"
"This matter is of great importance. It's not something that I, as a small branch director in Germany, can decide on. Even the European headquarters is not enough. I need to report to the headquarters in the United States."
Henry, who had just come to his senses, replied with admiration, "But Your Highness, you seem to have an amazing understanding of futures. I think you have a forward-thinking business mind. It's a pity you're not an entrepreneur."
"An entrepreneur like a street lamp ornament?"
Regarding the praise for Henry, Strasser appeared noncommittal on the surface, but internally he was quite disdainful.
To be honest, he only had some insights that were ahead of his time due to knowledge gained from later generations; when it came to practical implementation, he would certainly not be able to manage it well and would need professionals to handle it.
It would be like asking him to take over as the chairman of Coca-Cola's Germany division; he might not perform as well as Henry did.
"Everyone's energy is limited, and I cannot be everywhere at once, so we must cherish time. Mr. Henry, your term is coming to an end."
"Yes, Your Excellency, I will report to the United States immediately."
Henry immediately saluted, though not very standard. He had just seen the guards at the door using this salute.
After sending off Henry, Strasser began to sit in his chair, deep in thought. Henry's suggestion had indeed provided Strasser with a new way to make money. Arms trading could only address immediate needs, but long-term profits would still rely on enterprise. He could extract profits from various enterprises and then invest them into the construction of the National Defense Forces.
In addition, ethnic group Labour Party holding shares in private enterprise also has the benefit of being able to reduce the capital in the hands of capitalists in advance, and in the future, the profits of the state-owned economy can be used to exchange for the means of production in the hands of capitalists. This way, there will be less resistance in the future when private capital is brought back into state ownership, the cost will be lower, and there will be fewer people to contend with. "Maybe there really is a possibility of peaceful redemption, then there would be no need to send them to gas chambers and concentration camps."
Strasser sneered, "I have given you a way out. If you still don't recognize the situation then, don't blame me for raising the butcher's knife."
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