To be honest, Ning Weimin's acquisition of "Ordinary PANCH" magazine is not as simple as one-hand money and one-hand goods.
The Chinese people think relatively simple. It is mine to sell the company to me. How I do it and how to operate it will have nothing to do with my old boss in the future, and I have no right to ask about it. It is enough for both buyers and sellers to pay attention to the specific transaction price.
But the Japanese don't think so, and their brains are relatively straightforward, and they often have some so-called persistence that they won't give up easily, and like to propose many additional conditions.
For example, I hope that the takeover will make an expansion of business, maintain the brand, and also ensure the benefits of existing employees.
For example, when Ning Weimin bought the Huiwentang Bookstore in Roppongi, the heir of the bookstore proposed that Ning Weimin continue to operate the bookstore and hire two employees until their studies are completed.
If Ning Weimin hadn't been looking for the profits of real estate appreciation, he would have been sure that Roppongi's land prices would soon rise.
He didn't want to have too many dreams at night, so he agreed immediately. It was probably the matter would have been ruined at that time.
The owner who is willing to be honest may not be willing to sell it to him.
So if you make an appropriate analogy, if anyone wants to buy a Japanese company, this process is actually very similar to blind dates and seeking a wife.
You must be patient and first accept cross-examination of various issues on the other party.
You must first answer to satisfy the other party before there will be a follow-up.
When you develop a certain foundation of trust and emotionality, you must have a certain financial strength and agree to the other party’s various specific conditions, so that you can succeed in the end.
I have to say that it is indeed quite tiring.
The Japanese insistence is actually very strange in the eyes of most Chinese. There is always a feeling that the Japanese are too arrogant, and they want to be a bitch and want to set up a archway.
Even if the company is in business adversity, it is not easy to impress the Japanese by simply relying on money.
For example, Terry Gou suffered repeated setbacks and struggles in buying Sharp decades later. After a long period of negotiations, it was finally concluded. This is an example.
At that time, Sharp suffered losses for years and was about to go bankrupt.
But it was so tragic that Sharp Company even refused to contact Terry Gou because of the different cooperation concepts between the two parties, which is enough to show how stubborn the granite brain of the Japanese is.
It would rather go bankrupt than sell it.
What's more, now is the most prosperous time for Japan's economy, and most Japanese companies are not short of money, which will be even more serious.
On the other hand, at this time, the Japanese like to use money to smash foreigners, use rough and willful methods to acquire enterprises from other countries, and then come with a kind of high contempt.
No matter what, whether the Japanese are elite or stupid, whether they are stubborn or persistent, it doesn’t matter whether this is the cultural difference between the two countries, or should be attributed to Japan’s national characteristics.
Anyway, these things are enough to show that Japanese companies are not department stores, and you can buy everything you want with money.
And specifically, when it comes to the transaction of the magazine "Ordinary PANCH", there are probably more difficulties.
Because the first premise is that the suspension of "Ordinary PANCH" is not because of a simple financial problem.
Even if the issuance volume of each issue has dropped from one million to less than half a million, it is still profitable.
Moreover, MAGAZINEHOUSE Publishing Group has so many excellent magazines, and the sales of the top magazine "Ordinary" will exceed three million, and the remaining magazines with circulation of more than one million are no less than five.
It is a dream to try to get it done with just money for such a publishing group.
People don’t lack money!
Not to mention how high a price you need to offer will make them excited.
Just stand on the other party's standpoint, as long as you are not stupid, you would rather stop the publication than sell it.
Because it is easy to sell, don’t forget that MAGAZINEHOUSE Publishing Group also has many competitors.
There are countless trendy magazines in Japan, but the market size is limited.
What if "Ordinary PANCH" falls into the hands of other publishing groups in the future, and uses the existing readership of this magazine to continue to invest resources to attack other magazines?
Isn’t this a sheep entering the tiger’s mouth? I’m just trying to find trouble for myself when I’m idle.
Secondly, it is difficult for ordinary people to meet the president of MAGAZINEHOUSE Publishing Group.
Of course, this is not because the other party is arrogant, but because Japanese entrepreneurs are accustomed to "hiding" themselves strictly and are unwilling to be easily found by strangers.
Why?
It is because almost all Japanese entrepreneurs are private enterprises. What entrepreneurs are most afraid of is that they will lose more words, which has become a consensus among Japanese bosses.
Most Japanese bosses are worried that their every move will affect the company's reputation and reputation, so they try not to deal with foreign customers, and they don't even accept interviews.
In particular, MAGAZINEHOUSE Publishing Group itself is a member of the media industry. It has done more in order to keep the president’s whereabouts confidential and isolate the outside world.
Then if you can't see the people who can make the decision by MAGAZINEHOUSE Publishing Group and only pass on the willingness to buy magazines from grassroots cadres layer by layer, the wasted time will not be afforded in this process. So based on the above points, in fact, if Ning Weimin wants to successfully negotiate the transfer of the magazine "Ordinary PANCH", this idea is not realistic at all, let alone he is eager to complete the deal as soon as possible.
What's more, when doing business, it is important to be familiar with or raw.
From the perspective of Ning Weimin having no relevant experience in his work, it is still another matter if he buys it.
Even MAGAZINEHOUSE Publishing Group is afraid that it will lack the corresponding management ability and will not implicate its magazine reputation.
But then again, Ning Weimin also has his own unique advantages. In addition to money, he thinks he can provide more attractive cooperation conditions for the other party.
Especially in Tokyo, he has already understood the Japanese's beating nature, and he has a business father-in-law who works as a counselor.
So after thinking about what I want, what I can give, how risky this transaction is to me, whether it is cost-effective... and so on.
With the help of Han Yingming, Ning Weimin quickly found the possibility of completing the transaction and took action without hesitation.
First of all, Ning Weimin found the entry point Sumitomo Bank.
Because he found that perhaps it was because of the business risks and the lack of highlights in the fundraising and investment projects.
Today's Japanese magazine publishing group is one of the few industries in Japan that cannot solve the financing needs by issuing bonds and can only go through banking channels to raise funds.
No mistakes, one song, one content, one in 6, one book, one bar, one reading!
MAGAZINEHOUSE Publishing Group is a member of Sumitomo Bank who is heavily dependent on.
Ning Weimin himself is a major customer of Sumitomo Bank, and now the loan amount from Sumitomo is almost 200 billion yen.
Even Minister Yoshimao's son Yoshimao Sei is almost relied on him to become the president of the branch. Then he takes advantage of Sumitomo Bank's face and asks Minister Yoshimao to help introduce what is still difficult for the president of MAGAZINEHOUSE Publishing Group.
Isn’t that a natural thing?
On the other hand, Dhafu Kiyomizu, president of MAGAZINEHOUSE Publishing Group, really can't refuse such favors.
After all, it was the creditor's request.
It should be said that the two sides were quite polite to meet.
The idea of not being able to offend Sumitomo Bank not only allowed Takafu Kiyomizu to agree to meet Ning Weimin, but also in front of Minister Yoshimao, he had to treat him patiently and listen carefully to Ning Weimin's request.
However, even though you have done a good job, whether you really want to sell and whether you will agree to this deal in the end is another matter.
But fortunately, Ning Weimin has already made full preparations and has already thought about how to respond.
In fact, after the face-to-face meeting between Dhafu and Ning Weimin, he, who had only wanted to deal with it, was really aroused by this strange young man to sell magazines.
For nothing else, it is because Ning Weimin really took out the bargaining chips that he couldn't refuse, which are very beneficial to both sides.
In the witness of Minister Yoshimao, this open and honest dialogue occurred between the two.
Shimizu Dafu, "President Ning, why did you buy my magazine?"
Ning Weimin, "Because I really need it, I work for Piercaton, and I am responsible for overseas expansion of trolley suitcases and high-end Chinese food. In addition, my wife is Keiko Matsumoto, who has her own artists office and studios. So from the perspective of any of us, we need to have such a magazine to promote us. The first point is purely business considerations. In addition, you should also be clear My wife has been deeply trapped in the whirlpool of public opinion many times. Not long ago, she was deliberately targeted by some media because of Zhou Fangyuxiong from the combustion system. For this reason, after suffering a lot of losses, we have a second idea - we think we should have our own A power of public opinion so that we will not get into such trouble in the future and do not even have the ability to clarify rumors for ourselves."
Qingshui Dafu nodded, as if he could understand Ning Weimin's mentality, but he continued to ask bluntly without mercy.
"I am frank, magazines cannot be done by anyone. You don't seem to have any relevant experience. So how do you plan to run them after buying our magazine?"
Ning Weimin was very modest, "You are right, I do lack relevant experience. However, this is precisely the reason why I like the magazine "Ordinary PANCH". Your company is the best trend magazine recognized in Japan. The publishing company, "Ordinary PANCH", has been published for more than ten years since its inception. It has a mature operating model and rich content levels. It can be said that the editors of "Ordinary PANCH" are all excellent and have enough experience. It is an existence that occupies a considerable position in the industry. And it has a tacit understanding, and there is no need to go through. Although the circulation of "Ordinary PANCH" is inferior to the main magazine of "Ordinary", there are still hundreds of thousands of readers, which is enough to make I'm satisfied. If I buy it, I think the best business strategy is not to make too much changes and continue to rely on mature magazines to operate in the same way as before."
Takufu Shimizu couldn't help but interrupt, killing his heart with a sharper question.
"So what you mean is that you don't have any progressive plans. Do you also admit that you don't have the ability to change the current situation of this magazine continuing to go downhill? I have to remind you that Japan's artificial is growing every year, and If this continues, it may take less than 100,000 readers in less than two years, and you will soon lose money. I dare say that the magazine's ability to burn money will surprise you. Then the magazine What should I do with the reputation of the club? What should I do with the employees of the magazine? Will you lay off employees? ”
However, Ning Weimin shook his head and denied this.
"No, of course not. I don't interfere with the operation of the magazine. I need to learn the operation and management of the magazine. That's right. But I also have my own way. I won't let the magazine go to this point. I promise I will Make the magazine bigger and stronger.”
Tatsufu Shimizu asked unyieldingly, "But how do you guarantee it? I just say something, I can't believe you..."
This time, Ning Weimin actually laughed. "I'm not just talking, because I have rich news resources."
"News resources?" Shimizu Dafu was stunned for a moment.
"Yes, magazines need to be run well. In addition to experience, personnel, and funds, the most important thing is the source of news, right? Everyone knows the importance of scoop news to the media. This is the commonality of all media, no matter how it is. Newspapers, magazines, television, radio, all of this. Is that right? ”
Ning Weimin talked happily, "I may not have explained some things clearly to you. Although I worked in Piercaton, I am from China and have a good relationship with the government. So I personally am not only selling some Chinese workers. Beautiful artwork. I am also doing business to introduce Chinese culture to Japan. I have a small bookstore, Huiwentang, which published the Japanese version of the novel and comic strips of "Dream of Red Mansions" in Japan. Like the TV series "Dream of Red Mansions" broadcast on TBS, As for the current release of "A Chinese Ghost Story" and the upcoming "Chinese Heroes", these films and TV series were also introduced to Japan. Therefore, regarding the exchange of China-Japan art and culture, the trends of film and television dramas in mainland China, and even the changes in Hong Kong City movies, I have exclusive news channels.”
"It's not only that, because of the convenience of work, I also have a certain connection in the French fashion industry. LVMH Group and Saint Laurent have both maintained good relationships with me. As long as I think, every year, these two companies, together with the Paris clothing industry, are the two companies in the same industry. I can get exclusive interviews, including Piercaton. The new product launch will be the first time to report it in time. If I add my wife’s Mist Studio, Artist Agency, and Taurus Palace Records, Do you think these news resources are not enough for me to distance myself from other magazines in terms of magazine content and make differences? ”
"In addition, I would like to say that although I lack experience in running magazines, as a newcomer who is not professional, I am different from other professional magazines. I will never become a competitor of your club. . I just need to have such a magazine that has been published hundreds of thousands of dollars and I will never seek more development in trendy magazines. I am even willing to use advertising needs and these news resources to cooperate with your club for a long time in exchange for Your society’s professional guidance and help, as well as your society’s magazines have long-term public support for our side. Isn’t this a good thing that can benefit both sides?” (End of this chapter)