Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Hans Biopharmaceuticals
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In the Hardy Group, those who work closely with Hardy have acquired management shares, enabling them to share in the company's profits and grow alongside it.
Within the California consortium, Hardy has led investments in Europe and Japan, yielding significant profits for the group. When Hardy requires support, these companies, which have benefited from his leadership, are inclined to back him.
The collaboration with the seven major consortia has always been a win-win model. Numerous companies have been established in the Cayman Islands with cross-shareholdings, ensuring that all parties can reap the benefits.
Businesspeople, often driven by self-interest, nonetheless value honesty, trustworthiness, and loyalty in their partners. Hardy has built an excellent reputation among these consortia during this time.
In the business world, reputation is crucial. Those outside the circle may not grasp its importance, but a good reputation can make borrowing money easier, as others are more willing to lend to someone with a trustworthy track record. Hardy's reputation will lay a solid foundation for future collaborations.
Hardy has also established strong relationships with politicians. He played a key role in Johnson's re-election but never displayed arrogance or made excessive demands, earning Johnson's respect.
Similarly, Hardy's relationship with Major General Williams has evolved. Initially, Hardy sought Williams' help, but over time, he aided Williams in becoming deputy director, rising to the rank of major general, and eventually becoming the director of the logistics bureau. Despite the shift in power dynamics, Hardy continues to treat Williams as a partner and friend, not as a subordinate.
Williams, now promoted to Director of Logistics and on track to become a lieutenant general, manages all logistics supplies for the U.S. military. His growing network is an extension of Hardy's connections, promising substantial benefits in the future.
"Williams, do you know anyone at Pacific Command?" Hardy asked.
"MacArthur? I have a good relationship with George Rufus Sutherland, Chief of Staff of Pacific Command. We studied together, and he's involved in military logistics, so we often interact. Why do you ask?" Williams inquired.
"I'm planning to arrange for the Global Times to interview Pacific Command and report on their achievements in the East. It would be easier with someone familiar there," Hardy explained.
Williams smiled. "That's a great idea. I'll send a telegram to Sutherland and ensure he accommodates the Global Times."
"But if your newspaper reports on Pacific Command, MacArthur might not be too pleased," Williams added with a tone of disdain.
"Why? Do you dislike MacArthur?" Hardy chuckled.
"Most people in the military don't like him. He's arrogant and defiant, more suited to acting than soldiering. He has poor relationships with his peers and subordinates alike. Sutherland once told me that MacArthur never listens to others' opinions, making it difficult for anyone to work with him," Williams shared.
After a long conversation and a few too many drinks, Hardy's bodyguard escorted him to his hotel.
The next day, Hardy returned to Los Angeles.
Hardy had initially planned to return to Japan after the Christmas and New Year holidays, but Williams' matters delayed him. His supermarket chains and shipping companies were also set to collaborate with the military's logistics department, requiring his attention. Thus, Hardy decided to stay.
Japan was already on track with a competent management team, so Hardy's presence wasn't immediately necessary.
Seizing the opportunity, Hardy decided to implement a plan he'd been considering. He called Andy.
"Andy, find a listed pharmaceutical research company with some research capabilities. It doesn't need to be large, but it should be moderately priced. Register a new company in the Cayman Islands and discreetly acquire it," Hardy instructed.
"What's your plan?" Andy asked, intrigued.
Hardy leaned in and shared his strategy with Andy, who was astonished by the scope of the plan. "Alright, I'll start searching now."
A few days later, Andy presented a medical research company to Hardy. "Hans Biopharmaceuticals of America."
"I reviewed several pharmaceutical companies and ultimately settled on this one. I also had Henry investigate it, and his report confirms that it's a suitable choice," Andy said.
Hardy examined the report thoroughly.
Hans Biopharmaceuticals, founded a decade ago, is headquartered in New Jersey. Its owner, Dr. Claire Hans, is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.
Hans Biopharmaceuticals was a promising company when Dr. Hans developed a successful fever-reducing drug during his studies, earning recognition and numerous awards. This success led Dr. Hans to establish the research-focused pharmaceutical company.
The anti-fever medication brought early success, and Hans Biopharmaceuticals flourished. The company expanded its research into multiple projects, eventually employing eight doctors in medicine, medical technology, bioengineering, and chemistry, along with over 100 researchers.
The company also ventured into medical device research.
However, Dr. Hans' luck eventually ran out. Despite significant investments, the company failed to develop any valuable new drugs. Although they developed several instruments, market reception was lukewarm, leading to a decline.
Fortunately, the fever-reducing drug provided some financial stability, allowing Hans Biopharmaceuticals to continue operating. In recent years, the company began researching treatments for tuberculosis, a highly infectious disease with a previously high global incidence.
Hans Biopharmaceuticals had previously attempted to develop tuberculosis treatments without success. However, the advent of streptomycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic effective against tuberculosis, offered new hope. The company invested heavily in developing a more effective drug but saw no results after several years.
To raise funds, Dr. Hans took the company public, initially raising enough to alleviate financial strain. However, last year brought a series of setbacks. First, a new anti-fever drug with fewer side effects entered the market, rendering Hans' original drug obsolete. With production halted, Hans Biopharmaceuticals lost its primary revenue stream.
The company's financial woes led to a mass exodus of researchers, many of whom were lured away by better opportunities. As a result, Hans Biopharmaceuticals was left with a mere shell of its former self—only a research facility, a building, and a handful of employees, with Dr. Hans as the sole remaining leader.
Today, Hans Biopharmaceuticals operates in debt. Dr. Hans has mortgaged the company and even some of the research equipment in a last-ditch effort to develop a specific tuberculosis treatment. Success could restore his fortunes, but failure would leave him bankrupt and burdened with enormous debt.
Investors have lost confidence in Hans Biopharmaceuticals. With no research breakthroughs and the market for anti-fever drugs lost, the stock price has plummeted to a few cents, rendering it little more than junk stock.
Hardy decided that Hans Biopharmaceuticals met his criteria perfectly.
"Let's move forward with this, Andy. Contact Dr. Hans and see if he's willing to sell. Have Henry assist, but make sure there's no connection to the Hardy Group," Hardy instructed.
"Of course, I understand," Andy replied with a knowing smile.
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Hans sat in a tavern, nursing a drink. His face showed the toll of exhaustion and despair. The research had stalled, money had run out, and he owed his employees over two months' salary.
The company was mortgaged, and he had exhausted all options, even pawning equipment from the research lab.
Hans had a heated argument with his wife a few days ago. Unable to cover household expenses or pay the utilities, Hans feared his children might have to drop out of school. Desperate, he suggested selling their home, hoping the proceeds would keep them afloat a little longer.
His wife exploded in anger, and they had a terrible fight.
Hans now avoided both the company and his home, unable to face his disappointed employees or his family.
With the experiment halted due to lack of funds, Hans was utterly hopeless.
His thoughts turned dark as he imagined the inevitable outcome: declaring bankruptcy, losing his business, watching his wife leave with the children, and ending up as a homeless man, scavenging for food.
Hans downed his drink, seeking solace in the alcohol's burn, hoping to drown his worries in a drunken stupor.
At that moment, a middle-aged man in his forties sat beside Hans. Hans glanced up, and the man offered a slight nod and a smile. "Hello, Dr. Hans. Care to talk?"
"Talk about what?" Hans mumbled.
"About Hans Biopharmaceuticals. About whether you're willing to save it. About whether you're willing to save yourself and your family," the man replied with a smile.
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