Chapter 97
Translator: Shari, Etern, Kim Guo Editor: Etern
Connecticut, USA, City of Groton .
In the new millennium, Pfizer unveiled the world's largest medicine research center here . With the world's most advanced facilities, it employed more than 700 researchers and it also owned the world's most advanced manufacturing and testing facilities . However, the company had been hit hard by generic drugs . Since last year, the world's largest pharmaceutical company experienced negative growth and had a 57% drop in net profits . Not only did its stock price drop, it was also experiencing severe cash flow issues .
Under such circumstances, CEO Steele set aside all his tasks to look for new sources of income . Issuing new corporate bonds was only one of these sources . Of course, due to decline performance, their ability to find financing was also shrinking .
When he heard that Huang Xuan had already raised $1 . 2 billion USD, Steele was amazed . He originally thought that it would take Huang Xuan at least a few months . Once he received confirmation from Citibank, he immediately went to inform the board . In the last quarter, the board had been putting a lot of pressure on him over these funding issues .
Connecticut is the third largest state in the United States, yet most people have never heard of it . Apart from its insurance and nuclear submarine industries, the state was not known for much else . Yale University was the exception . The three most recent presidents of the United States were alumni's of Yale .
Groton was even less known . When Huang Xuan was connecting via New York, there was only one flight headed there .
Despite all of this, Pfizer's research center was still impressive . Huang Xuan was relived after Rolin confirmed this fact .
When Huang Xuan read through a summary of Pfizer on the energy screen, an idea popped up in his head . "Rolin, what do you think about selling medical formula's to Pfizer?"
"All temporal and spatial activities that take place in your own plane will deplete the energy in the buffer zone . "
"So what? We'll only have to replenish the energy . "
Rolin hesitated before answering, "In fact, our time travelling has depleted the buffer zone's energy . Even though we used up less than expected, apart from killing Napoleon, we just broke even in the other planes . If we carry on intentionally depleting the buffer zone's energy, we might have difficulty defending ourselves when other time travellers come again . "
Something in Huang Xuan's brain clicked . He responded, "If we find a way to add a significant amount of energy to the buffer zone, can we sell medical formulas?"
"Theoretically, there isn't a problem with what you say, but in certain cases, introducing advanced technology ahead of time may result in a sustained reduction in energy in the buffer zone . Also, all estimates of buffer energy consumption is limited . "
"Got it . " Huang Xuan didn't actually understand it, he then anxiously asked, "How much energy is required to sell the formula of a best-selling drug?" Only drugs which could make over $1 billion USD in revenue were considered "best-selling", for example, Viagra .
"At least 200,000 units of energy . " Rolin quickly estimated: "We'll lose 1200 units initially . Afterwards, we'll gradually lose 200,000 units, perhaps even more . "
"How much energy did we gain when we killed Napoleon?
"4,000 units . "
Huang Xuan hesitated upon hearing the big difference in number . Finally, he spoke, "Why's there such a huge difference? How would producing Viagra have such a significant impact on the buffer zone?"
"Medicine changes living conditions, it will be hard to predict the consequences . Best-selling drugs are usually direct, they're usually special medicine that are efficient and have a defined function . " After explaining this, Rolin continued, "Moreover, when we killed Napoleon, we only gained a portion of the energy lost on that plane . The remaining energy lost by P129 is irrecoverable . On the other hand, we have to account for all the losses we incur in this plane . Bit by bit, the differences add up . "
Disappointed, Huang Xuan asked, "So we can't use it?"
"Not quite . " Rolin truthfully replied . "For example, the change made by computer programs isn't significant . Whether people use Windows or Linux, it doesn't really affect the development of the plane . Similarly, increasing work productivity by just a few percent won't use up too much energy from the buffer zone . "
Huang Xuan rejoiced at this and said, "Then how much energy will be consumed if you give me a system more advanced than Windows?"
"If I search and only hand it to you, it'll only consume a few units of energy . But if you completely replace Windows with it, it'll consume about 50,000 units of energy . " Rolin seriously calculated .
Huang swallowed a bit, if killing Napoleon 10 times would make him $200 billion USD, it just might be worth it . At this time, they had already reached the exit . He could already see his name on a big sign, but he was unable to control himself and asked, "What technologies would consume small amounts of energy?"
"Plenty . " Rolin confirmed with a short and direct answer .
Huang Xuan swallowed again .
Before he could say much else, Pfizer's representative, Bob saw Huang Xuan . He surveyed the 5 Israelite bodyguards beside Huang Xuan . Pointing at the sign, he spoke in loose Mandarin, "Mr . Huang Xuan?"
Huang Xuan's face lit up with a smile as he walked over . He looked no different from a high school tourist . No one would have guessed that he had spent $80,000,000 USD just to get there .
Although Citibank was managing the bonds, he could not return even a cent of interest less on the huge loan of $1 . 2 billion USD . Huang Xuan had already used up all of his cash on the last two trips alone . After pawning off a portion of the jewelry, he saved up the total amount of the loan . The interest earned on the Pfizer bonds was 6 . 8%, but he would still lose the difference of 3% interest each year, a total of $80,000,000 USD over the next two years . This Mr . Steele, who Huang Xuan had yet to meet, was already increasing the price by 4 times .
This type of situation, could only be done by mutual consent . So Huang Xuan had nothing to be upset about, after all, he was buying a life for $80,000,000 USD .
There was a total of 3 people welcoming them, but only Bob knew Mandarin, but he wasn't fluent at all . Huang Xuan couldn't help but converse with him in English instead, he took it as an opportunity to practice . Learning from the base, he had excellent at conversing, poor at reading, and as for writing, it seems the people who created the system didn't consider it at all .
"Mr . Huang, are you thinking of getting into the pharmaceutical industry in China?" Bob half guessed . This was how many large foreign companies earned money, as long as you bought their products, they would teach you how to manufacture and how to sell . For example, the additives industry was like this . A lot of foreign companies spent a lot of money on research for the formula . So one only had to buy these additives to be able to use those formula . This method greatly encouraged competition . It also reduced the overall cost of research by centralizing the resources for it and this method also reduced the risk for downstream manufacturers .
Naturally, Huang Xuan was unsure of the rules . However, his innate sharpness told him not to share his plans with others so easily . He chuckled and changed the topic to talk about Pfizer .
Bob had no choice but to talk about his own company . Huang Xuan did this intentionally . He has had no time to focus on these matters, and his mind has been in a whirl . It helped to have someone slowly explaining things to him .
Just like many large corporations, Pfizer had gained its strength after several successful mergers . After the merger with Warner-Lambert, Pfizer established the current medicine research center . A few years later, the merger with Wyeth cemented Pfizer's position as the largest pharmaceutical company in the world . However, troubles soon followed after it .
Its biggest problem was its shortage of funds .
Pfizer issued a total of $6 billion USD worth of short-term loan bonds, but Wall Street didn't take too fondly to this . Due to the board's objections, he couldn't use more attractive alternatives, such as convertible bonds (a type of bond that the holder can convert into a specified number of shares of common stock in the issuing company or cash of equal value) . With only a fixed interest return on the bonds, the Pfizer bonds were undervalued in the market, and only naive children like Huang Xuan would have bought the bonds . At least, that was what Bob thought .
Steele wanted to see the little white wolf they had pulled here, so he waited with several board members at the center . Most importantly, they still had not received the money .
The car had only just arrived before several people went out to receive them . Huang Xuan was dressed differently today, he wore Louis Vuitton casual wear, specially picked for him by his mother . She thought the casual wear would better emphasize how unique Huang Xuan was . IZO's men gave off a completely different feeling . Five people who all stood nearly 2m tall, they exuded a domineering feeling .
"Mr Huang, it's nice to meet you . Your generosity has rejuvenated Pfizer . " Steele clasped Huang Xuan's hand with both of his . His palms were the same size as Huang Xuan's . They were warm and dry, and didn't make Huang Xuan feel uncomfortable .
"Pfizer always had energy . All I did was increase its strength . " Huang Xuan was not stingy with his praises, although he could not understand how a company, which priced certain medicines at U$12 billion USD, could land itself in such a financial state .
From the looks of it, Steele gladly accepted Huang Xuan's commendations of him . He released his right hand and introduced Huang Xuan to each of the board members, who had come to receive him . He kept his left hand on Huang Xuan's back, looking every bit the part of a benevolent elder . Yet, he did not treat Huang Xuan as a teenager in any way .
Huang Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly after he had been introduced to each of the board members . In a mock excited voice, he said, "Mr Steele, I would like to see the research laboratories now . "
"But of course . " Steele heard Huang Xuan's request, but he tugged at the person next to him and said, "Let Dr . Ginger bring you around . He's very familiar with the center's facilities . "
Ginger was a plump Belgian and deputy director of the research center . Without hesitation, Huang Xuan shook his head and replied, "Mr Steele, I think it'll be best if you let me walk around on my own . Dr Ginger must be very busy . "
Steele surveyed Huang Xuan's serious demeanor . Reluctantly, he nodded and said, "Ginger, listen to Mr Huang Xuan . Show him to our laboratories, just like I told you before . "
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