After hanging up Wintour's phone, Zhang Ran immediately dialed Yu Liping, president of Rothschild Bank in Greater China. After the last acquisition of Netflix, Zhang Ran asked Rothschild Bank to help him collect information about Prada and prepare for the acquisition.

The future development of the summit of the century requires top luxury goods, but the vast majority of the world's luxury goods are in the hands of the three luxury groups LVMH, Richemont, and Paris Spring Department Store, and Prada is one of the few top brands independent of the three luxury groups.

Other independent brands like Chanel and Hermès are quite healthy and have absolute controlling stakes, and it is very difficult for outsiders to intervene. Zhang Ran remembered that LVMH had been planning to annex Hermes for 11 years, and under the covert operation of five banks including Rothschild, it obtained a 23% stake in Hermès, but in the end it was still lost.

Prada has an opportunity, because Prada's business strategy is problematic and it has been burdened with heavy debts, so Prada has been seeking to go public. But Prada seems to be possessed by the god of decay, and every time he goes public, he always encounters various accidents, and finally collapses, and has failed four times so far.

Half an hour later, Zhang Ran saw Yu Liping in the office, because they were acquaintances, they didn't have any polite words, and said directly: "Tell me about the specific situation!"

Yu Liping put the research report in front of Zhang Ran and introduced: "Prada has nearly 1 billion euros of foreign debt, of which 150 million is due at the end of the year, and the other 850 million euros are due next summer, and Prada is now unable to repay the debt." If you want to solve the debt problem, you have only two options, continue to seek a listing, or sell some of your shares to pay off the debt. According to our estimates, they will sell about 40% of the shares. In this way, we can get the funds to support the subsequent development while solving the debt!"

Zhang Ran picked up the report and flipped through it, looked up and asked, "How likely is it to acquire Prada?"

Yu Liping said: "I can't give accurate data, but it is very difficult, with your understanding of the fashion industry, you should know that before 1978, Prada was only a niche brand, on the verge of bankruptcy, it was Miucia Prada and her husband who saved Prada and built Prada into a world-renowned top brand, they have a deep affection for Prada, and they will never sell Prada unless they have to." In the past two years, due to the financial crisis, the luxury market has been sluggish, and many luxury business problems have gone wrong, and many of these brands have plans to sell, I suggest you can consider something else. ”

Zhang Ran shook his head lightly: "Even if Hermes and LV are willing to sell, I won't necessarily buy them, these brands are very good, and they will definitely make money after buying, but these brands are difficult to integrate with the peak of the century." I want to buy Prada not only because Prada can make money, but I hope that Prada will become a part of the entire film industry chain and become a bright spot in film derivatives. Like LV, Hermes' brand culture is destined to make it difficult for them to become a part of the film industry chain, and Prada has a lot of cooperation with films, and it takes almost no effort to integrate it into the film industry chain!"

In the past two years, Century Summit has been working hard to expand the derivatives sector and has achieved great success. "Meteor Shower" and its sequel made the concept of Yucao and Mori women popular in Asia, Yucao not only became the No. 1 girl brand in China, but also expanded its business to the entire East Asian region, opening flagship stores in Japan and South Korea, and has a high popularity among Japanese and Korean girls. In the United States, with the popularity of "Twilight", Wang Daren has been wildly sought after by teenagers and has become the first trendy brand in the hearts of North American teenagers.

In the first nine months of this year, Youcao and Wang Daren alone brought $120 million in revenue to the peak of the century, and with the release of "Twilight 2", Wang Daren will inevitably usher in another sales peak, and the annual profit is likely to exceed $200 million. Coupled with Marvel toys and other movie derivatives, Century Peak's annual revenue in derivatives may exceed $400 million.

If Putala can be acquired, then Century Summit will have high-end luxury goods in derivatives, and with top brands, the entire industrial chain will be more perfect!

When Yu Liping saw Zhang Ran say this, she said: "If you want to buy Prada, there must be two conditions, first, give a price that makes the other party happy, and second, let them believe that Prada will be carried forward in your hands!"

Two days later, Zhang Ran met Miucia Prada, the queen of Prada, at the Courtyard by Marriott on Fifth Avenue.

At the Lion Ladies Ball three years ago, Miucia Prada met Zhang Ran. At that time, in her eyes, Zhang Ran was just a young boss of a second-rate film company in the United States, and the movie was done well.

She never dreamed that in just three years, this young man would become a top rich man worth more than 10 billion, and what made her feel even more incredible was that in just three years, Zhang Ran made Wang Daren the No. 1 trendy brand in North America.

In Miucia Prada's heart, Zhang Ran is a young man who can create miracles, understands fashion and design, and is Prada's most ideal collaborator.

Miucia Prada looked at the legendary young man and greeted him warmly, "Mr. Zhang, please be seated!"

Zhang Ran smiled and said, "Ms. Prada, it's been a long time!"

After a few brief pleasantries, Miucia Prada said straight to the point: "I believe Anna has told you that we need a new shareholder." ”

Zhang Ran bowed slightly: "Yes, that's why I'm here, and I'm looking forward to working with Prada." ”

Miuccia Prada did not directly say the issue of shares, but asked: "There are many companies interested in Prada, can you use 3 words to explain that you are the most suitable bidder?"

Zhang Ran was slightly stunned, this is obviously testing me, but in fact, you are just one of the candidates! He pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "My three words are I, love, you, I love Prada, I love this brand, and I hope to let him continue to develop." ”

Miucia Prada was very satisfied with Zhang Ran's answer, and applauded with a smile: "I like your answer, now we can talk about the issue of shares." ”

Zhang Ran smiled lightly: "It seems that the first level has passed! It's really interesting, I don't know how many shares Prada interrupted to sell?"

Miucia Prada looked at Zhang Ran and said, "30%!"

Zhang Ran originally thought that Prada would sell 40%, but he didn't expect to be willing to sell only 30% of the shares, it seems that Prada cares very much about the controlling stake in the company, and wants to persuade her to sell the company to herself, which is not easy! He said lightly: "Ms. Prada, I have a better suggestion, would you like to hear it?"

Miucia Prada said, "Please. ”

Zhang Ran stared at Miucia Prada and said in a very fast voice: "I will buy all the shares of Prada, in the form of cash and shares, and we will issue some shares to exchange for the shares in your hands, so that the Prada family will become the second largest shareholder at the peak of the century, with 4% of the shares and a board seat!"

Zhang Ran's words were like a machine gun, and he finished talking with a crackle.

Europeans are arrogant in their bones, and the bosses of European luxury families like Prada are even more arrogant. In the previous life, Prada had negotiated with India's Tata Group to buy shares, and the deal was almost successful. On the day of the signing ceremony, the boss of the Tata Group, while celebrating with Miucia Prada, said, "Today is my daughter's birthday and I would like to give this deal to my daughter as a birthday present." As a result, Miucia Prada turned her face on the spot, what do you think of a brand with a historical heritage like ours, so she refused to sign a contract.

Maybe Miucia Prada will think when she hears that Zhang Ran wants to buy Prada, kid, you actually want to buy Prada, and the old lady won't talk to you anymore, so Zhang Ran threw out his conditions as quickly as possible to see how the other party reacted.

Miucia Prada was shocked when she heard this, but she was quite moved, because Zhang Ran's conditions were very generous, and she became the second largest shareholder with 4% of the shares at the peak of the century, which was really a huge surprise. In the past two years, the peak of the century has developed extremely rapidly, and the market value has been rolling upward, and now the market value of the entire group is close to 50 billion. Growth will not stop for years to come, and if you hold shares of Century Peak, the value of these shares will increase several times!

It's more cost-effective than any business!

However, after a moment of silence, Miucia Prada slowly shook her head and said, "I won't sell Prada!"

Zhang Ran also knew that it was impossible for him to throw out the conditions and the other party immediately agreed, and the other party pondered for a long time before answering, explaining that it was heartbeat, and it was a decision made after weighing, and there was a way for this matter!

In the previous life, the Bulgari family had always said that it would never sell the company, but in 2011 it sold all the shares to LVMH, and LVMH boss Arnault persuaded the Bulgari family to make the Bulgari family the second largest family shareholder of LVMH, with a 3.5% stake and two board seats.

It's really useful!

Zhang Ran smiled and said: "Due to the impact of the financial crisis, the luxury goods have not had a good time in the past two years. Let's count the luxury brands that have gone bankrupt this year, Wedgwood went bankrupt in January, in June, Christine Lacroix, who was once known as the No. 1 haute couture brand, declared bankruptcy and has not yet found a buyer; in August, the German luxury group Escada declared bankruptcy; just the day before yesterday, Yohji Yamamoto's company declared bankruptcy; Britain's Jagerstein, once hailed as an eternal classic in the fashion industry, has fallen into a trough in the past two years, with a loss of $38 million last year, and there is no hope for recovery, and bankruptcy is impossible to avoid。 Family-run luxury goods are very fragile, and if they want to stand tall, they must be collectivized, become a large group like LVMH and Richemont, and share the risks among multiple brands! If Prada is handed over to me, then I will provide sufficient financial support for Prada, and at the same time, Wang Daren and Youcao will be integrated under Prada, and Prada will be the core to create a group like LVMH, so that Prada will continue to pass on!"

Miucia Prada retorted: "The luxury market is definitely changing, the competition is very cruel, if a brand wants to survive for a long time, it must make itself a group, but to be a group does not have to sell the company, we can choose to go public and raise funds to grow and grow!"

Zhang Ran smiled faintly: "Can Prada be listed? Now the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States still has no signs of the past, but has begun to spread to the world, and now the European debt problem has also begun to erupt, two days ago the Greek government announced that the fiscal deficit will account for more than 12% of GDP, far higher than the 3% ceiling set by the European Union, and the world's three major rating companies have successively downgraded Greece's sovereign credit rating. Italy, Spain and other countries have this problem, and then there will be a full-scale outbreak, and the economy of the whole of Europe will continue to decline; in the case of a full-scale financial crisis, it is unrealistic for Prada to be listed as a luxury product, at least within five years. Will the bank give Prada that much time?"