Chapter 508: Successful Negotiation

"First, allow formal contact between both sides."

Satsuki gently placed her teacup back on the table.

By this point, the slight playfulness on her face had vanished.

"As for FamilyMart, I hope to acquire a shareholding ratio and corresponding governance rights that allow for long-term and stable control over business policies."

"For Ryohin Keikaku, I hope to negotiate with the goal of operational control."

"PARCO can be handled in phases. Step one is for Saionji to acquire a major shareholder position sufficient to influence major business matters."

Tsutsumi Seiji finished listening and gently tapped his fingers on the armrest.

"You’ve even thought out the order."

"Since I came to see you, I couldn’t possibly bring just the phrase ’I want to buy.’"

"What about the price?"

"To be negotiated by both teams based on actual operating conditions and reasonable valuations."

Satsuki answered very briskly.

"If control requires a corresponding premium, Saionji can accept that."

"Hmm... That sounds quite sincere."

"I hope Mr. Seiji understands that today I am not taking advantage of Seibu or the distribution system’s difficulties to drive down the price."

Satsuki looked at him earnestly.

"FamilyMart is currently performing well, and both Ryohin Keikaku and PARCO have their respective values."

"Precisely because what Saionji wants to buy are premium assets, we are willing to negotiate in the manner of premium assets."

Tsutsumi Seiji gave a slight laugh.

"When did you start caring so much about your reputation?"

"I’ve always cared deeply. Could it be that Saionji has a terrible reputation?"

"Ah, indeed, Saionji has always been a representative of outstanding enterprises..."

Well, if driving a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises to ruin with the coalition cabinet, frantically buying up corporate non-performing assets at low prices afterwards, and even unscrupulously recruiting former elite employees of bankrupt enterprises doesn’t count as a bad reputation, then the reputation is indeed very good.

Tsutsumi Seiji silently enumerated Saionji’s "fine reputation" in the financial world in his heart while nodding along in agreement with Satsuki.

Of course, these words would not be spoken aloud; after all, his younger brother had almost been scammed to death by this girl back then.

However...

Tsutsumi Seiji raised his head.

Watching Satsuki raise her thumb and index finger, measuring a short distance to say that the extent to which she cared about her reputation was "at least this much."

When she said Seibu had recovered now, she indeed wasn’t exaggerating.

Tsutsumi Seiji saw this point very clearly himself.

During that period last year, Seibu’s capital chain was so tight that the entire financial world was watching.

Banks were cautious, asset prices were falling, and those financing structures previously supported by high land prices were bearing pressure almost everywhere.

But over the past six months, the situation had clearly changed.

Saionji continued to participate in financing, and several large projects began generating cash flow again. Those assets that originally appeared burdensome due to falling land prices regained values recognized by banks under new development plans and financial support.

Tsutsumi Yoshiaki had indeed recovered.

And at a speed faster than many people anticipated.

Thinking of this, Tsutsumi Seiji’s gaze fell back onto Satsuki.

This result itself actually explained a lot.

Over the years, those who came into direct conflict with Saionji mostly had a hard time.

Few of those who tried to block Saionji in the financial markets ended up with good results.

But what about the other side?

After FamilyMart initially accepted Saionji’s supply system, costs decreased, profits improved, and its cash flow and bank evaluations looked much better accordingly.

When he collaborated with Saionji a few times later on, he indeed obtained the desired results.

Including today.

Satsuki sitting here obviously couldn’t have only the purposes she had just stated.

Tsutsumi Seiji had not a single ounce of certainty in his heart about how long this girl had considered this in advance, how many people she had talked to, and what information she had deliberately omitted.

Even among her recent series of analyses regarding Yoshiaki, Seibu, commercial capabilities, and the capital market, he was not prepared to fully believe how much of it was meant to guide him to think in a certain direction.

But this did not prevent him from judging another matter.

The proposal put forward by Satsuki was indeed beneficial to him.

Tsutsumi Seiji picked up his teacup and took a slow sip.

He was already gradually withdrawing from daily operations.

This decision would not change.

But withdrawing from operations did not mean he was willing to watch the things he had spent so many years building fall into Yoshiaki’s hands one day in the future in a way most unacceptable to him.

Especially Ryohin Keikaku and PARCO.

One was among his most direct practices regarding lifestyle, product design, and consumer culture over the years.

The other carried even more of his ideas regarding commerce, art, advertising, and youth culture.

If one day, these things really entered Yoshiaki’s system...

Shoo, shoo, shoo, stop thinking about this upstart.

As for Saionji—

At least Satsuki understood what she was doing.

Today she could discuss Fontana with him in the exhibition hall, and she also remembered the remark about MUJI from three years ago.

Wanting to acquire these assets definitely had Saionji’s own strategic considerations behind it.

Tsutsumi Seiji had never doubted this point.

But if he had to choose among several futures, he would rather let these things fall into the hands of someone who understood their value than watch Yoshiaki turn them into a set of numbers in a railway-line development plan one day.

Thinking of this, Tsutsumi Seiji suddenly felt somewhat amused.

Come to think of it, Saionji’s business over the years always seemed to have a strange pattern.

When conflicting with it, one always had to pay a greater price than expected.

But once sitting down to cooperate, the result was often even better than initially imagined.

Exactly how much Satsuki was prepared to get out of this transaction, he did not plan to pursue to the end for the time being.

Business inherently did not require both parties’ objectives to be completely consistent.

As long as capital shares consistent interests, that was enough.

Tsutsumi Seiji put down his teacup.

Satsuki noticed his movement and also raised her eyes to look over.

The two people’s gazes met for a moment.

Tsutsumi Seiji was silent for a moment and finally spoke.

"If I am willing to talk, I have demands regarding the management methods of Ryohin Keikaku and PARCO."

Hearing this, Satsuki smiled gently.

"Please go ahead."

"First of all, Ryohin Keikaku needs to maintain an independent brand."

"Mm, acceptable. This point can be written into the long-term management principles."

Satsuki answered very quickly.

"Furthermore, I can promise that Saionji will not change the original design system and existing team."

"As long as the operating condition is normal, Saionji will not casually interfere with the design department."

"I am buying it precisely because I recognize the direction it has already formed, a direction that has already been verified by the market."

Tsutsumi Seiji nodded.

"PARCO as well."

His tone was slower than before.

"I don’t hope to go take a look a few years later and find that it has merely changed into a Saionji sign and then started operating in the manner of an ordinary department store."

"Please rest assured about this."

Satsuki shook her head.

"Leaving aside the fact that Saionji itself already has department store-related assets."

"If Saionji only needed commercial real estate, developing it ourselves would have a lower cost."

She looked at Mr. Seiji.

"I am willing to pay the price corresponding to PARCO’s current value precisely because it has already formed operational capabilities that other companies find difficult to replicate."

Tsutsumi Seiji looked at Satsuki for a moment.

Satsuki did not continue to explain further; she simply picked up her teacup again and lowered her head to take a sip of the tea that had cooled down slightly.

What needed to be said had already been said.

Why she selected these companies today, what Saionji wanted to get, and what she was willing to retain after the transaction—Tsutsumi Seiji was now very clear about all of it.

As for whether or not she was willing to open this door in the end, it was no longer her place to make decisions for the other party.

The room fell silent for a while.

Faint sounds of conversation drifted across the wall from the outer exhibition hall.

Tsutsumi Seiji picked up his teacup and took a sip.

When placing it back on the table, he finally spoke.

"For FamilyMart, we can let people from both sides start discussing shareholding and governance arrangements."

Satsuki had originally been lowering her eyes looking at the teacup, but upon hearing this, she raised her head.

The sparkle in her eyes brightened considerably all at once.

Tsutsumi Seiji saw it.

Well, her acting was quite good; if he didn’t know this girl could definitely keep her emotions from showing on her face, he would have almost been fooled.

"For Ryohin Keikaku, I am also willing to listen to the proposal Saionji is prepared to give."

He paused slightly.

"Do not mention control over PARCO for the time being."

The smile on Satsuki’s face did not fade because of this.

She simply waited quietly for the subsequent words.

"If you hope for Saionji to first acquire a portion of significant shareholdings, we can discuss it."

Tsutsumi Seiji looked at her.

"As for how far we can go in the future, let me first see how you plan to operate."

Satsuki nodded gently.

"Acceptable."

She agreed very briskly.

Tsutsumi Seiji instead gave her an extra look.

"I thought you would at least contend a bit more."

Upon hearing this, Satsuki couldn’t help laughing.

"Since Mr. Seiji is already willing to let me in the door, if I still insisted on sitting here today to contend with you for the final board seat, that would be a bit too greedy."

She leaned back against the sofa again, and her tone relaxed accordingly.

"Share ratios, board seats, and governance terms can be slowly contested by the people responsible for the negotiations later on."

"You certainly know how to save effort."

"Father has constantly been asking me to rest more lately."

Satsuki said with a straight face:

"Work that can be handed over to others, I am now trying hard to learn to hand over."

Tsutsumi Seiji shook his head with a chuckle.

"What about the price?"

The playfulness on Satsuki’s face also receded slightly.

"Negotiate according to reasonable valuation."

"For parts involving business control, the premium that should be paid can also be included in the conditions."

She looked at Tsutsumi Seiji.

"Since Saionji is formally coming to negotiate an acquisition, we will not ask Mr. Seiji to lower prices due to personal relationships."

Tsutsumi Seiji nodded gently.

"Good."

"Then let the people below make initial contact."

"I will have someone prepare the relevant materials, and greetings will be given in advance to those companies."

Only then did Satsuki truly smile and slightly bow.

"Sorry to trouble you."

"Don’t rush to thank me yet."

Tsutsumi Seiji glanced at her.

"I only agreed to start talking."

"That is already enough."

Satsuki answered very quickly, putting on a magnanimous appearance.

Watching Satsuki look as though her whole person had visibly relaxed upon hearing good news, Tsutsumi Seiji’s brow twitched.

He always felt something was wrong; could she be such an easy-to-talk-to person?

He reviewed it once more, yet still couldn’t find any problems.

The Satsuki before his eyes had already picked up her tea again and taken a sip.

Halfway through drinking, she raised her head as if remembering something.

"Right, Mr. Seiji."

Tsutsumi Seiji had just picked up his teacup, but hearing these words, his movement paused for a moment.

Could it be?

"There’s more?"

Seeing his reaction, Satsuki couldn’t help laughing.

"This time it really is just a minor matter."

"Go ahead."

Tsutsumi Seiji steadied the teacup he had just picked up, his gaze still falling on Satsuki’s face.

He wanted to see from what other place this girl could pull out another condition.

Satsuki merely smiled.

"If the transaction is truly negotiated and concluded in the future, if Mr. Seiji is still willing to continue participating in some cultural and design projects of Ryohin Keikaku and PARCO, I would be very welcoming."

Tsutsumi Seiji was stunned for a moment.

Having originally prepared to continue negotiating terms, upon hearing this, he was unable to respond for a moment.

Satsuki glanced toward the exhibition hall outside the lounge.

"Operational matters can be left to the companies and management."

"However, the design of Ryohin Keikaku, PARCO’s exhibitions, and those cultural projects..."

She thought about it for a bit and laughed first.

"To be honest, many of those things I can currently only see as interesting; if you really made me responsible from scratch, I would probably torment the people in charge of planning miserably."

Hearing this, the corners of Tsutsumi Seiji’s mouth slowly curved upward.

Satsuki looked back at him.

"Since Mr. Seiji is willing to continue participating, why would I drive away the people who truly understand these matters?"

Tsutsumi Seiji looked at her for quite a while.

That inexplicable bit of vigilance in his heart just now suddenly seemed somewhat redundant.

He even felt he had been somewhat corrupted by Yoshiaki.

After dealing with Saionji Satsuki for a long time, one always felt that the happier she smiled, the more likely some trouble would follow.

As a result, this time she really just added a kind remark.

More importantly, this remark was not just to make him happy.

Satsuki had already explained clearly enough earlier why Ryohin Keikaku and PARCO were valuable. Now that she was willing to let him continue participating in those cultural and design affairs, it at least showed that she truly intended to retain the original character of these companies.

Thinking of this, Tsutsumi Seiji’s expression also completely relaxed.

"Since you’ve put it this way..."

He smiled and picked up his teacup.

"If there’s truly a chance in the future, I suppose I still won’t be able to help meddling in a few extra things."

"That would be best of all."

Satsuki’s eyes curved into crescents.

"However, if one day Mr. Seiji suddenly requests adding an art project that completely disregards budget, I will still have the finance department come find you."

"Just a moment ago you said you welcomed my participation."

"Participation and an unlimited budget are two different things."

Tsutsumi Seiji burst out laughing.

"You really are still that Saionji Satsuki."

"Isn’t this very good?"

Satsuki asked back with a straight face.

The atmosphere between the two people that had become slightly tense due to the acquisition negotiations also relaxed again accordingly.

Satsuki lowered her head to finish the remaining bit of tea in her cup, and then raised her head.

"So, can today be considered a successful negotiation?"

Tsutsumi Seiji thought about it.

"At least the direction has been negotiated clearly."

His tone also recovered its previous gentleness.

"FamilyMart and Ryohin Keikaku can enter formal contact, and PARCO can discuss shareholding first. Prices and specific conditions can be slowly ground out by the people on both sides moving forward."

"For me, that’s already considered half-successful."

Satsuki nodded with satisfaction.

Watching her look like this, and recalling how he was just doubting whether she was hiding some backup plan, Tsutsumi Seiji couldn’t help shaking his head.

"You are much easier to talk to today than I expected."

"What kind of evaluation is that from Mr. Seiji?"

Satsuki instantly felt somewhat displeased.

"I have always been very easy to talk to."

"I’ll reserve my opinion on that sentence for now."

"..."

Satsuki stared at him for two seconds.

Forget it.

Today she had just obtained such a huge benefit from his hands.

Respect elders.

She very magnanimously forgave Tsutsumi Seiji once in her heart.

Tsutsumi Seiji had already stood up.

"Are we still looking around?"

Satsuki also put down her teacup following him.

"Doesn’t Mr. Seiji still have a few works you definitely wanted me to see?"

"I thought that after finishing business discussions, you’d be ready to drive that red sports car back."

"How could that be."

Satsuki stood up and neatly smoothed down her jacket.

"Today was originally meant for viewing the exhibition."

Tsutsumi Seiji glanced at her.

"And buying a few companies along the way?"

Satsuki’s movement paused for a moment.

Then she raised her head unconcernedly.

"Just discussing a little bit of business along the way."

"FamilyMart, Ryohin Keikaku, PARCO."

Tsutsumi Seiji counted them for her once.

"Indeed just a little bit."

"..."

Satsuki suddenly felt that this guy and Tsutsumi Yoshiaki were indeed true brothers after all.

She decided not to pick up on this topic.

"Mr. Seiji, let’s go look at the paintings instead."

Tsutsumi Seiji smiled and pushed open the lounge door for her.

"Please."

"Excuse me."

Satsuki slightly bowed and walked past him.

The exhibition hall outside was still brightly lit.

The art, advertising, and crowds that the two had left behind came back into view, and that cut white canvas in the distance still hung quietly there.

The business had been negotiated and concluded.

At least for the rest of tonight, they could truly talk only about art.