Chapter 44: Powerful Shareholder Group
Joseph saw everyone's gaze turn to him and continued:
"The bank's total share capital is ten million shares, priced at 1 livre per share. It will not be publicly offered for sale yet."
Monnot nodded with a beaming smile:
"Since Your Royal Highness has invited us, we certainly intend to invest. But what is the total investment for this bank?"
"Around ten million livres."
Hearing this, the three immediately lost interest. 'We thought there was profit to be made, but he's just trying to pull in our investments?' they thought. 'A hollow bank, claiming a ten-million-livre investment—who knows how much will actually materialize? Wouldn't it be better to invest this money in established discount banks?'
Robert, whose acquaintance with Joseph was the most superficial and who was the poorest among the three, forced a bitter smile:
"Your Royal Highness, you know my situation. I'm afraid I can't put much money into an investment..."
Joseph smiled slightly and said:
"In one week, the Paris Angel Company will publicly offer its shares. It will also have a total share capital of ten million shares, with two million shares offered for sale at a price of 2 livres per share.
"If you invest in my bank, you will be able to subscribe to an equal number of Paris Angel shares at a price of 1 livre per share before the public offering."
As soon as he finished speaking, the eyes of the three men immediately lit up.
However, Archbishop Brienne, being experienced in finance, hesitated slightly before speaking:
"Your Royal Highness, while Paris Angel's operations are excellent, it might not be valued at 2 livres per share, could it?"
At 2 livres per share, with a total of ten million shares, Paris Angel's market capitalization would reach a terrifying twenty million livres!
Joseph gestured to the lawyer at the door, who brought over a stack of franchise agreements. Joseph smiled and said:
"Recently, Paris Angel has already established seven franchised stores. These are the contracts, and even more investors are preparing to sign franchise agreements. Furthermore, I will be opening several new directly-operated specialty stores in various locations.
"I believe that before long, Paris Angel specialty stores will be visible in all major cities across France. Within six months, Paris Angel stores will be established throughout Europe.
"Frankly, pricing each share at 2 livres is actually a bit low."
He then explained the concept of a franchise store once more, and this time, the three men at the table could no longer remain calm.
If one were to ask which company was the hottest in Paris right now, the answer would undoubtedly be Paris Angel.
Every woman in the streets and alleys of Paris knew about "Angel Water." Their own mothers and young daughters were all spending hundreds, even thousands, of livres on this cosmetic.
Moreover, the influence of Angel Water had begun to spread throughout France; just a few days prior, groups of noblewomen from Marseille had traveled to Paris specifically to snatch up products.
If there was only one store, the company's valuation certainly wouldn't reach twenty million, but with nine stores, that figure became much more plausible.
Furthermore, that innovative "franchise" model was incredibly appealing. Honestly, all three of them felt a desire to invest in opening a franchised store. 'How did this Crown Prince come up with such a brilliant business model? No wonder everyone calls him the Son of Divine Favor; his mind must have been personally blessed by God!'
It was clear that before long, France would be filled with Paris Angel franchise stores.
At that point, the company's market value would surely surge daily, like the Seine River during the rainy season!
Archbishop Brienne narrowed his eyes. 'If purchased at 1 livre and then resold, each share would yield at least a 1-livre profit! It would essentially be getting the bank shares for free.'
He also estimated that Paris Angel's stock price couldn't possibly stay at 2 livres; it was bound to rise quickly!
He no longer hesitated, turning to Joseph and declaring:
"Your Royal Highness, since you've put it that way, I'll invest 250,000 livres."
Seeing that the Archbishop had committed, Monnot immediately followed suit:
"Your Royal Highness, I'll also invest 500,000 livres..."
Joseph looked a little troubled and said:
"Count Monnot, well, because the shares are limited, I can only offer you a maximum of 3%. Please understand, as there are still His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen, as well as Prince de Condé, the Count of Artois, and others..."
Hearing those names, Monnot immediately laughed and waved his hand:
"Alright, alright, then 300,000 livres it is."
Robert also gritted his teeth and pledged 200,000 livres.
Finally, Joseph declared that these shares would only carry dividend rights, not management decision-making power. The three men had come solely to make money, so they had no objections.
At the dinner table, everyone was greatly pleased, raising their glasses and clinking them together with hearty laughter.
The next day, Joseph had lunch with Louis XVI and Queen Marie, seizing the opportunity to pitch them each 5% of the bank's shares.
For his own parents, there was no need to use Paris Angel shares as bait. Joseph simply, and rather casually, asked them each for a 500,000-livre investment, expressing his gratitude with a simple "thank you."
However, Louis XVI had previously invested 600,000 livres to support his son's Dutch strategy. While it later proved to be a winning gamble, he had gained immensely politically but earned no actual cash from it.
Currently, he only had about 100,000 livres in spare cash, which he poured entirely into his son's venture, with the rest having to be covered by promissory notes.
Queen Marie, known as "Madame Deficit"—though that was mostly a smear—was indeed accustomed to lavish spending. She only had 220,000 livres on hand, owing the remaining 280,000.
Joseph wasn't truly after their funds, however. His main goal was to get two influential figures to invest, allowing him to leverage their prestige in the future.
In the afternoon, Joseph rushed back to Paris without delay, meeting first with Prince de Condé, who wielded great influence in the army, and then with the staunch royalist Count of Artois, who was Louis XVI's younger brother.
Upon hearing they could acquire Paris Angel shares at a low price, neither man refused such an opportune offer. They each subscribed to 400,000 livres worth of bank shares, mentally noting this favor from the Crown Prince.
By noon that very day, discussions about the Paris Angel Company's impending stock offering were buzzing throughout France. There was no escaping it; every newspaper mentioned Paris Angel, and in every salon, conversations inevitably gravitated towards the topic once they began.
Meanwhile, within Versailles, internal news naturally circulated: Paris Angel's daily sales were 120,000 livres, it had opened eight or nine branch stores, and plans were already underway to open shops in Britain, Spain, the Netherlands, and other locations. The company's scale was truly astonishing.
Everyone was itching with anticipation, scrambling to raise funds in preparation to snap up Paris Angel's initial shares.
Simultaneously, in the general manager's office at Laville Bank in Paris, General Manager Étienne frowned as he asked his assistant, "Has no one from the Minister of Finance's office come to negotiate yet?"
The assistant nodded:
"That's right. An official of a lower rank came to inquire about a loan more than ten days ago, but no one has come since."
Étienne mused aloud, puzzled:
'Strange. The National Debt is about to mature, yet the Crown Prince isn't in a hurry?'
The assistant replied:
"Could they have secured a loan from another bank?"
Étienne shook his head:
"The Duke of Orleans has already spoken to the other banks; there's no way anyone would lend to him."
He muttered to himself, 'Even if the Crown Prince is inexperienced, other financial officials should have reminded him about the National Debt. Why is he so composed?'
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