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"It's me." Allen Zhang said.

"Mr. Jin? Is there something you need?" Cooper instantly became alert and asked.

Allen immediately explained his intentions, inquiring whether he was familiar with the chairman of the Whale Auction.

He went on to say, "I met the owner of Pike Company at the auction and learned that he's currently facing some trouble, selling off his assets and planning to consign his company for auction, but the process and qualifications have not yet been fully assessed. I'm quite interested in this company; could you find someone to expedite the handling of the procedures?"

Cooper fell silent for a few seconds. Being a shrewd man himself, he knew that many people were eyeing Pike Company, wanting to buy it at a low price. He probed, "Mr. Jin, are you planning to acquire that company?"

"I indeed have that thought." Allen said.

Cooper thought for a moment and then said, "Although Pike Company has liquidated a fair amount of its assets, it still owns three factories under construction in the suburbs, a fair number of employees, and filtration and sorting machinery. The precious metals sorted from each factory, when sold to metal companies, should bring in a monthly revenue and profit of roughly between 1.5 and 2 million US dollars. Also, there is a series of legal documents and qualifications. Currently, the company's shares are all concentrated in the hands of the owner of Pike, a few core management staff, and other individual investors. If you want to acquire this company through legitimate channels at the auction, you will need to spend about 20 to 35 million US dollars."

"This company currently owes the bank a debt of 20 million US dollars. The shareholders have fled, and only the three factories and the equipment remain. It shouldn't be that expensive, should it?" Allen Zhang asked, puzzled.

The main value of Pike Company now lies in the site construction and equipment, with each set of integrated sorting machinery priced at several million US dollars.

As for the positions, they don't require highly educated or technically specialized staff to operate them, as the work is all assembly line-based, with hires generally being high school-level workers.

Pike Company's credit and finances are now so unstable that they are about to stop operations, and it's doubtful that they can pay the employees' wages. They are basically relying on empty promises, with the owner himself selling off assets and about to run away.

Although the contracts signed with the outsourced truck fleets are valid, they no longer come to collect the bins because there is no money left in the project.

Pike Company doesn't have its own fleet resources, which is why outsourcing is a bit cheaper.

Buying garbage trucks and lorries would require at least a dozen, costing several million US dollars at once, on top of hiring drivers and compensating for workplace injuries if accidents occur. Outsourcing absolves them of these concerns; a worst-case scenario would lead to the loss of some e-waste if a contractor runs off.

Rachel Jin had an incident in the suburbs with e-waste, where an outsourced driver caused an accident and fled.

If the company owned the vehicles, a driver could potentially know some union lawyers, which could lead to the company being reversed-sued for workers' compensation and force the company to litigate with the victims, with no way out.

After all, the legal regulations between employees and employers on the West Coast have always been as fine as a needle's point against wheat.

"I've included the bank debt and compensation amounts as well; the company is currently classified as high-risk and has suffered a severe credit crisis. If you acquire this company, you would assume the debts and disputes, as well as market responsibilities. There is a possibility that you might even have trouble recruiting. The company's actual value is only worth about 15 million US dollars right now."

Cooper said, "Spending 15 million to buy this company, taking on 20 million US dollars in debt, and assuaging the employees by providing benefits—it's completely a loss-making deal at the outset. But with proper management, the investment could be fully recouped in about half a year's time."

"If Pike Company had really settled the bank debt and resolved all the disputes, they probably wouldn't even consider liquidating the company."

Allen Zhang did not care about the debt disputes; frankly, that was precisely what he was after.

If he couldn't litigate with the victims' families and Blue Recycling Company, where would the fun be? He wouldn't have it any other way.

At that time, he would present evidence in court, accuse the other party of malicious competition, and claim back the compensation paid to the victims' families and any losses from Blue Company for a nice return.

If Blue Company couldn't handle it and collapsed, maybe he could buy some assets from them at a low price later.

No matter how you look at it, it's a profitable deal, and market share and influence would skyrocket!

As for the employee issue, there's no need to worry. If the wages remain unchanged, with ordinary workers with high school education earning a monthly salary of 2,500 to 4,000 US dollars, and supervisors an annual salary of 80,000 to 100,000 US dollars, those who can work will stay on, and those who can't will get settled and leave.

The General Sect Leader has hundreds of people under him worrying about employment, and the last thing he lacks is staff. Using people from his own circle would be more reassuring; it'll be a full-blooded overhaul, replacing everyone!

Seeing the General Sect Leader's strong intention to acquire the company, Cooper didn't try to persuade otherwise anymore. He said, "The chairman of the Whale Auction is quite acquainted with the senator; I can inform Mr. Jackson."

"Pike Company's owner is selling his assets; there's a fully furnished apartment in the Fifth District that might interest Mr. Jackson," Allen Zhang also laid out his bargaining chip.

"I'll notify the senator right away." Upon hearing there was something in it for him, Cooper went off to handle it immediately.