Chapter 57: New Service

On Monday evening Claire and Andrew came to the hotel for dinner. They saw Helena and the group and were asked to join them. After dinner Helena invited Claire and Andrew to spend a few minutes to discuss business. All six retired to Helena floor with Xena bring up 8 cappuccino’s.

Andrew mentioned “I have turned off my mobile phone over the weekend due to the number of calls about the purchaser of the shares. Technically you do not own them until we have paid out the respective shareholders which will occur on Wednesday.”

Helena asked “When do we have to actually tell the exchange who purchased the shares?”

Andrew advised “Generally within 48 hours, so they can be registered, What I am concerned about is the number of calls I am getting to find out who purchased them. I have never come across this before. It’s not only my company management, but press and outside callers!”

Xena was just leaving the room when Helena asked “Xena, could you contact Tony for me and just get him to ring me please, maybe he might know?”

Xena replied “Tony is downstairs having dinner with my grandfather, they should be about finished?”

Helena stood up “You guys just talk amongst yourselves, I’m going to see Tony for a minute, Come long Xena, lets break up their party for fun!” They left the room together smiling.

Tony was just enjoying a nice cuppa when Helena and Xena entered the private dining room of Phillip. They both stood up when Helena entered unannounced. “Sit please gentlemen, Tony I need some advise please?” Helena asked.

Tony replied “Certainly Mrs Helena, What is your concern?”

Helena explained about the share purchase and the number of calls to the stockbroker. “I was just wondering who would have that type of power to be so insistence over the Easter weekend?”

Tony laughed “I know who is asking, they have tried to get me involved as well, but I keep telling them it’s a civil matter? The government is worried that an outsider is taking over the major business of Island transport and taking all profits out of this country. I have even had the Governor ring me pleading for assistance. You my lovely darling lady have just made my weekend.” He was still laughing out loud. Phillip looked at Tony in surprise.

Tony look at all “Now I know that you purchased them I know the business is safe in this country. We have had quite a raid on some of the business lately with overseas monies, and some companies have transferred ownership overseas. I trust you will keep them here please.”

Helena sat down “Yes William and myself purchased the shares for a lot less then we were quoted. What can you tell me about the business, that would help me decide weather to privatise the business or relist it?”

Tony laughed “So William is also involved. He told me, he would put out feelers then get back to me. The business runs the major mail for the island and nearly all cargo, they have some very good people working for them but the son’s of the previous owners are just all money hungry and keep taking any cash out of the business. Personally I would not have any of those children working for me, but the rest of the staff are mostly OK. Personally, but I am not a business person, take the business over into Williams then sort out the mess and decide, with legal help whether to relist. Thank you Helena for your trust in asking for my help. But lets keep the mystery going for a day or two. I personally will let the Governor know he has no concerns but I will not announce anything until you, or William have said anything.”

Helena smiled at Tony “Thank you Tony, you have set my mind in a way to make things better for the islands. I shall see you all later.” With that Helena left them to their time together.

Returning to her floor, Helena advised Andrew “Not to announce who purchased the shares yet. Your demands should cease, but if anyone says anything to you tell them the purchaser wanted the week to decide whats best for the business. Claire I am going to get William to take the shares within his existing company structure, to bring the two operations together to sort out the good and not so good people in the company then decide if we will relist. Sorry but we will not be splitting the shares up yet however I will get William to discuss with you any legal angles. Your Governor has been the one wanting to know who purchased the shares as he does not want them in foreign control. Is there anything else I can help you with now?”

Andrew looked pleased “If they had told me who was asking I would have contacted you earlier. I shall return to work tomorrow and finish up the purchase, I have sufficient funds to conclude the buying of shares, in face you will get some change I believe.”
Helena advised “Please return any surplus funds to Claire, This young lady has a trust account for me. I’ll speak to Claire and William and get back to you what the transfer name will be. Thank you for coming here tonight.”

Claire and Andrew left Helena and the group. Helena filled them in with the additional news from Tony. “Sorry guys but we might have to put the honeymoon off for a few days, If that’s OK with everyone” They all smiled

Suzanne replied, “Yes it shall be fun to check out the new company, hopefully it will not be as bad as Gold Coast business.”

They enjoyed general chit chat until Zac and Suzanne left after an hour. Fred then advised “Do I get the chance to look over their books?”
Helena replied “If you wish, I have no objection.” Fred smiled.

They retired to bed with sleep coming much later.

Helena and Fred went down to the restaurant for breakfast, there they met William, who was eating with Tony. Helena walked behind William and asked “How are your feelers!” smiling at Tony, who burst out laughing. William smiled and asked them to join them. They sat down and ordered breakfast from Xena.

William asked “What is the plan for today?”

Helena advised “Well we technically do not own the shares until tomorrow, when they are paid out, but with some further information received I feel our best action plan is to bring the business under our company name then possibility look at relisting at a later point of time, if we need funding?” Nodding to Tony.

Tony phone went off, He look at us, smiled “It’s the Governor.” He took the call at the table “Yes Governor, I did find out, last night, a local has purchased the shares and want’s to keep the business on the Island provided they retain the mail and postal services?”

“Yes Governor, I do know but they want to keep thing quiet until all shares are paid out, that should happen tomorrow and an announcement will occur on Friday I believe.”

“Yes Sir, I will meet you for lunch today, privately, see you at Noon?” And he hung up smiling.

Tony informed us “I will be drilled at noon for the purchaser, Can I advise privately it is William? I shall keep your name quiet if you wish? If it is known, it is you, the mail contract will be extended to you according to the Governor.”

Helena looked at William “Happy with that?”

William replied “Yes, however I would like to inspect the place today to avoid any issues when it is announced. Unlike most Island business they did not employ family members in their company, I believe it was beneath then to do that work. Would you like to attend?”

Helena advised “Yes and Fred would like to go over their books if we can get a copy?” Fred smiled.

William replied “Yes Tony privately it’s me, for your info Helena does own 50% of my airline and is now a local according to you. Helena we shall go after we have finished this lovely breakfast here.” They finished their breakfast. Helena retired to their room to change and met William in the basement.

Upon arriving at the airport press reporters were all over the cargo business. William drove on into their business and the press let them go. Helena asked “You know another way in don’t you William?”

William smiled “Yes through the hanger, press are not allowed in that area without escort. By the way would you or Fred like to tell Engineer he had some more work to do?”

Fred asked “Can I?”

Helena smiled “Yes Darling.”

Harry mentioned ‘Check everyone, something does not feel good Helena.’

Helena though ‘Should I get Suzanne to help?’

Harry advised ‘Yes we need all the strength we can muster.’

Helena advised “I should have asked the other two to attend I ring them now and get the hotel to drop them off here?” Helena walked into the hanger to ring Suzanne.

Suzanne replied “Yes Xena is bring us now.” ‘Harry asked’ They arrived within a few minutes.

Fred went over to Engineer “Mate got a minute for a private talk please?”
Engineer looked at Fred “Certainly, we have a problem?”

Fred smiled “I don’t, you do, lets go upstairs and talk.”

On entering William office he was surprised to meet everyone. He greeted them all but had a worried look about him. Fred took him to the window and showed him the Air Cargo Business. Fred asked “What do you know about that business mate?”

Engineer replied “Use to be very good but they have done a few short cuts that makes me worried about their planes, Also someone has just purchased all of he company shares and we could have new owners there, W H Y???” Looking around.

Fred put his arm around his shoulder “Mate you have some more planes to check and service,” Turning him around looking at everyone “We are the new owners, we are bring their business under our wing then we will restore and rearrange, Happy?”

Engineer looked at William, who was smiling and nodding his head “Your joking?”

William replied “No Engineer, we own 98.2% of the shares, so It’s now ours, Would you like to come over and check things out, very much like your checking in the Gold Coast business?”

Engineer was excited “Yes boss please let me go over with you.”

Just then Tony knocked on the door in uniform saying out loud before closing the door “We need to know if everyone here is approved to be here?” Closed the door. “That’s for my men and the airport police. Engineer do you know?”

Engineer excitedly replied “Yes Commissioner I do now, It’s great it staying here after the weekend press?” He was smiling and looking happy.

Tony advised “We are taking all of the press to the airport press area, They have been told either the press area or a fine for being on restricted government property, They are all going there now. I’ll let them stay there until I have lunch with the Governor, then address them on return.”

Helena asked “Can you come here first, We are going to inspect then we might make an announcement after lunch. I sure as soon as we enter the premises someone will tell or ring someone else. William, how about we let Tony officially tell the Governor then at 3pm we announce our/your business purchased the company to keep it in local hands. Happy with that?”

William replied “Yes that sounds good and we will get a lot of local support doing it this way”

Harry mentioned to Suzanne and Helena ‘Yes that’s good but we have a few nasty people we need to deal with, just make sure you meet everyone please, it better to double up than forget one.’

Both Suzanne and Helena replied ‘Yes Harry.’

Tony got a message on his radio “Everyone from the press is in the room.” Tony acknowledge. “See you after lunch peoples, good luck today.” Tony left the group.

William said “We will take you all for a walk around the airport and arrive at the cargo business from the opposite direction.” They left on foot. Helena walked with Suzanne mentally exchanging ideas.

Harry advised ‘I’ll truth everyone’ the girls understood.

After some 15 minutes they arrived and William announced to the Director, who his party of people were. He was quite rude telling William to take his party for a hike. Helena stood in front of him “Well you are an arrogant person, you do not know who we are? We could be your new owners?”

He laughed “No one knows who owns this business yet, Even the Governor does not know. So lady if you don’t mind get out of here so I can find out who owns this business.” He reached out to push Helena away, Helena grabbed his hand and bent it backwards. He fell down to the ground with the sound of a broken wrist and arm. Harry placed a truth pain response on him.

William advised “We purchased the shares, and are calling an emergency shareholder meeting now.” They escorted him, broken arm, into the board room. Inside were 3 of the current 5 directors.

William addressed them. “As at this time your directorship is cancelled. I have purchased all of the shares in the business and I am now the new owner. All of your authority stops now including any banking authority. Please call all of the staff into this room now.”

One of the directors called all of the staff over including all of the pilots. They entered the board room, for some people this was the first time they had been into this room. Helena and Suzanne stood at the door and welcomed everyone into the room. When it was announced everyone was in the room. Harry advised ‘No some are missing?’