“Well, as I said, it does seem a bit far fetched but if it's real get some security staff on board,” he replied. “The Company can employ a firm to provide you both with personal security and that combined with the police presence at your home Alec, should be adequate.”
“We will discuss it, and consult Frank, and let you know,” said Alec.
“We will not tolerate any delays. Look, we don't want to play hardball with you boys, you have been a pleasure to work with, but we will if we have to. We backed you and invested forty million nearly four years ago. We never said we were long term investors, we told you we wanted to be out in 5 years, earlier if possible, and if you blow this flo at you will probably blow that five year time scale. From what the brokers are saying we cou ld realise 500 million plus from this float and we want it to go ahead now. I would remind you that in accordance with the terms of the shareholder agreemen t you signed with us, if after five years there is, in our opinion, insufficient progress being made towards an exit strategy, we can step in and take over management and possibly sale of the business. You have almost completed the first fo ur years of those five years. My partners are likely to be pretty unforgiving if we miss this current window.”
I was about to explode at this, but Alec seeing that I was about to speak quickly interjected and said, “Look Ron, we don't want to fall out with you, and we are all interested in getting some money out of this, so leave us to discuss it, and we will get back to you tomorrow. Is that OK?”
“Yes, but you hear what I am saying. I am going back up to London tonight so you can call me in the office. I will leave you guys to it, can someone call me a taxi for the station.” Alec followed him out of the office door to ask Penny, his PA, to organise the taxi.
A few minutes later he came back in and slumped down in his chair. “I thought you were going to explode when he threatened us.”
“I nearly did,” I said. “We can call his bluff if we want, he would be mad to step in and take over.”
“I agree he would, but I don't think calling his bluff is right. He might not take over but in a year’s time that contract puts him in a strong position and he could make life difficult. His idea about the security staff was a good one, why don't we call Frank and discuss it.”
“OK.”
After a conference call lasting about 15 minutes it was agreed that we would go back to the original float plan, and the Company would employ security personnel. Frank said he would call the broker; they were unhappy with the earlier move and needed to hear some warm comforting words.
“Frank,” I said, “while we are talking, could you do some really in depth research on Allied Grampian and Plavsic, and does the name of Peter Asimov come up in connection with Plavsic.”
“I will see what we can do, Martin, it is common knowledge that Allied Grampian does a lot of business with Asimov, but I would imagine that it is all oil related. I will let you know,” and with that he hung up.
“Are you happy with that decision?” I asked Alec.
“I'm OK with it if you are. Lisa is off to Manchester tomorrow for at least two weeks, apparently a particularly gruesome murder case. Normally she would come home for the weekends but I will get her to stay up there, maybe even go up myself for a weekend in the Peak District, we have always wanted to do some walking there and I could do with a break from this place.”
Lisa was a barrister and her having a case away from Bristol was good fortune and took some pressure off. “I thought you were telling me that it was non-stop preparing everything for this float, how can you get away?”
He made a rude gesture and said, “it is, and I may not be able to get away, we'll see.”
“So how do we set up this security arrangement? How about calling Fleet, she can probably give you a recommendation. I don't think it best if I call her, I was somewhat irritable this morning and it showed. In the meantime I had better do some serious work on reviewing where we are with this product release.”
Alec buzzed through to my office half an hour later to say that he had a security firm coming in the next morning at 10am to talk about arr angements, could I be available?
CHAPTER 16
Next morning I was in bright and early to prepare for my weekly 8.30 meeting with the sales team. This was really a meeting where my product engineering team and sales staff jointly reviewed progress on various projects that were currently under way. The meeting also included a review of prospective sales, with particular reference to what can be promised in terms of development deliveries and specifications.
The day started well with some good news. Ken Giles, our Sales and Marketing Director reported that CJP, one of the worlds biggest mineral resources companies was seriously nibbling at giving us a big contract. This deal had been bubbling along for more than a year now and we like others had been vying for consideration. The contract could be wor th upwards of?500 million over five years, so every company in the industry was after it, like bees round a honey pot! They had indicated we were the favourite because they believed we might have technology coming through which would be of great interest to them. An important question for them was what were we prepared to disclose to them about the new developments.
“Ken, have you discussed this with Alec? He needs to be involved in this.”
“I have mentioned it,” said Ken, “but he has been so tied up with float stuff that I have not really kept him up to date.”
“Well I think you need to go and break his door down, and go through this with him! My thoughts are that we would need to secure a very substantial commitment in the form of a down payment, and then under strictly controlled circumstances give them some ideas as to where we are going and how that fits in with their applications. Let me know if I can help.” We then moved on through the agenda.
I then left to meet with Alec and the security people, running about 45 minutes late. When I got there it had all been decided. There would be external security staff at reception and on each floor of the building, and they would supply two security staff to supplement our own overnight security personnel. In addition Alec and I would each have a security guard assigned 24/7.
When they had gone, I stood chatting with Alec for a few minutes and I mentioned the possible CJP contract that I had suggested Ken talk to him about.
“I will get to him,” Alec said
“Well make it soon,” I said, “it looks hot so don't allow these mundane float issues to get in the way of the important business!” I ducked out of the room before he threw something at me.
“Don't forget we are in London with the brokers tomorrow”, he yelled to my back as I made my way to the lift. My heart sank. Not my kind of thing. A meeting with brokers and major potential investors, the first of a number of presentations Alec and I had to do as part of a pre-float road show in London and Birmingham with a teleconference version to Paris and New York following later. We would be away together for a large part of the next week.
An hour later my security guard turned up. Not what I had expected. Tall, athletic looking, brown haired, mid to late thirties with a slight tan. He had a small scar to the left side of his chin and was wearing a smart grey suit and tie. He would have blended in to the background of most office environments, but not ours. The general wardrobe in our office was jeans and t ee shirt or other casual shirt, particularly amongst the men.
“ Mr Lever, I am from Security Services and my name is Jason Walgrave,” he said as he stepped forward in to my office and we shook hands. He had a strong grip, but not over firm.
“Well Jason, we are informal here and my name is Martin, I don't know how this works but welcome.”
“You tell me how you want it to work.” he said. “Normally I would k eep close to you, in the office, that is outside with your PA, travel with you wherever you go, stay at your place, keeping myself on hand but as inconspicuous as possible so as to keep out of your way.”