Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 290

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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290. Steve Nolan is finally making his return.

“Process this according to the original plan.”

Seok-won handed the approval documents to Han Ji-sung, who stood before his desk, then leaned back in his chair and asked.

“By the way, did you manage to source the DSP chips developed by Germany’s Micronics and send them to Digital Wave?”
“Yes. As you instructed, I’ve secured thirty sample units and they’re being airfreighted over. They should arrive by tomorrow at the latest.”

Satisfied with the answer, I nodded slightly.

“If anything else is needed, have Deputy Manager Han take care of it.”
“Understood.”

Han Ji-sung continued speaking while holding the approval documents in one hand.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
“Go ahead.”

Han Ji-sung bowed slightly and turned to leave. As soon as he exited, I reached out and pressed the intercom button installed on my desk.

[Yes, sir.]
“Could you bring me a cup of coffee?”
[Understood.]

I released the button and picked up the report lying on my desk, unfolding it.
Shortly after, Na Seong-mi knocked and entered with a tray, setting down a mug of coffee with its rich aroma wafting through the air.

“I’ve brought your coffee.”
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

As I spoke with a smile, Na Seong-mi’s eyes widened and she smiled back warmly.

“Don’t mention it. Is there anything else you need?”
“No, that’s all.”

As Na Seong-mi carried away the empty tray, Seok-won rose from his chair with the warm mug in hand and walked toward the window.
Gazing out through the expansive glass panes at the towering skyscrapers beyond, I murmured to myself.

“If it’s already this hot, this summer is going to be scorching.”

As I savored the bustling cityscape while leisurely sipping my coffee, a vibrating buzz suddenly pierced the air.
Turning back toward the desk, I set down the mug and picked up my phone to answer the call.

[Mr. Park. It’s been a while.]

A deep voice resonated through the receiver.
Recognizing the caller immediately, I responded with a slightly puzzled expression.

“It should be nighttime in California right now. What brings you to call, Mr. Nolan?”
[I have something urgent to discuss. Do you have time to talk?]

The serious tone made my curiosity deepen.

“Of course. What’s on your mind?”
[You should have received Apple’s second quarter earnings report a few days ago.]

I recalled the report Landon Shore had sent me and continued listening.

[Despite implementing aggressive restructuring—canceling multiple projects that required substantial development investments and laying off over six thousand employees throughout the year—Apple is still posting losses of nearly one hundred million dollars and struggling to turn around its performance, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.]

I was well aware that most of the accumulated losses stemmed from cleaning up the mess left behind by Steve Nolan and his predecessors, but I chose not to voice it aloud.

‘Come to think of it, Jeff Collier’s tenure as interim CEO has less than a month remaining.’

As losses continued to mount, Apple found itself teetering on the brink of capital erosion and potential bankruptcy.
Desperate, Apple’s board of directors abruptly fired the existing management and appointed Jeff Collier, a board member, as interim CEO, entrusting him with the company for five hundred days.
Of course, the condition was that if he delivered results, he would receive a bonus and be reappointed.

‘With the company’s coffers nearly empty, he successfully issued corporate bonds worth six hundred sixty-one million dollars through Goldman Sachs, breathing new life into Apple’s finances. That alone constitutes a remarkable achievement.’

Moreover, by acquiring NeXT, which Steve Nolan had founded, he laid the groundwork for Apple’s resurrection—more than enough to warrant reappointment.
But Steve Nolan didn’t want that.

‘From the beginning, he viewed Apple as an extension of himself, so there’s no way he could simply stand by and watch someone else run the company.’

Steve Nolan’s obsession with Apple was well-known, so Seok-won had little difficulty discerning what he intended to discuss.
True to form, Nolan expressed his desires with the directness that defined his character.

[As I mentioned before, under Jeff Collier’s leadership—a man who lacks any genuine understanding of Apple and cannot chart a course for its future—the company has no prospects whatsoever.]

Seok-won held the phone to his ear and responded.

“Are you opposed to Jeff Collier’s reappointment?”
[Precisely. Apple, sinking amid turbulent waters, requires a new leader with the decisive force to steer the company forward.]

Nolan answered without hesitation, his voice carrying unmistakable conviction.

“And who would that be?”

Seok-won posed the question, already anticipating the answer, and Nolan responded without reservation.

[Myself.]

Nolan declared it with absolute certainty in his voice.

[If I were to take the helm once more, I could restore Apple—the company that changed the world—to its former greatness.]

Though I already knew the outcome, I found myself shaking my head in admiration at Steve Nolan’s remarkable self-assurance and unwavering belief in himself.

[I would appreciate your support in ensuring that I become the new CEO in place of Jeff Collier at the board meeting next month.]

Nolan made his request openly, his tone utterly composed.
Ever since acquiring Steve Nolan’s 1.5 million shares, I had steadily increased my stake in Apple and now held 10 percent as a major shareholder.
Naturally, my influence over the board was substantial, and Steve Nolan’s return to the CEO position would require my absolute support.
Perhaps for this reason, Nolan boasted that he would normalize the company within a year of becoming CEO.
Knowing better than anyone that Apple’s resurrection rested in Steve Nolan’s hands, I nodded without much deliberation.

“Very well. I’ll delegate my voting rights to you. That should suffice.”

At my straightforward answer, Steve Nolan himself seemed taken aback and asked in return.

[Are you serious?]
“I told you from the beginning that I purchased these shares because of you—because of Apple with you at its helm. My conviction hasn’t changed. I agree entirely that you are the right person to revive Apple in its hour of crisis.”

Steve Nolan’s expression brightened visibly at Seok-won’s enthusiastic support.

[Thank you for believing in me.]

Seok-won decided that this was an opportune moment to naturally increase his Apple stake, and he broached the subject carefully.

“If you’re willing, I’m prepared to invest an additional 200 million dollars in the form of convertible bonds once you’ve returned as CEO.”

Convertible bonds, or CBs as they were commonly called, were corporate bonds issued in bond form that granted bondholders the right to convert them into stock according to predetermined terms after a specified maturity period had elapsed.
For Apple, whose financial condition was precarious, 200 million dollars was like rain in a drought, and Nolan eagerly asked in response.

[You would truly do that for us?]

Seok-won smiled and replied.

“Given how difficult your company’s situation has become, don’t you need sufficient working capital to normalize operations quickly?”

Nolan, having received this unexpected support, expressed his joy with a voice brimming with confidence.

[If Mr. Park, who is highly regarded for his exceptional vision, invests such a substantial sum, it will certainly wash away much of the market’s negative sentiment toward Apple.]
“That’s my hope as well.”

Originally, it was supposed to be Steve Nolan himself, after returning as CEO, who would settle the Windows-related patent lawsuit with Christopher Alexander, Microsoft’s founder, and receive 150 million dollars in investment—but now Seok-won had taken that role instead.

‘This will significantly deplete Christopher Alexander’s and Microsoft’s assets.’

Seok-won smiled inwardly at the thought.
The reason he was pushing Steve Nolan so aggressively was that more than half of Apple’s spectacular revival and success would depend on Nolan’s role as an era-defining icon commanding passionate fandom.
Of course, his continuous creation of innovative products and leadership of the IT boom mattered, but Steve Nolan’s image and character were truly unparalleled.

‘Apple without Steve Nolan is absolutely unimaginable.’

Even after Steve Nolan passed away prematurely due to illness in later years, Apple was able to maintain its unrivaled position as the world’s greatest company for over a decade on the strength of the legacy he left behind—a testament to how profound and powerful his presence truly was.

‘But what if, because the situation has diverged from the original timeline, Steve Nolan refuses to reconcile with Christopher Alexander and instead maintains his old adversarial stance?’

Struck by this sudden concern, Seok-won spoke carefully, taking care not to wound his pride.

“Given your company’s difficult circumstances, it would be advantageous in many ways to resolve the Windows-related patent disputes with Microsoft amicably.”

Contrary to what I’d expected, Steve Nolan’s response was surprisingly reasonable.

[During my time away from Apple, I’ve reflected deeply and learned much. In fact, resolving this issue was already my first priority once I took over management, so please don’t worry.]

Seok-won couldn’t hide his surprise at Steve Nolan’s straightforward acceptance without resistance.
Though his attachment to Apple remained unchanged, I could see that Steve Nolan—once filled with arrogance and stubborn pride—had grown through this painful experience.

[Thanks to Mr. Park, we’ve managed to ease the financial pressure considerably. I believe we’ll be able to negotiate with Microsoft from a much stronger position.]

Unlike his former rigid demeanor that seemed impenetrable, his attitude had become noticeably more flexible, and Seok-won’s expression brightened.

“If we skillfully exploit the fact that Microsoft is too preoccupied with the browser war against Netscape to focus elsewhere, we should achieve favorable results.”
[I’ll keep that in mind.]

After continuing the conversation for some time, Seok-won ended the call and lowered the phone from his ear.
He then leaned against his desk and murmured while stroking his chin with one hand.

“Steve Nolan has finally returned as Apple’s captain.”

I envisioned the revolutionary products that Steve Nolan and Apple would create together, and my anticipation swelled.
Thinking of Apple’s resurrection and its growth into the world’s most valuable company, along with my stake multiplying dozens or hundreds of times over, I felt satisfied without even eating.

“I know the technological path Apple will take to become the world’s number one company by market cap, but if I just let it be, it’ll generate wealth on its own. There’s no need for me to strain myself.”

I chuckled, a deep smile playing at my lips.
Steve Nolan would display his talents while I reaped the financial rewards.
But with me as the major shareholder backing him solidly, Steve Nolan could focus entirely on managing Apple without distraction, making it a win-win for both of us.

“Apple’s stock price is at its lowest right now, with pessimistic views about its imminent bankruptcy prevailing. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to significantly increase my stake and secure the position of largest shareholder.”

Since I’d made my support clear, Steve Nolan wouldn’t be wary even if I substantially increased my holdings.
Seok-won promptly picked up his phone again and called Landon Shore in New York.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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