The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 83 : Patricina Metalics

Rosemary came to check what was happening. She looked over the shoulder of Susco and Catherine. She saw the amounts and let out a whoop of laughter.

Dusk looked helplessly at Rosemary and shrugged her shoulder. Then she glared at Luke. The previous day, she had a fight with Rosemary for being forced to commit $1.5 million in investment into a new project. Here, she had confidently said that she will arrange for funding for the new factory they needed to set up, without seeing the amount involved. She had made the statement considering that it was low risk investment. Proven Products, customers ready to buy. What she forgot is there is a huge difference between Tech in a manufactured product scenario and Tech in software which she was used to.

But now, she was committed to borrow $168 million for 6 new factories. Rosemary was laughing so hard that tears came in her eyes. She felt the punishment of the previous day was worth seeing Dusk's face today. Dusk was squirming and trying to figure out how she could get out. Rosemary wouldn't let her back out after making the statement. She would force Dusk to follow it through and set up the factories. In any case, those factories were desperately needed.

Professor Handa had finished his work and with approval of Dusk, left for his college. Petronus, Pedro and the others in the room were wondering what the big joke was. But none of them dared to ask.

Dusk sighed and asked Pedro over.

"Mr. Cristin, please coordinate with the Patricina Metalics Research Inc. for the specifications of the new factory. Identify a location where the factory should be. Work out the action plan. Meanwhile, I need a timeline for the factories and the final costs. I have a feeling that lots of people are going to be sitting in your office tomorrow with their Purchase Orders." She commented.

Pedro was confused by what she said and took the file to sit and review. Ten minutes later, he was sweating. He looked up in panic scanning the room to see if anyone could help him.

Dusk somehow felt happy that the pressure was on someone else. She went and sat next to Luke and asked, "Luke Darling, how exactly am I supposed to raise $170 million?"

Luke shrugged and replied "Funding is no problem. Give me your capital structuring pattern. Like we did for Techredulous. The entire thing need not be common stock with full voting rights."

Dusk nodded. She had been paying special attention to Economics and Accounting courses at Uni-Viva. She felt she knew about the various types of funding options. And... she took up the challenge.

"But why don't they make it on their own? We only asked for approval to use their battery tech. We didn't ask to license all the products." She asked. Rosemary was also interested in the answer. While she was helping Catherine with something, her attention was on the discussion.

"Patricina Metalics is basically a research-based organisation. They do have a small manufacturing facility, originally designed for pilot runs, and precommercial processes that has now been fully diverted to making these bands and some other things because demand was high. Then we had to cut down production of bands to make space for the EPAC and Hover-Car parts. So Military is crying because they want more sensor bands. The new Hover-Bus is going to result in another spike in demand for some of the things. That factory is not capable of meeting demand. Further, all new product pilots have stopped because there is just no spare line to make anything. The factory is running 24 hours a day..." Luke replied.

"So, why not make a new factory. You can't be short of capital." Dusk quizzed him.

"There is no one available to run the company. Manufacturing needs a massive amount of attention. That attention cannot be left to employees. It is a critical plant, and there is no one in the family willing to run it. Rosemary is looking hopeful now, but she refused when I offered her the plant 2 years ago." He replied.