I'm The King of Business & Technology in the Modern World-Chapter 74: Teasing

August 2020.

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Matthew sat in his office, staring at the numbers on his screen. Sentinel Systems' strategic acquisition of SM Prime Holdings' shares had already reached 2.8%, making them one of the largest institutional investors in the company. But he knew that wasn't enough. If he wanted a board seat, he needed to push further. 5% was the real threshold.

Angel entered the room, her tablet in hand. "We're ready to proceed with the next round of acquisitions," she reported. "If we continue buying at the current pace, we'll hit 5% within two weeks."

Matthew leaned forward. "What's the market reaction to our moves?"

Angel scrolled through her data. "So far, minimal. We've been executing trades in small batches across different brokerage firms to avoid triggering speculation. No major media outlet has caught on yet. But if we cross 5%, that could change."

Matthew nodded. "That's expected. What about SM Prime? Any response from their side?"

"They're watching, but they haven't taken any action yet," Angel replied. "They're cautious, but they haven't moved to block us or engage with us again. If anything, they might be waiting to see if we overextend ourselves."

Matthew smirked. "They're underestimating us. They think we're just another opportunistic investor looking for short-term gains."

Angel exhaled. "So what's the next move? Should we slow down the buying to keep under the radar?"

Matthew shook his head. "No. We accelerate—quietly but aggressively. Execute purchases through international hedge funds and private investment groups. I don't want all the shares tied directly to Sentinel Systems, at least not yet. If we structure this correctly, we'll hit 5% without raising alarm bells."

Angel nodded. "Understood. I'll coordinate with Daniel and the acquisitions team."

By 12th of August, Sentinel Systems had secured a 4% stake in SM Prime Holdings. The markets still hadn't fully noticed, but internally, SM Prime's leadership had.

Angel walked into Matthew's office, her expression serious. "We just received an informal inquiry from one of SM Prime's board members. They're asking about our intentions."

Matthew didn't look surprised. "Who reached out?"

"One of their independent directors, Alfred Ty," Angel replied. "It wasn't an official request, but he was fishing for information—wondering why Sentinel Systems is increasing its stake so aggressively."

Matthew smirked. "They're getting nervous."

Angel crossed her arms. "And for good reason. At 4%, we're the second-largest institutional shareholder. If we cross 5%, we'll have significant influence on corporate governance."

Matthew leaned back in his chair, thinking. "Let's not respond directly. Instead, have Daniel relay a simple message to their investor relations team: Sentinel Systems is committed to long-term investments in the Philippine economy. No specifics. No direct answers. Let them speculate."

Angel smirked. "You're playing the long game."

Matthew nodded. "They need to see us as inevitable. They can resist all they want, but once we're at 5%, they'll have no choice but to take us seriously."

Five days later, Sentinel Systems officially crossed the 5% ownership threshold.

It happened through a mix of direct purchases and acquisitions through international investment firms linked to Sentinel. The total transaction value had exceeded $1.2 billion USD, making it one of the largest strategic acquisitions of the year.

As expected, the media finally took notice.

August 18, 2020.

Headlines started appearing across Philippine financial news:

"Sentinel Systems Becomes One of SM Prime's Largest Shareholders – What's Next?"

"Tech Giant Sentinel Expands into Real Estate – Strategic or Hostile Takeover?"

"Matthew Borja's Sentinel Systems Gains Major Influence in Philippine Property Sector"

Inside Sentinel Systems' boardroom, Matthew, Angel, and Daniel were reviewing the media's reaction.

Daniel chuckled. "Well, they finally caught on. Took them long enough."

Angel scrolled through her tablet. "There's no sign of a negative response from SM Prime yet. No official statement. No pushback."

Matthew smirked. "Because they don't know how to react yet. They weren't expecting us to reach 5% this quickly."

Daniel leaned forward. "So what's next? Do we call them for a follow-up meeting?"

Matthew shook his head. "No. We wait for them to come to us. If they want to know our intentions, let them ask."

Angel glanced at Matthew. "And if they don't reach out?"

Matthew leaned back, his expression unreadable. "Then we keep buying."

It didn't take long. Five days after Sentinel hit 5%, SM Prime finally made contact.

Angel entered Matthew's office, looking amused. "We just received an official request for a meeting from Henry Sy Jr. and Jeffrey Lim. They want to discuss our stake and future involvement with the company."

Matthew smirked. "I knew they'd come around. What's their tone?"

Angel read through the message. "Neutral, but cautious. They acknowledge our investment and want to understand our long-term vision. They're still wary of giving us too much power, but they're not outright hostile."

Matthew nodded. "That's good. Schedule the meeting for next week. We go in as partners, not threats."

Angel tapped a few notes on her tablet. "Understood. Anything specific you want to emphasize?"

Matthew thought for a moment. "Yes. We focus on technology integration. We pitch Sentinel as a strategic partner that can help SM Prime modernize its operations. We highlight our expertise in AI-driven analytics, cybersecurity for commercial properties, and smart infrastructure. We make it impossible for them to ignore the benefits of working with us."

Angel smiled. "You really know how to position yourself, don't you?"

Matthew chuckled. "It's not about positioning, Angel. It's about creating value. We're not here to fight SM Prime—we're here to make them realize they need us."

A week later, the second meeting with SM Prime's top executives was set. Unlike the first discussion, this time, the tone would be different. Matthew wasn't just an investor anymore—he was a major shareholder with a say in the company's future.

As he prepared for the call, he turned to Angel and smirked. "Let's go secure our seat at the table."

"We'll be setting them up right away, sir," Angel said as she began executing her duties.

Matthew on the other hand prepared for the meeting.