For the common man, an economic crisis is a disaster, but for capitalist magnates, it represents an opportunity. Franz is now one of these big players, harvesting in the capital market.
As Emperor, he still paid attention to appearances, avoiding ostentation or making others comfortable in unorthodox ways.
Money can never be completely earned; there's no need to sully one's reputation for profit. Hostile reactions are certain when taking over businesses, but merely investing in them is different.
Everyone is short of cash now; how could they possibly refuse investment? The concept of investment companies had already been developed by Franz ahead of time.
Human energy is limited; even with a mature management team, it is not possible to expand indefinitely.
In such circumstances, it has become imperative to divest from non-core industries. As long as profits are secured through effective supervision, there's no need for majority control.
