Rebirth of England

Chapter 60 Argent Real Estate Group
"Congratulations, Your Highness the Duke, I am now reviewing the first novel from the serial in The Independent every day. By the way, when are you going to start writing the second one?"

"You know, ma'am, Bonnie has been too busy lately, and we plan to start writing the second part of the novel later."

After Barron saw Viscountess Chris, he gently held her arm, gave her a kiss, and said to her:
"Just like today, we originally agreed to come together, but she couldn't spare the time in the end. She is much busier than me now."

"Her recent new show has been very stressful, but what I didn't expect was that you actually bought "The Independent" and it is now running so well."

"Yes, Your Highness, a very bold and successful move."

After Chris finished speaking, Viscount Bute beside her shook hands with Barron and praised him.

"Compared to our cooperation, it's just a small business, isn't it, Your Excellency?"

"Haha, Your Highness the Duke, I also hope that our 'big business' can be completed smoothly."

Just as he was talking to Viscount Bute and his wife, and walking towards the house, Barron's peripheral vision inadvertently caught his valet walking behind Viscount Bute, looking at him. A flash of...hate?
I don't know if he noticed Barron's gaze, but the other party gave him a smile, which almost made him think that he had seen it wrong.

Thinking of what I overheard at the dance at Viscount Bute's house that day...

interesting.

The party Barron attended today was a meeting of the London Association of Realtors.

As the name suggests, the London Association of Realtors is an association composed of real estate developers.In London, there are about 110 trade guilds in various industry categories, the earliest of which have a history of nearly a thousand years, and there are also trade guilds established in emerging industries in the past century.

For example, the history of the Real Estate Dealers Guild can be traced back to the 17th century, which is 300 years old now. Among the members of this guild, there are many powerful families in the London real estate industry, such as those who own a quarter of the land in London. The Duke of Westminster.

Today, Barron and Butt both attended the gathering of the Real Estate Dealers Association as shareholders of the Argent Real Estate Group. The Butt family themselves are members of the association, and are also members of the management committee of the London Real Estate Dealers Association. Viscount Te's father is one of the members of this guild. When his father dies or steps down, Ian Butt, the heir to the family, will inherit this position.

Yes, most of the committee members and members of such ancient trade guilds are hereditary - of course, in modern times, many trade guilds will also regularly open up new members to join, especially trade guilds in some emerging industries, which will be more open. .

After a period of negotiation and deliberation, Barron, Viscount Bute and other interested parties finally reached an agreement on the renovation project of King's Cross.

All real estate holders who are willing to cooperate will allocate a part of the new company's shares based on the valuation of the real estate they hold. In fact, the reason why the discussion takes so long is mainly because of the final value of the real estate held by each party. There are some differences in the definition, such as the weight proportion of factors such as area and location.

But eventually an agreement was reached.

Another part of the new company's shares will be used to merge into Argent Real Estate Company, a real estate development company with sufficient experience and qualifications, and to reserve part of the shares for other partners.

Due to the merger with Argent Real Estate Company, the name of the new company was set as Argent Real Estate Group. Among the shares of the new company, 60% of the shares were allocated to the real estate holders in King's Cross who joined this cooperation, Barron's The family trust acquired a 6% stake in the group with approximately 15 hectares of land on the gas storage tank site; DS Asset Management acquired a 2% stake with approximately 5 hectares of land.Therefore, he holds a total of 20% of the shares of Argent Real Estate Group.

Viscount Bute obtained 5% ​​of the shares with approximately 12.5 hectares of land, and the remaining shares were distributed to other property holders.

However, in the Argent Real Estate Group, Viscount Bute is still the controlling shareholder, because in the merged Argent Real Estate Company, the Bute family holds more than 60% of the shares. Relying on these shares, they also obtained an additional 12% of the shares, totaling Holding 22.5% of the shares, it is the largest single shareholder of Argent Group.

Of course, these are all shareholdings on the surface. It is still unclear how many other groups’ shareholdings are closely related to it.

In addition, the investment banking department of Barclays Bank invested capital to become a shareholder holding 10% of the shares of Argent Real Estate Group, and Barclays Bank will be responsible for the financing of Argent Real Estate Group in the entire King's Cross district renovation plan.

Argent Real Estate Group also has an additional 10% stake, which it has accepted shares from some other entities, including some powerful groups in King's Cross - it is worth mentioning that the London Association of Realtors has also Invested in shares and holds 5% of the shares of Argent Real Estate Group.

Yes, now, because they hold a large amount of real estate, many trade associations will actively invest in equity in some projects, including real estate projects, in order to continue their wealth, just like in the Argent Real Estate Group, not only London The real estate developers' association holds shares, as well as the coal industry association and the grain merchants' association that invest in shares through the land they hold.

After the establishment of Argent Real Estate Group, because it received the support of most property owners in the King's Cross area, it also obtained the authorization from the Kenton District and became the main developer of the King's Cross area renovation project. They will also receive Government commissions for renovation plans for public areas.

At this time, Argent Real Estate Group has hired two local architecture and urban planning firms in London to develop a master plan for King's Cross. After completing the plan, it will be submitted to the Kenton District Council and reported to the London City Government.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that in order to promote the development of King's Cross after its transformation, the Kenton Borough Government has applied to the London Municipal Government to move Central Saint Martins into King's Cross.

Central Saint Martins was founded in 1989 by the merger of two schools - Central School of Arts and Crafts and Saint Martins School of Art.This school is the largest and best art and design school in the UK. It belongs to the University of the Arts London (ranked in the top three art and design categories in the global university rankings) and is also one of the four major fashion design schools in the world.

It is well-known in the international fashion industry as a prestigious school that produces famous fashion designers. Most of its fashion design graduates are employed by many international fashion brands such as Dior and Gucci. Every year, the launch of graduates’ fashion works at London Fashion Week becomes a popular event. International fashion brands and international fashion media pay attention to and explore the focus of emerging design talents.

It can be said that the introduction of this university is very important to King's Cross.

However, there are not many plots of land suitable for building a campus for this school in this area. In the end, of the 6 hectares of the "Siamese triplets" plot of abandoned gas storage tanks, about 4 hectares of land on the east side were expropriated as Part of the Central Saint Martins campus.

To this end, the Camden Government will allocate approximately 4 hectares of land to the Argent Property Group as compensation in the area immediately east of King's Cross Station, which was originally a public area owned by the government.

This plan is acceptable to Barron. After all, the replacement land is closer to the two stations, and this land is very close to the 0.8-hectare land he bought, so they can be planned collaboratively.

　The data during the new book period is related to subsequent recommendations, so follow-up reading is very important. I beg you not to keep it all the time. If you feel it is okay, read it every day to help increase follow-up reading. Thank you very much.

　　


(End of this chapter)