America’s Road To Wealth

  Chapter 284 Buying Smith in London

  Some people say that in the United States, only New York is a big city, and the rest are rural areas.

  According to this standard, in the UK, except for London, which is a big city, it is all countryside.

  In the eyes of Londoners, it is probably the same.

   Early August 2001.

  The Times published a report that made most British people feel a little angry after seeing it.

  When mentioning the Thames, the first thing Chinese people think of is the Thames, the mother river of London.

  Want to know, most Chinese people would also think that the Times means the Thames River newspaper.

   Actually not.

  The English name of "The Times" The Times, the Chinese literal translation should be "Times" or "Times".

  However, its Chinese translation has become the same as the "Thames" (Thames) which has a similar pronunciation but has nothing to do with it.

  Due to the relationship between conventions and customs, this mistranslation has been preserved in the Celestial Dynasty to this day.

   There are many newspapers called Times all over the world, such as The New York Times.

   To distinguish it, The Times is sometimes called The Times of London by English speakers.

  Another piece of cold knowledge is that The Times is the first newspaper named after "Times" in the world.

  This is why the British would say that newspapers such as the "New York Times" and "Los Angeles Times" were actually copycat versions of "The Times" at the beginning.

   On August 2, 2001.

  The Times of the British News Corporation.

   published an article titled "Are the Americans going to buy Britain?" "News.

   This news is on the headline of the second page, not the headline of the front page.

  It shows that The Times still has scruples

  【. As we all know, the United States of America, originally the thirteen continents of North America of the British Empire, later】

  【.In late July this year, an American businessman named Abel Smith came to London. The great-grandfather of Mr Smith's great-grandfather, departed from Plymouth on September 16, 1620.]

  【..Three hundred and eighty years later, the descendants of Mr. Ander Smith returned to London. He only came to London for less than half a month, and he almost bought half of London. 】

  【. Let us see what this descendant of Mr. Ander Smith bought in London. 】

  【Newspapers: Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Daily Star, Glasgow Herald.】

  [Magazines: "New Scientist", "New Society", "Women's World". What are these, these are the newspaper companies purchased by Mr. Smith in London during ten days. According to calculations by professional accountants, these newspapers have cost Mr Smith about 1.5 billion pounds. 】

  【The cost of 1.5 billion pounds has made Mr. Smith’s British Smith Media one of the top media giants in the British Isles】

  【Do you think Mr. Smith only buys newspapers? No, he bought a lot of things! Just look down. 】

  【Except for Smith Media. Mr. Smith established a British new start real estate company in the UK. The company began to sweep goods in London frantically, and within a week, the average price of the entire London luxury housing market increased by five percentage points. 】

  【Have you heard of "Kensington Palace Gardens"? You may not have heard of it, so let me tell you, it is at No. 1 Garden Street, Kensington Palace, and it is worth 80 million pounds! 】

  【Maybe you don’t know Kensington Palace Garden Villa, then you may have heard of “Strawberry Hill”. Maybe you haven't heard of Strawberry Hill, but many of you should have seen "The Castle of Otranto". 】

  【"The Castle of Otranto" is the originator of Gothic novels. Strawberry Hill is the former residence of Mr. Walpole, the originator of Gothic novels. 】

  【Strawberry Villa has a long history, it is dilapidated, but has unparalleled historical value. The World Heritage Fund has listed it as one of the 100 endangered monuments in the world this year. 】

  【It also belongs to Mr. Smith now, and Mr. Smith only spent 15 million pounds to get it. Because of subsequent maintenance and repairs, another 15 million pounds may be needed. No one is willing to pay the money, but Mr. Smith is willing, so it belongs to him. 】

  【.Newspapers, luxury real estate, do you think he only bought these? 】

【Do not! In a very short period of time, this gentleman bought 52% of the shares of MUPLC Group. MUPLC Group is a listed company. Yesterday this gentleman launched a general tender offer for this company. 】

  【Many people may not know what MUPLC means? So let me tell you, MUPLC is the abbreviation of "Manchester United Limited Liability Company"! That's right, MUPLC is Manchester United! 】

  【This gentleman from the United States has become the largest shareholder of the Red Devils. And is seeking to privatize the Red Devils and turn him into a team of one person. With the financial resources shown by Mr. Smith, the process must not be difficult. 】

  【When Mr. Smith announced the general takeover offer yesterday, the market value of Manchester United Group on the London stock market was 420 million pounds. I believe Mr. Smith can afford this amount of money. 】

  【.】

  This article is very long.

  A detailed list of the investments made by Abel Smith in the UK in a very short period of time.

  If the British News Corporation did not pay special attention to Abel, it would be impossible to achieve this level.

   To be able to list such a detailed list so quickly in such a short time.

   Except because these transactions are all public and have been announced to the public.

   It is also related to the special attention of the British News Corporation to Abel, and the special attention of the Times to Abel.

   This also means that News Corporation of America, the controller of News Corporation of the United Kingdom, attaches great importance to Abel!

   In other words, Murdoch was a little nervous about Abel coming to London.

  What are you nervous about?

   Nervous Abel launched a sweep in the British media circles, shaking News Corporation's position in the British and European media circles.

   In fact, Murdoch's nervousness is not wrong.

   It's only been a few days since I didn't see Abel coming.

  British Smith Media Group is already in the scale and sales of newspapers.

   Is it almost on par with the British News Corporation, or even a little bit beyond it?

  If Smith Media UK buys a few more TV stations next.

   That News Corporation and two other local media giants.

   You have to pinch your nose and watch the new competitors squeeze into their original ecological niche.

   However, whether it is Murdoch or the two local snakes.

  They have no resistance at all to Abel's way of buying and buying.

  When Murdoch came in, he played like this.

  Krypton gold is the simplest and most effective technique.

  If Abel is from another country.

   Such as Neon, such as Huaxia, or even other European countries.

  If these non-Five Eyes, that is, non-Ansa-dominated countries want to come in.

   Murdoch and the others may still think of a way, and they can suppress it from the London government level.

   But Abe Smith is an American. It is the five-eyed big brother Amelia that is even more authentic than Murdoch's motherland, Australia.

   The British Isles have already begun to lie flat as the younger brother.

   There is no resistance to the invasion of conjugate fathers and sons from North America in this respect.

  Murdoch cannot rely on official power, because British officials dare not reject Abel from Wall Street at all.

  Murdoch can only focus on mobilizing public opinion and the British people.

  See if you can pass these leeks and create some obstacles for Abel.

   At best it can only be a hindrance, because the British public, like the American public—

   It also plays a little role in elections, tax payments, and consumption.

  Since it is a leek, it can put pressure on Abel, and there is only a little obstacle.

  After the Times initiated this report.

  The newspapers of several large media groups in the British Isles are also quickly catching up.

  Originally they were afraid of offending Abel on Wall Street.

  But now that Murdoch has done it, they still have the courage to follow suit.

   Under the instigation of these media.

  For a while, ordinary British people felt quite "wolf is coming".

  People who don’t know think that Abel is really going to buy the whole of London.

  Actually, Abel only spent about 4 billion pounds in the UK in about ten days.

  Based on the current exchange rate of 1 pound to 1.45 U.S. dollars, it is almost 5.8 billion U.S. dollars invested.

   This amount of money is not small, but it is still 108,000 light-years away from buying London.

   There is no such thing as Huangtai's melon who gave money more than ten years later.

  That is, the British media circles united for a short time to launch a small counterattack against the newly squeezed giant crocodiles.

  However, this kind of formation made Abel Smith, who was already famous in the UK, suddenly become more famous.

  Many British people suddenly regarded him as the richest man in the United States.

   If he is not the richest man in the United States, how can he be so rich?

   Very simple understanding, almost brainless and no common sense understanding.

   But in the UK, or in the US and most of Europe and America.

  Ordinary European and American people, most of them look like this.

at this time.

  West End, Paddington Community, 1366 Paddington Avenue.

  There is a building here that is not very high, only 15 floors.

  This building is regarded as a holy place in the eyes of many racing fans all over the world.

  Many racing fans come to London to travel, and they will take photos with this building in front of the building as soon as possible.

  Because this building is only fifteen stories high, its name is "F1 Building".

   Yes, this unremarkable building. It is one of the most popular sports events in the world, and the headquarters building of F1 Holding Company, the main controller of Formula 1 racing.

   But some people think that the real headquarters of F1 is in Geneva, Switzerland. Because there is the headquarters of the International Automobile Federation, which is the headquarters of the FIA.

  Strictly speaking, both arguments are valid.

  Because it is the FIA ​​that formulates the rules for Formula 1 racing.

  The executor of these rules, the organizer of the competition, as well as commercialization, etc., are the responsibility of the F1 holding company.

   Neither side can lose the other, and the development of F1 has been very good.

  The actual controller of the F1 formula car, Bernie Ecclestone, works in this building.

  August 3rd.

  There is no game today, Bernie Ecclestone, the behind-the-scenes controller of F1, came to work in the F1 building as always

  Bernie is full of energy, the seventy-year-old man has a crazy penchant for tidiness.

  Everywhere in his office is neat, very clean, very symmetrical.

   Bernie is said to have even demanded that the F1 world be similarly tidy.

  For example, all transport vehicles parked in the parking lot must be arranged in a line, and the distance between each other should not exceed 5 cm.

  Bernie came to work today, and he found that the newspapers on his desk were not neatly arranged.

   This is generally the job of his secretary.

  Bernie Ecclestone's original secretary went back to his hometown to have a baby and resigned.

  Last month, the company recruited him a new secretary who graduated from Cambridge University with a master's degree in business school.

  Bernie Ecclestone was in the office and immediately cursed out:

   "He said he was a top student who graduated from Cambridge University! You can't even do a good job of tidiness, and if you are not neat enough, how can you do a good job?"

  Thinking about firing the secretary, the white-haired old man sat down and finished the newspaper.

   While arranging the newspapers, Bernie Ecclestone raised his eyes and saw the headline on the "Daily Express" in front of him.

  This title is too sensational, mainly because Bernie heard it.

  Because the title is "F1 is about to change ownership? Smith from the United States bought a Formula Car!

  Bernie Ecclestone fetched the newspaper at once.

  He moved so hastily that he toppled the pile of newspapers and looked untidy.

   But for now, Bernie Ecclestone didn't care if they were untidy.

  Bernie is more concerned about why the "Daily Express" wants to "talk nonsense" like this.

  A report, Bernie Ecclestone glanced at ten lines and quickly scanned it.

  After reading it, the F1 queen broke out in a cold sweat.

   "Why didn't I get notified! Why didn't I get notified! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

   It took a long time for Bernie Ecclestone to grit his teeth and stand up.

  He picked up the company phone on the desk and made a call.

  The call was quickly connected.

   "Kerry!"

   Once connected, Bernie Ecclestone exclaimed:

   "Why didn't the Kirsch Group tell me about the sale of SELC's shares? As you know, I have always been interested in SELC's shares, and I have always wanted to privatize it!"

   Responding to Bernie Ecclestone was the unhurried voice of Kerry Kirsch, the senior president of the Kirsch Group.

   "Bernie, for the sake of past friendship. I am willing to answer these two questions for you. The first question is why I didn't notify you."

   "I'm sorry, this is the negligence of the Kirsch Group, and I apologize to you here."

  Bernie Ecclestone wanted to yell at Kerry Kirsch.

  How could such a thing be forgotten?

  Even if Kerry Kirsch and the rest of the Kirsch Group executives forgot.

  The people in their company will definitely remind them.

  Because according to laws and regulations, when a shareholder sells the company's shares, other shareholders of the company are entitled to know.

   But if it is violated, it is no big deal.

   That is, fines, hundreds of thousands of pounds.

   Bernie Ecclestone could only grit his teeth and said softly:

   "But Kerry, why doesn't the Kirsch Group sell me the shares? You know I'm interested."

   "Your quotation is too low. Bernie. You are only willing to pay 500 million euros, and you even have to pay in installments. It is impossible for the Kirsch Group to agree."

  Bernie Ecclestone finally couldn't take it anymore.

  He held up the phone and yelled at Kerry Kirsch on the opposite side:

"Then you can't sell stocks to Americans! God knows how much I hate that guy! You know what? The doctor said I had a heart bypass surgery and it was best not to fly or take a long trip, but last month , but I."

   "Beep beep beep~"

  Bernie Ecclestone's growling voice was interrupted by a busy tone from the handset.

  Kerry Kirsch hangs up.

boom!

  Bernie was so angry that he slammed the phone on the desk. The force was so great that the entire phone was blown away, and other pen holders, decorations and documents around were also messed up.

   Not tidy at all.

   After taking a breath, Bernie knew that it was useless for him to be angry now. The most important thing now was to stabilize his position.

   "There is still a retreat.. There is still a retreat."

  Bernie Ecclestone talked to himself, as if encouraging himself.

   SELC is the parent company of the F1 holding company and management company.

  I only hold 25% of the shares of SELC. That's right.

  But the most valuable thing about F1 is mainly the recognition of the brand and those joining the team, and the certification of FIA

  It doesn’t matter if the SELC company is lost, it doesn’t even matter if the F1 holding company is lost.

  As long as those FIA ​​teams are willing to support me, then I still have a chance to come back!

  Bernie Ecclestone calm down.

  He hurriedly found out the phone contact information of those F1 team leaders.

   Then he picked up the phone that he had dropped on the ground, trying to make a call.

  But found that the phone seemed to be broken, because he smashed it just now.

  Holding the phone book, Bernie Eccles walked outside.

  He wants to contact those team owners as soon as possible, contact Geneva.

  The "betrayal" of the Kirsch Group, Bernie is unwilling to give in and will never accept it.

  Bernie had just opened the door of his office when he heard the anxious voices of company employees from outside.

   "Who are you? Who are you? How can you break in? If you come in again, we will call the police. Security, security?"

  Bernie heard that it was his secretary who graduated from Cambridge University, and he was resisting the entry of outsiders.

  One of the real founders of F1, among the outsiders, I saw Smith standing out from the crowd.

   Bernie's heart sank suddenly. He stood at the door of the office and looked at the person with a blank expression.

  Bernie, the secretary who graduated from Cambridge University, was also speechless after seeing the equity certificate displayed by the other party's entourage.

   Soon the other party came to Bernie Ecclestone.

  The little old man who is only 163cm tall must look up to see Abel's expression.

Alan Baker to Bernie Ecclestone, showing shareholding certificate - "Mr. Bernie Ecclestone. On behalf of my licensor, Abe Smith, as the absolute controlling shareholder of SELC, Remove you from all positions in the F1 holding company and management company."

"I reject!"

  Knowing that things cannot be done, Bernie Ecclestone still wants to persevere.

  He thinks he still has a chance to come back.

   "Go to court. I will not back down until the court judges me! F1 is mine and it will always be mine."

   said the stubborn old guy.

  (end of this chapter)