America’s Road To Wealth

  Chapter 335 The Undeniable Smith

  Anne Hathaway in this time and space is almost like the illegitimate daughter of the goddess of fortune in the eyes of many people.

   When she first debuted and was not well-known, a relative of a senior manager of CAA protected her.

  Under the operation of Michael Levine, Annie became the heroine of TV series as soon as she debuted.

   Just this point is luckier than most actresses who have entered Hollywood.

  The TV series she acted in went viral.

   But she was more fortunate to meet Abel who had just arrived in New York.

   Since then, her status in this circle.

   is destined to be looked up to, envied, envied, and even hated by many Hollywood female practitioners.

  Hate that they are not as lucky as Anne.

  Like now, half of the more than one hundred guests present are women.

  Among this half of the women, they are basically Hollywood actors, stars, and singers.

  These wolves are staring at Abel, or staring at themselves

   made Annie feel the pressure.

  Under this invisible pressure.

   At this time, Anne's heart was already in Fake.

  In her heart, she kept cursing at these people in her heart.

  If it weren't for his concern about his image in front of Abel, there would be a big boss like Murdoch present.

  According to Annie's personality, she even wanted to give this group of people the **** right now.

   This is the experience of Annie being stared at by so many people.

  As for Abel and Murdoch, of course the two of them will not feel any pressure because of this gaze.

  The two are the core of this reception.

  On the way in just now, Murdoch already knew the purpose of Abel's participation in his reception.

   After entering the reception, the old guy pointed to the place where he stayed just now.

   "Mr. William, they are over there."

  Abel looked over and saw a few guys in suits and leather shoes, smiling and toasting to himself in response.

  Abel also smiled at them, and he whispered to Murdoch:

   "Then let's go. Rupert, tonight is your home game. I'm sorry to disturb you."

   Before the last News Corporation board meeting, Murdoch was very afraid of Abel.

  Because at that time, when Abel was at his peak, he once held 5% of the shares of News Corporation.

   was the third largest shareholder of News Corporation at the time.

  Abel himself is the boss of a media group, a well-known super financier, and a Wall Street giant.

   Rupert Murdoch worried about Abel snatching his control of News Corporation.

  At that time, of course he was very afraid of Abel.

  But after the last board meeting, Abel sold all the News Corporation shares he held to Murdoch.

  Part of it was exchanged for cash, and part of it was exchanged for Murdoch's 98% property rights in Lanai.

  After this deal is concluded, although the two parties are still competitors in terms of media.

  But the personal relationship between the two has also begun to normalize.

  Hearing what Abel said at this time, Murdoch of course smiled and said:

   "I didn't bother. My contact with them is just the beginning. And you know, they usually come to me for this kind of thing."

   "Ah~" Abel sighed, and said to him with a smile:

"It's not just them. I want to ask you now. Dear Rupert, Smith Capital or Pacific Commercial Bank also have the ability to underwrite and IPO. Would you like to consider letting me act as one of your dealers? You Rest assured, the commission and handling fee will be low enough.”

  Murdoch held this reception tonight, and the main hosts were those guys who greeted Abel just now.

  Their identities are five well-known large institutions on Wall Street, including the American Vanguard Group, Fidelity International Investment Fund, State Street Bank and Wellington Management Group.

  Murdoch entertained these people because News Corp. was planning to split part of its business for an IPO in the United States.

  IPO is a stock listing, and dealers are needed to underwrite News Corporation's stock.

  When a part of Fox TV was previously listed, the relationship between several underwriters such as Murdoch and Goldman Sachs was not very good.

  This time, for the more important News Corporation listing, Murdoch did not find several professional investment banks such as Goldman Sachs, but instead found these large investment institutions.

  What Abel said just now was just a joke, saying that Smith Capital and Pacific Bank are also willing to be News Corporation's stock underwriters.

  The two financial institutions of Abel have this qualification, and most of the Wall Street institutions have this qualification.

   "No problem." Abel was more joking, but Murdoch said seriously: "How about 15%? Fees and commissions are the same as others."

  Abel was startled, "Do you trust me? What if I bought all these stocks?"

   "Then you are one of News Corporation's new shareholders."

   Murdoch said confidently.

  Australia has reorganized the company's internal shareholding structure.

  This reorganization allowed Murdoch to control News Corporation 100%.

   At this time, if Abel buys shares again, Murdoch is no longer afraid of being seized.

  Then handing over part of the stock to Smith Capital for sale can also be mixed with personal favors.

  Abel also shrugged, smiled and said, "Then I'll let David contact you."

   Mosquito legs are meat no matter how small they are. News Corporation stock is very popular, even if it is only a part of 15%.

  Smith Capital underwrites them, and at least can earn several million dollars in commissions.

   Millions of dollars can already buy a good mansion in a place like Malibu Beach.

  The two talked in a low voice and walked forward, and they were already in the middle of the reception.

  Annie, who was holding Abel's arm, smiled like a lady all the way. She looks gentle and beautiful at the moment, with a very elegant temperament.

   But her beautiful eyes have always been full of lethality. Her eyes are high above, as if she is looking down on the Wall Street she-wolves around her, and she advises them to take care of themselves and not be overwhelmed!

  An invisible, invisible battle called [Abel Smith's offensive and defensive battle].

   It has already started between Anne and the surrounding Hollywood she-wolves.

  In this offensive and defensive battle.

  Anne is the defender who has already occupied an absolutely dominant position.

   These Hollywood she-wolves who all want to be the second Charlize Theron, or covet the status of Anne and Jessica, want to replace them.

  They are attackers who face difficulties and are not afraid of difficult challenges.

   It's just that they haven't started to use their means yet, and the battle hasn't started yet.

  At this time, Murdoch is also there. If they appear on the stage, it will easily annoy the two media giants.

  They are still choosing and waiting for the opportunity.

  Abel didn't notice this, and what he cared about at the moment was the people from those investment institutions.

  To be precise, it is the stock of a certain company that these guys hold.

  So when he and Anne were led by Murdoch to these people.

   After Murdoch introduced these people to the two of them one by one.

  Anne was still using her sight to repel the coveted eyes of the female wolves.

  Abel asked the people from these institutions to talk to them alone.

   Facing Abel's request, the management of several large Wall Street institutions hesitated.

   Finally agreed.

  Abel then whispered to Annie: "You stay here for a while. I'll go and bring you a victory."

  Before coming here, Anne already knew what his purpose for attending this reception was.

  Anne, whose appearance and temperament seem to be a combination of Audrey Hepburn and Juliet Roberts, said in a soft voice:

   "Of course, you will always win, my favorite man!"

  Annie half-closed her beautiful eyes, looking at the back of Abel leaving in a daze.

  She has always felt that the most distinctive thing about Abel is the calm and calm temperament brought about by his strong self-confidence.

  She found it very charming, adding the successes again and again as annotations, and also infecting others with invincible confidence in Abel.

  Under the influence of this kind of confidence, Anne also felt that she was fully capable of guarding Abel's side on such an occasion tonight!

  After Abel and people from several major organizations left and went inside to talk about things.

  The well-behaved lady Anne Hathaway is full of aura, and she looks at the large number of Hollywood she-wolves around her.

   seems to be saying—

   "Boys, come on, use whatever tricks you can, I'm not afraid of you!"

  The place where Abel met with the high-level executives of the five major investment institutions was an open-air balcony on the second floor facing the scene of the reception.

  Michael Ovitz's layout was almost like this when Abe attended the Hollywood reception for the first time last year.

  The slightly larger mansions on the west coast seem to like this design.

   Talking in this kind of place can guarantee a certain degree of privacy, and at the same time let people know that they haven't left the reception.

   Waiting on the balcony, only myself, the heads of the five major organizations, and Edward and the others were left.

  Abel confessed to these people why he had invited them up.

   That is, Abel represents the Pacific Commercial Bank and wants to acquire the shares of American Express held by these institutions!

".My entry will not change anything. American Express will continue to implement the original development strategy, while maintaining financial stability and a good capital return plan, invest more funds to develop the market, so as to increase future profits. Income, in order to better return the investment of shareholders.”

   "I think this kind of thing is also something that all shareholders of American Express are happy to see and support."

  Abel raised the corner of his mouth, with a calm smile, stretched out his finger and drew a circle in the air, his eyes were bright and confident.

  He looked at the helmsmen of several large institutions around him, drawing big pies to persuade, hoping to get the support of these major shareholders of American Express, so that he could easily seize the power of the board of directors of American Express.

  Since last year, he has always wanted American Express, the only service company on the Dow Jones Industrial Index.

  He invested a lot of money for this, and he did not hesitate to use the shares of Smith Capital to obtain a large number of shares of American Express from Buffett.

   And in the primary market and the secondary market, it has been tirelessly acquiring shares of American Express.

   But half a year has passed, so far, Abel still only holds 30.96% of the shares of American Express.

  When Abel acquired Sempra Energy, the senior executives of American Express had the support of some shareholders, and the news about the triangle diagram revealed Abel’s intentions.

   Many investors and these big institutions feel that he is determined to win Amex.

  This has made the stock of American Express very strong in the stock market for the past six months.

  Even the September 11th disaster did not fall much.

   Seeing this, Abel decided to show his cards.

   Stop pretending, I just want to buy it, and at the end I want to take charge of American Express and become its chairman!

  Abel showed his ambition to acquire American Express, which made the five leaders of Fisher Asset Management Group, American Vanguard Group, Fidelity International Investment Fund, State Street Bank and Wellington Management Group present ponder.

  But I thought that Abe Smith had firmly obtained so many shares of American Express from Buffett before.

  There are follow-up acquisitions in the market, and they are a little relieved.

  So many preparations have been made in the early stage, so it is understandable to want to become the owner of American Express.

   After all, from many perspectives, many businesses of American Express are indeed very powerful supplements to Pacific Bank of Commerce.

   Not to mention the merger, even if it is just cooperation, it is very attractive to Pacific Commercial Bank.

   "So, Mr. Smith, what's your offer?"

  The CEO of State Street Bank was the first to ask.

  They are investment institutions, and the pursuit of profit is the most important thing. If the short-term profit can be maximized, they will agree to Abel's quotation without hesitation and sell the shares of American Express.

   As for whether American Express will change ownership, some shareholders are not happy, and these are not within their consideration.

  But what is certain is that the original senior executives of American Express can no longer control the future destiny of the company.

   "$18, based on the stock price in recent days, a premium of 25%."

   When Abe bought AmEx last year, its stock was hovering around $13-14.

  In parallel time and space, its stock will drop to 8-9 dollars a share at this time.

  This time and space is because of Abel, and major institutions and investors believe that it will increase in price.

   This kept the stock of American Express from falling.

   When the September 11th disaster plummeted, it actually held up.

  It has been maintained at around 18-20 US dollars, and it cannot rise or fall.

   These guys are betting that Abe Smith will make an acquisition.

  The foreplay has been prepared for so long, with Abel Smith's character, it is impossible not to do it, right?

  So Abel's first quote is not finished yet.

  The CEOs of the five organizations present all smiled and shook their heads in unison.

  This quotation is far from their psychological price, so they shook their heads without hesitation to express their meaning.

   "$25."

  Abel knew it would be like this, these guys are always so greedy.

   He made a new offer, a second offer.

  But these five guys seemed to have a tacit understanding, and after listening to it, they started shaking their heads again.

"cash payment."

  Abel ignored the shaking of the heads of several people, and he didn't intend to take all the shares in the hands of these big institutions.

  As one of the most well-known institutional stocks in the United States, as the only service company in the Dow Jones Industrial Index.

   Wanting to control American Express as a sole proprietorship is actually similar to controlling military giants such as Raytheon.

  Maybe the latter is even simpler. As long as the latter obtains the consent of the military-industrial complex, it is very easy to obtain shares.

   But institutional stocks like American Express, unless they spend two or three times the money directly.

   Otherwise, even if it can be acquired, it can only acquire its shares a little bit.

   But Abel also believes that as long as he announces to the public that he will acquire the shares of American Express at a price of 25 US dollars a share.

  Many of the more than a thousand institutions that hold shares in American Express will definitely choose to sell.

  As for the five major shareholders present, what Abel needs more is their support.

  Supported him to replace the board members with his own people, and eventually Abel became the chairman of the board and took control of American Express.

  Looking at the CEOs of the five major organizations who are still unwilling to be satisfied.

  Abel no longer talks about acquiring shares, but throws out another temptation.

  He smiled and said:

   "Everyone knows. In recent years, the global economy has been sluggish. Last year, the Nasdaq bubble just happened, and this year there was September 11. Now there is a war going on, and no one knows what the future will hold."

   "At this time, I think the more cash you have on hand, the better it is obviously."

   "Let's put it this way, gentlemen. If I can become the owner of American Express, how about I take all the profits of American Express for the next few years as dividends?"

   In Abel’s view, it seems impossible to directly acquire American Express.

  The Triangle Chart news incident that time has exposed his intentions.

   It was difficult for him to attack suddenly, and he took down Amex directly.

  Abe decided to take a detour on the advice of the Smith Intelligence Group.

  He intends to control the American Express Company first, and let himself take charge of the company first.

  And this will be a gradual process, it cannot be accomplished overnight.

  Because Amex, currently 65% ​​of the shares, is still in the hands of major institutions.

   To a large extent, this is a fatal trouble.

   If he wants to truly control American Express, Abel can only coax the group of major shareholders to figure it out.

  As soon as Abel's proposal was uttered, the eyes of the five people present lit up slightly.

   Then they looked at each other.

  Actually, Abel has a headache for them, and their big organizations also feel a headache for Abel.

   Abel now holds 30.96% of the shares of AmEx. To be honest, they also know that there is no way to prevent the super rich Abel Smith from continuing to carry out the acquisition plan.

  They originally just wanted to make a fortune.

  Now Abel Smith hopes to use a small price to become the owner of AmEx.

  So find them and hope to get support.

  If they refuse, it is conceivable that the smiling young man in front of him will not let it go.

   Leaving aside his possible revenge in other areas.

  It’s just about the matter of American Express, the five major institutions that don’t have an advantage in holding shares, are also very afraid of Abel.

   At that time, once Abel, as the largest shareholder, successfully enters the board of directors of American Express and obtains the authority of the chairman.

   It may be these institutions that will be dealt with first.

   Without much effort, a proposal that does not pay dividends for several years can kill them!

  Can it be stopped?

  The five CEOs all saw helplessness and doubts in each other's eyes.

   Then they all turned their eyes to Abel Smith, who was still calm and calm.

  The main reason is that while this person is extremely rich, he also has influence on politics.

   Not himself, but the bush family behind him.

  If he is not in a hurry to acquire American Express, but slowly gets stuck like this.

  How long AmEx's stock can last, no one really knows.

  If this guy is so ruthless that he doesn't want American Express anymore.

  Then it may even be a waste of money, and everyone will lose a lot of money first.

   Now in front of these institutions, what they most want is of course Abel to double his shot, at least not less than 30 US dollars.

   But if Abel turns his face and leaves, the loss outweighs the gain.

   The best thing to do is to let Abel enter Amex first, stabilize him first, and earn a little dividend first.

   After all, if he really wanted to come, everyone really couldn't refuse.

  (end of this chapter)