America’s Road To Wealth

  Chapter 338 Buffett Smith Soros

   Following Pacific Bank of Commerce on November 9th.

   Announced that the tender offer price for American Express would be raised to 35 US dollars.

  Intraday of the day.

  The stock of American Express rose directly from 30.5 US dollars to 37 US dollars in one fell swoop.

   The second day, November 10, and the third day, November 11, are Sundays, and global stock markets are closed.

  The fourth day, November 12.

  As soon as the market opened in the morning, the price of AmEx's stock broke through $40.

   On this day, Jim Walton, one of the shareholders of American Express, came to Los Angeles.

  At the foot of Beverly Hills, in the business meeting box of the InterContinental Hotel Executive Lounge where Abel and Ikana stayed last year.

  “.Sorry, Mr. Smith, we think Amex is grossly undervalued, so, you get the point.”

  In the bright and concise business meeting room of the Intercontinental Hotel.

  Beside Abel, on the left and right sides, sat David Jones and Alan Baker, the two humming generals.

  David always had that smile on his face, while Alan Baker looked calm.

  Behind him, stood several members of the Smith Intelligence Group, as well as Abel's Four King Kong.

   Opposite Abel is his own private investment company brought by Jim Walton.

  The person who spoke just now is Jim Walton, the major shareholder who holds 1.5% of the shares of American Express.

"Snapped!"

  Abel smiled and snapped his fingers.

  He reached out and took the checkbook that David handed over in due course.

  Under the staring eyes of everyone on the opposite side, Abel picked up the signature pen and drew circles on the cash check.

  Tear—

  The cash check was torn off, Abel raised the corner of his mouth, and with a smile on his face, he held the cash check between **** and said lightly:

   "It's $750 million at $35 a share. If you agree to the deal, Mr. Walton, then it's yours."

  “.”

  Jim Walton's eyes couldn't help staring at the cash check trembling in mid-air.

  Jim suppressed the slight urge to agree. After all, greed had the upper hand in his heart, and he wanted more.

   "Sorry." Jim Walton smiled and wanted to say something.

   "You said no, didn't you?"

  The faint smile on Abel's face disappeared, and he asked again with a cold expression.

   "Yes, I don't think the current offer can't" Jim Walton wanted to say fifty dollars minimum.

  Even when Jim entered the market, the stock price of American Express was only $10 a share.

  According to Abel's quotation, Jim can already earn nearly 500 million US dollars.

  But people are greedy after all, the richer people are, the more greedy they are. Jim Walton is also a person, still has a lot of money, and his greed is of course stronger.

  Jim Walton wants to get more. He thinks that one billion dollars is worthy of Abel's worth as the richest man in the world.

   But what happened next made Jim Walton feel bad. .

   "Prick, prick~~"

  Among Jim Walton and his entourage were stunned and their faces changed drastically.

  Abel withdrew his hand indifferently, took the cash check and tore it from the middle.

  Then leisurely folded in half and tore it again until it was shredded. Spread your hands and let the paper fall on the conference table.

   "Sorry to take up your time. Goodbye, Mr. Walton."

  Abel stood up with a faint smile, his chin raised slightly.

  He looked proudly and sharply at the ugly-looking Jim Walton, pulled off the hem of his suit, and walked directly to the temporary business meeting room provided by the Intercontinental Hotel.

  The others followed closely behind, while David, who looked the mildest, stopped slightly.

  Under the waiting gaze of Jim Walton, David gathered the scraps of checks on the table into his hands and put them in his pocket.

   Then David smiled and nodded at the other party before leaving directly, looking like a gentleman in a mess.

   But what he did just made Jim Walton feel like his lungs would explode.

   "Fack! Fack!"

  As soon as David's people left, Jim Walton immediately began to curse.

  When he stood up with an unusually ugly face and wanted to yell at him.

  咚咚—

   A few seconds later, a trader working for Jim Walton appeared at the door of the conference room with a somewhat anxious expression, and knocked on the door twice.

  Under the watchful eyes of the boss, he reported nervously.

   "Mr. Walton, the Pacific Bank of Commerce announced just now that it will not raise the price of the general offer for American Express again. The purchase price will only be $35, not a penny more."

   "After the Pacific Bank of Commerce announced the news, the stock price of American Express Co., Ltd. fell in response. It has fallen from a high of 41.5 US dollars a share to 39.5 US dollars. According to the data analysis, it will continue to fall."

   "Peng!"

  Jim Walton kicked the desk hard, and it turned out that the desk at the Intercontinental Hotel was too hard and heavy.

   Didn't kick, but Jim couldn't help jumping on one foot in pain, looking a little embarrassed.

   "Fack! Fack!"

   "Hiss~~"

  Jim gasped again and again, this kick hurt too much.

   But now is not the time for flesh pain, Jim Walton endured the pain and immediately ordered a subordinate.

   "Call Abel Smith immediately! Tell him, I am willing to use the conditions just now to make a deal! $750 million is $750 million."

   Jim Walton said.

  The general manager of his private investment company quickly contacted Smith Intelligence Group.

  The phone call was easily made, but the result made the general manager look ugly.

   "What's going on?" Jim Walton, whose feet didn't hurt so much, became a little worried when he saw his face.

  The general manager of the investment company said: "Boss, Alan Baker said that your rejection just now made his boss very angry. So Abel Smith decided not to buy the shares of American Express in your hand again."

   Jim Walton was taken aback, with anger on his face: "Fake! Fake! Fake the Smith! Shet!"

  No matter how much the son of the founder of Wal-Mart scolds, he has missed the perfect time to sell all the shares quickly at one time.

  On the US stock market.

  The stock of American Express also fell crazily, falling to around $35 before the market closed on the 12th.

   At this price, it stabilizes.

  Because of the Pacific Bank of Commerce, it really did as it said, buying as many as it can under $35.

   For stocks above this, it is indifferent.

   This looks a bit similar to that of Sempra Energy, the difference is that this time Abel did not deliberately wait for the stock to skyrocket before selling.

  Before it got out of hand, he asked the Pacific Bank of Commerce to issue a notice.

  Compared to the previous act of uniting those institutions to cut leeks, this time there are also some unlucky ones who suffered heavy losses.

  But at any rate, it is not like manipulating the market like last time, so this time, not many financial media came out to criticize.

  The next day, November 13th.

   In the morning, Abel's motorcade just pulled out of 812 North Bedford Road in Beverly Hills.

  David in the co-pilot's cab answered a call, and after answering the call.

  David turned and looked at Abel, "Boss, there is a spoiler. After the opening of the market in the morning, a large amount of money entered the market and began to sweep the stock of Freight Express."

   Abel frowned slightly, but he wasn't too worried.

  In a hostile takeover, if there is a black knight like myself, there will be a white knight.

  The probability of a white knight appearing is too great. Whether it is an ally of American Express or a speculator who hopes to make a fortune, this kind of thing can never be eliminated.

   "Do you know who the other party is?"

   "I know that the other party did not hide himself. According to the information provided by the exchange, the funds came from Soros Fund Management Company."

   No need for anyone to explain, just listen to the name, and you will know who is behind this company.

  Soros Fund Management Company is a fund company owned by George Soros.

  Different from the Quantum Fund he created with Rogers, Soros Fund Management Company is mainly engaged in normal financial investment, mainly stock investment.

   In contrast, Quantum Fund is one of the most famous hedge funds. It plays a small game and uses super exaggerated leverage to take advantage of the dollar tide and harvest the world.

  The last time I was in the Norwegian krone, it can be said that I stood on the opposite side of Soros and international hot money.

  Although Soros withdrew early, the loss was not great.

   But Abel let Soros waste a few months in Europe, but got nothing, and even lost millions of dollars.

   This is already a defeat for George Soros.

   You must know that at the beginning, Soros showed his favor to Abel frequently.

   In the middle, Abel once hinted why the international hot money and Soros stood together, and everyone happily harvested Norwegian leeks.

   But later, when Abel was profitable, he immediately turned his face and refused to recognize anyone.

   Standing between Norway and Soros swayed left and right, taking advantage of both sides.

  Although Soros said nothing afterwards, because Abel’s approach was too in line with the tone of a financial capitalist.

   Even deep down in Soros's heart, he was still laughing at Abel's immaturity.

  If Abel and Soros had switched positions at that time, the old guy felt that he had dozens of ways to make himself more profitable than Abel!

   Comparing his heart to his heart, Soros didn't think there was anything abnormal about Abel's actions.

  Switched to other financial capitalists, they would do the same thing, or even do it even more outrageously.

   But after this incident, the two of them became enemies.

  George Soros never hesitated when given the opportunity to retaliate or add insult to injury.

   It was the same as when Abel stood in the middle and swayed from side to side, asking for benefits from both parties!

  This time the old guy will want to take revenge on himself in the stock market, Abel is not surprised at all.

  Abel squinted his eyes slightly, and the cold light flickered. No matter what, if the other party came out to disrupt the situation at this time, it would bring him some trouble.

  If Soros has already contacted American Express and formed an alliance, then the trouble may be even greater.

  No matter what, since the other party couldn't bear the loneliness, he made a move.

  Abel can't ignore it, and he can't ignore it. After all, Soros Fund Management Company is also one of the giants on Wall Street.

   Standing behind Soros of Oilman Capital, if you really want to get serious, the financial strength is very strong.

  If you can dig a hole for Soros, it is naturally impossible to ask Soros not to fight back.

   "Hehe, let's see who is more skilled!"

   Abel raised the corners of his mouth, his eyes sharpened, and he said to himself.

  November 13th.

  After knowing that Soros Fund Management Company made a move.

  Amex, represented by Kenneth Chenault, immediately made a public show of favor to George Soros.

  Soros Fund Management also cooperated very well.

  George Soros himself did not appear.

   Tims, general manager of Soros Fund Management Company, held a press conference this morning.

  At the press conference, Tims praised the value of American Express.

  Claims that the actual value of this company, which has a long history and is favored by Buffett, Smith and Soros at the same time, far exceeds its stock price.

  Tims claimed that Soros Fund Management's move this time was not speculation, but value investing.

  Soros Fund Management Company will hold the stock of American Express for a long time and regard it as the company's heavy stock.

  After the press conference is over, wait until noon when the U.S. stock market is closed.

  Amex’s stock, stimulated by this major positive news, once again rose from $35.9 at the close of yesterday to $39 a share.

  At this time, whether it is investors or those financial media.

   Everyone wants to know what Abel Smith means now.

  Soros stood up and said that he would compete with him for Express.

   Wouldn't the richest man in the world come out and say a few words?

  This is the only service company in the Dow Jones Industrial Index.

  Buffett is just right, Smith is also optimistic, and now even Soros is also optimistic.

  Of course I bought, bought, bought.

   Obviously, after the market reopens in the afternoon, the share price of American Express will continue to rise.

   At this time, the Alberts were already at the intersection of Hollywood with the busiest traffic in Los Angeles—the intersection of Highland Street and Sunset Boulevard.

   To be precise, he is in the new headquarters building of MGM Film Group next door.

  A few months ago, Abel took a fancy to a fifty-story square commercial building here.

  After he took a fancy to it, he directly asked his new starting point real estate company to sell.

   After buying this building, they leased it to MGM at a very cheap price and took this building as the new headquarters of the film group.

   A few months later, MGM Films, DreamWorks Films, Marvel Films, DreamWorks Animation, Pixar Animation, and other subsidiaries under the MGM Film Group basically moved into the office.

  Because the building is spacious enough, there is still a lot of office space left.

  DreamWorks Music also opened a recording studio here.

  A part of Smith Media's subsidiaries also set up a Los Angeles branch here.

  The arrival of a large number of office workers and staff made this building lively.

  Tourists and passers-by who pass by Sunset Boulevard or Highland Street every day will see the parking lot outside the building that has hung the signboard of "MGM Film Group", full of various cars.

  Being able to work in such a spacious, comfortable place with new equipment, new building decoration, and a very important location.

  All employees are very happy, including those stars and actors.

  The only not-so-good place is that the building is located at the busiest intersection in Hollywood.

   During the rush hour of commuting every day, if there is no traffic jam for more than one or two hours, it is as if the sun came out from the west.

  Abel always likes to work in high places.

  His office here is naturally located on the top fifty floors, directly facing the intersection below.

   At noon.

  In front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows of the chairman's office, Abel put his hands on his hips.

   Looking at the traffic jam below for at least a few kilometers, he felt a sense of gloating.

  Turning around, he looked at the sofa in the sitting area of ​​the office.

  The CEO of MGM Film Group, Robert Iger, the CEO of Smith Media, and others all sat on the sofa and watched him.

  Abel walked over, facing his subordinates, he smiled and spread his hands—

   "It seems that it is necessary to prepare a commercial helicopter for you? Otherwise, it will be more troublesome when you encounter such a big traffic jam when you are traveling on an urgent matter."

  Robert smiled and said: "Now there are many employees who would rather come by bicycle or motorcycle."

  Michael Levine also joked: "I don't need staff, I just came here by bicycle. Driving is too congested."

  The person in charge of DreamWorks films next to him, the great director Spielberg, thought to himself—the luxury apartment you live in is less than a mile away, of course you can come by bicycle.

   But Spielberg didn’t say anything, because the mansion where the big director lives is closer to here, and it only takes less than ten minutes to walk

   "Okay. Let's not talk about this issue." Abel chuckled and said, "It's already November. Let's talk about the plan for next year."

  He is here today, calling the people in charge of the entire Smith Media Group related to the film.

  The heads of the major film companies under MGM Film Group are all here at this time.

   Abel glanced at it and directly named the great director Spielberg.

   "Steven." Abel smiled and said, "How about you talk about it first? Let's talk about DreamWorks' film plans for next year."

  The Big Three of DreamWorks Films, after selling all the company's stock to Abel.

  According to the contract, as long as the three people still make movies, or engage in work related to movies.

  Smith Media, which acquired DreamWorks Films, has the right to hire them first.

   In fact, it is true.

  Jeffrey Katzenberg of the DreamWorks Big Three is now in charge of DreamWorks Animation, and he is here today.

  David Geffen is responsible for the music of DreamWorks. Today, it is mainly about the film, and David does not use it.

  The famous director Steven Spielberg is currently the general manager and chief producer of DreamWorks Films.

  In addition to filming his own film, Spielberg is also responsible for DreamWorks Films.

  Hundreds of millions of dollars is not so easy to get after all. The value of the Big Three itself is the most fascinating part of DreamWorks.

  Spielberg is not opposed to this, as the general manager has a general manager's remuneration, and the chief producer also has a producer's remuneration.

  If you shoot another movie, you must pay the director a penny.

   It's a little more work and a lot of responsibility, but he also has a little more power in Hollywood.

   Besides, the young man standing in front of him is the richest man in the world.

  Working for the richest man in the world, the big director thinks there is nothing wrong with it.

   "This year's work has been basically completed." Spielberg said:

"Because Jeffrey was injured in the early stage, David didn't do anything. Therefore, after DreamWorks came here this year, only one movie was shot. This movie is currently undergoing post-production and is expected to be released in February and March next year. Oh , the name of the movie is "Tuxedo."

   "Tuxedo?"

  Abel felt that the name of this movie was a bit familiar, and he seemed to have seen it.

   Spielberg explains:

"The director is Kevin Donovan, a new director, but very capable. The lead actor is Jack Cheng, a well-known Chinese action superstar. He had a good box office at Rush Hour last year, and we thought he would be very popular in Hollywood, so Invited him to shoot this Tuxedo."

  Abel nodded, no wonder he felt that this work was familiar.

   It turned out to be Cheng Long's work. He remembered that he had seen it, and it was pretty good.

   "Other than this movie?" Abel asked again.

   "Currently planning to shoot two works."

  Spielberg reported: "One is "Cat and Mouse Game". I will direct it. I plan to invite Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks."

   "The other is an alien sci-fi movie. The director is temporarily determined to be Toby Hooper. The actors are tentatively named Emily Bogle, Dakota Fanning and others."

   "Oh, that all sounds good"

  (end of this chapter)