Hollywood Hunter

new York.

The time is already March 27th.

A business reception is being held in the banquet hall of Gramercy Hotel in Midtown.

One week after the news of Eaglet’s external financing was released, although no intention was reached, all the calls of the responsible persons were blown up.

In order to answer the various questions of potential investors in a unified way, Westeros simply held this cocktail party in New York, inviting a large number of investment banks and fund leaders on Wall Street to participate.

"Simon, Boeing's recent market value is only less than 12 billion U.S. dollars. Do you think a technology company that has only been established for four years is quoting 15 billion U.S. dollars. Is this reasonable?

Inside the reception hall.

Simon listened to the half-truth of Goldman Sachs Chairman Stephen Friedman’s complaints, and smiled: "Steven, if you want to make a stable investment with an annual growth rate of 10% or 20%, you can definitely find Boeing, Aviation The industry will certainly not be outdated. However, if you want higher returns, of course you need to take some risks. Speaking of which, I haven’t paid much attention to Boeing’s stock price recently. If it’s less than $12 billion, I will let Lawrence do the best. Maybe buy more."

Stephen Friedman knew that Lawrence Simon said was Lawrence Fink, the head of Cersei Capital's Black Rock Asset Management Company.

Black Rock Asset Management has developed rapidly after investing in Cersei Capital. The assets controlled by this mutual fund investment company recently have exceeded US$120 billion.

The investment standard of mutual funds is to pursue low-risk, mainly investing in large-cap stocks with stable returns, as well as high-rated government bonds and corporate bonds, in order to ensure the safety of funds as much as possible. In doing so, although the investment profit will not be too high, but relying on the huge size of the fund itself, it can still get good returns.

Goldman Sachs cannot be so conservative.

After thinking about it, Stephen Friedman said: "However, Simon, the price of 1.5 billion US dollars is still too high. How about 1 billion US dollars? Goldman Sachs is very sincere to reach this cooperation, 1 billion US dollars, and Igrid The company promises to conduct an IPO within three years, and we can sign an equity transfer agreement in the near future."

Simon smiled, gestured to the people around him, and said, "Steven, you should understand that it is a seller's market now, so you have no room to bargain with me."

Stephen Friedman saw that Simon had no room for retreat even though he was smiling. However, these emotions will of course not appear in his expression. The youth in front of him is not an object that Goldman Sachs can handle. On the contrary, even if this business fails, Goldman Sachs still hopes to obtain the next Daenerys Entertainment and Igreat The IPO underwriting rights of the company and other companies in the Westeros system.

In recent years, only the IPOs of a few companies in the Westeros system have received the most attention from the industry.

As for the equity of Eaglet, Goldman Sachs is not without disagreements. Some people think that it should be eaten all. Some people think that the bubble component is very big. Stephen Friedman is hesitant. He is 50 this year. Many years old, although able to climb the position of chairman of Goldman Sachs, the ability is absolutely sufficient, but he does not know much about the emerging Internet industry.

In his view, there are very obvious irrational factors in the recent soaring share prices of Cisco and AOL.

However, the advantages and revenue data of these companies in the industry appear to be real, which makes it difficult for people to judge future stock price trends.

Of course, with the announcement of the "Information Superhighway Plan", Stephen Friedman is actually very optimistic about the Internet industry, but now investing in this field is either too risky or too costly. A little carelessness may result in huge amounts. Loss.

The internal competition at Goldman Sachs is very fierce. Once there is a serious investment error, his position as chairman will almost immediately abdicate.

For 10% of Eaglet’s stock, US$1 billion is a figure recognized by the core management of Goldman Sachs. Moreover, this still requires Eaglet’s IPO within three years. By buying these shares, Goldman Sachs also hopes to take advantage of the opportunity to obtain the underwriting rights of Eaglet's IPO.

However, looking at the scene at the reception today, Stephen Friedman understands that Goldman Sachs wants to make this business with 1 billion dollars, and the possibility is almost zero.

In the lobby tonight, Goldman Sachs, Morgan, Lehman, First Boston and even the heads of Salomon Brothers, who are still struggling in the mud, are present. In addition, there are also executives from the Vanguard Fund, Blackstone Group, KKR and other fund companies and some There are even overseas capital forces on the periphery of Wall Street.

Although it is in the name of 10% of Eaglet's stock trading, everyone is watching the entire Westeros system.

Daenerys Entertainment has worked very closely with Morgan Stanley in the past few years. For next year’s IPO, unless there are major changes, the lead underwriter can basically be identified as Morgan Stanley. However, Daenerys Entertainment’s IPO The scale will be very large. Morgan Stanley eats meat, and it is not impossible for everyone to get some soup.

In addition, within the Westeros system, companies such as Eaglet Corporation, LTD Group, Tinkobair Corporation, and Verizon Telecom may all conduct IPO operations in the future. Even after listing, many companies still have to issue additional stocks or bond financing, all of which are big business.

If Simon Westero is smart enough, he will certainly not only work with Morgan Stanley.

With these considerations in mind, Stephen Friedman's thoughts about whether to join this batch of equity competitions could not help but strengthen. Finally, he chatted for a while with the youth in front of him. Before leaving, Friedman suddenly asked: "Simon, 10. % Of the shares, are you planning to sell all of them to one company?"

Simon's eyes flickered and said: "Of course not. US$1.5 billion is indeed a lot of money. If Goldman Sachs and some capital jointly buy, as long as the two parties can negotiate, of course it will be fine."

To get the answer he wanted, Stephen Friedman said: "In this case, tomorrow...well, how about next Monday night, let's have a meal together and have a chat by the way?"

Simon smiled and shook his head: "Next Monday is the Oscars ceremony."

"Oh, I forgot about it, so..."

Simon interrupted: "Stephen, I will return to Los Angeles tomorrow, and may not come to New York again for the next week, so if you make a decision, you can talk to James, he is my spokesperson."

Stephen Friedman stretched out his hand again and shook his hand with Simon, and said: "It seems that this can only be done, and I am looking forward to more opportunities for cooperation."

"of course."

Stephen Friedman left, Simon took a sip of the red wine in his hand, and stood in the distance thinking about what had just happened.

Goldman Sachs and Washington have a very close relationship, and they are a standard Democratic camp. After Bill Clinton became president, Robert Rubin, who was co-chairman of Goldman Sachs with Stephen Friedman a few years ago, joined the White House as the president’s economic policy assistant and was responsible for leading the National Economic Policy Committee established by Clinton. Simon also I know that Robert Rubin will be able to serve as Secretary of the Treasury in a few years.

In the past history, in the subprime mortgage crisis around 2008, Lehman Brothers went bankrupt, Bear Stearns was acquired, and other investment banks were all chicken feathers. Only Goldman Sachs not only did not lose money, but made good profits in the subprime mortgage crisis. And subsequently became the most powerful investment bank on Wall Street, which definitely does not lack the influence of close relations with the government.

The relationship between the Westeros system and the White House is already very sophisticated at this time, and there is no need to establish a relationship with Washington through Goldman Sachs, but there is definitely no harm in dealing with this investment bank.

Of course, the Morgan department, which has established close ties, will not give up either.

The focus of the Westeros system in the field of Wall Street investment banking is only Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.

This time, Simon did not sell all 10% of Eaglet’s shares to a single capital from the beginning.

Wall Street Capital seems to control hundreds of billions of dollars in assets at every turn, but there are not many that can really come up with $1.5 billion in cash at once.

Taking into account the risks involved, willing to invest $1.5 billion in cash in a new technology company but only obtains 10% of the shares, the openness coefficient of Wall Street has not reached this level.

In fact, it has become the best choice to join other capitals to eat this batch of shares.

Faced with the eye of other capitals, Morgan Stanley is also very interested in this batch of shares, and even worried that this batch of shares will be bought by other companies, which will break the good cooperation between the Westeros system and the Morgan department.

Simon's vision is roughly that Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs raised a sum of capital at the same time to jointly take up the 10% of the shares.

As for the other capital forces in the banquet hall at this time, at least in this business in front of him, they are already in the PASS ranks in Simon's heart.

He made up his mind and continued to entertain some guests. Simon had just chatted with Steve Schwarzman, chairman of the Blackstone Group, and was about to go to Lawrence Fink, the head of the Apollo Management Company, and another one in his fifties. A middle-aged man with a pair of old disc glasses walked over.

Simon took the initiative to raise a toast to the other party, but glanced at the girl A beside him, Alison leaned into his ear and whispered: "Joseph Lewis, Chairman of the Tavistock Group."

Simon was not familiar with the two names mentioned by Girl A. The middle-aged person had already come to the front, and Girl A couldn't elaborate, so she took the initiative to step aside.

"Hello, Simon, this is Joseph Lewis, you can call me Joe."

Simon and Joseph Lewis shook hands and greeted, "Hello, Joe."

After the greeting, Joseph Lewis looked around and said, "I'm a bit late. It's really nice here."

Simon looked at each other and smiled: "Thank you."

Joseph Lewis probably also found the doubt in Simon's eyes, and quickly said: "Actually, Simon, I now run an investment company and I had a cooperation with Mr. Soros last year."

Simon suddenly understood the nature of the Tavistock Group that Alison just said.

Financial speculators.

And it is an international currency speculator who has just ‘ridden’ in the pound crisis last year.

To be more straightforward, the middle-aged man in front of him must have a large amount of cash in his hand.

Joseph Lewis noticed the clarity in Simon’s expression. He no longer said much, and said directly: "Simon, it is like this. I am very interested in these shares of Eaglet Corporation. However, I have been with Rebold before. When Mr. and Mr. Li contacted, they said that only you can make the final decision. So, when do you think we can talk about the transaction?"

It's really simple.

And bold enough.

If the shares of Eaglet have other meanings, Simon would be happy to say hello to such people.

However, Simon could only shake his head at this time: "Joe, thank you very much for your interest in Eaglet, but I'm afraid someone has already made the first step."

Joseph Lewis was not disappointed when he heard Simon say this, as if he had already expected it, and said: "It's a pity, but I think we must have other cooperation opportunities in the future. Simon, I heard that you are trying to acquire Christie's auction house, yes. ?"

Christie’s auction house’s acquisition negotiations are still ongoing. Now that the other party has heard the news, Simon has not concealed it.

"I am also very interested in collecting, and it seems that Melisandre is still looking for other collaborators. Do you mind if I get involved?"

"Of course I don't mind, but Sophia has always been in charge of this matter. You can talk to him first."

Joseph Lewis laughed and said: "I still think it is more efficient to talk to you. My company owner requires a 20% shareholding and does not participate in the business of Christie's. If the shares are sold in the future, Melisandre also has the right of first refusal. Of course, in the collection auction process, as a shareholder, I still hope to get some special treatment."

Even if he didn't know the details of Joseph Lewis, and the other party was so simple, Simon was not stingy, and quickly reached out his hand to the other party and said, "Then, Joe, I'm very happy to be able to work with you."

The middle-aged person in front of him is obviously eager to establish a connection with the Westeros system, and the entry point chosen is very good.

Christie’s auction house, this is only a business of less than one billion US dollars, which has little impact on the entire Westeros system. The other party only requires holding shares and does not pursue control rights. This sincerity is also very sufficient.

As for the deeper purpose, Simon can probably guess some, but he doesn't mind too much.

The two continued to chat for a while, and Joseph Lewis also unabashedly continued to introduce himself.

Lewis is a British citizen. He started his business on chain restaurants and clubs in his early years. He began to get involved in financial speculation in the 1980s. He experienced the 87 stock market crash, the Japanese stock market bubble and the collapse of the US bond market, and, most importantly, the 1992 pound crisis.

After several operations, it probably has accumulated enough capital. Joe Lewis has recently begun to return to physical industry investment. If Simon agrees, the other party does intend to buy 10% of Eaglet's shares in one go, but Joe Lewis I probably understand that Simon's transfer of this share is not purely to raise funds.