Reinventing the Millennium.

Chapter 688 Means (Two in One)

The secret visit to the head of the Bank of China did not last long.

What Fang Zhuo and Paulson needed was a possible attitude, and in the end, they got it.

Then comes the stage where actions speak louder than words.

What President Li said is correct. Even if the funds have not been officially delivered, the contract has been signed, and the operation time will not be too long.

On the way back, the two still shared the same car.

Paulson starts with one thing.

"Fang, ICBC is a larger bank than other banks, and it also faces more complicated problems that need to be solved urgently."

"Whether it is from the development of ICBC itself or from the reputation of Goldman Sachs, I prefer to see that the cooperation with ICBC does not become drastic."

He looked at the fuzzy expression of Mr. Fang under the light in the car, and said more clearly: "We should all quickly promote the strategic investment in ICBC. This is a better situation for ICBC, Goldman Sachs, and MIGA Fund."

Fang Zhuo nodded and said, "Yes, I think so too."

Allianz and American Express were abandoned.

Their names no longer appear in Paulson's words.

After really seeing more profit prospects, the original shares of these two companies naturally became the basis for the cooperation between Fang Zhuo and Paulson.

A situation of stable cooperation with ICBC will also help the next formal contact with Bank of China. If MIGA and Goldman Sachs fight wildly, they will inevitably lose points. What's more, the situation of Bank of China itself requires everyone's efforts.

Paulson wanted more.

The current situation is to solve the ICBC first, so as to unite Fang Zhuo. Even if Fang Zhuo can't provide more help after bringing a certain tendency of the head of the Bank of China, at least he will not do bad things.

Fang Zhuo shook hands with Paulson, and the situation of ICBC took a big step forward.

He also took the initiative to mention the matter of the Bank of China: "I will try my best to see the views of the Bank of China on cooperation. If Goldman Sachs and MIGA can be included as candidates for strategic investment, we will also try our best to provide guarantees for supervision."

"A reasonable lock-up period is a manifestation of sincerity."

"I also believe that Huaxia's banking industry will usher in rapid development."

If you want to poach corners, you have to work hard from the outside, and you have to be reliable yourself.

The reason why the Bank of China has an opportunity here is because the Royal Bank of Scotland's approach this time is unreliable.

Paulson agreed in principle to the proposal of the lock-up period, and the specific details should be discussed on the ICBC conference table.

The two exchanged the framework of cooperation again.

ICBC originally took out 3 director seats, but now it only needs 2.

Bank of China is said to have signed a contract with the Royal Bank of Scotland to provide only one board seat. Merrill Lynch and Li Jiacheng Fund have privately cooperated with Scotland. If they are successfully replaced, they will need to fight for one more board seat.

When the car arrived at the hotel, Fang Zhuo asked one last question.

"Paulson, what are you going to do with Merrill Lynch?"

This is related to the success or failure of poaching corners.

"Merrill Lynch was raised by the gang." Paulson said flatly.

Fang Zhuo thought that this sentence might have some personal grievances, and what he expected to hear was something more specific.

"Don't worry, I won't misread the group of women." Paulson only assured him before getting out of the car.

Fang Zhuo could only choose to believe.

The head of Goldman Sachs walked into the hotel.

Fang Zhuo watched his figure disappear through the car window, and then said to the driver Chen Zhao, "Let's go back."

The car turned around.

Fang Zhuo drank a couple of sips of water, thought about the meeting tonight, and suddenly remembered what happened before he left, and asked casually, "Da Chen, do you think President Zhang is still waiting for me at the hotel?"

Chen Zhao didn't know what kind of business the boss was doing this time, he only knew that it was very big.

He thought for a while and said, "It's so late, and I didn't say when to go back. Mr. Zhang won't wait."

That Mr. Zhang is also a dignified president.

Fang Zhuo said with a smile: "I guess he hasn't left yet, Mr. Zhang has to bend and stretch to get to where he is today."

Chen Zhao couldn't believe it.

However, when he returned to the hotel, he saw that Mr. Zhang not only didn't leave, but squatted at the door of the hotel smoking a cigarette while waiting, and Mr. Fang kept saying "why is this" as if he didn't expect it at all.

Then the two presidents went to the meeting room talking and laughing again.

Chen Zhao glanced at the time subconsciously, and it was already eleven ten in the evening.

Not easy, not easy.

Chen Zhao sighed in his heart, and silently performed his duties.

……

In late September, the temperature in the capital dropped with the continuous rain, but the cooperation between MIGA Fund, Goldman Sachs, and ICBC suddenly became hot.

Originally, the acquisition consortium of the MIGA Fund entered the ICBC conference room in a surprise manner, Fang Zhuo and Goldman Sachs confronted each other, and Paulson himself flew from the United States to China to try to exert pressure from the administrative level.

Many leaders of ICBC felt that the strategic cooperation would be delayed for a while.

Unexpectedly, as if overnight, not only did not procrastinate, MIGA Fund even sat down with Goldman Sachs and announced that it was willing to complete the strategic investment in ICBC in a cooperative manner.

Germany's Allianz Group and American Express were inexplicably out.

As the main body of the acquisition consortium, MIGA Fund has become a new partner, while Deutsche Bank, U.S. Bank, and Washington Mutual, three banks that have little competition with ICBC's main business, undertake a considerable part of the business cooperation.

Not only that, but the initial price of US$37 billion for the acquisition of 10% of ICBC’s shares with Goldman Sachs, Allianz, and American Express has also changed. Goldman Sachs and MIGA Fund took the initiative to increase the price to US$38 billion.

This……

This gag is quite... alright.

According to the current situation, private capital has entered the market, the value of the accusation has increased, and the cooperative business has been allocated to banks in more vertical fields. At the same time, ICBC’s shareholding reform has not been delayed. It is simply as clean as the best imaginable. .

On September 9th, the ICBC head office held the last meeting before the application for review, and all strategic investors participated.

This is basically the final solution.

Goldman Sachs Group and its private capital operation fund will invest US$26 billion to acquire 7% of the shares, and MIGA Fund, Deutsche Bank, Union Bank, and Mutual Aid Bank will invest US$12 billion to acquire 3% of the shares.

Paulson and Fang Zhuo will become directors of ICBC after the share reform.

All acquired shares will be subject to a 3-year lock-up period, and several parties have unanimously promised that if necessary, they can renew their holdings as appropriate.

ICBC leaders are very satisfied.

Now we just need to see how the China Securities Regulatory Commission handles this new cooperation plan.

"Paulsen, why is it so calm here?"

After the harmonious meeting, Fang Zhuo chatted with Paulson about the other side.

"Don't worry, we have already connected with Merrill Lynch." Paulson revealed the accurate news.

In the past few days, Fang Zhuo has repeatedly researched the relevant information and the background of the stock reform and the listing. When he heard this sentence, thoughts roiled in his mind and said, "Merrill Lynch is not so short-sighted, is it?"

Paulson was a little surprised, and asked with interest: "Fang, what did you guess?"

He hasn't said anything since the night he called on President Li, and he is sure that the actions of the United States will never be spread here. The young president in front of him can only be a guess.

"I don't know much about Merrill Lynch." Fang Zhuo considered, "I just thought that if I were in your position and used Merrill Lynch as a breakthrough to leverage Bank of China, it might be an idea to hit their contract."

Paulson continued to listen without changing his face.

Fang Zhuo didn't see anything from this person's face, and continued: "The cooperation between Merrill Lynch and Royal Bank of Scotland is kept secret. We don't know how it was signed, but Bank of China is really unhappy."

Bank of China's unhappiness is not only in the heart, but also manifested.

A reporter asked the spokesperson of the Bank of China about the introduction of third-party cooperation funds by the Royal Bank of Scotland, and the answer was: "The Bank of China only signed a shareholding agreement with the Royal Bank of Scotland, and how the other party raised funds is not within the scope of Bank of China's disclosure."

Bank of China does not intend to regard Merrill Lynch as a partner, but Merrill Lynch may only come here for profit.

Fang Zhuo considered the signing of the Bank of China and the Royal Bank of Scotland, and the signing of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Merrill Lynch and Li Jiacheng Fund, and believed that their transfer was probably due to the fact that the contract did not have such restrictions on raising funds, otherwise there would be no Merrill Lynch He and Li Fund entered the market ignoring the feelings of the Bank of China.

That being the case, if Royal Su can sign a contract with Merrill Lynch, can Merrill Lynch sign contracts with other companies?
Although cooperation with banks has great profits, it also requires a large amount of capital accumulation.

Now that the investment with the Bank of China has not yet been settled, if Merrill Lynch is persuaded to resell the right to acquire the bank’s shares at this time, the "huge uncertainty" Paulson said that night will be proved.

The Bank of China's shares have been transferred frequently in a short period of time. This situation is quite ugly.

But Merrill Lynch came here because of profit. It doesn't need to invest money, it only needs to wave a piece of paper to resell a lot of profits, so why not do it?
Fang Zhuo has a way of piecing together bits and pieces of information, and he always likes to take himself into consideration.

He said to Paulson: "As long as Merrill Lynch's operations can make Bank of China more unhappy, for example, continue to transfer out equity, then Bank of China is likely to be irritated. Stop the original cooperation."

Paulson's expression finally changed, and he said with admiration: "Fang, your sensitivity and control are beyond my expectation."

Seeing this reaction, Fang Zhuo knew that there might be something wrong with it, and he was not very proud. He said, "Sensitivity and control can't do much, and it's not easy to buy the acquisition right from Merrill Lynch."

At the very least, it is necessary to separate the relationship so as not to arouse Merrill Lynch's vigilance.

This is what Fang Zhuo cannot do but Goldman Sachs can do.

Paulson shook the hand of the oriental man in front of him heavily, and said with a smile, "Fang, it's a pity you couldn't come to Goldman Sachs, otherwise, I believe you will be an excellent decision maker."

Fang Zhuo let go of his hand and responded: "If you can't be a decision maker of Goldman Sachs, it's good to be a partner. I have always been very grateful to Goldman Sachs for its support to Bingxin. This is also the beginning of our conversation here today."

"I hope the Bank of China can continue our cooperation." Paulson said some time, "I will fly from the United States by mid-October at the latest."

In other words, he wanted to settle the matter with Merrill Lynch within half a month.

Fang Zhuo nodded, he had to take advantage of this time to raise more funds.

However, in addition to guessing about Paulson's actions, he suddenly wondered whether Paulson would bribe people inside Merrill Lynch to assist in the decision-making there.

Anyway, if I am myself, um, I definitely can't do this.

Seeing Paulson getting into the car, Zhang Hongli knew that the communication between the two was over, so he walked over and asked tentatively, "Boss Fang, are you giving Paulson some advice on the Bank of China?"

Fang Zhuo shook his head: "No, just chatting about time, in the next half month, wait and see what happens."

Zhang Hongli lifted his spirits and said, "I'm going to Frankfurt to apply for funds from the headquarters."

When it comes to the investment of Bank of China, the capital scale is much larger than that of ICBC. This time, U.S. Bank and Mutual Aid Bank were not included. According to the ratio of Royal Bank of the Soviet Union, MIGA Fund and Deutsche Bank need to bear a share of 15 billion US dollars, 4.8 % shareholding.

"Well, beat the slow with the fast." Fang Zhuo nodded. He also needed to raise funds.

This time, in addition to Zhou Xin's sum of money, I also need the Yike stock in Su Wei's hands, and I also need to sell some stocks. In addition, MIGA Fund has to open another product, so that I can barely raise funds.

If all goes well, it is equivalent to depositing a large sum of time in ICBC and Bank of China for three years.

Although the future profits will be considerable, the time deposit actually has some sweet troubles, which will lock up part of the capital operation space.

……

The first day of October.

Zhou Kaixuan, director of the Lijiacheng Foundation, flew to Beijing from Xiangjiang. In addition to looking at a real estate project, she also needs to pay attention to the cooperation between the foundation and the bank.

Because the foundation signed a contract with the Royal Bank of Scotland, Zhou Kaixuan persuaded Li Jiacheng to come to the capital at an appropriate time to meet the leaders of the Bank of China in consideration of the emotions shown by the bank, and use his status to calm his emotions.

"Mr. Zhou, when will Mr. Li come over? Let's arrange another media interview." Meng Guanggui, another director of the foundation, asked Zhou Kaixuan.

"He will come over when the funds are delivered, and he hopes to attend the ribbon-cutting of the real estate at that time." Zhou Kaixuan asked after replying, "Is there anything wrong with the bank?"

Director Meng Guanggui shook his head: "Everything is going well."

Zhou Kaixuan thought for a while and asked again: "Is there any chance of cooperation with other banks?"

Meng Guanggui replied: "I'm afraid it will not be easy. I heard that ICBC has undergone some changes, and some people are rumoring that funds from the mainland have entered the market."

Zhou Kaixuan was a little surprised: "From the mainland? Who can there be?"

Meng Guanggui nodded and said, "It's Fang Zhuo, but I'm not sure if the news is accurate."

Zhou Kaixuan frowned, feeling a bit unlucky. Thanks to him, TOM.com failed to go public. This matter has always made him itch.

She said flatly: "Well, it has nothing to do with us."

Although ICBC is good, BOC is not bad either.

The Lijiacheng Foundation has signed a contract with the Royal Bank of Scotland. Even though the Bank of China is a little unhappy about this, it is a done deal, and the matter is settled.

(End of this chapter)