Chapter 258: ING Group

……

"Two are polite, compared to Peter Lynch, Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett and other investment masters, I am still far behind!" Guo Shouyun said modestly.

After the two looked at each other, Vernon Johnson smiled and said, "Mr. Guo is too humble. Peter Lynch, Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett are indeed masters in the investment field, but they are not bad compared to Mr. Guo. In just one year, you have made a huge profit of more than $5 billion through the Thunder Fund, and if you look at the history of the past few hundred years, even if you consider inflation, not many people can do it!"

"$5 billion, does the Thunder Fund make so much?" Guo Shouyun said with the same expression.

Although the Thunder Fund has not released its financial information to the public, Pan Pacific Energy Group has invested $4 billion in mergers and acquisitions in just two months since the end of April. In addition, it is currently acquiring Southern Corporation, the fifth-largest utility company in the United States. If the deal goes through, the direct investment, excluding bank loans, would be no less than $4 billion. In this way, Pan Pacific Energy has spent $8 billion on mergers and acquisitions alone, and has exceeded $10 billion in operational investment. ”

“… After deducting the funds you received from the ABS bonds pledged by your assets, the remaining amount of funds is more than $5 billion. Moreover, this is already the most conservative calculation. If you count your previous investments in the Pacific, Southern California, Apple, and Marvel Entertainment, the numbers are even larger. After a pause, "It seems that the company that can come up with so much money now only has the mysterious Thunder under your banner!"

Looking at Vernon Johnson, whose eyes were shining, Guo Shouyun said indifferently: "I didn't expect the Royal Bank of Scotland to be so interested in me in the United States." ”

"We are interested in Mr Kwok because we at the Royal Bank of Scotland share Mr Kwok's culture of change and initiative. ”

"I believe that. Not to mention that last year you swallowed the Bank of NatWestminster, which was three times your size. In the United States alone, in the first half of 2001, you acquired more than seven banks, involving assets of $18 billion! In this respect, you are somewhat similar to me!" Guo Shouyun nodded.

"It seems that Mr. Guo knows us well, so if we have the same genes, we should work together!" said Vernon Johnson aggressively.

"Cooperation? I'd be interested in hearing about your proposal?"

"RBS wants to partner with Mr Kwok's Thunder Fund, which provides you with a platform where Thunder Fund can draw money from RBS's high-end clients. If Thunder Fund makes a profit with the help of our platform's customer funds, then Thunder Fund is obliged to pay us 20% of the profit as a fee for using the platform!"

After listening, Guo Shouyun's eyes showed a hint of thought.

Today, the Royal Bank of Scotland, which annexed NatWestminster, is the largest commercial bank in the UK and the second largest in Europe, with 15 million customers under its umbrella. If the Thunder Fund can be embedded in this platform, although it cannot be promoted in an all-round way like the public fund, it is only those high-end customers with rich assets, which is enough to make the funds managed by the Thunder Fund expand rapidly.

If all goes well, he won't always have to use his own money as Thunder's capital.

In addition, this plan is also more beneficial to the Thunder than the cooperation between Goldman Sachs and Morgan.

"We at Thunder Fund are not averse to working together, especially with a world financial giant like the Royal Bank of Scotland. However, the 20% share is too high, and I think 2% is an appropriate number!"

"Mr. Guo, this is too exaggerated! Many public funds have more profit sharing than that. Although Guo's willingness to cooperate was exciting, the cut made Vernon Johnson quite angry.

"The Royal Bank of Scotland does not take investment risks, only provides a platform that cannot be promoted in an all-round way, and it is impossible to get a high dividend ratio!" Guo Shouyun said without backing down.

"Even so, we deserve an 18% share!"

"Impossible!"

Seeing that the two of them did not give in to each other like vendors in the vegetable market, Viscount Sercy, who was the middleman, hurriedly interrupted: "Two, when it comes to the specific sharing ratio, let's let the Royal Bank of Scotland and the more professional personnel within the Thunder Fund talk about it." As for us, shouldn't we open a bottle of champagne to celebrate after a smooth and amicable agreement has been reached?"

After the two looked at each other, Vernon Johnson smiled and said: "Mr. Guo, I feel like Sir said, let the professionals talk about the specific sharing ratio, we should celebrate the achievement of our cooperation!"

Guo Shouyun shrugged, "Actually, I hate this kind of bargaining process too. However, I don't drink alcohol. My fiancée is pregnant and she hates the smell of alcohol, especially now. ”

"Yes, congratulations to Mr. Guo!" said Sir Sercy.

"Will I be lucky enough to know when your baby will be born?" said Vernon Johnson.

Sir Sercy, who was next to him, nodded in agreement.

"The due date the doctor said is around September 15th, but the real time depends on when they plan to come out!" Guo Shouyun said with a smile.

Vernon Johnson nodded, "The due date is accurate for the most part, but there are many exceptions. ”

"That's right!" said Ser Sercy, nodding, "has the child's name been chosen?"

"Elizabeth and George, if it's a girl, call it the front, if it's a boy, call it the back!"

Sir Sercy laughed and said, "If I could, I would like to be the godfather of this little one after he is born!"

Hearing this, Vernon Johnson's eyes lit up next to him. It's the best way to get in touch with the promising business genius in front of you.

"Of course I am looking forward to him being able to get your teachings. However, there are already people in front of you!" Guo Shouyun said.

"Oh?

"Mr. Karl Rove!"

"Carl Rov Bush brains?" said Sir Sercy, surprised.

"Yes!"

Sir Sersi frowned slightly and nodded, "This guy can train that drunkard from Little Bush ~ Shi to become the president of the United States in ten years, and he is indeed very capable." He is the right person to be the godfather of the child! However, you can't have only one child, so when the second one is born, please let me be his or her godfather!"

Joseph Robert Selcy, as one of the oldest aristocrats in Britain, has a deep influence in Britain and even Europe, and he is willing to be the godfather of his children, Guo Shouyun naturally will not refuse.

"Of course I'm honored if you will!"

"Haha, then we'll say it!"

Looking at the two who were talking happily, Vernon Johnson next to him showed a trace of envy in his eyes. But he didn't make the same request. After all, Guo Shouyun gave birth to his third child and didn't know the Year of the Monkey Ma Yue, and now he said it to make people laugh at him.

While the three of them were chatting, Hills-Francis Barin, who had returned to his residence, was furious in his heart, and was cheated by a junior in public, is there anything more humiliating than this?

After a few laps around the study, he picked up his phone and called Oliver Balin, who was far away in the United States.

"Uncle Hills?"

"Well, how's your nose?"

After being thrown to the ground by Guo Shouyun last time, Oliver Balin's nose bone was broken.

"It's already much better!"

"That's good. What are you going to do with Bruce Kwok?"

At the mention of the enemy's name, the anger in Oliver Balin's heart 'soared', and the nose that had already healed seemed to have a tingling pain.

"I'm going to make him pay a heavy price!"

Oliver Ballin said word for word.

"That's for sure. The men of the Bahrain family have never been the kind of cowards who swallow their anger after being beaten!"

"So you promised to support me?" said Oliver Balin.

"Oliver, you know, since the collapse of the Bank of Bahrain, our family's assets are running out. With the exception of a few stakes in some companies and a few farms, the most valuable asset is a 5.1 percent stake in Rio Tinto, worth $630 million. Even if you mortgage it all, you won't be able to raise $1 billion...!"

"Uncle Hills, you don't need to use your family assets!"

Hills Francis Bahrain frowned slightly, and said thoughtfully: "You mean to use the assets of Bahrain Asset Management?"

"That's only part of the story. Bahrain Asset Management has only £3.7 billion of funds that can be used by us, and the rest of the funds are limited by regulation and cannot be invested in high-risk stock markets and futures. So, we want to raise enough money to deal with Bruce Kwok, and we have to find a way to get it from the ING Group!"

"Don't sell it, just say what you think. ”

"Yes! Ronald Koeman, the manager of Tulip, the largest hedge fund under the ING Group, has retired, and I think I can compete for this position!"

"You were just promoted to the position of CEO of Bahrain Asset Management last year, and if you are promoted again, I am afraid it will be difficult to convince the public. In addition, Tulip, the largest hedge fund under the ING Group that invests in the futures market, has $18.3 billion in funds under management. It's hard to reassure the board and management about your abilities!" Hills-Francis Balin frowned.

"Uncle Shears, in my 10 years in the financial industry, I have achieved an average annual return on capital of 17.3%, which is a rare achievement. In addition, in the previous operation of Enron, although I lost some in the later stage, I still generated $780 million in revenue for the company and $144 million in pre-tax profits, which are my capital. ”

“… Moreover, our Bahraini family has a three-hundred-year friendship with the Hope family, and as a major shareholder of the ING Group, I am confident that they will help in this regard. In addition, you and Ryan van der Vaart, now Chairman of the Board of Directors of ING Group, are not only Oxford University classmates, but also in-laws. If you ask, I don't think he will refuse!"

Hills Francis Balin thought for a moment, "What are you going to do if you get the management of the Tulip Fund?"

"Short gold!"

"Short gold? Oliver, do you know that now that the international economy is in a downturn, coupled with the intensifying Argentine financial crisis, gold as a safe-haven asset is sought after, how much risk should be taken to short gold in this case?"

"Of course I do. However, gold has a cycle, and after it reaches a peak, there will be a decline. The more crisis-driven, the more intense the volatility. Therefore, it is easier for bears to make profits than for long positions, as long as we can judge the downside and set a stop-loss line in advance. In addition, we are not the only ones who plan to short gold this time. ”

"Oh, who else?"

"Citi, Credit Suisse First Boston, and Fastto Investment Funds!"

"Citi is also involved?"

Oliver Barin gloated: "Hehe, Citi has more shares of Enron than I do." Moreover, the price is also on the high side, so they did not follow me and quit. As Enron's share price fell further, Citi suffered heavy losses. Even if they made a lot of money shorting Apple, they couldn't make up for all the losses. So naturally we have to find another way. ”

“… Credit Suisse First Boston is the same, and Enron's share price was able to rise so high, which is not a small credit. Now, on Enron's balance sheet, there is a $1.8 billion loan from Credit Suisse First Boston that has not been repaid. Therefore, it also has to make up for the losses. Moreover, this big guy was pulled over by Citi's people. ”

“… As for the Fasto Investment Fund, Andrew Fasto has sucked nearly $900 million in blood from Enron over the years. This guy is a financial genius, but also a bastard in personality. However, with him involved, we will at least have a better chance of winning in the game with Bruce Guo. ”

After a moment of silence, Hills Francis Balin asked, "What about Goldman Sachs, Morgan, and Bank of America?

"Compared to Citi, Goldman Sachs has made enough money from Enron and Bruce Guo. So, they're more inclined to the side with the bigger win than to put the chips on the line at the start!"

"When are you going to do it?" asked Hills-Francis Balin after a moment's silence.

"It's already in action, but it's just a short-term operation to accumulate funds. Moreover, gold is now in an upward channel, and it is unwise to go against the whole trend before reaching a high. Although we want to suppress Bruce Guo and bankrupt him, we will not joke with our assets. ”

"I'm relieved that you can think like this! I will try my best to fight for the position of Tulip Fund Manager!"

"Thank you, Uncle Shears!"

"We are all family, so there is no need to say more polite words. After a pause, "If you operate well on gold during this time, I will mortgage my family's shares in Rio Tinto to support you!"

"Rest assured, I won't let you down!" Oliver Balin cheered.

……

After attending Sir Sercy's charity gala, the day after returning home, he called Qin Zhicheng and asked him to be in charge of the negotiation of the details of the cooperation between the Thunder Fund and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

As for himself, he spent more than a week in England, and when the comments about him on the American side subsided, he said goodbye to Molly Bevan and returned to the place again.

However, instead of going to New York, he secretly came to Houston.

Of course, he wasn't the only one who came back this time.

"Bruce, I'll go home first, I'll see you again tomorrow!"

Guo Shouyun nodded, "Have a good rest, there are more important things waiting for us tomorrow." ”

"Don't worry, I understand!"

After looking at Rebecca Mark's back until the other party disappeared, Guo Shouyun turned around, "Let's go too!"

The bodyguard who followed behind nodded, and followed Guo Shouyun into the car that had been prepared by the airport.

Of course, Guo Shouyun, who came to Houston for the first time, did not go back to the hotel, but came to a suburban club. Here, there are already people waiting for him.