Chapter 756: Private wrestling

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"Is the merger of Phoenix and Merrill Lynch a real 'monopoly' or a hype by rivals?", Ram, Bloomberg's headlines are using Citi's acquisition of Solomon and Milbank as an example!" Blank Fein shook the BlackBerry in Young's hand.

Cram Pandit, CEO of Citi.

"I think you should be more concerned about Bloomberg's fall to Bruce Guo than the report!"

"Didn't we expect such a choice a long time ago? Merrill Lynch owns a 20.5 percent stake in Bloomberg, and we have not promised Michael Bloomberg anything he can't refuse. If it were me, I would choose Merrill Lynch. Blank Finn replied.

"The form is becoming more and more unfavorable to us, and the plan for Phoenix and Merrill Lynch should be accelerated. William Schiff said after a moment of silence.

"I'm ready here. As soon as Phoenix and Merrill Lynch announce a formal merger, then the Senate will discuss the matter and prevent them from merging. But you know, the president of the House of Representatives, John Dennis Haast, has always been at odds with me. And he's good friends with Karl Rove, so I'm afraid it's hard for us to convince him. On the phone, the voice of the current Vice President of the United States, Senate President Bruce Cheney, came.

"Karl Rove's friend? That guy has long since succumbed to us. On the phone, the voice of Jim Hagerman, chairman of the Maersk Group, came over.

"It's not that simple. Although Karl Rove has the nickname of 'fox' in political circles, under his cunning wisdom is stubbornness and toughness. If we grasp his handle, we can use it once, and there will never be a second time. Otherwise, he wouldn't be Carl Rove, and he wouldn't have been able to train Bush Jr. to be the current president of the United States. Blank Feindo.

"If you can't get Karl Rove, you can't get the president of the House of Representatives, John Dennis Haast, and without a House resolution, it's a joke to want to hit Bruce Guo politically. Daniel Trotter, president and chief operating officer of ING Group in the Netherlands, rang from the phone.

In the United States, the Senate and the House of Representatives make up what is known to the outside world as 'Congress'. Both determine U.S. legislation. And in recent years, the Senate has blocked hundreds of bills passed by the House of Representatives. It's no wonder that Richard Bruce Cheney, as Speaker of the Senate, has a good relationship with Speaker of the House John Dennis Haast.

"Maybe we can ask John Snow for help. William Schiff said suddenly.

John Snow is the 73rd U.S. Treasury Secretary and the current Secretary of the Treasury.

"If you want to stop the merger of Phoenix and Merrill Lynch and force Bruce Guo to let go, shouldn't you go to the Department of Justice? The Anti-Monopoly Investigation Bureau is best suited for this kind of thing. Jim Hagerman was surprised.

When the Maersk Group led by him acquired American terminals and shipping companies, it was not less attacked by the Anti-Monopoly Investigation Bureau.

"Jim, it looks like you should know a little bit more about Bruce Guo. William Schiff said.

"What do you mean?"

"Attorney General Bill Fox and Antitrust Investigations Director Colin Hammond are both friends of Bruce Kwok. They have made a fortune in recent years by investing in Bruce Guo's Thunder Fund, and it is too difficult for them to prevent the merger of Phoenix and Merrill Lynch. ”

"Bruce Kwok's hand is so long, and he's only been in the world for a little over five years!" Jim Hagerman was amazed.

"Bruce Kwok's connections, especially in politics, are more amazing than you might think. Otherwise, why do you think that with the connections that our Schiff family has accumulated over the past hundred years, why did we gather so many allies to have this operation?" William Schiff sighed slightly.

"As far as I know, most of his companies are not publicly traded and have not raised funds extensively. How is it possible to spread such a large network of relationships?"

The main reason why Maersk Group participated in the action against Bruce Kwok organized by the Schiff family, Citigroup, ING Group and Bear Stearns is because of the rapid rise of the former Ruby Business Website Company, now Kwok's Business Group, in the main business areas of Maersk such as shipping and terminal management, which has brought more and more competition that Maersk is more and more afraid of. Especially the headhunting operation that almost poached Richard Grubman last time made Maersk even more angry. That's why Maersk got involved.

Of course, after Richard Grubman talked to Guo Shouyun, Guo Shouyun's ambition for the international shipping market and the terminal management market also made Maersk's management determined.

It's one thing to make up your mind, though, it's another to get to know your opponent.

"Most of Bruce Kwok's companies are not listed and fundraised. But Thunder Fund, the largest private equity giant in the United States, manages more than $100 billion in assets. Despite its huge scale, according to our survey, Thunder's customers are only about 20,000, except for a small number of middle-class customers. The rest are basically the social elite. They include members of Congress, senior lawyers, businessmen with local or national influence, and so on. ”

“… These people also form the bulk of Bruce Guo's network. So he can miss the annual meeting of any of his companies, but he never misses the annual meeting of Thunder, and usually organizes various activities to deepen the connection with these people. Almost all of these people are members of the Cold Mountain Courtyard, and they are also the biggest headache for Bruce Guo's opponents. William Schiff said.

"Are you sure these people will support him?"

"The first person to invest in the Thunder has now increased 19.4 times in the past by the fund shares in his hands. Although in 2004, Thunder's investment income was less than 50%. But flattening the entire year, the Thunder's ROI is 478%. In other words, if there is such a person who can increase the value of my assets, then I will also support him and do everything possible to become friends with him. Cram Pandit chimed in.

If it weren't for the merger of Merrill Lynch and Phoenix that threatened Citi's position, he wouldn't have been involved this time.

"The reason why we are doing everything possible to suppress the price of gold spot and oil futures is to lock up the investment of Bruce Guo and his companies in it. Breaking up Bruce Guo because of the connections gathered by the Thunder Fund is also a very important reason. William Schiff continued.

Jim Hagerman knew what he meant. When the market is rising and the thunder is rolling in, all the connections, all the relationships are the most efficient. I don't say that I have a hundred responses, but I can't check much. But when the market falls and doubts arise, there is a question mark over how much of a role these connections can play.

"So what is the purpose of John Snow's help? The Treasury had a limited role in organizing the merger of Merrill Lynch and Phoenix. Jim Hagerman asked.

"John Snow's wife, Connelly, is a member of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. William Schiff said.

Jim Hagerman was stunned.

There are three major antitrust investigation agencies in the United States, except for the Antitrust Investigation Bureau, which is under the Department of Justice, and the antitrust agencies of various states. The Federal Trade Commission is one of them.

Under the FTC Act, the FTC is composed of five members, each serving a 16-year term, who are relatively independent and politically neutral, neither Republican nor Democratic. It has considerable autonomy in anti-monopoly investigations.

"As long as an official agency initiates an antitrust investigation into Phoenix and Merrill Lynch, then we have a further opportunity to make the storm bigger and get this business incident into Congress." As for John Dennis Haast, try to convince him as much as possible, and if it doesn't work, we'll contact someone else. Although the power of the speaker is great, if the majority of the parliamentarians are in favor, his opposition will not have much effect. ”

William Schiff's words had just finished when there was a sudden knock on the door.

"Come in!"

Soon, a young woman in a short purple dress pushed the door open and walked in.

"Boss, just got the message. Merrill Lynch officially submitted an application to the New York Stock Exchange to close the market. Five minutes ago, CW TV and Global Fortune exposed the news that Merrill Lynch and Phoenix had launched merger and acquisition negotiations. ”

The secretary's words made the faces of everyone in the room change.

"Alright, you go out first. ”

William Schiff waved his hand, and the female secretary nodded and walked out.

"Everybody, you've heard it too. Bruce Kwok has done it, and we need to speed up the action. Otherwise, if Phoenix and Merrill Lynch merge, Bruce Guo's strength, status, and influence will be even better, and it will not be so easy to implement our previous plan when the time comes. ”

After the representatives of all parties responded in a sparse manner, they each expressed some opinions. This brings us to the end of the meeting.

Not to mention the person on the other end of the phone, the person who was there to participate in the meeting also left the Schiff family clubhouse.

"Charles...?"

Charles Prince, who was just about to get in the car and leave, stopped when he heard a call from behind him.

"I know a good restaurant, go try it together in the evening?"

Blanc Finn, who caught up, laughed.

Noticing his expression, Charles Prince's heart moved, and he smiled and nodded.

"Well, it just so happens that I haven't been out for dinner in a long time. ”

"I'll have the address and time sent to your phone in a moment. ”

"OK! ”

"See you in the evening!"

"See you in the evening!"

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