Chapter 757: Differentiation and Disintegration

……

Just as Blank Finn got into the car and was about to leave, the cell phone in his pocket rang. took it out and glanced at the caller ID, his expression changed slightly and his eyes revealed a hint of thought. However, after a moment's hesitation, he finally pressed the answer button.

"Blank, did you surprise you when you got my call?"

A clear voice came from the earpiece with a faint smile.

"It was a bit of a surprise. Bruce, you're not going to tell me the good news that Phoenix and Merrill Lynch have officially announced their merger, are you?"

"Looks like you already knew. But I have something else to tell you. ”

"I...!"

"Blank, in an hour and a half, I'll be waiting for you in the reception room of the New York chapter of the Cold Mountain Annex. I promise you'll be glad you accepted my offer afterwards. … Toot toot!"

Listening to the blind sound of chess on his phone, Blank frowned, "This unreasonable guy! Do you want to go or not?"

……

"Boss, is he really coming?"

Looking at Guo Shouyun, who put down the phone, Wang Jue on the side said curiously.

"I know Blank Finn, he's coming. ”

Since 2000, he and Goldman Sachs have been in contact, and although the relationship has been good and bad for five years, their understanding of each other has not stagnated. Blank Finn, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, has a suspicious and tough personality and a strong curiosity. Plus there is no fundamental conflict between the parties, so he will definitely come. The reason why Guo Shouyun didn't say more on the phone was also to arouse Blank Finn's curiosity and let him come over in person.

Looking at the big boss with deep eyes, Wang Jue and Wu Xiaojing glanced at each other and didn't ask any more.

An hour and a half is a long time, and a short time. As the time approached, there was a little more anxiety in the otherwise quiet room.

Wang Jue and Wu Xiaojing frequently switch back and forth between their watches and mobile phones. I wanted to talk a few times and stopped.

"Jingle bell...!"

Just when the two of them were getting more and more impatient, the phone on the table suddenly rang. Wu Xiaojing, who was the closest, picked it up. Momentarily excited: "Boss, the front desk reports that Blank Fein has arrived." ”

Guo Shouyun, who closed his eyes and recuperated, opened his eyes instantly, and he could see a hint of joy flashing in his eyes. Apparently deep down he was not as calm as he appeared.

"Xiaojing, you go to greet the other party on my behalf!"

"Yes!"

After answering, Wu Xiaojing hurriedly turned around and went out. It didn't take long, and the slightly chaotic footsteps came from far and near, and soon Blanc Fein's familiar figure appeared in front of Guo Shouyun.

"Blank, it's a pleasure to see you again. ”

After a brief handshake between the two sides, "Bruce, it seems that you really understand my character." In just a few words, I had to send it to the door myself. ”

Again, you won't regret coming this time. ”

"Then I'll see. ”

"You may be seated!"

"Please!"

After the two sat down, Wang Jue and Wu Xiaojing served tea, and the two of them, plus Blank Finn's entourage, all exited the room.

"Now that you're just the two of you, what can you say directly?" said Blank Fein.

"Of course, but before that, I want to ask, I don't seem to have any grudge with Goldman Sachs, right?"

"You poached Stephen, the best professional manager at Goldman Sachs, the future CEO of Goldman Sachs. ”

"I admit that Stephen is really good and qualified enough to lead Goldman Sachs. But didn't I poach him just to give you one less of a strong competitor?

"Bruce, you're wrong. Since I can become the CEO of Goldman Sachs, I am not afraid of anyone's competition. ”

Guo Shouyun shrugged his shoulders, "I believe you have such ability! Is there any other contradiction between us besides this?"

"Bruce, you didn't invite me here today to talk about this, did you? If that's the case, I don't think there's any need for any continuation between us. ”

"Of course it's more than that. But I need to know this to better understand why Goldman Sachs joined the Schiff-Citi alliance and targeted me? If it was just for profit, I think I could have come up with much more than you would have received from the Schiff and Citi alliances. ”

Blank Fein smiled slightly, "Goldman Sachs is the most realistic interest seeker. If you can come up with something that appeals to us, Goldman Sachs doesn't mind joining you. ”

Guo Shouyun squinted, he knew very well that sitting in front of him was a fox with deep Taoism and extremely cunning!

Of course, when he decided to use Goldman Sachs as a breakthrough to weaken the hostile camp, he thought about what he would have to pay.

"I believe you know very well about the merger of Phoenix and Merrill Lynch. ”

Blank Fein nodded, waiting for his next step.

“… In order for this to succeed, and to make the accusations of Schiff and Citigroup's 'monopoly' unrealistic, I decided to raise a capital round before the merger began. ”

Blank Finn's eyes quickly lit up. As an investment banker, you are very sensitive to any opportunity that will allow you to make a lot of money.

"How much is Mr. Guo going to raise? What is the price? Goldman Sachs...?"

Before the last question could be asked, Blank Fein reacted instantly. That's why he's been invited here today.

Regarding his performance, Guo Shouyun smiled slightly and said more. With Blank Finn's wisdom, it was hard to hide the intrigue from him. Of course, Guo Shouyun didn't plan to hide it.

"I only plan to keep about 35% of Phoenix Merrill Lynch's shares, and the rest can be used for financing. The price will be determined based on the market price after multiple evaluations. After a pause, Guo Shouyun looked directly at the other party and said, "Of course Goldman Sachs can participate in it, as long as you are interested, it is no problem to hold more than 10% of the shares." But Blank, you know I'm not asking for nothing in return. ”

Blank Fein understands the rules of the game in the capital markets. He knew very well that if he chose Bruce Guo, he would have to give up Citi and Schiff. Neither side is easy, and no one will make you bet on both sides, unless you're a fool. And among the giants of the capital market, there is obviously not a single fool.

"How do I know that everything you say is true?"

Guo Shouyun opened the document he had prepared in advance next to him, and after a brief look at it, he pushed it in front of the other party.

"Take a look!"

After picking it up and looking at it curiously, Blank Finn's pupils instantly shrank.

"I was able to get rid of Stan O'Neill and take control of Merrill Lynch, thanks to the Morgan family's shares. The price was that I promised them access to Phoenix Merrill Lynch's board of directors and a stake in the company. … In addition, in addition to Morgan, the Roosevelt family, the Bush family, the Kennedy family, and the Blackstone family, which are good friends with me, will also be on the list. So Blank, even without you Goldman Sachs. With the energy of these families and companies alone, the merger of Phoenix and Merrill Lynch is also a certainty. ”

"In that case, why are you pulling me in?"

"The reason is simple, two points. First, I want to make sure that I have a better chance of winning. Second, I want to know who told you about my acquisition of Merrill Lynch?" Guo Shouyun's tone finally became solemn.

No one likes betrayal, especially when it comes to something so crucial. In order to find out about this matter, he did not hesitate to temporarily put down Goldman Sachs to short LinkedIn, so that the company lost nearly $2 billion in price, and pulled it over. The internal crisis is more lethal than the external hidden dangers.

Seeing the firmness in his eyes, Blank Finn's eyes had a little more thought. Compared with Schiff and Citigroup's plan against Bruce Guo, the benefits of Merrill Lynch's merger with Phoenix are more realistic, and the price paid is much smaller. For profit-seeking Goldman Sachs and Blank Finn, the choice becomes simple.

After a few moments, he replied, "I can promise you." Break away from Schiff and Citi and join you, but whoever leaked the news will have to wait until the financing has a result. ”

Blank Fein is clearly the type who doesn't see the rabbit and doesn't scatter the eagle. However, Guo Shouyun is not surprised. If a few words could get everything done, Blank Finn wouldn't be where he is now.

"Yes!"

Guo Shouyun nodded and said with a smile: "From now on, we are also in the same camp." ”

"Of course!"

"So if possible, try to weaken Schiff, the members of the Citi Alliance, it's all good for us!"

"Don't worry, I won't do it if you say I'll do it too!"

The two did not sign any specific agreement. In their current position, the exchange of interests is far more credible than the real contract. Otherwise, the contract is just a piece of paper.

Looking at the figure of Blank Finn's departure, Wang Jue was surprised: "Boss, for such a big thing as changing camps, he decided on his own without discussing it with any Goldman Sachs management and board of directors?

As the chairman and chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs, he doesn't need to discuss this with anyone. And do you think that Goldman Sachs' cooperation with Schiff, Citigroup, and ING has been approved by the board of directors of Goldman Sachs? If that were the case, I would have received the news a long time ago!"

Goldman Sachs' board of directors certainly has a role in restraining management, but that also depends on what it is. As chairman and chief operating officer, Blank Finn has led Goldman Sachs through rapid growth over the past five years, and his authority within the company is greater than anyone else's, and no one can let Blank Finn go unless there is a major loss or negligence. Otherwise, Stephen Bryan, who was once the president and chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs, would not have agreed to his invitation to become the CEO of Phoenix Bank.

“… As for whether it can make us trust. As long as the combined interests of Phoenix and Merrill Lynch are enough to impress him, he will take the initiative to stand on our side without our supervision. Otherwise, even if you sign a contract for a few tens of points, it will be useless. ”

"By the way, give Will Harrington a call. Although I believe in the power of capital, I can't relax when I should focus on it. I've already suffered a loss once, and I don't want to eat a second time. ”

"Yes!"

………………………………………………………………………………………………