The fate of the British manufacturing industry has nothing to do with Tang Bao, and Tang Bao is most concerned about the development of his only company in the UK, Phoenix Capital. After visiting Sir Middleton www.biquge.info the pen "Fun", Tang Bao planned to inspect Phoenix Capital in the afternoon.

Pity.

Tang Bao once again realized that plans could never change quickly, and he had just returned from Sir Middleton's official residence when an old friend came to visit.

"Don, you really don't treat me as a friend, you don't even inform me when you come to London......" Peter complained slightly when he saw Tang Bao.

Belch.

Friend? It seems that our relationship has not reached the level of friends, just normal business partners. Tang Bao secretly complained in his heart.

Of course.

Tang Bao would not be stupid enough to show his inner thoughts, and smiled: "I'm sorry, I just arrived in London and didn't have time to visit." But, Peter, you're well informed, and I've only just made an appearance in London, and you'll be able to catch up with you right away. ”

"Hey, I happened to visit Sir Middleton, and I heard that Sir had just left, and then I found out that you were in London." Peter explained with a smile.

Oh.

Tang Bao suddenly understood, no wonder he had just come back with his front foot, and Peter with his back foot followed closely to catch up with the door. However, he was also a little surprised that Peter would ignore Sir Middleton and chase after him. Then, Tang Bao also remembered that Peter called him two months ago and said that he had something to talk about. He had always remembered this, and when he was in a hurry to make an expedition, fearing that his plans would be delayed, Tang Bao and Peter agreed to meet at the end of September or early October.

Due to a sudden accident, Tang Bao arrived in London ahead of schedule and did not rush to find Peter. Unexpectedly, Peter chased after him as soon as he got the news.

Tang Bao wondered in his heart, what was it that made Peter so urgent?

"Don, with your shrewdness, you should have guessed that I didn't come to you to catch up with mere friends, but to have something important to discuss." Peter said with a serious face.

Hear the words.

Tang Bao replied with a light smile: "Of course, our friendship is not close enough to make you put down your work and come to catch up with me. I always remember the agreement to meet at the end of September, and it seems that this meeting will be brought forward in advance. Peter, let's get it straight away, what do you have to talk about? ”

"Don, have you paid attention to BP Oil?" Peter asked.

Tang Bao shook his head and replied simply: "I'm very busy, I can't take care of my own affairs, how can I have the leisure to pay attention to BP Oil." ”

"Oh, God! Tang, how can you say that, you personally and Phoenix Investment Group hold a total of 23.59% of the shares of BP Oil, and are the second largest shareholder. And BP Oil still owes you a billion dollars in loans, aren't you worried that it will go bankrupt? Peter shouted loudly, as if he was very unhappy with Tang Bao's silence.

Scold.

Tang Bao couldn't help but smile, "BP is the largest oil company in the UK, and the British government is more afraid that it will go bankrupt than me." I will not care about short-term stock price fluctuations when I take a stake in BP Oil's strategic investment, not to mention that when I first joined the board of directors, I also stated that I was only in name and would not interfere in the operation and management of BP Oil. ”

Not.

Peter rolled his eyes speechlessly, except for bankruptcy, there was no big deal, he really didn't expect Tang Bao to have this kind of thought. "Oh God, the investment methods of clumsy idiots these days...... Could it be that Tang relied on this to earn tens of billions of dollars of wealth and staged a wealth miracle? It's too simple, it's okay to change me, maybe I also have the potential to become the richest man in the world? ”

Of course.

Peter also knew that the real situation could not be as simple as he thought, otherwise everyone in the world could have created a miracle of wealth. The young Tang Bao has accumulated a huge fortune in just a few years, which will definitely not be simple, and must have its own special features.

"Whew. As the second largest shareholder of BP Oil, even if you don't interfere in the company's management, I think it is necessary for you to know the company's current situation. Peter said.

It only holds equity and will not dictate the company's operation and management. In normal times, the management of any company would welcome a shareholder like Tang Bao very much.

But.

BP Petroleum is in a difficult time right now. It is necessary for a powerful shareholder like Tang Bao to come forward and give strong support to the company.

Well.

This is also the reason why Peter is anxious to meet Tang Bao.

"Don, aren't you afraid that BP Petroleum will really go bankrupt?" Looking at Tang Bao with a nonchalant face, Peter almost roared.

Forehead.

Seeing that Peter was really anxious, Tang Bao couldn't help but put away his contempt and smiled: "Okay, Peter, you can tell me about the situation of BP Petroleum Company." To the best of my ability, I am willing to provide some support to BP Oil. ”

Subsequently.

He added, "But I don't think BP can go bankrupt even if you lose your job." ”

Hearing Tang Bao's willingness to help, Peter's anger suddenly disappeared, and he smiled. But when I heard the latter words, my smile couldn't help but become unnatural.

"Uh...... Peter, I can't really be right, right? Tang Bao also noticed the unnaturalness on Peter's face and asked in surprise.

"It's all one thing, and as the chairman of BP Oil, you can't solve the company's difficulties, so you naturally need to take responsibility......," Peter disguised.

Nest grass.

I thought that Peter was so dedicated to BP Oil that he was doing it for a long time, but it turned out that he was running for his chairmanship.

Facing the crisis of getting out of class is the real reason why Peter is in a hurry!

"Tsk, Peter, chairman of BP is about to be forced out of class......" Tang Bao secretly pondered the news in his heart, his eyes kept rolling, as if he had some idea.

Cough.

Peter coughed lightly, hiding his embarrassment, and defended: "BP oil company is in a difficult situation and cannot solve the problem, although I will personally be forced to resign, but the biggest loss is undoubtedly the company's shareholders." With my resume, it's easy to find a new job. ”

Well.

Tang Bao nodded in agreement, and he had to admit this. Peter has worked in BP Oil for many years, and has long woven a huge network of contacts, leaving BP Oil, I believe that many well-known multinational companies will compete to hire him.

Then.

Peter brings the conversation back to BP Oil, "Right now, BP is trading at around $20 a share, which is half the price when you bought it. In other words, if you invest in BP Oil's project, you have lost 50% in two years, and if the news reporter gets the news, he will definitely hype it, and this is one of the few projects in which you have invested in a loss. ”

"Huh."

Tang Bao smiled, if the outside world learned of Tang Bao's loss in the British BP oil company, let alone the press conference hype, I am afraid that countless peers would gloat. The infinite scenery of him and the Phoenix Investment Group has attracted countless hatred points......

"Uh, Tang, don't say anything else, just the calm and calm bearing you show is not something ordinary people can have, no wonder you can dominate the international capital market." Peter exclaimed. He deliberately reminded Tang Bao that his investment in BP Oil Company had lost more than 50%, just to see Tang Bao's attitude, but Tang Bao still did not change his face, and smiled lightly.

"The financial market is changing rapidly, and if there is a slight fluctuation, you will be frightened, but I am afraid that you will already become a frightened bird." Tang Bao smiled, and then urged: "Okay, don't talk about this useless nonsense, you should just talk about the plight of BP Petroleum Company." ”

"Okay."

Peter smiled and nodded, Tang Bao's words were a little crude, but he preferred this kind of carefree communication to those stereotyped, almost formulaic business terms. Such a casual conversation is more like an exchange between ordinary friends. He also hoped that Tang Bao would regard him as a friend, and there was no need to hide his truth too much.

"Well, I'll just talk about a few of the problems faced by BP Oil. First of all, the biggest dilemma is that the international oil market is oversupplied, and the price of oil has fallen from $20 per barrel at the beginning of the year to $14 per barrel now, which is lower than the average cost of extraction in the North Sea oil fields. Therefore, we are now producing oil at a loss, and the more we extract, the more we will lose money, but we dare not reduce production in order to maintain market share. ”

"I am powerless in the trend of international oil prices and market supply and demand. You tell me this, it doesn't seem to work. Tang Bao shrugged helplessly.

"Don, what I want to say is that the more oil BP extracts, the bigger the loss, and it needs to inject money to support production." Peter reluctantly emphasized.

"It turned out to be asking for money, why bother going around so much, just say it." Tang Bao replied with a smile as if he had just understood.

Isn't that straightforward?

Peter felt mad in his heart.

But.

He really didn't dare to compare himself with Tang Bao, so he could only continue: "The second dilemma, the source of which can be traced back to the Alpha platform explosion two years ago. ”

"The Alpha Platform bombing two years ago?" Kate was surprised.

"That's right. The Alpha ******** explosion, which killed 167 people, and the British government sent an accident investigation team headed by Sir Karen, the Secretary of State for Energy, and the results of the investigation will be released in the next few months. At that time, BP will once again be on the cusp, and the key is that it will have a great impact on the determination of accident liability and compensation. We asked a lawyer to do an assessment, and optimistically estimated that the compensation would be more than $2 billion, or $3 billion or $5 billion. ”

"Alpha Platform explosion claims have been going on and will continue for years or more. We need enough money to pay the compensation! ”

This.

The corners of Tang Bao's mouth couldn't help twitching slightly, and he secretly sighed that the compensation amount was really ruthless. If you put it in China, you may take out some money at will and fool it.

"How much compensation has been paid now, and how much more?" Tang Bao asked.

"Well, $530 million has been paid over two years, but as the results of the investigation come out, it is expected that the amount of compensation to be paid will gradually increase. It's really impossible to determine exactly how much money will be needed. We have been praying that oil prices will come back up, otherwise we will have to take out loans or sell oil field assets to raise funds to pay compensation. ”

Pause for a moment.

Peter continued, "The trouble doesn't end there. The third difficulty is that some equipment in the North Sea oilfield is aging, and some oil spills often occur, because the impact is small, they are all concealed from the outside world. However, with the release of the investigation results of the Alpha platform explosion accident, the British government will inevitably call for strengthening the supervision and inspection of oil field exploitation and production. The problem of aging equipment will definitely be required to upgrade and maintain. ”

……

……

"Finally, BP Oil is in dire straits at home and abroad, the stock price has been falling endlessly, and shareholders have long complained that they hope to steadily increase the stock price as soon as possible."

Forehead.

After listening to Peter's story, Tang Bao came to a simple conclusion that BP Petroleum was a great tragic history from beginning to end.

Looking back on the development process of BP Petroleum in the UK, it has been really a bumpy road.

In 1987, the company went public and encountered a stock market crash in the United States; In 1988, it was almost annexed by the Kuwait Investment Authority, and it took great pains to level Kuwait and there was an Alpha ******** explosion; After two years of struggling, international oil prices plummeted......

Arguably.

The tragic emperor is none other than the British BP Oil Company!

"Huh. Peter, I'm sympathetic to BP's plight, but there's not much else to do but provide some financial support. (To be continued.) )