New York.

It was already March 27th.

A business reception is being held in the banquet hall of the Gramessi Hotel in the Midtown area.

The news of Igret's external financing was released a week ago. Although no intention was reached, the phone calls of all the people in charge were blown up.

In order to answer various questions from potential investors, Westeros simply held this cocktail party in New York and invited a large number of Wall Street investment banks and funds leaders to participate.

"Simon, Boeing's recent market value is only less than $12 billion. Do you think a technology company that has been established for only four years has quoted a $15 billion quotation. Is that reasonable?"

In the reception hall.

Simon listened to the half-true complaints of Goldman Sachs Chairman Stephen Friedman and smiled: "Stephen, if you want to make a stable investment with an annual growth rate of 10% or 20%, you can definitely look for Boeing. The aviation industry will definitely not be outdated. However, if you want higher returns, of course you need to take some risks. Speaking of which, I haven't paid attention to Boeing's stock price recently. If it's less than $12 billion, I'll let Lawrence buy as much as possible."

Stephen Friedman knows that Simon is talking about Lawrence Fink, the head of Black Rock Asset Management, a subsidiary of Cersei Capital.

Black Rock Asset Management has developed rapidly after investing in Cersei Capital. This mutual fund investment company has recently controlled more than $120 billion in assets.

The investment standard of mutual funds is to pursue low-risk, mainly invest in large-cap stocks with stable returns, as well as high-rated treasury bonds and corporate bonds, so as to ensure the safety of funds as much as possible. In this way, although the investment profit will not be too high, relying on the huge amount of the fund itself, you can still obtain good returns.

Goldman Sachs cannot be so conservative.

After thinking about it, Stephen Friedman said: "But, Simon, the quotation of $1.5 billion is still too high. How about $1 billion? Goldman Sachs is very sincere in reaching this cooperation, $1 billion, and Egret promises to conduct an IPO within three years, so we can sign an equity transfer agreement in the near future."

Simon smiled, gestured to the crowd around him, and said, "Stephen, you should understand that it is the seller's market now, so you have no room for bargaining with me."

Stephen Friedman felt a little unhappy when he saw Simon having a smile on his face, although he had no room for concession in his tone. However, these emotions would certainly not appear in his expression. The young man in front of him was not the object that Goldman Sachs could take. On the contrary, even if the business could not be completed, Goldman Sachs still hopes to obtain the IPO underwriting rights of Daenerys Entertainment, Egret Company and other companies in the Westeros system.

In recent years, only the IPOs of several companies in the Westeros system have attracted the most attention from the industry.

As for the equity of Igrit, Goldman Sachs has not been without disagreements. Some people think that they should be eaten all of them, some people think that the bubble component is very large, while Stephen Friedman hesitated. He is in his fifties this year. Although he can climb to the position of chairman of Goldman Sachs and has absolutely enough ability, he doesn't know much about the emerging Internet industry.

In his opinion, there are very obvious irrational factors in the recent soaring stock prices of Cisco and American Online.

However, the advantages and revenue data of these companies in the industry seem real, which makes it difficult for people to judge the future stock price trend.

Of course, with the release of the "Information Expressway Plan", Stephen Friedman is actually very optimistic about the Internet industry. However, now investing in this field is either too risky or too high, and if you are not careful, you may lead to huge losses.

The competition within Goldman Sachs is very fierce. Once there is a serious investment mistake, his position as chairman will almost immediately abdicate and give way to the emperor.

For 10% of Igrit's stock, US$1 billion is a figure recognized by Goldman Sachs' core management. Moreover, this still needs to be held on the premise that Igrit's company must conduct an IPO within three years. After buying this batch of stocks, Goldman Sachs also hopes to obtain the underwriting rights of Igrit's IPO.

However, looking at the scene at the cocktail party today, Stephen Friedman understood that the possibility of Goldman Sachs going to start this business with $1 billion is almost zero.

In the hall tonight, Goldman Sachs, Morgan, Lehman, First Boston and even the heads of Solomon Brothers who are still struggling in the quagmire are already present. In addition, there are executives of fund companies such as Pioneer Fund, Blackstone Group, KKR, and some capital forces outside Wall Street and even overseas.

Although it is in the name of 10% of Igrit's stock trading, everyone is watching the entire Westeros system.

Daenerys Entertainment has cooperated with Morgan Stanley a few years ago. In the next year's IPO, unless there is too much change, the lead underwriter can basically be determined to be Morgan Stanley. However, Daenerys Entertainment's IPO scale will be very large. If Morgan Stanley eats meat, it is not impossible for everyone to gain some soup.

In addition, within the Westeros system, companies such as Igrit, LTD Group, Tincobaier, and Verizon Telecom may carry out IPO operations in the future. Even after listing, many companies still need to conduct additional stock issuances or bond financing, all of which are big businesses.

If Simon Westeros is smart enough, she would definitely not have been working with the Morgan Stanley family all the time.

Considering these things, Stephen Friedman's intentions about whether to join the equity competition will be strengthened. Finally, he chatted with the young man in front of him for a moment. Before leaving, Friedman suddenly asked: "Simon, are you planning to sell all of his 10% shares to a company?"

Simon's eyes flashed slightly and said, "Of course not. US$1.5 billion is indeed a large amount of funds. If Goldman Sachs and some capital join forces to buy, as long as the two parties can negotiate, of course there will be no problem."

Get the answer you want, Stephen Friedman said: "If that happens, tomorrow...well, how about next Monday night? Let's have a meal together and talk about it by the way?"

Simon smiled and shook his head: "Next Monday is the Oscars."

"Oh, I forgot about this, so..."

Simon interrupted: "Stephen, I will be back to Los Angeles tomorrow and may not come to New York again in the next week, so if you make a decision, you can talk to James, he is my spokesperson."

Stephen Friedman reached out and grabbed Simon again and said, "It seems that this is the only way. I'm looking forward to more opportunities for cooperation."

"certainly."

Stephen Friedman left, Simon took the wine in his hand and took a sip, standing in the distance thinking about what had just happened.

Goldman Sachs and Washington have a very close relationship, and are in the standard Democratic camp. After Bill Clinton took office as president, Robert Rubin, who served as co-chair of Goldman Sachs with Stephen Friedman in the past few years, joined the White House as the president's economic and economic policy assistant, and was responsible for leading the National Economic Policy Committee established by Clinton. Simon also knew that Robert Rubin would be competent as U.S. Treasury Secretary in a few years.

In history, in the subprime mortgage crisis around 2008, Lehman Brothers went bankrupt, Bear Stearns was acquired, and other investment banks were in a mess. Only Goldman Sachs not only did not make any losses, but instead made good profits in the subprime mortgage crisis, and later became the strongest investment bank on Wall Street, which was definitely not lacking in the impact of close relationship with the government.

The Westeros system's relationship with the White House is already very sophisticated at this time, and there is no need to establish connections with Washington through Goldman Sachs. However, there is definitely no harm in getting along with this investment bank.

Of course, the Morgan system that has already established close ties will not give up.

The focus of Westeros system in the Wall Street investment banking field is Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.

This time, Simon did not sell all 10% of the shares of Igret Company to one capital from the beginning.

Wall Street Capital seems to control assets worth hundreds of billions of dollars at any time, but not many people can actually take out $1.5 billion in cash at one time.

Considering the risks, Wall Street's open coefficient has not reached this level if it is willing to invest $1.5 billion in cash in a new technology company but only acquires 10% of its shares.

Joining other capitals to jointly acquire this batch of equity has actually become the best choice.

Faced with the eye of other capitals, Morgan Stanley is also very interested in this batch of equity, and is even worried that this batch of stocks will be bought by other companies, thereby breaking the good cooperation between the Westeros system and the Morgan system.

Simon's idea is roughly that Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs raise a capital at the same time to jointly acquire the 10% stake.

As for the other capital forces in the banquet hall at this time, at least in the business in front of him, Simon was already in the PASS ranks in his heart.

After making up his mind and continuing to socialize some guests, Simon had just talked with Steve Schwartzman, chairman of Blackstone Group, and was about to walk towards Lawrence Fink, the head of Apollo Management, and another middle-aged man in his fifties wearing a pair of old-fashioned circular glasses came over.

Simon raised his glass to the other party, but glanced at the A girl beside him. Alison leaned into his ear and whispered: "Joseph Lewis, Chairman of the Tavistock Group."

Simon is not familiar with the two names mentioned by Girl A. The middle-aged man has come close to him. Girl A cannot explain it in detail and takes the initiative to retreat aside.

"Hello, Simon, I'm Joseph Lewis, you can call me Joe."

Simon shook hands with Joseph Lewis and greeted, "Hello, Joe."

After greeting Joseph Lewis looked around and said, "I'm a little late, it's really nice here."

Simon looked at the other person and smiled and said, "Thank you."

Joseph Lewis probably also noticed the doubts in Simon's eyes and quickly said: "Actually, Simon, I now run an investment company and I had a cooperation with Mr. Soros last year."

Simon immediately understood what the Tavistock Group Alison just mentioned was probably the nature of.

Financial speculators.

And it is an international currency speculator who just 'sledge' in the pound crisis last year.

To be more straightforward, the middle-aged man in front of him must have a large amount of cash in his hand.

Joseph Lewis noticed the clarity in Simon's expression and said directly: "Simon, this is true. I am very interested in this group of shares in Igret. However, when I contacted Mr. Rebled and Mr. Lee before, they said that only you can make the final decision. So, when do you think we can talk about the transaction?"

It's really straightforward.

And bold enough.

If this batch of equity in Egret Company does not contain other meanings, Simon would be happy to say hello to such a person.

However, Simon could only shake his head at this time: "Joe, thank you very much for your interest in Igrit Company. However, I'm afraid someone has already taken the lead."

Joseph Lewis was not disappointed when he heard Simon say this, as if he had already expected it, saying, "It's a pity, but I think we will definitely have other opportunities to cooperate in the future. Simon, I heard that you are trying to acquire Christie's Auction, right?"

The acquisition negotiations at Christie's auction house are still ongoing. Since the other party has heard the news, Simon did not hide it and said, "That's right."

"I'm also very interested in collections, and it seems that Melisandra is still looking for other collaborators. Do you mind if I'm involved?"

"Of course I don't mind, but Sophia has always been responsible for this matter, you can talk to him first."

Joseph Lewis smiled and said, "I still think it is more efficient to talk to you. My company owner requires a 20% shareholding and does not participate in Christie's' business. If the shares are sold in the future, Melisandra will also have a priority refusal. Of course, as a shareholder, as a shareholder, I still hope to receive some special preferential treatment."

Even though he didn't know Joseph Lewis's background and the other party was so straightforward, Simon was not stingy and quickly reached out to the other party and said, "So, Joe, I'm glad to work with you."

The middle-aged man in front of him was obviously eager to establish a relationship with the Westeros system, and the selected entry point was very good.

Christie's Auction House, this is just a business worth less than $1 billion, and it has little impact on the entire Westeros system. The other party only requires holding shares and does not pursue control. This sincerity is also very sufficient.

As for deeper purposes, Simon could roughly guess some, but he didn't mind too much.

The two continued to chat for a while, and Joseph Lewis continued to introduce himself without any concealment.

Lewis was an Englishman. He started his business with chain restaurants and clubs in his early years. He began to get involved in financial speculation in the 1980s, experienced the 87 stock market crash, the Japanese stock market bubble and the collapse of the US bond market, and, most importantly, the 1992 pound crisis.

After several operations, it was probably because he had accumulated enough capital. Joe Lewis recently began to return to real-world investment. If Simon agreed, the other party really planned to buy 10% of the shares of Igrit Company in one go. However, Joe Lewis probably also understood that Simon's sale of this shares was not simply to raise funds.
Chapter completed!