"Norman attended a reception for a foreign investor in the Kremlin last week and met Yeltsin, who mentioned your recent selection of girls in Russia."

Dumei Point Manor.

It is Friday, January 21.

Simon and Anthony Johnston had just sat down in the reception area with excellent sea view beside the curtain wall of the Shell Villa, and Anthony talked about this.

Janet personally brought coffee to her husband and brother. She was about to sit down next to Simon, but when she heard this, she lost a look of "My brother, please be careful, please be careful" and walked away.

Simon was not guilty, and was not surprised that Yeltsin knew that he was recruiting the Wei family maid in Russia. The lean camel was bigger than a horse. If Russia, which inherited the KGB intelligence system of the former Soviet Union, could not even understand such a thing, it might be worrying about completely overthrowing the country.

Simon also knew that he had been the focus of governments around the world from a very early stage, both openly and secretly.

After all, he is the only one in the world who started from scratch.

He picked up the coffee that Janet sent over and took a sip. Simon asked with a smile: "What did Yeltsin say?"

Anthony did not mean to be accused of his sister. For his brother-in-law's abnormal existence, it was difficult for him to take up his brother-in-law's airs: "Yelthin said that Russian girls are all excellent, and your screening standards are too strict. In addition, he also invited you to have the opportunity to visit Moscow."

"I have a chance, but I actually want to go to Moscow to see it."

Anthony nodded and couldn't help saying, "What are you picking so many girls?"

Simon didn't hide it and said, "I plan to train some maids for my family. You know, the ones I trained must be more reliable."

Anthony said: "Sofia Fessi, Alice Ferguson and Claire Gain?"

Sofia, who is in charge of Melisandra, Alice, who is in charge of Egret's e-commerce business, and Claire, who founded Tincobaier, are all considered to be a waitress from the Westeros family.

Although public media rarely discuss these, the circle talks about the women around Westeros more and more outstandingly. There are countless women who want to get to Simon for this reason.

Women like Sofia Fessi were only selected by Simon after their personal abilities were basically established. Now, his brother-in-law is planning to train him from scratch. Anthony thought about Norman, the younger brother in charge of Russia's business, talking about this matter with him and the words Yeltsin said that Simon's screening standards were too strict, which can be sure that these girls will only be better in the future.

He almost couldn't help asking Simon for one or two to be an assistant, but Anthony gave up when he spoke.

As brother-in-law and brother-in-law, this seems not solemn.

So he changed the topic: "When it comes to Russia, Dad scolded Norman on Christmas last year, and he said that you are correct to remind us, Mikhail Friedman, our agent in Russia, not to show too much ambition in the political arena, and warned Norman to break his legs if he gets too close to Yeltsin."

In recent years, Russia's collapse has created a large number of capital oligarchs, taking advantage of the country's opportunity to promote privatization to surround assets in various fields.

The emerging oligarchs in Russia cannot have too much owned funds, so they rely on overseas capital for blood transfusions, and the Westeros system has not let go of this feast.

Simon selected Mikhail Friedman, one of the seven major oligarchs in Russia in the original time and space, as the spokesperson for the Westeros system, including the Johnston family in Russia. The reason for being the other party is that Mikhail Friedman is the only "survivor" among the seven old oligarchs since the Emperor came to power.

This is not accidental either.

Mikhail Friedman is a businessman who is very good at judging the situation and actively avoids excessive intervention in politics. Although this made him the last among the seven old oligarchs in Russia, when other capital oligarchs who interfered in and manipulated Russia's political situation were taken down one after another, the very tactful Friedman was recognized by the emperor.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Westeros system has contacted Friedman before other capitals and funded the other party to establish the Alpha Group. In recent years, it has bet on the businessman for more than $500 million. This money is nothing to the Westeros system, but it is enough to buy too many things in Russia.

Although Mikhail Friedman in my memory has no political ambitions, Simon is not sure whether the other party is still the same after the time-shift incident, so he actively reminds the other party more than once.

At this moment, when I heard Anthony's tone, Simon asked, "Tony, you don't understand?"

"Norman has always been responsible for the Russian affairs. I was not here that day, and my father didn't explain it to me later." Anthony shook his head and said, "I just think this is not your previous layout style?"

Simon has always attached great importance to the political layout of North America and Australia, and Anthony also knew that the Westeros system secretly funded the current President Clinton. Therefore, Russia, which is still in a turbulent state, is logically the best platform for political layout.

Simon sorted out his thoughts and explained: "Russia is different from us. Although it implements a federal system, the political genes that have lasted for nearly a century cannot be changed. This means that Russia will be a country more suitable for strong people's politics. I am actually very optimistic about Yeltsin. He is more of a speculator than a qualified politician."

Anthony thought for a while and said, "What do you mean, Russia will likely have another strong national leader in the future?"

Simon nodded: "This probability is very high, and once it appears, such people will definitely not allow business oligarchs who like to interfere in national politics. At that time, it is the time for oligarchs to encounter liquidation. Therefore, in Russia, we only do business and not talk about politics as much as possible."

Anthony probably understood Simon's idea and said, "It's impossible not to talk about politics at all, right?"

"Of course, so we fund Yeltsin's election campaign, while expanding his political connections as much as possible, but not interfering or even manipulating. I understand that doing so may prevent us from fully integrating into Moscow's core circle. Friedman's performance in recent years has not been as good as other oligarchs, but this is the way to go."

Anthony nodded and said, "I will explain your point to my father when I go back."

Simon wondered: "Hmm?"

Anthony smiled and said, "Since my father didn't explain to me last time, I probably didn't understand it very much. I just warned Norman out of trust in you."

Simon laughed, too.

With the old man's personality, even if he doesn't understand this, he will not ask him directly, and he is even more simple and rude to his son.

Simon also discovered a small mistake in his own way. When he reminded Mikhail Friedman, he forgot to explain his intentions to Norman Johnston.

Simon has many memories of being a human being in two lives and lived on the other side of the ocean in his previous life, so he easily understands these joints.

In comparison, Raymond Johnston, who has been living in an open political environment in Australia, has become accustomed to protecting his family interests by exerting influence on the government. Therefore, even if he has enough life experience, it is probably not easy to understand the thinking patterns of politicians within another system, and it is even more impossible to see the future like Simon.

In the final analysis, Simon is indeed an anomaly.

Knowledge of the world is all about knowledge.

Human life is limited, and no matter how smart and skillful a person is, he cannot cover everything. He will inevitably have his own insights and thinking limitations.

Simon is equivalent to having someone else's life that has lived for more than ten lives, and it is a super bug in the future.

As she talked about this, Anthony remembered another thing: "Westro's office in Russia is set up in St. Petersburg, and Viper Communications' headquarters is also there. Is there any special arrangement?"

Simon didn't expect Anthony to mention this detail.

The answer is of course yes.

Someone is currently working as the mayoral assistant in St. Petersburg. The former core of Moscow was basically from the St. Petersburg family. Perhaps some things will change in this time and space, but there will be no harm in establishing a good relationship at this time. Even if the Westeros system can provide assistance at certain critical moments in the future, it will definitely receive richer returns.

It's just that it's impossible to explain this to Anthony frankly anyway.

Fortunately, this question is easy to answer.

"Westero's current investment in Russia is mainly telecommunications business. You know, St. Petersburg is very close to Helsinki. Both cities are on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, less than 300 kilometers away, making it easier for Nokia to cooperate with Russia."

Anthony nodded, feeling nothing wrong with Simon's explanation.

Verizon Telecom, a Westeros system, and two agents in Russia, established VimpelCom together two years ago. VimpelCom is registered in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, one of the European tax avoidance sites. It mainly carries out mobile communications services in Russia, and of course other services such as Internet services. However, Russia's PC penetration rate is too low at this stage, and the focus in the short term is still on mobile communications.

Nokia, which also belongs to the Westeros system, is naturally the only base station and terminal equipment supplier of Viper Communications.

Verizon Telecom provides technical and operational support, Nokia is responsible for equipment supply, and the two companies are strongly united. They are currently Russia's largest mobile communications operator. They have a considerable number of users in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and are also trying to expand their business to Ukraine, Czech Republic, Poland and other countries in Eastern Europe.

In terms of equity, Verizon Telecom and Alpha Group each hold 50% of the shares, and Verizon Telecom is responsible for the company's operations.

It seems that no one has a controlling stake, but in fact, Westeros also holds 15% of the shares of Alpha Group. The Johnston family also holds 15% of the shares in Alpha Group. Mikhail Friedman nominally holds 60% of the shares, and the actual shares belonging to him are only 30%, and the remaining 40% are only held on behalf of others.

Not to mention the secret equity structure of Alpha Group, through indirect holdings, the Westeros system actually has an absolute controlling stake in Viper Communications. Similarly, using this indirect holding model, the Johnston family actually absolutely controls the oil and mining assets of Alpha Group.

According to the estimates of the Johnston family, the Alpha Group's oil and mining assets acquired by it at a low price are actually worth more than US$5 billion, while the cash investment in acquiring these assets is less than US$300 million.

The Westeros system's entry into Russia's telecom market is far more simplistic than Simon's imagination, and it is not even enough to describe it as "frequent".

The rashness here certainly does not refer to the Westeros system itself.

After watching a country break down and dissipate in the hands of ambitious and speculators for several consecutive years, Simon developed a strong sense of pity more than once.

Feel like a crocodile.

Having said that, if it weren't for the layout of the Westeros system in Eastern Europe and Russia in recent years, the selection of the Wei family's maids would not be so smooth. The personnel team was ready-made, and Simon just needed to continue to give orders and someone would implement it. Otherwise, if it was other nouveau riche who only had large sums of money but lacked the strength of the foundation, it would be strange if he dared to play like this without being eaten by a large number of local snakes and then cut off a piece of meat.

Simon understood very early on that the most critical part of his desire to get rid of labels such as "novas" and "fat sheep" is to transform the capital he has into real voice.

From 1986 to the present, in more than seven years, Simon has not only owned more than 100 billion US dollars in personal assets, but also successfully transformed into a powerful influence of the Westeros system in the fields of media, fashion, entertainment, politics, finance, telecommunications, technology, etc.

In addition to personal wealth, this transformation of strength is what makes Simon the most satisfied.

Anthony Johnston didn't show up in Los Angeles for no reason.

Preparations began in mid-last year, and the acquisition was officially filed in August. The two parties reached an agreement in October. After more than three months of government review, just this Wednesday, Australian authorities officially approved the acquisition of Australian mining giant Billiton by consortium capital represented by Johnston Holdings.

This transaction also means a further integration of the Johnston family and the Westeros system.

The transaction is approved, and the next step is to pay.

Anthony came to North America to deal with this matter.

Due to factors such as the continued decline in the Australian economy over the past six months and the depreciation of the Australian dollar against the US dollar, Billiton's acquisition transaction price was ultimately 21.6 billion Australian dollars, equivalent to 15.1 billion US dollars, lower than the initial cost estimate of 16 billion to 17 billion US dollars.

However, Johnston Holdings' own mining assets also decreased to A$3.9 billion in the merger, equivalent to US$2.8 billion, lower than the initial valuation of US$3 billion.

The final transaction size is 25.5 billion Australian dollars, equivalent to 17.9 billion US dollars.

Worldwide, the total scale of this transaction is second only to the Reynolds Nabesker merger case, which reached $33 billion in the late 1980s and the $18 billion acquisition of Philip Morris and Kraft Foods. Moreover, unlike the leveraged acquisition of huge debts of tens of billions of dollars, Johnston Holdings and its allies will use their own funds this time and basically no additional debt will be generated, so it seems to be even more large.

Since the two parties reached an agreement in October last year, the acquisition has attracted strong attention from the media.

On the other hand, Johnston Holdings Group initially only wanted to acquire 35% of the new company's shares, but due to the continued decline in the Australian economic environment and the sluggish steel industry, external capital such as Morgan Stanley, which originally intended to jointly participate in the merger and acquisition, reduced its investment share, resulting in Johnston Holdings and Westeros must bear more funds.

Therefore, in the final plan, Johnston Holdings' original mining assets were integrated into the new company, with a total shareholding of 15.6%.

The transaction price of Rio Tinto's $15.1 billion is still the original cash and stock payment model. Cash payment is the $8 billion determined at the initial preparation for the acquisition, and the remaining $7.1 billion is converted into the new company's stock.

After completing the acquisition and integration, the new company will continue to be listed.

However, the Johnston family and Westeros will only need to contribute $1.5 billion to each of them, and the remaining funds will be managed by other shareholders and external capital of Johnston Holdings. Now, as the original capital contribution share of allies such as Morgan and Westeros will be reduced, the total amount of cash that the Johnston family and Westeros will need to pay has increased to $4 billion.

$4 billion is not too much for Simon, but the Johnston family struggled. Even the initial $1.5 billion was determined to require part of the loan. After negotiation, it was finally decided that the Johnston family's investment share remained unchanged, and Westeros's investment share increased from $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion.

This also means that if the acquisition is completed, Westeros will hold 13.9% of the new company, which is already a very high proportion for a large mining group. As a Volkswagen holding company, there are not many shareholders with a shareholding ratio of more than 5%.

The Johnston family's $1.5 billion investment and the other shareholders of Johnston Holdings also received a 13.9% stake.
To be continued...