Reinventing the Millennium.

Chapter 682 Cheng Yaojin Killed Halfway (Two in One)

Steal the floating life for half a day.

It's not bad to drink and talk nonsense after continuous busy work.

Fang Zhuo was warm and easy-going at Sohu's internal networking reception. After drinking, he not only hooked up with Zhang Chaoyang, but also chatted with many senior executives from Sohu.

Until ten o'clock in the evening, Zhang Chaoyang still personally sent Mr. Fang out, and even sent him to his newly bought A8L, and asked, "Mr. Fang, how about my singing?"

Fang Zhuo was taken aback, and replied seriously: "Mr. Zhang, your singing voice is moving."

Zhang Chaoyang laughed and helped close the car door: "President Fang, let's make an appointment next time."

Fang Zhuo waved goodbye.

The black Audi drove away slowly.

"Mr. Fang, are you going back to the hotel?" the driver Chen Zhao asked.

"Go for a drive before going back." Fang Zhuo said casually as he rolled down the car window.

Chen Zhao silently turned on the music and slowed down the car so that Fang could always see the night view of the capital city.

After the two songs, it happened to be played in "Blue Lotus".

Fang Zhuo's face darkened: "Next one."

Chen Zhao changed the song, and couldn't help asking: "Mr. Fang, Mr. Zhang, can't you tell that he's out of tune?"

"I can hear it, I can't hear it, what's important." Fang Zhuo said with a smile, "It's rare to be confused when you are full of ambition."

Chen Zhao drove in silence again.

Fang Zhuo reached out and took the manuscript that Zhang Chaoyang gave him, turned a page, and said: "Mr. Zhang told me today that he thinks life is meaningless. I want to refute him, but I feel that life is really meaningless. Only a few decades."

Chen Zhao didn't say anything, he just felt that both Mr. Fang and Mr. Zhang had acquired wealth that ordinary people could hardly have.

"However, after thinking about it again, life in just a few decades is meaningless anyway, so it's better to give it some meaning." Fang Zhuo picked up the manuscript and said with a smile, "I think it has meaning, so it will be given some meaning." meaning."

Chen Zhao wanted to smoke a little.

Fang Zhuo continued: "There is a mixture of things, born from heaven and earth. Lonely and lonely, independent and unchanging, traveling around without perishing, can be the mother of the world. I don't know its name. The word is Tao, and the name of strength is Da. .”

Chen Zhao didn't know what to say, the boss seemed to be going to immortality.

But he also wondered if he should go along with the boss at this time.

Chen Zhao looked at Ai Ai and found a topic related to himself: "Mr. Fang, will Mr. Zhang's car be returned tomorrow?"

"Mr. Zhang's car?" Fang Zhuo was puzzled, "Oh, let's drive first, let's talk later."

Chen Zhao felt that these words were easier to understand than the previous ones.

The boss is a coward, he wants Mr. Zhang's car!

……

From notification to implementation, Kong Yu, the person in charge of the MIGA Fund, finally returned to the capital from New York with his team in mid-September.

At the same time, the contacted U.S. Bank and Washington Mutual Bank also expressed their interest in investing. Their attitudes are normal, as long as they bring along the investment, they will not consider such things as director seats, and they will definitely invest with MIGA funds. will prevail.

Conversely, it was the MIGA Fund that made a request to these two banks that had previously cooperated, especially U.S. Bank, that it needed a senior team to come to China to discuss cooperation with ICBC, involving banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, and trust Exchange of experiences in the field of payment services.

There is still half a month left before the deadline given by ICBC, and the time is still relatively tight.

However, one of the important criteria for ICBC to consider a partner is that it will not cause unnecessary competition and conflict of interest with its main business, and U.S. Bank of America perfectly meets this point.

On September 9, the teams of two American banks were flying to Beijing. MIGA Fund first talked with Deutsche Bank. After reaching a basic consensus, they should focus on the compliance of ICBC cooperation superior.

At ten o'clock in the morning, Zhang Hongli from Deutsche Bank arrived at the hotel almost at the same time as President Fang who came back from Sina.

One came down from a Rolls-Royce, and the other came down from an Audi A8L.

The two smiled at each other.

They are all very confident in the prospect of cooperation.

……

On September 9, at No. 25, Fuxingmennei Street.

The Goldman Sachs team was finally allowed to start cooperation negotiations again after contacting ICBC many times to no avail.

Previously, Goldman Sachs had reached a memorandum of understanding with ICBC, but this was not legally binding, it was just a demonstration of the willingness to cooperate. Therefore, they have been trying to further push forward the progress since the beginning of this month.

However, ICBC has been refusing on the grounds of busy leaders and business trips.

With great difficulty, Paulson, the head of Goldman Sachs, directly contacted the head of ICBC, and then got in touch with some leaders who had a good relationship, and this negotiation was able to take place.

Paulson is an unusual person. In addition to his achievements in managing Goldman Sachs, there is news that the US administration is inviting him to take up the position of Treasury Secretary. Therefore, he personally urged ICBC to feel the pressure.

Today's trip, Paulson did not come, he will lead the team to China at the end of the month.

The former senior partner and current executive vice president of Goldman Sachs is now in charge of this cooperation. Fagan is assisting him in addition to the US team and the China team. Hu Zuliu, an economist who serves as the general manager, has provided a lot of advice. , also personally wrote an article to respond to various doubts about this cooperation from the outside world.

At 10:30 in the morning, a number of business cooperations were exchanged in the conference room.

However, Hu Zuliu keenly discovered that the atmosphere of today's exchange seemed rather dull.

What is this dullness?

What's going on, including the fading enthusiasm of ICBC this month?

Hu Zuliu has been actively inquiring for news this week, and he is not complacent just because he has reached a memorandum of understanding.

He waited until Vice President Feigen talked about Goldman Sachs' asset management experience again, and said with a smile: "President Jiang, we have talked these times, and it can be said that it is a match made in heaven. No matter what doubts ICBC has, Goldman Sachs is willing to provide help. .”

President Jiang nodded slightly, but did not speak.

Wu Qian, who was two places away, opened his mouth when he heard the words. He talked about public opinion issues, which was still a cliché, and it was everyone's question about "high or low value". It was more conventional, but very sensitive.

It is difficult for ICBC, which is undergoing shareholding restructuring, not to consider public opinion, which is also sensitive at this moment.

Hu Zuliu was relieved to hear that it was a problem in this area.

He said proudly: "President Jiang and Commissioner Wu, it's not uncommon to have debates in this area. The truth becomes clearer as you debate it. Goldman Sachs is not afraid of debates and doubts, because we can bring practical experience."

"This kind of experience involving corporate governance, risk management, asset management, and non-performing loan management is rare even in similarly well-known financial institutions."

"What's more, when it comes to the present, there are nearly [-] Goldman Sachs seminars at ICBC, and ten special lectures by the expert team."

“The strength and sincerity of Goldman Sachs cannot be questioned.”

Hu Zuliu breathed a sigh of relief, and said: "ICBC is not a problem at this step. As long as it takes the right path, it will surely become a modern commercial bank with international competitiveness. This is also what Goldman Sachs is happy to see."

President Jiang still didn't speak.

Wu Qian charged forward, groaning to point out the essence: "Exchange equity for experience, exchange market for technology, well, this is acceptable..."

He paused, knowing what the economist on the opposite side had said in the past, and deliberately said: "However, the status of ICBC is different after all. Our choice of equity partners has attracted a lot of attention. This time, the transfer of equity includes leaders Ask, should private entrepreneurs be given opportunities to cooperate.”

Hu Zuliu was surprised and amused.

This reason is really not out of thin air, he himself responded in the newspaper.

"Commissioner Wu, maybe you don't know, I talked about this with a certain university professor in the media before."

"The experience and business owned by Goldman Sachs Group is by no means just ours."

"However, this does not mean that we can randomly find collaborators who can compare with us."

Hu Zuliu was a little proud, and reiterated his point of view: "According to our traditional concept, cooperation must be matched, so as to achieve the same goal. The combination of equity and experience has both short-term value-added and medium-to-long-term value."

Feeling the still dull atmosphere in the meeting room, he smiled, and still summed up in his own words: "Furthermore, it's hard for a smart woman to cook without rice. It's not that I want to belittle it. It's that there is really no such powerful woman in China as Goldman Sachs and HSBC." An investor with international experience and word-of-mouth.”

Everyone on the Goldman Sachs side nodded.

For a long time, the Goldman Sachs consortium has envisioned opponents in Europe and even Xiangjiang, and there is no one in the mainland who can compete.

"cough."

President Jiang, who didn't say much, suddenly coughed, and he said slowly: "This cooperation is of great importance. It is not only our pressure, but also our driving force. To build ICBC into a modern commercial bank, we must learn from various advanced experience."

"Goldman Sachs is very good. Now there is a mainland entrepreneur who wants to share his views. I wonder if Goldman Sachs would like it?"

Feigen and Hu Zuliu were a little surprised.

In particular, Hu Zuliu suddenly felt that following President Jiang's words, the atmosphere in the conference room seemed to change from dull to lively.

He was inconceivable, but also very curious, what kind of characters really popped up in the mainland?
Fagan spoke out, willing to meet the obviously new force.

Soon, the door of the conference room was pushed open.

A seven-member team consisting of MIGA Fund, Deutsche Bank, U.S. Bank, and Washington Mutual came in under the leadership of the young leader.

Seven people, all in formal attire, there are men and women, there are foreigners, and there are Chinese people.

Fagan was unfamiliar with people.

But Hu Zuliu recognized it. One was Zhang Hongli from De Bank, and the other was...Fang Zhuo!
Fang Zhuo, is that Fang Zhuo who made a certain professor feel ashamed?
Is he also an investor?

This person is indeed rich, but the cooperation with ICBC is not just about being rich.

Hu Zuliu took advantage of the group of people being ushered into their seats, and exchanged a few words with Feigen in a low voice.

Fang Zhuo and the others happily sat down.

Hu Zuliu took the initiative to introduce himself: "Mr. Fang, I am Hu Zuliu, the general manager of Goldman Sachs in China."

Fang Zhuo shook hands with this man, and said with a smile, "Mr. Hu, hello, I know you, you are in the economy."

He summed up Hu Zuliu's wonderful work experience in four words. He used to be the chief economist of the World Economic Forum in Davos and is now the chief China economist of Goldman Sachs.

Compared with the position of general manager, various economic theories and work experience in international organizations allow him to play an important role in the growth of Goldman Sachs China business.

Hu Zuliu didn't mind such a slightly rude comment: "Mr. Fang, I didn't expect to see you here today. As far as I know, ICBC has screened several rounds of partners. I haven't heard of Mr. Fang's experience in this regard before." interest."

"If you don't have diamonds, you won't do porcelain work." Fang Zhuo said calmly, "I was looking for diamonds before, and I was afraid of disturbing everyone. This time, I found all diamonds before thinking about whether I can help the development of ICBC."

He stretched out his hand and introduced, "This is Mr. Zhang Hongli from Deutsche Bank."

"President Kong Yu of MIGA Fund."

"Gary, Senior Vice President, US Bank of America."

"Emily, executive vice president of Washington Mutual."

Fang Zhuo introduced in turn, not only to Goldman Sachs, but also to the leaders of ICBC present.

He has reached an agreement with Deutsche Bank, Hezhong, and Mutual Aid, and is willing to form an acquisition consortium led by his own will, with the goal of replacing Germany's Allianz Group.

Of course, this is the main goal.

The secondary objective was the question posed by Gary, Senior Vice President of US Bancorp during the first meeting - why can't we replace Goldman Sachs?

The biggest reason is, of course, that there is not enough money, and if the three banks really want to pool the money, they will inevitably lose the initiative.

But Fang Zhuo believes that this can also be used as a competitive strategy.

If your Goldman Sachs consortium can form a memorandum of understanding with ICBC, we can also discuss cooperation in this way.

What Goldman Sachs can give, we can also give.

If Goldman Sachs can't give it, we probably can't give it either, but we can pretend to be able to.

Fang Zhuo smiled kindly.

However, his smile is very threatening in the eyes of Goldman Sachs.

Goldman Sachs team members, including Fagan and Hu Zuliu, were caught off guard by President Jiang's gesture.

"It goes without saying that Deutsche Bank is the largest bank in Germany and one of the world's major financial institutions. What it can provide is a comprehensive experience in cooperation with individuals, companies, governments, and public institutions."

"U.S. Bank, in addition to conventional brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage and other businesses, it has excellent results in risk management."

"Washington Mutual, Insurance, Home Mortgage, Financial Derivatives, and especially, my private equity fund has an amazing partnership with it in the financial sector."

Fang Zhuo introduced one by one, this is a bargaining chip other than money, and it is the selection of cooperation projects that can convince the leaders of other factions present in ICBC.

"As for the MIGA Fund, it is committed to providing clients with best-in-class asset appreciation, which is our achievement."

Fang Zhuo posted several MIGA fund operations worth disclosing, including detailed bottom-buying of Chinese concept stocks and comparison of holdings in high-tech companies.

Hu Zuliu didn't get the document, but he could judge the effect just by looking at the expressions of the leaders.

"Mr. Hu, what should we do now?" Fagan trusted Hu Zuliu, a Chinese economist.

Hu Zuliu said in a low voice, "Come on Paulson."

This patchwork consortium is nothing to be afraid of, but President Fang in front of him seems to have a vague relationship behind him, otherwise how could he get involved at this time.

Go get Paulson, only magic can defeat magic!
(End of this chapter)