America's Road to Wealth

Chapter 285 Mount Smith Regardless of the Cost

Standing in front of very short Bernie Ecclestone.

Abel knew why the actual controller of F1 seemed so confident at this time.

the reason is simple.

Because Ecclestone took advantage of the past few years when the Kirsch Group was overwhelmed.

This little old man has done a lot of tricks in F1.

Bernie Ecclestone, for example, through the establishment of F1 Holdings (FOH).And subdivide it into F1 Administration Company (FOA) and F1 Management Company (FOM).

Through various decentralization, let your own people become directors and management.

In the case that the Kirsch Group itself is about to die.

Bernie Ecclestone's operations have made SLEC, which was previously responsible for the promotion and operation of F1 events, exist in name only.

Such a change of position also caused the Kirsch Group, which owns 75% of SLEC, to lose its influence in F1 events.

This allows Bernie to firmly control the fat of F25 even if he only has 1% of the shares.

So far, Ecclestone's family business, Bambino Trust Company, although only holds 25% of SELC's shares.

But two members of the FOH board were appointed by him two years ago.

One was his Swiss lawyer, Luke Argonne.

The other was Emmanuel, Argon's wife.

Bernie Ecclestone glared at Abel and others who were aggressively trying to seize power.

As long as the director's position can be guaranteed, F1 will still be Bernie Ecclestone's own.

At this moment, for his own personal interests, Bernie had to compete with Abel.

It's just that Bernie saw the latter's calm eyes, and after combining his identity, one of the founders of F1 felt somewhat discouraged.

Bernie then turned his eyes to Allen, and shouted loudly to the chief core of the advisory group——

"You have nothing and no power. You are just shareholders of SLEC, and SLEC has no power. I am the general manager of FOM and FOA. These two companies decide the affairs of F1. If you look at it from this perspective, F1 belongs to me .”

All the saliva sprayed on his face, Alan Baker still remained calm, "Are you sure? Do you dare to say what you said again, sir?"

"Why wouldn't I?!" Bernie Ecclestone huffed like a pugnacious cockerel.

"But you want me to say it again, why? I won't!"

"Okay." Allen nodded, he took the last step, and then said softly: "Mr. Owen, I will leave the rest to you."

"Okay, no problem. Next will be my job." Behind Allen, a middle-aged man with glasses and a gentle appearance stood out.

"Mr Bernie Ecclestone, isn't it?"

A middle-aged white man with a very gentle appearance and a very good temperament, smiling at Bernie Eccles.

Bernie's familiar "smell" on this man made Bernie hesitate to speak.

"Yes. Are you a lawyer? I need to call my lawyer!"

Bernie Ecclestone said right away.

The middle-aged white man full of gentleness smiled and nodded:

"Of course. That's all right. But before that, Mr. Ecclestone, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Timmy Owen and I'm a senior partner at Clifford Chance."

Hearing Owen's name, Bernie Ecclestone didn't react yet.

Hearing the name Clifford Chance Law Firm, Bernie knew that today might be difficult.

Clifford Chance is one of the Big Five law firms in London.

It is a law firm headquartered in London, England, which was established in 1802 and has 25 offices in 35 countries around the world.

The main business of this law firm is concentrated in the commercial and financial fields, debt and equity investment, capital market, corporate mergers and acquisitions, banking and financial projects, funds and financial instruments, etc.

And today's question, it just happens to be very professional.

Bernie knows that talking to these people is the easiest way to get caught.

He stressed: "I need to notify my personal lawyer!"

"I've said it. No problem, Mr. Ecclestone. Please inform your lawyer as soon as possible. Is it Mr. Luke Argon? It would be better if he came, and he and his wife are involved. "

Timmy Owen smiled:

"But I advise you to hurry. This Mr. Cavendish here is Mr. Attorney-General of Paddington District. He works for the Crown Prosecution Service in the United Kingdom."

"Hello." Prosecutor Cavendish said blankly, "Mr. Ecclestone. You are involved in a total of 2000 violations of the British Commercial Act, the Financial Services and Markets Act 38, and the British Companies Act. Law. In the name of the Paddington District Attorney, I issue a special notice to you."

How could Bernie Ecclestone, whose company headquarters are in Paddington, not know the prosecutor Cavendish.

In normal times, the relationship between the two is even very good, and they occasionally drink coffee together.

Now Cavendish has this look on his face, and Bernie is angry and terrified.

The little old man finally shifted his gaze from Allen, Timmy Owen and Cavendish to Abel.

"Mr. Abel Smith."

Bernie was about to grind his teeth.But at this moment, the little old man already knew that he could not offend the young man in front of him.

The top management of the F1 holding company is indeed controlled by Bernie Ecclestone.

But for a long time, the shares of the F1 holding company are still in the hands of SELC.

No matter what Bernie did, it couldn't change this point.

When SELC was in the hands of the Kirsch Group.Because Kirsch Group's big business doesn't care about this aspect, and it's hard to protect itself.

Bernie Ecclestone has been given the greatest freedom by having little demand on the F1 holding company.

Now SELC's largest shareholder has become someone else.

Bernie knew that no matter how much he insisted on not giving in, it was useless in the end.

If it's really going to court, I don't care about it anyway.

Thinking of this, Bernie Ecclestone sighed.

"Hey"

Bernie Ecclestone's original grief and indignation gradually subsided.

Potatoes can never touch a kitchen knife, and every British person understands this truth.

Bernie Ecclestone got it too.

"Mr. Smith, I admit that F1 is yours. But Mr. Smith, I believe you will not buy F1 just for fun, right?"

The hard one is obviously untouchable, and Bernie Ecclestone wisely chose the soft one:
"In addition, Mr. Smith, you are still the owner of two teams. If you directly control F1, those teams and car companies, even the FIA. They will definitely question this."

Bernie Ecclestone said very sincerely:
"Leave me. Mr. Smith, I created F1. I believe that no one can manage F1 better than me. I can make a lot of money for you, Mr. Smith."

The little old man changed his fighting posture like a little rooster just now, and looked very sad.

With a relaxed figure, Bernie Ecclestone feels that he has the style of his past.

Back then, in order to form F1, Bernie asked for the same team one by one, and then went to those auto giants.

In the end it all happened.

It's just that this scene reappeared now, on himself and Abel.

For a while, Bernie felt a sense of reincarnation.

With Bernie's resignation and surrender.

Everyone's eyes also fell on Abel, who had not spoken much in the middle.

Abel seemed to have achieved his goal.

In addition, Bernie Ecclestone, this guy, actually has a point.

Abel has already bought two teams, and now he directly buys F1 to operate it.

It may really cause dissatisfaction among other team owners.

Even if someone else is the general manager, it won't work.

Because apart from Bernie, the creator, there are many people in F1 who can convince the public.

In fact Abel never thought of kicking Bernie out.

At least when Bernie is subdued, at least when Bernie can be controlled by himself.

Abel was the one who allowed Bernie to continue managing F1.

"I have a few conditions." Abel finally spoke, his voice was clear and bright as the general manager of the F1 holding company.

"First, the salary of the general manager of the F1 holding company is too high. 8000 million euros, my God, few people on Wall Street can get such an annual salary."

"The huge wage bill will put too much pressure on F1's operations."

Abel looked at Bernie Ecclestone.

"I think 1000 million euros would be a more reasonable figure. Mr. Ecclestone, what do you think?"

Bernie Ecclestone thinks I think?I think you are Falk's SHIT!

But Bernie also knows that if he still wants to stay in F1, he has to agree if he doesn't want to.

In addition, the annual salary of 1000 million euros is actually quite a lot.

Bernie forced a smile: "I think it makes sense, sir."

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Bernie felt his heart was about to break.

The salary of 7000 million euros a year is less than half of his annual income.

Most of this half is pure profit income
"Second condition." See how sensible Bernie Ecclestone is.

Abel also cut to the chase.

"Remove Luke Argonne and Emmanuel as two directors and re-elect the board of directors. Director positions are selected according to the number of shares."

It is even more impossible for Bernie Ecclestone to refuse this step even if he can agree to a salary reduction of 7000 million a year.

"Of course," said Bernie Ecclestone:

"Fair and legal, isn't it, gentlemen?"

Hear the smile on Bernie Ecclestone's face, and the way he looks now.

Many people around were thinking in their hearts - [You were not like this just now, you were very arrogant just now, clamoring to go to court. 】

It's really going to court, and it turned out like this.

Bernie Ecclestone's performance today really made everyone present see the flexible side of the little old man.

"Very good." Abel nodded in satisfaction, and was very happy with Bernie's understanding, "Then congratulations. Mr. Ecclestone, you will still be the general manager of F1 holding company. The management right of F1 is still In your hand."

Bernie Ecclestone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It can be said that most of Bernie's life has been spent on F1.

Most of Bernie's wealth comes from F1, and his identity and status are completely dependent on the influence of F1.

Losing control of F1 would have been almost death to Bernie among London's plutocrats.

The 70-year-old old man, even if he earns less than 7000 million euros a year, is unwilling to lose his title of F1 czar.

Bernie Ecclestone's resignation, coupled with Abel's step back.

It also made the employees of the F1 holding company who were watching around feel relieved.

Since then, Abel has secretly controlled the ownership of F1.

In his commercial sports kingdom territory, a piece belonging to the racing car is perfectly lit up, and it is still very dazzling.

After all, this is Formula 1 racing, the only sports event in the world that can compare with the Olympic Games and the Football World Cup in terms of ratings.

It is also the pride of racing fans.

At the same time, it is also extremely profitable, and has always been the most profitable game in sports.

Otherwise, how could those auto giants have been obeying the control of F1?It's just that F1 can distribute a lot of money to them every year.

In the morning, Abel was still in the Paddington area, taking control of F1.

In the afternoon, he had already reached Villa No. [-] on Garden Street, Kensington Palace.

Kensington Palace Garden Street is the famous "Billionaire's Row".

Many times, the difficulty of trying to buy a house on this street is not just a matter of money.

If you don't have access to the network here, you may not even know when the mansion here will be auctioned.

The identities of the residents living on this street are often either rich or noble.

In the parallel time and space, Lao Wang of Huaxia also bought a villa here later, but it was a relatively remote one.

The reason why this street is so popular is that there is the famous Kensington Palace on this street.

It is a separate palace of the Queen and the main residence of the royal family in the urban area of ​​London.

To a certain extent, this palace is the business card of the royal family.

It is also one of the places where the royal family receives important political figures from various countries.

In addition, Kensington Street is one of the safest streets in London.

On both sides of the road here, Scotland Yard staff with live ammunition, that is, the Royal Police, stand at all times.

It is so close to the royal family, and the surrounding environment is so good, safe and secure.

It would be surprising if the housing prices here are not expensive.

In the villa at No. [-] Garden Street, Kensington Palace.

Strolling through the villa is beautiful, visible, and seemingly full of historic decorations.

Little Laura, who has been living in for a few days, couldn't help but sigh with emotion to Abel beside her:

"The houses in London look like they have historical value."

Abel was a little disapproving beside him.

When he bought this house, investment factors accounted for more than half of it.

He doesn't remember other aspects, but he remembers that Lao Wang, the future richest man in China, bought a house here.

The area seems to be only one-tenth of this, the kind of small and pitiful garden.

It was like £8000 million at the time.

That was after 2015.

Abel remembered this, so after knowing that the house was only worth 8000 million pounds at this time.

He decided to buy it here.

Another £8000m price tag is just the sticker price.

After negotiations, Abel actually only spent around £5800 million.

He thought that when the time came, he would find another opportunity to sell it to the local tyrants in China.

As the entire Kensington Palace Garden Street, it is the closest to Kensington Palace and is also one of the largest villas.

At that time, it will be sold for 4 to 5 million pounds, not expensive, right?
Those Chinese local tyrants, and those Hong Kong Island consortiums who have a different feeling for London.

Why don't you try to join forces and take down the most luxurious villa in the whole of England?
It's you, Agua.

By buying this house, you can be so close to the queen and become a neighbor directly.

Are you not excited?

"I don't like these old houses," said Abel to little Laura. "I like our Flower of Laura better."

"It can be designed from scratch, from nothing, all according to our will. I think such a house is more suitable for our living."

Speaking of Laura's Flower, little Laura couldn't help laughing too.

That was her dream, the love nest of two people.It is the place where she and her lover raised their offspring together.

Thinking of Laura's Flower, Little Laura couldn't help saying——

"But why do you insist on filling in the surrounding area of ​​the hill? I saw the design plan, it's too exaggerated!"

Little Laura is talking about the heart of Laura's Flower Manor.

The little hill that Abel had named Mount Smith.

According to Abel's request, the future female devil in the design world provided him with the first plan.

This plan is to prop up the surrounding of the hill to form a flat roof design.

According to this design plan, it is expected to use 18 tons of steel bars, about 100 million tons of cement, and at least 75 cubic meters of concrete. There are also various astronomical building materials.

The sum of these materials is more exaggerated than building several skyscrapers in New York.

According to the designer, ten Woolworth Buildings could have been built without considering the glass.

With so many materials, the construction cost is naturally astronomical.

So much money and so much material are spent to fill up such a hill.

Little Laura did not understand.

And Abel didn't need Xiao Lao to understand.

Because according to Abel's vision, Mount Smith is the core of Laura's Flower.

After it is completed in the future, it will be a super-doomsday fortress that can directly withstand Muhai attacks and biochemical attacks, and can be maintained internally for more than three years. It can produce food and fresh water internally and survive internally by itself!

To put it simply, luxury houses will be built on Mount Smith.

But under the mansion, [-]% are man-made and [-]% are in the naturally generated mountains.

It will be excavated into an inner space, which is used to store food, fresh water, weapons, medicines, energy, personnel, and even seeds, books and materials, etc. Noah's Ark-style monster fortress.

Just like inside the Smith Manor, the ancestors of the Smith family left behind from generation to generation, storing a large amount of weapons and ammunition, food, and even the secret room of gold.

In case something unbearable happens in this world in the future.

The Smith family can also have a place to stay in the midst of crisis.
Abel felt like he was only 21, after all.

When I travel through time in 2022, I am only 42 years old.

According to the original world situation, it was already very tense at that time.

If it continues to develop, it is not impossible for the Three Wars or the Muhai War
Abel didn't want to be in his 40s and 50s, the world's wealthiest man, with nowhere to hide when something like that happened.

Since he had to prepare, of course he did it according to the best preparation.

That's where Blossom of Laura comes in, this very exaggerated faux Mount Smith.

I don't know if it's because the blood of the Smith family has the gene of doomsday fear.

It was still the thought of Abel who traveled through, and he had already planned to design and build this Mount Smith.

Taking advantage of the fact that they want to build a big manor now, they directly started construction under the name of Flower of Laura.

Little Laura, who didn't know Abel's thoughts, would of course not understand.
.
(End of this chapter)