America's Road to Wealth

Chapter 316 Now I'm the Consortium

From the establishment of Smith Media, there was also Abel's rhetoric that he wanted to acquire NBC Television.

It's been over four months.

For more than four months.

Neither Abe nor Smith Media's approach to GE came to fruition.

Like Warren Buffett said.

General Electric takes this powerful mouthpiece of public opinion very seriously.

After four months of hard work, Abel gradually understood one thing.

That is in a short period of time, before General Electric has completely declined.

It is estimated that it is really impossible to acquire NBC TV station.

Especially after he became one of the major shareholders of General Electric, owning more than 5% of the shares.

He understood this even more.

So at this time, Abel's mind has actually changed.

From his previous belief in NBC TV, he has gradually become the idea of ​​​​preparing with both hands.

The so-called two-handed preparation, the first-hand preparation means that he will continue to stare at NBC TV station and wait for an opportunity to win it.

The other way to prepare is when the NBC TV station is not available.The TV network belonging to Smith Media will also start construction.

Don't think it is difficult, in fact, it can be done now.

In parallel time and space, with the existence of the current four major TV networks.

Columbia and Warner Bros. have formed a joint television network, referred to as the CW's fifth largest television network.

Although the fifth largest TV network has never surpassed the top four, it also covers 95% of the users in the United States.

Abel felt like he could go the CW way.

You can even combine streaming video platforms such as Naifei, Hulu, Youtubie, and Amazon to create a new-age TV network.

However, the latter combination is not very realistic at present.

The main reason is that the current network broadband conditions are not yet supported, and it will take another year or two.

Probably after 2003, after the Internet bandwidth in the United States supports online video with a resolution of around 480p, it is the time for these streaming video platforms to go online.

Before this, Abel felt that if Smith Media really couldn't win NBC TV station immediately.

Next, he is going to start a big acquisition in the TV industry.

You must know that although the four major TV networks dominate the industry now.

But in fact, the United States also has a large number of various local TV stations, both wired and wireless.

Smith Media can completely cover the whole country with its own signal network through acquisitions and mergers, so as to increase the ratings.

It's just that it takes time, and in a market where the Big Four are close to monopoly, it will cost more.

This is why Abel wanted to buy NBC directly once and for all.

Being able to win NBC directly can save Abel a lot of time.

Now that the difficulty lies here, Abel already has ideas in this regard.

After thinking about it, Abel said to Sullivanston: "Forget it. Tonight is not suitable. I will talk to Jeff Immelt later. But not now."

Sullivanston nodded indifferently, he came here just to remind Abel.

Who made Abel seem to be very persistent in his media empire.

Buffett said at this time: "I personally think that if you are in the media, there is no need for such a focused investment. You can completely diversify your investment and become a major shareholder of all media groups."

Abel knew what Buffett meant.

Buffett is saying, if Abel really wants to be a media boss.

Abel didn't have to go off in person.

It is possible to indirectly influence and control these media by buying shares, such as holding a large number of shares in companies such as News Corporation, and becoming the major shareholders of these companies.

Just like Buffett himself did.The stock god has a large number of shares in major media groups in the United States.

In this way, these media groups will be very cautious when it comes to Buffett's reports, as long as they do not involve the media group's own interests.

Buffett also indirectly controlled and influenced public opinion against himself through this method.

Many American tycoons do this, and this approach is actually the most trouble-free.

However, many of what Abel wants to do in the future will involve the self-interest of these media groups.

For example, Abel wants to push Alexander to power in the future, regardless of whether Alexander is a donkey or an elephant.

Alexander's competitors will definitely use their own camp's media groups to attack Alexander.

In situations involving this level of self-interest.

If it is just an ordinary major shareholder, it is difficult to affect the position of the media group.

The most typical example is Maga King. There are so many media groups in the United States, but only News Corporation has supported him from the beginning to the end.

The others are either neutral and partial to donkeys, or they are simply staunch donkey party camps.

A large part of the reason why maga was able to appear on stage for the first time was that Xi Po relaxed her vigilance at that time.

The old witch looked down on maga a little at the time, and was stolen by the red neck at the last moment.

If Xipo had been on the front line and used the Yin soldiers at that time, Feilabkang's red neck would definitely not be able to win.

Abel didn't want this to happen to his father when he came out for election.

Because even News Corp. and maga began to part ways later.

The so-called allies are just that the interests of betrayal are not enough.

Therefore, Abel still firmly wants to hold his own media group.

Only those in your own hands are really reliable.

That's why he doesn't want to be like Buffett, who can only achieve influence, not complete control.

"I know what you think." Abel said with a smile:
"But Warren, I'm still young. If I don't vent my energy, Wall Street will suffer. Wall Street will suffer, and I may suffer. So I have to pick something fun to distract some of my energy. Energy, you know."

After hearing this, Buffett felt that Abel's words made sense.

But the stock god was wrong, he thought that Abel was referring to venting his experience on good girls in Hollywood.

"Hmph, I'm too lazy to care about you. As long as you can make Smith Capital make money!" Buffett muttered.

"Hey, here it is. Oh, and Warren and Sully are here." Another joins the circle.

Abel looked up and saw that it was little Laura's father coming.

But Neil didn't come alone. He brought an acquaintance of Abel's - Davis Brown.

Davis Brown is an old man in his 70s, about the same age as Buffett.

Seeing Neil and Davis Brown appear, Sullivanston and Buffett glanced at each other.

The stock god said softly: "Hey, yes, Neil. It seems that you want to talk about some things in Texas. Let's go first."

Neil Shrub and Davis Brown both laughed and said nothing.

Sullivanston greeted his wife directly and left with Buffett and his wife.

There were only a few Texans left at the scene.

Abel smiled and shook hands with Davis Brown, "Hi, Mr. Brown, nice to see you again."

"Me too." Davis Brown smiled happily, and shook hands with Alexander and the others.

After exchanging pleasantries, Abel looked at his father-in-law.

Neil Shrub said softly: "Davis wants to talk to you about Smith Capital. George found out, so he asked me to bring it here."

Abel nodded with a smile, and he looked at Davis Brown.

The identity of this old man is not simple. He is the founder family of the Texas consortium and one of the families behind the scenes.

As the youngest and weakest consortium among the top ten consortiums in the United States.

The internal power of the Texas consortium is very scattered, unlike the Rockefeller family to the Rockefeller consortium, the Morgan family to the Morgan consortium, and the DuPont family to the General Motors group.

It is estimated that there is no real leading family, and the financial aspect is very weak.

Only then will the Texas consortium, one of the representatives of the military-industrial complex, be at the bottom of the top ten consortiums.

Last year, Abel hadn't become popular yet.

The Texas consortium launched an investigation on him.

Abel was still a little happy at the time, feeling that he could finally hug his thigh.

However, the investigation of the Texas consortium was really just an investigation
Abel was very dissatisfied with the offer they gave after the inspection.

Later, after Abel grew up a little, the offer he gave made the Texas consortium even more dissatisfied.

In the end, the two parties did not come together.

Bush, who existed as a middleman at the time, instead walked with the Smith family.

Now, a year later, Davis Brown came to the door again.

Abel didn't know if it was the meaning of the Texas consortium.

But today, with the support of shrubs in governance.

With Smith Capital as the center, he has also united a group of capital.

Although it can't be called a consortium yet, Abel is not as eager to find a thigh hug as he was last year.

Abel himself is considered a pretty good thigh now.

At this moment, looking at Abel who was standing with little Laura in high spirits.

Davis Brown felt somewhat regretful.

I regret that the Texas consortium did not "help" Abel when he was still very weak.

I regret not bringing Abra to the camp of the Texas consortium earlier.

As Abel grew up, the Texas consortium felt more and more that Abel was actually the most suitable new member for Texas.

the reason is simple.

I've said it before.

Due to historical factors, the financial strength of the Texas consortium is the weakest among the top ten consortiums in the United States.

The financial strength is weak, when the dollar tide is launched in the United States and it is being searched all over the world.

Compared with other consortiums, the Texas consortium will gain much less.

Over time, even with the most powerful military industry strength, it gradually becomes a part-time job for nothing.
Anyone who has worked part-time in vain for a long time will feel resentment.Not to mention one of the leaders in a powerful military-industrial complex.

In a parallel time and space without Abel.

It may be precisely because of this reason.

After putting George on stage, one or two of these guys went nuts.

A coffee cup worth thousands of dollars, a toilet bowl worth tens of thousands of dollars, and an imported goat worth millions of dollars are eaten like crazy
The Texas consortium, which has no financial benefits, is enjoying itself in this regard.

But the trillion-dollar military spending has also pulled the most powerful United States into the abyss.

Financial capital can look for opportunities to find new hosts, and high-tech capital and energy capital also have opportunities to escape.

The military-industrial complex that lives and dies with the United States will really die together.

In 2001, the Texas consortium hadn't tasted the taste of a coffee mug worth thousands of dollars.

At the moment, they still want to supplement their financial sector.

Smith Capital, which is getting stronger and stronger, has finally been officially put in front of everyone.

After a long discussion, Davis Brown came to Abel.

Davis Brown looked around and found that they were all Abel's own people.

The old man said softly, "First National Bank of Dallas, First City National Bank of Houston, Republican Bank of Dallas, and Texas Commercial Bank."

“它们各自33%的股份。再加上休斯飞机5%，德州仪器15%，坦尼克公司5%、LTV公司5%。”

"In exchange for 40% of Smith Capital and 49% of Pacific Bank of Commerce."

"In addition, Smith Media and Pacific Energy, we will buy shares in cash, and the price will be based on the current latest market value."

Davis Brown looked at Abel, as if he wanted to observe Abel's expression carefully.

"This is our latest offer."

"Also after the deal is done. We will support you in restructuring these four banks, and three other insurance companies."

"As long as you agree." Davis Brown said softly, "A brand new and huge financial group will appear in your hands. It will not be much worse than Mellon and Fuguo!"

Davis Brown's persuasive voice moved Neal Shrub very much after listening to his conditions.

At this moment, Abel's father-in-law wished that he could replace him and receive such a degree of attention from the Texas consortium.

Neil, who has been doing business in Texas for many years, knows it well.

Once Abel agrees to these conditions, Abel will immediately become one of the core figures within the Texas consortium.

Still the most important ones!

To be honest, Neil wanted to agree for Abel at this moment.

Because the shrub family did not expect that the Texas consortium would be so willing to spend so much money this time.

In fact, even Abel didn't expect them to be so willing this time.

If last year, these conditions were offered to Abel.

Abel felt that he must have followed suit immediately.

Then he will definitely start to be the pioneer of the Texas consortium, and strive to make himself the leader of the consortium in the shortest possible time.

But that was a year ago.

At that time, Abel hadn't shown his cards to Wall Street yet.

At that time, Abel had not yet started to establish his own family.

Now, now he himself has become a representative of certain forces.

Buffett, Bloomberg, Sullivanston, Robert Morgenthau, a handful of Wall Street titans
Smith Capital, Pacific Bank of Commerce, Pacific Energy, Smith Media
These giants and the companies behind these giants, as well as these companies under Abel's own hands.

Adding them up, they are already in this country, and they can be regarded as one of the princes.

If you count the current influence of shrubs and Abel on the United States, anyway, Abel already feels that he is not much worse than the bottom of the Texas consortium.

At most, it is not as good as it is in terms of certain background and depth.

After all, the Texas Consortium has experienced hundreds of years of development, and the history of some families and companies in the consortium can even be traced back to the Civil War.

But Abel felt that he would give himself another ten years.

I will definitely be able to do better than the Texas consortium.

In that case
Of course, Abel would no longer think about joining any consortium.

Not to mention the bottom Texas consortium.

Even if it is Morgan and Rockefeller at this time, or California and the First Citigroup.

He won't even be tempted.

His period of weakness is over.

Now, Smith is the consortium himself.

Abel took a deep breath, then let it out gently.

"Whoo~"

Then his face showed the "Apollo smile" that Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of the American edition of "Vogue" magazine, has been crazily touting recently.

"Dear Mr. Brown, dear Davis. I am very glad that you and your friends value my businesses and companies so much."

Abel smiled and said: "But I'm sorry, now they are not just my company. They all have their own shareholders. If you want to buy shares, I need to hold a general meeting of shareholders and get their consent before I can accept you Take a stake."

Davis Brown's face quickly darkened.

That's right, Smith Capital is indeed no longer Abel's sole proprietorship.

Many people in the upper class of the United States know about this.

Shrubs, Buffett, PNC and Bloomberg, plus a Smith.

Smith Capital now has five shareholders and half Mellon.Davis Brown knew this.

But Davis Brown also knew that although Smith Capital now has so many shareholders.

But whether it is in terms of shareholding or speaking power, Smith Capital still has the final say on Abel.

Including accepting other people's shares, Abel can also speak for himself.

Abel said that now, and Davis Brown knew that this guy was rejecting him.

To be honest, including Davis Brown, those in power in the Texas consortium really never thought that Abel would directly refuse.

At most, they just thought that Abel might bargain and want to get more benefits.

Now Abel directly refused.

Davis Brown couldn't help but said: "Why? Mr. Smith, you were not like this last year."

"Last year's me is last year's me, and this year's me is this year's me." Abel smiled at him:
"300 years ago, it was even a barren land. There was no America, no Americans, nothing."

"200 years ago, the United States appeared, but it was just a weak country in the corner of the world, and no one would take it seriously."

"100 years ago. America was just a forgotten New World country when the atmosphere among the European powers was tense."

"What about 100 years later? Now that the red bear collapsed, we are already the most powerful country in the world."

"I went to New York in October 1999. It's October 10."

"Exactly two years."

"In two years, I already have the current status, wealth and influence. Then...give me another two years, five years, or even ten years, 20 years?"

Abel was under the watchful eyes of Davis Brown and his relatives.

He said softly: "From now on, Mr. Brown. I am the consortium. I don't need to rely on anyone. I hope you can understand."

(End of this chapter)