America's Road to Wealth

Chapter 353 The Spider's Web Named Smith

White clouds and blue sky.

And sunshine.

Last year was a cold winter, but this year it's the other way around.

It is now the end of November, and Los Angeles is still not cold at all.

The weather in Beverly Hills never seems to be this good.

In the swimming pool in front of me, two mermaids from Australia swam freely and happily.

Abel was on the phone with his mobile phone, admiring the mermaid and the beautiful Hollywood overlooking the city below.

This large Spanish-style villa at 10410 Bellagio Road has no private beach because it is on the mountain.

It gave Pezzy everything else that a mansion should have as a standard.

For example, it has three standard swimming pools, one indoor and two outdoor.

The two outdoors, one in front of the villa building, is an oval shaped swimming pool, built directly in the courtyard.

The advantage of swimming in this swimming pool is that you can directly enjoy the colorful and Spanish-style courtyard gardens around you.

Another outdoor swimming pool is behind the building. It is built directly on the mountain and is an infinity sky pool.

Behind the infinity pool is the building, in front of it is the mountain view of Beverly Hills, and in the distance is the continuous and continuous city view of Hollywood and Los Angeles.

When night falls, swim here.You can enjoy the night view of the most essential part of Hollywood.

The favorite of the two Australian mermaids is the infinity and infinity linear swimming pool at the back.

Let Nicole Kidman choose, she likes all three swimming pools.

Swimming in the back here, is Cate Blanchett's choice.

Kate felt it was a waste of good weather to choose the indoor swimming pool.

Choose the fancy swimming pool in the front, the maid who comes in and out from time to time, and the design in front of the house.

That would make Kate feel uncomfortable.

Kate would be uncomfortable because she is still a little ashamed.Even without turning back, Kate still had a weird feeling.

In contrast, Kate, who soaked her beautiful body in the water, turned her head to look at Nicole next to her.

Compared with Kate, Tuao Aries is going to let go a lot more

"My dear BOSS, would you like to come down and swim for a while?"

When Kate saw Nicole, she was lying on the edge of the infinity pool, looking towards the city view of Hollywood, and after looking intoxicated for a while, she turned back to greet Abel.

Abel smiled, and instead called her, "If you want to swim, you will have plenty of time, so you can swim as you like. But you have been soaking for too long since last night, and you will get edema if you soak again. You'd better come up."

Upon hearing his words, Nicole didn't react yet.

Kate, who was next to her, immediately gave Nicole an evaluation in her heart-Swordman!
Yesterday, Kate thought about pulling Nicole into the water.

But in that process.That's why Kaitla Nicole went into the water, it was Nicole who couldn't wait to jump into the water.

Last night, Nicole threw herself into someone's arms while in the swimming pool!
Kate was also pulled into the water later, and after soaking in the water for more than an hour, it was a bit uncomfortable to soak in the back.

Facing Abel's words, Nicole was unwilling, "We're fine. Didn't we rest for a few hours last night and a few hours in the morning? It's only been half an hour today! I want to continue to soak for a while, you Do you want to come down?"

Gee!
It can be seen that Big Aries likes this big villa very much.

In fact, no woman would dislike this villa.

First of all, it is in a very central location in Beverly Hills, on Bellagio Road.

This road on the mountain is not the main route for tourists. It is located in the center and avoids the disturbing eyes of tourists.

Secondly, it occupies a hill, which protrudes a little.

Even if this villa is not on the top of the mountain, the view is unique, and you can enjoy the front overlooking the entire Hollywood.

In terms of interior design, its facade is in a Spanish style that looks rich and noble. This kind of southern European style, combined with the climate of Los Angeles, which is a bit like the Mediterranean climate, can be said to be really suitable.

This is why the luxury houses in Los Angeles like to use Italian and Spanish styles.

It is because these two places are both in southern Europe and have a Mediterranean climate.

The climate in Los Angeles is very similar to the Mediterranean climate in many places.

Both the architectural appearance and the interior design are in line with the climate characteristics here.

More importantly, this house is expensive.

Nicole Kidman already knew about the house, which was originally worth $2000 million.

But now with the rising real estate market, its price has already exceeded 3000 million US dollars.

Cate Blanchett and Liv Tyler live in the $3000 million mansion.
It is said that Liv does not live there often.

Nicole had read the contract last night, signed the contract, and signed it as a long-term employee contract.

Could she have no idea?

I heard Nicole say that I still want to have a bubble, and I still want to have a bubble with myself.

Abel was looking at his mobile phone, but suddenly he came back and looked at the two Australian mermaids who were extremely active or passive.

In the California sun, they were blindingly white.

Abel immediately put down his phone and took the initiative to join in.

"Oh...Abel...how do you..."

The water splashed violently.

The phone on the lounge chair by the pool suddenly rang.

No one picked up.

Kate pointed at it weakly, "Someone is calling you."

"Don't worry about it. I'll pick it up later."

Having said that, what can Kate do?
Infinity outdoor swimming pool
Suddenly there was only the sound of splashes.

Half a minute later, the phone rang again, but no one answered.

An hour later, with Abel's physique, he felt a little tired.

Mainly this time, unlike the hot springs in Milan last time.

Although I was in the water that time, the hot spring was not very deep, and I could stand directly at the bottom of the hot spring.

This time it is a standard swimming pool, and the feet do not touch the ground, so I pay more.

What's more, he had to support their weight during the process, which was even more tiring.

Abel half-dragged and half-hugged Kate, who was next in turn, to the shore.

She has been tossed so much that she has no strength.

It seems that she is more tired than swimming.

As for Nicole Kidman, she was dragged up a long time ago, and she is still resting with half-closed eyes.

Put the two of them on the reclining chairs lined up together, and cover Kate with a white towel.

Looking at the two Australian mermaids who looked particularly tired and beautiful.

A sense of accomplishment unique to men could not help but rise in Abel's heart.

Hey, Australian double wall.

Thinking of this, he shook the water from his hair, and wiped his hair and body with a towel.

After drying himself off a bit, Abel finally reached for his phone, looked at the caller ID, and dialed back, "Hey, Warren, are you calling?"

It's Buffett.

"Well, why didn't you answer it just now? Didn't your assistant give it to you?"

This is Abel's number two, the business phone.

Usually Alan Baker, Edward or David are the ones who hold it.

Abel was calling someone just now, and there are two mermaids with no clothes on here.

A few of them didn't dare to come over, and no one answered Buffett's call.

"Oh, I took my mobile phone into the bathroom just now. I was taking a shower, but I didn't find it. What's the matter? Is there something wrong?"

"What are you taking a shower at this time? You're so strange. I'm calling to tell you that I have a way to get about 20% of California Pacific Electric's shares. Do you want it?"

"Oh?"

Abel took his mobile phone and came to another recliner.

To his left is Nicole Kidman, who has regained some energy.

Seeing him approaching, the Australian beauty showed a satisfied and flattering expression on her face.

As he passed by, he touched her smooth face with a smile.

She is cooperative and a very obedient toy.

Just as proactive as Liv.

Then he lay down on the recliner next to Nicole and said to Buffett on the phone:
"Where did it come from? It was acquired in the stock market? Or was it Jefferson's?"

California Pacific Electric was an energy company that Abe acquired at the same time when he acquired Sempra Energy.

It and Sempra Energy at that time, which is now Pacific Energy, are the second giants of local power supply and natural gas supply in California.

Together, these two companies can affect the lives of more than half of the local people in California.

The difference is that Abel privatized Sempra Energy at that time and reorganized it into the current Pacific Energy.

As for California Pacific Electric, Abel only purchased 50% of the shares at that time and became its first shareholder and chairman.

Later, because the stock price rose too high, and there was already a similar Pacific Energy, he did not make any more moves on California Pacific Electric.

Mainly at that time, many people thought that since he already held 50% of the shares.

In the future, California Pacific Electric should also be privatized.

Those people wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to make a fortune, and kept absorbing its stocks, driving up the price at that time.

Abel never liked being taken advantage of, even if he had the strength, he would not be taken advantage of.

This matter is over.

According to what Buffett means now, some major shareholders of California Pacific Electric want to sell their stocks.

"It's Jeffes and the others. They are also investors of Berkshire Hathaway. They approached me, hoping to sell you those stocks at a suitable price."

Because Abel didn't mean to avoid taboo at all.

Nicole Kidman next to her turned sideways.

The white towel opened by itself.

She was also secretly listening to his conversation with Buffett.

Of course, she is not a business person after all.

For a while, I couldn't tell that "Warren" was Buffett.

But she also knew that this should be another big deal.

Just like Abel yesterday, people went to buy the company Hasbro.

The U.S. stock market is closed today, but today's news about Hollywood.

There is already news that Smith Media Group plans to acquire Hasbro toys for US$9.95 million.

As soon as the news came out, the shareholders of Hasbro might be the happiest.

The most unhappy one must be Disney.

The reason is that last year, Disney has reached cooperation with Hasbro in many aspects.

Hasbro licenses Disney to use many of their toy images and copyrights.

But if Hasbro is acquired by Smith Media, this authorization will definitely be taken back by Smith Media.

There have been rumors that Disney will also intervene in this acquisition, robbing Hasbro toys together with Smith Media.

The incident immediately became big news in Hollywood.

And such a super big news, the main core happened next to him.

This gave Nicole Kidman a sense of accomplishment to participate in a "historic event".

"What about the price? It's too expensive and I won't agree. You know me. I'm not afraid to buy expensive things, and I'm willing to spend money. But I don't like other people making money on me. It feels very bad."

"You vampire, capitalist! Huh, they said, it will be based on the current market price." Buffett complained.

The stock god didn't want to think about how much better he could be.

at current market price
Abel did the math.

The current stock market value of California Pacific Electric is about $400 billion.

This price is much more expensive than Abel's acquisition at that time.

It is also slightly more expensive than last year when California Pacific Electric's share price peaked at $380 billion.

But it's an acceptable price.

Compared with the original Sempra Energy, California Pacific Electric has better assets and more users.

This can be seen from the fact that it has more than 5000 more employees than Pacific Energy.

Businesses never hire redundant workers unless it is profitable.

The key is that if you get this 20% stake, Abel's stake in California Pacific Electric can exceed 67%.

over this line.

Then Abel can start a new round of privatization.

Completely turned California Pacific Electric into his private company.

In this way, the energy carriage of his troika will be announced immediately.

Thinking of this, Abel held the phone in one hand, and unconsciously stretched out the other hand towards Nicole Kidman.

"That's $80 billion? That's a lot of money."

"It's $80 billion. Do you want it? If so, I'll have them contact you."

Hearing the figure of 80 billion US dollars, Abel didn't say anything yet.

Nicole just felt that her heart was broken.

Deals of 8 million or 80 billion US dollars at every turn.

She felt that as long as there was a little bit of skin scraping off it, it would be enough to make her life worry-free for the rest of her life.

But such a transaction, such an amount, seems to happen around Abel every day.

Compared with Abel, Nicole only felt that her ex-husband was like a little ant in the soil.

"How many people?" Abel asked.

"19 people, the total should be... Let me see. 20.56% of the stock."

"Tell them. I bought these stocks."

"Ha, fine. But are you really going to privatize Cal Pacific Electric?"

"Of course. I think there is only one energy company called Pacific Ocean in the United States. They are all in California, and business integration is very easy."

"Okay. Then congratulations, as long as you successfully privatize it and the two companies merge, you will immediately own the top three public utility energy companies in the United States." Buffett congratulated him.

"Do you want to invest in a share?"

After Abel said that, Buffett hesitated a little.

"How much are you willing to open up?"

"5%-8%%, in exchange for original shares of the same value in Berkshire Hathaway."

Buffett was silent again, and after a few seconds, the old guy said softly:

"Okay. I'll send someone to talk to you about the specific details."

"OK~" Abel said with a smile.

This is the second collaboration between the two outside of Smith Capital.

Once achieved, it also means that his relationship with Buffett is even closer.

If this kind of cross-shareholding happens a few more times, the two parties will be completely bound.

Those large consortiums and chaebols basically do this.

It can be said that there is me in you and you in me.A dozen or even dozens of families hold each other's shares in dozens of companies.

Among them, the one with the most shares takes the dominant position and has the greatest right to speak.

Like the Rockefeller family in the Rockefeller consortium.

This kind of cross-shareholding, at the beginning, Abel was not prepared to open his troika.

That is energy, industry and manufacturing.

These three companies, he originally did not intend to open to the outside world.

At that time, he still had a little bit of Huaxia online novels, the thoughts of the male protagonists in those urban business war novels.

That's good, the core industry, monopolized by one person!
In these novels, everyone else is a fool, only the hero is a wise man.

The problem is the world of the novel, and the hero has an omnipotent system.

In addition to financial talent, Abel is also more handsome.He is not omnipotent and can change the reality of the system father to rely on.

As powerful as Koch and Cargill, they also have no way to monopolize their own private companies.

The 26 members of the Cargill family hold 88% of the shares of Cargill Group.

The Koch Brothers family only holds 65% of the shares of Koch Industries.

Of the 63 largest oil industry groups in the United States, the Rockefeller consortium controls eight of them, but the one with the largest share is only 35.6%, and the least is even [-]%.

The average shareholding ratio of the Rockefeller family in the companies within their consortium is around 20%-40%.

This kind of practice of only taking the lead, and then frantically crossing shareholdings and frantically colluding.

It is the main reason why these world-class chaebols can grow bigger and stronger.

As Abel grew up, and his understanding of this country deepened.

Abel also knew that he had to change gradually, opening up his core business to allies.

Otherwise, others are not fools.Why use their core to exchange Abel's periphery?

Then this kind of ally relationship, this kind of interest group will not be stable.

Abel only needs to maintain the largest shareholding ratio in the core company when he does this.

Then you don't have to be afraid of being overwhelmed by others, and you can guarantee that you will always take the lead.

Cargill's 88% holding makes it few allies.

Koch's 65% holding makes the Koch brothers more allies.

Abel's plan is to hold more than 60% of the core business.

Most of the remaining shares are cut into 2%-5% to attract allies to join.

He is creating a shared vested interest group for himself.

Just like he took the initiative to distribute 2% of the dry shares of Smith Capital to the shrub family that had not yet formed an alliance at the time.

Now the 5%-8% of the energy group shares are said to be for Buffett.

But Abel knew that Buffett could not eat it alone.

It's not that Buffett doesn't have that much money, but that Buffett must also give an explanation to the people behind him.

The 10% of the shares are for those powerful people in the Midwest of the United States.

In exchange, they must also give back to Abel.

That is the corresponding original shares of Berkshire Hathaway, the shares of the core financial giants in the Midwest of the United States.

Or the shares of their other core companies.

Through this seemingly simple cross-shareholding, I am in you and you are in me.

Just like a spider spins silk, it spreads out the web of interests continuously, and slowly weaves a spider web belonging to the Smith Consortium.

In this spider web, there will be more and more spiders spinning silk together to make a larger spider web.

And what Abel wants to do is to be the largest lord spider here, who can distribute food and benefits.

A model called "Concern" is not new.

(End of this chapter)