America's Road to Wealth

Chapter 369
Seoul, Shilla Hotel.

"So we came here on a special trip."

Mitsui Shouki smiled and said: "We heard that there is such a reception here in Han Country. So I asked my friends here to come to your reception just to meet you..."

Abel smiled, "Then you see it now. Mr. Mitsui, what's the matter with you seeing me?"

"Sony is willing to cooperate with you, Mr. Smith."

Mitsui Suki continued to smile and said, "It doesn't matter if it's Sony Music or Sony Columbia."

"What kind of cooperation law is that?"

"I don't know Mr. Smith, are you interested in taking a stake in Sony Columbia?"

Abel couldn't help but raise his eyebrows—a stake in Sony Columbia?
He remembered Sony Columbia, which was essentially a Sony-owned company.

Sony holds more than 90% of the shares and completely controls the Hollywood giant.

Even if Sony, which has supported itself for more than ten years, is open to own shares, it is impossible for it to let itself hold more shares than them.

"Not very interested." Abel said frankly:
"I already have MGM and DreamWorks. One more Sony Columbia, but I can't control it, it doesn't help me much."

Mitsui Suki was obviously taken aback, he probably didn't expect Abel to refuse so directly.

Change it to any other Hollywood mogul.

When you only have the opportunity to invest in any other giant, you will not hesitate too much.

Even if you can't hold a controlling stake, if you can get a certain amount of shares, you can hope to get an executive director position.

After taking the position of executive director, you have certain powers in this company.

Even if you are excluded, your influence already exists.

This is an irresistible temptation for many entertainment giants.

If the other six major Hollywood companies are now willing to invest in Sony.

No matter how expensive the opening price is, Sony will consider it, and there is a high probability that it will be willing to take a stake in the end.

Mitsui Suki did not expect that Abel would refuse so simply.

He couldn't help but said, "Why don't you think about it again? If you take a stake in Sony Columbia Pictures, then you will have two film giants in Hollywood. This will be of great help to Smith Media's influence in Hollywood .”

Hollywood used to have the Big Eight.

Later, the remaining six, the rise of DreamWorks in the middle, was once known as the seventh.

In this era when DreamWorks was acquired and became part of MGM.

There are only six big Hollywood left, namely Disney, MGM, Paramount, Columbia, Universal, and Fox.

Among them, Neon Panasonic once controlled Universal Pictures.

However, Panasonic's resilience was not as good as Sony's. After a few years of losses, it couldn't afford it and had to sell Universal.

Two years ago, France's Vivendi accepted it, and now Universal is called Vivendi Universal.

And Columbia is Sony Columbia, controlled by Sony.

These six companies, plus a dozen other medium-sized independent film companies, are similar in size to DreamWorks Films.

It constitutes the backbone of Hollywood today.

With independent distribution channels, there are currently only the Big Six in Hollywood.

Other film companies, when distributing movies, either can only rely on the help of the six majors, or they can only find channels by themselves.

And when the Big Six of Hollywood face new challengers, they will usually squeeze out tacitly.

Just like the old DreamWorks.At its most glorious time, no matter what it does, it will be sniped and hindered by the six major forces.

When it comes to film distribution, the cost is more expensive than others...

This is the tacit understanding of the vested interest groups that there is no need to publicly suppress the latecomers.

Among the Big Six, Sony Columbia has always been unpopular because of the particularity of its Japanese capital.

In parallel time and space, if it weren't for the success of Parker's movie.

It's hard to say how many more years Sony will last.After all, no one's money comes from strong winds, and one cannot just sit back and watch the black hole keep swallowing money.

Now Sony Columbia Films' Spider-Man has been snatched back by Abel.

Sony found Columbia Pictures, and its prospects for future profitability began to fade again.

It means that the Sony family has a big business and can afford to support Columbia, a prodigal son.

But it's not the way to keep it like this.

No matter how rich and profitable Sony is, it cannot just sit back and watch Columbia continue to lose money indefinitely.

After an internal weighing game, Sony finally approached Abel.

The one who came here was Mitsui Suki, a member of the Mitsui family.

When it comes to the Mitsui family, that's another story.

"Sorry..." Facing the enthusiastic Mitsui Suki, Abel still refused with a smile:
"I already have MGM. One more Columbia will not be of much use to me. On the contrary, it may make Smith Media even more feared by other giants in Hollywood."

What Abel said was also true.

Columbia has it, MGM has it all.

Film library, distribution channels, brand power, and reputation in the industry.

These things, the six giants of Hollywood, are basically the same.

For another Hollywood Big Six, any other Hollywood Big Six film company, the only thing that is more attractive is the film library and copyright.

Other things are often cumbersome.

Especially in terms of distribution channels, many of the six major Hollywood film companies overlap and share with each other.

Regardless of copyright, film library, and brand power.

With a Hollywood Six, that's a real ticket to Hollywood.

As for things like admission tickets, one ticket is enough.

Because one admission ticket is enough for you to enter the inner domain that belongs to you.

If you take another one, other people will definitely unite and squeeze you out.

They will worry about themselves and become Abel's next target for annexation.

That will make MGM in Hollywood, and the enemy will become more.

The benefits have not increased much, so it can be said that the gains outweigh the losses.

Seeing that Abel declined again, Mitsui Suki wanted to say something more.

Robbie Appleby has already interjected with a smile at the right time:
"The chat is over, right? Mr. Smith... This way please, there are a few gentlemen here who want to chat with you."

The envoy said so, Mitsui Suki is not an idiot.

Of course I know, this means that Abel will not talk to himself anymore.

Looking at Robbie Abbey, he took Abel Smith with him, and turned around to chat with the envoys in South Korea from Huaxia, Neon, and Qatar.

Mitsui Suki could only sigh, and stopped chasing after him.

At this moment, Mitsui Toko, who was by his side, whispered:
"Father, it seems that he is really not interested. Just like what the uncles at home said."

Mitsui Suki nodded, "Why don't I know? But Columbia is in trouble now. This year's 7 films, all counted, have a total loss of 158 million US dollars..."

Mitsui Toko comforted his father: "This has been the least loss in more than ten years. Isn't it? This is a good result under your father's leadership."

The CEO of Sony Columbia is obviously called Howard Stringer, not Suki Mitsui.

Mitsui Toko is now saying that Sony Columbia Pictures was able to reduce the loss to such a low level under the leadership of Mitsui Suki.

This is because Suki Mitsui is the person within the Mitsui family who is mainly responsible for the entertainment sector and American affairs.

Here we will talk about the promise Sony made to the Americans in order to acquire Columbia.

In order to reduce as many obstacles from the Americans as possible in the acquisition of Colombia.

Sony once promised the United States that even if Colombia is acquired, it will still be Columbia of the Americans.

Sony will not arrange too many neon managers in Columbia.

So now you can find that although Columbia Films is now called Sony Columbia.

But its president, chief executive officer, and those important management positions have always been Americans.

It is also because of this that the neon man imprint on Columbia movies is relatively diluted.

But Sony is not a fool. It spent so much money and only bought a naming right.

The point is that it has been titled for so many years, but Columbia Films has always been a scam.

Losing money every year has been making Sony lose money.

Over time, Neon people are not stupid.

When the Americans were not so concerned, the neon people were gradually adding sand to Sony Columbia, allowing more neon people to enter Sony Columbia Pictures.

Of course, the few on the head still dare not be replaced by neon people, such as the CEO.

It is too obvious to do so, and it is easy to attract the attention of Americans.

Neon Man's approach is divided into two steps.

The first step is to add sand to the middle layer of Sony Columbia. A large number of neon people and ghosts from Sony's headquarters have entered Sony Columbia Pictures to work.

The second is to place a special advisor on the CEO of Howard Stringer.

This special advisor does not have any substantive position at Sony Columbia.

But Howard Stringer and other high-level executives want to be promoted and raised within Sony, and if they pay more bonuses.

Then you have to listen to the special counsel.

Mitsui Suki is the newly appointed special adviser.

It was after Spider-Man was robbed.

A new person in charge specially sent by Sony to replace the original consultant who was doing nothing.

On the surface, Suki Mitsui has little to do with Sony Columbia.

Secretly, Mitsui Suki is the invisible king of Sony Columbia, and even the North American division of Sony Music.

As for why Suki Mitsui was able to be the Supreme Emperor, not someone else.

The reason is also very simple.Who called his surname Mitsui, is he an important member of the Neon Mitsui chaebol family?

Who is Sony from the past to the present, in fact, it has always been one of the important subsidiaries of the Mitsui consortium.

In fact, Sony is not the only well-known company under the Mitsui consortium.

There are more than 270 direct and collateral companies and their subsidiaries of the Mitsui Foundation.

Toyota, Toshiba, Sony, Panasonic, etc., which are well known to Chinese people, are all owned by them.

Like the Toyota family, the master of Toyota.

The daughter of this family has always only married Mitsui.The son of this family has always been able to marry only Mitsui.

After more than ten years, Toyota's prince no longer married Mitsui, but got engaged to a theater actress.

It even made news in Neon.

Because Toyota did not marry Mitsui.

Also married a theater actress, what kind of Cinderella plot...

Then the Neon Man shut up as soon as he investigated.

It turned out that the theater actress was not some kind of Cinderella.

This theater actress lives in the Platinum area of ​​Minato-ku, Tokyo. Those who can live in this kind of place are either rich or expensive.

This theater actress has been studying at the academy where the neon royal family and chaebols gather since kindergarten. She and the neon princesses and chaebol ladies have been classmates since childhood.

She is also a member of the Idemitsu family.

And this family, which controls the second largest oil company in Neon, is a proper oil princess.

Therefore, in reality, there are obviously very few plots between the princess and the common boy, and the prince and Cinderella.

Even if there is, it often ends in tragedy.

Standing next to Abel now, Li Fu, who has a big belly, is really the best example.

Even without the appearance of Abel, Li Fu's real married life is still a mess behind.

In short, it can be understood that the Mitsui family is the Rockefeller or Morgan of neon.Or one of the two plus a Koch complete body.

There are several such dick chaebols and consortiums, the most powerful ones are Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, and Fuji.

Below these four, there are several others that are weaker.

In addition to being a bit feudal, the land area is small and the influence is low.

In other respects, the chaebols on Neon's side are basically the same as the conglomerate families on the American side.

Mitsui Suki and Mitsui Toko are important members of the Mitsui family.

Mitsui Suki is also the person in charge of the entertainment business in North America for the Mitsui family.

That's why it wasn't someone from Sony who came to find Abel, but Suki Mitsui, who seemed to have nothing to do with Sony, but who was actually the emperor of Sony came to Abel.

Not to mention the father and daughter who were discussing quietly.

On Abel's side, under the enthusiastic introduction of Robbie Abbott.

He chatted with the envoys of the three countries in Korea.

Among them is Mr. Wang, the Chinese envoy to Korea.

"I am very optimistic about Huaxia."

When chatting with each other with a smile, "Huaxia has the largest population in the world, a vast land and output. There is also a social attitude of hard work and serious work. You will definitely develop, believe me."

In private, Mr. Wang, the envoy to South Korea, is the first time he has heard foreigners praise Huaxia so much.

Although there are also in the media, but it is in the media.In private, Europe and the United States have never had a good attitude towards Huaxia.

Especially such an influential and high-status foreigner who is so optimistic about Huaxia.

Mr. Wang immediately interjected: "Mr. Smith, Huaxia also welcomes businessmen like you to invest. We will come up with the best attitude and even good policies to welcome you!"

With Abel on the American side, his influence increased day by day.

The most important thing is that he became the nominal richest man in the world this year.

All countries in the world have paid much more attention to him.

At the time of frantic investment promotion, Huaxia is frantically attracting foreign capital.

Naturally, it is impossible not to see the existence of this person.

A lot of information about Abel Smith has even been placed on the stage of that.

If you can lead this person to Huaxia and let him invest a lot of money in Huaxia...

There is no doubt that whether it is from the perspective of the country or Mr. Wang himself.

All can play a great positive role, the richest man in the world takes the lead in investing in Huaxia!
No matter how you look at it, such news is exposed, it is a great achievement!
Mr. Wang seemed particularly active.

Abel said with a smile: "As early as last year, I have already started investing in China. Smith Capital (Huaxia) has invested more than a billion dollars in China."

Mr. Wang was taken aback for a moment, he really didn't know about this matter.

His main job is to be in charge of Han Guo, at most he will take care of Nihong.

He doesn't know much about domestic affairs.

But Rabbit's diplomats, who are all top smooth masters, smoothed the matter over with a chuckle.

Abel also focused his attention on the Katar envoy next to him.

The messenger had been talking to Abel just now, and at this time he finally got the chance to be alone.

The emissary named Ben Khalifa had a long conversation with Abel.

But in essence, there is only one purpose, and that is the Qatar Investment Authority, which wants to put a sum of money into Smith Capital.

At that time, there was no so-called Qatar Investment Authority.

This institution will not formally emerge until 2005.

But its rudiment has already existed, in the late 80s.

The Amir family in Qatar has already begun to throw part of their investment abroad in order to make value-added profits

With the fall of the red bear, the speed of globalization became more apparent later.

The value of Qatar's foreign investment is increasing, but it has not yet become a system.

This is a sovereign wealth fund that started relatively late in the desert area.

After all, sovereign wealth funds originated in desert regions.

As early as 1953, Kutwe established the Kutwe Investment Committee, which is the earliest national sovereign fund in the world.

At the end of 2001, we are about to move towards the present in 2002.

A dozen sovereign wealth funds have sprung up in the desert.

So many of the same kind have done this, and Qatar's investment bureau is obviously already in the making.

For countries in desert areas, sovereign wealth funds are often regarded as an essential financial tool for the oil economy.

The meaning of this envoy of Ben Khalifa is that Katar wants to hand over about 100 billion US dollars of funds to Smith Capital for operation.

This kind of thing is for most private equity funds, even public funds.

It's all a great thing.

Because the more investors, and the more funds raised.

This means that fund managers can get more benefits.

When operating financially in the market, more funds can also make investment more comfortable and more flexible.

To put it simply, within a certain limit, the more people invest and trust, the better.

But what disappointed Ben Khalifa was Abel who declined with a smile.

"Smith Capital has never been short of investors." Abel said with a smile:
"In the United States, there are at least 1000 billionaires who want to give me most of their wealth to invest. But I refused."

"Because not everyone can achieve an annualized rate of return of more than 100%."

Let's put it this way, Buffett has been investing since 1958.

By 2001, a total of 44 years, Buffett's total rate of return was 430121.43%, an increase of 4301 times, accumulative 44 years, the annualized rate of return was 21.5%.

This lasting achievement has allowed Buffett to instantly kill 99.9999999999% of the people in the world.

Even Peter Lynch, the stock angel, can't compare to him.

Because Peter only lasted less than 20 years, and later retired, not as long-lasting as Buffett.

Because of this record, Buffett is known as the stock god.

He is a god higher than angels.

And although Abel hasn't been around for a long time, it hasn't even been two years.

But within two years, the profits he earned for investors and clients are much more than Buffett's ten years.

The rate of return is so exaggeratedly high, and there has not been a single loss so far.

Too many people want to invest their money in Abel.

Qatar, where Ben Khalifa is located, thinks so. Many sovereign wealth funds in other desert countries have also come to contact Smith Capital.

Like Prince Walid, he has approached Abel many times, implicitly representing the Kingdom of Tessa, and wants to invest in Abel, and wants to be Abel's investor.

But like this Ben Khalifa today, he was declined by Abel.

It's not that Abel thinks money is too hot, but that Abel now wants him to help make money, and wants him to be a cash cow.

Then there must be a premise, the premise is that the other party can bring Abel other resources besides money.

Just like he accepted shares from the Texas consortium, Buffett and others.

Now Abel, what he wants is not simple money figures.

What he wants is more influence behind these numbers.

Abel replied to the Ben Khalifa emissary the same way he replied to Prince Walid.

"Norwegian Petroleum Fund is the latest investor of Smith Capital."

He smiled and said:
"After Smith Capital's 7th private placement of 500 billion U.S. dollars, the eighth private placement was launched for the Norwegian Petroleum Fund alone. The private equity investor was only the Norwegian Petroleum Fund, and the raised amount was 150 billion U.S. dollars."

"If Qatar and other desert countries also want to be investors of Smith Capital, they can only consider the same as the Norwegian Petroleum Fund."

As Abel became a shareholder of Statoil and Norway Hydro.

The Norwegian Petroleum Fund's eighth fundraising investment event in Smith Capital took place at the end of September this year.

As the eighth private placement initiated by Smith Capital, Norwegian Petroleum Fund invested and subscribed for the full amount of 150 billion US dollars.

In saying this to Ben Khalifa, Abel was telling him.

Qatar or other countries in the desert region also want to say the same thing.

It can only be the same as Norway.

Open up its stake in Petronas, making Abel one of its shareholders.

Even if it is 1% or 2%, it can be discussed a little bit.

But not without.

For example, if it is Qatar, it is Qatar National Petroleum Company.

The company is responsible for its oil and gas industry activities at home and abroad, and acts as the official government.

1995年，这家公司拥有油气储量分别为4.8亿吨和7.07万亿立方米，油气产量分别为2375万吨和135亿立方米。

In terms of output, it ranks second or third in the world, especially in natural gas.

The top ones have always been Mao Xiong or Lang Yi.

This company is also the lifeblood of Qatar.

After Abel said this, Ben Khalifa really stopped mentioning this matter.

For Katar, there is only one person in their country who has the right to talk to Abel about this.

That is their supreme Emile.

The envoys of Katar died down.

The messenger of Neon smiled and invited Abel to be a guest at Neon.

Abel said directly that he would go, but not anytime soon.

It might be next year, because he's going back to America in two days.

In the United States, Abel still has a lot to do.

Including but not limited to Elizabeth's Christmas Eve show, as well as his life events.

With the help of Robbie Appleby, Abel got to know all kinds of people here wave after wave.

In terms of neon, except for the Mitsui Suki of the Mitsui consortium.

He also met Iwasaki from Mitsubishi, who also had a person who came to this reception.

In terms of Abel's blank neon network, I added a few more strokes, at least I got to know a few more people.

The reception started at seven o'clock and lasted until after nine o'clock in the evening, and everyone left one after another.

The chaebols on the Han side were the last to leave.

After the people had almost left, Abel called Li Zaixi and others into a small meeting room.

With Li Fuzhen as a companion, originally Li Xinyu could also participate.

But this little princess of the Samsung Group, who has always had a bit of literature and art, is not interested in such things.

Unlike the eldest princess Li Fuzhen, she likes this kind of thing the most.

Therefore Li Xinyu did not come.

In the small meeting room.

Li Zaixi and others looked at Abel and talked freely:

"Soros is now on Hong Kong Island. He originally wanted to attack Hong Kong Island. But on Hong Kong Island, because of China's reasons, he was a little scrupulous. But Han Guo's side is different. He attacked Han Guo , that's nothing to worry about."

"Did he really just want to make a move on the stock market?" Zheng Jiumeng couldn't help asking in a low voice.

The shadow of a famous tree, Soros has committed crimes for many years, and people with relevant financial interests in small countries, who would not be afraid to mention him?

Especially the victims of Soros, who hate him even more when he is mentioned.

In the financial crisis of 98.

As the No. [-] chaebol in the Han Kingdom at that time, the Zheng family was the one that suffered the most.

After the shock was over, the Zheng family fell into a fierce internal dispute.

In the end, the original No. [-] wealthy Zheng family was divided into three after the shock and infighting.

In the case that the eldest son has long since passed away.

The second son, Zheng Jiumeng, got the most profitable and most important subsidiary within the Xiandai Automobile Group.

The sixth son Zheng Zhunmeng controls the current Dai Heavy Industry Group, which is the second most profitable and most important company in the family.

The fifth son, Zheng Xianmeng, inherited all the rest according to his father's will.

Logically speaking, Zheng Xianmengcai should be an important representative of the Xiandai chaebol.

The reality is that the automobile and heavy industry, the most high-quality assets of Xiandai Group, have been independent.

The other dozens of companies are big and big, but most of them are heavily in debt, and the group has to bear the burden of foreign investment.

After his father died in March this year, the three sons were divided into Zheng.

Zheng Xianmeng's main line, on the contrary, is currently the weakest.

It was Zheng Jiumeng who became stronger first.

Zheng Zhunmeng, who got the heavy industry group, was mainly obsessed with his official career.

Zheng Jiumeng, the second son of the Xiandai family, became the first representative of the chaebol family.

When the interests of the entire chaebol family are at stake, Zheng Jiumeng will step in for the Zheng family.

This is why Zheng Jiumeng, in this small chaebol team, has always had the biggest voice.

Because before this, their Zheng family was the number one chaebol in Han country.

It's just that the current Zheng family has been hurt by the 98 financial crisis, and the family has split up again, so it is no longer as good as the Li family.

In addition, Li Zaixi has two good daughters, so he is naturally the current leader of the chaebols.

Even if Zheng Jiumeng was dissatisfied, unless he was able to reconcile the conflict with the entire Zheng family.

Otherwise, the No. [-] chaebol would no longer be the Zheng family.

"No one can know what Soros thinks. Maybe even himself. Because many times, Soros will do some irrational things under the coercion of international hot money."

Abel was not in the mood to know about the gossip among Han Guo chaebols.

Now he just wants to cut leeks and earn some pocket money for Li Fuzhen, and he doesn't care about the rest.

"What we have to do now is to continue to urge public opinion."

Abel stated: "By making the stock market hot in China, Soros can only focus on the stock market. If you are lucky..."

Abel laughed and looked at everyone, "Maybe we can earn some Soros money in the stock market."

Hearing what he said, the chaebols glanced at each other, and they all saw the movement in each other's eyes.

It doesn't matter whether you can earn Soros's money or not.

The important thing is that if everyone does this, there is really a high probability that they can make a lot of money.

This "a sum" is at least tens of millions of dollars, and may even be more.

This is very exciting for these high-end wage earners who are placed on the peninsula by the United States.

"Then let it be." Li Zaixi was the first to express his opinion, "I have no doubts."

Zheng Jiumeng also rushed to say: "I don't have a problem anymore."

Several others said the same.

As if in an instant, an invisible net covering most of Han Guo's investors... Han Guo's stockholders covered the entire peninsula from the Shilla Hotel.

The financial crisis in 98 is over, Han Guo leeks, who have cultivated for several years, also ushered in a sharp sickle...

　It's the flu, A. It's either the school or I caught it.Hey……

　　
　
(End of this chapter)