"Why are you suddenly investing so much more?" Hardy asked.
In fact, he already had some guesses in his mind.
Meyer explained:
"My initial partners were PepsiCo, Kroc Products and Mercy Pharmaceuticals, plus you and me, with an investment of $20 million."
"Later, you said you wanted to increase the amount to 50 million. I told my partners about this, and they said they could bring in new investors, so they brought in Bank of America and Lockheed."
“After they knew you were going to build a new casino and invest 100 million, everyone discussed it for a long time and felt that if the investment in the new casino was too little, there would be no development advantage, so it would be better to add more investment. Finally, they agreed on 100 million.”
"Bank of America said that after deducting the shares of other investors, they will guarantee the remaining funds."
Hardy thought that in the end, Meyer might not be able to control himself.
At first, he promised him that he could invest in casinos in Las Vegas. Mayer's idea was that MGM would have a dominant share and actual control over the casinos. However, as the situation developed and big capital entered, MGM had been marginalized.
Compared to the giant Bank of America, MGM Studios was nothing.
Bank of America saw this piece of fat meat as a great opportunity and wanted to take advantage of it to enter Las Vegas.
"Has the share distribution been planned?" Hardy asked.
"Mr. Amadeus Giannini, the owner of Bank of America, wants to meet you first to discuss how to distribute the shares," said Mayer.
Hardy is now certain that the other party is not only interested in the Las Vegas gambling industry, but also in himself.
"No problem, Mr. Meyer, please help me contact him. I would be happy to visit Mr. Giannini," said Hardy.
What is meant to come will eventually come.
Hardy is developing very rapidly now and will definitely be targeted by those with ulterior motives. In fact, it doesn't matter. He is in California and his industries are all here. He is a natural target for California financial groups to solicit. Sooner or later, he will come into contact with them.
But he didn't expect this day to come so soon.
This is also because he is developing too fast, and he has something that the other party values, so they can contact him so quickly.
After hanging up the phone, Hardy called Henry and said, "Henry, help me collect information about the California Consortium. The more detailed the better."
"Okay, boss." Henry took the order and went out.
Meyer acted quickly and called Hardy a day later. Mr. Giannini wanted to meet him as soon as possible. The meeting place was at Giannini's estate in San Francisco. Hardy could arrange to go to San Francisco at any time.
It seems that the other party is also very anxious.
"Okay, I'll go there tomorrow and formally pay a visit to Mr. Giannini at three o'clock in the afternoon," said Hardy.
"Okay, I'll inform Mr. Giannini," said Mayer.
The next day.
Hardy boarded his private plane, the B29 bomber. The plane had finally been modified. There was no bomb dropping equipment inside, and the cabin was sealed and decorated. There were 12 business seats and a separate room in the back with a large bed.
The modified aircraft is quieter and more comfortable to ride.
Although the missile launching equipment was removed, Hardy allowed people to retain the machine guns. There were 12 12.7 mm caliber M2 machine guns distributed on the upper and lower parts and sides of the fuselage, and a 20 mm caliber M2 machine gun installed in the tail turret.
Only Henry and Andy came with Hardy this time. As for security, it will be taken care of by the San Francisco HD Security Company after landing.
During the flight, Hardy took out the information of the California Consortium again and looked at it. Our ancestors had taught us the truth of "knowing yourself and your enemy, you can fight a hundred battles without danger" thousands of years ago.
The California Consortium, with Bank of America at its core, includes Security Pacific Financial Corporation, Crocker Agri, San Francisco Group, Wells Fargo, Lockheed, Lipton Industries, Northrop Grumman, Philco, Servania Electronics, San Francisco Electric, Prudential Realty Development, California Life Insurance, California Transportation, California Petroleum, Los Angeles First Bank, Martin Marietta, Casey Motor Company, Casey Steel, and Casey Aluminum and Chemical.
Through cross-holdings and agreement mergers, the total assets of companies controlled by Bank of America Group are approximately US$8.5 billion.
Most of the conglomerates before World War II were family-owned conglomerates, such as the Rockefeller, Morgan, DuPont, and Mellon conglomerates, which developed around a family.
Even the Cleveland Conglomerate, the Chicago Conglomerate, and the Boston Conglomerate were developed around the union of several families.
The California Consortium is somewhat different. It is a local consortium rooted in California. It developed rapidly thanks to World War II. Among the companies, mainly with Bank of America as the core, cross-holdings are adopted to form an alliance of interests.
Compared to other families, it is looser, but its expansion speed is faster. This situation can only be said to have both advantages and disadvantages.
It's like someone forms a group, adds some powerful people to the group, integrates resources and makes money together.
The advantage is that it develops quickly.
The downside is that if it confronts other large capital groups, it will be easy to be defeated one by one and eventually fall apart.
After reading the information, Hardy had a clear idea in his mind. He put the information aside and thought quietly about what Mr. Amadeus Giannini, the chairman of Bank of America, would say to him.
Andy saw Hardy closing his eyes and resting, so he picked up the information and started reading it. He also had his own guesses about this meeting.
After a long while, Hardy opened his eyes and looked at Andy. "Andy, if someone wants to acquire our industry, what do you think we can give up?"
Andy thought for a moment and said, "Except for HD Security Company, ABC TV and Hardy's Hotel, everything else is fine."
Hardy smiled and shook his head, saying, "I think Hardy's Hotel should be replaced by the Global Times."
Andy was a little surprised: "Are you willing to let go of the casino business?"
"Any business that is only for making money can be let go as long as it can be exchanged for a more profitable business. Andy, what do you think we lack most now?" Hardy asked again.
This time Andy did not hesitate and said directly: "We are missing a bank. All the industries of the conglomerates are centered on one or several banks, and other industries serve as pillars. If the Hardy Group has a bank of its own, it will soar like an eagle with wings."
Andy used to be a banker and the vice president of a bank. He knows best the role of banks and the help they can provide to enterprises.
If you have your own bank, it will be countless times easier to do things, such as investing in your own industry, buying and selling stocks, investing in potential companies, inter-company financial settlements, fund management, etc. There are so many benefits.
"That's what I thought. I thought it was still early and the bank issue was not on the agenda for the time being. But maybe now is an opportunity?" Hardy said.
"What are your plans?"
"We'll wait and see. We don't know how Bank of America is going to cooperate with us. Right now everything is just speculation," said Hardy.
The plane landed smoothly at San Francisco Airport.
The head of San Francisco HD security had already brought a convoy to wait. Hardy and Andy got in the car, and Henry took over the security team directly. The convoy drove towards Giannini Manor.
The convoy arrived at the gate of the manor, where a group of people were waiting to greet them. The butler looked into the car and said respectfully, "Is this Mr. Hardy? The master asked us to greet you here. Please come in, Mr. Hardy. The master will be waiting in the lobby."
The convoy entered the manor.
Hardy got out of the car and the servant opened the door. In the hall stood an energetic old man. Hardy walked over with a smile and said, "Mr. Giannini, it's a pleasure to meet you. It's my honor to visit you."
Hardy has read the old man's information. The old man is 76 years old this year, but he seems to be in good spirits and is still in charge of the family business.
The old man reached out his hand and shook Hardy's hand. He smiled and said, "Although I know you are only 26 years old, I am still surprised to see you in person. A 26-year-old young man has created a career that others cannot accomplish in their lifetime in just two years."
"You're flattering me." Hadi said modestly.
"Young man, let's sit down and chat. What should we drink?" Giannini asked with a smile.
"Tea."
The old man nodded. "I like tea, too."
The two of them sat down, and the people around them stood far away, including Andy, who had to sit far away.
"Hardy, I am very interested in the affairs of the Las Vegas casinos. No one has ever been able to interfere in the business of Las Vegas at will before. Thank you very much for giving us this opportunity." Giannini said.
"I always believe that only when everyone makes money together can we expand the business," Hardy said with a smile.
"Your understanding is very rare. I didn't realize this until I was 40 years old. Only when we unite can we make more money."
"Hardy, what do you think about investing in the new casino?" the old man asked.
Hardy paused for a moment and said, "My idea is that if I am allowed to run the company, I will get dividends from the management rights. If I am not allowed to manage the company, I will only get dividends from the shares."
Hardy's remarks were very non-offensive.
The old man looked at him.
He smiled and said, "I think it would be best for you to run the business. After all, you are most familiar with this area. You ran the Hardy Hotel very well before. I believe in your ability."
"If you let me run it, I have one condition," said Hardy.
"You say."
"During my tenure, I will have full management rights and will not be controlled by shareholders. Of course, the agreement can include clauses that state that if poor management causes losses to a certain extent, my full management rights will be revoked and decisions will be made by the shareholders' meeting, and a new president will be hired," said Hardy.
The companies that invested in the new casinos were either from the California consortium or their friends. If Hardy was allowed to run the business without decision-making power, they could use their voting rights to influence him at any time if they were even slightly dissatisfied.
Although he is not afraid of losing the management rights, he does not like the feeling of being controlled, so he made this clause.
Janini finally saw the younger side of Hardy and thought this must be Hardy's real face.
He created hundreds of millions of assets in two years and became the ruler of the largest underground force in Los Angeles. It is absolutely impossible for him to be like the gentle and elegant young man he just appeared to be.
The old man nodded. "I agree with your opinion. On behalf of Bank of America, I agree. As for the specific shares, the partners will discuss it together, including the dividend ratio of each company's shares and management shares."
Hardy knew that as long as the old man agreed, the matter would basically be settled.
The old man took a sip of tea from the cup, put it down and asked, "Hadi, do you have any plans for the future development of your industry?"
Hardy knew that Janini might want to talk to him about something else, and this sentence was just an opening remark.
......