Chapter 570 Billion Dollars
Sheffield knew how valuable a $100 million a year industry was. It could even be said that the value was far greater than the $500 million that Morgan wanted to acquire Carnegie Steel. Once established, it would be the largest merger in the history of the United States.
Morgan Alliance has billions of dollars in strength, and it seems that it can succeed if it goes all out, but the amount of this merger is still too huge, although the two have not yet discussed the final amount. In fact, this is also a deliberate avoidance of specific numbers. Sheffield and Morgan know that this amount of money is an astronomical figure, but there are still many ways to know how much it is and whether it can be reconciled by other methods.
Sheffield mentioned the American International Shipping Company and General Electric. The former was a competitor of Black Gold Transport Company in the shipping field, but they were at peace with each other. The First World War was inevitable. After the war, the United States could sit back and watch the fight between the two, making bets on both sides to do business.
What kind of transportation should be used for business? Anyway, the airship parked in the Rockefeller estate cannot be used because the capacity is not enough. Trains cannot go to the sea, so of course the only way is to use sea transportation. Once the American International Shipping Company in the hands of the Morgan family fell into the hands of slave owners before the world war.
The shipping strength in Sheffield's hands will far surpass other competitors and make it the leader among all shipping companies in the United States. By betting on both sides of the world war, the United Company will soar to the sky.
As for General Electric, its importance cannot be compared with that of General Motors. Although cars are also consumer products and have a higher presence than the electrical field, they are ultimately incomparable. Now cars seem to be a hot commodity, but it is just that the dividends have not been fully reaped. On the other hand, the electrical field will last far longer than cars. If you don't believe it, just compare the market value of Ford Motor Company and an electrical company with the same history a hundred years later.
Penguin once said that they hope to be the water and electricity of the Internet, because everyone cannot live without these two things, which means that on the Internet, what Penguin wants to do is to make people unable to live without them.
So, what's wrong with Morgan Jr. wanting United Motors? Don't just look at the annual revenue of 100 million yuan, you can talk about it. There is nothing that can't be discussed.
If Sheffield could get American International Shipping Company, in the world war a few years later, he could make his company the biggest beneficiary of the world war. If he could get General Electric, even if it was just partial control, Sheffield would have complete control over the country's electricity, and the world would not have to be divided into two as it is now.
"Shipping? Electricity?" Little Morgan looked at Sheffield deeply, lost in thought, shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Actually, this is all within my expectations. How could someone like you suffer a loss? Even several giants of the DuPont family were eaten alive by you."
"Now is the present. It's really boring to always talk about the past." Sheffield leaned back lazily. "Back then, Carnegie Steel's annual revenue was 40 million, and your father was able to come up with a purchase price of 500 million US dollars. Mine is a big business of 100 million a year. If I directly ask you to come up with 1 billion, I guess the representatives of the Morgan Alliance will think it's too expensive. So even if I'm unwilling, I have to accept the exchange of some industry."
One billion is not a small sum for the Morgan Alliance, and Sheffield just said it casually. He did not say that one billion could achieve the goal. Moreover, his shares in United Motors Corporation are much larger than Carnegie's shares in the steel company. It is completely independent control.
Even if there are no other conditions attached to the ten billion dollars, it can be said that once the merger is successful, the richest man in the United States will be replaced. The stock value of ten billion dollars is just a number, but if a merger is to take place, cashing out ten billion dollars will bring about a completely different shock.
The myriad details are extremely complicated, and it is not something that can be decided in a few words by the two parties involved or a spectator who may leave at any time.
"I also need to discuss this with representatives of the Morgan Alliance and my family." Before leaving, Morgan Jr. did not look very relaxed. Only after an in-depth and detailed discussion did he realize that the difficulty he had previously estimated was still too low.
"Are you interested in playing golf?" Rockefeller Jr. invited Sheffield.
"Your golf course still has my airship parked there. By the way, I won't pay for the rent. Everyone knows I don't have money." Sheffield refused indifferently, but did not say anything final. "I can't play, but I can watch you play."
Sheffield's refusal was just an excuse to cover up his lack of skill in the sport. Although the airship was huge, it was still very small compared to the area of the Rockefeller estate.
The two chatted casually, and Rockefeller Jr. revealed that he had just received a telegram from China, "Dr. Wu Lien-teh said that the plague has been brought under control."
"I've said it before, a government like China's can easily deal with a plague." Sheffield praised his foresight. That was a government with unlimited liability. As long as people could solve the problem, they would definitely be able to do it.
If we talk about shortcomings, being too cautious may be a shortcoming, but China is not the only one that is stuck in stagnation. Sheffield said that it was the European civilization that exploded and beat other civilizations, and East Asia was just one of the victims. It was not that other civilizations had any problems, but that the Europeans suddenly turned them into problems.
"Dr. Wu Lien-teh popularized the use of masks, but many doctors are skeptical about the effectiveness of masks. They think it only has a comforting effect." Rockefeller Jr. hit a beautiful shot and said half-jokingly.
"This? I'm not surprised." Sheffield felt a heavy feeling of depression in his chest. This was so similar to what happened a hundred years later. If it happened in another country, wouldn't it be a complete system problem?
Watching the fire from the other side of the river eventually burns itself. During the Spanish flu, citizens of the United States also wore masks obediently, but a hundred years later, it happened all over again. This is stupid and unforgivable. In such an information-rich society, the United States has to go through the dynastic cycle again.
"Sheffield mentioned two industries, one is American International Shipping Company, and the other is General Electric." Morgan Jr. went home and talked about this with his father. Although Morgan Jr. had completely let Morgan Jr. run his own business in recent years due to his age, when it came to such a large merger, Morgan Jr. still wanted to hear his father's opinion.
Morgan listened to his son's narration without changing his expression. He nodded and said, "You want to create a benchmark for the stock market? So you chose the automotive industry? Your vision is still very accurate. There is still a lot of room for the domestic auto market. The most important thing is the scale effect. United Automotive Corporation has also done well in exports. The auto industry is too profitable now. Once it goes public, it can absorb a huge amount of funds and attract speculators to join the market."
After saying so many advantages, Morgan changed the subject and said, "The only disadvantage is that you can't convince Sheffield because it's too profitable. In fact, because the acquisition amount is so huge, our alliance representatives may even be scared."
"Yes, father. William also asked me how much money he wanted me to spend to acquire such a profitable industry." Morgan Jr. said with a wry smile, "He said 1 billion is not much, and I may not be able to come up with it. If we want to operate by exchanging industries for cross-holding, he also acquired two industries, American International Shipping Company and General Electric?"
"He's really good at picking!" Morgan smiled and shook his head. "International Shipping Company is easier to deal with, but what about General Electric? The Sheffield family's Southern Electric and General Electric are competitors. If both companies become his industries, he will have the final say in the entire national electrical field. Let's not talk about whether we agree or not. If he gets it, it will create a de facto monopoly and the antitrust law will come to his door soon."
"At least during the Democratic administration, he shouldn't care about antitrust laws. A certain percentage of cross-holdings is also possible, which can reduce financial pressure." Morgan shrugged. "In fact, we can share some shares of each industry with him until the amount is enough. We can also hand over some unimportant industries to him, such as the American International Shipping Company..."
"The person you need to convince about this company is Louisa!" Morgan interrupted his son and said, "She is currently managing the shipping side of things."
Despicable? Dirty, shameless? Sheffield looked at Louisa Morgan with a poker face and said calmly, "As a successful woman in the upper class, didn't your education teach you what ladylike manners are? Your brother set a trap to take away my property, and now you come to blame me? How about I give United Motors to you? What can you give me in return?"
Sheffield thought this world was really weird. He couldn't just not sell it? He couldn't even sell it after he had offered a price? And he had to be accused by a strange woman?
"They're offering 1 billion and they want stocks of important industries. Why don't you just go and rob them?" Louisa Morgan said, tearing up and biting her teeth. "Why not ask for anything else? I'm the one managing American International Shipping Company. You're stealing my business."
"I'm a family man, and this could easily cause misunderstanding." Sheffield looked around and pointed to where the airship was docked. "Let's go there first to talk. Hold back your tears."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
