Chapter 433 You’ve Been Scammed (4230)
No. 12?
That robot has WeChat?
"Hello, ok, thank you."
Liu Feifei casually replied, and just as she sent it, another WeChat message popped up.
"You're welcome, Miss Liu. I had a great time chatting with you today. I hope we can meet again next time."
Liu Feifei's lips curled up slightly, and after thinking for a moment, she said, "Of course, I had a great time chatting with you today, and I learned a lot. You don't have to be so polite, you can call me Feifei."
A white light flashed on Yuzu's body.
Yes! Feifei is really friendly! Even though I'm communicating with her as a robot, she's still so polite!
"Okay, Feifei." Yuzu hesitated and added, "So are we friends now?"
After seeing these words, the smile on Liu Feifei's face became more obvious.
"Of course, you're my first robot friend."
Yuzu spun around happily for several times.
"Since you are my friend, friends can help each other. I think your mental state..."
Before Youzi finished speaking on WeChat, Fang Yu's voice came from downstairs.
"Yuzu, we need to speed up the development of the Tokamak Rapid Dynamic Balance Device. After I come back from Qianxun, we'll go to Mount Omiz to perfect it."
Youzi was startled, and then she felt relieved when she saw that Fang Yu was not at the stairs.
——
Soho, Manhattan.
“I don’t think the growth of passive investing will significantly reduce market efficiency. In fact, while the scale of passive investing is growing, there are still a large number of active investors in the market who play an important role in pricing.”
"Furthermore, passive investors themselves are part of the market, providing liquidity and stability. Therefore, the so-called issue of declining market efficiency is exaggerated. We should focus more on how to balance passive and active investing, which is the key."
Goldstein was leaning on a colorful modern art-style sofa, shaking a glass of red wine. He looked less rigid and serious than usual. A standing microphone receiver stood beside the sofa, with a fill light next to it.
Opposite him, there was an Eurasian woman who looked to be in her twenties or thirties, wearing a tank top. She was very good at squeezing, with her arms tucked between her legs. Her chest was like two pieces of freshly baked white toast. There was also a standing microphone next to her.
"Wow, Bob, that's a very clear explanation. Thank you very much. Does that mean that, even with the recent turmoil, passive investing will continue to play an important role at BlackRock?"
The Eurasian woman reached out and lifted her long wavy hair. The typical Chinese makeup on her face looked ugly no matter how she looked at it.
"In other words, do you think the 'turmoil' a few months ago should have no impact on BlackRock's future investment direction?"
When the Yamily woman talked about the "turmoil a few months ago," she made quotation marks with her hands.
Goldstein paused noticeably, his expression shifting slightly.
Keshilin is of Southeast Asian descent. He previously worked as an intern at Goldman Sachs and later worked at Merrill Lynch for two years without making any achievements. After being fired by Merrill Lynch, he switched to YouTube. With his unconventional dress and the contrast between serious topics, he became a top internet celebrity on YouTube's financial channel.
After becoming a top internet celebrity, many financial celebrities have been interviewed by Kaishilin.
Merrill Lynch, her former employer who had fired her, even invited her back to give a speech.
Her studio was successfully moved to the Sky Garden in Soho, Manhattan.
After two consecutive explosive incidents in the past few months, although BlackRock did not suffer much damage, its reputation was still greatly affected. In order to shape BlackRock's more open, transparent and down-to-earth style and reduce conspiracy theories, Goldstein, as BlackRock's chief operating officer, accepted Keshilin's request for a live interview.
In fact, this issue of Keshilin's had been communicated in advance in order to help BlackRock "clarify" the current negative public opinion.
"In fact, BlackRock doesn't care about certain slanders at all. Many people lack the most basic financial knowledge. Our main business is ETFs that focus on passive investment. We cannot and do not need to actively operate."
"Some of these rumors are really ridiculous, Kathy, just ridiculous."
Goldstein had a helpless expression, and Kaishilin also laughed out loud, nodding as if he understood, as if this was common knowledge in the industry, just like the Empress of the East Palace was making pancakes and the Empress of the West Palace was rolling green onions.
"But most people don't understand the financial industry, so they're drawn to these conspiracy theories." Keshilin's laughter fluctuated. "I'm actually quite puzzled why so many people link BlackRock and the Jude conspiracy theory. Later, I thought about it and realized that, essentially, it's still the lingering shadow of anti-Jude sentiment. BlackRock, a company with a strong Jude background, is ostensibly an attack on BlackRock, but in reality, it's still anti-Jude."
"That's right!" Goldstein said excitedly. "You're absolutely right. This is essentially anti-Jude. But these people really don't understand. BlackRock isn't Jude at all. Just look at our shareholder structure and you'll understand! I don't know why such rumors are spreading!"
…
"Let's take a look at the questions from netizens."
This was a live interview, and Keshilin pointed to the questions that kept refreshing in the YouTube comment section on the TV screen next to him, and seemed to randomly pick one to read to Goldstein.
"Here's a question. Ysou, a search engine company from the Great Zhou Dynasty, is going to acquire Qianxun from the Great Zhou Dynasty. How is this going?"
"Oh, this is a sensitive issue, hahaha. If Qianxun wasn't still suspended from trading, I might be charged with attempting to manipulate the stock market if I said that, hahaha."
Goldstein seemed to laugh heartily.
Keshilin also laughed and asked Goldstein to give some more details in a coquettish manner.
"We are not opposed to contacting potential buyers, but we prefer a stock swap," Goldstein spread his hands.
Kaixilin became interested: "So what's your target price?"
Goldstein laughed. "We haven't done a thorough calculation yet. YSearch seems to have just completed its Series A funding round last month, with a valuation of $6.8 billion. We think this valuation should be reviewed. You know, determining the value of both parties is the most important step in this kind of acquisition."
"What about maybe?" Keshilin persisted.
Goldstein acted as if he was being forced into a corner. "Alright, alright, let me share my personal opinion. This is just my personal opinion. Qianxun is the largest search engine company in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and its current market capitalization is clearly undervalued. I believe that if Ysou wants to acquire Qianxun, they should at least adopt a 1:3 stock swap. For every Qianxun share, they should exchange for at least three Ysou shares."
Ysou, as the only approved buyer, has made an acquisition offer for Qianxun. After the news came out, Goldstein was very proud.
With the merger, the original investment of 4.5 billion Malaysian dollars would more than double instantly! Moreover, they could also smoothly acquire shares in Ysou!
A stake of more than 10 percent is enough to claim a seat on Ysou's board of directors.
As long as he can get on the board of directors, Goldstein is confident that he can gradually increase BlackRock's influence on Ysou through various means.
Keshilin looked surprised. "1:3? In other words, BlackRock wants to acquire at least 15% of Ysou's shares?"
"That's a very reasonable price," Goldstein said, spreading his hands. "In fact, we think it's already quite low, considering this is a relatively new company. If the Great Zhou hadn't imposed restrictive requirements on the acquirer of Qianxun, such a low price wouldn't have been possible."
"I'm currently very dissatisfied with this. We hope to communicate with Da Zhou as soon as possible, but we haven't received any response yet."
"What if the other party doesn't agree with your offer?" Keshilin sat casually, leaning his elbows on his thighs to give benefits to the live audience, staring at Goldstein with interest.
Goldstein picked up the water and symbolically moistened his lips. "If they don't agree, we won't agree to Qianxun's delisting either. In fact, we don't think delisting is a good idea. We hope to communicate with the relevant parties in Da Zhou, but perhaps due to the influence of some external forces, we haven't made any further contact yet."
Kai Xilin understood clearly: "Ah~ As for the Great Zhou, we all know~~~Hahaha."
After the two of them laughed heartily with seemingly tacit understanding, Kaishilin took another look at the comment section, and this time, an incredible expression appeared on his face.
"Bob, I just saw a comment section where someone said the Qianxun board of directors has approved Ysou's all-cash offer of 8.5 billion Malaysian dollars for Qianxun. The acquisition proposal has received preliminary support from more than half of the shareholders and is expected to be formally approved at the shareholders' meeting in three days."
“It is expected that after the acquisition is completed, the company will submit a delisting application to the SEC in accordance with relevant procedures and formally initiate the delisting process…”
Goldstein was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud: "That's impossible. We haven't received any notice of Qianxun's shareholders' meeting at all."
"But it seems to be true." Kaishilin said with a strange expression. "Someone in the comment section has already posted the electronic notice of the shareholders' meeting. OMG, it even has the signatures of all the board members. Do you want to see it?"
Goldstein took the pad from Keshilin's hand with a puzzled look on his face. After just a few glances, his expression changed.
It really is the signature of Qianxun’s board of directors!
"Sorry, Kaixi, I have some urgent matters to deal with. Let's end the live broadcast here today." Goldstein stood up with a gloomy face, greeted the female internet celebrity, and got up to walk outside.
As soon as Goldstein left, Keshilin saw the news breaking in the comments section.
BlackRock was defrauded?
Aren’t they shareholders of Qianxun?
How is that possible?
——
Qianxun Building.
"BlackRock disagrees with the Qianxun board's decision to sell!"
"If you insist on going your own way, BlackRock will file a lawsuit against Qianxun and request the SEC to freeze the transaction!"
"And why didn't anyone warn us ahead of time!?"
Jason Hawthorne stared closely at Gao Wencheng, the acting chairman and CEO of Qianxun, who was standing in front of him.
Gao Wencheng is not from Qianxun, but is an independent director of Qianxun. He was previously the vice president of Zhou Jin.
After Robert Lee ran away, the Qianxun board of directors chose Gao Wencheng to serve as temporary chairman and CEO.
Jason Hawthorne was able to keep his job and was not fired.
After all, he took the blame for Goldstein. It is impossible for Goldstein to completely give up on Jason Hawthorne.
Otherwise, who would want to work with him?
Therefore, as soon as the news of Ysou's acquisition of Qianxun came out, Goldstein immediately stepped in to secure Jason Hawthorne after his situation within BlackRock improved.
If BlackRock can successfully obtain a seat on the board of directors of Ysou this time, Jason Hawthorne will be able to redeem himself and rise to the top.
But now, this shameless Da Zhou Internet company actually ignored the interests of the largest shareholders and made the decision on its own without notifying them and agreed to Ysou's acquisition plan!
How dare you! How dare you!
If he doesn't handle it well, his career, which has just been saved, will be on the verge of collapse again!
"Mr. Hawthorne, have you misunderstood something?" Gao Wencheng looked at Jason Hawthorne with a playful expression.
"Qianxun is an independent company. Our relationship with BlackRock is simply investor relations. We have no reason to inform you of such an important decision in advance."
Hearing Gao Wencheng's reply, Jason Hawthorne couldn't believe his ears.
"Gao, do you want me to remind you that BlackRock is now Qianxun's largest shareholder! Is this how you treat major shareholders? Completely disregarding shareholder interests!?"
"Of course not. Creating value for shareholders is Qianxun's motto." Gao Wencheng shook his head, a strange expression on his face. "But the prerequisite is that you are a shareholder."
"We checked and found that BlackRock holds 9.12% of Qianxun's shares, which does not exceed 15%. We do not need to consult you in advance."
Huo Sang had never expected Gao Wencheng to say that. He laughed out loud in anger, "Haha, is there a bird in your head? Aren't we the major shareholder? 9.12?"
"Get this straight! We now hold over 20% of the shares! We can call for a shareholders' meeting to vote you out at any time!"
Gao Wencheng drank his water slowly and said, "Sure, you can try it, but you are really not a major shareholder of Qianxun.
"As of now, the SEC has not received your disclosure information, nor has there been any 13D filing or registration. From a legal perspective, you are indeed not a shareholder of Qianxun."
Hawthorne's face changed drastically when he heard this.
How is it possible that he is not a shareholder of Qianxun?
"Nonsense!" Hawthorne's face flushed red. "Without our support, you would have run out of cash flow and gone bankrupt this month!
"Sorry." Gao Wencheng gave him a kind smile.
"I don't know what you mean, but I am sure that you have not fulfilled your agreement."
"Because this agreement clearly states the standard for the agreement to take effect - the second month after the payment is received, and your funds have not been deposited into Qianxun's public account."
Hawthorne couldn't stand it any longer, so he took out a document from his bag and slammed it on the table.
"Look for yourself, Qianxun Technology Information Co., Ltd.! Your seals are still on it!"
Gao Wencheng chuckled: "Do you want to confirm it?"
"Qianxun Technology Information Co., Ltd. is just a supplier of Qianxun. I don't know what your purpose is, but the fact is that these are two completely unrelated companies."
"If you have already transferred 3 billion Malaysian dollars to the other party's public account, I deeply sympathize with you."
"In other words, you were scammed."
(End of this chapter)
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