American Scandal King

Chapter 72: Take the Times First

Take over the Los Angeles Times?
Ian was stunned for a moment by Gaskell's suggestion.

He stared at the old man: "What did you say?"

Gaskell smiled. "It's like trying to swallow an elephant; even if you do, you'll suffer from indigestion. So you need an intermediary. If you take over the Los Angeles Times, you'll have a larger scale, more financing capital, and a basis for negotiations with CBS."

CBS is a listed company, but their stock has a dual voting rights mechanism.

Currently, there are 60% of outstanding shares, which have no voting rights. The only shares that have real authority are the 40% held by the board members.

Of course, Ian couldn't ask for shares without voting rights, so negotiations had to take place.

Furthermore, listed companies generally don't need a premium to acquire shares; they can simply buy the stock normally. However, if you want to acquire sufficient equity, you'll inevitably pay a premium, unless the company's stock price has plummeted and they urgently need a buyer, in which case you can do the opposite.

CBS has not reached this point yet. It will certainly welcome a small amount of stock purchase, but it will definitely not easily accept sufficient equity, especially shares within the board of directors.

This requires Ian to demonstrate sufficient strength first.

There is no way CBS would sell the company to someone they consider a small fry... unless your money is so huge that they would give up their dignity.

Ian Carr can't do it, and even if he can, he won't do it - anyone who buys the illusion eye at a high price is an idiot!
That's why Gaskell suggested that he should first expand himself instead of performing any miracle operations - some things are suitable for miracles, and some are not!

Ian smiled wryly: "The Los Angeles Times is the backbone of the Acton family. They won't sell it."

The Acton family is the controlling shareholder of the Los Angeles Times. Of course, they don't just own the Times. They actually own more than a dozen newspapers, magazines, etc., but the Los Angeles Times is undoubtedly the most valuable, surpassing all others.

"It won't be harder than taking control of CBS," Gaskell said. "Tell me, Ian, what is your greatest confidence in yourself?"

Ian thought seriously, a smile on his face. "My report! Although you object to me taking control of Kreps, you know what? The greatest benefit of controlling the mafia isn't how much money you can get from them, but how much information you can get. Bloodshed, violence, gunfights, killings, any illegal dealings they make, I can catch them firsthand, and even...initiate them!"

Lian Na covered her red lips lightly: "Oh, God!"

It was not until this moment that she finally understood Ian's confidence.

He can and dares to make news himself!
Gaskell had known about this for a long time, but it was the first time he heard Ian admit it to his face.

He didn't take it too seriously. It wasn't the first or second time that American businessmen had done dirty work... but it was rare for someone like Ian Carr to do so!

He just said seriously: "Are you confident enough in your own strength?"

Ian replied: "If it was me who started the war, yes I would be confident. But if someone shot me with a sniper rifle from a distance, I would not have any confidence at all."

Gaskell smiled. "Then I feel much more at ease. Don't worry, Ian, you're not ready to be sniped yet."

"But there will always be a day." Ian chuckled.

A business owner who can’t be shot in the head by a sniper rifle is not a big shot!

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Mischel Street, Kreps's residence.

Ian sat in Kreps's study seat, and Kreps stood obediently below him.

Ian slowly handed Kreps a document: "This is a newly established company called White Mountain. From now on, the Crips' main income and expenses will come from here. You and your men own 70% of the company's shares. You decide how to distribute them. You are the chairman. The remaining 30% of the shares belong to a man named Dan Carew."

Kreps asked, "Who is Dan Carew?"

Ian smiled. "A person who has a complete set of background information and documents, complete tax returns, medical insurance, driving records, even photos, citizenship and prison records, but can never be found."

Kreps understood and said, "The Shawshank Redemption?"

Ian smiled: "That's right." Dan Carew was Ian's alias. He could just take the money directly from the Crips Gang and keep the money in Lino Bank. All the accounts were clear, but except Kreps and Gaskell, no one knew that Dan Carew was Ian Carr.

Ian used all his business income for expansion, and used the profits from Baishan Company to enjoy life.

Ian continued, "In addition to this, White Mountain Company pays the Los Angeles Herald $500,000 in advertising fees every month."

As a gang, they make a lot of money, and they also have legal industries... They use illegal means to operate legal industries, such as nightclubs, bars, etc.

Five hundred thousand dollars a month in advertising revenue can be obtained by placing a small piece of tofu in the pages of the Herald, which is a sole proprietorship of Ian Carr.

The benefit to the company is not only making money, but also increasing its valuation, which is accompanied by the ability to borrow more money - with the existence of the board of directors, Gaskell cannot give him money casually, and with sufficient book profits, there is enough reason to support it.

Gaskell taught him all this.

The old man is his mentor and friend!

After explaining this, Ian said, "Of course, this money isn't for nothing. I can help you with a lot of things. I know the Cripple Gang has some connections up there, but now you have an even more powerful backer. I can not only help you settle official issues, but also your competitors... I love explosive news!"

Ian chuckled as he said this.

It is indeed true explosive news!
But right now it’s an explosion!
Kreps thought that even if you didn't make a promise, I wouldn't dare to resist you.

Your Excellency the God of Killing!
He smiled and lowered his head: "Okay boss, from now on, you are officially my boss."

As he said this, he took the agreement obediently and wrote his name on it.

After instructing Kreps, Ian left.

………………

In the following days, Ian and Filileso continued to go out and look for various news.

In Los Angeles, sex and violence are eternal.

But Ian, who has the ability to see through things, cannot hide the filth and darkness from his eyes.

Almost every day, the Los Angeles Times publishes explosive news.

These news items were not as big as the previous ones, but they were still "rich in nutrition and many elements", and they also made the Los Angeles Herald and Ian Carr's reputation for butterflies continue to rise.

With the rapid development of the Los Angeles Herald, the Los Angeles Times is the one that feels the most pressure.

This is a newspaper ranked among the top three in the United States, with an average daily sales of more than 1.5 million copies and the most advertising pages in the United States - if you buy their newspaper, eight out of ten pages are advertisements.

Although they eventually declined, at least during this period, they were still one of the most powerful newspapers.

However, even such a large newspaper company is now beginning to feel the huge threat from the rising power in the same city.

"Waste! Waste! You are all a bunch of waste!"

In the Los Angeles Times editor-in-chief's office, Israel, known as the "tyrant," roared angrily.

If the Los Angeles Herald continues to prosper like this, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my position as editor-in-chief.

why?
Why does the Los Angeles Times always find all kinds of big news?
This is no longer as simple as Ian Carl's despicable means of turning a small thing into a big one. He is like having the eyes of a god and can always see the key core!
This realization made Israel despair.

Just then, his secretary entered the office: "Mr. Israel, Ian Carr called and hopes to talk to you."

"What did you say? Ian Carl?" Israel was stunned.

(End of this chapter)