American Gossip King

Chapter 155 Launching the Acquisition (Part 2)

The early spring sunshine is just right.

As Clement Freddy stepped out of the car and entered his company, he saw his sexy secretary gracefully approaching him and whispering, "Mr. Ian Carr is waiting for you in your office."

Ian Carl?

Clayson Freddie paused for a moment, but then nodded and said, "Okay."

He hurried to his office and saw Ian standing in front of his orchid, admiring it intently.

Americans don't have money trees.

But even if he's excited, it doesn't matter. Ian wouldn't be so bored as to pour boiling water on it.

"Hey, Ian, what brings you here?" Clement chuckled as he sat down in his seat.

Ian stood with his hands in his belt, not turning around, just gazing at the scenery outside the window.

He said in a calm tone, "Come and buy those 3% shares of Linuo Bank that you hold."

Clayson was stunned: "What did you say?"

Ian slowly turned around, facing Clayson, and said indifferently, "Just as you've heard."

Clayson gently shook his head: "I have no plans to sell at the moment."

Ian smiled and said, "Linuo Bank's profit last year was only 2.4 million, and its dividends were only 1.3 million. Considering that Linuo Bank's assets are now 25 billion, this return on investment is too low... With that money, what wouldn't be better than opening a bank?"

Bank of America's interest rate spread is quite substantial. With $40 billion in assets under management, the interest rate spread could theoretically exceed $1 billion in gross profit, not to mention the various financial derivatives.

The problem is that part of this money is used as reserves, so it cannot generate interest spreads, and another part is operating costs.

These are all fine, but the key issue is the bad debts.

Once bad debts occur, the losses are enormous.

As a result, bank profits vary greatly – when they are lucky, they can make a net profit of 600 to 700 million from interest rate spreads alone, but when they are unlucky, they suffer huge losses.

Linuo Bank's performance last year was mediocre, with an annual return of only 10%—the money Gasker made from short selling had nothing to do with the bank.

A significant reason for this is that the United States is currently in an era of high interest rates.

A high benchmark interest rate means higher operating costs and risks for businesses, which in turn reduces bank profits to some extent. But no worries, the US will soon cut interest rates.

At that moment, Clayson replied, "But I can get a loan through Linuo; real estate companies need loans."

Ian shook his head: "If your project is absolutely profitable, you don't need to worry about not being able to borrow money. Besides, I'm already a shareholder of Linuo... I've acquired 8% of the shares! Your 3% influence isn't enough."

Clayson looked at him in surprise, then shook his head slightly: "Ian Carl, sometimes business is about personal relationships. I've been in Linuo for many years, and I have many friends who are willing to support me! But you're different. You're like a barbarian, barging in like that. They won't like you."

Ian smiled and lowered his head: "Barbarians are usually disliked, but sometimes barbarity really works!"

As he spoke, he took out a document and handed it to Kleisen: "Take a look at this."

Clayson took it and glanced at it, his expression suddenly changing: "Fuck, where did you get this information?"

He stared in disbelief at the photograph in his hand. It was a picture of one of his workers who had died more than half a year ago, except that he hadn't died from a fall, but from being stabbed.

This is not surprising, because when the incident happened, his people told him that there were signs of tampering at the scene, but Clayson still chose to treat it as an accident.

Because he didn't want his construction site to stop work as a result.

But he never expected that Ian would have this photo.

Ian simply looked at him with disdain: "Someone died at your construction site, and your handling of the situation was rather hasty. That kid named Bartram didn't die in an accident, he was murdered! And you've hidden crucial evidence!!! But unfortunately, you're now dealing with someone who excels at uncovering secrets..."

Clayson cried out, "I can't stop work! Do you know how much money we lose if we stop work for even a day?"

"That's none of my business," Ian sneered. "All I know is that you're hiding a murder. If I release this information, you know the consequences!"

He looked at Clayson with sympathy and said, "I can buy your shares for $30 billion, which is already a very good deal."

Clayson glared fiercely at Ian: "Acquiring profitable companies requires a premium."

Even with its meager profits last year, Linuo Bank is still a profitable company—moreover, like the media, the financial sector also has a large amount of hidden profits.

A bank's annual profit may only be 10%, but its hidden profits can exceed that figure.

In the future, even the world's most profitable and largest super banks like JPMorgan Chase will only generate less than 10% of their own assets in profit per year, but the hidden profits are limitless, and shareholders will make a fortune!

For example, exorbitant salaries and so on, legally reducing corporate profits—high-quality unscrupulous companies usually control their own profits and then transfer the excess profits out through various means.

Gaskell and Ian's short selling is a prime example of this hidden profit... losses go to the company, but profits are theirs.

"I gave it to him," Ian said with a smile.

"Too little!"

"And these documents," Ian said, shrugging. "That's money too."

Clayson roared, "This is extortion! It's blackmail! Ian Carl, you can't do business like this! You'll make enemies all over the world!"

He's going crazy with Ian.

That bastard! All I did was support changing the chairman.

I didn't offend him!

Ian said coldly, "If you are strong enough, those enemies can only watch helplessly as you grow stronger."

After a while, Clayson calmed himself down.

He knew how serious the consequences would be if this were exposed, so he could only say, "I have an application for an extension of a 300 million loan. You need to guarantee that it will be approved."

Ian shook his head: "I can't guarantee it; it requires a professional audit before it can be approved. As long as your business is operating properly, the bank won't refuse profits that are offered to you."

"Fuck!" Clayson yelled, "You've gone too far!"

Ian smiled. "I've been very polite, buddy. One Madoff made you all change your minds and betray me, and I even bought your shares at a premium. I really think I'm very generous."

The latest novel is first published here!

Clayson was speechless: "He gave us very high interest rates. I didn't have to do anything, just borrow money from Linuo Bank, hand it over to Madoff, and I could make a huge profit from the difference."

Ah!

Everyone knows how to do this, but deadly poison is always beautiful and tempting!

Ian sneered, "Then go ahead and make money off him. I'm not stopping you."

Clayson understood: "You're getting revenge on us, aren't you?"

Ian smiled: "Just as you said, business also requires relationships."

As he spoke, he moved closer to Clayson and said coldly, "And between you and me, there's obviously not much of a relationship to speak of."

------

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! You can't do this to me, Ian Karl!"

Inside the headquarters office of Linuo Bank.

The newly appointed chairman, Brad, stared at Ian in shock: "We're friends! I even treated you to dinner!"

Sitting across from Brad, Ian said calmly, "It was you and Madoff who tried to get back at me, stabbing me in the back."

"Even if you run a successful business, we can't lend you money indefinitely!" Brad said, sounding a little guilty.

boom!

Ian slammed his fist on the table and roared at the old man in front of him, "But you know I'm making money! You know I have the ability to repay! You know my business is appreciating as collateral! You rejected a business that could help you make money! Others kick someone when they're down, but I haven't even fallen into the well, and you're already pushing me into it!"

He pointed at Brad and yelled, "You almost got me killed! You damn bastard!"

Brad looked a little guilty and shook his head repeatedly: "It's all business."

Ian calmed his anger slightly.

A businessman's emotions are also a performance; they can be released and controlled at will.

He spread his hands and said, "If you want to talk about friendship, I can. But if you want to talk business, then we're talking business now. I can give you a good price, based on a market value of 30 billion, and you give me all the shares. However, I don't have enough cash, so I'll borrow some more money from Linuo. Do we need a board meeting to approve it?"

Brad was speechless: "You borrowed my money to buy my company!"

Ian shook his head: "No, that's not your money, it's all the users' money."

Brad retorted angrily, "Even if you control Linuo, you can't just keep withdrawing money without any restrictions or oversight. You still have to act according to the law. As the owner of a bank, you are not without limits."

Ian laughed and said, "I'm not going to be the bank owner."

Brad was stunned.

Ian stated directly, "Gasker remains the chairman; I am merely a shareholder. All loan procedures will be legal and legitimate... it's just that Linuo Bank has an exceptionally high level of trust in me."

"Fuck, this is my company, you can't just let it disappear!" Brad roared.

Ian coldly replied, "No longer. I'm the major shareholder now. If you don't agree, Gaskell and I have the right to initiate a forced takeover! Then it won't be 30 billion, but 20 billion, or even less! I can even bankrupt the companies that borrowed money from you, and you won't get a single penny back. Next year will be a bloodbath! You know I can do it!"

Upon hearing this, Brad was finally speechless.

After a long pause, he nodded and said, "Alright, you win, Ian Carl! Now the bank is yours, and you can withdraw funds from it as you please. But I must warn you, even without any restrictions, your actions could still lead to your downfall. You can't expand recklessly!"

Ian smiled: "On the condition that I lose."

"No one can avoid losing!"

"I don't deny that I might lose once or twice, but I will definitely be the ultimate winner!"

(End of this chapter)