Chapter 1303: Withdrawal of Investment

The reason why the Nobel family is so eager to swallow up the industries sold in East Africa is actually to fight against the American consortium and thereby consolidate its own advantages.

In the past, competition in the Baku oil fields was fierce. The Nobel family, the Rothschild family, and some small local Russian oil companies formed a group to fight against American and East African capital.

Yes, in their view, the United States and East Africa are both threats. The value of the Baku oil fields has become higher and higher in recent years. The overall oil production has even reached more than 60% of the entire Europe. During the war, it was a hugely profitable industry.

Although the interests of investors in the Baku oil fields, such as the Nobel family and the Rothschild family, are not completely consistent, they have been operating there for a long time and naturally do not want the two latecomers, the United States and East Africa, to get a share of the pie.

Take the Nobel family, for example. Their family began investing in Baku’s oil industry in the 1970s. At that time, East Africa had just established its country, and it was even less possible to make large-scale investments abroad.

Therefore, at first, these local forces in Baku were mainly competing for capital within Europe. Later, after the rise of the American economy, they regarded American capital as their opponents.

It was relatively late when East African capital entered Baku. At this time, the developed oil fields were basically divided, so East Africa could only invest in local refineries to save costs.

East Africa imports Baku oil mostly from other companies with non-East African background. After all, the oil fields are basically in their hands, and East African companies have no interest in finding new oil fields locally.

Therefore, cooperation with local oil companies is the main way for East Africa to introduce Baku oil. For example, the Nobel family has a lot of cooperation with East Africa. Before the war broke out, its oil was mainly exported to East Africa.

This also led to East Africa easily getting rid of the oil industry in Baku. After all, East Africa itself did not invest much in the oil industry here.

Moreover, oil investment activities in East Africa have also shifted in recent years, from the European region to Southeast Asia, Venezuela and the Beibu Gulf Territory.

After the final confirmation with Billy, Althofen asked: "I wonder if you are interested in some of our other industries in Baku? Mr. Billy."

In addition to oil, East Africa's investment in Baku also involves other industries, such as catering, entertainment, etc. After all, this is a wealthy area of ​​Russia with strong spending power.

Althofen's words aroused Billy's interest, and he asked: "Does your company have other industries in Baku?"

"This is natural. I don't know, brother Billy, do you know the Heart of Caspian Hotel in the city center? That hotel is one of our properties."

"After all, the failure in the oil business over the past few years has forced us to turn our attention to other industries."

Billy had really heard of the Caspian Heart Hotel. After all, although Baku has developed rapidly in recent years, its population alone is as high as about 300,000.

A city with a population of 300,000 in Europe can be considered a big city. After all, many European cities have a population of less than 100,000. Before World War I, even as developed as Germany, there were only less than 50 cities with a population of more than 100,000. seat.

Moreover, in addition to its large population, Baku is also special in that the income of ordinary workers is high. Of course, this is for other regions in Russia.

Correspondingly, prices and rents in Baku are much higher than other places in Russia, and the Caspian Heart Hotel is one of the hotels located in the city center. In a place like Baku where land is at a premium, if it is managed properly, then Obviously a good asset too.

Therefore, Billy did not leave in a hurry, but continued to negotiate with Althofen.

"It seems that your company is really planning to withdraw from Baku this time. Judging from your actions, it is estimated that all the properties will be sold off."

Althofen did not deny it, but said: "Actually, we are withdrawing funds from Baku because we are not optimistic about the current situation in Russia, especially the Ottoman Empire. Their threat cannot be underestimated. We are afraid that the war will spread to Baku."

Billy sneered at Althofen's statement and said: "Mr. Althofen, you overestimate the capabilities of the Ottoman Empire. If the Ottomans really had this ability, our Nobel family would have run away long ago."

"Although Russia is currently at a disadvantage, it is not something that the Ottoman Empire can challenge. Moreover, we have obtained intelligence from St. Petersburg. The new government has plans to negotiate peace with the Allies. This is also one of their governing policies, so the war in Russia will soon begin. will end."

"In this way, we naturally don't need to worry about the Ottoman Empire attacking Baku. At most, they will expand their power to the Caucasus Mountains."

Althofen did not deny Billy's words. After all, he knew very well the virtues of the Ottoman Empire. This was just an excuse for him to leave Baku.

So Althofen did not argue with Billy on this topic, but asked: "Your family is well-informed in Russia. I wonder how much you know about the Russian Labor Party?"

Billy said: "The Labor Party! Of course, it is a heinous crime, just a group of chaotic parties. They are just prosperous now, and they will definitely be wiped out next year."

"They are just a bunch of brainless workers and soldiers instigated by people with ulterior motives. That is to say, St. Petersburg is now in their hands, but the nobles and rich people will not watch them being arrogant."

As one of the richest families in Russia, the Nobel family naturally looks down upon the Labor Party, a group mainly composed of workers.

Billy continued: "Furthermore, even if the Labor Party really takes power, it won't be a worry. After all, they can't kick our Nobel family away. After all, without the Nobel family, half of Baku's oil wells and factories will stop working." ”

"During the era of Nicholas II, we were a large taxpayer that local officials relied on, creating a lot of social wealth for Russia and providing a lot of jobs..."

According to what Billy revealed, he does not believe that an organization composed of workers, soldiers and farmers can govern this country, and most of them can't even write their names. He expects them to understand the operation and management of enterprises and the economy. Development is obviously impossible.

Billy finally concluded: "Talent is the most important thing for a country, and for those of us who have knowledge, the Labor Party will definitely not be able to exclude us."

It can be said that Billy's attitude also represents the Nobel family's attitude towards the Labor Party, which is mainly reflected in two aspects. One is that it is difficult for the Labor Party to succeed in Russia, although the Labor Party has already occupied important cities such as St. Petersburg.

Second, even if the Labor Party succeeds, if the Labor Party wants to govern this country well, it must rely on entrepreneurs like them.

Obviously, the Nobel family now has no deep understanding of the "danger" of the Labor Party.

In the previous life, the Nobel family's properties in Baku were all taken over by the Labor Party as public property. This led to the Nobel family insisting on fighting the Labor government after they withdrew from Russia.

However, Billy's words also let Althofen understand the main reason why the Nobel family dared to be "takeovers".

In this case, he was more confident in discussing business with Billy, and finally packaged and sold all the properties to the Nobel family at a price that both parties were satisfied with, including an oil refinery, a hotel, an office building, etc.

Baku is just a microcosm of East Africa’s divestment. In other important cities in Russia, such as St. Petersburg, Moscow, Odessa, etc., East African state-owned capital and the Hechingen consortium are withdrawing in an orderly manner. After all, if they don’t leave at this time, these industries in the future will It’s really like making a wedding dress for the Russian Labor Party.

In fact, even if East Africa gets rid of these industries, there is a high probability that the Russian Labor Party will still obtain these industries from the unlucky "takeover man" in the end, but this is not what East Africa considers.