Chapter 46 Cooperation methods
"I have some thoughts about the Independent, Your Highness."
"You can tell me anything you have in mind, Laura."
After separating from the editor-in-chief of "The Independent" and returning to DS Capital's office, Barron encouraged her after hearing Wang Wanting's words.
It is worth mentioning that Canary Wharf is very close to the City of London. It was originally rebuilt to solve the crowded office situation in the City. Due to the settlement of many financial, multinational companies and media, Canary Wharf has become a Known as the second financial city.
"Since Your Highness the Duke is planning to acquire The Independent, why not entrust this matter to a firm? After all, if it is a firm as large as the Big Four, it will have a better understanding of the financial situation of many companies..."
After hearing what Wang Wanting said, Barron understood many of her subtexts.
Don't be fooled by the so-called professional ethics of many European and American companies. In fact, when it comes to interests, they are more "flexible" than anyone else.
The most typical one is the "largest financial fraud case in history" that broke out last year, involving Enron's financial fraud amounting to US$60 billion.
In this incident, Enron used a series of fraudulent means to inflate its revenue and profits and deceive investors and regulators.
Enron's financial fraud was so clever that it not only deceived regulators and investors, but also deceived the company's internal executives and board members.
The person who helped Enron carry out "financial fraud" was Anxin Da, one of the "big five" accounting firms in the world.
But after that, because of the bad influence, Anxinda's credibility was ruined, and the "Big Five" became the "Big Four"...
And HSBC, one of the largest banks in the UK, has privately leaked confidential customer information not once or twice...
Therefore, the implication of Wang Wanting's words is that almost all firms now have the business of helping companies with mergers and acquisitions. At the same time, they are also responsible for the financial audit of many companies.
Moreover, during the acquisition process, the financial status of the target company needs to be audited. Hiring a firm to perform these tasks can be said to be a one-stop service.
Of course, the more well-known a firm is, the higher the commission it charges, but judging from the final results, these commissions are definitely worth the money.
"Then I'll leave this matter to you, Laura. Choose a firm and give me advice on acquiring The Independent. If it's suitable, you can contact the other party and start negotiations."
…
"I have been looking forward to a frank conversation with you, Your Highness."
"That's why I'm here today."
To be precise, this was Barron's fourth meeting with Ian Butt. After getting enough information about King's Cross, he was ready to have a good talk with him.
“Perhaps you have also heard the news about the King’s Cross renovation plan, but I need to state that in any case, at this point, I have the goodwill to cooperate with you and your family in good faith, including the previous purchase of storage. The gas tank plot suggestion is also to help your family get through this.”
Regarding Viscount Bute's statement, Barron wisely did not pursue it further. By now, these are no longer important.
"And frankly speaking, regarding the renovation plan for King's Cross, although the Kenton District Government has submitted an application to the city council, it has not yet been finalized. After all, it involves funding for the construction of public areas, and no one knows what is needed. We can’t have high expectations for their efficiency no matter how long they pull.”
Having said this, Ian spread his hands:
"It may well be that we need to be prepared to wait a few years before construction starts on those sites."
"But in any case, in the face of the increasing shortage of office buildings and residential buildings in Greater London, the transformation of King's Cross is bound to need to be carried out, isn't it? This is the only place in London that can face major development."
Viscount Bute fully agreed with Barron’s words:
"I agree with that and that's why I'm betting on this."
“So if it’s a collaboration, how do you want it to work?”
Faced with the question raised by Barron, Viscount Bute said:
"Your Highness the Duke, your family now owns a land of about 6 hectares with abandoned gas storage tanks. Although it is industrial land, in the entire King's Cross reconstruction plan, the location of that land is relatively good. According to me According to the information we have received, the entire King’s Cross area renovation plan currently expected will not cover more than 30 hectares.”
"My partners and I are expected to have more than 10 hectares of land within this range. Therefore, we have joined forces and will hold more than half of the land in the entire King's Cross area renovation plan. If these are removed, King's Cross station and St Pancras station, as well as the public realm planned by the government... you can say that we have been able to take a leading role in this transformation plan."
As far as Barron knows, the total area of land owned by Viscount Bute is only 5.5 hectares, and according to what he said and the information Barron obtained...
"Have you reached cooperation with the Coal and Grain Merchants Association?"
Faced with Barron's question, Viscount Bute showed a meaningful smile:
"You will know this after we reach cooperation, Your Highness the Duke."
"Then tell me your proposal for cooperation, Lord Bute."
"Actually, there are two ways. The first is that your gas storage tank land can maintain the independence of the transformation, join our alliance, and advance and retreat together; the second is that we form a joint venture real estate development company together to use the land value and investment By allocating shares based on factors such as funds and other factors, this company has a great chance of becoming the master developer of the entire King's Cross area renovation plan, and can also obtain orders for other areas, including the renovation of public areas..."
Viscount Bute paused, looked at Barron and said:
"Considering that the entire King's Cross area renovation plan will be comparable to the urban renewal plan of Canary Wharf, it may last ten to twenty years in phases. Therefore, I still suggest that Your Highness the Duke, you participate in our In the joint venture..."
"After all, whether negotiating with the government or surrounding resident groups, a strong whole can guarantee the interests of us landowners..."
Barron and his family did not have much experience in real estate development before, which is what he lacked at this time.
According to Viscount Bute, according to business analysis, the biggest economic benefits from the real estate renovation in King's Cross are the construction of office buildings for rent or sale, followed by high-end residential apartments, and the rest include shops and Other commercial facilities.
But the problem is that neither the government nor the resident groups in the area will allow them to build too many office buildings and high-end residences. They must control these within a certain proportion and provide a considerable amount of low-cost housing. Rent and other guaranteed housing.
The question arises. If landowners like them go their own way, then for the sake of economic interests, they will definitely be willing to build office buildings and high-end residential buildings. Who will be willing to build low-rent housing?
And if everyone rushes to pursue economic interests like this, the final transformation plan will inevitably be impossible to pass.
Therefore, it is the most acceptable way to unite various landowners - at least most of them, and distribute the transformation of these lands through shares.
No one will argue about which piece of land to build which building. There will be unified planning. The final benefits will be distributed according to the initial shares, and there will be no disagreements.
As for the landowners who say they don’t want to join in?
That's easy to do. There is no need to force the other party. After leading the construction of this renovation plan, which plots will have more appreciation potential due to planning, and which plots will be built near low-rent housing, so that they are not suitable for building high-end offices. District and high-end residential conditions...
These can be adjusted by the joint venture company.
The data during the new book period is related to subsequent recommendations, so follow-up reading is very important. I beg you not to keep it all the time. If you feel that it is okay, read it every day to help increase follow-up reading. Thank you very much.
