The journey starts from the Titanic

"It is really good to be able to buy 6% of Bethlehem Steel at the price of cabbage, but this amount of shares is not enough for us to control this company?" Situ Nan wondered.

He still didn't know if he had mentioned the company to Robles during Christmas at Mellon's home at the end of last year, Robles had already sold the stock.After all, the current steel industry is very hot, and the original investment has tripled or quadrupled in two years.

It was precisely because Situ Nan wanted to show off his skills in the steel industry that Robes changed his attention and saw him smile mysteriously: "6% is naturally not enough, but what if it is 16%?"

"Let's talk about it, don't sell it!" Situ Nan urged.

This guy is so disappointing!Robles gave Stuart a blank look, and had to explain: "The 10% of the shares were bought from the Wharton family in Pennsylvania. I proposed to exchange shares of the United States Steel Corporation for the Bethlehem Steel Company in the other's hands. Unexpectedly, they agreed. So now we have become the majority shareholder of Bethlehem Steel." Robles said excitedly.

Stuart nodded. In his opinion, although Bethlehem Steel Company is not one-fifth the size of U.S. Steel Company, it is undoubtedly a cost-effective exchange of shares of U.S. Steel Company for shares of Bethlehem Steel Company.

It’s better to be the head of the chicken than the tail of the ox. Although Bethlehem Steel is not as good as U.S. Steel, the companies it controls and the companies that follow others pay dividends. It is estimated that most people will choose the former, not to mention the ambitious Situ South.

"By the way, what about Charles Schwab? How did I hear that you were negotiating with him?" Situ Nan asked.

I received a call from Robles, saying that Schwab insisted on meeting with himself, otherwise these things could also be handled by Robles, and there would be trouble for him to run over from Detroit, which is more than 500 kilometers away!

"Yes, originally I wanted to acquire the shares of Bethlehem Steel from him, striving to take this steel company in one fell swoop. After all, 16% is not enough for us to control the company. He has agreed in principle to transfer part of the shares to We did, but at the same time he made a request that embarrassed me."

Robles stopped, looked at Situ Nan, and said, "He wants to merge Bethlehem Steel and California Steel! And he will be the chairman!"

"What?" Situ Nan heard this and immediately stood up. "That old boy Schwab really dare to think, do you want to annex his own California steel?" Situ Nan cursed secretly in his heart.

Huh?No, Situ Nan suddenly thought that California Steel Company had not yet been listed, and 80% of the shares were controlled in his own hands. If the two companies merged, wouldn't he become the largest shareholder?Wouldn't it be that I annexed Bethlehem Steel?Pie in the sky again?Schwab is not crazy, right?

These questions circulated in Situ Nan's mind for a while. After thinking about it, he felt that he was taking advantage.He calmed down and said, "Is there such a good thing? You think so?"

"I just can't see through calling you here, but if it can be achieved, it will be good for both parties. After all, the two companies do not have too much overlap in their business scope and can complement each other.

Once merged, it will become a company second only to U.S. Steel, and its scale will reach more than one third of U.S. Steel!This will be a sensation in recent years.But the only thing that is a bit embarrassing is that Schwab proposed to be chairman, and you are the largest shareholder. Look..."

Robles said that California Steel was founded by Situ Nan, and there is no shares of Robles in it. Strictly speaking, it has nothing to do with Robles, so Situ Nan has to make up his mind on such important matters.Of course there are other factors, which Robes filtered through in his heart and didn't say anything.

"Hey! He wants to do it, let him do it! But I'll wait until I meet you to talk about it." Situ Nan said proudly, and he had some expectations in his heart and that who claimed to be "Carnegie second." The man who patted the table met.

Chapter 124 Schwab's Mind of Annexing Bethlehem Steel

Under Robes' arrangement, Stuart finally met Charles Schwab, a representative figure of the American steel industry after Carnegie.

From an ordinary family background, from a worker to the president of Carnegie Steel and the president of U.S. Steel, this is already the emperor of labor.

But Schwab, who was dissatisfied, took a picture of the old Morgan's table and left U.S. Steel. He joined the Wharton family, the Brown family and other families to establish the Bethlehem Steel Company.

This is Charles Schwab. A few lines of resume and a series of loud names are enough to reflect his status in the American steel industry.

Historically, Charles Schwab was called a "death trader" for a simple reason. Before the United States entered the war, Charles Schwab almost monopolized the supply of supplies to the Allies.

In order to circumvent the US legislation, he transported arms and supplies to Canada, and then transferred to the ports of Britain and France through Canadian ports.

Obviously this is a loophole in the law. Bethlehem Steel has been able to continuously supply arms and ammunition to the European front lines. As a result, they naturally made huge profits, so it is not surprising that they are called "death traders".

Because he bypassed the legislation in the United States and passed Canada to Europe to provide a large amount of arms, he made too much money, and others were jealous. So Schwab went to court after the war.

In fact, there was a back door in the US legislation from the beginning. Schwab's court was just a cutscene, and he was quickly acquitted.

Now Situ Nan also plays the historical role of Schwab to a certain extent, and he has more advantages than Schwab and is more prepared.

Not only did they sell a large amount of supplies to the Allied Powers, but they also operated the war bond business through Robles Securities, which was even better than Schwab, the "death trader".

This is how the Americans squeeze the blood and sweat of the Europeans. Although they have accumulated hundreds of years of wealth, after a war, several European powers have all lost.

Due to the unexpected appearance of Situ Nan, the Californians took some orders from the Easterners, and Schwab's role was somewhat weakened.

Bethlehem Steel still ships arms to Europe through Canadian ports, but it's not as crazy as it has been in history.

However, even the weakened version of Bethlehem Steel is still one of the top arms suppliers in the United States, and its strength cannot be underestimated, and Schwab is still one of the most famous businessmen in New York.

Schwab's personality is a bit arrogant and extravagant. He has built a magnificent manor in the West Side of New York-Loreto Gardens!

The area is as high as 1,000 acres (4 square kilometers), and there are golf courses, swimming pools, gardens, and waterfalls!

As soon as Situ Nan came in, he saw a long man-made waterfall, and the sloshing water continuously flowed down from the mountain. The water was drawn from the Hudson River. Schwab also built a long canal for this.

The house was built on a high ground. It was a group of buildings connected together. From the doorway, it looked magnificent.

"Damn it! This guy is really corrupt!"

Situ Nan sighed.He always thought he was a rich man, and his ability to make money was one of the best in the United States, but from the perspective of spending money, compared to Schwab, Situ Nan was like a small shopkeeper who had just made his mark.

"Yes, Loreto Gardens is famously luxurious in New York. Whenever I have such a manor as well." Robles said with some envy.

It would cost millions of dollars to buy such a large piece of land in New York, which is very expensive, not to mention building such a luxurious manor on it.

There are many wealthy people in New York, but few are as extravagant as Schwab. Not everyone buys such a large piece of land in the city like Schwab.

But the extravagant Schwab is a good thing for Situ Nan.In order to maintain such a life, Schwab must squander his industry, so it is not difficult to understand the sale of shares in Bethlehem Steel.

Situ Nan faintly felt that as long as he could afford the price, Schwab would not worry about not selling his shares in Bethlehem Steel.

He is most afraid that the other party is a businessman like John Rockefeller who lives frugally and always maintains a strong desire to succeed. This kind of people tends to value their careers very seriously and will never sell their own properties easily.

"Hahaha! Robles, this is your big boss Stoney William?" Situ Nan and Robles just sat in the living room for a while when a tall and fat man came in.I saw him with thick eyebrows and big eyes.

"This is Stoney William. Hello, Mr. Schwab. But your manor is so big and beautiful!" Situ Nan couldn't help but exclaimed.

"Haha. Thank you." Schwab happily accepted Situ Nan's compliment.He took a look at Situ Nan, then took another look at Robes next to him, and said, "Robbs, when we negotiated last time, I was surprised by your youth. I didn’t expect to see a younger one now. Talent, you guys are not easy! It makes me feel old all of a sudden. Haha!"

Schwab sighed in his heart. He was still in the sun and rain on Carnegie Steel's construction site when he was as old as Situ Nan.

Is it really that easy to get rich in oil mining in the west?Schwab thought to himself that he knew that Situ Nan made his fortune by digging for oil, but what made him even more amazing was the California Steel Company that Situ Nan created in Los Angeles.At this point, the opponent will not lose to himself.

Situ Nan didn’t know Schwab’s feelings. He said modestly: “Hehe, it’s undeniable that we have made some achievements, but there are still many aspects that need to be studied with humility like Mr. Schwab. Especially in The American steel industry, Mr. Schwab is the leader!"

Smart people speak simply. As soon as Situ Nan mentioned the steel industry, Schwab went directly to the topic of today's talk.

"Mr. William, what do you think of the proposal to merge Bethlehem Steel and California Steel into one?" Schwab said.His expression became a little serious, and he looked at Situ Nan with piercing eyes.

Situ Nan smiled slightly, "Very good! Mr. Schwab's proposal is very constructive. It is a very good cooperation for both of us. California Steel Corporation seems to have no reason to oppose it.

But what I want to know is, how could Mr. Schwab have such an idea, after all, such cooperation seems to be me annexing you?Could a chairman satisfy Mr. Schwab?"

As Situ Nan said, if the two companies merge, he will become the largest shareholder of the new company, and even Bethlehem Steel will fall into his hands. What will Schwab get?

Of course, economically speaking, both sides are a win-win situation.However, Situ Nan had some doubts about the good things that came to the door like this.

"Haha." Schwab waved his hand and smiled heartily, "I know you have such thoughts. If I were my age, I would definitely not want others to merge my company.

But now I have everything I should have, wealth, reputation, and status. I just want to have a splendid end in the steel business before I retire, so I proposed to merge the California Steel Company."