New York, Westeros Corporation Headquarters in Midtown Manhattan.
Michael Jordan, chairman and CEO of Westinghouse Electric, arrived on time as invited. He only waited in the reception room for a short time before Simon Westero opened the door and walked in. He quickly stood up and greeted him: "Hi, Simon, nice to meet you. "
"Hello, Mike," Simon shook hands with the white executive in front of him who had the same name as a legendary basketball superstar. The two sat down on the sofa together and said with a smile, "I happened to hear that you were in New York, so I wanted to take the opportunity to talk. talk."
Girl A brought coffee in, and Michael Jordan waited for a moment. After Allison left, he asked: "Simon, what can I do?"
Simon took a sip of the coffee that Alison had just poured, and relaxed on the sofa, looking at the head of Westinghouse opposite: "Mike, the unit at the Rovne Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine will be completed in the middle of this year. It will be launched. When the Westeros System helped to connect and cooperate with Westinghouse, everyone was very happy, wasn't it?"
Michael Jordan nodded in agreement: "Of course."
Two years ago, the cost of the construction of Unit 4 of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, which could have been completed for US$500 million, has doubled to US$1 billion after a series of efforts by various parties. The cost of the project can be imagined. With the help of the Stroll system, Westinghouse Electric received a share of US$600 million, making it the biggest beneficiary.
Michael Jordan is not a fool. He has heard many things during this period, so he can roughly guess the purpose of Westeros inviting him here. However, after all, he is the head of an old industrial giant, and Michael Jordan is unwilling to take the initiative to surrender. It depends on what Westeros wants? He plans to take advantage of the situation.
Simon was not in a hurry at all, and continued: "In addition, I also know that Westinghouse Electric is in contact with the Chinese government on some power cooperation projects recently? Just so? You know? I have a very good relationship with the Chinese government. Maybe I can help?"
Michael Jordan smiled expectantly: "Simon, if this can be done? That would be great."
"Huh? In fact, I also know that Westinghouse is planning to sell the power department, including conventional power and nuclear power business? Are you pursuing orders now? Just to increase the price of the sale? Is that right?"
Michael Jordan finally couldn't remain calm this time and showed a surprised expression.
After acquiring CBS? In order to further expand in the media field? Michael Jordan plans to completely transform Westinghouse Electric. He has just had secret contact with Germany's Siemens recently and plans to sell the conventional power business, and Westinghouse's leading nuclear power business will also be sold in the future. For sale in a few years.
There was no more than one hand inside Westinghouse who knew about this matter. Michael Jordan never expected that Simon Westeros would know about it.
Does Simon know this? Mainly because of past memories.
In the past, Westinghouse Electric's "self-inflicted martial arts" of continuously selling off its core businesses in the late 1990s shocked the industry, so much so that Michael Jordan was ridiculed as the head of General Electric, Jack Welch, who installed him in the company. Westinghouse's Industrial Espionage. Knowing the result in advance? After a little digging based on the huge network of contacts that the Westeros system has at this time, Simon can easily learn more inside information.
After hesitating for a moment, Michael Jordan finally stopped pretending to be stupid: "Simon, regarding CBS's criticism of Ygritte a few days ago, I'm sorry, I didn't know about it in advance." After saying this, after a pause, Jordan said again : "In this case, Simon, I will fire all those responsible for the relevant news arrangement. Do you think this is okay?"
"Very good, Mike. I like smart people who can understand each other without too much nonsense." Simon nodded slightly, and then changed the topic: "However, this is just a small matter. I hope you can do me another favor."
"Please say?"
"Westinghouse Electric has ended all deposit and loan settlement business with Mellon Financial Group and completely dissociated itself from it."
When Michael Jordan heard this, he was not only shocked, but even felt a chill running down his spine.
Both Westinghouse Electric and Mellon Financial are headquartered in Pittsburgh, the capital of Pennsylvania. The Mellon family has a century-long deep connection with Westinghouse. During the Great Depression, if not for the help of the Mellon family, Westinghouse Electric might not have survived until now.
Let’s not talk about these for now.
When Simon Westeros mentioned this matter at this time, Michael Jordan had a premonition that the young tycoon was planning to take action against the Mellon family, and he hit the snake with precision!
The many industries that the Mellon family was involved in at this time, such as Alcoa, Chevron, Warner Lambert, etc., were all limited to a single field. In addition, the shareholdings were not large after all, and their influence was limited. Mellon Financial Group's influence covers the entire Pennsylvania and other surrounding areas. Once they lose control of Mellon's finances, the Mellon family's influence in the federation will be reduced by almost half, if not directly.
Speaking of which, Simon's plan to do this was based on the idea he had when he was looking through the information on the Korean government's handling of Hanbao Steel's bankruptcy on the plane returning from China a few days ago.
Industry is the organ and finance is the blood.
Simon planned to first eliminate the 'bloodline' that allowed the Mellon family to influence and control the regional economy around Pennsylvania. At this time, seeing Michael Jordan stunned and speechless, he continued: "Mike, this matter is not important to Westinghouse." No matter what, as long as you agree, I can immediately arrange for a replacement bank to take over Westinghouse's business, and there will definitely be good discounts. This is one of them. In addition, I also know that Westinghouse's acquisition of CBS is just the beginning. In the next few years, you It is a very good idea to completely transform Westinghouse and develop into the media field. Now the seven major Hollywood companies, Disney, Paramount, and Columbia, are all occupied by foreigners. This is a very depressing thing. If Westinghouse can take over in the future, it will be a good result. As long as you agree, I can promise to help Westinghouse integrate in the media field in the next few years. You have to know that it is difficult to make TV or movies big. The future of Hollywood is dominated by diversified media giants."
Michael Jordan was even a little frightened when his thoughts were revealed again by the young man in front of him. He forcibly calmed down his guilty conscience, looked at the young man opposite and said: "Simon, there should be no intersection between the Westeros system and the Mellon family. I don't understand. Why are you doing this?"
"If you want an answer," Simon shrugged and said, "This is considered a personal grudge."
Simon has never been a person who likes to care about things. Even after two lifetimes, and now in his current position, there are not many things in the world that can make him even slightly angry.
However, this has never been a world where your generosity can earn others' generosity.
Now that the Mellon family has provoked them, they must step back.
Of course, when it comes down to it, this is just an excuse.
Ultimately, it is a fight for control of the country.
Through intricate entanglements of interests, the United States has been controlled by various old-money families for a hundred years. Simon, a young man with new money who has risen rapidly in the past decade, wants to gain control of the country that matches his wealth. We can only overthrow the old money families that currently hold these powers.
There is only so much power in this country, and there is no win-win situation.
So it's a zero-sum game.
Moreover, in order to ensure the development of the entire Westeros system and the security of his own wealth, Simon had to do this. Otherwise, let those old money capital continue to control the power of this country. The larger the Westeros system, the more it will become a fat sheep in the eyes of the powerful.
Michael Jordan also knew that Richard Mellon Scaife was secretly trying to short technology stocks to attack the Westeros system. As for the deeper inside story, he had no way of knowing.
Simon's personal grudges now can't solve his confusion at all.
However, now that he is sitting in this office, Michael Jordan understands that he has almost no second choice.
Simon Westeros just mentioned that he can provide various kinds of help to Westinghouse. In fact, the subtext is also very simple. If he does not agree, these "helps" may turn into "obstructions."
On the Chinese side, with the influence of the Westeros system, Westinghouse may lose those potential cooperation opportunities with just one word.
In the media field, when Daenerys Entertainment acquired Metropolis ABC Group, in order to avoid CBS setting up obstacles in antitrust review, they even took the initiative to make compromises. The powerful Daenerys Entertainment needs to do this. In turn, Westinghouse Electric wants to grow its media business from small to large. It cannot avoid the other party at any step, not to mention the increasing conflict between the Westeros system and Washington. The closer the relationship, the more difficult it is for Westinghouse to move forward, may also be just a word from Simon Westeros.
On the other hand, Westinghouse Electric's complete withdrawal from Mellon Financial will not only completely eliminate the century-old friendship between the two parties, but even without the blessing of the subsequent Westeros system, the Mellon family will not be able to cause any harm to Westinghouse Electric.
In the final analysis, the fundamental disparity in strength left Westinghouse with no choice.
After quickly clarifying the joints, Michael Jordan finally made up his mind: "Simon, I can promise you. But, frankly speaking, just the end of Westinghouse's cooperation with Mellon Financial will not have a big impact on this bank?"
Simon smiled: "As long as you agree, everything else is my business. In this case, Westinghouse can prepare and announce the matter publicly tomorrow afternoon. I will let the Ygrit portal cooperate to issue a press release."
Michael Jordan was shocked again.
Tomorrow afternoon, that is to say, even if he has thoughts of favoring the Mellon family, he will not have time to change things.
After the meeting with Simon, Michael Jordan, who originally had some things to do in New York, did not stay any longer and flew directly back to Pittsburgh to make arrangements.
The next day is February 26th.
Wednesday.
Last night he was busy until about one o'clock in the morning. Michael Jordan was still in bed early in the morning when he received a call from his assistant and immediately faxed an article from today's New York Times: "Mellon Financial Corporation and Mellon Family members were suspected of conspiracy to commit loan fraud, and the Federal Reserve and the Federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency launched a joint investigation."
The article details the inside story of how Richard Mellon Scaife and other members of the Mellon family, in the past few months, worked with Mellon Financial Group executives to obtain nearly $600 million in loans through illegal means to speculate in the technology stock market.
It only took the Mellon family less than a week from application to obtaining the loan, and the review process was seriously irregular.
The value of stocks and other collateral provided by members of the Mellon family was significantly overestimated, and they were suspected of loan mortgage fraud.
The Mellon family declared that the purpose of the loan was industrial investment, but it was actually used for stock and futures speculation. The final loss was close to 90%, which brought huge risks to investors and was suspected of misappropriation of funds.
The senior management of Mellon Financial Group actively cooperated with the above-mentioned violations, and there are also major financial crimes.
Because of this, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board and the U.S. Federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will set up a joint investigation team to investigate the criminal behavior of the Mellon family and the Mellon Group.
Michael Jordan stood by the fax machine in his pajamas after reading this press release. For some reason, the first thing that came to his mind was Simon Westero's series of operations during the 1987 stock market crash. According to later disclosures, Simon Westeros mortgaged the proceeds from "Lola Run" before the stock market crash to obtain a large amount of cash and used it to short the stock market. Upon closer inspection, it also involved serious violations.
However, the result that time was that Simon Westeros won a great victory.
That's the way the world is, and the winner doesn't get blamed.
This time, the Mellon family did not have such good luck.
In fact, if the Mellon family had not provoked opponents like Simon Westeros, although the speculation in technology stocks in the past few months had caused the Mellon family to lose a large amount of money, it would not have been a big deal.
A lot of things are just fear of someone taking it seriously.
Moreover, not only the Westeros system, but also the White House will definitely exert force this time. After all, the president is still trapped in various scandals that Richard Mellon Scaife spent money to dig up.
Without the support of Simon Westeros, even if they knew about this matter, the White House would still have to swallow their anger. After all, the 'Big Butler' could not fight the 'Big Boss' behind the scenes.
Now that there is another big boss with more wealth, of course there is no problem.
With this article in the New York Times and the subsequent reports on the Internet, TV and other media, February 26th was a disaster for the Mellon family, which has been passed down for two centuries.
At the opening of the market that morning, Mellon Financial's stock price collapsed, falling 11% in just five minutes. At the same time, the stock prices of Alcoa, Chevron and other companies related to the Mellon family also plummeted, because these stocks were used as collateral for the Mellon family's loan funds.
After the incident was exposed, the Mellon family could no longer obtain funds from other sources to make up for the shortfall, and Mellon Bank could only sell those mortgaged stocks to offset losses.
This is not over yet.
That afternoon, Westinghouse struck another blow.
Michael Jordan publicly announced that in view of the various uncertain risks existing in Mellon Financial Group, Westinghouse Electric will cancel all deposit, loan, settlement and other banking business cooperation with Mellon Financial Group. As one of the largest industrial giants in Pennsylvania, Westinghouse's withdrawal from Mellon Financial inevitably triggered panic in the industry. For a time, many companies requested to withdraw funds from Mellon Financial, which quickly created a stampede effect.