Chapter 603

"..."

After another brief silence on the other end of the phone, I heard some helpless words from Warren Buffett.

"Abel, everyone knows that I am acquiring the equity of the Kansas City Southern Railroad Company. The media even ridiculed me for losing my sensitivity and being addicted to the past. So, don't look like you don't know anything and tell me, what do you want?"

"Haha, Warren, that's because they are jealous of you. How come you are too old to buy a railroad? I am so young, and I also want to be a railroad king. I don't want a lot, 1/3 is enough."

Abel stood up from the sofa with a smile, took the coffee that the maid had prepared and handed over, and walked a few steps towards the restaurant. He arrived in front of the sunny glass kitchen counter in the restaurant, with a green lawn outside.

Little Laura and her maternal family were still there accompanying Abel II to bask in the sun.

White people's skin actually needs more sunlight, and even if they don't get enough sunlight, they are more likely to get skin diseases.

So it's not like white people are just lazy and like to tan their skin into a wheat color.

But in the past, white people with tanned skin were actually healthier and belonged to the wealthy and leisure class.

Over time, it has become a tradition, and white people like to tan their skin to a wheat color.

Of course, this is a habit that only came about after modern science proved that sun exposure makes your skin healthier.

Before the Middle Ages, white people also regarded whiteness as beauty.

The hand holding the coffee was slightly raised to the outside. After greeting little Laura and the others who were looking over, Abel leaned on the kitchen counter. He felt that the marble countertop was a bit rough, so he walked over and sat down next to the table. Sitting on the chair, he continued to laugh and said:

"I know why you came to me. The fact is that as you know, I do own stock in a number of railroad companies, including your favorites, the Kansas City Southern and the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe NS. Even Union Pacific and National Railroad have them."

"You know, my supermarket group and agricultural company that have not grown yet need rail transportation capacity. In order to protect them, I must ensure my influence here."

"Haha, I just didn't expect that you would also like them. We are indeed good friends, and we even like the same things!"

"Well, Abel, you're the boss and you have the final say. I think we should meet and have a chat. I'm almost in Washington now."

In fact, when he made this call, Buffett was still sitting in his office at Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, Nebraska.

"Haha, okay, let's just do it in Washington. You can decide the specific time and place. Just let me know when you decide. Of course, it can't be when I'm in a meeting..."

Listening to Abel's cheerful words and confident laughter coming from the microphone, Warren Buffett sighed.

Meeting... He knew that Abel was referring to the regular meeting of the Federal Reserve, which Warren actually wanted to attend.

Or it should be said that in the United States, as long as anyone knows that this thing exists, there is no one who does not want to participate in it.

Because those who can do that at the banquet are the real masters of this country.

Otherwise, no matter how powerful you are, you are actually just working for them.

It's a pity that most people are like Buffett. No matter how noble their status is outside, they are still not qualified to sit inside.

After hanging up the phone, he looked helplessly at his partner and best friend Charlie Munger sitting opposite him and said, "Sure enough, he wants it too."

"We knew this. Mr. Smith's layout is very un-Wall Street. Compared with today's businessmen, he is more like people from the Gilded Age. In Master Luo's era, he would be a natural target."

Charlie Munger spoke calmly, stretched out his hand to touch his chin, looked at Buffett and spoke softly.

"The problem is that he wants 1/3 all at once. This guy's cruelty and greed are really - really... Huh! Everyone knows it!"

Warren Buffett reluctantly took off the black-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, picked up the velvet lens cloth and wiped it slowly, with a helpless tone in his voice.

1/3, plus the Oilers who gave him great support this time, at least 1/4.

In other words, 1/3 and 1/4 are suddenly missing, and it is impossible for Buffett to get all the remaining shares.

So in the end, Buffett knew that for all his hard work, he might only get a little more than 1/3 of Abel's.

So many shares are actually quite a lot. After all, except for Abel, the equity ratio of most companies is like this.

Very few people hold more than 40% of the shares, and the bigger the company, the more so.

"There's nothing we can do about it. Pull him into the plan and let everyone work together. Only in this way can we fight against those external forces." Charlie Munger looked at his old friend sharply and reminded him.

Warren Buffett shook his head, put on his glasses, and smiled helplessly: "I know, I know. In fact, from the beginning, he was interested in the Kansas City Southern Railway Company. All along, he gave me the feeling that he didn't want to He wants money, but other things. You have never dealt with him, and you don't know his calmness and determination."

"Not only does he have a very high strategic vision, but he is also a very purposeful, almost ruthless alpha wolf who won't give up until he achieves his goal. That's why he raised a group of ferocious, bloodthirsty and fearless financial wolves!"

"..." Charlie Munger looked calm and fell into silence. Thinking of the behavior of the young people at Smith Capital in the capital market, he felt that Buffett's description was indeed very vivid.

After a moment, Charlie Munger said softly: "Isn't this better? After all, we are standing with him now. Warren, to be honest, this is the first time I have seen you take such a fancy to a person. And respected. Not even Morgan and Rockefeller. I have only seen him twice so far. Can you take me with you to Washington this time? "

As Buffett's best friend and right-hand man, Charlie rarely leaves the company and is always at the company when Buffett is away.

If Buffett is the emperor of Berkshire Hathaway who often "goes on the road", then Charlie Munger is undoubtedly the prime minister or supervisor.

"That's fine." Warren nodded, looking down at a railway map on his desk with a somewhat indifferent gaze. One area was circled by a red circle.

That was the roadmap for the Kansas City Southern Railroad's operations.

After looking at the map for a few seconds, Buffett suddenly picked up the red ballpoint pen on the table, walked quickly to the table, and drew a few more circles on the map.

He had a sudden thought: "Charlie, what do you think would happen if we attacked Northern Burlington-Santa Fe NS and Kansas City Southern at the same time?"

"The Burlington Northern Santa Fe NS and the Kansas City Southern Railroad, if they could be merged into one company, would be able to compete with Amtrak or Union Pacific."

"And with that guy joining, I think the feasibility must be very high. Even if he is willing, he can also bring in Californians, so the success rate will be higher."

Charlie Munger was startled. First of all, he felt that Buffett's idea was very exaggerated - he actually wanted to take action on two of the seven major railroad companies in the United States at the same time!

You must know that any one of them is a Big Mac.

If the two companies make a move together, including the extra capital cost of the premium acquisition, this will be a sky-high M&A with a total capital of more than 100 billion US dollars.

However, Charlie Munger knows that in fact, in terms of funds and stock market reaction, it is not bad. Both the Oilers and Berkshire Hathaway are very strong, and with the invincible Smith Financial, there is even less pressure.

But in fact, if you want the acquisition to be established or even successful, the more important thing is the duel under the table.

The first is whether the original shareholders of the Kansas City Southern Railroad and the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe NS are willing to give up.

It's hard to say in this regard.

Although railway companies are indeed not as profitable as IT, the Internet, energy, and finance.

But its real influence will make people reluctant to give up.

However, the solution in this regard is also simple - add money, increase the money reasonably until the other party wants to sell.

Secondly, the attitude of Washington is also critical.

The emergence of new railway giants is somewhat of a monopoly. Even if they want to pretend to be dead, they still have to do something.

More importantly, will the other five giants such as National Railways watch the smooth merger of Burlington Northern-Santa Fe NS and Kansas City Southern Railway, suddenly becoming the number one star in American railways?

If we don't get these things done, even if we spend 200 billion U.S. dollars, let alone 100 billion U.S. dollars, the acquisition will probably not be successful.

This is why Buffett actually has the ability to win the Kansas City Southern Railway Company, but he still insists on attracting Abel.

Because these people are still two positions behind Abel, Morgon and others.

They have to go further to reach the level of DuPont and Cleveland. It takes two more steps to become the true master of the country.

But with this kind of pace, it is very difficult to succeed at any step, so that if you want to enter some sensitive industries, you have to consider the ideas of the elders.

After thinking quickly for a while, Charlie Munger felt that this proposal was really bold, but it was feasible as Warren said.

He directly spread his hands: "It's a very bold idea, but it fits Mr. Smith's character and style very well. Maybe he will agree, but I don't know."

Buffett laughed and walked outside enthusiastically, "Let's go to DC. Doesn't he want to be a railroad king? Then let's help him!"

Looking at his old friend who was in high spirits, Charlie Munger smiled, packed up the map on the table, and followed him out.

Soon, a private jet took off from Berkshire Hathaway's private airport in Omaha, heading directly for Washington.