Chapter 669: The Foundation of Enduring Prosperity

At 11am, George Berkeley returned home with a full load.

He had acquired 23.7% of the shares from Sam Nelson for £69 million.

Over the past two days, the Bright Fund has acquired another minority shareholder, acquiring 1.5% of Sotheby's auction house.

Together with the original stake, the Bright Fund now holds a total of 83.9% of the equity, at a cost of £202 million.

The result is no longer in doubt.

Looking at the equity certificate and equity transfer contract that George Berkeley brought back, Xia Yu smiled.

'George, I will invest capital to transform Sotheby's auction house next. Its current market value is too low. Take Sotheby's auction house private and strive to complete it within ten days,'

Xia Yu put down the contract, gathered his smile and commanded George Berkeley.

'Okay!'

George Berkeley nodded in response.

Xia Yu pondered for a moment and then commanded him again, 'Push Eskenazi Limited a few more times and create more trouble for them!'

He didn't want to waste any more time with the Eskenazi family, so he wanted to force them out as soon as possible and complete the plan so that he could return to Hong Kong.

George Berkeley left to carry out his orders.

As soon as the London Stock Exchange opened in the afternoon, a piece of news caused a stir among many people.

The Bright Foundation had acquired all the shares held by the largest shareholder, Sam Nelson, with a shareholding ratio of 83.9%, and applied to the exchange for a suspension of trading for privatisation, which was officially approved by the exchange.

Many investors who had been hoping that Sotheby's would also see its share price soar like Eskenazi Ltd were dumbfounded.

But looking at Sotheby's, which had already been suspended, they could only reluctantly accept the fact.

There was only one way out for them, and that was to wait for Bright Fund to announce the privatisation price and then sell them the shares.

Afternoon.

After going to work, Xia Yu did not go to Huashang Bank, but instead went to the Financial Times Group.

Because the financial index he had Clyde Abbott work on had finally taken shape after numerous tests and bug checks, and was about to be released!

As the de facto creator of such an important historical moment, Xia Yu would of course not miss it.

On the fifth floor of the Financial Times Group was FTSE Index Limited.

Clyde Abbott confidently introduced the company to Xia Yu and the research results of the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices.

He also asked the research and development team to examine the two major indexes on the spot to see how advanced and representative they were.

They were no different from the previous ones, but because Xia Yu knew more about the more mature FTSE indexes, the indexes that had not yet been released were more advanced and scientific than the first time they were released.

After reading them, Xia Yu immediately instructed Clyde Abbott to hold a press conference as soon as possible to build momentum for the FTSE indexes.

Although the Financial Times Group has the UK's number one magazine in the financial sector, The Economist, and the number one authoritative newspaper, the Financial Times, these two platforms are enough to make the FTSE Index debut with a very high starting point.

However, Xia Yu knows what the FTSE Index means to the UK's financial sector, and it is in his best interest to make the FTSE Index spread as quickly as possible and establish its influence and authority, even if it means paying a price.

Clyde Abbott wholeheartedly approved of his boss's decision and immediately set about implementing it.

At 10am the following morning, the press conference began. The media, attracted by the financial incentives, flocked to the venue, filling it to capacity.

After the press conference, the first to report were the major TV stations, which reported on the FTSE during their lunchtime news.

Then the evening newspapers and evening news continued to report, and the FTSE was immediately hyped up, causing a public debate.

More and more people were paying attention to this matter.

By the early morning of the third day, the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices were published in the Financial Times and The Economist.

The first to learn about it were people in the financial industry, who were discerning and immediately discovered the professionalism and representativeness of the FTSE index after simple deduction, and then immediately organised the company's elite to conduct a comprehensive verification.

The results of the verification speak for themselves.

The FTSE index can respond to the movements of the London stock market the fastest!

The FTSE index can provide great assistance to investors in selecting stocks!

It is especially incomparable helpful for those stock investors who only have a vague understanding of the market.

Even the financial elites of major companies say it is good, so why doubt it?

Before, when selecting stocks, I was dizzy and didn't know if I was selecting the right ones.

Now it doesn't matter, because there is the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250.

After rigorous investigation and analysis, FTSE has eliminated most of the risks for them. Now you can completely stop using your brain and just buy the 100 constituent stocks of the FTSE 100 with your eyes closed. If that doesn't work, just buy the 250 constituent stocks of the FTSE 250. Either way, the probability of making money is higher than if you just picked stocks at random.

The FTSE is a hit, and it's a huge hit!

On the day of its release, 12 financial institutions sent applications to FTSE for cooperation.

And sales of the Economist magazine and the Financial Times newspaper also reached a peak.

The FTSE index reached its peak as soon as it was released, and as long as it remains at the same level, the London stock market and European stock markets will bear the FTSE stamp, and the Financial Times Group will be invincible!

...

At the Askenazi family estate in the UK, Vittorio Askenazi, the founder of Askenazi Limited, has arrived from Milan, Italy.

He is the founder of the company, has reached the age of 75, and is no longer as energetic as he once was. So he returned to his home in Milan to spend his retirement years, leaving the business in the hands of his nephew, Giuseppe Eskenazi.

However, this time there was such a big problem that he could not sit still either, so he flew from Milan to London.

Seeing his own uncle arrive, Giuseppe Eskenazi was very surprised and quickly helped him to the sofa in the living room to sit down.

As soon as he sat down, old Vittorio said, 'Giuseppe, I hear you're in trouble?'

Giuseppe Eskenazi lowered his head in some shame and replied, 'Yes, Uncle, I'm sorry!'

'I don't need an apology. Shouldn't you tell me what happened?'

old Vittorio said, shaking his head slightly.

Giuseppe Eskenazi was silent for a moment, and told him everything.

After listening to him, Old Vittorio immediately said, 'It's obvious that you shouldn't have provoked that Chinese old man named Hua Shengshi. The Bright Foundation also has a Chinese shareholder, and it should be him who is targeting us.'

Giuseppe Eskenazi nodded in agreement, 'I also think it's him, but we don't have any evidence to prove it.'

'What do we need evidence for? As long as we are sure it's him, as for whether it is or not, won't it be clear when we ask him face to face?'

'Sotheby's has been acquired by the Bright Fund. If we are boycotted by Sotheby's, the company's situation will be even worse.'

'You should understand that we are not the only company that can provide top auction items!'

'And the field of Chinese cultural relics that you intend to get involved in has already lost its vitality. We have no bargaining chips!'

Old Vittorio's words left Giuseppe Eskenazi speechless, but after his silence, he said with some reluctance:

'Uncle, I just can't help feeling that I have done some research and found that Chinese cultural relics will have a great future. Just like the cultural relics of the island countries now, twenty years ago the island countries were also underdeveloped. We laid the groundwork early and now we are reaping the delicious rewards.'

'There are ten times more Chinese people in the world than islanders, and the market for Chinese cultural relics will only be bigger than that of island countries!'

Old Vittorio ruthlessly crushed him, which was also a way of enlightening him.

'Giuseppe, that was only a possibility in the past. Now the Chinese cultural relics market has been hit hard, and the other side also has Sotheby's. As long as they want, it will be difficult for the prices of Chinese cultural relics to be inflated. There is no need to gamble with limited funds on an uncertain future.'

'Give up. Didn't you just say that the stake of Bright Fund has risen to 34.7%? They are already fighting for power on the board of directors. Although they cannot take over the company, they can make the company stagnate or even regress!'

There was silence in the living room again.

After a long time, Giuseppe Eskenazi sighed and finally made up his mind. He nodded and said, 'Uncle, I know what to do. I'm sorry that my choice has caused the family to suffer a huge loss.'

Vittorio Sr. was in a good mood and smiled, shaking his head and saying, 'No, you don't need to blame yourself. You have never been wrong in your management and plans. The only mistake is that Lady Luck has not taken care of you this time.'

'On the road of business, you will encounter various obstacles. If you can clear them, do so; if not, just find another way. All roads lead to Rome, and success will eventually be yours!'

'Thank you for your advice. I'll go and confront them now!'

'Go ahead. I'll be waiting for your news at home. If you encounter anything you can't decide, just come back and tell me!'

'I will!'

Giuseppe Eskenazi got up, picked up a suit from the hanger and threw it over his shoulders.

An hour later, Eskenazi Ltd.

Giuseppe Eskenazi and George Berkeley sat face to face.

'Mr. Berkeley, let's not waste any more time. Please tell the man behind you that I want to talk to him!'

Giuseppe Eskenazi said with a gloomy face.

George Berkeley was taken aback, but then he broke into an inexplicable smile. He had been waiting to hear that.

'I can't make decisions, but I'll pass on your words,'

George Berkeley said ambiguously.

Giuseppe Eskenazi could not say no, so he said indifferently, 'I'll wait for your news!'

After that, he made a gesture of invitation.

George Berkeley smiled faintly, sensing the hidden anger in Giuseppe Eskenazi's heart.

But he didn't care, as it was to be expected.

If Giuseppe Eskenazi wasn't angry, it would be abnormal!

Since the other party did not welcome him, he did not want to stay any longer. After all, they were in control of the situation, and the boss would naturally deal with him in due course.

Giuseppe Eskenazi definitely could not compete with the boss, and he was convinced of that!

Watching George Berkeley's departing back, Giuseppe Eskenazi clenched his fists, but then finally released them weakly.