Chapter 1498: Countdown to the birth of a banking overlord!

'UK Financial Services Authority: The merger of the Royal Bank of Scotland and National Westminster Bank will have a 'catfish effect' on the banking industry!'

'Ministry of Commerce: The acquisition of National Westminster Bank by the Royal Bank of Scotland is a normal commercial act that does not involve monopoly!'

The next day.

Even though it was Saturday, spokespeople from the UK Financial Services Authority and the Ministry of Commerce gave interviews to the media and responded directly to a series of questions.

This attitude caused a furore.

Many people did not expect that, from the report on 10 February, just four days had passed until today, 14 February, and the British government had already investigated the matter and taken a clear position.

In the castle grounds of the Rothschild family.

Jakob Rothschild is taking a stroll in the garden, stretching his somewhat rusty limbs.

Just then, the phone in the butler's bag next to him suddenly rings.

The butler answered the call, then handed it to Jakob Rothschild: 'Sir, it's your cousin, Mr Evelyn.'

'Hello, Evelyn... what?'

Jakob Rothschild's face looked relaxed and natural at first, but then it froze, and his hand holding the phone tightened unconsciously, causing the veins to bulge.

'Huh...'

'I see, it looks like we're going to lose again...'

After hanging up the phone,

Jacob Rothschild immediately called Myron Barrett.

However, the call was not answered for a long time, and his unease grew.

His intuition was indeed correct.

Because at that moment, Myron Barrett was actively calling George Berkeley.

As soon as he learned the news, Myron Barrett made up his mind very decisively and leaned towards the Illuminati.

'...Okay, President Berkeley, I'll leave right away and go to your office.'

'DING!'

After hanging up the phone.

Myron Barrett sat down in his chair with a very complicated expression on his face.

Ron Barrett, who had been watching his father make the call, couldn't help but comfort him, 'Father, you don't need to feel guilty. After all, this decision was made by all of us together. Since the Illuminati really did get the government, it proves that the Rothschild family is indeed very weak.'

'Our turning to the Illuminati at this time has instead seized the moment, otherwise by the time the shareholders' meeting is held, the result will definitely not be what we want.'

'I think that many people who were afraid of offending the Rothschilds before will now be rushing to sell their shares.'

Myron Barrett nodded slightly: 'I know, but when this moment finally arrives, I still can't help feeling sad.'

'Hey...'

After a long sigh,

Myron Barrett suddenly remembered that the landline on the other side of the office had been ringing non-stop just now, and he couldn't help but ask, 'By the way, who was that on the landline just now?'

'Father, I checked the phone book and it was Jacob Rothschild's private mobile phone.'

'Do you think we should call him back?'

Ron Barrett asked.

Myron Barrett thought about it for a while, shook his head and sighed, 'There's no need. Since we know what he's going to say, and we know that he can't change anything, and we've already made our decision, why bother calling?'

He gathered himself, got up, straightened his clothes, and said to his son, 'Let's go, we should set off now. Don't keep Mr. George Berkeley waiting. From now on, our family will have to do what Bright Foundation wants...'

Just as the Barrett father and son were preparing to go to Bright Foundation,

George Berkeley was briefing Xia Yu on the situation.

It was already evening in Xiangjiang, and Xia Yu had just arrived home when he received an overseas call from George Berkeley.

'George, since the Barrett family is willing to defect to us, there is no need to target them again. They can keep their shares, and we should let others know that defecting to us is the right choice. The influence of Bright Fund can once again enter a period of rapid growth, which is a very important factor.'

'We need more partners!'

'That's it, you seize the opportunity, and use the Barrett family's defection as an opportunity to quickly complete several other important acquisitions.'

'I'll hang up first.'

After saying this, Xia Yu hung up the phone and couldn't help but laugh.

Just then, Elena saw this and couldn't help but ask, 'My dear, why are you so happy?'

Xia Yu embraced Elena in his arms, kissed her forehead, and laughed lightly, 'There was nothing wrong with asking your father to intervene yesterday, and the results have already come.'

'The British government supports the acquisition of NatWest by RBS. George Berkeley just reported that Myron Barrett, the current chairman of NatWest, is going to defect to our side and is asking about my attitude.'

'RBS has now acquired 45.14% of NatWest.'

'Together with the 12.19% held by the Barrett family, this means that we already control 57.33% of the voting rights.'

'We will win the upcoming extraordinary general meeting, and once a new board of directors has been elected, NatWest will be under our control.'

'Absolutely.'

'Under the current circumstances, it will be much more difficult for us to acquire the shares of other shareholders.'

'Perhaps we won't even have to wait until the day of the extraordinary general meeting. We may be able to reach a two-thirds majority before then, and there will be no one to stop the merger of National Westminster Bank with the Royal Bank of Scotland.'

'Once the two banks have merged, the original shareholders, Barclays Bank and the RBS Group, will be at our mercy.'

'If I were them, I would definitely choose to run now, before I'm left defenceless and at the mercy of others.'

Elena smiled and lay quietly in Xia Yu's arms, listening to him finish his story before blinking her beautiful eyes and saying tenderly, 'Actually, my father didn't have to put in much effort. With the current strength and influence of the Bright Foundation, it was impossible for Lady Margaret Thatcher to refuse such a powerful ally.'

'I never thought that the Bright Foundation, which was established such a short time ago, would one day develop to such a point. You really are a genius, my dear.'

His wife's praise made Xia Yu's heroic spirit soar, and he couldn't help but laugh heartily. He scratched her upturned nose and said in a doting manner, 'No matter how talented your husband is, he's still under your skirt.'

'You're right, and I'll reward you with a kiss.'

'One isn't enough...'

'Naughty, everyone's looking!'

...

The defection of the Barretts caused a huge uproar.

Everyone understood that this represented another major blow to the Rothschilds' strength.

The Barretts had been staunch allies of the Rothschilds, and it was with the support of the Rothschilds that the former had taken control of the National Westminster Bank.

But now, even with all their efforts, the Rothschilds were unable to prevent the betrayal of their former staunch allies.

The battle for National Westminster Bank had already lost its luster.

It was in this situation that

many shareholders who had been waiting for the right price to sell their shares, took the initiative to contact the acquisition teams of the Bright Fund and the Royal Bank of Scotland, which had been hanging around.

In just two days over the weekend.

RBS increased its stake in NatWest to 56.38%.

Together with the 12.19% held by the Barrett family.

Xia Yu's side has reached 68.57% of the voting rights, more than two-thirds!

When RBS announced the news.

Everyone was shocked and exclaimed in unison.

The countdown to the birth of the overlord of the British banking industry has begun!