[Chapter 759: Making Nice]
The White Fund had intended to go head-to-head with Citigroup, and naturally, they wouldn't be easy on Sequoia Capital either.
Honestly, in terms of capital size, William White was at a slight disadvantage. But wasn't this a sudden ambush? Even in a financial war, unexpected changes were the most troublesome.
There was another issue that was incredibly frustrating: William White's actions came without any restrictions. From the current situation, it seemed all that mattered was giving the boss a bit of vent. Profit? That was secondary.
At this point, it didn't matter if you were just the CEO; even a chairman would be helpless. Ultimately, the shareholders made the final decisions. Regardless of whether the stock price would ever recover, the immediate losses had to be explained.
Although that bastard William White was willful, there was one thing to keep in mind -- don't provoke him, and he wouldn't explode.
It wasn't entirely fair to say everyone was distressed; at least the shareholders of Cisco were quite happy. Damn, 50%! What are we waiting for? Just give us the cash and take it!
"Sir, something's off. The White Fund is accumulating shares; their short selling stakes have already been hedged. If this continues, he might end up on the board."
"Damn, how much cash do we still have on hand?"
"About seven hundred million."
"Get in there and start buying. Keep an eye on their accounts. This amount isn't enough; hell, why is this bastard making his move now?"
When does a bank need money the most? Of course, at the end of the year. Plus, with two giants clashing, if someone reaches out now, you'd better think twice.
The older a company, the fewer stocks it retains; it's practically a rule. William White's sudden strike made it impossible not to feel anxious. What if this guy really turned the tables?
...
"Honey, weren't you planning to skip the premiere?"
"Ah, I've been pretty high-profile lately. If I don't show up now, it wouldn't really make sense. I was supposed to be soaking up the sun in Lanai."
"Ha, I've heard; they're really hyping you up."
"Nastassja, whether they hype me or not -- I really don't care. As long as you're doing the hyping, that's all that matters."
"Yeah, in this setting, you'd better take it easy."
William White was indeed fed up lately. His vacation plans had clearly been thrown into disarray. Since he was in Los Angeles, not showing up would have seemed inappropriate. Schindler's List held its own special significance.
When Spielberg was filming this, he faced strong opposition from Jewish groups. Some cities around Berlin even saw graffiti that was clearly racially discriminatory.
Well, there were also some bald-headed guys who were looking for trouble all day long.
Having too much money could easily invite hatred, and William White understood this principle long ago. Given the uproar surrounding Cisco's stock, the Jewish consortium opted to keep their distance, viewing it as a foolish gamble that didn't align with their values.
Of course, showing appropriate good will was crucial. In a world of absolutes, certain statements had to be made.
"George, where's Spielberg?"
"He's feeling a bit unstable right now; he's in the lounge."
"Ugh, recreating that awful history is indeed a torment."
"Yeah, this script was shelved for ten years, and this is precisely the reason. You know, the world hasn't exactly been peaceful lately."
"With the economy in a slump, scapegoats are inevitable. The oligarchs, or those who made a fortune. George, the Justice Department keeps bothering me because I'm too comfortable, right?"
"Ha, buddy, lately, Wall Street has been all about your news."
William White could only smile bitterly; there was no other reaction from him. He didn't wish to engage in a feud with a giant. If they could work together peacefully, that would be ideal.
But there were always some self-righteous people. The current disputes remained on an economic level, but if things extended into other aspects, William White would certainly feel the heat, but so would Citigroup.
...
In fact, the Citigroup bigwig had regretted his actions terribly. He had just started to increase his holdings when William White began to sell off.
By the time their cash dwindled, this guy commenced short selling. Looking at the situation, it wouldn't be over until he'd driven them crazy.
Simple hostile takeovers or short selling weren't actually difficult to deal with. If your funds were substantial enough, no one could touch you.
William White's aimless, erratic behavior was what truly made it difficult. That the Jewish consortium stayed out of it was undoubtedly sensible. If they inadvertently harmed themselves, there would be no room for discussion.
...
William White had seen this movie in his previous life. He only had a slight impression of Liam Neeson; the rest was just average.
The little mustache was indeed a madman -- that was beyond doubt. Under normal circumstances, no sane person would engage in such acts.
However, in those dark times, there were just too many abnormal folks. The U.S. methods against Native Americans were equally outrageous. What the Soviets did in the Katyn Forest wasn't exactly commendable either; the same with the Japanese.
So, the key was to grow stronger; that was the way to dominate. When a robber couldn't overpower you, he would naturally negotiate.
William White appeared at the premiere, and although very low-key, he caught quite a bit of attention. For many, this was indeed a signal of goodwill.
It was important to remember that Universal Studios remained his competitor. With Panasonic taking charge, White Films had shown no intent to make any counter moves.
The world has never lacked clever people. But knowing that didn't change anything; could this be something to brag about?
...
"Sir, does his action represent White Media?"
"Ha, Andy, you're not too dumb. No one can offend him again and again -- no one. William White wasn't just a financial giant; he was also a media mogul. Let's not dwell on Citigroup for now; they're just idiots."
"Sir, if William White really took control of Citigroup, wouldn't that stir up quite a scene? Wouldn't we at Morgan Stanley get a piece of the action?"
"You think too much. His primary target is Sequoia Capital. Messing with Citigroup's stock was just a way to keep them distracted."
"My goodness, what did Don Valentine do to offend him?"
"Betrayal -- it's that simple. If he were to cooperate with us, I dare say William White wouldn't care too much. Ah, this guy's personality is such that he always seeks revenge. Just watch; Sequoia Capital will undoubtedly face blows in Silicon Valley."
...
The old-timer made a fair assessment. The companies in Silicon Valley could now only choose one side. If you didn't remove Sequoia from the equation, don't expect my cooperation.
Wanting to avoid a fight? Hmph, who's responsible for my losses? Since he enjoys war, I'll give him a war.
Dealing with a persistent boss, Filson actually found it pretty troublesome. Alright, he was now more than sure that the chaos in Silicon Valley had only just begun.
In the capital market, one might say there are tricks, and indeed, there were tricks. However, when the power imbalance is severe, the poor have no voice.
"Oh, by the way, sir, Morgan Stanley just called. They asked whether Cisco would be reorganized for an IPO."
"Of course, within two years at most. But if they want to be underwriters, they better quote a reasonable price. Constant back-and-forth isn't helping; my losses are piling up. Oh, tell Morgridge that the current management team is in for a treat. I'll be revising the stock incentive plan."
*****
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