In order to protect himself from being fired after American Express was acquired, Kenneth Chenault could be said to have used all kinds of tricks.

"I think it's feasible and this plan is good."

"I support it. Kenneth, just go ahead and do it. We believe in you."

"Twenty-five dollars is absolutely impossible, and thirty dollars is underestimated. Of course, $160 is unrealistic. I think it should be at least $50, or $45."

The question raised by some shareholders is more realistic——

"Where do the buyback funds come from? Mobilize overseas funds? What about the high taxes?"

American Express does not have any excess funds locally. If it had, it would not have kept its stock price so low all year round.

To repurchase shares, of course, funds are needed. When the stock price has been raised, even more funds are needed.

When the company itself does not have much capital, it will either ask shareholders to inject capital or borrow money from outside the company.

It is impossible to get shareholders to inject capital, the current economic situation is sluggish, and Abel Smith is also a major shareholder.

If shareholders are asked to inject capital, Abel Smith also has the right to inject capital.

Temporary borrowing is even more impossible. Abel Smith cannot participate in today's board meeting, but it is not that easy to borrow debt while a company is under a general tender offer.

Then there is only one way left, the overseas funds of Express Company.

Like most multinational companies, most of American Express's overseas funds are free because they do not want to pay high taxes in the United States.

The shareholder who just spoke wanted to bring back overseas funds and use this money to repurchase stocks.

However, some shareholders took this opportunity to speak: "Should we consider using some of our overseas cash to distribute dividends?"

"Significantly increase the performance target for fiscal year 2002. What if we fail to achieve it? Who will be responsible? The aftermath of September 11 is not over yet, and the war is still ongoing. Can it really be achieved?"

Wuyang Wuyang's discussion made Kenneth Chenault and the board members look solemn and curse in their hearts.

These bastards really all think about maximizing their own interests.

Kenneth Chenault felt so tired that he simply said——

"If all shareholders agree with our counterattack plan, then let's vote by a show of hands now!"

No matter what, make a counterattack plan early to deal with the barbarians outside the door.

This is the only way out for Kenneth Chenault and the senior management.

Even if you know you can't do it, you still have to try it now.

You can't do nothing and just sit there and wait for death.

"I agree!"

"I have no objection!"

“You can try it!”

"."

Confronted with these plans presented by Kenneth Chenault.

Even the representatives of the five organizations that had privately made peace with Abel also voted in favor.

The reason is simple, if Kenneth's actions can increase the stock price.

Then they can still profit from it. Unless Aberken directly comes up with something that makes them excited, the two sides of snake and mouse are the routine operations of these financial capitals.

Before a contract is signed, any commitment or verbal agreement is just nonsense.

The five major institutions that Abel has talked with are like this, but Abel himself is not like this.

Sometimes even a signed contract can be voided immediately.

In the end, there is only one thing that matters in this world - interests!

With the support of all shareholders, the American Express board of directors, headed by Kenneth Chenault, began to fight back against Abel Smith's acquisition.

November 9th.

Various financial and economic media, large and small, in the United States, as well as some comprehensive and serious media.

The headlines on the front page, or the headlines on the second page, are basically related to Abe Smith's general offer to acquire American Express.

For example, the Wall Street Journal claimed - [In order to gain the support of major shareholders, Abel Smith promised to return overseas funds and pay cash to shareholders immediately. And within the next year, all the company's profits will be used as dividends. ]

This was after Abel obtained from five organizations on both ends of the spectrum what they revealed about the methods of the American Express board of directors.

Abel's counterattack.

Now that American Express executives are paying attention to overseas funds, he, a "barbarian", can also pursue this idea.

Kenneth wants to use the money to buy back stock, which is of little benefit to shareholders.

But Abel could take out the money and share it with everyone.

In the short term, his plan is more attractive.

The inside story of the Wall Street Journal report was even directly revealed by Abel.

Of course, Abel's own media cannot fail.

The New York Observer claimed that——

[Many American Express partners expressed their optimism and welcome to Abel Smith’s acquisition of American Express]

As Abel's newspaper, of course its stance clearly stands on the boss's side and cheers for him.

[Affected by the acquisition, American Express’s stock price continues to rise.]——"New York Post"

[The takeover maniac strikes again, American Express Bank is in trouble!] - "Los Angeles Times".

[According to reliable sources, yesterday afternoon, Kenneth Chenault called Abel Smith in order to defend American Express’s shareholder value. He believed that Abel Smith’s offer was too low compared with the prospects of American Express’s operations, and hoped that

Promise to provide 'breakup fee' as guarantee.】

[However, Abel Smith did not seem to agree with Kenneth Chenault's proposal. Although he agreed that the acquisition price could be appropriately increased, he directly rejected the breakup fee guarantee proposal and had a tough attitude] - "The New York Times"

【.】

"Pa~"

Los Angeles, Beverly Hills.

The mansion at 812 North Bedford Road is next to the sun-filled outdoor swimming pool.

Abel threw the "New York Times" he had just finished reading on the table under the umbrella.

The U.S. banking industry and financial media have been in a state of upheaval these days due to him.

But his own life remains as stable as ever, maintaining a very normal rhythm.

That is, he would sleep with Anne when it was time to sleep, and in the meantime he would go to Santa Barbara to sleep with Ikana's best friend, or go to sleep with several other women of his near Beverly Hills.

For example, Jessica, Scarlett, Liv and others.

Then it's time to eat and play.

Like now, he was sitting under the umbrella, admiring the two mermaids, one big and one small, in the swimming pool.

Last year, due to the La Nina climate, November in California was a little cool.

The weather is normal this year. At noon in California in November, the temperature remains around 30 degrees as usual.

This is no longer a warm batch, but a hot batch.

Annie didn't have much work to do today, so she planned to go swimming.

By the way, she taught the daughter of her personal cook and the niece of her personal bodyguard Jinna, Lulana Korshunova, who had just turned fourteen this year.

"Like this, hold your hands here. Straighten your legs, yes, start fluttering, and slowly release your hands, frog, remember to be like a frog!"

An unprofessional swimming coach teaches the young Lulana.

They all wore three-point abbeys, and they looked pleasing to the eye, like two mermaids.

As Lulana Korshunova gradually grows.

Abel has determined that this little girl will also be a great beauty in the future.

He didn't know that in parallel time and space, this person would be one of the young supermodels in the future.

Just looking at her young age, she is already tall, has long legs, has a slender figure, and is pretty. Abel feels that she can rely on her body to make a living——

Don't get it wrong, what Abel thinks is that she can make a living in the entertainment or modeling circles with her good figure and good looks.

Instead of going to the red light district to eat.

While Abel was admiring the big and small mermaids.

David Jones walked over and handed a document to his boss without looking sideways.

"BOSS. We got another 1.3% of the shares. But the increase was too fast. After the American Express board of directors proposed their decision to resist, the stock price is now over 30 US dollars."

Abel nodded, without looking at the documents, and asked him directly: "How many shares do we have now?"

"32.5%." David replied: "There are too many people who are reluctant to sell and rush to raise funds. And they are even crazier than us."
To be continued...