Chapter 239 Verbal Agreement
Los Angeles, Detective Bureau.
Erica was sitting in the office, flipping through the information in front of her. There was a photo of a middle-aged man on it, with his name printed next to it - Douglas Coster.
The man was summoned by the FBI today and later returned to the Burbank hotel where he was staying.
The other party is from BlackRock Investment Group and is said to be a good player in business acquisitions.
Erica didn't see how the acquisition worked specifically, but she saw the cruelty of the business war.
Decades have passed, but America’s business war is still essentially the same.
Erica is not proficient in business warfare, and her ideas are not as complex as Hawke's.
The logic of her actions is very simple. If Douglas wants to kill his boyfriend, then kill Douglas.
But how to get rid of it, we have to think of something.
Erica is an LAPD officer who comes from a police family and has inherited the fine traditions of the LAPD.
The first way she thought of was to frame him.
Erica took out her mobile phone, made a call, and told the people from the family security company: "Keep an eye on the target in the Burbank Hotel. If a group of them goes out again, notify me as soon as possible."
She called Hawke again, and Hawke went to Pacific Investment Group and was discussing investment with her mother.
…………
Commonwealth Bank Plaza Building, Pacific Investment Group.
In the reception room, Hawke met Peter Thiel again, and Red Hoffman, whom he specially introduced.
The host, Mary Ferguson, said directly: "Peter and Red came from San Francisco this time for Twitter."
Peter Thiel did not beat around the bush and told Hawke: "Last time we met, we talked about Twitter's investment and development. Now Twitter is developing rapidly. The Ice Bucket Challenge has attracted the participation of almost all celebrities in the United States."
Hoffman then added: "Peter and I also participated and made a donation to Tom Cruise's charitable foundation."
Hawke smiled: "Tommy should thank you for your support."
"Twitter is now truly the number one social media on the Internet." Pacific Investment Group, controlled by Mary, is Twitter's second largest shareholder.
She deliberately asked Hawke: "There are now more than 40 million registered users worldwide, right?"
Hawke replied: "It exceeded 40 million users last month."
When Peter Thiel and Hoffman came over, they were mentally prepared. They knew very well that with Twitter’s popularity and number of active users, the valuation might be astronomical.
But if we don’t take action now, Twitter’s market value will most likely get higher and higher.
Peter Thiel said: "My long-term investment firm, as well as Reid's foundation, are interested in investing in Twitter."
Mary didn't speak, but looked at Hawke.
After Pacific Investment Group lost the gambling agreement, Hawke was responsible for all Twitter's investment and operations.
If Twitter wants to develop further, it is inevitable to introduce external funds and resources.
Hawk thought for a while and said: "In the past two months, people from BlackRock's San Francisco branch talked to me about financing cooperation. They put forward many unrealistic conditions. After a period of back and forth, I refused. Then something very unpleasant happened to them.”
Peter Thiel nodded: "I have heard that, with all due respect, BlackRock's reputation in the investment circle is not very good. When they make investments, some unpleasant events often occur."
"So, I hope that Twitter will attract partners and comrades, not enemies." Hawke will not have too many illusions about these investors, but if he can lend some strength, he will not be polite: " I hope the partners can work side by side with Twitter.”
Hoffman didn’t want to get involved in BlackRock’s affairs, but he also didn’t want to miss the opportunity to invest in Twitter, so he turned his attention to his peers.
Peter Thiel was more courageous than Hoffman. After thinking about it for a moment, he said: "Investment, shares and common interests will naturally bind us together. Of course we are partners and comrades-in-arms."
Mary interjected: "You are from San Francisco, so you must know more about BlackRock and Douglas."
Hawke’s attitude is very clear. If you want to invest in Twitter, you must first stand with me.
Twitter has received an interest-free loan from the governor’s economic development plan, and there will be a series of policy subsidies every month, so the funds can last for a while.
Peter Thiel understood what Mary and Hawke meant, and did not speak for a while. Instead, he exchanged a few looks with Hoffman.
Long-term Investment Company is one of Schwarzenegger's sponsors this time, and it itself favors the red camp.
From a profit perspective, investing in Twitter will benefit more.
He nodded slightly at Hoffman and saw that his companion had no objection and said: "I will assist Twitter to deal with BlackRock's ferocious attack."
Hawke said: "In cooperation, we can always find common ground in differences and find our common interests."
Hoffman laughed: "Yes, common interests."
"There are a few points I need to mention up front." Hawke said leisurely: "Twitter's financing will adopt a dual-share structure and establish a board of directors. The management headed by me will have independent operating rights."
This was nothing new, it was commonplace in Silicon Valley, and Peter Thiel and Hoffman had no objections.
Hawke added: "Twitter also maintains its independence when it comes to guiding public opinion. Every once in a while, I will plan an event like the Ice Bucket Challenge to keep Twitter active in the eyes of users." As for The latter ones are plans for so-called marginalized groups that are comparable to corporate viruses.
For example, Twitter will control the number of female employees and minority groups, etc.
There are also Indians who are common in Silicon Valley and are not used on Twitter.
These are all issues of principle that can easily bring down a giant company with a glorious history.
Once the number of female employees in an office increases, the internal friction will be terrible.
Social media like Twitter is the best medium for boxing. You can imagine the terrible things that will happen.
Only when both parties reach an agreement on these principled issues can they proceed with investment and financing-related matters.
During the meeting, Hawke discussed BlackRock’s plans for marginalized groups.
Peter Thiel and Hoffman heard it too.
In California, this is the general trend of social development.
After half an afternoon of consultations, the two sides reached a series of oral agreements.
There is no mistake in every song, one post, one content, one 6 one, one book, one book, take a look!
This is just the beginning.
In the follow-up, it is necessary to hire a professional third party to value Twitter, as well as design the dual-class share structure, financing amount and proportion, shareholder rights and responsibilities, etc.
These take time to discuss carefully.
Hawke, Mary, Peter Thiel and Hoffman agreed on a time for the next interview, and the latter two said goodbye and left.
After sending the two people away, Hawke found that Erica had arrived and had been waiting in the entertainment room.
Mary called the two men together to her office to talk.
Hawke asked: "Aren't you busy today?"
"There is no case." Erica went to get three cups of coffee and said, "As for Douglas, I am going to find an opportunity to frame him."
Mary looked at her daughter and said slightly dissatisfied: "Hey, honey, you are a police officer and a star police officer of the LAPD!"
Erica smiled and told the truth: "Celebrity police officers can also frame people, especially enemies."
Hawke didn't mind and asked: "What specific aspect?"
Erica said: "It's nothing more than guns and drugs. The current situation is that Douglas is hiding in the Burbank Hotel and commanding his men remotely through the phone..."
Hawke followed her train of thought: "According to what Tim said, Douglas came to Los Angeles this time not only to acquire my shares in Twitter, but also to be responsible for executing the marginalized group plan."
"Marginalized people?" Erica asked: "The gays and shapeshifters you mentioned last time?"
"It's not just them, it's black people and women who want privilege," Hawke said.
Mary interrupted at this time: "This project for marginalized groups is very troublesome. After I reported it to Paul and the others, they discussed it specifically and it was not easy to deal with."
Hawke reminded: "I think this plan must be taken seriously. It may break the current situation of donkeys and elephants."
Mary asked: "It seems you have some unique opinions?"
"There are some." Hawke did his part: "Actually, I have handled many cases in this area before."
Erica added: "Steve Nutt's Saint Project and the selfie scandal involving two Hollywood stars are both typical."
Mary learned about Hawke's trading case in detail, thought about it for a while, and said: "If you go to the donkey, you can also show off your skills."
Hawke said: "It's scary to think about being with a bunch of gays and transvestites in the future."
Mary took note of this and planned to go back and say hello to Erica's grandfather Paul and ask some of the people above to listen to Hawke's opinion.
Hawke returned to the topic at this time: "According to Tim, traditional media, entertainment circles and emerging online media are the key to the launch of the marginalized group plan. BlackRock will place its breakthrough in Hollywood and use Hollywood movies to drive the rhythm of public opinion. ”
He said: "If we find out which Hollywood filmmakers Douglas had contact with, maybe we can track his whereabouts."
Erica said: "It's up to you and Brian."
Hawke took out his mobile phone and sent text messages to Eric Eason, Dwayne Johnson and Tom Cruise respectively, asking them to find out if there were any recent film projects in Hollywood, and to contact BlackRock and its funds. There will be business dealings.
Eric Ethan had limited connections, so he asked Catherine to ask around, but got nothing.
Dwayne Johnson did find out a piece of news. Warner Pictures is said to have been in contact with the BlackRock Film Foundation, but he has not yet figured out which film crew it is.
As I was about to get off work, Tom Cruise called.
"I specifically mobilized my connections and my connections with the Church of Scientology to inquire about the matter you asked about." Tom Cruise has been very successful recently and is particularly concerned about Hawke's affairs.
He said: "John Travolta heard from director John Wu that a new film project of Ang Lee seemed to be supported by BlackRock."
(End of chapter)