CHAPTER 685: CHAPTER 676: MYSTERIOUS TYCOON AND THE INVESTMENT BANK ACQUISITION

Mysterious Oriental tycoon, bets a billion dollars solely on the French team, a century-defining gamble!!!

On the afternoon of the 14th, as soon as Lu Liang’s plane landed, the news spread wildly across entertainment sections worldwide.

Little Wang was stunned upon hearing the news, was his show-off on the plane for nothing then?

Lu Liang’s arrival in New York wasn’t a secret, considering that the day before, General Motors had sensationalized the event in his name, booking the Super Bowl venue and inviting several singers, F1 Championship racers, rally racers, all for the launch of the American version of Tianshu.

However, just as he arrived in New York, news broke out about a mysterious Oriental tycoon betting a billion dollars on France to win, clearly trying to link the topic to him.

Once again, he became the green leaves making the red flower shine brighter?

Lu Liang squinted his eyes, thought carefully, then suddenly smiled: "The market maker never loses."

All probability theories eventually turn into statistics.

Just like before Little Wang placed the bet, the odds for France to win were 1.4, and after the bet, it changed to 1.37.

It shows they’ve done precise calculations, even if the French team wins, the gambling company won’t lose.

The benefit of exposing this news is that it makes the match result even more unpredictable.

Because conspiracy theorists will wonder if the market makers might choose to lose big to win small, letting Croatia win?

Others might consider if the Oriental tycoon actually knows insider information, should they follow the bet?

A billion-dollar wager, regardless of the outcome, successfully created a prisoner’s dilemma.

Making an already hotly anticipated final even hotter.

"Many betting shops of gambling companies have long queues, and even the websites have experienced multiple slowdowns and crashes."

Flannery came over smiling, giving Little Wang a peculiar look.

If they win, well, at most it would be like the fool of a rich family getting lucky. But if they lose, it would truly be the biggest fool in history, bar none.

A billion-dollar splash, for nothing, only to help advertise for the gambling company.

Flannery subconsciously glanced at Lu Liang, feeling helpless for him, it’s not a divine opponent he’s afraid of, but foolish teammates.

Once suspicion falls on the mysterious Oriental tycoon, the crime is already established; Lu Liang couldn’t argue his case.

Lu Liang smiled indifferently: "Looks like the launch event will have to be postponed for a few days."

The hype will cancel each other out, with the World Cup final being so popular, the launch event should wait until the hype fades.

Flannery nodded, smiling: "The seventeenth, two days after the match ends, the World Cup fever should die down a bit. If the French team wins, the presales for the event might surprise us."

The gambling company can ride on Lu Liang’s hype, why can’t their own people?

If the French team wins, even if the mysterious Oriental tycoon isn’t Lu Liang, it will be him.

If a fortune guide shows the way, leading them to profit together, shouldn’t they support his product a bit?

If there’s a shocking outcome, they’ll announce the truth, bringing Little Wang out as a scapegoat, blame has a source, debts have a master, nothing to do with Lu Liang.

Lu Liang chuckled: "Just make the arrangements; I’ll be in New York for the next few days, waiting for your updates."

"Alright then, I’ll head back and prepare."

Flannery left first, Little Wang with a resentful face: "You don’t even avoid the person involved when tricking them now?"

Lu Liang couldn’t hold back his laughter, putting his arm around his shoulder: "If it’s unbeknownst, it’s a trick. If known, it’s called cooperation."

"At most, if the French team wins, I won’t admit it and let you show off, is that okay?"

Little Wang was about to agree, then suddenly looked aggrieved: "They’ll only see me as your mouthpiece."

"Don’t be so whiny, okay?"

Lu Liang, with a stern face, gave Little Wang a few hard punches on the shoulder, which instantly cleared his eyes.

The two stood up, planning to leave the airport and head to the hotel booked in the city, first going to meet Hilt.

"Mr. Lu, wait..."

Lin Yan stood at the aircraft door, suddenly catching a glimpse and hastily stopped Lu Liang, taking out a wet wipe to clean the lipstick mark left on the back of his neck, softly saying: "You probably didn’t notice when you went to freshen up."

"Can’t bear to look, I’ll wait for you at the entrance." Little Wang shook his head and walked out of the cabin.

Lu Liang, acting with indifference, put his arm around Lin Yan’s waist: "If you’re free tomorrow night, let’s have dinner together."

He was no longer avoiding other flight attendants, after all, who spills juice all the time, whose clothes always need changing, and who spends several hours in the lounge.

Lin Yan responded softly, her eyes full of warmth, watching Lu Liang leave.

Suddenly, she heard giggles of whispered gossip behind her, and sternly said: "Do you not want to rest?"

"Don’t, Yan, please don’t keep using this to threaten us." A few pretty flight attendants wailed playfully.

Forty-five minutes later, Lu Liang and Little Wang left the airport and arrived at the hotel that Hilt had booked for them.

Hilt was already standing at the entrance waiting, accompanied by a thin elderly man in his sixties.

"Mr. Thomas, hello, my name is Lu Liang."

Lu Liang looked at him, having seen lots of old hustlers, it seemed like a long time since he had seen someone whose age and appearance matched so well.

Dan Thomas, a German-American, is 65 this year, the founder of Delimei Commercial Investment Bank.

He was once active on Wall Street, retiring at 45, and started Delimei Bank back in his hometown.

If it had always been focused on rural areas, just providing loans for farmers and ranchers to buy equipment and feed, perhaps Delimei would not have faced bankruptcy and liquidation.

But the old hero, his ambitions still persisted.

Five years ago, he returned from the countryside to the metropolis, wanting to secure a foothold in New York City and slowly make a push onto Wall Street.

But he wasn’t Cao Aman, and because of investment mistakes in the past few years, he accumulated losses of 58 million US Dollars.

News got out, and some loan companies found out, all holding the idea that if they could drag the bank into bankruptcy, their debts wouldn’t need to be paid back.

After struggling for more than a year, he finally couldn’t hold on.

"Mr. Lu, thank you so much."

Thomas’ eyes were cloudy, his hands full of calluses, and with many scars, resembling a farmer more than a banker.

"Delimei simply met our requirements." Lu Liang smiled, not accepting the gratitude.

Even though they would take on all of Delimei’s debts, giving Thomas an explanation to his hometown people so they wouldn’t worry about their savings going to waste.

But this wasn’t charity work; Lu Liang simply didn’t want to wait for the bankruptcy and liquidation auction stage, as that process was far too long.

He paused for a few seconds and then said, "If there are any procedural issues that don’t meet the standards, even by a little, we will terminate this acquisition."

"No, no, our bank’s conditions all meet your standards."

Thomas quickly brought out various licenses and certificates, looking to Hilt for help.

This legendary man from the East, hailed on Wall Street as a financial butcher, was harder to deal with than expected.

Lu Liang also looked at Hilt, and Hilt nodded, saying, "Mr. Thomas has always hoped someone would take on their debts and help shoulder the company’s social responsibility, even if he had talked to several potential buyers before, he never sold out any company interests."

No matter what, Delimei was once a commercial investment bank with a scale of up to 200 million US Dollars.

Even though it’s reached the stage of bankruptcy and liquidation, there’s still some valuable assets that can fetch a price.

For example, right across from their hotel, there is an 80% new office building, covering about 2800 square feet and standing fifteen stories high.

Located on Queen Street at Third Avenue in the Manhattan District, it’s a good location, and if sold at a normal price, it could fetch over 80 million US Dollars, with auction prices likely even higher, potentially selling for 100 million US Dollars isn’t impossible.

This juicy piece has attracted a lot of attention.

Some even promised certain conditions, as long as Thomas was willing to help maneuver the building under their company name, even if Delimei went bankrupt, ensuring his later years are worry-free.

But Thomas was stubborn; to buy their building, one must take on all of Delimei Bank’s debts and the corresponding social responsibilities, otherwise, he would never agree.

Even if waiting for bankruptcy liquidation, going to auction, wouldn’t deter him.

However, countless buyers have seriously calculated that it’s not worth it.

Even if the building is valued at 90 million, with some miscellaneous assets thrown in, maybe another 20 million.

1.1 billion US Dollars is roughly Delimei’s current actual value, but it bears 1.59 billion US Dollars in debt, and is listed for 1.89 billion US Dollars.

An acquisition would basically mean a loss of 50 million US Dollars; other than a fool, no one would buy it, so they all wait for the auction stage.

Without this factor,

they probably wouldn’t have this ’bargain.’

Lu Liang flipped through the acquisition contract, and on the last page, he couldn’t help but be surprised by the amount: "1.59 billion US Dollars?"

"I’m really not looking for more, just wanting to give those old friends who believed in me an explanation."

Thomas smiled bitterly with self-mockery; such a sentimental banker is probably a very absurd thing.

But from the beginning, and even now, his intentions have never changed; if the buyer is sincere, then he would also show full sincerity.

After all, his children are grown up and have their own children, and he himself is already of age, long past needing money.

Sell for how much the debt is, not earning a penny more.