Reborn Capital Empire

Chapter 566: Petrobras Bidding (Part 2)

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Liu Xuefeng nodded and looked at the big screen in front of him. After a while, he said, "This Unocal company is really strong, and it hasn't given up yet."

"According to the news from Wall Street, they just raised nearly 15 billion US dollars last month, and they have money in their hands. Naturally, they are full of confidence."

"15 billion US dollars, 120 billion Chinese currency, tsk...! If we also have so much liquidity, this time in Brazil is not just a spectator."

Zhao Junchen sighed in his heart. Judging from the situation in the system, even if they have so much money, they will not really bid. Because risk is the natural enemy of leadership, and stability overwhelms everything.

"By the way, the young man in the black suit in front is Bruce Guo, the chairman of Unocal's board of directors, right?"

Zhao Junchen glanced at the Unocal work table in front of Shell and Exxon Mobil, and the young man in a suit on the left side of the table with his arms folded on the back of the chair, looking up at the young man in front of him. Although he couldn't see the expression on the other's face from this angle. However, judging from some of the side faces exposed, it is clear that the other party is very calm.

"It should be."

"I really didn't expect to see him here. I was there in person, I think Unocal is bound to win Block 6." After a pause, "Mr. Zhao, I heard that the government is very concerned about him?"

Zhao Junchen turned his head and said, "Old Liu, does it seem that your news channels are well-informed?"

"Haha, Mr. Zhao has won the prize. I'm just hearsay."

"What is the plan above, how can people of our level really know? However, the other party is of Chinese descent, and he is also a heavyweight in Silicon Valley, Hollywood, Wall Street, and the international energy market. He has a deep relationship within the White House and has a strong relationship with Roosevelt. The Bush family and the two families are very close. It's natural to be valued by the top!"

"In that case, Mr. Zhao, let's take the opportunity to get to know each other well!"

"I'm afraid people don't look down on us!" Zhao Junchen nodded and sighed while looking at the back in front of him.

But the desire in his words was heard by Liu Xuefeng.

"Can you do it? You have to try it first. Besides, isn't the other party very interested in the Huaxia market? We can use this as a breakthrough point."

Zhao Junchen's eyes lit up and nodded slightly.

Noticing his expression, Liu Xuefeng couldn't help but smile. Although Mr. Zhao is still only one of the many deputy general managers of CNOOC, he is in charge of the company's overseas business, and has not entered the party committee and has become a real decision-making level. But in his early forties, he not only has a prestigious school background, but also has excellent personal work ability, making him a good investment target.

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"Boss, should we add more?"

Looking at the numbers displayed on the big screen, Guo Shouyun pondered for a moment, then shook his head. He just came to fish in troubled waters, and now that the goal has been achieved, there is no need to continue to stir up. Moreover, ExxonMobil's "$42 million signing fee, $98 million minimum obligation investment, 44.3% localized procurement ratio"; in his opinion, the conditions are too high. In addition, in addition to Unocal, there are only Exxon Mobil and Chevron Texaco who are still competing for Block 6. It is too risky to continue to compete with them.

Hearing Guo Shouyun's words, Rebecca Mark was relieved. Fortunately, **oss is still reasonable, and was not distracted by the hot competition atmosphere on the scene.

"Chevron Texaco, $31 million signing fee, $98.5 million minimum commitment, 44.6% localized procurement ratio."

At this time, John Watson's nerves were highly tense. This condition has slightly exceeded the bottom line of the company's bid for Block 6. But there is no way, the company's order to him is that he must take block No. 6, so even if it exceeds, he cannot give up.

"John, Unocal seems to have given up."

The colleague's words made John Watson feel a little relieved. The abandonment of Unocal at least leaves Chevron Texaco one less strong competitor.

"Johnny, did you call the head office?"

"It has already been fought. The head office replied that we are all ready, but now it is a clear sign. In the end, our conditions should not be too far apart, or the other party will not be able to fight for our rights."

"I know!"

"Exxon Mobil, $31.5 million signing fee, $99 million minimum commitment, 44.3% localized procurement ratio."

Just when John Watson and others were exchanging countermeasures, there was a new offer from Exxon Mobil. However, this competition did not make John Watson frown, but showed a hint of joy.

"Send a message to the head office right now."

"Yes!"

Johnny Dawn, who was in charge of computer operations, quickly sent the information to the head office mailbox. In less than half a minute, I saw a change in the expression of Roberto Murić, who was in charge of hosting the auction. He nodded after holding his ear back for a moment to listen. He immediately picked up the microphone and said loudly: "I announce that Chevron Texaco has obtained the exploration and development rights of Block 6."

Before he could finish his words, Paul Stevenson, who was in charge of the Exxon Mobil bid, stood up.

"I have an objection. Why do we have a higher signing fee and general investment than Chevron Texaco, but give them Block Six?"

Roberto Muric glanced at him, his expression unchanged and said: "We believe that the main purpose of oil exploration and development is to promote the development of Brazil's oil industry and increase employment. Therefore, the localized procurement ratio is among the three evaluation projects. The most important weighting metric, Chevron Texaco beats Exxon Mobil by 0.3% in this regard.”

Looking at Paul Stevenson with a disgruntled face, Rebecca Mark said, "Exxon Mobil has miscalculated."

Technological advancements have clearly reduced office processes. Signatures, seals, secret notes, etc., these methods commonly used in the dark marking era are now compressed step by step by computer software programs, which greatly reduces the possibility of black box operations. Especially when a technology is just invented, its preventive effect is the strongest.

Especially now, international oil bidding has become an electronic screen-style public bidding. All the information of companies, bidding prices, etc., will be scrolled on the electronic screen of bidding, allowing oil companies to re-bid. At this time, the chances of black box operation are very small. But that doesn't mean there's no black box operation possible.

Just like now, when the prices of both sides are similar, the oil block owner who holds the final interpretation right can easily decide who has the last laugh.

Looking at John Watson, who was hugging and cheering with his colleagues, Guo Shouyun narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I didn't expect him to deflate Exxon Mobil, looks like we need to be more careful."

After Rebecca nodded, she suddenly said, "It would be great if we were still using dark bids as we did in the 1990s. Back then, when a barrel of oil was $30, oil companies could make $10. Now a barrel of oil is $40, and we are on the contrary. Only $8. A transparent bidding environment that intensifies competition, making oil-producing countries more and more profitable and less and less profitable for oil development companies.”

**It contains huge profits, there is too much room for manipulation in the hidden bid, and naturally there are more profits. In fact, according to Guo Shouyun's understanding, with the transparency of oil bidding, the profit of oil development will be even lower. There will even be a point where $100 only makes $5 in four or five years. Therefore, in the 1990s, only small and medium-sized oil companies were interested in the oil service industry, and more and more large companies began to enter.

Compared with the hard work of exploration, development, and the risk of rising and falling oil prices, it only earns $5 per barrel. Fight for oil service contracts and earn $5 per barrel steadily. Of course, the latter is more suitable.

Therefore, after entering the second decade of the 21st century, BP and Exxon Mobil simultaneously began to shrink their international business, especially in the field of oil exploration and development. ConocoPhillips had to spin off and sell off non-core businesses to improve its balance sheet because its profits were too low. At that time, even Exxon Mobil had less than 10% of its net profit~www.wuxiaspot.com~ChevronTexaco was only a little over 7%, and ConocoPhillips was the worst, with less than 5%.

It used to be the third largest multinational oil company in the United States and the fifth largest in the world after crazy expansion and mergers and acquisitions, but in the end it had to face the dilemma of indigestion.

Of course, ConocoPhillips' lessons should also be taken as a warning by Unocal. But it's too early to tell.

No matter how unwilling Exxon Mobil is, it has to accept the fact that it lost to Chevron Texaco. After John Watson and the others celebrated, the bidding for the No. 7 oil block began. The last exploration block in this shallow sea area, after a moderate bidding process, fell to the joint venture between Japan's Nikkei Co., Ltd. and Argentine Petroleum Corporation. in the hands of the consortium.

So far, in the sixth round of Brazil's oil bidding, seven oil blocks in the shallow sea area belong to their own owners. The happiest are undoubtedly BP and Chevron Texaco, who have respectively won Blocks 2 and 6, which are most likely to contain large oil fields. In particular, Chevron has also obtained the exploration and development rights of Block 4.

The most lost is undoubtedly ExxonMobil, who made two shots and got nothing.

Of course, in the eyes of outsiders, Unocal also belongs to the unlucky category. It also entered the top three in two bids, but both ended bleak.

However, Exxon Mobil is still Exxon Mobil, the world's largest integrated upstream and downstream oil giant. Despite missing seven blocks in the shallow waters. But the five blocks in the Deep Sea, except No. 11, which was won by Shell, all went into their pockets.

"Next is our stage."

Guo Shouyun took a deep breath. After Roberto Murić announced the tender for the 13th oil exploration block, his nerves were high and his attention was focused like never before.

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