Chapter 258 Evans Manor

 Although the loan proposal proposed by Colin Hall is indeed good in terms of interest, Barron would certainly not accept a loan of 3 billion pounds to mortgage 60% of O2 Telecom's shares.

  It's not that he can't pay it back, but it's mainly because it will affect his future financing.

  In addition, he also suspected that the other party was so "kind" to provide him with a loan for some other purpose.

  If it is necessary to mortgage up to 60% of O2 Telecom's shares, then the other party may be fully motivated to do something against itself to create financial difficulties and thus gain control of O2 Telecom.

  Whether he really had such an idea or not, Barron would not allow such a possibility to exist.

  If this is the case, it would be better to continue trying to issue corporate bonds. Even if the interest rate is slightly higher, at least there is not much risk.

  "In this way, we can invite a third party to evaluate our O2 Telecom, and then decide the proportion of shares to be pledged based on the results. Otherwise, I will never accept a 60% proportion."

  Finally, Barron made the request.

  "I can agree with this, but it should be pointed out that our minimum requirement is that the pledged shares cannot be less than 45%. Otherwise, such a large loan cannot be approved by the board of directors."

  Hearing Colin's words, Barron raised his eyebrows slightly:

  "Okay, we can discuss this in detail."

  If the shares are pledged at less than 50%, Barron can still agree.

  After all, this is a one-time solution to the problem of high-interest financing that he is currently facing. Otherwise, if he continues to issue corporate bonds, it will not only cause trouble, but it will also cause certain obstacles to O2 Telecom's future financing.

  Of course, the main reason for this is that Barron knew that after four years, when the subprime mortgage crisis came, Northern Rock Bank would go bankrupt due to the impact of this crisis and the bank run, and would have to accept the British government's rescue. In the end, the process of finding a buyer would not be smooth - because by then they would have to bear up to 25 billion pounds of government debt, and the government required the buyer to promise to repay the debt within three years and pay a certain amount of interest...

  So he will set the loan term this time to five years.

  Even if Colin Hall had other thoughts about this loan, as long as Barron lived longer than Northrock Bank, he could completely break all the plans.

  …

  Fine snowflakes were falling in Scotland. Barron held up his umbrella and straightened his coat.

  Turning around, he took one last look at the noble and elegant face in the photo on the tombstone. He placed the bouquet of flowers in his hand in front of the grave and turned to leave.

  "There comes a day in everyone's life when nothing makes sense anymore."

  Beside him, Julia Moore said quietly.

  "But at least until that day comes, we can realize our own meaning."

  Barron gave her a smile, held the woman's hand, and spoke softly.

  Today, he brought Julia to visit Mrs. Emma's grave. After all, this lady left him her own inheritance, and she was also a woman who had a story with his cheap father. He had thought about visiting her before.

  Yulia also learned about Madam Emma from Barron. Unlike Barron, she had met Madam Emma several times before. Therefore, when only the black and white photo on the tombstone was left in front of her, her emotions became even deeper.

  In addition to a 1.5% stake in Northern Gas Company, Lady Emma left Barron two estates and two properties.

  One of the estates is located in Scotland.

  When they came here this time, they also went to the manor.

  Although the manor has been maintained, some places look a little deserted.

  In terms of scale, this manor is slightly inferior to the Callan Castle Manor, let alone Chatsworth House, but it also looks unique and more elegant and refined.

  Barron has handed over this estate and other French estates to a family trust fund managed by Yulia, to be managed together with his other estates.  

  Like many British manors, in this mansion called Evans Manor, which originally belonged to the Evans family and was later inherited by Lady Emma, ​​Barron saw many portraits of people hanging in the corridor of the stairs. Judging from their clothes, they should be members of the Evans family from generation to generation.

  In one of the paintings, Barron also saw the figure of Lady Emma, ​​and the slightly frail man next to her should be her ex-husband, Baron Eden Evans.

  "It seems that this place was once glorious, but everything has been covered up by time."

  Being in such an atmosphere, the gorgeous decorations around her seemed a little old, and the light falling from the top of her head intersected with them, and Yulia also felt particularly sighing.

  "Every manor is buried with past love, hatred, and vengeance, most of which are similar, but also different. If we keep dwelling on the memories of the past, we will inevitably become depressed. It's still too early for us to reach that point, Yulia."

  "It's just that I felt a little emotional for a moment."

  "Then let's stay here today, but we need to solve the problem of eating first. Fortunately, this place is not too far from the town."

  According to the information they got from the housekeeper who stayed behind at the manor, Lady Emma rarely returned to the manor in the last few years. Most of the time, the housekeeper and two maids were the ones who stayed here, so it was no wonder that many places were somewhat deserted.

  It was also because of this that many of the servants of the manor, including the cook, had left and found other jobs.

  "Are you planning to renovate this place and open it to the public for tourism?"

  "This place is not too big, so it wouldn't be very meaningful to open it to visitors. I plan to renovate it a bit and then rent it out in whole or in part, on a short-term basis. Perhaps many people, especially foreigners, will be interested in experiencing the life of British aristocrats firsthand."

  Barron thought for a moment and said to Yulia:

  "Or it could be transformed into a manor hotel... For these, it's better to find a professional to evaluate them before making a decision."

  They have the Grace Cultural Tourism Group under their umbrella, and those professionals will make appropriate plans in this regard.

  …

  "Ms. Moore, I think you should give me enough respect, don't you?"

  In the room of the manor, the fire in the fireplace was burning brightly.

  The lights here were turned off, and in the light of the fire, one could vaguely see that Barron was wearing a traditional aristocratic costume, holding a... whip in his hand, and looking at Yulia coldly.

  At this time, Yulia, wearing a maid's uniform, was crawling on the ground, looking up at His Royal Highness the Duke.

  A "pop" sounded...

  Yulia sighed and said:

  "Your Highness, please don't do this..."

  "So what should you do, Ms. Moore!"

  The woman's face gradually turned red. She supported herself with her hands and slowly moved forward...

  "I told you that you will pay for your offense."

  "I, I was wrong..."

  Her breathing became faster and faster, and she lowered her head in front of Barron...