Chapter 678: Cooperate in a Different Way

Facing Liu Tianci's question, Lei Yidario was embarrassed.

Bridgewater Investment Consulting Co., Ltd. was only established more than five years ago, and it is not prominent on Wall Street, where financial companies are everywhere.

In particular, Bridgewater is only a financial services company, not one of the types of companies that are at the forefront, such as banks, securities, and funds.

Under these circumstances, it is even more difficult to make a name for yourself in the United States.

Not to mention on a world scale?

Liu Tianci had never heard of this company before, and if not for Xia Yu's strange attitude, Liu Tianci would not have spent too much time talking to Ray Dalio.

After all, although Jiuding Bank had only risen to prominence recently, the risks were not as great as Ray Dalio had imagined, and Bridgewater Associates' interest rate risk management business was not needed.

That said, the brochures produced by Ray Dalio's company highlighted the most eye-catching data and made no mention of the disadvantages, which was somewhat misleading and exaggerated.

This petty tactic was common among all companies in the business world, and neither Xia Yu nor Liu Tianci had deliberately pointed it out.

In fact, within Asia, Rey Dario has not yet found a single partner.

He went to the UK before to develop the international market, and in order to respond flexibly, only the founder with the most power, him, can seize the opportunity.

In the UK, he negotiated a deal, and then wanted to use Hong Kong as a fulcrum to start business within Asia.

After all, Hong Kong is now under British rule, and with a single signed in London, it is easier to impress HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank.

Unfortunately, it didn't work.

So, in response to Liu Tianci's question, Rey Dario naturally avoided the important issues and said lightly, 'Our company's previous business focus has been on the United States and Europe. The development of the Asian financial market has lagged behind, so our company has put the Asian market on the back burner. This is the first time I have come to Hong Kong.'

'Everything takes time. Maybe this is a good opportunity for Jiuding Bank, isn't it?'

'Maybe so!'

Liu Tianci said lightly.

Then he looked at Xia Yu and said to Rey Dario, 'Mr Dario, I wonder how much you know about our bank. Why do you think we need interest rate risk management consulting services?'

Rey Dario realised that this might be his last chance, so he took a deep breath, thought for a moment, and said solemnly, 'Because your company is the youngest, and in just over a year's time, it has grown from an obscure small bank in Xiangjiang to the third largest bank in the country.

'According to the normal growth trajectory of a company, a company that grows rapidly will always have some problems. These loopholes are potential risks. If they are not resolved as soon as possible, the risks will become increasingly serious. So my rational mind tells me that your company may need...'

After saying this, Rey Dario looked closely at Liu Tianci, his heart rising slightly.

Liu Tianci nodded slightly: 'Mr. Dario, your analysis is correct in principle.'

This sentence made Rey Dario's heart sink sharply.

In principle?

The underlying meaning is that it's not right!

Rey Dario's brain was working at high speed, thinking about what information he had overlooked.

Just as he was racking his brain, he heard Liu Tianci continue: 'But there are always special circumstances in everything, just like our bank.'

'Although our bank has grown rapidly, our methods of risk allocation are no less than those of Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC. You may not have a deep understanding of our bank.'

'Many major companies in Xiangjiang have absolute strategic partnerships with our bank. The largest securities company and the largest insurance company are our sister companies. In terms of investment risk, it is lower than you think.'

It had to be said that Ray Dalio had no idea about any of the information that Liu Tianci had just mentioned. In the short time he had been here, he had only gathered some superficial information about Jiuding Bank.

Now that Liu Tianci had mentioned it, Ray Dalio understood. The word 'core banking of a consortium' popped into his mind.

He couldn't help but smile wryly, secretly sighing that he had been too rash. Normal thinking had misled him, causing him to not take Jiuding Bank too seriously.

If he had spent a few days preparing, he would not have found himself in this dilemma.

He would not even have come to Jiuding Bank!

Because he knew very well the difference between a bank supported by a consortium and one that wasn't.

In the United States, there were many large and small consortia, and almost every consortium had its own bank as a capital turnover platform. Such banks had much stronger risk resistance than single banks, and he knew this very well.

Although Bridgewater Associates had a lot of talent, it was still a bit reluctant to provide consulting solutions for such banks.

According to Liu Tianci, Jiuding Bank, as the third largest bank in Xiangjiang, and with its brother companies being the largest securities company and the largest insurance company in Xiangjiang, it is able to rank first in the fields of insurance and securities, and its investment capabilities are beyond doubt.

It can be imagined that Jiuding Bank has a very high capital safety factor and a high profitability. The interest rate risk management business he can provide is likely to be inferior to the investment and development plans within the consortium.

Rey Dario sighed, crossed out the name of Jiuding Bank in his heart, then packed his briefcase, got up, and prepared to leave to find his next target.

'I understand, thank you for your company!'

Seeing that Rey Dario was about to leave after being rejected by him, Liu Tianci didn't know what to do, so he subconsciously looked at Xia Yu.

He saw Xia Yu smile slightly and say to Rey Dario, 'Mr. Dario, please wait a moment. May I have a word?'

Rey Dario was a little confused. He looked at Liu Tianci and then at Xia Yu. Considering Xia Yu's identity as the chairman of the board, a glimmer of hope arose in his heart, and he immediately smiled, "Of course, no problem!'

After saying this, he sat back down.

Xia Yu then said, "You are an investment genius, and it so happens that I am as well.'

Liu Tianci immediately added, 'Our chairman has a title that everyone recognises in Xiangjiang, called "stock god".'

Rey Dario's eyes lit up as he looked Xia Yu over carefully.

The title of "stock god" is not one that can be bestowed on just anyone; every recognised "stock god" is an investment elite.

'We've met twice in just a few days, so it must be fate. I think we can cooperate, but perhaps in a different way.'

'Please go on!'

Ray Dalio immediately said.

Xia Yu smiled slightly and continued, 'Mr. Dalio, before talking about cooperation, I want to ask you a question. You are very capable in the stock market and futures market. Why not continue to go deeper and establish an investment company, but instead establish a consulting company?'

This question gets to the point.

Ray Dalio fell silent. He gathered his thoughts and said slowly, 'It's no secret that this is actually a choice I made after careful consideration.'

'I was used to analysing and investing alone, with a high degree of freedom. Although I took the risks myself, I was confident in my analysis and I was ultimately successful.'

'After obtaining my master's degree from Harvard, I was already 25 years old. In order to better exercise my abilities, I joined a company engaged in retail brokerage budgeting. The company and I had conflicting ideas. I had my own set of investment analysis methods, but unfortunately the company did not agree with them, and much of my work became meaningless.

'I felt my abilities were being restricted, so I quit.'

'At that time, I had one million dollars in assets. There were two paths in front of me: the first was to keep looking for a job, and the second was to start a business.'

'But I only had one million dollars in assets. I had worked for a year, but I didn't know many regular customers, and my network had big gaps. It was hard to attract investment. If I set up an investment company, one million dollars wouldn't last long.'

'I lack both capital and connections. My rational mind tells me that the probability of success is low, and I don't want to take such a big risk.'

'So I chose a more secure way, to set up a financial investment consulting service company, which will help me integrate into the capital market faster and build my network faster.'

'And providing different investment plans for different companies can well exercise my ability, which is also a process of accumulation.'

'When I feel the time is right, Bridgewater Consulting Co., Ltd. will enter the field of capital investment.'

Xia Yu nodded slightly and said concisely, 'In other words, you have compromised because of reality. If the funding constraints are solved, you will return to the field of capital investment, is that what you mean?'

Ray Dalio was taken aback, thought about it for a while, and nodded frankly, 'I think so!'

Hearing this, Xia Yu immediately smiled.

That's good!