Putin Interview

I have been thinking of sending our Timid Reporter out to see if he can find Vladimir Putin and pin him down for a short interview. (Perhaps I shouldn't say "short interview" because they are ALL short interviews.) If not Putin, then maybe the new pope - Felipe. Bill Gates might also be interesting. I have a feeling that Gates has a sly sense of humor so he might be a good choice. Anyway, it's all moot if I can't locate our guy. For all I know, he might be out in Tibet taking it easy - pretty much out of reach. I really shouldn't say "taking it easy" because he ALWAYS takes it easy. 

Mexican bond brokers

If you're in the historical bond business, you know full well that deals are hard to come by, especially when you want to sell a high-end bond. I have come to know more than fifty brokers, perhaps five real sellers, and just two real buyers. When I say "real," I mean someone with capacity to close a deal. It's one thing to have a lot of enthusiasm for the transaction and something else to have the capacity to do it. The real buyers I know - one in the Western U.S. and the other in New York - don't just talk, they negotiate and close. Buyers from Europe are non-existent as far as I know. Beware of brokers who try to sell your bonds in Europe. If they do, you'll get pennies for them. Beware of brokers who ask for complete packages. That's a sign someone will use your bonds for collateral for a bridge loan while you sit there waiting to be paid. It's definitely best to do these deals attorney-to-attorney or bank-to-bank. As far as brokers go, I would say they are all very hopeful - some are outright dishonest - some are misinformed - but very, very few are well-connected. A word to the wise. 

Liberty bond 10000

The popular bond of the moment seems to be the Liberty 10000. Bond buyers are paying really good money for it. A close friend recently made an offer on one (which I located for him) but was rebuffed. His seven figure offer was just too low. When you get to discussing more than seven figures for one of these (or any other) bonds, one of the problems is that buyers and sellers get quite intransigent. Of course, that's no way to make deals. If you want to sell, shove your ego to one side, even if you don't need the money. If you are a buyer, be careful of anyone offering a Liberty 10000 because they are more rare than a Stradivarius violin. You are under no obligation, of course, but you may contact me at pronetoviolins at gmail dotcom if you have a bond and are seeking a real buyer. We DO NOT deal in packages - only face-to-face transactions. Those are the best deals and the only ones that work. Have a great day. 

Petchili bonds

We got very close to selling 20 Petchili bonds last month - so close that we almost started thinking about how we would spend the substantial commissions. Well, as usual, the deal didn't happen because the buyers were in one place and the sellers were in another and the two could never agree to trust each other enough to meet halfway. On the other hand, so many sellers have gone to Zurich to sell their bonds for millions and even billions - with contracts in hand and bank invitations as well - then they have been let down BIG TIME. Who would want to go through that again? I know one seller who has had his packages with a strong and well-connected broker for two months and NOTHING has happened and, by all indications, NOTHING will happen. He is now to the point that if someone shows up with 70 thousand in cash, he will sell, even though he has been promised 50 million per bond. A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush, as they say. 

Pro Forma Post

This is my first 2013 post here but it is about nothing. It is ONLY for the record - read it at your own risk.