帮助亚马逊收购全食超市的幕后推手是谁？

去年，高盛投资公司（Goldman Sachs）把一位资深的投资银行专家派到了西雅图，而Evercore Partners Inc招聘了一位应对激进投资者的顶级银行家，他们的决策如今获得了巨大的回报。

高盛对亚马逊的建议，和Evercore对全食超市的建议，促成了亚马逊对全食超市137亿美元的并购，这家美国有机食品连锁店将成为全球最大网络零售商的一部分。

这是亚马逊第一笔超过10亿美元的交易，这让它成为了寻求服务费和荣誉的投资银行家梦寐以求的战利品。

高盛为这一刻打下了基础。去年，他们向亚特兰大、多伦多和西雅图等大公司云集的北美城市派出了高级银行家。

其中一名银行家名为大卫•艾斯曼，他从旧金山来到西雅图，帮助率领一个小型团队，巩固该城市最大的几家公司之间的联系，其中包括亚马逊、微软和星巴克。

当亚马逊上个月决定接触全食超市时，选择了高盛进行咨询。负责提供建议的是艾斯曼，以及高盛的银行家科林•赖安和科兹摩•罗，前者专攻科技界并购，后者则专门研究消费者和零售公司。

在前高盛员工的帮助下，Evercore也在交易中扮演了重要角色。去年，Evercore挖走了高盛激进投资防卫部门的主管比尔•安德森。他在12年多的时间里，为超过175家公司提供了建议，帮助他们应对激进投资者和恶意收购。

今年4月，Jana Partners表示他们增加了全食超市的持股，并着力推动公司的卖出。全食超市当时面试了几家投资银行，希望招聘一位顾问，帮助应对激进投资者的对冲基金。

全食超市的董事长约翰•麦基在本月《得克萨斯月刊》（Texas Monthly）的文章中表示：“从Jana宣布持股全食超市以来，媒体和银行就开始对公司进行密切的关注。”

全食超市与银行的谈话发生在他们与亚马逊接触之前，所以高盛也参与了竞争。不过拥有安德森的Evercore最终胜出。

在亚马逊加入之后，全食超市再次征求了Evercore的意见。安德森和Evercore的高级银行家爱德华多•梅斯特雷和威廉•希尔兹给出了建议。

根据投资银行业务咨询公司Freeman & Co.的估计，高盛可以获得3,000万美元至3,500万美元的咨询费，而Evercore的咨询费则多达4,000万美元至5,000万美元。

Freeman & Co.表示，高盛和美国银行为亚马逊提供了过渡融资，他们还可以获得3,500万美元至5,000万美元的债务安排费。（财富中文网）

译者：严匡正

A decision by Goldman Sachs last year to move an investment banking veteran to Seattle, as well as Evercore Partners Inc's hiring of a top banker defending companies against activist investors, has paid off handsomely.

Goldman advised Amazon.com and Evercore advised Whole Foods Markets on Amazon's $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods that will see the U.S. organic grocery chain become part of the world's largest internet retailer.

The deal was Amazon's first valued at more than $1 billion, making it a coveted trophy for investment bankers in search of fees and glory.

Goldman had laid the ground for this moment. Last year, it dispatched senior bankers to several North American cities where big companies are based, including Atlanta, Toronto and Seattle.

One of those bankers, David Eisman, moved from San Francisco to Seattle to help lead a small team tasked with strengthening ties with the city's biggest companies, including Amazon, Microsoft and Starbucks.

When Amazon decided to approach Whole Foods last month, it picked Goldman for advice. Eisman advised the company alongside fellow Goldman bankers Colin Ryan, who focuses on technology mergers, and Cosmo Roe, who focuses on consumer and retail companies.

Evercore itself clinched a role in the deal with the help of a Goldman alumnus. Last year, Evercore poached Goldman's head of activism defense Bill Anderson, who for more than 12 years had advised more than 175 companies on how to tackle activist investors and hostile bids.

When Jana Partners in April said it had raised its stake in Whole Foods in April and pushed for a sale of the company, Whole Foods interviewed several investment banks to hire an adviser to help defend against the activist hedge fund.

"From the moment Jana had announced its stake in Whole Foods ... an onslaught of attention from media and banks ensued," Whole Foods' chief executive, John Mackey, said in a Texas Monthly article this month.

Whole Foods' conversations with banks took place before the company was approached by Amazon, so Goldman was also vying for a role with Whole Foods. With Anderson among its ranks, however, Evercore prevailed.

When Amazon approached, Whole Foods turned again to Evercore. Anderson advised Whole Foods alongside senior Evercore bankers Eduardo Mestre and William Hiltz.

Goldman now stands to receive $30 million to $35 million in advisory fees, while Evercore stands to receive $40 million to $50 million, according to estimates from investment banking advisory firm Freeman & Co.

Goldman and Bank of America, which provided bridge financing to Amazon, could receive between $35 million and $50 million in debt arranging fees, according to Freeman.