去年，高盛投資公司（Goldman Sachs）把一位資深的投資銀行專家派到了西雅圖，而Evercore Partners Inc招聘了一位應對激進投資者的頂級銀行家，他們的決策如今獲得了巨大的回報。

高盛對亞馬遜的建議，和Evercore對全食超市的建議，促成了亞馬遜對全食超市137億美元的并購，這家美國有機食品連鎖店將成為全球最大網絡零售商的一部分。

這是亞馬遜第一筆超過10億美元的交易，這讓它成為了尋求服務費和榮譽的投資銀行家夢寐以求的戰利品。

高盛為這一刻打下了基礎。去年，他們向亞特蘭大、多倫多和西雅圖等大公司云集的北美城市派出了高級銀行家。

其中一名銀行家名為大衛?艾斯曼，他從舊金山來到西雅圖，幫助率領一個小型團隊，鞏固該城市最大的幾家公司之間的聯系，其中包括亞馬遜、微軟和星巴克。

當亞馬遜上個月決定接觸全食超市時，選擇了高盛進行咨詢。負責提供建議的是艾斯曼，以及高盛的銀行家科林?賴安和科茲摩?羅，前者專攻科技界并購，后者則專門研究消費者和零售公司。

在前高盛員工的幫助下，Evercore也在交易中扮演了重要角色。去年，Evercore挖走了高盛激進投資防衛部門的主管比爾?安德森。他在12年多的時間里，為超過175家公司提供了建議，幫助他們應對激進投資者和惡意收購。

今年4月，Jana Partners表示他們增加了全食超市的持股，并著力推動公司的賣出。全食超市當時面試了幾家投資銀行，希望招聘一位顧問，幫助應對激進投資者的對沖基金。

全食超市的董事長約翰?麥基在本月《得克薩斯月刊》（Texas Monthly）的文章中表示：“從Jana宣布持股全食超市以來，媒體和銀行就開始對公司進行密切的關注。”

全食超市與銀行的談話發生在他們與亞馬遜接觸之前，所以高盛也參與了競爭。不過擁有安德森的Evercore最終勝出。

在亞馬遜加入之后，全食超市再次征求了Evercore的意見。安德森和Evercore的高級銀行家愛德華多?梅斯特雷和威廉?希爾茲給出了建議。

根據投資銀行業務咨詢公司Freeman & Co.的估計，高盛可以獲得3,000萬美元至3,500萬美元的咨詢費，而Evercore的咨詢費則多達4,000萬美元至5,000萬美元。

Freeman & Co.表示，高盛和美國銀行為亞馬遜提供了過渡融資，他們還可以獲得3,500萬美元至5,000萬美元的債務安排費。（財富中文網）

譯者：嚴匡正

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.