In the next few days, Chen Zhiwen and Zhang Yunxue entertained several friends from the United States and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of several German cities.
On December 12, heavy snow suddenly fell in Munich, and the entire sky turned gray. Due to the high latitude, the eight-hour daylight hours became shorter and the temperature dropped suddenly.
The wind is biting, but the heating in the hotel is very strong, just like summer. In the luxurious suite, wearing short sleeves, eating ice cream, watching the blizzard howling outside, it is very interesting.
"Dong dong dong" there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Chen Zhiwen walked to the main hall and said. He was not worried about any accidents outside. Now, no matter where he goes, he is surrounded by no less than four professional bodyguards. There are two people guarding him outside the suite. At the door, there were several people living nearby, and since he had booked a hotel floor, anyone entering this floor would have no reason unless they were waiters.
The person who came in was Lei Shengli, who must have just come back from the hotel. He was still wearing a thick down jacket. Chen Zhiwen smiled and said, "You'd better go to your room and change clothes, otherwise you'll be hot to death later."
"It's okay, I just need to take off my down jacket." After saying that, Lei Shengli took off his clothes and hung them on the hanger, and said: "There is the latest progress at Deutsche Bank, so I'm anxious to come back and tell the chairman. .”
"Okay, sit down." Chen Zhiwen also stood up and lowered the temperature of the heat a little. In fact, there is no need to adjust the temperature so high for heating. It's just because you have learned to enjoy it and you have become accustomed to it. This is true throughout Europe and even the United States. Huge energy Waste and waste of materials have not only resulted in the loss of a large amount of wealth, but also caused huge environmental pollution. However, they often blame the developing countries that produced these materials for them.
After Lei Shengli took a sip of water, he said: "Sheng Chen, Deutsche Bank has basically reached a consensus with Bitzer's existing board of directors. The transaction price is US$13.5 million, and they also agreed to trade in US dollars."
The reason why we choose the US dollar is also because it is the most common international transaction currency. The current currency of Germany is the mark. Although it is also very strong, many rich people still like to hoard US dollars because many rich people also need to transfer their assets. Diversification prevents serious losses from sudden currency depreciation when investing in one currency.
Naturally, the American side happily agreed. Transacting in US dollars can also save a lot of transfer fees, and both parties can get what they need.
"What about Bitzer's liabilities? Is there a gap between the financial account and the actual situation?" Chen Zhiwen asked again.
In commercial acquisitions, the most important thing to pay attention to is the debt and accounting problems of the other party. Historically, many large companies have been deceived here. Although some can subsequently sue to recover part of the losses, it is too troublesome, so it is difficult to investigate. It's better to find out clearly.
Chen Zhiwen basically didn't care about this issue in his previous acquisitions or equity investments, because he invested in the team, and with the evidence of later generations, there was basically no problem. However, Hutchison's acquisitions also had many internal Qi Dezun The hidden debt was not directed against Qi Dezun, but against all shareholders and banks. Fortunately, Hutchison has enough land, and it doesn't care even if there are problems with accounts worth tens of millions.
This is his first acquisition of assets in Europe, and it still involves the important layout of Midea's home appliance business. He naturally has to pay attention to it, especially now that Hutchison Whampoa consumes a huge amount of his funds, and he is also at a stage where funds are somewhat tight. , I don’t want anything to happen at this time.
"Deutsche Bank has entrusted a third-party institution in Germany to conduct a back-examination of all the accounts of the previous three years and the large accounts of the previous ten years starting from this year. They have made a written commitment to us that there will be no If there is a debt gap or accounting problem above 100,000 marks, they will subsidize the money," Lei Shengli said.
"Okay, it can be considered that we spent close to one million US dollars." Chen Zhiwen nodded and said.
Deutsche Bank played the role of intermediary and guarantor in this transaction to ensure that there would be no problems, and the price was naturally not small. Midea had to pay nearly 8 points for this.
"If it weren't for Deutsche Bank this time, our acquisition wouldn't have been so smooth." Lei Shengli said with a smile.
Chen Zhiwen said: "Of course, investment banks like them rely on this kind of business to make money. Although our acquisition is small, it is still a piece of fat for a department or individual."
Lei Shengli continued: "Actually, I have another idea. Deutsche Bank has a very strong influence in Germany. In theory, their senior management must know the German automobile companies. I think this is Bitzer." A relationship that can work.”
"That's right. Contact the top management of Mercedes-Benz and BMW through Deutsche Bank? And then find a way to let Bitzer enter their supply chain?" Chen Zhiwen thought for a while and said: "You can try, you have to spend what you have to spend, this kind of relationship It will always be useful in the future. Many technologies in Germany are very powerful. We want to improve our technology research and development, and there should be no shortage of exchanges with Germany."
Midea has decided to take a high-tech route since its birth. Now it is making a lot of money from arcades and games. It just wants to use this kind of funds to develop technology. Only strong technology can ensure that a company can survive for a long time and grow more and more. The stronger the foundation, relying on side projects such as games, it can only be prosperous for a while. Even his golden finger will only last until the 1990s at most. He must occupy a certain market in other fields before this time. The foundation of all this, in addition to its own layout in the retail field, is also indispensable in terms of technology.
"This is the best. We in Germany also need a local partner with resources and connections." Lei Shengli nodded and said.
"Okay, let's try to talk about the price again. It's best to erase the fraction of the $500,000. If not, just forget it. Time is also a cost. We can't waste too much. After the transaction, We still have to spend a lot of money to reinvest, not to mention Hong Kong, but also in Europe. At least, Bitzer's automotive business can develop." Chen Zhiwen said: "It is best to invest in other products besides compressors, Regarding the refrigeration assembly, and then entering other automotive parts fields, my idea is to make Bitzer a well-known automotive parts company in Europe."
"It's just that in this case, a lot of money needs to be invested, and our funds are relatively tight now." Lei Shengli said.
Chen Zhiwen said: "I know this, don't worry, even if you give Bitzer tens of millions of dollars now, they have no place to use it. If you want to develop in the automobile industry, you have to invest money step by step. Spending money depends on the situation. No matter how much money you spend, How can it compare to BBA and the public?"
"Is this true? After the transaction is completed, does Hong Kong need to prepare to build a factory?" Lei Shengli asked.
Chen Zhiwen said: "No, don't be so anxious just yet. Don't you think the factory layout in Hong Kong is already very messy?"
In the past, both Red Bull and Midea were not very large in scale and required mass production. Although under Chen Zhiwen's deliberate guidance, the factories were gathered together as much as possible, the industrial layout of Hong Kong itself was a mess, with various industries Quasi-industrial office buildings are mixed with residential areas.
This type is very suitable for various small-scale assembly industries and light industries. There are people near the factory and the workers are relatively close to work. It is perfect.
The early Red Bull and Midea actually fit this model, after all, they were not very large.
After reaching a certain scale, the rapidly growing production capacity left the two companies with no choice but to frantically buy land nearby to build factories or directly purchase industrial office buildings. At that time, they had no choice but to quickly increase production capacity, which also led to The chaos in various factories, things that could obviously be together are not, and things that can be produced optimally in one place are produced in several places.
"Chen Sheng is planning to re-plan the factory in Hong Kong?" Lei Shengli also understood what the boss meant.
Chen Zhiwen nodded and said: "Yes, I have this idea. Except for the latest factory that is preparing to produce Coke, which is my prepared plan, the others are very passive and are led by the rapidly increasing production capacity.
Looking at it now, it's too messy. It happens to be winter now. Fans, drinks, air conditioners, and refrigerators are all in the off-season. I'm also going to take care of it. It's best to re-plan everything. Building a factory in the same place requires preparation. A certain amount of blank land will be left to cope with future production capacity growth. "
In fact, Chen Zhiwen knew a few years ago that if development went smoothly, production capacity would definitely be a big problem, but it was impossible to invest huge sums of money to integrate factories at that time, and he did not have the funds. Even Apple in the 21st century would obviously Knowing that mobile phones would be popular, and not short of money, it took several years to integrate production capacity.
"Such a large-scale plan requires a large area of land. We cannot acquire it. We need to discuss it with the Hong Kong government." Lei Shengli said.
"Not only the land area, but also a large number of suitable working-age workers must be considered to live nearby. There is no such large land in Kowloon. Hutchison's piece of land in Hung Hom, even if I don't consider real estate development, the area is not enough. Compared with the real estate development, The so-called small port is simply not enough to meet the industrial demand." Chen Zhiwen shook his head and said.
It is said that the land area in Hung Hom is large, and that is for commercial land. It may be enough for Red Bull and Midea now, but it will definitely not be enough in a few years. The biggest problem in this kind of urban area is that there is no additional area nearby.
Of course, the area of a large port is actually very large. A few square kilometers is normal. However, in a small city like Hong Kong before the 1960s, 2 million square feet (0.2 square kilometers) was already considered a very large port.
"For such a large industrial investment, we should get the land for free. This is true in any country, but in Hong Kong, it may be a bit difficult. Those ghost guys know how to keep an eye on the land." Lei Shengli frowned. said.
"When I go to the United States to finalize some things, I will discuss this matter with the Hong Kong government. After you go back this time, first let out the news and say that Midea, Galaxy and Red Bull are planning to build an industry with tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong or Wanwan. Garden." Chen Zhiwen said.
Lei Shengli said: "Is Mr. Chen planning to use Wanwan to put pressure on the Hong Kong government?"
"It is not to give benefits to the Hong Kong government, but to the group of real estate developers in Hong Kong. An industrial park with a population of 10,000 people can bring about a large area of surrounding barren land. If the news is really released, these canine noses will naturally be able to smell it, and they will naturally Find a way to help me facilitate this matter. The rest depends on the MacLehose government. I heard that Governor MacLehose is very capable. In the past, the UK also paid attention to employment issues. He should be able to understand such an industry. How beneficial is the garden party?" Chen Zhiwen said.
Although a group of British ghosts are trying their best to squeeze the value of Hong Kong, smart people will be wise and it is better to let the sheep fatten up a little instead of fishing directly. MacLehose should be regarded as a smart governor. In the biographies of Hong Kong in later generations, he has a great influence on He was very complimentary. Besides, if the Independent Commission Against Corruption can be established in Hong Kong to suppress tan wu, at least on the surface, he hopes that Hong Kong will get better and better.
"Good method. In this case, this problem may be solved." Lei Shengli nodded and said.
Chen Zhiwen said: "That's it. Hong Kong is not in a hurry for the time being. After the acquisition of Bitzer, we will first select suitable people from Hong Kong to come and study. Production, maintenance, technology, and quality control all need to be studied comprehensively. In addition, if When it comes to processes that do not exist in Bitzer itself, it is necessary to choose suppliers in Europe to purchase equipment, and to arrange for people to come and learn. Investment in this area must be prioritized. It is better for people to wait for equipment than for equipment to wait for people. After the factory is built in Hong Kong, it needs to be able to get started as soon as possible.
On the German side, some people must be selected first and prepared to arrange for them to work as teachers in Hong Kong. The language problem must be solved and translators must be prepared on the Hong Kong side. In addition, Bitzer also needs to arrange for our people. See if you can We cannot recruit Chinese in finance and business management in Germany. Although we will not interfere with Bitzer's normal operations, we still need to understand. "
"I will arrange this matter. After the transaction is completed, I will leave two trustworthy people here to handle these matters." Lei Shengli said.
(End of chapter)
