Reinventing the Millennium

Two days later, after Fang Zhuo received the news from Qiu Ciyun, he had an informal phone call with Lei Zier, CEO of Linde Group. The two parties exchanged views on mutually beneficial cooperation and reached a broad consensus.

Fang Zhuo praised Linde Group's professionalism and advancement in the field of industrial gases, and Rezier also admired the head of Yike for his reputation in the business field.

The informal phone call will not appear in any documents, but the existing cooperation between Bingxin and Linde Group will continue in a tacit understanding.

Fang Zhuo was also concerned about a number of substantive issues during this phone call, and Rezier responded candidly. Among them, the most important point is that he now holds the position of CEO. Assuming that the acquisition of Praxair is successful, he At least he will continue to lead the board of directors.

In other words, the tacit understanding now can be guaranteed in the future.

At the end of the call, both parties wished each other a bright future.

However, after another three days, Qiu Ciyun got more news. Linde's movement this time was not without reason.

"Mr. Fang, Air Liquide is also planning to make an acquisition. I have inquired carefully, and it is very likely that it is secretly negotiating with Airgas in the United States!" Qiu Ciyun is very careful in his work. He originally only lobbied two targets to build factories, but this time he contacted Linde. After I got the new harvest, I immediately followed this route to inquire about the news.

"They are all companies in the same industry, right?" Fang Zhuo was not much surprised by this.

"Yes, the scale of Air Liquide's acquisition will definitely not be small. No official news has been exposed yet." Qiu Ciyun said hesitantly, "Should we talk to Air Liquide again to see if we can get a better deal?" condition?"

"I have reached a consensus with Rezier." Fang Zhuo said this while motioning to his secretary to add key information about the American Airgas company.

"It's not that the consensus cannot be overturned. Letting them build the factory itself will provide various benefits, and it won't harm them." Qiu Ciyun said thoughtfully, "Cooperation negotiations to build the factory also take time."

"Mr. Qiu, make a cup of tea and wait for me for a few minutes." Fang Zhuo decided to take a look at the situation first and verify one of the most critical conditions.

Three minutes later, he said more firmly: "Mr. Qiu, since I have reached a consensus with Rezier, I cannot damage my credibility or the image of Ice Core. Our future business in Europe will not be easy."

Qiu Ciyun noticed something was wrong and said without any hesitation: "Mr. Fang, just tell me."

"The Airgas company that Air Liquide wants to acquire has 98% of its revenue in the United States. This acquisition does not need our approval." Fang Zhuo has experience in this area, and the first thing he verified was Intervention conditions.

Anyone who often engages in antitrust knows that domestic conditions can be simply summarized as 10 billion + 400 million or 2 billion + 400 million.

The former is that the combined global revenue of the two companies exceeds 10 billion, and their domestic revenue both exceeds 400 million.

The latter means that the total domestic revenue of the two companies exceeds 2 billion, and both exceed 400 million.

Such conditions were triggered when Qualcomm acquired Broadcom, and the same was true when Germany's Linde wanted to acquire Praxair. But the latest news about Air Liquide and Airgas was that they were not satisfied.

Qiu Ciyun, who excitedly called after receiving the news as soon as possible, froze on the spot. He saw Linde's eagerness to take the initiative, and then learned about the movements of its competitor Falquid Air and felt that it would be profitable. Unexpectedly...

Qiu Ciyun said angrily after a long while: "Mr. Fang, Linde Group did not misjudge the person, you are still experienced!"

Mr. Fang did not rejoice with him at the first time, but insisted on his position that he met the conditions. With this determination and experience... it is no wonder that Linde Group took the initiative.

"Linde will start negotiations to invest in building a factory next week, and the president of East Asia will come to see me the day after tomorrow, and we will push forward the progress together." Fang Zhuo said, "The integration of upstream and downstream industries in recent years It’s quite frequent.”

Linde made a US$4.6 billion acquisition of Lincare, an American company, three years ago. It is not known whether it has learned about the trends of its competitors and started contact with Praxair.

Qiu Ciyun was surprised: "So fast?"

Fang Zhuo said calmly: "Perhaps everyone is afraid that things will change if things are too late."

Qiu Ciyun immediately understood that there are two sides to fear. Although Linde has business in China and Ice Core has a factory in Germany, the latter has been on the carefully selected list and there may not be any changes in the future. Now A tacit understanding within such a framework is the best way to advance things.

"Okay, this is really good news." He praised highly, "This time it comes from Mr. Fang's good reputation."

Fang Zhuo said humbly: "There's no need to keep praising me."

Qiu Ciyun still couldn't help but praise: "Mr. Fang's behavior is like a peach and a plum, and it will make its own mistakes! If the flowers bloom, butterflies will come! If you sow melons, you will get melons, and if you sow beans, you will get beans!"

"Hey, it's all comrades in the world who are looking for favors. Mr. Qiu doesn't have to be so polite. We can keep communicating at all times." Fang Zhuo stopped and turned to business, "I'll wait to meet with Linde's East Asia President, and then I'll hand it over to you. Bingxin’s Vice President Chen took over.”

Qiu Ciyun said yes again and again. After ending the phone call, he still felt that this cooperation promotion was too wonderful. Mr. Fang's move was really, really... the aroma of wine is not afraid of the depth of the alley!

He continued to be very motivated in Germany. Fang Shiwen, the president of Linde Group's East Asia region, who received a call from the headquarters here, was a little confused. Why was he suddenly going to Luzhou to invest and build a factory?

As the president of East Asia, Fang Shiwen has indeed dealt with Bingxin and knows that the other party is strong in technology and craftsmanship, but in the past, it was all official business. Moreover, Bingxin just appeared on Amei's strict selection this year...

Wouldn't it be easy to cause unexpected situations if he went to Luzhou to invest and build a factory at this time?

He confirmed repeatedly, only to feel that the order of the group CEO was extremely hasty. The answers after several inquiries were quite vague. It felt that it was not based on the growth of the Chinese market, not based on the growth of revenue and profit, but just for the sake of the project...

But then again, the growth of Asia-Pacific in the past two years is indeed second to none, and has exceeded the group's profit in the Americas.

Fang Shiwen was confused but did not delay his trip. He went straight to the famous Yike headquarters and met Fang, the head of Yike.

He is Fang, and the other party is also Fang, but the influence is completely different. The group went to Luzhou to invest, but it needed to come to Shanghai to see this person first. The collusion inside can be seen.

Fang Shiwen made some psychological preparations for the negotiations, but the attitude he received was very warm.

"Rayzier and I have known each other for a long time. We invited Linde to invest in Luzhou because we believe that your group can meet the growing demand for industrial gas in our country. When you arrive in Luzhou, you can tell us directly if you need anything."

"This is destined to be a strategically significant development for the Linde Group."

"As for me personally, I hope that our cooperation this time will only have one answer, 'success'."

Fang Zhuo characterized this investment and factory construction and also expressed his attitude slightly.

Fang Shiwen smiled but muttered in his heart, whether it is a strategy or a development, you, Mr. Fang, seem to understand it better than me, Mr. Fang...

However, he has heard the meaning, all conditions are easy to negotiate, whether it is funds or land use, or local policies, I am afraid that this trip will be green light all the way.

There is nothing to say, you guys behind the scenes hook up with your behind the scenes, and we execute our front stage.

"Mr. Fang, I am determined to implement the strategic development of the group, and this time I will work in Luzhou as soon as possible." Fang Shiwen expressed his attitude, and as expected, he saw the smile on the face of Yi Ke's head.

Obviously, the key to this unusual cooperation is "speed"!