Reinventing the Millennium.

Chapter 1422 Hurry

Two days later, after Fang Zhuo got the news from Qiu Ciyu, he had an informal call with Linde Group's CEO Raziel. The two sides exchanged views on mutually beneficial cooperation and reached a broad consensus.

Fang Zhuo praised the Linde Group's expertise and advancement in the field of industrial gases, and Raziel also admired the reputation of Yi Ke's leader in the business field.

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

Fang Zhuo also raised several substantive issues during the call, and Raziel responded frankly. Among them, the most important point was that he was now the CEO, and assuming the acquisition of Praxair was successful, he would at least continue to lead the board of directors.

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

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

However, three days later, Qiu Ciyun got more information and found out that Linde's actions this time were not without reason.

"Mr. Fang, Air Liquide is also planning an acquisition. I've made careful inquiries and it is very likely that it is secretly negotiating with Airgas of the United States!" Qiu Ciyun is very careful in his work. He had originally only lobbied two targets to build factories, but after gaining new insights from his contact with Linde this time, he immediately continued to inquire about news along this line.

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

"Yes, the scale of Air Liquide's acquisition will definitely not be small. There is no official news yet." Qiu Ciyun said hesitantly, "Should we talk to Air Liquide again to see if we can get better terms?"

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

"It's not like the consensus can't be overturned. Letting them build a factory is offering various benefits, and it's not like they're being harmed." Qiu Ciyun thought and said, "Negotiations for cooperation in building a factory also take time."

"Mr. Qiu, please 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 the most critical condition.

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

Qiu Ciyun noticed something was wrong and said without any pretense, "Boss Fang, just tell me straight."

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

People who often deal with anti-monopoly know that the domestic conditions can be simply summarized as 100 billion + 4 million or 20 billion + 4 million.

The former is that the two companies' combined global revenue exceeds 100 billion, and their domestic revenue exceeds 4 million.

The latter means that the two companies’ combined domestic revenue exceeds 20 billion, and the latter also exceeds 4 million.

This was the condition that was triggered when Qualcomm acquired Broadcom, and the same was true when Germany's Linde wanted to acquire Praxair. However, Air Liquide and Airgas, as recently learned, are not satisfied.

Qiu Ciyun, who had excitedly called as soon as he got the news, was stunned. He saw that Linde was eager to take the initiative, and then he learned about the movements of its competitor Air Liquide and felt that it was profitable. Unexpectedly...

Qiu Ciyun said angrily after a long while: "Boss Fang, Linde Group didn't make a mistake in choosing you. You are really experienced!"

Mr. Fang did not immediately follow my joy, but instead stuck to his position of meeting the conditions. With this determination and experience... it's no wonder that Linde Group took the initiative.

"Linde will start negotiations on investment and factory construction next week. The president of East Asia will come to see me the day after tomorrow, and we will work together to push forward the progress." Fang Zhuo said, "In recent years, the integration of upstream and downstream industries has been quite frequent."

Three years ago, Linde acquired the US company Lincare for $46 billion. It is not known whether it started contact with Praxair because it learned about its competitor's movements.

Qiu Ciyun was surprised: "So fast?"

Fang Zhuo said calmly: "Maybe everyone is afraid that things might change if they are late."

Qiu Ciyun immediately understood that it was a case of trying to hit a wolf with a stick. Although Linde has business in China and Bingxin has a factory in Germany, the latter has been included in the strict selection list and there is no certainty about what will change in the future. The tacit understanding within this framework is the best way to move things forward.

"Well, this is really good news." He praised, "This time it's all good word of mouth from Mr. Fang."

Fang Zhuo said modestly: "You don't have to praise me all the time."

Qiu Ciyun couldn't help but praise: "Boss Fang's move is like the peaches and plums that do not speak, but the paths that follow them are formed! It's like when flowers bloom, butterflies will come! It's like sowing melons and reaping melons, sowing beans and reaping beans!"

"Hey, we are all kind-hearted people, Mr. Qiu, don't be so polite. Let's keep in touch at any time." Fang Zhuo stopped and turned to business. "I will meet with Linde's East Asia President, and then hand it over to Bingxin's Vice President Chen."

Qiu Ciyun nodded repeatedly. After the call ended, he still felt that this cooperation was too wonderful. Mr. Fang’s move was really, really... Good wine needs no bush!

He continued to work hard in Germany. Fang Shiwen, President of Linde Group East Asia, was a little confused when he received a call from the headquarters. Why did they suddenly have to invest and build a factory in Luzhou?

As the president of East Asia, Fang Shiwen has indeed dealt with Bingxin and knows that the other party is very strong in technology and craftsmanship, but in the past, they have always followed the procedures and handled them impartially. Moreover, Bingxin just appeared on Amei's strict selection this year...

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

He confirmed repeatedly, only to feel that the group CEO's order was extremely hasty. The answers he gave after several inquiries were quite vague. It felt like it was not based on the growth of the Chinese market, nor on the growth of revenue and profits, but just for the sake of projects...

But having said that, Asia Pacific's growth in the past two years is indeed second to none, having exceeded the group's profits in the Americas.

Fang Shiwen was confused but did not delay his journey. He went straight to the famous Yi Ke headquarters and met Mr. Fang, the head of Yi Ke.

He is Mr. Fang, and the other party is also Mr. Fang, but their influence is completely different. The group goes to Luzhou to invest, but it has to come to Shanghai to meet this person first. The collusion inside is obvious.

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

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

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

"Personally, I hope that the only answer to our cooperation this time is 'success'."

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

Fang Shiwen smiled but muttered in his heart, "Strategy or not, development or not, you, Mr. Fang, seem to understand it better than me, Mr. Fang..."

However, he had already understood what was meant. All conditions were negotiable, whether it was funding, land use, or local policies. He would probably get the green light all the way on this trip.

There is nothing much to say. You guys do your stuff behind the scenes, and we will do our stuff in front of the stage.

"Mr. Fang, I am determined to implement the group's strategic development. This time I will go to Luzhou to work quickly and well." Fang Shiwen made his statement, and as expected, he saw the smile on the face of Yi Ke's head.

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

(End of this chapter)