Agriculture Maniac

Chapter 639 Invitation to the World's Fair
San Francisco, on the west coast of North America.

DuPont headquarters.

The current head of the DuPont family, CE DuPont, who is 76 years old, wearing a three-line custom suit and leaning on a dragon-head cane similar to the one used by Smith, walked unsteadily to the door of the conference room with the help of a family veterinarian.

The struggle for capital is fraught with cruelty and bloodshed.

In the 60s, the DuPont family, which co-owned General Motors with the Morgan family, faced a fierce confrontation from the Morgan financial group. Later, most of the core members of the DuPont family were killed or injured, and the DuPont shares in General Motors were taken over by the elder Smith.

In the 80s, DuPont was in financial trouble due to long-term suppression by the Morgan financial group and was forced to adopt a partnership model. As a result, members of the DuPont family left the management.

In the 90s, under the manipulation of a management team of partners, DuPont completely broke away from the DuPont family.

Thus, the DuPont family only nominally owned shares in DuPont, unable to participate in management or obtain any profits.

And the only legal heir has disappeared without a trace.

Between 99 and 06, DuPont, controlled by the partner management team, competed with the Smith Group against the three major groups. The three groups severely damaged DuPont in agriculture, food, construction, communications, transportation, energy, and biotechnology, resulting in shrinking business, plummeting market value, changes in shareholding, and the company being on the verge of collapse.

at the same time.

In the winter of 05, the Italian Socialist Party encountered an elderly scavenger who was nearly frozen to death at a garbage station while they were delivering warmth to the community.

Out of humanitarian concern, volunteers from the Italian Socialist Party took the elderly scavenger to the Sanyuan Pharmacy next to the SY Mall for free medical treatment.

Later, in order to help him find his family, Sanyuan Pharmacy collected blood samples and discovered through gene comparison that the old man was actually the head of the DuPont family - CE DuPont.

At the same time.

A fire broke out in a Swiss bank vault. While firefighters were rescuing the stored items, they accidentally opened a safe deposit box and discovered documents and certificates related to the DuPont family's 68% stake in DuPont.

In January 2006, Zahi Warburg, the European financial magnate who controlled Swiss banks, personally commissioned more than a dozen international impartial institutions to verify thousands of documents and vouchers, which were ultimately found to be genuine.

In March 06, the only descendant of the DuPont family, DuPont XVII, and the de facto major shareholder of DuPont, CE DuPont, returned to North America aboard a 3 Series Lightboat business jet.

Two weeks later, DuPont moved its headquarters from Wilmington, Delaware, in the northeastern corner of North America, to San Francisco, California, on the west coast of North America.

In late 06, CE DuPont exercised his rights as a major shareholder and became Chairman and CEO of DuPont.

At this time, DuPont was on the verge of bankruptcy.

To turn the tide, DuPont defied public opinion, mortgaged all its assets, secured a loan from the rural credit cooperative, and then participated in the bidding for the Sanyuan Building Materials subsidiary, acquiring it at a fixed price.

Entering 07, DuPont revived and rose again thanks to new business, making it into the world's top 20 companies.

The name CE DuPont subsequently resounded throughout the global business world and was secretly referred to within Federal Capital as the 'Avenger' and the 'Modern Count of Monte Cristo'.

As everyone knows, after the death of the oil tycoon, the oil faction fell apart, and after the death of J.P. Morgan, the Morgan Group adopted a conservative strategy. Now, no one can act as the anchor of federal capital, nor can anyone integrate the fragmented federal capital.

In this chaotic situation, CE DuPont will certainly retaliate against the groups that targeted the DuPont family back then.

Therefore, there are both voices of support and opposition within Federal Capital regarding the return of the DuPont family.

Supporters include North American financial groups that admire DuPont as a kind of American comprador, North American real capital in a more difficult situation, and foreign trade capital that is heavily dependent on the import of three series.

The slogans they shouted were very pragmatic and simple.

"We need to introduce more three-system technologies."

"We cannot abandon the Eastern market."

“With the sanctions imposed on the three systems, we will have nothing to sell and nothing to make money.”

"Oppose sanctions against the three systems!"

"The bill that is about to take effect must be repealed!"

The opposition groups mainly include financial conglomerates fearing retaliation from DuPont, and Western technology alliances that have no choice but to fight this battle.

"The current DuPont is supplied with the vast majority of its products by its three subsidiaries, and a small portion of its products are manufactured by North American companies. It is not even an assembly plant."

"DuPont's business model not only fails to promote technological progress in North America, but also suppresses our local companies through price wars and dumping, forcing them to abandon their independent R&D capabilities and import technology from outside in order to make a profit in the face of malicious competition. In the long run, we will soon be eliminated by Sanxi Technology, which is not conducive to our own survival."

"And we not only want to eliminate companies like DuPont, but also drive out the three major corporations!"

"Only by driving out the 3 Series can we sell more consumer goods in the European and American markets."

Therefore, DuPont's decision to have Raytheon's chairman fly on a private plane was like adding fuel to the fire, immediately provoking the technology alliance that was already resistant to DuPont.

The fact that DuPont eliminated three wealthy Scandinavians, namely three direct descendants of the Walton family, and the opposition, driven by the tacit support of international Jewish news media, overshadowed the negative public opinion caused by "Bruce's daring parachute jump," becoming the hottest topic in North America.

...

CE DuPont's mind was filled with the dynamics of various capital sources. With the help of the family veterinarian, he followed the administrative secretary into the conference room.

The moment the door was opened, the CEOs of BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street, Blackstone, and others all turned to look at him.

CEO DuPont smiled slightly, instantly guessing what these financial giants were thinking.

'It's true, it really is CE DuPont!'

'My God, he's still alive!'

"Klaus, old John, Sonny... how have you been?"

CE DuPont's gaze swept across everyone's faces, calling out the names from 25 years ago.

Entering the new century, the ten financial groups that once controlled the North American Federation—the Rockefellers, the Morgan family, First Citibank, the DuPont Group, the Boston Group, the Mellon Group, the Cleveland Group, the Chicago Group, the California Group, and the Texas Group—have almost all become a thing of the past after decades of capital competition.

The losing side, such as the DuPont Group and the Boston Group, exists in name only.

The winners, such as the Rockefellers, the Morgan family, and Texas, constituted federal capital. Depending on their own circumstances, they invested in conglomerates such as BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street, Blackstone Group, and Blackstone Fund. Then, together with the North American troops under the military-industrial complex, they invested globally and continued to grow stronger.

In this process, family capital, such as Morgan, the oil tycoon, Brooks, and Smith, can exchange shares to allow BlackRock, Vanguard, and others to hold shares in each other.

Shareholding ratios can also be adjusted at any time through equity swaps.

Just like before 03, when Smith became a leading shareholder in the pioneering technology alliance to develop Silicon Valley, and when Brooks became a major shareholder in BlackRock to develop Texas, leading the real economy.

After 03, Old Smith was completely manipulated by Yu Sanyuan through "real economy influencing finance", increasing his shareholding in BlackRock and becoming BlackRock's largest shareholder.

In order to build Austin-Silicon Hill, Old Bu increased his stake in Vanguard, becoming its largest shareholder.

In these international investment companies, whoever is the major shareholder can dominate the company's strategy as long as there aren't many opponents.

However, to prevent major shareholders from making reckless decisions, Federal Capital has also appointed highly qualified professional managers.

If these managers have a good relationship with the major shareholders, they may adjust the strategy according to the wishes of the major shareholders. For example, the president of HP had a close relationship with Smith, and he was able to forcefully introduce the three-system internet card despite the pressure from the North American government's sanctions against the three-system.

If the relationship with the major shareholder is not good, for example, if the head of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo really dislikes Old Smith, even if Old Smith becomes a major shareholder of BlackRock, the investor behind Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo will still ignore Old Smith.

Professional managers need a resume and achievements.

So the group of CEOs in front of us includes former partners and managers of DuPont, DuPont's arch-rivals, senior management of DuPont, and representatives from DuPont's upstream and downstream companies.

It could be said that the two sides were very familiar with each other. CEO DuPont took his seat and asked, "Gentlemen, is your visit a joint effort to congratulate me, or to exert pressure on me?"

BlackRock's CEO began by saying, "CE, this is no longer an era of going it alone. Only by joining forces can our family survive indefinitely."

"Yes, I think so too, but please state your conditions."

“We are willing to give up 5% to 6% of our equity in exchange for all of DuPont’s equity.”

"Hahaha!"

CE DuPont laughed and shook his head. "Are you kidding me?"

BlackRock's CEO looked serious. "I'm seriously negotiating with you."

"Brother, BlackRock is an investment company that earns investment profits, not corporate profits."

Just like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, which together sell $100 billion worth of products a year, you can only extract a certain percentage of the investment return from the less than $1000 billion in profits, about $5 million to $8 million.

Based on the 6.5% equity you gave me, I would only receive 30 to 40 million US dollars annually.

On the other hand, looking at DuPont, based on the revenue ratio of the last quarter of 06, our annual revenue was about 2700 billion US dollars, with a profit of 12%, so I could get at least 280 billion US dollars.

You want me to exchange 28 billion for 30 to 40 million US dollars?

Am I stupid, or are you just bad at math?

“CE, you’ve only considered Coca-Cola. Our companies control almost all American companies within the federal territory, as well as a large number of overseas companies. If we calculate based on a 5% to 6% shareholding ratio, the money you ultimately receive each year is no less than DuPont’s annual revenue.”

"The problem is, you're on the decline, while I'm still on the rise. Why should I tie myself to your crumbling ship?"

Vanguard CEO: "CE, I think this is really a fantastic deal, you should seriously consider it."

"No, I have no confidence in investing in you, and I have no trust in the people behind you."

"Then there's nothing to discuss?" the CEO of the Montenegro Group said, standing up.

"There's absolutely no need to talk about it."

Before CE DuPont could finish speaking, the conference room door was pushed open.

The company's board secretary walked in, holding a thick, gleaming gold card the size of an A4 sheet of paper. "Chairman, this is an invitation from Yu Sanyuan."

"Oh?"

DuPont quickly accepted, "A ticket to the World's Fair?"

"Yes, Chairman. According to the information from the Third Department Factory Secretariat, with this admission ticket, you can call the Third Department Light Boat Business Jet at any time to fly directly to Shili Camp, and temporarily enjoy the same treatment as employees of the Third Department Factory at the venue, with all expenses for food, clothing, accommodation and transportation waived."

"Is that good? Quickly call for Qingzhou, I need to go to Shili Camp right now!"

After saying this, CE DuPont picked up the gleaming gold folded card, kissed it, carefully folded it again, and gently placed it in the inside pocket of his suit.

He then looked around the conference room and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, excuse me."

The CEOs looked at each other in bewilderment.

Wait until CE DuPont leaves.

"What invitation?"

"It looks like the World's Fair?"

"What is that? We haven't received any related information."

At this moment, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, who was the first to take out the three-system terminal to browse the forum, suddenly spoke up: "This is an exchange meeting that the three-system has organized to call on global companies to participate in, following the three-system space exhibition."

"Companies that receive an invitation, which is like an admission ticket, can submit more than 20 of their own advanced technologies, patents, samples, and products before the opening ceremony."

"After the three departments passed the review, the Shiliying Subdistrict Office provided booths and exhibition areas free of charge at the International Convention and Exhibition Center, and the Far East Trading Company provided traffic support free of charge."

"Then the trade hall will, based on votes cast at the expo, online votes, etc., either provide direct financial assistance starting at no less than US$100 million with no upper limit, or provide direct assistance such as tax exemption or free shipping, or provide direct support to upstream and downstream industries, or directly provide production lines..."

"Depending on the amount of aid and support, the region where the company is located will also receive three types of food aid, three types of light industry aid, and three types of construction aid."

"Assuming that all 20 technologies, patents, and samples that Cuba provides are deemed valuable by the Tri-Systems and can promote the progress of all mankind, in addition to the 20 aid items, the Tri-Systems will also help build a 200-kilometer high-speed railway and highway, or directly exchange them for a Tri-Systems nuclear power plant."

"hiss···"

The CEOs present all gasped in shock.

Yu Sanyuan's boldness in spending money and the speed of his three-system attack both shocked everyone.

Imagine, given these conditions, against the backdrop of a global economic depression, which country's companies wouldn't want to participate in the World's Fair?

Not only are companies scrambling to participate, but the countries they belong to are probably also urging their domestic companies to participate.

Furthermore, if North America were to initiate legislation to sanction the Tripartite Pact, prohibiting North American companies from participating, and even European companies from participating, would it mean that companies from other countries and regions would receive support from the Tripartite Pact if they did participate?

Then it will develop rapidly and become rich quickly. Although it cannot surpass Europe and the United States in a short period of time, it will create a siphon effect, drawing away talent and wealth from Europe and the United States.

As one side gains at the expense of the other, the economies of Europe and America will inevitably deteriorate and gradually fall behind.

Merrill Lynch CEO: "Why didn't I receive an invitation?"

Bear Stearns CEO: "Besides fundraising, securities trading, stock speculation, futures trading, and spreading investment tips to fool more uninformed investors, what else can you do?"

"···"

At that moment, the DuPont board secretary, who had just left, suddenly walked into the conference room again, carrying an exceptionally thick gold card.

“Mr. Kraul (CEO of BlackRock), the courier from the three-way courier just delivered our invitation letter. Hearing that you were here, he asked us to help pass it on.”

BlackRock's CEO was a little confused, "Mine?"

"Yes, after all, you are the largest investment group in North America's real economy."

Upon hearing this, the CEO of BlackRock readily accepted the invitation.

As he glanced across the conference room, he noticed that all the CEOs were looking at him with strange expressions.

"I absolutely did not pass the third level!"

The CEO of Pioneer Navigator said expressionlessly, "How can you say that our company has led the development of the technology alliance and has more technology than you? Why isn't mine included?"

The DuPont board secretary interjected, "Indeed, there's no one for you, but there is one for the Goldman Sachs CEO."

The Goldman Sachs CEO looked at the suddenly appearing third invitation, his eyes showing both a sense of relief and a hint of wariness: "Could it be that Yu Sanyuan is trying to sow discord between us?"

"I don't know about that," the DuPont board secretary said, glancing at the other CEOs who were looking at him expectantly. "I'm sorry, that's all I have."

"···"

(End of this chapter)