My Age of Investment

  Chapter 512 Defending National Brands (seeking monthly pass)

   "Mr. Zeng, I heard that ATL almost went bankrupt?"

  Xia Jingxing thought for a while, and decided to put the breakthrough on Zeng Qianqun first.

  Because according to Deng Yuanjun’s feedback, among the founders and shareholders of ATL, this one is the one who has the most favorable impression of Envision Capital.

   "Yes, it was pitted by the Americans at the time, and the black-hearted Bell Labs sold us a technology with a lot of flaws."

  Zeng Weiqun looked upset, because he was so excited that even the foul language exploded.

  Even after many years, he can't forget the despair he had in those days, and he was bestowed by the Americans.

After the anger in his heart subsided a little, Zeng Qianqun slowly told Xia Jingxing about his experience of being trapped at that time.

  "After deciding to start a battery business, we have been looking for research and development directions.

  The common round batteries, square batteries and other products on the market at that time were basically the world of Japanese companies such as Sony and Panasonic.

  They have a high degree of automation and uniform quality, and it is difficult for Chinese companies to compete with them.

  Later we discovered that a clamshell phone from Nokia was equipped with a Sony polymer soft pack battery.

  This kind of battery is short, thin and easy to carry.

  So we judged that this may be a future direction of development, so I flew to the United States with the funds and purchased a patent license for polymer lithium batteries from Bell Laboratories..."

  Xia Jingxing acted as a loyal listener, standing from the perspective of bystanders from time to time, criticizing the immoral Bell Labs with outrage.

  "They made it clear that it was a lie. The technology we bought for a full US$1 million, and the battery produced, became swollen and deformed after a few recharges, and there was no way to sell it."

  Recalling the past, Zeng Qianqun smiled bitterly, “At that time, we had a total of 2.5 million US dollars in venture capital. We spent 40% of the capital to buy this waste technology, and then spent some other places, and it was almost out of money on the account.

  I have no choice but to fly to the United States again to find Bell Labs.

  I have a very good attitude. I didn't mention the return of the goods, let alone the loss of money. I just want them to help solve this technical defect.

  Result, guess what?

  The Yankee said slowly that battery swelling is an old and difficult problem, and they don’t know how to solve it, and no one of the twenty-odd authorized companies around the world can handle it. "

   "It's a scammer. If you scam you, it counts as one."

  Xia Jingxing criticized righteously and shook his head again and again, “I have been in the United States for a few years, and foreigners there have only interests in their eyes. Don’t expect them to have noble character and morals.”

  Zeng Haoqun nodded in agreement, "Yes, since then, I have been dealing with foreigners with a lot of precautionary psychology."

   "What about your technology? I read the information. It seems that you have improved the formula, and the battery is not swollen and deformed. How can it be so powerful?"

  Xia Jingxing smiled and said, “Although Bell Labs has poor character, its technology is certainly not bad.

  The problem that they haven't solved, I heard that you have solved it completely in two weeks? "

  Xia Jingxing’s support is very much in line with Zeng Lianqun’s wishes.

  He said very modestly: "Actually, it's not that supernatural anymore, it's just good luck.

  Seeing that the company is about to fall into a financial crisis, as the person who bought the technology, I felt very uncomfortable and could not sleep all night.

  I couldn't sleep at night, so I was thinking hard in bed and suddenly thought of the electrolyte composition.

  The upper temperature limit for lithium batteries is 85 degrees Celsius, and the boiling point of some components in Bell Labs electrolyte is 93 degrees Celsius, which is very close to the upper limit of lithium battery temperature.

  I thought at the time, is there any connection?

  Think of something, I immediately started to do it, and the dead horse was treated as a living horse doctor.

  Immediately, I contacted the electrolyte manufacturer and came up with seven new formulas that eliminated low-boiling chemicals.

  Two weeks later, the batteries made according to the two new formulas are really not swelling!

  In this way, our ATL has become the only company that has successfully mass-produced among more than 20 companies authorized by Bell Labs in the world. "

  Speaking of this, Zeng Qianqun showed a self-confident smile.

  Although his smile is restrained, the triumph in his eyes cannot be concealed.

  Xia Jingxing clapped his hands and exclaimed, “Wonderful! Americans are called cocoon and self-restraint. They sold you a "junk" technology for $1 million, but you turned it into a treasure and built a company with at least $100 million.

  I don’t know if the Americans will jump off the Mississippi River if they know it. "

  Xia Jingxing’s words were very much in line with Zeng Qun’s appetite. The latter smiled and said, “So, I don’t think we Chinese are actually stupid, and Americans are not as smart as we thought.”

  Xia Jingxing nodded, “I have read authoritative reports. The average Chinese has an IQ of 107, while the Americans have only more than 90. There is still a few Japanese differences.”

  Xia Jingxing said, while pretending to inadvertently examine the subtle expressions on Zeng Qianqun’s face.

   Hearing Xia Jingxing belittle the Americans and Japan himself, Zeng Qianqun had no dissatisfaction. Instead, he laughed and said, "Well said, I am actually not particularly smart, but my industrial foundation is good."

   Japanese companies that are under high pressure, pay attention to the distinction between superior and inferior, and have to nod and bow, unless they are naturally servile, few Chinese have a good impression.

  Zeng Fengqun worked at Shinco with superior technology and became the first mainland director in ten years.

  But with his contributions to the company, he can actually be promoted to senior management a long time ago.

  Before founding ATL, a headhunter had already hired him to serve as the general manager of a large-scale company in Pengcheng.

  At that time, Shinco’s president Liang Shaokang, and Li Tanghua, who had a good understanding of Zeng Qianqun, and his immediate boss, had repeatedly discouraged them and brought Zeng Qianqun to become a partner of ATL.

  Two senior executives, life and death have to hire a middle-level partner as a partner, which shows the ability of Zeng Qunqun.

   But so capable, it can only be in the middle level of Japanese companies.

  Xia Jingxing guessed that Zeng Qianqun should not have a good impression of Japanese companies.

  And the company founded by the other party, named after his hometown, is called "Ningde Times".

  In Xia Jingxing's opinion, this is not very common, but it should be because of deep love for his hometown.

  Of course, it does not rule out the suspicion of showing favor to a certain leader who has served in Ningde.

  No matter what, Xia Jingxing has basically tested some tendencies of Zeng Qianqun.

  As long as you don’t "enjoy the sun", things will be much easier to handle.

  Xia Jingxing said: “After the battery formula is successfully developed, the development of ATL has completely embarked on the fast lane.

The lithium battery designed by    is only half the price of Korean batteries, but the capacity has doubled, and business orders have come in steadily. In 2002, it achieved single-month profit and full-year profit.

  In 2003, the world’s first industrialized lithium iron phosphate battery was developed in one breath, the world’s first industrialized high-rate charge-discharge battery, and the world’s first industrialized toward long-life polymer lithium battery"

  Although these are facts, seeing Xia Jingxing’s words full of admiration, Zeng Qianqun will inevitably still have some small complacency in his heart.

  After all, Xia Jingxing is a well-known billionaire. Even he has awe of ATL. How can he not make his heart surging and his pride?

  Xia Jingxing doesn’t boast casually, he is going to raise it first and then suppress it.

  After putting on the high hat, he looked at Zeng Lequn with scorching eyes, "As one of the few companies in China that can occupy a leading position in technology in the world. Mr. Zeng, do you want ATL to become a foreign company? And it is a wholly-owned foreign company!

  We often regret the loss of national brands, but when this kind of thing falls on us, what choice will we make? "

  Zeng Fang smiled and waved his hands, "Mr. Xia, you don't need to test me, you worry too much. Today we invite you over, the tendency is obvious.

  But you also know that with so many shareholders in ATL, TDK is also our shareholder.

  Our opinion is important, but more importantly, you have to give other shareholders a satisfactory price.

  I have no other meaning, just to show my attitude, I can support you, but for more things, Vision Capital has to fight for it by itself. "

  Looking at Zeng Lunqun with a candid face, Xia Jingxing let out a hearty laugh, "Okay, with your words, Mr. Zeng, then I am completely relieved."

  Zeng Yan group smiled and nodded, and did not speak.

   "I heard that the reason why Carlyle Investments plans to cash out is because I visited BAK Battery and found that their prices can be cheaper than ATL.

  So Carlyle felt that you had no future.

  As soon as Carlyle planned to withdraw, Handing and 3i chose to follow up. "

  Hearing Xia Jingxing talk about this sad thing, Zeng Qianqun nodded and sighed softly, his face was full of regret and sorrow.

  This matter can't be concealed from interested people, and it will be clear after a little investigation.

  Zeng Jianqun did not want to conceal this, so as to ask for some bargain on the company's valuation.

  He is now very Buddhist, and it depends on how Envision Capital competes with TDK.

  He will help Vision Capital as far as he can.

   But as he said, he cannot control the overall situation alone.

  If Carlyle hadn't taken the lead in making a noise to quit, their ATL would not have become the situation it is today. After all, the three of them have given a big goal to ring the bell since the day they started their business.

  But now the three shareholders are clamoring to cash out and leave. According to the agreement, they can't stop it and don't have the money to buy back.

  And the shares of the three shareholders can be combined to achieve a controlling position. Even if their founders do not sell their shares, they will not be able to obtain control of the company. It is better to sell them together, simply and neatly.

  Xia Jingxing's seemingly casual inquiries are actually collecting useful clues.

  Whether it can achieve the purpose of reducing the cost of acquisition, the password is hidden in these clues.

  "I heard that Apple’s iPod could not find a suitable battery. I contacted you in 2004 and placed 18 million orders with you?"

  Zeng Haoqun nodded, "Yes, we have a good cooperative relationship with Apple in the United States."

  At this time, Apple's mobile phone has not yet been born, the so-called "fruit chain" is not as strong as it will be in the future, and Apple is only one of ATL's major customers.

  In addition to Apple, ATL also provides batteries for many consumer electronics manufacturers such as DVDs, Bluetooth headsets, and mobile phones.

  So even though Apple’s thighs have been embraced at the moment, ATL can’t enjoy any premium in terms of valuation.

  Several stubborn investment institutions are clamoring to withdraw at this time, which is no different from Li Zekai, who sold Penguin’s shares.

  After confirming that the Apple industry chain could not become an important weight in the ATL valuation system, Xia Jingxing was relieved a lot.

  The current consideration is how TDK Group regards ATL as a company. In the eyes of Japan, this battery company is so valuable.

  (End of this chapter)