Rebirth 76: Industrial Internet Empire

Qian Ning didn't know why Yang Mo was determined to win Cambridge Instruments. What he didn't know was that Leica and Cambridge Instruments would become crucial supporting companies in the chip industry chain in the future.

The scanning electron microscope, known as the "microscopic camera", will be widely used in semiconductors, materials, biochemicals, medicine, metallurgy and other fields in the future. It is also one of the advanced equipment included in the technical control in the "Batumi Agreement"!

However, Hans Wilder knew the people on the board of directors better. He gave Charlie Jenkins an idea and asked him to secretly submit his resignation to the board of directors together with the core technical team of Cambridge Instruments.

Under pressure, the board of directors of Cambridge Instruments agreed to Zhiyuan International's overall acquisition of all shares of Cambridge Instruments for US$1.45 million.

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Mlada, a small town north of the Czech capital Prague, is where the Skoda Auto headquarters is located.

Dramatic changes in Eastern Europe Skoda, a century-old car, is in unprecedented trouble.

The solution given by the newly established Czech Industrial Management Council is to separate Skoda Auto from the Skoda Group as a whole.

Skoda's weird rear-engine design and rough craftsmanship are difficult to arouse consumers' desire to buy. However, in order to open up the Eastern European market, several European car companies have conducted in-depth negotiations with the Skoda Group.

Renault's acquisition plan is the simplest and crudest, which is to make Skoda become the OEM of Renault cars, abandon the Skoda brand, and switch to the production of Renault cars.

Volkswagen's offer was much more sincere. Not only did it agree to acquire Skoda Auto's equity at the normal appraisal price, it also agreed to retain the Skoda brand. Skoda Auto will continue to have its own independent design, production, R&D, and sales departments!

Just when the public was almost certain to win, Piech came to Prague in person.

Piëch actually dislikes Scott Auto. In the past two years, Saab's local factory has expanded its production capacity twice in a row, and its joint venture plant in China has also successfully mass-produced. Piëch wants to acquire Audi, Porsche, and Bentley. These European high-end car brands.

Piëch didn't quite understand Yang Mo's strategy of using low-end cars to occupy the markets of developing countries. He always felt that cars were high-end consumer goods. Only in a few developed countries could they enter the homes of ordinary people and make money. Of course they could. Rich people make better money!

The Czech Industrial Management Council, under the introduction of Steve Bowen, president of the Prague branch of Merlo Bank, Piech met Hasek, who is in charge of the automotive industry.

"Steve! Long time no see..." Hasek gave Steve Bowen a warm hug as soon as he came up.

In Eastern European countries at this time, the presidents of foreign banks were the most popular figures wherever they went. With abundant supplies and a lot of dollars in their hands, there was almost nothing they couldn't do!

"Your Excellency, Minister, I know you are busy with official duties recently, so I won't bother you!" Steve Bowen chuckled.

Hasek also knew that the most popular banker in Prague at this stage would not make a special trip to the Industrial Management Committee to see him, so he directly asked: "Steve, you made a special trip to the Management Committee today. What should you do?" Is it something?"

Steve Bowen pointed to Piech behind him and said: "Your Excellency Minister, this is Mr. Piech, CEO of Saab Automobile Group. Maybe he can solve the problem that is troubling you!"

"Mr. Piech, welcome to Prague. Are you, Saab, also interested in reaching an in-depth cooperation with Skoda?" Hasek said with a smile on his face.

"Your Excellency, Minister, with all due respect, I am not sure what strategic considerations Volkswagen and Renault have in participating in the privatization of Skoda Auto, but I am certain that neither Renault nor Volkswagen is the most suitable partner for Skoda!" After a brief greeting. , Piech said straight to the point.

"Not a suitable partner? How can I say this?" Hasek asked in confusion.

"Actually, the reason is very simple. Volkswagen and Renault are both brands with the same price range as Skoda. Why would they want to acquire a car company that is exactly the same as themselves? There are two reasons. One is to use Skoda's production base to assemble their own brand of cars. , quickly opened up the Eastern European market, and also acquired part of Skoda's equity, hindering other companies from cooperating with Skoda, causing Skoda's brand value to slowly shrink, and finally obtained Skoda's remaining equity at an ultra-low price, turning it into a foundry. ..." Piëch said gushingly.

"How is this possible? This will destroy the Czech automobile industry..." Hasek muttered to himself in disbelief.

"Impossible? Mr. Hasek, is there any car company willing to sign a technology transfer or licensing agreement with Skoda?" Piëch asked murderously.

Hashek pondered for a while and then asked: "That's not true. Is Saab willing to provide us with technology transfer?"

"Mr. Hasek, you also know that Saab mainly produces high-end cars, and Skoda can fill the gap in our mid- to low-end cars. We will formulate a detailed development plan for Skoda and jointly explore overseas markets!" Piech He avoided answering questions about technology transfer and deliberately changed the subject.

Hashek was able to sit in this high position, and he couldn't be fooled by just a few words. After pondering for a moment, he immediately asked: "What kind of specific development plan is it?"

"After the acquisition is successful, Saab will join hands with Skoda to launch a global synchronized development plan. We will use our advanced design concepts and excellent quality management system to help Skoda compete with Volkswagen, Renault and other brands in the Asian and Eastern European markets." !" Piëch said sincerely.

Even Piech himself may not believe these words. Skoda's poor design and quality control capabilities will mean that it will not be able to compete with Volkswagen and Renault in just a few years.

But the temptation of this empty promise to Hashek was far beyond imagination, because Hashek was already sensitive to the "business opportunities" contained in Piech's plan.

Steve Bowen, CEO of the Prague branch of Merlo Bank, is Hasek’s long-term partner. Having him as the bridge will definitely benefit him. As for Piëch’s previous alarmism and these empty promises now, Just enough reason to change partners!

The old-fashioned and rigorous Germans always fail to grasp the key points of negotiations and do not understand the "essence" of the privatization process of Eastern European state-owned enterprises. They only pretend to be stupid when it comes to Hasek's suggestion that I see your "sincerity". Stunned!

Talking over and over again about craftsmanship and technical advantages, or endless haggling...

But are these really important?