Reborn since 1993

Chapter 1399 The Wind Rises

Feiyan Technology is already listed in America, China.com is also going to be listed on NASDAQ, and Shenzhou Digital Cordless Phones have been shipping to America for years. America is the world's second largest shipping destination after Europe.

Feiyan MP3 players and Ruyan electronic cigarettes were only expanded to other markets after they were sold well in America.

Even though Li Dongling has not deliberately invested a lot of resources in developing Dongling High-Tech's market in America over the years.

However, Dongling Hi-Tech's presence in America is expanding rapidly, especially in North American markets such as Mexico and Canada, which are essentially America's backyard.

Old Europe, Japan, and other places were also under the jurisdiction of the United States. Therefore, for East Asia, the United States was a place that could not be bypassed sooner or later.

Now, Dongling Hi-Tech is considered an "insider" in America, and Dongxin has formed an alliance with SVG to fight against Japanese semiconductors.

Meanwhile, Dongling High-Tech's mobile phone and computer businesses have not yet truly threatened American companies.

Therefore, for the time being, America will not take action against Dongling High-Tech. However, things are unpredictable, and Dongling High-Tech must prepare for potential risks in the future.

The most direct solution is to find a powerful figure in America to endorse Dongling High-Tech.

When a group of powerful figures in America have a stake in Dongling High-Tech, they will step in whether they want to or not, when Dongling High-Tech is targeted in America. They are not doing it for Dongling High-Tech, but for themselves!

At that time, it will be a power struggle among the powerful figures in America to see which side has the upper hand.

Even if Dongke is indeed being targeted, or Shenzhou products are banned from sale in the United States, the person who issues the ban order will offend a large number of powerful figures!

In order to target Dongke and jeopardize his career, his family gained a large number of rivals, even mortal enemies. Whether it was worth it or not is up to him.

Of course, we can't place all our hopes on those powerful figures in America; those people can turn on you faster than flipping through a book.

When weighing the pros and cons, and realizing that protecting Dongke would be a losing proposition for them, they would probably sell Dongke in an instant to acquire more bargaining chips.

If Dongling High-Tech were to encounter the same predicament as Alstom and Chrysanthemum Factory in France in the future, it would only be able to rely on itself. Only by maintaining its base in the inland and Southeast Asian regions and stabilizing its market in Europe would Dongling High-Tech have a chance to turn things around.

As for the necessary preparations, it's definitely worth offending, even if it's disgusting and repulsive, those who have stabbed Dongke in the back.
If we do nothing and let the other party take advantage of us, and kneel down when threatened, then the other party probably won't let Dongke off the hook, but will instead intensify their actions.

Cornell was surprised to hear that Li Dongling wanted Goldman Sachs and the Kennedy family, two major investment banks, to endorse China.com.

It should be noted that, according to the usual practice of inland companies, once they go overseas, they will do everything they can to stay away from politics, for fear of getting involved with certain powerful figures overseas.

As for seeking endorsements from powerful figures, this rarely happens to inland companies.

But considering the scale of Dongke's operations overseas, Cornell was no longer surprised. Dongke had been operating overseas for many years and was well aware of the rules. It was no longer a novice.

Moreover, judging from Feiyan Technology's practices in America over the years, it spends a considerable amount of money each year on public relations firms.

Therefore, Cornell was no longer surprised by Li Dashan's request. On the contrary, he felt that Dongke was finally adopting the practices of an international giant company, raising its own spokesperson.

At this moment, Cornell felt that China.com might perform even better on Nasdaq than Goldman Sachs had predicted!
A company that understands the American market and is proficient in internet technology, and is willing to share profits with powerful families on Wall Street and in America, has a much higher probability of becoming a giant on Nasdaq than other companies!
"The price to pay for getting the President's family and members of the Texas King Cowboys to endorse China.com won't be cheap!"

Cornell said meaningfully to Li Dongling that getting endorsements from powerful figures in America would come at a high price; otherwise, how could one possibly sway them?

Hoping to get the president's family to endorse the country is futile if the offer is too small.

Just like with the equity of China.com, if they wanted the family foundation of the President and his wife to invest, they might have to sell the equity based on valuation, or symbolically sell it under the guise of consulting fees, technology transfer, etc.

"China.com can transfer 2% of its equity from the financing to a foundation of the President's family or the Cowboy family. After the cooperation is completed, we hope that a member of the President's family can serve as an advisor to the board of directors of China.com."

This collaboration, handled by Goldman Sachs, Bear Stearns, and a third-party public relations firm in Washington, shouldn't disappoint, right?

Looking at the two people in front of him, Li Dongling said, "When it comes to the art of donation, Wall Street institutions and Washington public relations firms have plenty of methods and reputations. There's no need for the great philanthropist Li to worry about it."

Those who say that America has no social interaction or gift-giving traditions should take a look at the thousands of public relations, consulting firms, and brokers in Washington and see what they do for a living before drawing conclusions. It's impossible that so many public relations firms and brokers are doing volunteer work, right?
Cornell lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then exchanged a glance with Wei Jiaxuan before finally nodding.

If China.com raises funds at a valuation of $42 billion, then this 2% stake in China.com would be an absolute steal, a deal that even the powerful families of presidents and cowboys wouldn't be able to refuse. For Goldman Sachs, the task is to find a name and channel that complies with American law, leaving no room for criticism, to complete the transaction.

Although it's a bit troublesome, it's not a difficult task for Goldman Sachs. They can simply set up a few more overseas foundations, transfer the shares between their own hands, and subcontract them multiple times, allowing the president's family foundation to indirectly hold the equity. No one can find fault with that, and the whole process is conducted overseas, making it impossible for ordinary people to get involved.

As for whether we can find out the truth if we really put in the effort, then at that point, will we still need to care about this transaction?

It's not about whether the president's family has lost power. This kind of game, where the facade has already been torn off, is basically a life-or-death struggle. Whether there are one more or one less charge is basically irrelevant.

Regarding Li Dashanren's request for China.com to raise funds at a valuation of $42 billion, Cao Zongyan, Wei Jiaxuan, and Cornell, although they also felt it was expensive, gritted their teeth and accepted it.

Given China.com's current momentum, its stock price will definitely soar after listing, and it's only a matter of time before the invested money is recouped.

What China.com is most concerned about, besides China.com, is Ruyan e-cigarettes!

Li Dashan had previously made it clear that investing in China.com was equivalent to obtaining a ticket to enter the Ruyan e-cigarette market, which was what the companies cared about most. They all knew that Ruyan e-cigarettes were the real prize.

Subsequently, China.com's new round of financing before its IPO was jointly led by Goldman Sachs, Bear Stearns, and Bank of China.

According to the plan, if China.com goes public with a valuation of US$42 billion, then at the time of the final listing, Cyberport will hold 33.4% of the shares, Hong Kong Future Industry Foundation will hold 6.4%, and Bank of China, Goldman Sachs, and Bear Stearns will each hold 8.53% of China.com's shares.

The remaining 2% of the shares are held by members of the Presidential Family or the Cowboy Family. The Fok Family Foundation, Wheelock and Company, Chang Gung Foundation, Charoen Pokphand Group, Kerry Group and other Hong Kong and Southeast Asian families, each hold 1.92% of China.com's shares.

In addition, China.com will also implement a round of equity incentives for all senior executives and employees, with an estimated 3% of China.com's equity to be distributed.

The internet industry has developed much faster than other industries, attracting countless geniuses and young people to fight tooth and nail for it, naturally because of its potential for quick riches.

If you bet on the right company, everyone can rise to the top. In internet companies, all employees can receive stock options, including cleaning staff. Once a company goes public, everyone becomes a millionaire. China.com will naturally not break the rules.

Another 20% stake in China.com will be sold as tradable shares, with a plan to issue 60 million shares at $14 per share, raising a total of $840 million, setting a new global internet record!
When the preliminary agreement was finalized and signed, Li Dongling couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Although China.com still had a long way to go before it went public, the most difficult part was finally over.

With the backing of Goldman Sachs, Bear Stearns, and powerful figures in America, coupled with the reputation and traffic of China.com, going public is only a matter of time for China.com.

For Bank of China, Goldman Sachs, and Bear Stearns, this investment, though costly, will become a model of investment in the internet industry if China.com goes public and its stock price rises.

When will the launch of Ruyan e-cigarettes take place?

After the agreement was signed, Wei Jiaxuan, the "Queen of Bear Stearns Investment" who was always decisive and efficient, couldn't help but ask Li Dongling a question.

"Representatives from Ruyan e-cigarettes' two major shareholders, Hanxi Guotou and Microsoft, are on their way to Hong Kong. Once they arrive, Ruyan e-cigarettes' financing and listing can begin immediately!"

Li Dongling began by saying that Ruyan e-cigarettes has several shareholders. It was established by Torch Group, and in addition to Dongke, Torch Group also has two other major shareholders: Hanxi Guotou and Pingyang Chengtou.

Zhang Xiaocheng, representing Pingyang City Investment, could only begin negotiations after Wu Yaoguo of Hanxi State-owned Investment and Microsoft, which had previously invested in Ruyan e-cigarettes and held a 10% stake, arrived in Gangcheng.

Hearing Li Dongling's words, Wei Jiaxuan was somewhat anxious, but she could only wait.

In the evening, Cyberport held a grand celebration banquet for companies such as China.com, 3721, and Kingsoft, inviting celebrities from all walks of life in the port city, especially many stars and models. However, Li Dashanren had no interest in attending and instead returned to his villa on the hillside to spend time with his wife.

On the day of the banquet, news of China.com and 3721's upcoming IPO began to circulate widely in the port city.

……

"The Internet era is about to arrive in our port city!"

"The first Zhongguancun Internet concept stock in Hong Kong is coming! 3721 will be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with a record market value of HK$62.4 billion!"

The next day, when Mr. Li, the philanthropist, went downstairs for breakfast with his little cotton-padded jacket in his arms, he had just turned on the TV when he heard the host excitedly reporting that the winds of the internet had finally reached the port city.

(End of this chapter)