Chapter 1121 Direction

Feng Yiping glanced at Cummins, and he immediately said, "Understood, proceed as planned immediately."

Although he was a little disappointed, it was not all a bad thing for him if the friendly merger failed.

It would be best if he could conduct a friendly merger and acquisition, but if he could successfully preside over a malicious merger and acquisition, that would highlight his ability even more, wouldn't it?

"Feng, I just sent an analysis report on the supply of key raw materials for lithium batteries to your email,"

"Oh? Let's take a look." At least this newly formed department of Cummins is quite efficient.

"There's tea over there, pour it yourself," Feng Yiping didn't need to dress up in front of his own people.

Cummins was very interested in what Feng Yiping came up with. "When I was in Japan, I experienced their tea ceremony. Is this similar to the Japanese tea ceremony?"

"The Japanese tea ceremony originated from the Chinese tea art. It was originally an imitation, but later incorporated some of their clan's characteristics. If it is similar, it is because their so-called tea ceremony is similar to the Chinese tea art."

If it weren't for the fact that he had to pay attention to his image in front of his subordinates, Feng Yiping would have directly said that this is the ancestor of the Japanese tea ceremony.

Cummins still heard the emotions in Feng Yiping's words. It seemed that his young boss had some minor objections to their close neighbor.

Feng Yiping was reading the report quietly. Cummins followed in his footsteps and pretended to make Kung Fu tea. However, he only drank two cups and lost interest. This tea tasted different from the black tea he often drank. too much.

Because it was a summary report, it was not long, only a few thousand words. Feng Yiping read it quickly, "It seems that it is really necessary to get involved in the supply of upstream raw materials,"

Cummins hurriedly put down his teacup and sat down at his desk, "And we believe that now is the most appropriate time and most cost-effective to enter upstream,"

“Take the already scarce cobalt as an example. Although the current demand for cobalt in the battery industry is rising, it is less than 10% of the total usage. However, according to our predictions, with the development of the battery industry, its impact on cobalt will increase. The demand for cobalt will increase significantly. In ten years at most, the battery industry’s usage will account for at least half of the cobalt supply in the entire market.”

"If we wanted to enter then, there would be few opportunities and the cost would naturally be high,"

Cobalt is currently widely used in high-temperature alloys for turbine engines, hard steel, cemented carbide in machinery manufacturing, drilling tools, catalysts, magnetic materials and other industries.

It can be seen that although the total demand for cobalt in the above industries is large, they can produce high value-added products using only a very low amount of cobalt. In fact, they are not sensitive to the price of cobalt.

But this does not apply to the lithium battery industry. Although the added value of lithium batteries is also high, how can it have as high an added value as the high-temperature alloys and cemented carbide of turbine engines?

94% of the world's cobalt raw material supply comes from by-products obtained from the mining and smelting processes of nickel mines and copper mines, and only 6% of the raw materials come directly from cobalt mines.

That is to say, the supply of cobalt is mainly limited by the output of nickel and copper, so it is extremely unstable. However, the market demand for it is rigid. For example, in the lithium battery industry, the demand for cobalt raw materials will increase year by year, and supply and demand will naturally exist. The huge imbalance will inevitably lead to supply shortages and price increases.

You must know that batteries account for 30% to 40% of the production cost of pure electric vehicles. It is said to be a lithium battery. In fact, lithium only accounts for about 2% of the mass of lithium batteries, and cobalt accounts for a higher proportion of the cost of lithium-ion batteries, even It can be said that its price determines the cost of lithium-ion batteries.

Therefore, in order to ensure future profits, it is really necessary to prepare for a rainy day.

"There is no need to consider cobalt mines," Feng Yiping shook his head. More than 60% of the world's cobalt mines are located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In his impression, that country seems to have always been unstable, and investing there is too risky.

Moreover, developing a cobalt mine is not an easy task and requires a large investment of time and money.

"Oh, there is a nickel mine with the second largest reserves in the world in northwest China. Is there a salt lake that produces lithium in that area?" This data that Cummins put in front made Feng Yiping a little happy.

However, those engaged in these two industries are naturally state-owned enterprises.

This estimate alone is applicable to all countries. No matter which country you are in, if you want to open a mine, you must have a lot of dealings with government departments.

"In this way, you contact Mr. Jin and collect as much information as possible in this area. At the end of the year or the beginning of the year, go there for an on-site inspection on behalf of the group to see if there are any opportunities for cooperation."

At a time when there is a lively discussion in the country about the original sins of private enterprises, he does not want or expect to participate, let alone promote the restructuring of state-owned enterprises related to mining.

However, many state-owned enterprises are now going public. Now that I have enough reputation and qualifications, I am happy to become a strategic investor in those companies before they go public.

This still makes him quite proud of himself.

After more than ten years of hard work, we may be able to get the qualification to drink coffee with some people, but to become a strategic investor that many companies that are planning to go public are looking forward to introducing is a qualification that most people will not get in their lifetime.

In order to participate in the subscription of new shares, most of us can only wait for the lottery draw. As for the winning rate, well, if we don’t talk about it, it would be tears to say too much.

However, for some influential people, the choice is not too many.

For example, domestic companies that are interested in listing on the Hong Kong stock market, in order to smooth the IPO, will usually take the initiative to invite influential wealthy families in Hong Kong to become strategic investors in their company before listing, that is, they will take the initiative to provide them with low prices. Opportunity to purchase original shares.

Back then, Feng Yiping saw that the wealthy families in Hong Kong who had too much money to spend were dragged into buying some original stocks. In a short period of time, the money they invested easily more than doubled. That jealous person, now, he and his company finally have this qualification.

"Okay, I'm also looking forward to going to China," Cummins said.

"Oh, I might find you a companion then," Feng Yiping thought of another person he also wanted to bring to the country for inspection.

…………

Feng Yiping came home and received a warm welcome. There were three people participating in the welcome. Huang Jingping who was waiting in front of the door, her daughter who rushed over after hearing the sound, and Xiaola who was following her daughter wagging her tail. Brado.

"Dad, come and see, grandma is giving Grandpa Zeng a haircut,"

"I took my grandpa to the barber shop in the morning. When he saw the price, he ignored everything," Huang Jingping explained.

In the United States, the old man doesn’t know other characters, but he can still recognize Arabic numerals. Feng Yiping knows that the hairdresser Huang Jingping went to, even if it is a simple haircut, hair drying for men, plus a tip, it will cost 40 US dollars, converted into It’s RMB, which is more than 300 yuan at a time. Grandpa doesn’t accept it, but it’s understandable.

To be honest, Feng Yiping felt a little bit sad sometimes, mainly because he felt worthless and felt like he was being ripped off.

In China, a haircut costing around 50 yuan is considered very good. Not only does it come with a haircut, hair dryer, but also a girl with good skills to give you a massage.

But here, a complete set of washing, cutting and blow-drying can be done in at most ten minutes. If you want to enjoy massage and other services, you need to purchase an additional "HairSpa" hair care package, which means you have to pay another amount and give a tip. .

"Come back," Grandpa was sitting on the porch in the backyard, while Mei Qiuping was repairing him with a pair of scissors.

"You're back, Mom, your skills are good,"

Mei Qiuping was a little happy, "It was better before," she said.

In the past, when a few dollars was considered a big expense, the housewives in the village were reluctant to spend that money, that is, to buy a pair of scissors. You would help me take care of it, and I would take care of it for you, so that it became a habit. There are still people who don’t go to the barber shop.

"Go and wash your hands, we'll be ready soon,"

…………

Huang Jingping took her daughter and watched Feng Yiping wash his face, and couldn't help but ask, "Did the conversation go well today?"

She knew that Feng Yiping's purpose of borrowing that huge loan was for Netflix. Although she completely believed in Feng Yiping, it was a very large amount, 2 billion US dollars, so she could not help but be more concerned about it.

"It seems like it won't be as smooth as Coin Star," Feng Yiping didn't intend to hide it from her. "This is normal. Of course, we will try our best to make him and the board of directors change their minds, but he just resisted. , that’s okay,”

"Do you remember Xu Zhimo's song "Accidental"? In this matter, there is no such thing as you have yours, I have mine, direction,"

"Well, Hastings will soon understand that this matter can only go in one direction, and that is my direction,"

"You are so domineering,"

"What, don't you like it?" Feng Yiping touched her face, "Look at the way your eyes are shining."

"What nonsense are you talking about? How can I have it?"

"Amanda, do you think Mom is here? Come on, let's go eat. Can Dad take you to Seattle tomorrow?"

ps: Sorry everyone! I came back late in the afternoon, which is even later.