1855 United States Tycoon

Chapter 60 Future Alliance

At the end of May 1858, Scrooge came to New York, ready to take a boat to Europe, to accept the honor of “Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences” given to him by the British and French. Before leaving, Rockefeller and Scrooge had a long conversation.

At that time, Rockefeller found Scrooge, and he told Scrooge that he hoped that Scrooge could take him a ride and let him get involved in Scrooge’s new company.

“Scrooge, you can really keep it secret. I didn’t know until you came up with such a earth-shattering thing and the whole world knew it.” Rockefeller shook his head, seeming to blame Scrooge for not being interesting enough.

“Recent breakthrough…” Scrooge seemed to explain.

“No need to explain, Scrooge.” Rockefeller said, “I know the weight of this thing. If I change myself, I will keep it secret as much as possible until it succeeds. Even my father I won’t let him know. I You know, even now, you must know that you can’t really monopolize this big market. This market is too big, I’ll forget it, the European market alone, at least 30 million to 50 million pounds a year. In this way In front of the market, all shit laws are waste paper. Such numbers are enough to make Europeans start a war for this. I think you must know this. You will also give out some or even most of it. Benefits come to compromise with others. Because this is the general trend, and you cannot resist it. In that case, can you let me get a share of yours?”

“John, what you said is very reasonable.” Scrooge said, “Indeed, such a large market is not something I can eat alone. Not to mention, although the British and the French have signed a contract with us. Agreement to protect patents, but if I insist that one person swallow all the benefits, they will definitely let people illegally produce these drugs-well, as long as you get a sample, it is very easy to analyze what it is. Take the UK or The level of science in France is not difficult. By then, there will be such illegally produced sulfonamides everywhere in Europe, and the governments of the two countries will definitely just turn one eye and close one eye and pretend to be invisible. In order to avoid this. When the situation happens, I must transfer part of my interests to those who have sufficient influence in Europe. Form a community of interests with them, so that I can safely get the money. In fact, I will soon In the name of accepting the invitation of the Royal Academy of Sciences and the French Academy of Sciences, I went to these two countries for a trip, actually in order to finalize these things.”

Rockefeller listened and nodded slightly. This was indeed the Scrooge he was familiar with, even when he was most proud of it, he was still sensible and sober. I can always realize the limit of own power.

“John, as you said, since I can’t eat this flatbread by myself, it’s not impossible to let you divide the money. Because now, although I don’t have the power to swallow the flatbread, I’m still thinking about how to divide the flatbread. But there is a certain right to speak on it. But, John, have you ever thought about it, why would I let you get a share? The reason why I want to share the pie among some British and French people is because they have the power Let my medicines go unimpeded in Europe, and have the ability to prevent illegally produced sulfa from occupying the whole of Europe. I will also let the Morgan family share a share of this business. It is also because their influence in the United States can affect I have been helpful. I agree to let you share it, of course because we are friends, but there must be reasons for profit.”

Having said that, Scrooge stopped for a moment and looked up at Rockefeller. He saw that Rockefeller was sitting there quietly and listening. It didn’t seem to be because of Scrooge’s “Why should I let you share a share”. Embarrassed or angry because of the problem.

“The reason why I am willing to give you a bit of what I can get is because I am optimistic about your ability. Only in terms of the conventional ability to run a business, you are much better than me. We can start from scratch, Up to now, I have little savings. Of course, I can always find the direction to make a fortune, but your help is also indispensable. However, John, now I want to ask you a key question, that is, your plan for your future. What is it? What kind of person do you want to be? If you just want to make a small fortune and live the life of a rich man, just like the younger generations of Vanderbilt. Then, with our friendship, and you As long as you follow me, even if you are just a manager who helps me manage my business, it’s not difficult to do this. But, John, your talent doesn’t stop there, and my expectations of you don’t stop there.” Scrooge said quite sincerely.

“Then what do you expect of me?” Rockefeller asked.

“This starts with my view of the world in the future.” Scrooge said, “The world in the future is bound to be a world of large companies. Only large enough companies can survive. Why do you say this? This is because It is determined by the production characteristics of the industrial age. Take the McDonald 1857 rifle as an example. The larger the scale of production, the lower the cost allocated to each gun. I think that large-scale purchase of raw materials will bring prices. And the more the output, the more the development cost allocated to each product will be greatly reduced. Therefore, if two companies are producing this rifle, one company’s scale is the other company’s Many times, even if only using the least technological content of price war tactics, the former can easily defeat the latter. However, large companies will not lose profits because of this, because once the small companies competing with them are destroyed, monopoly If this is achieved, the pricing power will be firmly held in the hands of this enlarged enterprise, and by that time, excess profits will roll in.

However, this is not the most ideal state. The most ideal state is such that several companies that occupy important positions in different and interconnected aspects unite to form an alliance. In this alliance, various companies provide each other with more preferential support. For example, we use interactive holdings to jointly control many of the most important industries from pharmaceuticals, arms, transportation finance, and mineral raw materials. Then we form an alliance. Within the alliance, we each other The prices between them are lower than those offered to guys outside the league. In this way, any guy who operates in a certain business alone is not our opponent and will be easily crushed by us. Moreover, our combination will also make any new adventurers who try to enter our business scope have to face a high threshold of going into the clouds. In this way, who else can shake our hegemony? This is my vision. ”

This grand vision obviously exceeded Rockefeller’s imagination. He thought for a while, then said to Scrooge. “You mean you want me to invest in other industries that are closely related to your industry? Then we can form an alliance by holding each other?”

“Not bad.” Scrooge said, “In this way, I will give you some preferred stocks that are not capped on the dividends of my company. When you provide raw materials or services to my company at a price lower than the market, it seems that It looks like you will suffer a loss, but because you can get dividends in my business, this is actually just that you transferred your own money from the left pocket to the right pocket. And when I provide you with preferred stock, in exchange, You should also give me some of these preferred stocks.”

The so-called preferred stock refers to a kind of shares that have priority over ordinary shares in the distribution of profit dividends and surplus property. Companies tend to postpone or even not pay cash dividends for common stocks as needed, but generally do not have the right to postpone or cancel cash dividends for preferred stocks; when the company goes bankrupt, it must first complete the distribution of the remaining assets of the company. The distribution of preferred shares can then be the turn of general shares.

Of course, such a “priority” also has to pay a certain price, that is, such shares generally do not have the right to vote on the company’s operating decisions. Nor can it circulate freely in the market, but can only be redeemed by the company. Scrooge proposed to provide preferred shares to each other. His intention is also very obvious, that is, he does not hope that one day, certain partners will suddenly unite and kick him out of the company’s decision-making level.

“I still have to think about it.” Rockefeller said, “By the way, Scrooge, your brain is good, can you help me think about the professions that are most closely related to your medicine and chemistry, and the most Is it easy for us to achieve this kind of alliance?”

Scrooge thought for a while, and then replied: “The one that is most closely related to medicinal chemistry is raw materials and the other is energy. The two are now concentrated on coal, but I think the future of oil will become more and more promising. However, I don’t think now is the best time to enter this industry. The financial strength in your hands is still limited, and the related technology is not yet mature. Just be careful now. In addition, pay attention to the fact that military warfare is for food. Special requirements, food is actually promising. At least in the next few years, it can save you the capital base to enter the key Realm.”

“Thank you for the advice! Scrooge.” Rockefeller stood up, “I will seriously think about what you said today.”

“Then John, I am waiting for your good news.” Scrooge also stood up to see off the guests, “Let us unite and hold the world firmly in our hands!”