What most people don't know is that as early as 2002, when Geely got the automobile production license, Li Shufu, the founder of Geely Group, once put forward this groundbreaking idea. "We are going to buy Volvo, so we should make preparations from now on." It was in 2002, but Geely was still hitting the market with cheap cars with small profits but quick turnover. To put it mildly, they are still exploring how to make this kind of car. . At that time, everyone at the meeting was puzzled, but Li Shufu gave a reason: "Ford's purpose of acquiring Volvo has been achieved, and the future Volvo will be reluctantly given up by Ford."
This seemingly prophetic judgment was basically fulfilled in early 2007, but the first biggest problem was not the factors such as funds and factories, but that Ford didn't know who Geely was at that time. We don't know each other, and we can't even talk.
So Li Shufu used a simple and effective method at that time, "encounter". Li Shufu took part in whatever activities Ford leaders took part in, for nothing else, just to talk and get to know each other. Until the 2008 Telford Motor Show, Li Shufu finally met Dawn Reckler, CFO of Ford Motor Company at that time. It took Li Shufu 30 minutes to finally express his willingness to buy Volvo, but Ford was busy packing and selling Jaguar Land Rover, and Volvo was still valuable, so the sale was not put on the agenda. On the other hand, it is "who? Is it? What about you? Why should I sell it to you? "
Regardless of the outcome, Ford has an impression on Geely and Li Shufu. Of course, we will not speculate whether this impression is good or bad.
In addition to Geely, many state-owned automakers were also thinking about Volvo at that time. For example, Changan Automobile once established a joint venture with Volvo, but that was in 2008. What is 2008? Not the Olympics. . .
Smart friends guessed it right, that is, the financial crisis became the opportunity for Geely to buy Volvo. In the face of the situation at that time, no state-owned enterprise was willing to take the lead, and the country had no choice but to naturally allow Li Shufu's application. Li Shufu finally got the "customs clearance documents" for the acquisition of Volvo.
With the help of the financial crisis, American car sales have been falling all the way. On June 65438+February 1 this year, Ford Motor Company made it clear that it was "seriously considering selling Volvo".
Finally, on June 5438+ 10, 2009, Bill Ford and alan mulally met Li Shufu at Ford headquarters. Li Shufu described his pursuit of Volvo for many years and his long-term planning for Volvo, which was finally recognized by Bill Ford and alan mulally.
Next, I won't go into details about bidding, project inspection and negotiation. Six months later, on September 30th, 2009, Ford Motor Company publicly announced that Geely had become the preferred bidder for Volvo. This is a staged victory, which is equivalent to getting engaged.
Married friends should know that there is another detail before the wedding, that is, dowry. Geely's dowry is obvious, which is the core intellectual property that Ford does not want to give. It is said that regarding the transfer of core intellectual property rights, Ford and Geely once escalated to the Cold War like a quarrel between the young couple, and even faced a breakup.
Regarding Volvo's core intellectual property rights, Ford insisted that Qingshan would not relax and would not give it. Geely will win and send a team of experts who are good at negotiation to negotiate with Ford.
On February 23, 65438, the day before Christmas, Geely and Ford announced at the same time that they had reached an agreement on the main commercial terms of the acquisition of Volvo. At the end of the acquisition of Volvo, there were 400 people around the world, including investment banks, law firms and financial public relations. Serve M&A's transactions. This has become one of the most complicated M&A transactions in the history of China.
Well, the main commercial terms have been agreed, and the last question is money. How much dowry does it cost to marry this poor Nordic princess?
As for how much Geely spent, listen to the next breakdown.
This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.