Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 235 Complaint 8K (Seeking monthly tickets, recommendations, and subscriptions!)
Go back to a few days ago.

Chen Bingwen's proposal to sell the cement business of Qingzhou Yingni to China Resources was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

He knew very well that for the mainland in the late 1970s, cement was almost as precious as grain.

At that time, the mainland was in a state of flux, with all industries waiting to be developed.

After the turmoil ended, the country shifted its focus to economic development, and a series of major projects were put on the agenda.
Baoshan Iron and Steel Plant, Yangzi Ethylene Project, port expansions across the country, and countless national defense infrastructure and housing projects that affect people's livelihoods.

Every project is a major consumer of cement.

Chen Bingwen had some vague memories of data from his previous life: last year, which was seven or eight years ago, the national cement production was about 60 million tons.

This number sounds like a lot, but when spread across such a vast country and with such huge demand, it's just a drop in the ocean.

Many key projects in various places have had to slow down or even stop construction due to insufficient cement supply.

In rural areas, it is common to find people pulling strings and obtaining special permits to get a few bags of cement just to build a few brick houses.

Cement is a truly scarce commodity, a "hard currency".

If a region can obtain cement outside of the planned supply, it is almost equivalent to controlling the lifeline of development.

The annual output of hundreds of thousands of tons of Yingni from Qingzhou may only be icing on the cake for the Hong Kong Island market, but for the mainland, it is undoubtedly a lifeline.

Therefore, selling the cement business to another company is simply a business transaction.

Selling it to China Resources is a strategic investment.

This deal will bring in far more than just HK$480 million in cash.

It can greatly strengthen the ties with China Resources, and even with the mainland government behind it.

This personal connection and the mutual trust it built will be crucial for his future development in mainland China.

Chen Bingwen had read some fragmented materials and reports.

The commander of a key project almost knelt down before his superiors because a batch of planned cement was temporarily allocated.

In order to raise enough cement to repair the only decent road in the county, a leader of a certain county led his people to run around to the city and the province, talking themselves hoarse, but in the end, the approval document was only enough to pave half of the road.

Many township and village enterprises and brigade enterprises could only watch enviously as those large state-owned factories received a meager share of their profits.

This all-encompassing hunger means that whoever can provide a stable and high-quality source of cement holds one of the keys to unlocking the vast inland market.

As a window company, China Resources' acquisition of the cement plant in Ying Ni, Qingzhou, will not only meet the needs of its Tin Shui Wai project, but also allow it to participate in larger-scale infrastructure projects in mainland China, and may even obtain franchise rights or become an important material supply channel.

This has a much deeper meaning than simply making money by selling cement...

Therefore, after learning that Chen Bingwen was preparing to sell Qingzhou Yingni Cement business, Zhang Jianhua did not dare to make a decision on whether China Resources should purchase it.

Immediately after Chen Bingwen left, Zhang Jianhua sent a telegram to China Resources headquarters to report the matter.

They might even report the news to higher-level units through headquarters channels.

Qingzhou Yingni is one of the few modern cement plants on Hong Kong Island. Its equipment, technology, and management far surpass most factories on the mainland, with an annual production capacity of hundreds of thousands of tons.

If we can acquire the entire business, it will be of great significance in alleviating the shortage of building materials in the mainland, especially in South China.

This is no longer a simple commercial acquisition; it involves the overall national development strategy.

Beijing, China Resources headquarters.

That telegram from Hong Kong Island was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves.

The headquarters conference room was filled with smoke, and several key leaders of China Resources were all present.

"Has the news been verified? Is Chen Bingwen really willing to sell?" a leader wearing reading glasses asked in a deep voice, tapping his fingers on the table.

“Zhang Jianhua was very certain in the telegram; it was Chen Bingwen who personally proposed it,” another leader in charge of Hong Kong Island business replied. “I think it’s highly credible. This young man’s main business is the food and beverage industry; cement, a type of building material, is not his area of ​​development. Therefore, selling the cement business to raise funds is in line with his development strategy.”

“Cement…” The leader wearing reading glasses took a deep drag on his cigarette. “You all know what the situation is like in the mainland right now.”

Let alone special economic zones, every province is fighting tooth and nail for cement quotas. Our Tin Shui Wai project, the cement supply for the first phase hasn't even been fully secured yet.

If we can acquire the production capacity of Yingni in Qingzhou, not only will the project be secured, but our position in China Resources will also be improved…”

He didn't say anything more, but everyone present understood.

Whoever controls this batch of important, unplanned supplies will gain significant initiative and influence in the subsequent economic development.

This is not a simple business deal; it's a crucial strategic move.

"The problem is money." The head of the finance department looked troubled. "Qingzhou Yingni is a listed company. Zhang Jianhua said in the telegram that the cement business is valued at HK$4.8 million."

Our available foreign exchange quota this year is extremely tight.

Just as the head of the finance department was about to continue speaking, the leader wearing reading glasses waved his hand to interrupt him, "The money problem can be solved!"

You can submit a report to your superiors, explaining the pros and cons.

This is a major event concerning the development of the special economic zone and even more projects!

I believe the higher-ups will support us. The most urgent task is to immediately send someone to Hong Kong Island to formally contact Chen Bingwen with Zhang Jianhua and find out his specific conditions and bottom line.

Remember, be sincere and quick; don't let anyone beat you to it!

In the reception room on the top floor of Wai Yip Building, Hong Kong Island.

Chen Bingwen met with Zhang Jianhua and a deputy chief engineer surnamed Wang who was specially sent by the headquarters of China Resources.

This Deputy Chief Engineer Wang was in his fifties, with his hair neatly combed, wearing a gray polyester shirt, and a serious expression.

"Mr. Chen, China Resources needs information regarding Qingzhou Yingni's cement business!"

Upon meeting, Zhang Jianhua got straight to the point and stated his thoughts directly.

Following that, Deputy Chief Engineer Wang added, "I wonder what Mr. Chen's specific sales plan is for the cement business in Qingzhou Yingni?"

Chen Bingwen took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "General Manager Zhang and Chief Engineer Wang are both straightforward. I won't beat around the bush either. I told General Manager Zhang that my idea is to sell the cement plant under Qingzhou Yingni, the related production equipment, the technical team, and the authorization of the 'Qingzhou Yingni' brand in the cement industry as a package."

We can assist with employee resettlement.

In terms of price, based on the current net asset value and future profitability, the asking price is HK$4.8 million.

This price fully reflects our sincerity towards China Resources as a partner.

Upon hearing the price, Deputy Chief Engineer Wang and Zhang Jianhua exchanged a glance.

At the same time, Fang Wenshan, who was sitting next to Chen Bingwen, pushed a folder containing valuation data of Yingni in Qingzhou in front of Zhang Jianhua and Deputy Chief Engineer Wang.

Deputy Chief Engineer Wang opened the folder, looked it over carefully, and said, "Mr. Chen, to be honest, the mainland is indeed in dire need of cement right now."

However, buying out the entire business in one go requires a very large amount of capital.

Moreover, cement production involves raw materials such as ore, coal, and electricity supply. These supporting facilities are not a problem on Hong Kong Island, but if we consider future supply to the mainland, the logistics and costs involved...

Zhang Jianhua interjected, "Chief Engineer Wang means that we very much hope to facilitate cooperation."

But could we be more flexible in our approach?
For example, could we, China Resources, invest and jointly operate the business?

Or, how about signing a long-term, fixed-price cement supply agreement?

Chen Bingwen smiled inwardly. Investing capital?
That would mean bringing China Resources into its core asset circle, and there are too many uncertainties in the future.

Long-term supply agreement?

The price is locked in, preventing the company from benefiting from future cement price increases, and the management costs are high.

What he wanted was clean, quick cash to fight the battle with Hutchison Whampoa.

"Chief Engineer Wang, Manager Zhang, I understand your considerations," Chen Bingwen said sincerely with a smile, "but what I'm facing right now is the need to quickly recover funds."

Divesting the cement business is part of an overall strategy.

If China Resources finds a one-time acquisition difficult, perhaps we can explore installment payments?
Alternatively, I could contact other interested buyers…

He deliberately left a loose end.

In fact, he does not have any other definite buyers in the short term. Local Hong Kong conglomerates are not very interested in the asset-heavy cement business, and Southeast Asian buyers are not responding so quickly.

But he has to put some pressure on China Resources.

Wang, the deputy chief engineer, had a slight change in expression.

What he fears most is that there will be other buyers, especially if it is bought by some overseas capital, then it will be difficult to buy it back.

His mission this time was to ensure, at all costs, that this valuable production capacity remained in the hands of his own people.

“Mr. Chen has misunderstood,” Deputy Chief Engineer Wang quickly said. “We are absolutely sincere.”

Please prepare a detailed asset valuation plan for us first.

We can discuss the total price and payment method.

Headquarters has given me sufficient authorization; as long as the plan is reasonable, we'll find a way to solve the funding problem.

The meeting lasted for more than an hour and initially determined that Chen Bingwen would provide a detailed plan, and China Resources would organize experts to conduct a review.

After seeing off Deputy Chief Engineer Wang and Zhang Jianhua, Fang Wenshan asked Chen Bingwen, "Mr. Chen, do you think they will ultimately be able to come up with this money?"

"Yes," Chen Bingwen answered confidently. "For them, it's not just about money."

This is a strategic material.

Even if they face temporary difficulties, they will find ways to squeeze money out of other sources.

What we need to do is make the plan look good.

As he spoke, he instructed Fang Wenshan: "Make the data more solid, especially the profit forecasts for the next few years. You can be a little more optimistic."

Fang Wenshan nodded: "No problem, I'll take care of it right away."

“Yes.” Chen Bingwen nodded. “In addition, the rights issue plan for Qingzhou Yingni cannot be stopped.”

There is uncertainty surrounding the deal with China Resources, and we cannot put all our eggs in one basket.

"If the rights issue is successful, we'll have an extra 200 million in cash, giving us more control."

The sale of Qingzhou Yingni's cement business to China Resources presents both risks and opportunities.

The risk is that HK$4.8 million is not a small amount. Even for a behemoth like China Resources, mobilizing such a huge amount of foreign exchange requires time and layers of approval.

If any unforeseen circumstances arise, or if differing opinions emerge within China Resources, the transaction could be delayed or even shelved, which would disrupt his subsequent funding plans.

The opportunities are even more obvious.

A successful sale would not only provide a substantial cash injection of nearly HK$500 million, greatly alleviating the financial pressure of operating on multiple fronts, but also establish a stronger strategic trust with China Resources and the mainland authorities behind it.

This personal connection and bond is crucial for future expansion into the mainland market.

……

China Resources was even more efficient than Chen Bingwen had anticipated.

Two days later, China Resources provided initial feedback, requesting that due diligence be initiated as soon as possible.

Chen Bingwen immediately instructed Fang Wenshan and Huo Jianning to form a liaison team to fully cooperate.

"All accounts, equipment lists, customer contracts, and dock lease agreements will be made completely public to China Resources. There's no need to hide anything; we want to demonstrate our utmost sincerity."

He knew that caution and transparency were paramount in acquisitions involving state-owned assets.

The faster the due diligence is completed, the sooner we can move into substantive negotiations.

Meanwhile, Qingzhou Yingni's rights issue plan is also being prepared in full swing.

Vincent Fang and Canning Fok practically lived in the office, coordinating with lawyers, accountants, and the underwriters, Citibank and Goldman Sachs teams, repeatedly calculating the rights issue price and proportion, and drafting circulars.

“Mr. Chen, based on the current share price, a 5-for-1 rights issue, with the rights issue price set at a 30% discount to the market price, would raise approximately HK$210 million. However, the market has been volatile recently, and if the share price falls before the announcement, the amount raised will be affected,” Fang Wenshan reported, providing key data.

“So we need to be quick.” Chen Bingwen tapped his fingers on the table. “We need to speed up the negotiations with China Resources. Even if we just sign a letter of intent first, it will be a huge boost to market confidence.”

The rights issue circular should clearly state that the funds will be used for "the development of a modern industrial park on the Hung Hom Crane Park site, and potential strategic acquisition opportunities."

"clear."

……

Two days later, a due diligence team dispatched by China Resources entered Yingni, Qingzhou.

The team was led by the general manager of an industrial company under China Resources, who was known for his rigorous work style.

Huo Jianning personally accompanied him and answered all his questions.

The investigation lasted for a week.

After the due diligence team concluded, the team leader reported to Zhang Jianhua and Deputy Chief Engineer Wang: "General Manager Zhang, Chief Engineer Wang, the cement business of Qingzhou Yingni is more solid than we expected."

The equipment is somewhat old, but it is well maintained, has stable production capacity, and a standardized management system.

The key is the pier in Hung Hom, which is of great value.

After Huo Jianning took over, he thoroughly reorganized the finances, making the accounts clear and related-party transactions standardized.

The price of 480 million is not low, but it is at the upper limit of a reasonable range.

Considering the future synergies and the enormous potential of the mainland market, it's worth discussing.

Hearing this professional assessment, Zhang Jianhua and Deputy Chief Engineer Wang felt more confident.

Deputy Chief Engineer Wang immediately made the decision: "Since there is no problem with the quality of the assets, let's proceed with substantive negotiations as soon as possible."

The headquarters has approved it in principle, and funding is being coordinated.

Our goal is to secure it as quickly as possible and avoid any unforeseen complications.

Soon, the two sides began formal negotiations on the sale of Qingzhou Yingni Cement's business.

On China Resources' side, there was Deputy Chief Engineer Wang, Zhang Jianhua, and General Manager Liu.

Chen Bingwen's team was led by him personally, along with Gu Yongxian, Fang Wenshan, and Huo Jianning. The two sides didn't exchange many pleasantries and went straight to the point.

Deputy Chief Engineer Wang spoke first: "Mr. Chen, we are very satisfied with the results of the due diligence investigation."

Qingzhou Yingni's business is indeed of high quality.

Regarding the acquisition plan, we agree to the acquisition in principle, but we would like some flexibility regarding the payment method.

Chen Bingwen thought to himself, "Just as I expected," but his expression remained unchanged: "Please speak, Chief Engineer Wang."

"The HK$4.8 million payment, made in one lump sum, puts a huge strain on our current foreign exchange quota."

Deputy Chief Engineer Wang frankly stated, "We hope to adopt an installment payment method."

The first payment is 50%, or HK$240 million, to be paid within three months of signing the contract.

The remaining 240 million will be paid in four installments over two years, with 60 million paid every six months.

Of course, considering the deferred payment, we can appropriately increase the total price, for example, to HK$5 million.

After listening, Chen Bingwen did not answer immediately.

He needs full cash, or at least most of it, to deal with the upcoming takeover battle with Hutchison Whampoa.

Extending the installment payment period too long is like trying to quench a fire with water from afar.

He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Chief Engineer Wang, General Manager Zhang, I understand that you are having difficulty with fund allocation."

But to be honest, my primary purpose in selling this business was to quickly recoup funds for other strategic investments.

Two years is too long.

He paused for a moment, then offered his prepared solution: "Here's a compromise."

The total price remains unchanged at HK$4.8 million.

The initial payment ratio has been increased to 70%, or HK$3.36 million, and must be paid within one month of signing the contract.

The remaining 30%, HK$1.44 million, can be paid in two installments of HK$72 million each year.

This is the biggest concession I can accept.

If you still find this difficult, then I'm afraid I'll need to contact other potential buyers simultaneously.

The meeting room fell silent for a moment.

Chen Bingwen's attitude was clear: the price was negotiable, but the payment period had to be shortened and the down payment had to be increased.

His final statement, "contact other buyers," while intended to exert pressure, was not entirely unfounded.

Deputy Chief Engineer Wang and Zhang Jianhua exchanged opinions in hushed tones.

The total amount of 500 million can be paid in two installments over two years, while the down payment of 70% and the balance of 480 million can be paid in one year. The latter has a slightly lower total amount, but the down payment is more burdensome, although the time frame is shortened by one year.

After a moment's thought, Deputy Chief Engineer Wang decided that rather than paying an extra 20 million yuan but delaying the payment period, he preferred to complete the acquisition as soon as possible and lock in production capacity.

After all, the mainland can't afford to wait.

“Okay!” Deputy Chief Engineer Wang raised his head and made up his mind, “Let’s go with Mr. Chen’s plan.”

The total price is HK$4.8 million, with an initial payment of HK$3.36 million, payable within one month of signing the contract.

The remaining 1.44 million will be paid in two installments, six months and one year later.

We will expedite the internal process and strive to sign a letter of intent within a week.

"Great!" Chen Bingwen smiled. "I will have Director Fang and Manager Huo fully cooperate to complete all the legal documents as soon as possible."

The two sides stood up and shook hands, thus reaching a preliminary agreement.

Over the next few days, the legal and financial teams from both sides worked day and night to draft and verify the thick agreement documents.

A week later, Chen Bingwen and Deputy Chief Engineer Wang, representing Qingzhou Yingni and China Resources Group respectively, signed the "Letter of Intent on the Transfer of Qingzhou Yingni Cement Business Assets".

Although this is only an agreement of intent and the final transaction still requires formal approval from China Resources headquarters and relevant mainland departments, at this stage, unless there are major changes, the transaction is basically a done deal.

Although the news has not been officially announced, it is impossible to completely hide such a large number of letters of intent from the market.

Soon, some astute financial media outlets and industry insiders caught wind of the news.

"I heard that China Resources is going to buy the cement plant in Yingni, Qingzhou?"

"Really? That's a huge investment!"

"Is Chen Bingwen going to focus his efforts on real estate and beverages?"

"With this production capacity secured, China Resources will have even greater influence in the mainland market."

Various speculations began to circulate.

This is exactly the effect Chen Bingwen wanted.

The day after the letter of intent was signed, he summoned Vincent Fang and Canning Huo to his office.

"Market expectations have already risen. We need to take advantage of this momentum to launch the rights issue plan for Qingzhou Yingni."

He instructed: "Start the rights issue process immediately."

The rights issue price was set at a 30% discount to the market price, with a 5-for-1 rights issue, raising HK$210 million.

"Have Citigroup and Goldman Sachs prepare to act as underwriters."

"Understood!" Fang Wenshan and Huo Jianning replied in unison.

They knew that the boss was trying to create a time lag, using the positive impact of the China Resources acquisition to ensure the success of the rights issue and raise more funds at the same time.

Once the rights issue is completed, with over HK$2 million in cash on hand, plus the upcoming first installment of HK$3.36 million, Chen Bingwen will have ample ammunition of over HK$5 million.

At that time, whether it continues to acquire Hutchison Whampoa shares in the secondary market or in negotiations with HSBC and Li Ka-shing, they will have greater confidence and initiative.

The following day, two major announcements almost simultaneously shocked the market.

One of them is a rights issue announcement issued by Qingzhou Yingni, which raised approximately HK$210 million for the development and transformation of the Hung Hom Crane Garden site. It was jointly underwritten by Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.

The announcement promised a stable dividend payout ratio in the future.

The other document is a joint announcement of intent issued by Qingzhou Yingni and China Resources, announcing that the two parties have reached a preliminary agreement on the sale of Qingzhou Yingni's cement business-related assets to China Resources Group for HK$4.8 million.

The market was immediately in an uproar.

"That's a big move! Chen Bingwen is about to completely transform his career!"

"Selling the cement business for 4.8 million? China Resources is taking over? That's not a low price!"

"With rights issue and asset sale, Qingzhou Yingni is trying to raise a lot of cash. What are they planning to do?"

"It seems the rumors that he was going to make a big splash were true!"

Qingzhou Yingni's stock price surged in response, with the market generally optimistic about the company's prospects of divesting its heavy traditional businesses and focusing on real estate development and investment.

The rights issue plan received a positive response from investors.

Inside the Cheung Kong Holdings office, Li Jiacheng looked at the newspaper announcement with a gloomy expression.

Zhou Jinqian stood aside and said seriously, "Mr. Li, Chen Bingwen made a ruthless move."

Having shed the cement burden and recouped nearly 500 million yuan in cash, plus another 200 million yuan from a rights issue, he now has substantial funds at his disposal, and his next move is likely…

“I know,” Li Jiacheng interrupted him, and said in a deep voice, “His target is definitely Huang.”

We need to speed things up.

What exactly did HSBC say?

Sir Michael Sandberg said the board still has disagreements, but he is trying his best to move things forward.

However, it's unlikely that the previous price discounts will be available again.

Zhou Jinqian said cautiously.

"Price is negotiable! Speed ​​is key!"

Li Jiacheng stood up somewhat anxiously. "We can't let him get ahead of us again! Prepare the car immediately; I need to see Shen Bi again!"

North America, Illinois.

Preparations for the "Leap Forward Plan" have entered the final sprint stage.

Rick Stevens conducted several test flights simulating canyon airflow, with good results.

NBC's live broadcast team has also been assembled and has begun preliminary location scouting and technical testing.

A huge amount of attention has already begun to build.

However, just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, an unexpected problem arose.

That afternoon, Chen Bingwen received an overseas call from Li Ming: "Mr. Chen, something's happened! People from the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) have suddenly arrived!"
They said they received a complaint questioning whether our "Pulse Thunder" product contained excessive levels of caffeine and taurine, potentially violating food safety regulations. They demanded we temporarily cease sales and provide detailed safety documentation and clinical trial data!

Chen Bingwen's brows furrowed instantly.

The FDA's sudden intervention was by no means accidental.

"Can the source of the complaint be traced?"

"We can't find anything; the FDA keeps it confidential. But the timing is too coincidental! I suspect Coca-Cola and Pepsi are behind this!" Li Ming said angrily. "They can't compete head-on, so they start resorting to underhanded tactics!"

"Stay calm. Don't make wild guesses."

Chen Bingwen calmly analyzed, "Even if it's a tactic used by Coca-Cola and Pepsi, it's a common tactic in business competition."

They're trying to stall us with compliance issues and disrupt our channel expansion.

"Then what do we do? If we are really ordered to take it off the shelves, or if there is a long review period, then our sales and promotion plans will be completely ruined!" Li Ming said anxiously.

“It won’t be that bad.” Chen Bingwen thought quickly. “Although our product’s ingredients are highly concentrated, they are all in the gray area of ​​the current FDA regulations, and there are no clear limits.”

He instructed, "I will have Attorney Gu Yongxian contact you immediately to hire the best food and drug law experts in the United States to deal head-on with the FDA's inquiries, provide all necessary technical documents, and emphasize the product's safety and functional food positioning."

Chen Bingwen put down the phone, his eyes slightly cold.

The competition in the North American market is indeed not going to be smooth sailing.

Regardless of whether Coca-Cola or Pepsi was behind the complaint, the FDA's blow came somewhat unexpectedly, even though Chen Bingwen had anticipated it.

The most urgent task is to study response strategies.

Thinking of this, he pressed the intercom button: "Ali, please ask Attorney Gu, Professor Zhou, Director Fang and Mr. Michael to come to my office immediately."

A few minutes later, the four of them rushed over, all with questioning expressions on their faces.

“There’s been a bit of a problem in North America.” Chen Bingwen succinctly recounted the FDA’s surprise inspection and Li Ming’s report. “That’s the situation.”

I believe this is a sniping attack launched by competitors using the rules, aimed at slowing us down and disrupting the market expansion of our Leap Forward and Pulse product lines.

Gu Yongxian, as the legal counsel, spoke first: "Based on my understanding of US law, once the FDA process is initiated, even if we are ultimately proven to be compliant, it may take several months. During this period, the product may be required to be temporarily removed from the market, which would be a heavy blow to market confidence."

We must immediately assemble our most professional legal team to handle this.

"Professor Zhou, is there a problem with the ingredient content?" Chen Bingwen asked Zhou Zhiyuan.

Zhou Zhiyuan answered confidently: "Absolutely no problem. All ingredients in Pulse Thunder are on the safety list published by the US FDA, or fall under the category of dietary supplements."

Our formula has undergone rigorous testing, and both single-drink consumption and daily intake are within safe limits. Risks only arise when intake far exceeds the normal limit, and we have clearly indicated the recommended daily intake on the label.

From a scientific point of view, it is entirely plausible.

I immediately prepared detailed technical documents and a security assessment report.

“Very good.” Chen Bingwen nodded, then gave instructions, “Attorney Gu, you should contact Li Ming immediately and hire a top-tier American food and drug law firm, preferably one that specializes in handling these kinds of compliance disputes and has good communication channels with the FDA.”

Money is not an issue; we need the best team.

My stance is: to actively cooperate with the FDA, but when it comes to specific issues, I must not back down; my attitude must be firm, resolutely refuting any unreasonable accusations from both legal and scientific perspectives, and striving for clarification as quickly as possible.

“Understood. I know a law firm in Washington that specializes in this. One of the partners used to be a high-ranking official at the FDA. I’ll contact them right away,” Gu Yongxian said quickly.

"Director Fang, please coordinate with the finance department to ensure that the funds for legal and technical support are in place as soon as possible, without any delays."

"Okay, Mr. Chen."

“McLeigh,” Chen Bingwen turned to him, “this matter could affect the morale of the North American team and channel confidence.”

As the Group's Director of International Affairs, you must immediately depart for North America to reassure all employees and key channel partners and stabilize morale.

At the same time, Li Ming's team was instructed to proactively contact major distributors, explain the situation, and promise to resolve it as soon as possible to prevent them from panic-buying products.

“I’ll get on it right away,” McLeish replied.

“Furthermore,” Chen Bingwen added, a sharp glint in his eyes, “we’ve got our North American PR team mobilized to proactively leak information to mainstream media, emphasizing that we are actively cooperating with the investigation and expressing regret over the irresponsible and malicious complaints from certain competitors, implying that this is unfair competition.”

"Stir up the waters, seize the high ground in public opinion, and put some pressure on the FDA."

"Mr. Chen is brilliant!" McLeish nodded in approval. "With higher public attention, the FDA will be more cautious in its handling of the case."

"Note that the Leap Forward Plan not only cannot be stopped, but its publicity efforts must be intensified!"

Chen Bingwen stated unequivocally, "The immense attention generated by this extreme challenge will force the FDA to handle this matter cautiously and fairly."

Let them understand that the Pulse brand receives far more attention than they imagine, and any unfair decision could trigger huge public scrutiny.

The group accepted the order and quickly left the office to carry out their respective tasks.

Chen Bingwen leaned back in his chair and let out a soft breath.

The response plan has been deployed, but this sudden upheaval in North America has undoubtedly increased uncertainty.

He needs to prepare for the worst; if the FDA process really drags on for several months, the expansion plans in the North American market will be severely affected.

(End of this chapter)