After Divorce, I Can Hear the Future

"In the short term, there are no plans for an IPO."

Lu Liang picked up a teacup, took a light sip, and remained indifferent to the two with serious expressions.

As they had guessed, Tianxing Automobile will not go public, at least not in the short term.

After all, going public is for better financing, and Tianxing Technology has already achieved profitability by equipping smart packages for partners.

Although Tianxing Automobile is still in a loss-making state, if it maintains its current momentum, profitability is only a matter of time.

A company that is not short of funds generally won't go public, especially given Lu Liang's nearly obsessive control over his industry, he is even less likely to let Tianxing Automobile go public easily.

However, a question looms before them: what is the purpose of investing in a company that won't go public in the short term?

Billion-dollar investments are not small numbers, and for such an investment to realize high returns, the company must go public.

If it's just for dividend profits a few years down the line, they might as well buy Apple or Amazon stocks.

If Tianxing Automobile were an unclear grassroots team, then as investors, they could completely sign a deal requiring an IPO in three or five years.

Examples include NIO and Panda Interactive Entertainment, both of which were essentially pushed to go public, a common practice venture capital firms are willing to invest in.

In contrast, although Tianxing Automobile initiated the E-round financing due to development funding shortages, Lu Liang dressed the financing with a glitzy coat called 'sharing'.

The financing was just to share his happiness, to share the glory brought by Tianxing Automobile, as grandiose as it could get.

Although hypocritical, it fundamentally has confidence, as financing is not its only method to obtain development funds.

It's important to note that Tianxing Automobile has a valuation of $48 billion, but a debt ratio of only 3.25%.

If Lu Liang is willing, he can easily secure hundreds of billions in loans from state-owned banks, local finance, Tianxing Public Offering, or Tianxing Finance.

What is unattainable is always in turmoil, forced to sign bets like indentures, while favored ones are fearless, invest if you like, if not, then leave.

"There is no specific timeline at the moment."

Lu Liang smiled, and then said, "However, General Tianxing's IPO planning has been officially initiated."

Damon and Masamura Hongshu's eyes lit up, and they hurriedly asked for details, with Lu Liang explaining everything in detail.

Half an hour later, the three of them were in high spirits, leaving the reception room with radiant smiles on their faces.

"Lu, it was indeed a pleasure to converse with you." Damon summoned an assistant and handed over a $1 billion subscription contract.

Masamura Hongshu, beaming, also instructed his assistant to hand over a subscription contract worth $800 million.

"I just wanted to share our joy with everyone."

Lu Liang continued smiling, as $1.8 billion was just an entry ticket; they would lead the next round of General Tianxing financing.

He laid out the full IPO plan for General Tianxing, first extracting the equity from Tianxing Automobile.

Then, under the pretense of setting up a subsidiary factory in Germany and attacking the European new energy market, an IPO would be launched.

This would attract a large amount of international institutional investment, and the more they invest, the higher the valuation, leading to greater profit post-listing.

After all, with Tesla's $200 billion market value as a benchmark, every firm wants to earn as much as possible, thus gaining the credentials to compete with Tesla in the financial market.

Lu Liang's equity being diluted multiple times doesn't matter, as long as Tesla's potential in the financial market is stifled, then everything is worth it.

At 3:20 p.m., Lu Liang stepped onto the podium and announced the completion of the financing.

A total of 14 domestic and international financial institutions participated, including Wuhan Finance Department.

Ranging from $1 billion from Vanguard to $100 million from JD Capital.

The news, when released to the outside, did not cause even the slightest ripple in public opinion, like a stone sinking into the sea.

After all, Lu Liang constantly raises the public threshold for him, having already created $300 billion in ABS, so what's $7.2 billion in financing?

Later that night, Delimei held a press conference.

Harris stepped from behind the scenes to the forefront, criticizing the New York State court's inaction and decided to withdraw the charges against the IRS.

Just when people thought Delimei had given in, in the next moment, Harris announced the re-submission of lawsuits in all states except New York, including the Federal Court.

Harris, dignified and confident, stated, "I have always believed America is the most free market in the world; I do not believe that all crows under the sky are the same shade of black."

This statement ignited the North American Continent, with Fox, BBC, and other media extensively reporting.

Regardless, while reporting on the background and consequences, the media did not forget to inform the public about Harris's past.

Once Wall Street's most talented manager, becoming Vice President of Citibank Queen Branch at just thirty-two years old.

Only a year ago, he was just released from prison, with his charges being causing third-degree injury through hired violence.

Additionally, according to friends, Harris's character is extremely violent, prone to alcohol, drugs, and promiscuity...

And he is also a severe racist.

The victim who was previously crippled was an African American.

The article caused a sensation in the United States, and public opinion about Harris became overwhelmingly negative.

Previously, problems like alcohol addiction, drug use, and promiscuity were considered minor issues since Obama had mentioned his past drug use, and America's public is rather tolerant in this aspect.

Looking at those superheroes, many of them were once thorough scoundrels in the past too.

After their downfall, they changed, but they will uniquely not accept a racist.

It's been so many years since the liberation movement.

Is a black person's life not a life?

People admire Delimei's determination to stand firm against the IRS, yet they especially do not understand why Lu Liang would choose this despicable person as a special advisor for the bank.

Meanwhile, Lu Liang and Wen Chao, far away in Su City, were also watching this press conference.

Lu Liang stared at the screen, silent.

Wen Chao sighed softly, "Harris is drawing all the fire toward himself."

A phrase suddenly popped into his mind,

"Worth dying for your cause, on the golden platform I report."

Harris has forced himself into a corner.

After all, considering his current bad reputation, even if something happens to him, the public would probably cheer.

Even if the IRS loses, maintaining the company's image means Harris will find it hard to appear in public in the future.

Whether victorious or defeated, he has no way out.

However, his dead end has paved a smooth and wide path for Delimei, or its successor Guangsheng Bank.

After the press conference, regardless of the outcome, Delimei's reputation has already echoed throughout the North American continent, and it will surely become the top choice for the wealthy to deposit their funds.

Lu Liang remained silent, turned off his computer, "Tomorrow, I'm going to Wuhan for an inspection. If you have nothing else, return to Xiangjiang early and get Guangsheng bank up and running as soon as possible."

"Mr. Lu, you should get some rest too." Wen Chao nodded, agreed, and left Lu Liang's room.

The dim room was quiet for a long time until a faint sigh was heard, "Why bother?"

The day after the financing was concluded.

Suddenly, news spread that Lu Liang led a team to Wuhan for an inspection, potentially for the site selection of a second-phase factory.

"Having an airport is indeed convenient."

The plane landed at Wuhan Airport,

Upon hearing Lu Liang's words, Wang Xiaofeng and Hu Weiwei both smiled.

The air traffic control rights for the East China region belong to Modu, as a result, even Modu's third airport has plans, but Su City, ranking sixth in national GDP, only has a terminal building and requires an eighty-kilometer shuttle bus to get to the airport.

Sometimes, you can't blame Su City for being ridiculed.

Especially being a city with a GDP of two trillion but without an airport, that's rare globally.

"Welcome to Mr. Lu Liang of Tianxing Automobile and his team members visiting Wuhan..."

A group exited the cabin, the tarmac was crowded with people, red carpets, flowers, banners, and official media reporters.

Zhao Liqiu stood at the front of the group, smiling, and jogged forward, "Welcome Mr. Lu to our Wuhan."

He introduced a middle-aged man with glasses beside him, the third in charge of Wuhan's economy, who would accompany them throughout the visit.

Both teams met, shook hands, and exchanged pleasantries as per custom, giving time for official media reporters to take photographs, then traveled together in a luxury minibus for site inspections.

Since Lu Liang's inspection in Wuhan would last only one day, some activities like sightseeing local attractions and tasting cuisine were entirely skipped.

The group headed straight for the Tongshun Riverbank in Hanyang District, under the jurisdiction of the Upper Yangtze River Region, with high terrain, surrounded by mountains and water, offering a scenic view.

Within five kilometers, there's a subway, within ten kilometers, several highway entrances, fifteen kilometers, a high-speed rail, and another airport twenty kilometers away.

The location offers natural geographical advantages, with a permanent city population exceeding ten million, a GDP steadily increasing annually, having reached over 1.5 trillion last year.

The group walked across the weed-filled wasteland.

Zhao Liqiu led at the front, discussing the city's municipal plans for the upcoming years as they walked.

The city hopes to attract major enterprises, which apart from needing financial aid and policy preference, also require infrastructure and other living facilities.

Especially for an automobile factory being a heavy industry, it needs roads wide enough to ensure worry-free transportation.

Lu Liang nodded slightly, glanced at Wang Xiaofeng and Hu Weiwei behind him, both recording as they walked.

His first impression of Wuhan was very favorable,

The balance had gradually tipped.

As long as the two recorded, followed by market research team analysis, Wuhan is suitable for their second-phase factory construction.

Even if, in some respects, it is weaker than alternative choices, Nan Jing and He Fei, it will still become their preferred target.

Near noon, the group temporarily concluded the inspection and returned to the city's hotel; Lu Liang called Wang and Hu over.

After lunch, as Lu Liang brewed tea, he inquired, "So, what do you think?"

"Wuhan's environment, policies, and conditions are above eighty points in all aspects."

Wang Xiaofeng spoke first, followed by Hu Weiwei, "But the market competition might be quite fierce."

Wuhan is recognized as the first car city domestically, but with local giant Dongfeng Group, its subsidiary Lantu, and rising stars like Xiao Peng, Avita, Lotus, and Jihu with more than ten new energy vehicle companies present.

Even Baidu, often joked about for starting early yet arriving late, acquired shares in Jihu, jointly setting up "Robotaxi" with plans to use Wuhan's economic development zone as a pilot area for autonomous driving taxis.

If Wuhan were compared to a country, then Tianxing Automobile would be akin to the Tesla of its time.

The municipal government is offering them such generous treatment hoping they can stir local car companies to strive harder and revive the glory of the first car city.

"Then Wuhan it is, having competition is always a good thing."

Lu Liang smiled and directly decided to set up Tianxing Automobile's second-phase factory in Hanyang District, Wuhan.