Chapter 299 Entering the Tobacco Industry
"Well? Are you taking me out in public?" Edith Rockefeller, who was in a daze, suddenly woke up and asked hurriedly, "Aren't you afraid?"
"What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of people talking about it? This has long been an open secret. Can you hide it for a year or two? Can you hide it for a lifetime? For many people, this has long been known to everyone." Sheffield interrupted, "You and I have an illegitimate child. William Rockefeller is my son. Who can do anything to me?"
This is the ideal man! Edith Rockefeller came close and felt that in addition to the advantage of being big, the slave owner actually had many other advantages that were yet to be discovered.
Women are demons! Fortunately, Sheffield can handle it. After all, she is only in her twenties and has plenty of energy!
Sheffield, who stayed in Chicago, was naturally not idle. He contacted Arlington via telegram to discuss the issue of tobacco cultivation. As the largest landowner in the United States, he felt that self-production and self-sales were most in line with the current actual situation.
A hundred years later, although most of the tobacco on the market is Yunnan tobacco, the largest tobacco-growing area is Henan, and the tobacco planting in Yunnan and Guizhou does not account for a large proportion. Tobacco is a thermophilic crop and is sensitive to temperature. Different temperature conditions have a great impact on the quality and yield of tobacco. The temperature requirements for high-quality tobacco during the growth period are lower in the early stage and higher in the later stage.
In fact, the United States is not a particularly suitable place for tobacco growth. Five hundred years ago, according to the Chinese, most of the United States was a nomadic area. Even if tobacco was grown, the bulk of it was definitely in the south.
Because the north facing the Arctic Ocean is a big wind outlet, whether growing tobacco will make money or lose money depends on the mood of the Arctic Ocean this year. Arlington's reply was also very optimistic, saying that the land for tobacco planting is definitely not a problem, and there is no need to temporarily reclaim land for planting, because many farms in the south make a living by growing tobacco, and the family has no shortage of connections in the southern states.
Sheffield felt that personal connections were important, but he had to grow some tobacco himself to cope with the situation. Even if he only grew a quarter of the tobacco, he could increase his risk tolerance. Of course, he couldn't grow tobacco at a higher rate. Tobacco was an important cash crop in many areas. If the United Company did everything itself, it would have a huge impact on the lives of many Dixie people. This was not what the United Company should do.
In terms of tobacco cultivation, the United Company can reach the origin of tobacco in the southern states at the lowest level. In terms of sales channels, at least in cities with a population of more than 50,000, there are chain supermarkets as sales channels.
As for the trip to North Carolina, Sheffield felt that he had a good chance of success. After all, the telegram from the front had already arrived. It was not that they could not talk, but that they could talk because it was not a direct rejection. This was a good start.
At present, the tobacco industry of the United States is aggressively attacking the European market. Take the two major powers in Europe as an example. The climate in the UK is not suitable for tobacco cultivation. The tobacco of the British Empire is supplied by colonies, and there is no local planting area. As for the German Empire, Germany has long been unable to be self-sufficient in food, let alone grow tobacco.
Tobacco originating from the Ottoman Empire also circulated in European countries, accounting for a considerable share.
Reynolds Tobacco Company is headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. North Carolina is also a state that joined the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. Although this does not mean anything, it does have some effect.
Edith Rockefeller, who came to the South, was curious about everything here, but she got tired of seeing so many sights that she complained, "The city atmosphere here is too small."
"The South is like this, there aren't many towns!" Sheffield shrugged helplessly, "This is also an important reason for our defeat. No matter how good we are at fighting, we can't rely on just one gun to solve all problems."
After the two arrived here, they first visited the Democratic Party's senior senator in North Carolina, Braxton. Naturally, the local farmers and livestock association helped introduce them. Both parties acted as if they had met too late. Braxton looked at Edith Rockefeller and teased Sheffield, "William and the princess of the oil kingdom have a very close relationship."
"Of course, we are friends who know each other well!" Sheffield did not show any attitude of deliberately avoiding suspicion in front of an old man, which made Edith Rockefeller feel a little embarrassed.
Given the Rockefeller family's rigid family tradition, having a daughter like her was almost like a joke to God. They should have given birth to a good girl.
"You're welcome. Apart from the black community, the German population accounts for more than half of the white residents in North Carolina." Sheffield introduced softly, "Just like your family, you should be able to adapt well."
The German culture of this era was well preserved, and the distinction between the Germans and the descendants of British immigrants was still very clear. The engulfment of the German culture by British culture was an important turning point during World War I. It can be said that it was closely related to the outcome of World War I. Everyone knows that the population of German immigrants was not lower than that of British immigrants. In fact, the two ethnic groups had different views on whether to join the Allies or the Central Powers. In the end, the opinions of British immigrants won an overwhelming advantage in the United States. Politicians and businessmen continued to come forward to accuse German immigrants of being disloyal to the United States.
Then Germany lost World War II again, and the United States of America completely became a country dominated by British culture.
"Are you Mrs. Anna's heir?" Fifty-year-old Renault received Sheffield at his own estate. He had no interest in Edith Rockefeller, but was very interested in the heirs of this generation of United Company.
"Yes, Mr. Renault!" Sheffield showed his excessive modesty again, and said, "The manager of the United Company has been here for quite some time. I wonder what Mr. Renault thinks?"
Sheffield's words naturally want to get an answer from Reynolds. What is the attitude of Reynolds Tobacco Company to be acquired? If it is a treatment issue, it can still be discussed. If it is a problem in other aspects, you can also listen first. If the attitude is firm, it is also a good thing to stop the loss decisively.
However, judging from Sheffield's current assessment of Reynolds Tobacco Company, the company is currently just an ordinary character among the masses in the United States. It has not yet undergone transformation and is no longer the second largest company in the United States.
Without further ado, Sheffield revealed all his preparations. "United Company is ready to get involved in the tobacco industry, and has enough connections and ideas to accomplish this. It is also not lacking in national channels. Whether it is chain supermarkets or car sales networks, it is not a problem to allocate some manpower to accomplish it. However, the tobacco industry involves the lives of many Dixies in southern states. United Company itself is a southern company and is not willing to enter this field without saying hello. Although I have enough strength, before that, I must talk to some southern tobacco companies."
"The United Company attaches great importance to the interests of the entire Dixie people. It is unwilling to set up a company directly and leave no room for other companies to survive. This is also harmful to the interests of the entire Dixie people. But if I don't do this, to be honest, from the perspective of capital and the efficiency of mechanical production, many southern companies are no match for the Yankees. Why are you pinching me?" Sheffield glanced at Edith Rockefeller and interrupted his long speech helplessly, "This is the fact..."
"I didn't!" Edith Rockefeller denied it in panic after her little trick was exposed. She couldn't help but be angry at Sheffield's attitude. Why did this man always stir up hatred when talking about business? Was it always like this when talking about business with Southerners?
That's basically it. When doing business with the Dixies, if you want to get closer to them, of course you curse the Yankees first and the blacks second. Sheffield wasn't even talking about the blacks when he was interrupted by this woman.
Reynolds turned a blind eye to the playfulness in front of him. He was fifty years old and had a certain immunity to things between men and women. Naturally, he was considering Sheffield's words very seriously. As for the current Reynolds Tobacco Company, it cannot be said that similar companies are everywhere in the southern states, but there are indeed many competitors. If it is expanded to the entire United States, it is even more so.
"Two million dollars!" Renault was silent for a long time, then held up two fingers. He thought that this number was not enough for Sheffield to take seriously, so he added, "I can only sell you 70% of the company's shares. Many shareholders may not agree to this. William, you have to think it over carefully."
"If this is not the price of a shell company, it is not excessive at all. I also need to evaluate the tobacco farms, the company's production lines, and some fixed assets before deciding whether to acquire it!" Sheffield did not hesitate for too long. Although he was not as wealthy as Morgan in restructuring and mergers, he was not a stingy person. If the offer from Reynolds Tobacco Company did not treat him as a fool, there was nothing he could not accept.
The asset evaluation was done by professionals. After a thorough evaluation, the financial accountant told Sheffield that the price was not excessive. So Sheffield agreed to Reynolds' request and acquired Reynolds Tobacco Company for $2 million, taking 70% of the company's shares.
This merger and acquisition marks that the United Company has officially entered the tobacco industry, using the tobacco industry as a breakthrough point to continue expanding its territory.
(End of this chapter)
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