Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Of course, sealing the deal isn't just about signing the document; it's also symbolized through a gesture of goodwill – a handshake. Michael understood this traditional closure, as did Wei.

Michael rose from his seat and walked across the room with purpose, toward where Wei was seated. With a steady and confident stride, he approached, extending his hand in an offer of not just a handshake.

Wei, momentarily taken aback by the formality quickly regained his composure. He stood up, meeting Michael halfway, and took Michael's extended hand.

"Well this is not over yet," Wei said.

"Oh, you are planning on conducting another illegal action against us?" Michael's voice was calm but carried an underlying warning. The handshake, while symbolic of their current agreement, hadn't erased the history of their conflict.

Wei retracted his hand slowly, shaking his head. "No, Mr. Reyes. We won't do things like that."

"But you'll do another thing entirely?" Michael pressed, his gaze locked on Wei, searching for sincerity and future intentions.

Wei's expression softened a sign of earnestness. "What I mean is, while our dispute has been settled, I believe this could be a turning point for both our companies. Perhaps, in the future, there could be opportunities for us to collaborate in a way that benefits both CinkoSolar and SolaraTech."

Michael paused, he knew that Wei was just playing his words, he didn't really have an intention to have a reconciliation with his company. There's still something in his gaze, an underestimating type of gaze as if he was merely biding his time until the next move. However, Michael decided to keep the conversation professional and open-ended.

"I'm open to exploring potential collaboration opportunities," Michael responded cautiously, "but any future interaction between our companies will be approached with clear boundaries and mutual respect. The events leading to this settlement have highlighted the importance of transparency and ethics in our operations."

Wei nodded, a seemingly genuine acknowledgment of Michael's condition. "Of course, Mr. Reyes. I assure you, that CinkoSolar is committed to maintaining a professional and ethical stance in any future dealings. The tech industry thrives on innovation and partnership, and we should not let past disputes overshadow potential mutual gains."

Hearing that, Michael wanted to scoff at how ridiculous Wei sounded, making promises of ethics and transparency after the lengths they went through. But he maintained his composure.

"Well then, Mr. Wei, let's hope the future holds better prospects for our companies' relationship," Michael said, finally releasing Wei's hand.

Wei gave a small nod, his face unreadable. "Indeed, Mr. Reyes. I look forward to seeing what the future brings."

As Wei and his team made their way out of the conference room, Michael watched them leave with a mix of relief and skepticism. The signed agreement was a victory, but he knew the landscape of corporate competition was unpredictable. Bridget approached Michael, her expression mirroring his thoughts.

"That went well, considering," she commented, her voice low.

"It did. But we'll need to stay vigilant," Michael replied, turning to face her. "CinkoSolar may have agreed to the settlement, but who knows what their next move will be."

Bridget nodded in agreement. "We'll keep a close eye on them. In the meantime, I just got back in the Philippines after a tiring Europe hopping. It's been a series of business deals from one company to another. I hope our production can keep up with the demand. Anyways, how many solar panels did we sell since the inception?"

"Well…the sales are represented in gigawatts, so 1.2 gigawatts or about four million solar panels, I'll have Juliet give you a copy of the total sales of our product," Michael said, glancing at Juliet.

Juliet nodded in acknowledgment and proceeded to her office to compile the requested sales data, leaving the two of them alone.

"So how is the company doing so far, Michael?" Bridget asked.

"It's doing good," Michael said.

"Good…now I think it's time that we expand more by doing an IPO," Bridget suggested, turning the conversation towards a significant business milestone. "An Initial Public Offering, or IPO, could provide us with the capital we need to scale up operations and realize our expansion goals more quickly."

An IPO refers to the process by which a private company becomes a publicly traded company by offering its shares to the public for the first time. This move can raise substantial capital, which can be used for various purposes such as expanding business operations, paying off debt, or improving infrastructure.

Going public also provides a company with increased prestige and visibility, attracting more business opportunities and partnerships.

Michael leaned back in his chair, considering Bridget's proposal. "An IPO is a big step," he acknowledged. "It could indeed open up many doors for us, but it also comes with its set of challenges. There's increased scrutiny from regulators and the public, not to mention the pressure to meet quarterly earnings expectations."

Bridget nodded, understanding Michael's concerns. "Absolutely, it's not a decision to be taken lightly. However, with the right preparation and the strong market position we've built, SolaraTech could stand to gain significantly from going public. It's about leveraging our current success to build an even stronger future."

"Usually, an underwriting company would be involved in the process to help manage the IPO," Michael said.

An underwriting company, often a bank or a financial institution, acts as the intermediary between the company going public and the potential investors. Their expertise in evaluating the worth of a company, coupled with their ability to gauge investor interest, ensures that the IPO is priced appropriately, balancing the needs of both the company and the investors.

The underwriter also assumes the risk by buying the shares from the company and then selling them in the market, a step that requires a deep understanding of market dynamics and investor behavior.

"We better look for one now, the sooner the better," Bridget suggested, understanding the significance of selecting the right underwriting company for the success of their IPO.

Michael nodded in agreement. "We'll need to compile a list of potential underwriters and start vetting them for compatibility."

***

Meanwhile, in the parking lot of the PSE Tower.

"They had us in the first half, not going to lie," Li Hua said.

"Yeah…but this isn't over, the battle will end only if one of us gets devoured," Wei said. "Time to change another tactic."