天命之战

Zhang Jindong:You Bet your Life!

将踏入知天命之年，张近东要将苏宁再造为线上线下两栖动物。价格战不过是序曲。

August 26th Xuzhuang,Nanjing:As I sat in the conference room of the Suning headquarters buildingⅠcould see that Zhang Jindong was extremely excited,so excited in fact that he actually made a small bet with me:If the growth of Suning Yigou(Suning's internet retailing platform) proved unable to keep up with that of 360Buy then he would send me a brand new Samsung TV.Although Zhang Jindong was willing to place a small bet with me,he doesn't want people to think he is gambling with the future of his company:'Suning's expansion both on and off the internet is based on strategic considerations.We are expanding in step with our capabilities,it's not a gamble.' Previously,due to a fall in share price leaving the company with a lack of collateral,Zhang was forced pledge 442 million of his own personal shares in Suning to an investment company;adding this to the directed share issue carried out previously by Suning,Zhang has already pledged 9.89%of the company's total shares,and 32.59%of his own personal shares.If share prices continue to drop he may be forced to pledge even more. Why is the nearly 50 years old Zhang Jindong so willing to gamble with his own fortunes? Is he truly gambling with the future of Suning?