In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 748 Shocks the Entire City of Hong Kong!
Before we knew it, a night had passed, and it was now September 20th.

Today is Sunday, an ordinary weekend for many people in Hong Kong.

The newspapers were still filled with news about the equity battle between Lin Haoran and Li Jiacheng.

Yesterday, many media reporters sought to interview Lin Haoran or Li Jiacheng, but unfortunately, neither of them agreed to be interviewed.

You can't get any information out of the company's senior management.

Therefore, most of the news in the newspapers is a mix of truth and falsehood, and is just speculation by so-called "experts" and "scholars".

Early in the morning, as usual, many paparazzi began looking for new scoops after arriving at work, with a focus naturally on the two business tycoons, Li Jiacheng and Lin Haoran.

Despite the setback in yesterday's interview, it did not dampen their enthusiasm in the slightest.

The media industry in Hong Kong is so competitive that those who don't work hard can't last long.

However, at this moment, Hongkong Land Group suddenly sent invitations to dozens of mainstream media outlets in Hong Kong, stating that a press conference would be held at the Connaught Building at 2 p.m. to announce something important.

Immediately, the reporters erupted into a frenzy, like a swarm of sharks that had smelled blood.

"The timing of Hongkong Land Group's press conference is definitely related to this battle for control!"

This is a consensus among all media professionals.

So, what important thing could it be?
At this moment, no one knows for sure; it's fair to say that this invitation from the media has whetted everyone's appetite.

At the same time, TVB Jade also announced via a television broadcast that it would be broadcasting the entire press conference of Hongkong Land Group live at 2 p.m.

This is the benefit of having a relationship with Lam Ho-yin, after all, Lam Ho-yin is a major shareholder and vice chairman of TVB.

These kinds of live streams that can generate traffic are naturally for their own people.

As for RTV, it did not have the right to broadcast live.

The news quickly reached Li Jiacheng's ears.

He breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after returning from Standard Chartered Bank.

He simply couldn't believe that with Tyron's involvement, the Governor's Office would refuse to give him face.

After a series of setbacks, he gradually accepted the idea of ​​giving up Hutchison Whampoa.

Now, he has only one goal: to get back ownership of Cheung Kong Holdings.

Cheung Kong Holdings is the foundation of his business, a fortress he built through years of hard work and perseverance in the business world.

He poured countless efforts into that place, from the initial struggle to raise funds to secure his first project, to gradually expanding his business and building connections. Cheung Kong was like a child he had raised himself, witnessing his journey from naivety to maturity, from obscurity to fame.

Now, this battle for control has left him helplessly watching Hutchison Whampoa gradually slip out of his control, and a sense of powerlessness is overwhelming him.

But he had to hold onto Changshi no matter what; it was his last line of defense and his hope for a comeback.

Upon learning that Hongkong Land Group was going to hold a press conference, Li Ka-shing frowned, a strange unease rising in his heart.

Like the other reporters, he guessed that Hongkong Land's press conference at this critical juncture was very likely related to the equity battle and might even have a significant impact on his Cheung Kong Holdings.

After all, Hongkong Land Group is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lin Haoran, who acquired shares in Hutchison Whampoa and Cheung Kong Holdings through Galaxy Securities, which is a subsidiary of Hongkong Land Group.

However, with the stock market suspended, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure out what the other party's purpose was.

He immediately summoned his think tank to his office for a meeting.

The members of the think tank arrived in a hurry, and as soon as they sat down, they began to speculate about the intentions of Hongkong Land Group.

A somewhat balding member of the think tank broke the silence first, a sly glint in his eyes: "Mr. Li, in my opinion, Land Group's move might be an attempt to further suppress us in the media."

They might reveal some so-called 'insider information' that is detrimental to us at the press conference, such as implying that we have engaged in irregularities in our operations at Cheung Kong Holdings, thereby undermining the confidence of shareholders and partners in us.

Another member, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and appearing quite composed, shook his head and slowly said, "I think there is a possibility, but it's not very likely. There's no concrete evidence right now. If Hongkong Land Group rashly releases this kind of information, it's easy for us to seize on it and file a countersuit. However, without a doubt, it's definitely related to our Cheung Kong Holdings."

“There’s another possibility: Hongkong Land Group may have reached a secret agreement with some large conglomerates and is preparing to announce at the press conference a joint acquisition of a portion of Cheung Kong’s shares, further diluting our stake in Cheung Kong and causing us to completely lose control of Cheung Kong,” the young and ambitious new member of the think tank suddenly stood up and said.

"With Lin Haoran's wealth, why would he need to join forces with other conglomerates? Your possibility is simply nonexistent. In the end, you're still too young!" the middle-aged man sitting opposite him retorted directly.

The young members blushed with embarrassment at the rebuttal and were about to argue when Li Jiacheng raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

To be honest, Li Jiacheng was somewhat disappointed.

He originally hoped to get some constructive ideas from the think tank, but it seems that most of these speculations are still based on conventional business competition methods. Lin Haoran has always been unconventional, and this press conference may have a deeper calculation behind it.

This feeling of not being able to control one's destiny is truly unbearable.

It seems we can only wait until 2 PM to see what tricks Hongkong Land Group has up its sleeve.

Thinking of this, he immediately lost interest in continuing the discussion with the think tank, and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, let's adjourn the meeting. You can all go about your own business."

The members of the think tank looked at each other, then stood up and left the office with their own worries.

Li Jiacheng sat alone behind his large desk, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface, his eyes revealing deep contemplation.

Time passed slowly in the tense atmosphere, and 2 p.m. soon arrived.

In a conference hall at Hongkong Land Group, the mainstream media from all over Hong Kong have gathered.

The September heat of Hong Kong was kept out of the banquet hall by the air conditioning, but the air was thick with the anxiety of hundreds of reporters.

Long lenses and short lenses were pointed at the podium, their reflections gleaming like crisscrossing blades.

TVB Jade also started its live broadcast at the same time, with the camera focused on the podium, waiting for the press conference to begin.

In Li Jiacheng's office, he also turned on the television, sat in his executive chair, and stared at the screen without saying a word.

Meanwhile, on the 51st floor of the Kang Le Building, in Lin Haoran's office, he was also watching the live broadcast on TVB Jade.

Although he was in the same building as Kang Le Building, he had no intention of going downstairs to show his face.

He told his subordinates to handle these matters; he had no interest in dealing with these reporters.

On television, Hongkong Land Group President Simon Murray walked steadily onto the stage. He was wearing a sharp suit, with a smile on his face, but his eyes revealed a deep and unfathomable depth.

The audience fell silent instantly, all eyes fixed on him.

If there were a ranking of the most influential professional managers in Hong Kong, Simon Murray would definitely be at the top.

After all, Hongkong Land is now recognized as one of the top two companies in Hong Kong, and although it has been delisted, its market value is impossible to determine.

Only Hengsheng Group, another large group under Lin Haoran, can rival Landmark Group.

However, Mr. He Shanheng, the chairman of Hengsheng Group, is relatively low-key. In addition, Hengsheng Group has only been established for a short time, so its influence is indeed not as great as that of Ma Shimin.

Ma Shimin cleared his throat lightly, picked up the microphone, and said in a steady and powerful voice: "Dear friends from the media, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend today's press conference. Today, Landsea Group is holding this press conference to announce something very important."

Upon hearing this, the reporters in the audience tensed up instantly, straightening their postures, pens and recording equipment in hand, their eyes fixed on Ma Shimin, afraid of missing any detail.

Li Jiacheng, sitting in front of the television, involuntarily sat up straight, his hands unconsciously gripping the armrests tightly.

Seeing that everyone was curious, Ma Shimin nodded in satisfaction.

Then, he said with a smile, "However, I am not the main character today. Now, please welcome Mr. Xu Yuhui, a major shareholder and board member of Cheung Kong Holdings!"

These words immediately shocked everyone present.

Someone like Xu Yuhui is probably no longer a threat to someone of Lin Haoran's status.

However, Xu Yuhui is a business tycoon with a net worth of over 100 million, and he is also an important shareholder and director of Cheung Kong Holdings, so he naturally has a certain degree of fame.

Given the sensitive nature of their identity, why would they appear at the Hongkong Land Group's press conference?

In the chairman's office of Cheung Kong Holdings, Li Ka-shing's pupils suddenly contracted, and his knuckles on the armrest instantly turned white.

Xu Yuhui?
How did he end up at Landmark's press conference?
A chilling premonition surged up his spine, almost freezing his blood.

Even though the office was air-conditioned, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

At that moment, a bad feeling arose in his mind.

not good!

On television, amidst the frenzied flashes of countless cameras and the suppressed gasps of reporters, Xu Yuhui calmly walked out from the side of the screen.

He was wearing a well-fitting dark gray suit, with a slightly embarrassed smile on his face. He walked steadily toward Ma Shimin in the center of the stage, and the two even nodded and shook hands politely.

This scene, like a sharp knife, pierced Li Jiacheng's eyes.

"Xu Sheng! Look this way!"

"Mr. Xu, why are you here?"

"What signal does this represent?!"

The reporters below the stage were practically in an uproar, bombarding the stage with questions, but Xu Yuhui simply maintained an awkward smile, ignoring the inquiries and calmly taking his seat.

His behavior this time was anything but kind.

However, things had come to this point, and he didn't have much time to think about it anymore. But this wasn't the end of it!

Ma Shimin gestured for silence.

His voice, transmitted clearly through the microphone, reached the entire venue and the ears of every viewer watching the live stream.

"In addition, please welcome Mr. Wu, Mr. Qian, and Mr. Zhao, directors of Cheung Kong Holdings!" Ma Shimin's voice boomed like thunder once again in the meeting room.

Chairman Wu, General Manager Qian, Chairman Zhao!
These three names struck Li Jiacheng's heart like three heavy hammer blows.

He jumped up from his chair and stared at the television screen in disbelief.

From the side of the screen, three familiar figures filed out – they were his other three major shareholders and directors of Cheung Kong Holdings!

Mr. Wu's bald patch was particularly noticeable under the lights. He pursed his lips tightly, his eyes darting away, and he dared not look directly at the camera below the stage.
Mr. Qian pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, trying to remain calm, but his slightly trembling fingers betrayed his inner panic.
Chairman Zhao walked briskly with small steps, his head down, as if trying to hide himself, completely unaware that his tie was askew.

They shook hands with Ma Shimin one by one, then stiffly sat down in the seats next to Xu Yuhui.

The four men in the row, once Li Ka-shing's most steadfast allies on the Cheung Kong board, are now sitting together on the opposing side's press conference floor.

The entire press conference fell into a deathly silence, which was then followed by an even more frenzied commotion than before!

The flashbulbs almost flooded the entire stage, and the reporters' exclamations and questions nearly lifted the roof off.

"My God! Have all the shareholders of Cheung Kong Holdings turned against us?"

"Treason! This is blatant treason!"

"Li Ka-shing is finished! Cheung Kong Holdings has completely changed!"

In front of the television, Li Jiacheng felt dizzy and disoriented. He gripped the edge of the table tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, and his body trembled violently.

Betrayal! Utter betrayal!

He thought only Xu Yuhui had been bribed, but he didn't expect that the entire core group had been wiped out!
Ma Shimin looked down at the boisterous media below, a triumphant smile on his face.

He picked up the microphone again, his voice clearly carrying to every corner: "Through friendly consultations between Galaxy Securities, a subsidiary of Hongkong Land Group, and the four shareholders of Cheung Kong Holdings—Mr. Xu, Mr. Wu, Mr. Qian, and Mr. Zhao—we have reached an agreement."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the four people beside him, each with a different expression, pronouncing each name with exceptional clarity.

"The four gentlemen have transferred all of their shares in Cheung Kong Holdings, totaling 8.1 percent of Cheung Kong's total share capital, to Galaxy Securities."

8.1 percent!

This number fell like a final judgment!
It's worth noting that Galaxy Securities had previously announced that they held more than 30% of Cheung Kong Holdings' shares.

Now, with this additional 8.1% stake, doesn't that mean Galaxy Securities' stake in Cheung Kong Holdings is almost equal to that of Li Ka-shing?
After all, it's public knowledge that the Li Ka-shing family holds a 40% stake; basically, everyone knows that.

"Based on this successful acquisition, and the shares previously held by Galaxy Securities," Ma Shimin's voice, clearly transmitted through the microphone to every corner of the venue, and also through television signals to millions of households, "Hong Kong Land Group now holds 38.4% of the shares in Cheung Kong Holdings!"

38.4%!

This number made Li Jiacheng feel dizzy and almost lose his balance and fall to the ground. He never expected the situation to deteriorate to such an extent.

Just two days ago, he personally hosted a banquet for these shareholders, all to ensure they would continue to stand by his side and support him.

These people all solemnly promised that they would stand by Li Jiacheng's side and would not do anything to betray their promise.

Li Jiacheng was quite pleased at the time, raising his glass to drink with everyone, thinking that his Cheung Kong Holdings was still as stable as Mount Tai.

But now, this cruel reality is like a resounding slap in the face.

He couldn't understand why these partners who had fought alongside him and shared joys and sorrows would so easily turn against him.

"Lin Haoran, what benefits did Lin Haoran give you?" Li Jiacheng murmured.

Anger was no longer enough to express his feelings.

At this point, the atmosphere at the press conference had reached a fever pitch.

Reporters swarmed toward the podium, trying to extract more inside information from Xu Yuhui and others.

Xu Yuhui and the others were surrounded, their embarrassment becoming increasingly apparent. They simply lowered their heads and remained silent.

Before they arrived, they had promised to expose Li Ka-shing's financial crisis in detail on the spot, especially his excessive leverage in order to acquire Hutchison Whampoa.

In addition, it was made clear at the press conference that, out of responsibility for the future of Cheung Kong Holdings, they decided to sell the shares to Lam Ho-yin, because only Lam Ho-yin could bring stable development to Cheung Kong Holdings.

But when they arrived at the scene and faced numerous media reporters, they found it difficult to speak.

Ultimately, their stance itself is problematic; many reporters at the scene directly called them traitors to Cheung Kong Holdings.

Ma Shimin seemed to have anticipated this scene. He calmly took over the conversation, signaling to his staff to briefly control the situation. He didn't force Xu Yuhui and the others to speak immediately, but instead faced the camera, his tone steady and firm:
"Gentlemen, the decision made by the four directors, Mr. Xu, Mr. Wu, Mr. Qian, and Mr. Zhao, is based on a deep consideration of the future development of Cheung Kong Holdings."

As is widely known, in recent years, Cheung Kong Holdings has been burdened with an extremely heavy debt burden due to the aggressive expansion strategy of its major shareholder, Mr. Li Ka-shing, especially the acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa. Its financial situation is worrying and has jeopardized the company's stable operation.

He paused briefly to allow the information to be fully digested before continuing, "The four directors believe that Mr. Li Ka-shing's current strategic focus and financial situation are no longer sufficient to adequately protect the interests of Cheung Kong Holdings' numerous minority shareholders and employees."

As is widely known, my boss, Mr. Lam Ho-yin, is the most financially powerful entrepreneur in Hong Kong. After acquiring these shares, and even if he can gain control of Cheung Kong Holdings in the future, he will be able to provide a solid backing for Cheung Kong Holdings, ensuring its stable operation and healthy future development.

We respect the choice made by the four directors out of responsibility and foresight to acquire their CK Asset shares at a reasonable price.

Although Ma Shih-min's words did not come directly from Xu Yu-hui and others, through his expression, he clearly and unambiguously conveyed the core information of "Li Ka-shing's financial crisis," "mismanagement," "Hong Kong Land Group as the savior," and "CK Asset Holdings' controlling stake" to all media and the public.

This approach seems more effective than forcing Xu Yuhui and others to say it themselves, achieving the desired outcome while avoiding an potentially escalating and embarrassing situation.

After Ma Shimin finished speaking, everyone looked at Xu Yuhui and the others.

Their lack of denial means that they implicitly acknowledged the truth of Ma Shimin's words.

They just didn't have the face to say it.

After all, those who know them know that they have always been of one mind with Li Jiacheng.

But now, they've committed this act of betrayal.

At this moment, Lin Haoran's ambition for Cheung Kong Holdings was completely revealed.

He really came for a controlling stake in Cheung Kong Holdings.

The camera focused intently on Simon Murray's calm and confident face, as well as close-ups of the four Cheung Kong board members beside him, who looked uneasy and had complex expressions.

This scene was instantly broadcast live on television and spread throughout Hong Kong.

Today is Sunday, and many people don't have to go to work. They are currently relaxing on the sofa in their living room, either sitting with their families or enjoying their leisure time alone.

The live broadcast from TVB Jade was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples across countless households in Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong's upscale residential areas, wealthy people who usually follow business news are now glued to their television screens.

Their faces showed surprise, contemplation, or a look of anticipation.

A wealthy businessman who owns a luxury villa in the Mid-Levels was having afternoon tea with his family when he saw this news, and the knife and fork in his hand froze in mid-air.

"Lin Haoran is really something. He acquired so many shares of Cheung Kong without making a sound. Li Jiacheng is in big trouble now." He said to his family, his eyes revealing his amazement at Lin Haoran's methods.

Family members gathered around, chattering amongst themselves, making the living room lively and bustling.

In ordinary residential areas of Hong Kong, ordinary citizens who are usually busy making a living were also attracted by this news.

A shop owner, taking advantage of a lull in customers, ran to the store next door and watched the live stream video with many customers.

"Cheung Sing is a big company. Won't such a big change affect our lives?" he said worriedly.

The shop owner patted him on the shoulder and laughed, "Who cares? We're just ordinary folks, there's no use worrying about these things. But it's quite a spectacle to see Lin Haoran and Li Jiacheng fight."

Analysts from major financial institutions abandoned their days off and held emergency meetings to conduct an in-depth analysis of this major event.

They sat around the conference table, watching the news reports on television, their brows furrowed, engaged in a heated discussion.

After all, these kinds of news can affect the entire Hong Kong stock market.

Once the analysis is complete, they might reap considerable profits from it.

Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa were suspended from trading on Thursday afternoon, but the suspension will end tomorrow.

"Lin Haoran's move was brilliant. He acquired so many Cheung Kong shares quietly, and now he is only one step away from catching up with Li Jiacheng's shareholding. Li Jiacheng will probably have a hard time finding an effective way to deal with it."

A young analyst spoke first, his eyes revealing admiration for Lin Haoran's methods.

"That being said, Li Jiacheng has been in the business world for so many years, he certainly won't give up easily. He may still have a backup plan, but we haven't discovered it yet."

An experienced analyst stroked his beard and spoke slowly, his tone tinged with caution.

At this moment, the equity battle between the two Chinese business tycoons has become a hot topic of discussion throughout Hong Kong.

The unexpected turn of events, particularly the last-minute sell-off of shares by Cheung Kong shareholders, was truly surprising.

As everyone has seen, there is no doubt that Li Jiacheng has been led by the nose by Lin Haoran throughout this equity struggle, and is at a significant disadvantage. The situation is already precarious for him.

(End of this chapter)