In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 559: If you can’t beat me, join!
Li Fushu felt mixed emotions when he saw his son's unwilling look.

He also wanted to maintain his family's absolute control over the Bank of East Asia, but the reality did not allow them to have the slightest chance of luck.

"Guo Bin, you think too simply. Since Lin Haoran dared to take action against Bank of East Asia, he would definitely not be unprepared. Do you think it is so easy to increase the shareholding?
Let’s not talk about whether we have enough funds to increase our holdings of these 18% in a short period of time. Even if we do, can we acquire suitable shares in a short period of time?
Most of the Bank of East Asia shares currently circulating in the market are in the hands of those small shareholders. If they knew that Lin Haoran had set his sights on the Bank of East Asia, the share price of the Bank of East Asia would definitely rise to an outrageous level, and they would not easily sell their shares to us.

Moreover, Lin Haoran must be paying close attention to the stock market dynamics. Once we increase our holdings on a large scale, he will definitely take measures to stop us. "Li Fushu explained patiently.

Li Guobin was silent for a while after hearing his father's words, but still said unwillingly: "Dad, we can't just sit there and wait for death. Do we really have to watch Lin Haoran enter the Bank of East Asia, or even control the Bank of East Asia, and completely weaken the strength of our Li family?
Given Lin Haoran's personality, I think the whole of Hong Kong is very clear that the companies he is interested in are basically for absolute control. In this way, our Li family may lose control of Bank of East Asia in the near future. In this way, Bank of East Asia will no longer be named Li, but Lin!"

Li Fushu stood up, walked to the window, looked at the bustling streets of Hong Kong outside the window, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.

After a while, he turned around, looked at his son, and said earnestly: "Guo Bin, you are still inexperienced after all. With your current business ability, I am not confident enough to hand over the Bank of East Asia to you.

You have to know that in the business world, sometimes taking a step back will open up a new world. Lin Haoran's strength is there, and if we fight him head-on, both sides will suffer. If he really wants to surpass our shares, he can just spend money directly. The other party has the capital, but do we?

Moreover, even if we manage to retain the controlling stake in Bank of East Asia, with Lin Haoran's means, he has countless ways to make our lives at Bank of East Asia difficult.

Instead of doing this, why don’t we take the initiative to cooperate with him? Maybe it will bring new development opportunities to our Li family. There are so many banks in Hong Kong, who wouldn’t want to have a relationship with Lin Haoran, the richest man in Hong Kong with his huge wealth?
For example, didn’t Huifeng Bank take the initiative to win over Lin Haoran, even allowing Lin Haoran to finance Huifeng Bank at a price below the market price, thus allowing Lin Haoran to become a shareholder of Huifeng Bank or even a member of the board of directors?
Compared with the Bank of East Asia, what is our Bank of East Asia? If we can take advantage of this favorable wind, the Bank of East Asia's position in the Hong Kong financial community and even in the world in the future may be further improved.

This is why I asked you to negotiate with the other party. Our Li family's requirements are not high. As long as we maintain our control over the Bank of East Asia, it will be enough. As for Lin Haoran, if he wants to become a major shareholder, we will give him the position of major shareholder!"

His son has an amazing talent for management and is a top student who graduated from Cambridge University. Since he entered the senior management team to assist him in managing the Bank of East Asia, the progress of the Bank of East Asia has been visible to the naked eye.

In order to significantly improve work efficiency, Li Guobin took the lead in proposing that the Bank of East Asia should carry out bank computerization to promote business development, which also made the Bank of East Asia's business processing capabilities ahead of other banks.

But despite his talent in managing businesses, he still did not have enough experience in dealing with corporate crises.

Why did Li Fushu want Lin Haoran to come in?
He also wanted the Li family to control the Bank of East Asia for generations.

Therefore, he also understood why his son became irrational when facing Lin Haoran's invasion.

But the reality is that facing a capitalist like Lin Haoran, the Li family has no chance of resistance.
Li Guobin frowned, still finding it hard to accept his father's point of view: "But, Dad, our Li family is also a well-known family in Hong Kong, and it is one of the four major Chinese families in Hong Kong. If we just bow to Lin Haoran, how can we gain a foothold in Hong Kong in the future?"

"The four great families, that's an old story. Guobin, do you think that with our Li family's current financial resources, can we still be considered one of the four great families? In fact, whether it's our Li Peicai family, or the He Qidong family, the Zhou Yongtai family, or the Li Xishen family, they all began to decline in the 1960s and 1970s.

Among the emerging forces, such as Lin Haoran, Bao Yugang, Li Jiacheng, Guo Desheng, Li Zhaoji, Zheng Yutong, etc., which one is not much stronger than us?

In front of them, we are now only left with the title of one of the four major families. To put it nicely, we are the four major families, but to put it bluntly, we are just an old ship barely struggling in the tide of the times.

Nowadays, the business world in Hong Kong is in a state of flux, with new nobles rising and old families declining. If we still cling to that little bit of fame, I’m afraid we won’t even be able to keep this little foundation in the end.”

Li Fushu has the deepest understanding of this change. Twenty or thirty years ago, their Li family was indeed at the top of the Chinese business circle. At that time, both Bao Yugang and Li Jiacheng had just started doing business in Hong Kong.

But with the changes of the times, their four major families have gradually declined and are no longer the families at the top of the business world.

Li Fushu walked to his son and patted him on the shoulder gently, his eyes full of depth and helplessness.

"Guo Bin, you have to understand that the business world is like a battlefield, where victory and defeat are common. We need to bow our heads temporarily so that we can stand more firmly in the future. Lin Haoran is in high spirits right now, and if we confront him head-on, it would be like hitting a rock with an egg.

Rather than risking our lives, we should take advantage of his power to develop ourselves. I am not very clear about why he wants to acquire our Bank of East Asia, but I think we have a chance to retain our controlling stake based on his past management style. After all, only our Li family knows the Bank of East Asia best, and we are the only ones who can accurately grasp the complex business relationships and potential risks.

Moreover, even if Lin Haoran becomes a major shareholder, the actual operation of the bank still depends on people like us who are familiar with the business. As long as we can show our value in the negotiations, he will not easily kick us out. Guobin, you have to look at the long term and not just focus on the gains and losses in front of you. "

As Li Guobin listened to his father's words, the resentment in his heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a trace of calmness and thought.

He is not a fool. On the contrary, the reason why Li Fushu trained him to be his successor is not only because he is Li Fushu's eldest son, but more importantly, he does have extraordinary wisdom and keen insight in running a business.

At this moment, he already understood his father's good intentions and was clearly aware of the seriousness of the current situation.

In recent years, the Governor's Office has relaxed restrictions on banking licenses, and strong foreign banks have set up branches in Hong Kong, putting Chinese banks under tremendous pressure, resulting in the bankruptcy of many Chinese banks.

The reason why Bank of East Asia has become a giant among Chinese banks is not only because of its strong foundation, but most importantly, it has already established a huge overseas network and implemented diversified operations, which has enabled it to continuously expand its banking business, thus making it increasingly prosperous despite adverse circumstances.

In this regard, Li Guobin’s contribution is actually very great.

Studying in the UK has given him broader horizons than many Hong Kong businessmen.

He is aware of the potential of overseas markets and understands the importance of diversified operations for banks to mitigate risks.

Therefore, after returning from the UK and joining the Bank of East Asia, he actively promoted the bank to expand its overseas business, established cooperative relationships with financial institutions in many countries and regions, managed trust funds for private clients, and allowed the Bank of East Asia to gradually emerge on the international financial stage.

In recent years, under the promotion of Li Guobin, Bank of East Asia has cooperated with financial institutions in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Canada, Switzerland and other countries, and established four branches in New York, Toronto, the Cayman Islands and Singapore to develop overseas business, making Bank of East Asia a Chinese bank with great influence based in Hong Kong and going global.

Listing the bank in the early 70s was definitely a brilliant move, allowing Bank of East Asia to gain more resources and support in the capital market.

But now Lin Haoran is coming with such force that if it is not handled properly, all this may come to nothing.

Apart from anything else, didn’t Hang Seng Bank, which is even more powerful than Bank of East Asia, still escape the fate of being acquired and controlled by HSBC Bank?

"Dad, you should personally handle the negotiations with Lin Haoran. After all, I am still inexperienced and I am afraid that I will lose my composure at the negotiation table and ruin the family's affairs." Li Guobin said sincerely after thinking for a moment.

Li Fushu nodded slightly, with a trace of relief in his eyes, "Guobin, it's good that you can recognize your own shortcomings. This negotiation is indeed crucial. It concerns the future of our Li family and the fate of Bank of East Asia. If I personally go out, it will also let the other party see our sincerity and importance.

You can follow me and learn more negotiation skills. I am old now, and the future of the Li family still depends on you. "

Now, the suddenly rising Lin Haoran stood in front of them like an insurmountable mountain, exuding an awe-inspiring aura.

Even the powerful Jardine Matheson was driven out of Hong Kong by Lin Haoran, so what could their Bank of East Asia count for?
But Li Fushu understood that for the continuation of his family and the future of Bank of East Asia, he must muster up the courage to face this difficult negotiation.

Maybe we will face the worst outcome, but there is still a chance.

"Daddy, please rest assured. I will listen carefully, study hard and live up to your expectations." Li Guobin said solemnly.

"If you can't beat them, just join them! This is a kind of wisdom." Li Fushu nodded slightly, sighed, stood up, and looked at the Central urban area with tall buildings outside.

(End of this chapter)