Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire.

Chapter 261 Success! 4K (Seeking monthly votes, recommendations, and subscriptions!)

The next day.

The coffee shop at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Bao Yugang put down his cup, looked at Li Jiacheng sitting opposite him, and calmly but clearly conveyed Chen Bingwen's meaning.

He did not embellish the story, but simply stated objectively that Chen Bingwen hoped Li Ka-shing would focus on Cheung Kong Holdings and sell his Hutchison Whampoa shares, and that if this did not happen, the other party would not rule out the possibility of taking further measures, including increasing its stake in Cheung Kong Holdings.

After hearing Bao Yugang's tactful interpretation of Chen Bingwen's meaning, Li Jiacheng paused for a moment while holding his coffee cup. His face was expressionless, but the knuckles of his fingers holding the coffee cup turned slightly white.

He was filled with overwhelming anger and humiliation.

This was practically an ultimatum from Chen Bingwen, using the threat of a hostile takeover to force him to withdraw from Hutchison Whampoa, a project he had painstakingly planned for many years.

"Thank you for relaying the message." Li Jiacheng's voice sounded a little hoarse.

Bao Yugang nodded and earnestly advised, "Jiacheng, in the business world, sometimes taking a step back can open up a whole new world."

Going head-on with Chen Sheng could come at a great cost.

A solid foundation is your base; steady and methodical progress is the key to long-term success.

Li Jiacheng remained silent for a moment.

He certainly understands this principle.

But giving up on Huang would be like cutting off a piece of flesh.

He took a deep breath and said, "I understand. I need time to think about this."

Bao Yugang nodded and said nothing more.

Some things are enough said at this point.

After leaving the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and getting into the Rolls-Royce, Li Jiacheng's face darkened completely, his previous composure vanishing entirely.

Driver Ah-Qiang caught a glimpse of his boss's gloomy face through the rearview mirror. He immediately focused on his own thoughts and drove the car with unusually smooth speed, even quietly turning off the Cantonese opera playing on the radio.

The carriage was deathly silent.

Li Jiacheng leaned back in the soft leather seat, closed his eyes, but his mind was racing.

Chen Bingwen's move was ruthless.

His lifeline was directly threatened—Cheung Kong Holdings.

This is no longer a simple battle over Hutchison Whampoa's shares; it has escalated into a life-or-death struggle for survival.

Back at his home in Deep Water Bay, Li Jiacheng went straight to his bedroom on the second floor, ignoring even the housekeeper's greeting.

Zhuang Yueming was arranging flowers in the small living room when she heard footsteps. She looked up and saw that he was pale and hadn't even taken off his suit jacket. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly put down the flowers and came to greet him with concern.

"Brother Cheng, what's wrong? You look so pale. Is something wrong at work?"

Li Jiacheng waved his hand, not answering immediately. Somewhat irritated, he took off his suit jacket and handed it to the maid who came at the sound. He loosened his tie and walked to the sofa, sitting down heavily.

Zhuang Yueming gave the maid a wink, and the maid quietly withdrew, gently closing the door to the small living room behind her.

"Bao Yugang invited me for coffee," Li Jiacheng took a deep breath, his voice tinged with suppressed anger, "to relay a message from Chen Bingwen."

Zhuang Yueming sat down beside him, gently took his clenched fist on his knee, and listened quietly without interrupting.

Li Jiacheng almost verbatim repeated Bao Yugang's words, including the "good intention" of "helping to take over Cheung Kong shares".

After hearing this, Zhuang Yueming's expression also became serious.

"Is he trying to force you out? Is he using Cheung Kong Holdings to blackmail you into giving up Hutchison Whampoa?"

That's roughly the idea.

Li Jiacheng snorted coldly, "Young man, you don't know the rules, you only know how to throw money around."

"So what do you plan to do?" Zhuang Yueming asked worriedly, "Go head-to-head with Changshi?"

Engaging in a close battle with Chen Bingwen in the Cheung Kong stock market?

The idea was incredibly tempting, instantly igniting Li Jiacheng's fighting spirit.

What storms hasn't Li Jiacheng weathered?

The relationship with HSBC is still there, and if they can raise funds urgently, they are not without a fighting chance.

But just a few seconds later, reason prevailed over the impulse; it was a risky move, even a foolish one.

First, the cost is too high.

Once a hostile takeover battle begins, Cheung Kong's share price will inevitably be driven up wildly.

With his vast wealth, Chen Bingwen could buy up goods at any cost.

If Li Ka-shing wants to maintain his controlling stake, he must follow suit, which would require investing astronomical sums of money to buy back shares or to carry out a reverse takeover.

Regardless of success or failure, Cheung Kong Holdings will inevitably suffer a severe blow, with its debt soaring and its development in the coming years severely hampered.

Even if we win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory.

Second, the risk is extremely high.

Chen Bingwen was on the offensive, able to advance and retreat at will.

The gamble was that Li Jiacheng wouldn't dare give up Cheung Kong Holdings, the foundation of the company.

If the acquisition fails, or if the price is deemed too high, Chen Bingwen can sell his shares at a high price, cash out, and potentially make a large profit.

And what about Li Jiacheng?

He cannot back down, nor can he afford to back down.

Changshi is his lifeline; he must protect him at all costs.

From the very beginning of this battle, he was in a passive defensive position with a very low margin for error.

Third, the consequences are unpredictable.

Even if CK Asset ultimately succeeds in resisting the takeover, it will inevitably be severely damaged.

When stock prices are inflated, they will inevitably plummet, causing heavy losses to small and medium-sized shareholders and generating great resentment towards management.

The company's reputation, its relationship with banks, and its future financing capabilities will be severely affected.

Thinking about this, Li Jiacheng couldn't help but ask himself, was it really worth dragging Cheung Kong into the quagmire for the sake of Hutchison Whampoa?

Li Jiacheng walked to the window, looking at Villa No. 79 diagonally above in the night, his heart filled with boundless hatred.

He recalled how he had gradually transformed Cheung Kong Holdings from a small plastic flower factory into the real estate giant it is today, and only he knew the hardships he had endured.

Cheung Kong Holdings is the culmination of his life's work and the foundation upon which he has built his life.

While Hutchison Whampoa is important, it is ultimately a prize to be won, not a foundation to be built in times of need.

For a fleeting moment, he even thought of HSBC's Sir Michael Sandberg, perhaps he could use HSBC loans to fight this battle.

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

HSBC prioritizes profit, and given the uncertain situation, it may not fully support him; instead, it might choose to wait for a better offer.

Moreover, the feeling of being in debt is not pleasant.

"Sigh—" A long sigh echoed in the living room.

Li Jiacheng felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

Chen Bingwen's move was both ruthless and accurate, hitting him right where it hurt.

Young people, they don't follow the rules, they only know how to throw money around.

Ironically, this most primitive method is often the most effective.

He had to admit that, given the opponent's absolute financial advantage and apparent willingness to pay any price, clinging to Hutchison Whampoa would likely result in a complete loss.

Giving up, though painful, can preserve the foundation and also generate a considerable amount of cash for Cheung Kong's own development.

At this moment, Zhuang Yueming walked to his side and gently took his hand.

"Moonlight," Li Jiacheng's voice was slightly hoarse, "if we withdraw from Hutchison Whampoa now, where do you think we should invest the cash we've raised?"

Zhuang Yueming breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that her husband had made a rational choice.

She thought for a moment and said, "The real estate market is recovering now. This money can be used to bid for prime land or develop our own rental properties. The return cycle is more controllable and the risk is lower."

Hutchison Whampoa is too large a business; integration will require time and huge investment. Chen Bingwen is currently riding high, so letting him tackle this tough challenge while we focus on developing Cheung Kong Holdings might not be a bad thing.

She paused, then continued, "Most importantly, Brother Cheng, Changshi must not be allowed to fall into disarray."

His wife's words were like a gentle breeze, dispelling the last vestiges of hesitation and confusion in Li Jiacheng's heart.

Zhuang Yueming's analysis coincided with his own judgment, and it pointed out the positive aspects of taking a step back even more clearly.

Preserving our strength and focusing on our core competencies is the wisest choice right now.

As long as Cheung Kong Holdings remains, the Lee family still has the resources to make a comeback.

"Where there's life, there's hope."

Li Jiacheng muttered to himself.

This is the simplest and most truthful truth.

"That's right." Zhuang Yueming nodded. "Sometimes, retreat is for a better attack."

Long-term sustainability is our foundation.

As long as the foundation is solid, there will always be opportunities in the future.

The next morning, Li Jiacheng sat alone for a long time in his chairman's office on the top floor of Cheung Kong Holdings.

Finally, he picked up the internal phone and had his secretary connect him to Chen Bingwen's office number.

"Mr. Chen, this is Li Jiacheng." Chen Bingwen's steady voice came from the other end of the phone: "Mr. Li, good morning."

"Regarding the Hutchison Whampoa shares," Li Jiacheng said bluntly, his voice calm and revealing no emotion, "I've thought it through."

Cheung Kong Holdings is willing to sell all of our Hutchison Whampoa shares at the current market price.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Chen Bingwen's voice: "Okay."

Mr. Li was straightforward.

I will have Director Fang Wenshan immediately coordinate with Manager Zhou Jinqian regarding the specific transfer procedures.

"Okay," Li Jiacheng said. "I hope the deal can be completed as soon as possible."

"No problem," Chen Bingwen replied. "Also, Mr. Li, please rest assured that Sugar Heart Capital will not increase its holdings of Cheung Kong Holdings shares in the secondary market within the next twelve months."

This is a promise, and also a truce signal in some sense.

Li Jiacheng knew in his heart that, under the current circumstances, this was already the best possible condition.

"Okay. I hope Mr. Chen's integration goes smoothly."

After hanging up the phone, Li Jiacheng leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.

Although he had made a difficult decision, he felt an unusual sense of relief as he had shed a huge burden and potential threat.

Next, he will concentrate all resources to ensure that Cheung Kong Holdings occupies a more advantageous position in the next cycle of the real estate market.

He will win back this defeat elsewhere.

Almost at the same time he hung up the phone, on the top floor of the Weiye Building, Chen Bingwen put down the receiver, a faint smile on his face.

Things went even more smoothly than he had expected.

Li Jiacheng is indeed a sensible person who knows how to weigh the pros and cons.

Acquiring the remaining key stake in Hutchison Whampoa without bloodshed and avoiding a potentially destructive takeover battle is undoubtedly the best outcome.

"Director Fang," he pressed the intercom button, "inform Mr. Michael, Mr. Huo Jianning, and Attorney Gu that Mr. Li Jiacheng has agreed to sell all of his Hutchison Whampoa shares."

Initiate the acquisition process immediately, at market price, and quickly.

"Okay, Mr. Chen!"

Upon hearing the news, Vincent Fang's voice became excited.

This means that Sugar Capital will completely control Hutchison Whampoa, holding more than 50% of the shares and achieving absolute control.

The foundation of a business empire was thus laid.

A few days later, the equity transfer agreement was officially signed.

Sugar Capital paid over HK$300 million in cash to Cheung Kong Holdings in exchange for a 12.5% ​​stake in Hutchison Whampoa.

Including the shares previously acquired from HSBC, those absorbed from the secondary market, and those exchanged from Wealth Management, Sugar Capital's stake in Hutchison Whampoa has now exceeded 51%, achieving absolute control.

The news quickly spread through Hong Kong's top financial circles, causing an uproar in the Hong Kong financial community.

Lee Ka-shing withdrew from Hutchison Whampoa, and Chan Ping-man gained absolute control. This battle, which lasted for several months, ended quickly in such an unexpected way.

The market generally believes that this avoids vicious competition and is conducive to Hutchison Whampoa's stability and development.

Hutchison Whampoa's stock price rose accordingly.

In his office on the top floor of the Weiye Building, Chen Bingwen looked at the officially effective equity transfer documents on his desk, but his face didn't show much excitement.

All of this was within his expectations. Li Jiacheng was a smart man; he knew how to weigh the pros and cons.

"Congratulations, Mr. Chen, on completely securing Hutchison Whampoa," Fang Wenshan said from the side.

"That's just the first step," Chen Bingwen said calmly. "The real challenge is yet to come."

Integrating such a large undertaking is incredibly complex and multifaceted.

The notice has been sent out that a meeting of all senior executives of Hutchison Whampoa will be held at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.

I'm going to announce the new organizational structure and integration plan.

"Yes, Mr. Chen."

The next day, in the main conference room at Hutchison Whampoa headquarters.

All senior executives at the department head level and above were present, and the conference room was packed.

As everyone knows, with the complete change of major shareholders, a sweeping reform is about to begin.

At 9:00 AM sharp, Chen Bingwen entered the conference room accompanied by Huo Jianning, Mai Lisi, Wei Li, and others.

He walked directly to the chairman's seat, glanced around the room, and began to speak without exchanging pleasantries.

"Ladies and gentlemen, from today onwards, Sugar Capital officially becomes the controlling shareholder of Hutchison Whampoa. The past is over."

'

His voice was steady, yet carried an undeniable power.

Previously, Chen Bingwen spoke with some reservations at senior management meetings, but now that Sugar Capital has become the absolute controlling shareholder of Hutchison Whampoa, the weight and influence of his words are naturally quite different.

"I have three core requirements for Hutchison Whampoa's future development: efficiency, profit, and synergy."

"First, efficiency. Simplify all approval processes where possible, and delegate those that can be delegated."

Mr. Huo Jianning will lead the formation of an efficiency improvement team, and I need to see a concrete plan within a month.

Huo Jianning nodded.

"Second, profits. Loss-making or unprofitable businesses should either be restructured, shut down, or sold."

Mr. MacLeish was tasked with assembling an asset optimization team, which was required to produce a list and disposal plan within a month.

MacLehose calmly agreed.

Third, collaboration.

Within Hutchison Whampoa, the docks, real estate, retail, and power plants can no longer operate independently.

To streamline resources, internal coordination is key. Mr. Wei Li will lead the specific plan, with the participation of heads of various business units, and provide me with a preliminary report within two weeks.

Wei Li nodded in agreement.

Chen Bingwen's instructions were clear, direct, and left no room for negotiation.

Many executives in the audience felt a chill run down their spines; the new boss's style was indeed as rumored—swift and decisive.

"In addition, several personnel appointments will be announced."

Chen Bingwen continued, "I have appointed Fok Kin-ning as Executive Vice President of Hutchison Whampoa Group, responsible for finance, strategy and daily operations, reporting directly to me."

"I have appointed Mr. McLeish as a special advisor to the Group to assist me in major capital operations and international business expansion."

The existing heads of each business segment will remain in their current positions for the time being.

However, the performance evaluation criteria will change. In the future, your retention, salary, and bonuses will be directly linked to performance.

The capable rise, the average step aside, and the mediocre fall.

I don't keep idle people here.

The meeting room was completely silent.

Everyone realized that things had completely changed in Huang's world.