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

Chapter 266 4K Examined (Seeking monthly votes, recommendations, and subscriptions!)

On the other side, Huo Jianning also brought the latest progress on the selection of the group's headquarters location.

In the office, Huo Jianning laid out detailed information about the Hongfa Building in front of Chen Bingwen.

"Mr. Chen, the developer's cash flow is tighter than we expected."

They prefer to sell the entire product, with an asking price of HK$940 million.

If we can pay the majority of the amount upfront, the price is likely to be around 850 million, or even lower.

Huo Jianning pointed to the data in the building and said.

Chen Bingwen leaned back in his chair, his brows slightly furrowed.

Even after making huge profits in the gold market, 850 million is still a huge sum that can significantly impact cash flow.

He knew perfectly well that the group headquarters was more than just an office location; it was a symbol of strength, a signboard for stabilizing morale and attracting talent. The Weiye Building was already overburdened, management was scattered, and communication costs were increasing daily.

The Hung Fat Building boasts an excellent location, close to the future Admiralty MTR station, and features a modern design. If you can acquire it at a discounted price, it would be a high-quality fixed asset investment.

But there are too many places to spend money right now.

Watsons' expansion in Southeast Asia requires funding, and Simon Murray has submitted a detailed plan to open new stores in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, with a significant initial investment required.

In Yingni, Qingzhou, the plan for a modern food industrial park on the Hongheyuan plot involves considerable expenses just for the initial land leveling and infrastructure construction.

The old gantry cranes at Hutchison Whampoa's docks definitely need to be replaced, otherwise their efficiency will fall behind the competition.

ATV is a platform that needs continuous financial support; new program production, equipment upgrades, and talent acquisition all require money.

There's also the comprehensive development of the Hung Hom dockyard site, which has a promising future, but returns are not expected in the short term.

Each project seems necessary and contains potential for future growth.

But there's only so much money, so we have to prioritize.

In addition, another thought lingered in his mind: with the international shipping industry currently in a slump, there might be an opportunity to acquire high-quality port assets overseas at low prices.

Acquiring the Hongfa Building as the group's headquarters would certainly enhance its image, centralize management, and facilitate communication; it is also a valuable fixed asset in itself.

But in this current phase of rapid expansion, is tying up a large amount of cash in an office building the best option?

Chen Bingwen had a question mark in his mind.

"Can the developer accept installment payments? For example, a down payment, with the remainder secured by the group's credit or part of the property as collateral?"

Chen Bingwen asked.

"I probed them, and they said they'd rather get their cash back as soon as possible."

"However, if we can increase the down payment ratio, for example, to over 60%, and pay the remaining amount in installments, they should seriously consider it," Huo Jianning replied.

After a moment's thought, Chen Bingwen made a decision: "Jianning, you continue the discussion."

The goal is a down payment of 500 million, with the remaining 350 million to be paid off in three installments over three years, with an annual interest rate kept below 8%.

"Understood, Mr. Chen."

I will do my best to secure the best possible terms. Huo Jianning noted down the key points.

"In addition," Chen Bingwen added, "the equipment upgrade plan for the docks at Hutchison Whampoa needs to be completed as soon as possible, with the budget kept under 50 million, and priority should be given to replacing the old and least efficient bridge cranes."

Detailed planning for the Hung Hom site also needs to be expedited.

"Okay, the plans for the pier and Hung Hom are progressing simultaneously, and we will provide you with a first draft within a week."

After Huo Jianning left, Chen Bingwen rubbed his temples.

There's never enough money, even after you've just made a fortune.

He had to be meticulous in his calculations, ensuring that every penny was spent wisely to support this rapidly expanding business empire.

Moreover, he also made other preparations. If he really couldn't reach an agreement on the Hung Fat Building, he could simply hold out in the Wai Yip Building for another year or two, and when the real estate market collapsed, he would try to take advantage of Jardine Land and try to get one of Jardine Land's buildings in Central.

A few days later, good news came regarding the acquisition of Lijia Soda Factory.

Under the leadership of Michael, negotiations with Li Luyanqun progressed smoothly.

After her husband, Li Xiaohe, fell seriously ill, Li Luyanqun demonstrated a pragmatic and decisive side.

Ultimately, it was agreed that the land, brand, formula, equipment, distribution channels, and existing employees of the Lee Ka Soft Drink Factory would be transferred to Chan Kee Foods for HK$48 million.

After the acquisition, Chan Kee’s soft drink production scale in Hong Kong Island expanded rapidly. After integrating Lee Ka’s original production lines and channels, its actual production capacity and market share have surpassed its old rival Swire Soft Drink, making it the leader in the local market.

Ma Shimin quickly led a team to move in, stabilize production, reassure employees, and incorporate several classic Li Jia soda flavors into Chen Ji's production system. At the same time, he began planning to upgrade the production line to improve efficiency and product quality.

With the initial completion of the integration of Lee Ka Soft Drink Factory, Chan Kee Foods' position in the Hong Kong Island market has become more solid.

When Ma Shimin came to report on his work, he mentioned a situation: "Mr. Chen, there are some master craftsmen in the old Lijia factory who have excellent skills and have done a lot of research on traditional soda recipes."

While upgrading our production lines, could we also retain one or two traditional production lines to produce some nostalgic products to cater to specific consumer groups?

Chen Bingwen thought it was a good idea: "Okay. You can handle the specifics."

That day, Chen Bingwen received a formal invitation from Yuan Geng, who hoped that he could conduct an on-site inspection of the Shekou Industrial Zone.

Without hesitation, Chen Bingwen quickly arranged the itinerary, taking Ling Peiyi and two engineers in charge of production planning to Shekou.

At the same time, the Jianing Group was enjoying unparalleled success.

Following his high-priced acquisition of the Jinmen Building, Chen Songqing continued to lavishly acquire companies, and the number of companies he controlled or invested in increased like a snowball.

The stock price of the Jialing Group has been soaring, making it the most dazzling star in the market.

Many small and medium-sized investors and financial institutions are trying to establish a relationship with Jia Ning.

Shekou Industrial Zone.

The roar of bulldozers and cranes was incessant, and everywhere there was bare land and factory frames under construction.

Yuan Geng personally accompanied Chen Bingwen and his delegation to inspect the construction progress of the industrial park.

"Mr. Chen, look at this land being leveled; it will be used for industrial purposes in the future."

Over there, they're building dock berths.

1

As Yuan Geng walked, he explained the situation to Chen Bingwen.

Looking at the bustling scene before him, Chen Bingwen could fully feel the atmosphere of everything needing to be rebuilt and everyone seizing the day.

"Mr. Chen, you're in the beverage and food business, we'd love to have you."

Yuan Geng pointed to a piece of land that had been leveled not far away, "It has a good location, close to the planned main road, and convenient access to water and electricity."

If you are interested, you can be given priority consideration.

Chen Bingwen quickly made a mental calculation.

Setting up a factory in Shekou has obvious advantages.

Labor costs are far lower than in Hong Kong Island, and there are preferential tax policies such as "three years of tax exemption and two years of tax reduction". It is convenient to export products and can make early arrangements for the huge potential of the mainland market. It has great political and symbolic significance.

However, disadvantages also exist.

The infrastructure is still under development, the supporting supply chain is almost non-existent, the efficiency of customs clearance for raw material imports and finished product exports is unknown, and the management difficulty and uncertainty are both high.

Setting up a factory here is likely to result in no profit or even losses in the short term.

"Mr. Yuan, we have witnessed the speed of construction here and your enthusiasm, and we are deeply encouraged," Chen Bingwen said. "I plan to first invest in building a beverage packaging plant, mainly producing aluminum cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles."

On the one hand, it supplies our own bottling plants in Hong Kong Island and Southeast Asia, reducing costs;

On the other hand, they could also try selling to the mainland market.

His choice of a packaging plant as his entry point was a well-thought-out one.

The demand for packaging materials is stable, the technology is relatively mature, the investment scale is controllable, and it can directly serve Chenji's existing business, so the risk is relatively small.

This is a safer option than building a beverage bottling plant directly.

Upon hearing that it was a genuine manufacturing investment, although its scale might not be as large as a large chemical plant, it was very concrete and could immediately bring employment and output value. He was very happy: "Great! A packaging plant is good!"

This is a real industrial project, and we especially welcome it.

We will provide the most favorable conditions and the most convenient services for land, labor, and approvals, and will set up a special team to follow up!

After the inspection, on the way back to Hong Kong Island, Ling Peiyi said to Chen Bingwen, "Mr. Chen, setting up a packaging plant in Shekou is indeed very attractive from the perspective of land and labor costs."

However, the initial investment in factory construction, equipment import, and personnel resettlement will be substantial, and the supporting infrastructure in inland areas is almost non-existent, meaning many raw materials will likely have to be imported from elsewhere.

Chen Bingwen nodded: "I know."

This is not just a business transaction, but a strategic move.

Establishing a foothold here beforehand, getting familiar with the environment, and building relationships are more important than saving a little money.

Once the mainland market opens up in the future, its value will far exceed expectations.

Assign a reliable team to oversee this project and complete the feasibility report as soon as possible.

While Chen Bingwen was setting up operations in Shekou, on Hong Kong Island, Morris's talent recruitment plan for Phoenix TV was also in full swing.

The list that Chen Bingwen gave him became the ultimate guide for action.

Morris even organized a four-person recruitment team, including senior producers drawn from the program department and key personnel from the human resources department, to carry out the work in secret.

Their strategy is to make low-key contact, focus on key breakthroughs, and use both financial incentives and business platforms.

The first target was screenwriter Wong Jing.

At that time, Wong Jing was just over twenty years old and was still a junior screenwriter at TVB. Although he participated in the scriptwriting of some programs and dramas with his clever mind and strong creative desire, he was far from being able to work independently and his salary was not high.

Morris sent someone to arrange a meeting with him through an intermediary at a quiet tea restaurant in Wan Chai.

Wang Jing was somewhat surprised when she received the call, thinking it was just a regular writing assignment.

When I arrived at the location, I was surprised to see that it was the new general manager of RTV (Rediffusion Television) who personally greeted me. My heart skipped a beat.

Morris didn't beat around the bush and directly stated his intention to recruit: "Mr. Wang, we admire your talent."

ATV has just undergone restructuring and urgently needs creative and energetic young creators like you.

If you're willing to come, we can offer you twice your current base salary.

Furthermore, as long as your script idea passes the evaluation, you can independently build a team to handle production and enjoy a share of the project's profits.

Wang Shi's heart raced as he listened to the conditions Maurice presented.

Double the salary!

Xiangjing's profit sharing!

Independent production!

For a company like TVB, where seniority is highly valued, this condition is simply unthinkable.

He forced himself to remain calm and drank a cup of milk tea: "Mr. Morris, thank you for your kindness."

However, I'm currently working on a long drama series at TVB, so I can't leave for the time being.

Morris smiled and handed over a simple draft of a letter of intent: "No rush, Mr. Wang can take his time to consider it."

This is our initial expression of sincerity.

ATV's future direction is to produce high-quality, influential dramas, and it needs talents like you to create this opportunity.

We know that TVB has its own rules, but at RTV (Rediffusion Television), we value ability and results even more.

Although Morris didn't spell it out explicitly, his meaning was clear.

At TVB, you need seniority to climb the ranks; at Phoenix TV, you need ability to rise to the top.

Holding the seemingly light yet weighty letter of intent, Wang Shi's mind began to race.

While the wireless platform is large, it is also full of talented people. Even with his father, Wang Tianlin, supporting him, it is still very difficult to stand out.

The new owner of RTV is financially strong, offered generous terms, and, more importantly, gave them the opportunities that young people crave most.

Although he didn't agree immediately, his heart was already beginning to tip in his favor.

Almost simultaneously, another group set their sights on Adam Cheng, who was already somewhat famous in the television industry but seemed to be facing a bottleneck in his career.

Adam Cheng has become a specialist in playing chivalrous heroes thanks to dramas such as "The Book and the Sword" and "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber". However, the continued high-intensity filming has left him physically and mentally exhausted, and the types of roles he plays have become increasingly diverse.

His contract with TVB is about to expire, and the renewal negotiations are not going smoothly. TVB wants to lower his price, while Adam Cheng hopes to have more time to rest and try different roles.

Morris met with Adam Cheng at a private club through a director he knew well.

Instead of specifying his salary, Adam Cheng and Morris focused on outlining the future production blueprint for RTV.

"Adam Cheng, after RTV (Rediffusion Television) is restructured, it will not only produce martial arts dramas."

We are currently preparing a local epic like "The Land's Grace," and in the future we will also invest in and produce diverse themes such as modern business warfare and Republican-era legends.

We hope to invite a leading actor like you, who has audience appeal and acting skills, to join us. In addition to acting, we also hope you can work on drama planning and even try your hand at producing.

Regarding working hours, we can adopt a more flexible per-partment contract model to ensure you have enough time for rest and to arrange other work.

These words struck a chord with Adam Cheng.

He was tired of not taking on multiple roles at once and was looking for a breakthrough and a break.

The flexible working hours offered by RTV (Rediffusion Television) are more attractive than simply raising salaries.

Although he still had doubts about the prospects of his new employer, the sincerity and plans shown by the other party made it impossible for him to refuse easily.

"Mr. Morris, thank you for your recognition."

Regarding the contract renewal, I will carefully consider your station's terms.

He didn't agree on the spot, but his attitude had already softened.

The poaching operation was not without its challenges.

For TVB's absolute pillars and indispensable core members of variety shows like Liza Wang, even the incredible offer of "three times her annual salary plus autonomy over variety shows" made by Morris was politely declined.

Liza Wang has a deep affection for TVB and her position is secure, making it difficult to shake in the short term.

However, Morris was not discouraged. His recruitment focus was on middle-aged and young talents with potential and ideas but who might be limited by wireless technology.