In mid-November, Media Group and Lai Voice (UK) announced at the same time that they had reached an agreement on a share deal for Lai TV Station, and Media Group acquired a 60% stake in Lai TV Station at a price of 120 million Hong Kong dollars.

At the same time, Lin Zhichao personally announced that he would retire from the position of director of TVB.

For a time, public opinion was shocked!

"Sir Lin is confused! The Hutchison Whampoa he leads is the major shareholder of TVB, and the other major shareholder is HSBC, as long as he wants TVB, it is completely a matter of one sentence. ”

"That's it! TVB's ratings account for more than eighty percent of the Hong Kong TV industry, and Li's TV station only accounts for two percent. ”

"I think this is Lin Sheng's character of 'benevolence and righteousness' of our Chinese, and he should be commended for not taking the favor of others. TVB is a painstaking enterprise run by Uncle Shao, and it is also organized by Li Xiaohe, if Mr. Lin is forcibly incorporated into the media group through equity, there will be a loss of morality. ”

"Yes, Lin Sheng has only acquired British capital in the stock market, and has not targeted Chinese capital. If you buy TVB, you will be unknown. ”

"Makes sense! And Lin Sheng is the 'god of management', Li's TV station is in his hands, maybe he can share the ratings with TVB. In this way, it is very advantageous for Hong Kong television to form healthy competition, rather than monopolize ratings. ”

Citizens talked about it, and various media outlets also commented.

TVB.

Li Xiaohe, Li Rongsen, Run Run Shaw and others were talking in the office, and their faces showed relieved expressions, and there was an indescribable relief.

In the past year or two, they are worried about Lin Zhichao winning TVB at any time, because it is completely possible. First of all, Lin Zhichao's media group lacks TV business; Secondly, Lin Zhichao holds a controlling stake in Hutchison Whampoa and has a very good relationship with HSBC, so he can easily increase his stake in TVB to more than 51%.

Based on this, they even thought that after Lin Zhichao incorporated TVB into the media group, they might only be able to cash out.

Li Xiaohe said: "Lin Sheng's quality has always been highly regarded by his eldest brother (Li Zeming), and I knew that it was impossible for him to plot the management rights of TVB. Now it seems that Lin Sheng really never thought of asking for the right to operate TVB, but aimed at Li's TV station. ”

At this time, TVB, Li Xiaohe was in real power, he was the chairman of the board of directors, and his two younger brothers were directors. TVB shifted from black-and-white to color (1971), TVB training course, and emphasis on local drama production. These things are all led by Li Xiaohe and Run Run Shaw, but Li Xiaohe is the person in the center of the stage.

If Li Xiaohe does not die next year, Run Run Shaw will always be the general manager and will not get the opportunity to take the position. Because in TVB, his influence is not as great as Li Xiaohe, which is why after the death of Li Xiaohe in later generations, his wife can still come out with Run Run Shaw.

Run Run Shaw said: "Lin Sheng's heart is indeed higher than the sky, he doesn't want to put a ready-made TVB, and he chooses Li's TV station." It seems that he thinks that with his leadership, he can lead Li's TV station to rise and compete with our TVB. ”

The three Ritchie brothers immediately looked at each other, they forgot about this stubble, Lin Zhichao symbolized the spirit of 'invincible'. For more than 30 years, he has been a hegemon in every industry, including shipping, industry, real estate, hotels, clothing, newspapers, films, publishing and other industries.

"Don't be underestimated!" Li Xiaohe sighed.

At this time, Run Run Shaw is in good spirits!

He said confidently: "Everyone can rest assured of this! Although Lin Sheng is known as the 'God of Management', in the film and television industry, he actually relies on Zou Wenhuai, He Guanchang and others. And for the TV industry, what kind of talent should he use to compete with our TVB? Obviously not, the TV industry pays attention to the whole link, not a few people can change it. Moreover, we TVB are full of talents, and we are not afraid of challengers at all. ”

Ritchie Bros. was right when he thought about it, and he stopped worrying.

The other side.

Lin Zhichao was in the office, teaching Li Ziduo and Lin Ruikai face-to-face.

Li Ziduo will serve as the chairman of the board of directors of Li's TV station, and Lin Ruikai will serve as the chief executive officer of Li's TV station.

At this time, Li's TV station had other shareholders, occupying 40% of the equity, but Lin Zhichao thought it was necessary to win them all, and there was no need to share his achievements with everyone.

So before that, he needs a 'turbulent period' for Li's TV station to shake the minds of these shareholders.

"First of all, after you take office, you will first change the name of Leigh's TV station to 'Asia TV'"

"The second thing, to reduce the establishment, shrink the budget, and implement cost control, is to set off a drastic rectification with a businessman's style."

Regarding the second thing, Lin Ruikai immediately said puzzled: "Father, isn't this self-cutting of his arms, which is not in line with the style of our media group." You must know that you are willing to invest money in newspapers and movies at the beginning, and the effect is very good. ”

Lin Zhichao smiled and said nothing!

Li Ziduo immediately explained to Lin Ruikai: "Asia Television is not completely ours, and a little turmoil at this time will kill two birds with one stone for us, which can not only establish the majesty of the media group, rectify the internal waste, but also make the remaining shareholders feel discouraged." ”

Lin Ruikai suddenly blushed, and secretly said that ginger is old and spicy.

Lin Zhichao said at this time: "So, I can't play at this time, and Ziduo has to carry a black pot for me." ”

Li Ziduo hurriedly said: "The boss is serious, this is my business." ”

He also understands that the bosses are all the chairman of the board of directors of Golden Harvest Films, and there is no reason not to concurrently serve as the chairman of the board of directors of Asia Television. But it was precisely the appointment of himself as chairman of the board of directors that showed that he was only temporary.

Lin Zhichao nodded, and didn't say much, Li Ziduo wears many hats, and he is also an old man in the media field. In fact, the entire media group is managed by Lin Zhichao, and Lin Zhichao is just under management.

Subsequently, he asked Li Ziduo to leave first, and then began to tell Lin Ruikai.

"You are the CEO, but you have to cooperate with the work of the son, don't stand out, and learn more. After we get all the shares, you will not work in Asia TV, but in the group, so as to prevent you from messing with women in the entertainment industry! ”

Lin Ruikai's face flushed, and he said in his heart that his father cares about this, which is unreasonable, but his father's majesty cannot be challenged, not to mention that he has no thoughts about other women.

"Father has a goal for the people who run Asia TV?"

"Yes, it won't be you and Li Ziduo, you will both manage the affairs of the group in the future."

"Okay, I see."

Lin Zhichao came to Raffles City to inspect the vicinity, followed by Lin Ruihuan and other senior executives of Cheung Kong Group.

The former site of the Navy Dockyard has undergone earth-shaking changes, with Queensway as the boundary, divided into two areas, north and south. On the north side of Queensway, the side near Victoria, it now sits on:

an ultra-luxury five-star hotel, Shangri-La Hotel;

Five first-class Grade A commercial office buildings - Far East Financial Center Tower A\B, Haifu Center, Admiralty Building, and Taifu Building, with a total of 2.8 million square feet of rent-collecting properties;

A 'Raffles City' with an area of 200,000 square feet.

In 1978~1979, Lin Zhichao's family built a total of 4 commercial office buildings, in addition to the three Admiralty (Admiralty also belongs to Central), there is also the development right above Chater Station in Central - Penfolds Center.

The rent unit price of each building is almost 18~20 Hong Kong dollars per square foot (only for the office part, the price of the commercial retail part is higher), and the monthly rent of a building is about 800~10 million Hong Kong dollars, and the annual rent is 1~120 million Hong Kong dollars (non-net profit).

In addition to the above six towers (Far East Finance Center Tower A\B, Admiralty Center, Admiralty Building, Pacific Tower, Penfold Center), the Lam Chi Chiu family also plays the role of Victoria Harbour Centre (skyscraper) in Central, as well as Midea Building, International Building, Global Building, Poly Building, Profit Buy, China Bank Building 50%, Wheelock Building 50%, Madden Building 50%, Crocodile Shirt Building, Taiping Hong, Legendary Center and Century Building.

In Central alone, the Lin family has owned more than 8 million square feet of rental properties, including two five-star hotels - Shangri-La Hotel and Hilton Hotel. With such a lucrative asset, the annual rent is more than one billion.

In Wan Chai, the Lin family does not have any rent-collecting properties, and the Elizabeth Building and Locke Building, which were jointly built, are all sold in layers.

However, in Causeway Bay, the Lin family is still strong, the future 'Times Square', the current Walden Building (Daimaru Department Store), Xintiandi Building, etc.

In Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, the Lin family plays the role of Wharf (Harbour City), which is already an invincible existence; Not to mention, a hotel and a commercial complex in Tsim Sha Tsui East, as well as Miramar Plaza, Hotel, Fuller Building, and Starlight Hong Building in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Sitting on such a lucrative rent-collecting property also makes Lin Zhichao very satisfied.

"Gongbeixing has been acquired?" Walking on the road, Lin Zhichao remembered something and asked.

Gong Northlink is a small building property located next to the Hilton Hotel in Central, which is a property that Cheung Kong Asset Group must acquire.

This is because the Hilton Hotel only covers an area of 39,000 square feet, and if you want to build a high-rise building with more than 60 floors, you must transfer it through the method of plot ratio (merging buildings);

Lin Ruihuan then said: "It's been negotiated, 102 million Hong Kong dollars." ”

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "I thought the owner would have to boil the price, I really plan to let you go, the Changjiang Group Center will be built later." ”

Lin Ruihuan immediately said: "This price is already very expensive!" However, Hongkong Land intends to sell Gammon to Chen Qingsong for 998 million this month, which has also driven the price of buildings in Hong Kong. ”

Lin Zhichao was stunned for a moment, and then remembered that the 'Hong Kong's No. 1 liar' had appeared!

Chen Qingsong came out very abruptly, which may give people the feeling that his net worth last year and the first half of this year was only tens of millions, but he could suddenly buy a large building worth 1 billion, and he was also acquiring the listed company Hanmei at the same time.

"What is the origin of this Chen Qingsong, he can actually afford a building worth a billion yuan, how come he has never heard of it before."

"We don't know very well, I heard that it seems to be a small speculator who speculates land and property, but I didn't expect it to be so generous now."

Lin Zhichao nodded and said, "This kind of person from an unknown source, don't have any cooperation projects with him, there are risks." ”

Lin Ruihuan said seriously: "Well, I remember!" ”

Get vaccinated first, after all, Lin Zhichao doesn't have to ask about many small projects now.

Next, Lin Ruihuan asked: "Father just said that the Changjiang Group Center is not in a hurry to be built?" I'm negotiating with Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and if they want to transfer the management of Hilton Central to Hilton Tsim Sha Tsui East, we still need to make up the difference. I thought that if the Cheung Kong Group Center was not in a hurry to be built, I would negotiate with them and use the management rights of the Central Hilton every year to offset the difference. ”

Lin Zhichao said: "This is Hong Kong's territory, why are you afraid of them, let them take the initiative." Be tough and let them compromise, or they will go to court and drive them out of Hong Kong. ”

As long as Central and East Tsim Sha Sha Tsui do not renew their contracts, won't the Hilton Hotel be driven away?

Lin Ruihuan was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded and said, "Well, I'll reorganize the negotiation!" ”

Lin Zhichao said: "Well, although it is inevitable to accompany a liquidated damages, the Hilton Hotel is more afraid that we will not give them the opportunity to produce in Hong Kong." Therefore, the most condition is that the remaining term of the management of Central be transferred to Hilton Tsim Sha Tsui East. As for the management of the Hilton Hotel in Central, it has been changed to a one-year visa, which means that we are not sure when it will be dismantled. ”

"Okay, I see!"

"When it's time to be tough, you have to be tough! Just like Gongbeixing, the owner also guessed the real purpose of our acquisition, so the price has been difficult to negotiate for the past two years. Originally, I wanted you to let it go, but since it has been successful, forget it. In a few years, he will beg us to buy it too. ”

Lin Ruihuan blushed, his father was criticizing him.

"I remember!"

He finally understood what his father meant, which meant the Dinghai Divine Needle. Don't look at the fact that my father is often absent from the company, but almost all of the company's large and medium-sized projects are planned by my father.

Even many partners are working with their fathers.

In the conference room of Hutchison Whampoa, a high-level meeting is being held, and Lin Zhichao and Mai Lisi are attending the meeting; As for Li Yeguang, he will generally only attend board meetings.

Lin Zhichao said: "Regarding the development of the Whampoa Dockyard, I plan to organize a team to discuss with the Hong Kong government the issue of land premium. Do you have any suggestions or comments? ”

The top brass expressed their approval and did not raise objections. This means that Cheung Kong Group has taken over the real estate business of Hutchison Whampoa, and it is led by Lin Zhichao himself.

At the end of 1977, Hutchison Whampoa announced an investment of HK$800 million to develop a large-scale real estate project in Aberdeen, and Hutchison Whampoa was later acquired by Lam Chi-chiu. At that time, Lin Zhichao just made suggestions, and he persuaded people with reason and won everyone's respect.

Today, Lin Zhichao has full control of Hutchison Whampoa's real estate development projects. In fact, Lin Zhichao understands that now the negotiations with the Hong Kong government are just for example, and the Hong Kong government must have a very high price, and he will definitely not agree, but choose to delay until after the Sino-British negotiations.

"Okay, the team led by me, Mai Lisi, and Xia Boyin for this project will negotiate with the Hong Kong government to pay the land premium."

"Yes, Sir Lin."

Williton was saddened that from the beginning to the end, he as CEO had become an ornament, albeit only a real estate project.

Hutchison Whampoa also has four listed companies, namely Hebao, Hutchison Properties, Watsons, and Kwan Yicang.

Hebao, a listed company with the most extensive business in Hutchison Whampoa, was originally formed by merging with the old foreign firms - Debao and Taihe; Its business mainly includes: import and export trade, commerce, machinery, automobile sales, building materials supply and so on.

Hutchison Properties is the flagship real estate company of Hutchison Whampoa.

A.S. Watson is the flagship retail company of Hutchison Whampoa, including A.S. Watson Retail, Parknshop, pharmaceutical, beverage production and other businesses.

Kwan Yi Warehouse is the largest warehouse enterprise in Hong Kong and also owns an equity interest in International Containers.

This is just the business of its four listed companies, Hutchison Whampoa itself has a huge business, including property and land, container terminals, shipyards (shipbuilding) and ship repair, transportation, manufacturing, real estate and so on.

Next, Lin Zhichao said: "At present, the gold held by Hutchison Whampoa has doubled its profit, reaching more than 110 million Hong Kong dollars. It's time to take it as soon as it's good, arrange to sell it in batches, and sell it out at the end of the year. ”

In one year, the profit has more than doubled (expected to reach 130 million Hong Kong dollars), and Hutchison Whampoa's normal profit this year is only about 330 million Hong Kong dollars (expected), and with this non-recurring profit, it will reach more than 460 million Hong Kong dollars.

Get straight out of the way!

Even the market capitalization of Hutchison Whampoa has reached more than 3.6 billion Hong Kong dollars.

Wei Li deliberately said: "Maybe gold will rise, it can reach $500 per ounce!" ”

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "That's why I said that it will be sold in batches, and it will almost reach $500 per ounce next month (December)." ”

Currently, gold is trading at almost $420 an ounce.

Wei Li was speechless for a moment, he actually said that sentence, and he also felt that he was a level behind him.

He thought to himself, is it time for him to leave?

Now the 'old ministers' of Hutchison Whampoa headed by Richard Xin seem to have the meaning of watching the fire from the other side, and sometimes support Lin Zhichao, but they have never opposed Lin Zhichao.

In this way, he feels that he, the chief executive, is completely pressed by the chairman of the board of directors above, and there are Richards and others below who are not in harmony.

After the meeting.

Wei Li came to Lin Zhichao's office and took the initiative to say: "Sir Lin, you are an entrepreneur I admire, and Hutchison Whampoa will definitely be able to prosper under your leadership." ”

Lin Zhichao said modestly: "What's going on with President Wei Li today, but I can't get a salary increase, because your salary is decided by the board of directors." Of course, it is a fact that Hutchison Whampoa has been back on track in the past four years under your leadership. ”

Wei Li was stunned, he didn't expect Lin Zhichao to so readily admit his credit to Hutchison Whampoa, but he thought that Lin Zhichao was just a 'smiling tiger', comforting himself while seizing power.

So, he said, "Sir Lam, my mission at Hutchison Whampoa has been accomplished, so I intend to submit my resignation to you and the board. ”

Lin Zhichao was suddenly surprised, and hurriedly said: "President Weili, don't think so, I never meant to drive you away." ”

Wei Li suddenly felt a lot better, and he found that Lin Zhichao was quite sincere, but he still said: "Of course, after working with Mr. Lin for nearly two years, I have also learned some business methods, and I am very satisfied." It's just that you know, one mountain can't accommodate two tigers, and I won't choose to give people a real sense of work, so I will inevitably leave Hutchison Whampoa. ”

When Lin Zhichao heard this, he immediately hesitated.

He also needs Wei Li, mainly Ma Shimin, who has just resigned to start a business in Singapore (Lin Zhichao has a stake, as well as shares in the Rothschild family in Europe), so Ma Shimin needs at least two or three years before he can join Cheung Kong.

Then, if Wei Li leaves now, Richard, Xia Boyin, and Wei Peter will be more likely to become more 'entrenched'. Of course, Cheung Kong Group currently holds a 46% stake in Hutchison Whampoa, which is no longer challenged.

"Mr. Wei Li, your bonus is 2.5% profit, and you can get almost a bonus of 12 million this year. And next year, it will definitely be at this number, even if there is no non-recurring profit. I know you want to start a business, but how can you be short of money to start a business, so why don't you do it for another year? ”

Wei Li was stunned, but he didn't expect Lin Zhichao to keep him up.

After thinking about it, he felt that Lin Zhichao was reasonable, of course, he also knew that Lin Zhichao wanted to keep him for one more year, to be more familiar with Hutchison Whampoa, and Lin Zhichao was also wary of Richardin and others.

"Okay, then even if I say goodbye to Sir Lin in advance today, I will officially leave in 1981."

"Well, it's a win-win situation."

(End of chapter)