Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 927

Take for example the major shareholders of many listed companies, who will do anything to fill their pockets.

They often plan carefully and deliberately release some false good news, such as a fictitious company is about to win a major project, or claiming to have developed a groundbreaking new technology.

Once these news came out, it was like throwing a huge rock into a calm lake, instantly attracting market attention and sending stock prices soaring.

When the stock price climbs to a high level, major shareholders will quietly reduce their holdings and cash out, making a fortune.

When the hype fades and the truth comes to light, the stock price will fall like a kite with a broken string. They will then seize the opportunity to buy back the stocks at an extremely low price. In this way, they can easily pocket huge profits.

At this split second, He Yuzhu felt a flash of inspiration in his mind, as if a mysterious door suddenly opened.

In an instant, a whole set of sophisticated strategies for manipulating stock prices flashed through his mind like a kaleidoscope, and every detail was as clear as the real scene before his eyes, as if it had already been put into practice.

He was overjoyed and was about to speak when he saw Huang Zhirou's serious expression. She slowly shook her head, and that movement seemed to carry a thousand-pound weight.

She parted her lips slightly, her tone filled with helplessness and caution, and slowly said, "Boss, applying for a listed company is not as easy as you think. Look at Hong Kong, a tiny place with only 50 listed companies. In the vast landscape of global commerce, it's just a drop in the ocean, hardly enough to make a difference. The road to listing is far from the smooth path you imagine. Behind it are countless complex rules, rigorous reviews, and the power struggles of various parties. A slight misstep could lead to utter ruin."

When He Yuzhu heard what the other party said, he suddenly felt a sense of injustice in his heart.

His eyebrows were instantly tightly furrowed, like two small volcanoes about to erupt, and his thick black eyebrows were twisted into a deep "chuan" character.

Without even thinking, he blurted out, "Is there not a single listed company founded and run by Chinese people?"

The eagerness in his words was like a surging tide, difficult to suppress, and his unwillingness was evident in his words, as if he wanted to break through the oppressive atmosphere.

"Of course there are, but the number is really small, almost as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns." Huang Zhirou hurriedly explained patiently, thoughts racing in her mind like a precision instrument running at high speed.

After a moment's thought, she began to elaborate, listing several representative examples: "Among these more than 50 listed companies, there is Bank of East Asia, helmed by Jian Yueqiang. With his extraordinary business acumen and decisiveness, Jian Yueqiang has built Bank of East Asia into a mainstay in the financial sector, standing firm amidst the financial waves of Hong Kong. Behind many large-scale financial projects, there is the steady presence of Bank of East Asia."

Longfeng Investment and Asia Industries, subsidiaries of Charter King, further demonstrate the company's extensive business portfolio. Like a keen hawk, Longfeng Investment accurately captures investment opportunities. Its business portfolio spans real estate, shipping, trade, and other sectors, creating significant impact in each sector. Its Asia Industries division is equally impressive, with a diverse portfolio of businesses having a profound impact on Hong Kong's economic development.

There's also Chinese Estates Holdings, headed by Fung Ping-fan, which has excelled in the real estate market, developing numerous landmark buildings and transforming Hong Kong's skyline. The large-scale China Department Store has long been a popular shopping destination for Hong Kong residents, attracting visitors from all over the world with its dazzling array of merchandise and high-quality, attentive service.

The number of listed companies involved in the case is at most four, which is already a considerable proportion within the limited number of listed companies.

However, in addition to these well-known companies, there are other well-known companies in their respective fields in Hong Kong, a fertile commercial land.

Kowloon Motor is like an indispensable "city ferryman" in the field of public transportation. Its models are diverse, from spacious and comfortable buses to flexible and convenient minibuses. They shuttle through the streets and alleys of Hong Kong every day, carrying countless citizens to and from work and life. It is one of the important arteries of urban operation.

China Motor Bus is equally impressive, having devoted considerable effort to passenger transport, meticulously planning routes and continuously improving service quality, providing citizens and tourists with safe and punctual travel options. It has firmly established itself in the passenger transport market and plays an indispensable role.

Macau Electricity is the "energy heart" that ensures the normal operation of the Macau region. In those power facilities, advanced technical equipment roars day and night, converting electrical energy into a steady stream of power and delivering it to every corner of Macau, ensuring the normal operation of factory production, residents' lives and commercial activities.

While not as involved in large-scale infrastructure as the previous companies, the Milk Ice Factory also holds a significant position in consumer life. During the scorching summer heatwave, citizens eagerly await the Milk Ice Factory's products. Its meticulously crafted ice cream, from its rich and sweet milk ice cream to its refreshing and delicious fruit smoothies, offers a touch of coolness and sweetness, becoming an indispensable comfort in the heat of the day.

However, in general, if you add all these companies together, there are only a dozen or so at most.

But don't underestimate them. Each of these companies plays an important role in Hong Kong. They are giants that can shake the business world with just a stomp of their feet.

With their unique competitive advantages, they firmly occupy the leading position in their respective industries, lead the direction of industry development, and have a profound and lasting impact on Hong Kong's economic landscape.

Huang Zhirou took a sip of tea to moisten her throat, then cleared her throat and continued, "Our company is indeed remarkable in terms of business operations. We have a steady stream of orders and the profit figures on the books are also very impressive. Among our peers, we are already considered outstanding, and our performance is enough to make many competitors jealous.

However, we must be realistic when it comes to reputation. We have to admit that the company still lacks sufficient exposure and visibility in the public eye. In the minds of ordinary consumers, it may just be a relatively unfamiliar name, far from being a household name.

If you want to go public now, given the strict market conditions and cumbersome rules of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, just waiting in line for approval, based on past experience, will probably take a long time of ten to eight years. The road to listing is a long and arduous one.

Looking at those companies that have successfully gone public, each one has a profound historical heritage, just like a thick history book, which records in detail the ups and downs of the business world over the past decades.

They are all old-established companies that have been struggling in the cruel market for decades, and the shareholding structure behind them is even more complicated, like a tangled mess that cannot be sorted out.

Almost every company, in the course of its development, would reluctantly transfer a portion of its precious shares to the four major foreign banks for various practical considerations such as expanding funding channels, building personal networks, and opening up resource channels.

Through this exchange of interests, we can gain support from more levels, gain a firm foothold in the fiercely competitive business battlefield, and achieve longer-term and more stable development.

People like He Yuzhu, who holds all the shares tightly in his own hands and refuses to let others get even a little bit of them, are extremely rare among these listed companies. Looking at the entire market, there is no other example.

"So, if we want to go public successfully, we have to introduce these investors?" He Yuzhu stroked his chin, frowned slightly, and asked thoughtfully.

Huang Zhirou looked serious, straightened her back, nodded heavily, and replied solemnly, "That's right, Boss. After all, in Hong Kong, the foreigners still firmly hold the dominant position at the top of the business world. They set most of the rules of the game. If you want to play this capital game within their rules, you have to honestly follow their routines. Otherwise, it will be difficult to get a share of the pie in this cruel capital market."

When He Yuzhu heard this, he just nodded slightly without saying anything. However, his solemn expression clearly revealed that he had heard the information carefully and was silently pondering, digesting and absorbing it in his heart.

After a moment, he once again focused all his attention on the information about Yu Renshui Boat. His eyes were as sharp as torches, so deep that they seemed to be able to penetrate the paper, and he carefully explored the unknown secrets hidden between the densely packed lines.

At this moment, his brain was like a high-speed precision instrument. Various thoughts and plans flashed through his mind like lightning, and he was racing against time to think of effective ways to deal with the complex situation before him.

Speaking of the Star Ferry, it is well-known in this bustling and noisy Hong Kong area. It is truly a household name and is known to everyone.

Since its birth, the Star Ferry has been like a very representative city card of Hong Kong, steadily carrying the daily travel memories of countless citizens.

Whether it is young white-collar workers rushing to work in the early morning or the elderly and children returning home together in the evening, the Star Ferry plays an indispensable role in their lives.

For a long time, it has been shuttling across the waters of the Hong Kong River. With its punctuality and convenience, it has accumulated a high reputation in this land, is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and has an extremely deep mass base.

The Star Ferry, a ferry company that seems to have emerged from the depths of history, has a long history that seems to date back to the last century.

Since its establishment, it has shouldered the important task of connecting Kowloon Pier and Hong Kong Island Pier. The two piers face each other across the sea, just like two shining pearls on both sides of the Hong Kong River.

The route operated by the Star Ferry is like a shining golden bond, firmly connecting the two prosperous areas of Hong Kong.

It's called the Golden Route for good reason. Among Hong Kong's many transportation routes, this route is one of the busiest ferry routes.

Chapter 684

Every morning, before the first ray of sunshine completely dispels the chill of the night, the Star Ferry has already started its busy day. The ferry slowly sails out of the pier, cutting through the calm sea surface and creating layers of white splashes.

Until the night falls and the city lights come on, it still stands firm, traveling back and forth between the two places.

The passengers coming and going are of all kinds. There are professionals wearing neat suits, carrying briefcases, and rushing to work; there are also citizens and tourists wearing casual clothes, with a relaxed and happy look, ready to start a day of leisure and entertainment.

They are so numerous that the daily passenger flow on this route is extremely large, and the Star Ferry has become an indispensable part of Hong Kong's urban transportation system.

In addition to this famous main route, the Star Ferry has carefully planned a number of branch routes.

These branches are like capillaries in the city's veins, cleverly extending to every corner of Hong Kong, closely connecting the Kowloon Peninsula with the relatively niche areas around Hong Kong Island.

Although branch routes are not like main routes, which are always surrounded by crowds of people and the hustle and bustle of traffic, presenting a busy scene, they have steadily brought the company a considerable amount of income with their stable and continuous passenger flow.

This income may seem insignificant, but it actually occupies an indispensable position in the company's overall revenue system, and has become an important cornerstone supporting the continued expansion and stable operation of the Star Ferry's business territory.

The company that owns the Star Ferry is called Star Shipping, with a total share capital of 2000 million.

However, the company's equity structure is extremely complicated, like a maze shrouded in fog, which discourages many people who try to get a glimpse of it.

Among them, the business operated by Yu Renshuiting occupies a relatively marginal position in the company's huge business map.

It controls more than 10 ferries, which are generally small in tonnage. In the turbulent sea, they are like a small boat swaying in the wind, appearing extremely small and fragile.

Moreover, the routes they operate are quite remote, mostly connecting some little-known niche areas with sparse populations and infrequent commercial activities.

This results in its profitability being vastly different from that of the company's main routes, greatly reduced, and its economic benefits being relatively poor, so it can only barely occupy a corner in the company's profit system.

Williams is considered one of the major shareholders of Star Cruises, holding more than 30% of the company's shares and having considerable say in the company's decision-making.

In addition, two major business giants, Wheelock and Swire, are also important shareholders of the company, influencing the company's development direction behind the scenes.

Due to the company's poor overall profitability and the different interests of shareholders, the shares are distributed rather scattered, like a pile of loose sand.

The combined effect of this series of factors directly leads to the company's relatively low market value and lack of sufficient attractiveness in the capital market.

In the current Hong Kong commercial capital market, the pattern is clearly divided.

Several companies with outstanding strength, relying on their profound foundation and excellent operations, have seen their market value soar like a rocket, breaking through the 100 million yuan mark early on and leaving their competitors far behind in the industry.

Among them, Xiangjiang Land stands out, with its total market value soaring like a towering mountain, firmly above 3 million. Every move it makes attracts market attention and influences the changing landscape of the industry.

But the market has always been realistic and cruel. Wherever there are giants standing at the top of the pyramid, there must be companies struggling to climb in the mud at the bottom.

In this jungle of capital, there are quite a few companies with a market value of less than 500 million; a rough count reveals as many as seven or eight.

Taking Yu Ren Watercraft as an example, it is as insignificant as a drop in the ocean in the vast and complex business landscape, with a total market value of only 200 million.

Such a low market value means that once a shrewd and ambitious financial tycoon sets its sights on it, all it needs to do is wave its check in the market and spend 100 million yuan to acquire shares. It can easily take over 50% of the company's equity, smoothly complete the transformation, and become the controlling shareholder, firmly controlling the company's future destiny.

Broaden your horizons and target other companies with similarly low market capitalizations. If you want to achieve your acquisition goals, you can spend no more than two or three million to acquire the other party without bloodshed and expand your capital map.

Among the numerous listed companies, Oudley Films stands out. As a company mainly engaged in film production, its market value is shockingly low, at only 150 million.

In the turbulent and ever-changing capital market, it is like a dilapidated and rickety sampan, which may be swallowed up by the ruthless waves at any time and disappear without a trace.

After hearing this information, He Yuzhu frowned, his eyes became deep, and he fell into a brief contemplation.

Various plans flashed through his mind like a kaleidoscope, and after a moment, a bold and adventurous plan gradually took shape in his mind.

His eyes suddenly lit up, his teeth clenched, and he said firmly, "Since the road to a direct listing is so fraught with difficulties and obstacles, and every step forward is like climbing a cliff, why not take a different approach? Consider buying an existing listed company and using this roundabout way to complete our capital layout. What do you think?"

"Will this work?" A middle-aged man in a neat suit leaned forward slightly with a frown on his face. After hearing this bold idea, he couldn't help but take a breath, his face full of suspicion, and asked the question eagerly.

In the business environment at that time, the traditional business model was deeply rooted, the forces of various parties were intertwined, and every decision could trigger a chain reaction.

This idea breaks the convention and takes a different approach, a path that no one has ever taken. It is indeed too bold and beyond everyone's imagination, making it difficult to believe.

"There is no written rule in the capital market that prohibits Chinese people from buying stocks." He Yuzhu straightened his back, his eyes like a torch in the cold night, firm and fervent, and responded in a resounding voice. His words were filled with the confidence and decisiveness accumulated from years of business experience, like the ringing of a huge bell, leaving no room for doubt.

Things are different now. After experiencing countless ups and downs in the business world, He Yuzhu has been reborn in the business field and has become a remarkable giant.

In the bustling city of Hong Kong, where every inch of land is precious, he owns more than 20 industrial buildings, each built to top architectural standards. The sturdy reinforced concrete structures, combined with modern logistics facilities, make them look like closely packed commercial fortresses when viewed from above, firmly rooted in the land of Hong Kong and injecting a continuous stream of industrial vitality into this area.

Not only that, there are two office buildings rising from the ground, towering into the clouds. The facade adopts the most advanced glass curtain wall design, which shines brightly under the sunlight and is particularly eye-catching in the city skyline, as if silently announcing to the world the owner's strong strength.

These properties alone, assessed by a professional evaluation team using a sophisticated evaluation model that considers factors such as location, amenities, and market supply and demand, are valued at over 4000 million yuan. This figure is undoubtedly an astonishing astronomical fortune in today's market.

Not to mention the expensive machine tools and equipment inside the factory that were imported from top industrial powers in Europe and the United States. Each one is a crystallization of cutting-edge technology and exquisite craftsmanship. They stand quietly in the production workshop, emitting a cold metallic luster. Their value is as high as hundreds of millions. Like a solid cornerstone, they support the company's solid production foundation and continuously produce high-quality radio products that are sold all over the world.

The radio foreign trade business that He Yuzhu is engaged in is complicated and the import and export procedures are cumbersome. From raw material procurement, customs declaration and clearance to cost accounting, multiple factors such as manpower, transportation, and exchange rate fluctuations need to be considered. In addition, the international market is volatile. Today a European country raises tariffs, and tomorrow demand in a certain place in Asia drops sharply. The profit margin is as if covered by a thick veil of mystery. It is difficult for outsiders to get a glimpse of it. I am afraid that only He Yuzhu himself has a clear account in his mind. That is the core secret of the business empire he has carefully built, and he will never allow any leakage.