Reborn as a tycoon in Hong Kong

At about six o'clock in the evening, Lin Baicheng learned from Chen Huixiang that Wei Li contacted him. However, because Wei Li said that the matter was not urgent, he did not contact Wei Li immediately.

In the afternoon, Lin Baicheng took Zhong Chuhong out to camp.

When Lin Baicheng first captured Zhong Chuhong, he didn't have much time to spend with Zhong Chuhong because of the Spring Festival and his birthday. When he had time later, he would naturally have to compensate Zhong Chuhong more.

Lin Baicheng and Zhong Chuhong first went to the Hutchison Hotel to have dinner together, and then returned to the villa where Zhong Chuhong lived.

International calls cannot be made just when you want. You need to connect the corresponding lines. Fortunately, the villas Lin Baicheng bought have international lines and you can make international calls.

"Hong, I'm going to do some business for a while beforehand. It might take a long time, so you can watch TV or something."

After returning to the villa, Lin Baicheng spoke to Zhong Chuhong.

"Well, go and do your work."

Zhong Chuhong knew about this. She was beside Chen Huixiang when she reported it before.

Lin Baicheng went upstairs to make a phone call and contacted Weili in London.

"Mr. Lin, it's me, Wei Li."

After a while, Weili's voice rang on the phone.

Lin Baicheng asked in response: "You called me to contact me, but what do you want to report?"

Weili said: "Yes, we have completed the research on Bentley cars."

"Then give me a report."

After Lin Baicheng finished speaking, Wei Li reported.

Almost twenty minutes passed after this report. After listening to this report, Lin Baicheng also had a general understanding of Bentley cars. If you want to know more specifically, you must go to Bentley to see it in person. You can't understand it clearly just by listening to the report.

"Mr. Lin, just a few hours ago."

After reporting Bentley's research results, Weili also told the interviews of Thiessen White and Vancouver Thompson.

"So, it's going to be a lot of trouble to buy Bentley."

Lin Baicheng was not too surprised after hearing this. After all, Hutchison Whampoa was a company in colonial Xiangjiang, and the controlling shareholder was a Chinese, and he was also a Chinese with a mainland attitude. If the British economy had not been in good shape in recent years, Hutchison Whampoa's previous Watsons wanted to Expanding in the UK is not that easy, let alone the acquisition of Bentley Motors.

There are conditions and restrictions, this is normal.

Weili said aloud: "Mr. Lin, not only is the trouble of acquiring Bentley Motors a lot, but even if we want to invest in other industries, unless the acquired company itself has many problems, we still have to acquire companies that are not in good condition. balance."

"I understand this, but I think if the company we acquire is not a high-quality asset or an important industry such as automobile manufacturing, then it will not be too difficult for us to come to England. After all, we can choose not to invest."

Lin Baicheng was not surprised by what Weili said. He thought for a while and then said: "Our first target is still Bentley. If it doesn't work, we will change the acquisition target. However, Bentley is a good thing, but the associated The burden is too heavy. If Hutchison Whampoa really accepts it as ordered, the loss will be too great and the gain will not be worth the loss."

"Weili, please help me with this. The cars Bentley currently manufactures are high-end cars. Based on Bentley's situation, can it manufacture mid- to low-end cars?"

"Mr. Lin, with Bentley's technology, we can naturally manufacture mid-range and low-end cars, but high-end cars have higher profits, and the competition in the mid-range and low-end car market is very serious. Many mid-range and low-end car companies want to enter the high-end car market but cannot. We There is no reason for Bentley to enter the mid- to low-end market."

"Of course I don't want to abandon the high-end car market. I want Bentley to focus on the mid- to low-end market."

"If this is the case, then Bentley can create a new brand and use this brand to enter the mid-range and low-end markets. However, in this case, mid-range and low-end cars will definitely not be hand-made like high-end cars, and the company will need to invest a lot of money. Research and development and the establishment of new factories will also increase the number of employees. If the sales of new cars are not good, Bentley and Hutchison will be under great pressure."

"Funding is not a problem. Hutchison Whampoa is not short of money now. As long as there are no problems with the investment itself and I can see the possibility of profit in the future, then I can accept even a one-time investment of one billion US dollars. But acquiring non-performing assets and taking on the burden will make you a fool." , I cannot accept this kind of thing easily."

Lin Baicheng expressed his attitude on the phone call with Wei Li. He actually had some doubts in his heart that the conversation between the two was being monitored, so he would not say some words, but would say some firm words.

Of course, it's also possible that Lin Baicheng was overthinking it, and the conversation between the two was not monitored, but it's always right to be careful.

"Mr. Lin, that's what you said."

Hearing what Lin Baicheng said, Wei Li naturally could only agree.

"Weili, do you think that when we are building a new factory, can we arrange some employees from other companies to work in the new factory? In this way, the burden on those companies will be reduced. After the number of employees drops to a certain level, I think it should This will put the company into bankruptcy and liquidation.”

Lin Baicheng gave a rough outline of his thoughts and asked Wei Li for reference.

"The salary of employees in automobile companies is higher than that of employees in most industries, so employees who are transferred to the new factory are unlikely to object or even wish to do so. However, automobile manufacturing is a precision operation after all, and the requirements for employees will be relatively high. Not all employees are eligible."

"Furthermore, we have to negotiate this condition with the Prime Minister first. Otherwise, if we do it ourselves, if the Prime Minister is not satisfied, we will be in trouble."

“Finally, it will take a year, or even two years or more, for the new factory to be built and put into operation. During this period, those employees will be Hutchison Whampoa’s burden, and our losses will be very great. big."

"With tens of thousands of employees, the annual salary payment alone costs two to three billion Hong Kong dollars. If the company's factory is operating and producing products, but the products are unsalable and cannot be sold, the loss will only be greater, with a loss of one billion Hong Kong dollars a year. It’s not impossible.”

Weili analyzed and expressed his concerns. He is on the side of Hutchison Whampoa, because he is a small shareholder of Hutchison Whampoa, and the stocks obtained through equity incentives are still in the restricted period. If Hutchison Whampoa does not develop well in the next few years and the stock price falls sharply, then His loss would be great.

"First of all, it is absolutely impossible to accept tens of thousands of employees. If the Prime Minister does not give in, then forget about the acquisition of Bentley Motors and we will change the target."

"You find time to talk to Mr. Thompson in the Prime Minister's Office. The maximum number of employees we can accept is 8,000, and it is best to bring the number to 5,000."

"Whether it is 8,000 people or 5,000 people, the Prime Minister must agree to our employee diversion plan and allow us to transfer employees of relevant companies to other companies. We are not making workers lose their jobs, we are just asking them to change jobs. It’s just a job, maybe the employees’ income will be higher.”

"For layoffs, the Prime Minister must give us a certain quota for layoffs. We are actually similar to foreign companies. People are different. Most workers just want a stable job, but some people may cause trouble or We will kick out employees who do not work seriously, otherwise it will only lead to damage to the team. Therefore, we need the Prime Minister to grant a certain number of layoffs and kick out those who do not work seriously. This is very important."

"Also, we don't want the messy debts of related companies. What we want is a company with clear debts. At the same time, since we have taken on a large number of employees, the Prime Minister must give us a preferential price in terms of the purchase price. , otherwise our losses will be too great."

"Weili, tell me if you have anything to add."

Lin Baicheng said everything that came to his mind in a short period of time. He felt that if Prime Minister Mrs. Thatcher could accept the conditions he just proposed, then Hutchison Whampoa would lose everything. Bentley cars are indeed high-quality assets.

Don’t even think about taking advantage of the British government. As long as the price Hutchison Whampoa pays is not too high, it’s good.

Wei Li thought for a while and said: "Mr. Lin, the Prime Minister's state-owned enterprise privatization policy is nothing more than fearing that companies will go bankrupt and workers will be laid off. As long as we can increase the employment rate, I think the Prime Minister will support us. Therefore, in addition to acquisitions, Hutchison Whampoa In addition, you can also choose to invest in the establishment of a new company and ensure that it can recruit as many employees as possible. This is actually not much different from recruiting as many employees as possible, but it will be easier for us to show off our talents in the new enterprise."

Lin Baicheng nodded slightly: "That's okay. You can mention it to Mr. Thompson in the Prime Minister's Office and ask him to convey it to you."

Wei Li said: "Mr. Lin, can you come up with a bottom line? In this case, I will have evidence to rely on and it will be easier to negotiate."

"Okay, let me think about it."

Lin Baicheng pondered after hearing this, and said after a moment: "The first is the responsibility we have to bear. The number of employees we accept cannot exceed 8,000. We must be given a certain number of layoff quotas. The specific number will be discussed and evaluated by your team."

"Also, we are allowed to implement an employee diversion plan to transfer the employees of the acquired companies to other companies to ensure that the number of workers will not decrease. It is nothing more than a change in the nature of the work."

"After these agreements are made, let's talk about the acquisition of Bentley Motors. We can give a certain premium to the acquisition price, and there must be no triangle debt situation. Unilateral liabilities can be accepted, but if Hutchison accepts liabilities, then the acquisition price will be higher. There must be offsets.”

"The last thing is about the privatization of non-performing asset companies. Not only is there no premium in the purchase price, but there must be a certain discount. Your team will judge the specific amount."

"As long as these conditions are met, if the Prime Minister has any conditions, you can agree as long as they are not excessive. If you can't decide on the Prime Minister's conditions, you can contact me. Anyway, we can negotiate more times. "

What Lin Baicheng said were all prerequisites, and what he said was the bottom line. He also said it for possible surveillance to show his attitude.

If the British side does not give in, then Lin Baicheng will not give in either. He will not accept so-called robbery-style investment. If this kind of thing is agreed to, one will have two, until Hutchison Whampoa or himself can no longer afford it.

Lin Baicheng could not sacrifice himself for the British government. He would rather be suppressed and suffer serious short-term losses.

"Okay Mr. Lin, if I can't make the decision, I will ask for your opinion when the time comes."

With the big boss's bottom line, Wei Li can negotiate easily.

"By the way, Mr. Lin, regarding the Bentley family of Bentley Motors, if this family subscribes for 15% of the shares and becomes a shareholder of Bentley Motors during our privatization, then should we accept this or let the Prime Minister help to fully acquire Bentley Motors? ?”

"If it comes to acquiring Bentley and the Bentley family chooses to subscribe for shares, then you should first discuss our Hutchison Whampoa investment plan with the Bentley family. The company will establish a new brand to enter the mid- to low-end car market, build a new factory, and invest more funds In terms of development, if the Bentley family knows this and is still willing and has the funds to continue to be a shareholder of the company, then Hutchison Whampoa welcomes the Bentley family to join."

"Not only the Bentley family, but also other capital that wants to invest in Bentley Motors can consider it, as long as we ensure that Hutchison Whampoa's shareholding ratio in Bentley Motors exceeds half."

After all, Bentley Motors is based in the UK, and Hutchison Whampoa has little influence in the UK. Even if Prime Minister Mrs. Thatcher supports it, it will be in trouble, not to mention that Mrs. Thatcher's support for Hutchison Whampoa is bound to be limited.

If local British capital joins, then Bentley's troubles will be the troubles of local British capital, and Hutchison Whampoa won't have to worry too much.

"I see."

Weili strongly agrees with letting other capital invest in Bentley Motors. The introduction of local capital can reduce the troubles Bentley Motors encounters.

"If there is nothing else, let's leave it like this for now. Contact me after your negotiations have made further progress."

Lin Baicheng said, having been on the phone with Wei Li for quite some time.

"Yes, Mr. Lin."

"correct!"

Before he was about to hang up the phone, Lin Baicheng suddenly remembered: "If the negotiation with the Prime Minister is successful, remember to fax me the details of the non-performing asset companies to be acquired, and your team will also investigate to see which companies still have Those with potential can be improved and developed. Now that we have acquired them, we still have to try to see if we can revive them and develop these enterprises."

"I see."

Wei Li responded to express his understanding.

"Okay, that's it for now."

Lin Baicheng said, hanging up the phone and going downstairs.

Downstairs, Zhong Chuhong was watching TV, watching a TV series on Asia Television.

"Cheng, are you done?"

"Well, we just talked about it."

Lin Baicheng walked over, sat down next to Zhong Chuhong, and watched TV with Zhong Chuhong.

That night, neither Lin Baicheng nor Zhong Chuhong went back, so they spent the night here.

Lin Baicheng gave this villa to Zhong Chuhong, but Zhong Chuhong rarely comes to live in it and currently lives at home. Although Lin Baicheng asked Zhong Chuhong to move in, Zhong Chuhong said that he wanted to live with his family for the time being, so Lin Baicheng naturally couldn't force it.