The birth of the Hong Kong Island family

Lin Zhichao listened to Lin Ruihai's work report in the Wharf Group's office.

To be honest, Lin Zhichao did not expect Lin Ruihai to fight so beautifully.

"It is right to let Tao Xinbo stay. First, it can release our goodwill to the Singapore business community, and second, it will be conducive to the subsequent handover work. After all, Singapore Land has such a huge asset, and the handover is a very complicated task."

"Well, I think so too. Now that Mr. Tao has agreed to stay, I plan to slowly take over Singapore Land with his cooperation."

The father and son started talking seriously!

Singapore Land’s assets mainly include:

1. The return on investment of the Shell Tower built in Raffles Place, Singapore's financial center, was surprisingly high. The initial rent paid for itself in about four years. This building is also a building that Tao Xinbo has always been proud of.

2. Together with Standard Chartered Bank, we built the Standard Chartered Bank Building. In Singapore in the 1980s, the Shell Building and the Standard Chartered Bank Building stood side by side, dominating Raffles Place.

3. In the early 1980s, the Singapore government invited bids for reclamation to build a central coastal area, and Tao Xinbo won the bid. At that time, the land was still in the reclamation stage. It took a lot of courage to dare to buy a piece of land that was still submerged in water. At present, Singapore Land is leading the development of Marina Square here, which will be the famous "Marina Plaza Shopping Center" in the future. It is one of the best shopping malls in Singapore.

There are also other commercial assets, which together form Singapore's largest commercial real estate company.

"Be patient and deal with Tao Xinbo. He will retire within ten years at most. He is not your competitor, but your partner!"

"I understand."

Lin Zhichao nodded, and then said: "The Wharf Group's debt is a bit high. If it wants to develop commercial real estate in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, it can bring Singapore Land together. The redevelopment project of Harbor City (residential buildings converted into office buildings) will have to wait until next year. Let’s talk about it in half a year!”

Lin Ruihai said: "Well, the rent has risen very quickly this year. In less than half a year, the rent has risen by 20%. It is expected that the rent of Times Square (Causeway Bay) can reach HK$600 million. According to this trend, there is no need to worry if the debt ratio is slightly higher."

Lin Zhichao said: "You are wrong. Land also thought the same way back then. The acquisition of Singapore Land has brought the debt ratio of Wharf Group to nearly 30% (total debt of 9 billion), which is not high in nature. I didn't remind you. . If Tao Xinbo cashes out, the debt ratio will reach 40%. At that time, the Wharf Group will have no choice but to sell the Paragon Building and the land behind it to the Cheung Kong Group to reduce its debt."

Lin Ruihai nodded and said, "I understand! I will pay attention to the debt ratio in the future, and it will not exceed 30%."

This time Wharf acquired 51% of Singapore Land's shares for a total consideration of HK$7 billion. If Tao Xinbo wants to cash out, the Wharf Group must acquire it. Even if other shareholders want to cash out, the Wharf Group must also acquire it. Of course, there is a prescribed time limit.

Fortunately, the market calmed down after acquiring 51% of the shares.

The Wharf Group's debt ratio has not continued to increase, so there is no need to sell Paragon and its backends (worth 600 million Canadian dollars, about more than 3.2 billion Hong Kong dollars).

In this way, Wharf Group's commercial real estate projects in Singapore are actually stronger.

In recent years, Wharf Group has also injected HK$2 billion in cash into local companies in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. In addition to attracting local capital, local companies also borrow heavily for development. This is similar to the development model in Japan. The only difference is that the debt does not exceed 120% of the assets, which means the loan is probably over 2 billion. This part of the loan is not counted towards the Wharf Group.

If the loans from subsidiaries are included, the Wharf Group's actual debt has reached HK$12 billion, with a debt ratio of nearly 40%.

Of course, this debt ratio is still bearable, but Lin Zhichao likes to sound the alarm to his sons.

ATV building.

Lin Zhichao, Lin Ruikai, and Zhou Liangshuyi were sitting in the office talking. After a while, the assistant came in and said: "Boss, Miss Shi is here!"

Lin Zhichao nodded and said, "Invite her in!"

It was Xu Ke's girlfriend Shi Nansheng who came in.

In fact, Shi Nansheng's influence is no less than that of Xu Ke, it can be said to be more than that of Xu Ke.

First, Shi Nansheng has rich experience in the media field;

Second, Shi Nansheng is a member of the upper class in Hong Kong and has a very wide network of contacts.

After Shi Nansheng came in, he said with a smile: "I was surprised to be interviewed by the big boss today. I didn't expect Xiao Linsheng and President Liang to be here."

His conversation is not weak at all, and he is a public relations type at first glance.

Lin Zhichao said directly: "Miss Shi, come and sit down. I have something important to see you!"

Shi Nansheng immediately cleared up his expression and sat on the sofa seriously.

After she sat down, Lin Zhichao said: "Ms. Shi, I'm short of a talent here, and I want you to join! Asia Television is preparing to prepare 'Asia Satellite TV', and I want you to be the person in charge of the preparation, mainly to apply for satellite TV from the Hong Kong government license, and preliminary preparations.”

Shi Nansheng was stunned. She was also a veteran in the media industry, and immediately asked: "Lin Sheng is going to buy a satellite and commission the launch?"

Lin Zhichao smiled and said: "A satellite costs hundreds of millions of dollars. Even if I have money, I can't waste it. Regarding the satellite, my company cooperated with Dadong Cable and Telegraph Bureau and CITIC Corporation to purchase one. This satellite The satellite has 24 satellite channels, and ATV can lease 12 by then.”

Shi Nansheng immediately reacted and said, "Is it the American one?"

Lin Zhichao nodded.

Shi Nansheng said: "The deal for this satellite has not yet been reached, and there is still a risk of launch. Is Lin Sheng so confident?"

When it comes to the future, she will inevitably ask more questions.

Lin Zhichao said: "Don't worry, it's only happened in the past two years. If it doesn't work, I can only spend money to buy it again. I know you are familiar with the media industry and good at public relations activities. As long as you come, your salary will be 1.8 million Hong Kong dollars. Moreover, This job also has many benefits for you.”

Being familiar with the media and good at public relations are what Lin Zhichao values ​​most.

The most preparatory work in the early stage is the license from the Hong Kong government, which also requires a capable senior executive to negotiate. Although Lin Zhichao is influential, there are some things he cannot directly come forward for. The most he can do is play golf or drink tea with congressmen.

Lin Zhichao's dealings with Hong Kong government officials are mainly with members of the Legislative Council. He directly invites these members to become directors of his companies. In this way, direct exchanges of funds are avoided.

Of course, in this way, more than half of the members of the Legislative Council will be Lin Zhichao's staff. But Lin Zhichao does not need their direct help, but it is obvious that many places will naturally be taken care of by the Hong Kong government.

Shi Nansheng finally agreed readily. Just as Sir Lin said, the benefits of this job to her were far greater than the salary. Of course, the annual salary of 1.8 million Hong Kong dollars is also among the top ten female executives in Hong Kong. What's more important is that Lin Zhichao came to invite him personally, so there was no way he wouldn't give face.

After chatting for a while, Shi Nansheng left.

Lin Zhichao told Lin Ruikai and Zhou Liangshuyi: "The satellite matter should be settled in two years at the latest. In these two years, we will prepare the preparations for Asia Satellite TV and position the development direction."

"Yes, Chairman!"

Next, Lin Zhichao took out a stack of information and handed it to the two of them.

"This is the 'Hong Kong Culture' development plan I designed. Please take a look at it carefully. We will discuss it in detail later."

Lin Ruikai and Zhou Liangshuyi carefully picked up the materials and felt a little excited. In their hearts, Lin Zhichao's talent in the cultural field is huge.

And this "Hong Kong Culture" is indeed a "treasure book", which involves the planning of cultural industries such as Hong Kong music and Hong Kong dramas.

Of course, this is a cyclical and gradual process.

For example, the ‘trainee’ system must have been established at the beginning, and groups started debuting in the 1990s (a combination of singing, dancing, rap, and beautiful men and women);

At the same time, screenwriters for Hong Kong dramas were cultivated, and in the 1990s, they also began to film Hong Kong dramas (e.g. beautiful men and beautiful women, bad blood, delicate and beautiful emotions, romance, beautification of daily life, etc.).

As for variety shows, of course we will continue to do reality shows. "Talent Show" is the next one, and of course it will be an innovative variety show launched on satellite TV.

There was still one and a half years left in the 1980s, which was the right time for preparations, and Lin Zhichao only needed to communicate with Lin Ruikai and Zhou Liang Shuyi. Of course, he will also think of ways to set an example.

After Shuyi Zhou left, Lin Zhichao said to Lin Ruikai: "The development of Hong Kong culture is not only related to the future of the media group, but also related to the future of Hong Kong's economy. Therefore, you must follow the plan I gave you to innovate and develop. , and continue to invest huge sums of money.”

Lin Ruikai was a little shocked. Can this "Hong Kong culture" really form a culture as successful as "Hollywood"?

Of course, he still said firmly: "I understand!"

Lin Zhichao nodded, then took out some information and handed it to him.

"These are some of my thoughts on Stephen Chow's movies. You first ask Golden Harvest to renew the contract for 10 movies, and the price must be satisfactory to others. One million movies is no problem!"

"Well, Stephen Chow's nonsensical style has been established!"

He couldn't help but look at the information and found that the script outline was quite detailed, which was rare. My father never participated so much in the past. It seems that Stephen Chow will be Golden Harvest's next box office guarantee.

Last year, the box office in Hong Kong was HK$700 million, and Golden Harvest accounted for half of it, crushing its opponents.

Lin Zhichao finally said: "Also, go recruit Jet Li to Jiahe, find Xu Ke to cooperate, and make a kung fu movie based on "Once Upon a Time"."

"Although Jet Li's kung fu is good, won't anyone from the mainland buy it in Hong Kong?"

Lin Ruikai questioned.

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "It's not like I asked him to shoot "Shaolin Temple". I asked him to shoot "Once Upon a Time" to show the smooth and elegant martial arts characteristics of the new school of martial arts. It reflects a generation of great masters. Saving the country and saving the people is basically this kind of Wong Feihong."

Lin Ruikai had no doubts anymore and immediately said: "I'll make arrangements right away!"

Lin Zhichao nodded with satisfaction and said: "There will be no good development in movies in the future. After supporting Zhou Xingchi and Jet Li, Hong Kong movies will also make people tired of aesthetics. We will talk about this in the future. Your focus now is still on 'Hong Kong' "Flow Culture"

"Okay, this Hong Kong culture is really a huge system. Father, rest more and don't have to work too hard!"

Lin Ruikai looked at the thick information and said with concern.

In his opinion, his father had too many things to do in a day and was worried about everything.

Even for the investment projects of my brothers, my father must have analyzed the future trends for a long time, and everyone would consider investing based on this analysis.

Lin Zhichao said: "It doesn't matter, I didn't spend too much effort!"

This was the truth, but Lin Ruikai didn't believe it, and of course he didn't say anything else.

In the eyes of Lin Zhichao's seven sons, Lin Zhichao is omnipotent and can guide them in everything. Because of this, they feel the greatness of their father, admire him from the bottom of their hearts, and are willing to fight for the family. (End of chapter)