SEC Chapter 1014 Liu Luanxiong Calls for Profit Sharing
Chapter 1014 Liu Luanxiong Calls for Profit Sharing
In recent years, affected by the oil crisis, Japanese exports have been hampered, companies have laid off employees, and ordinary people have suffered greatly.
1983 was precisely the year of recovery after the trough.
Therefore, top Japanese conglomerates such as Mitsubishi and Mitsui did not expand as they did during the economic bubble a few years later.
Faced with Lin Haoran's words, Yashiro Toshiro promptly and sincerely bowed his head and admitted his mistake.
"Boss, you're amazing! You got them to compromise with just a few words!" Huo Jianning exclaimed in amazement.
"Using one's own resources to protect one's own interests is just normal practice in the business world."
Mitsui Group is not an unreasonable company; they are just facing temporary difficulties. Toshiro Yashiro is a smart man; he knows what he should and shouldn't do.
"I gave him a way out, and he took it. No one was hurt, and we can continue to cooperate in the future," Lin Haoran said dismissively, waving his hand.
He doesn't enjoy the feeling of forcing others, but in the business world, sometimes if you don't reveal your hand, your opponents will take advantage of you.
Mitsui Group's actions of delaying construction, driving up costs, and shifting profits have crossed the line of commercial cooperation. If these actions are not stopped in time, the losses will only increase.
Huo Jianning nodded thoughtfully.
"Boss, I have some documents to give you. Please come to my office first," Ma Shimin said to Lin Haoran.
"it is good."
The two left the office one after the other, leaving Huo Jianning to handle matters related to Jockstreet.
Upon arriving at Ma Shimin's office, Lin Haoran went straight to the sofa and sat down.
Ma Shimin walked to the bookcase behind his desk, opened a drawer, and took out a folder.
Walking up to Lin Haoran, Ma Shimin handed him a folder and said, "Boss, these are the documents that the US sent you while you were in the mainland. I collected them for you since you weren't here. Please take a look."
Lin Haoran nodded and took the folder.
Lin Haoran did not hide his investments in the United States from Ma Shimin, such as investments in Hollywood, the NBA, and real estate in Manhattan, New York.
Therefore, while he was in mainland China, he had already instructed his counterparts in the United States that if anything came up, they could contact Ma Shimin.
After all, Ma Shimin is now essentially his chief steward, and his loyalty is 100%, so he naturally trusts Ma Shimin.
Of course, there were some things he also kept from Ma Shimin, namely the shareholding situation of Huanyu Investment Company in the United States.
Those investments are best kept secret by as few people as possible; once they're made public, the problems could be big or small.
Lin Haoran opened the folder, and the first document was about Hollywood.
This information came from Citibank.
Paramount boss Charles Bludorn died of a sudden heart attack last month, and Martin Davis became the new boss of Paramount.
Citigroup's intelligence department learned that the new boss, eager to make a strong start, wanted to weaken the power of Paramount Chairman Barry Diller. Less than a month into his tenure, the new boss had several disagreements with Barry Diller at company board meetings.
The reason was somewhat unexpected for Lin Haoran.
The new boss wanted to suppress Barry Diller simply because he was jealous of his success and fame.
Such decisions made based on personal emotions are not uncommon in the business world, but it still surprised Lin Haoran that it happened to a Hollywood giant like Paramount.
The reason Citibank sent him this information was actually to make Lin Haoran consider Barry Diller as a potential leader of MGM Studios!
Currently, the president of MGM Studios is only temporary and not a professional manager.
For a Hollywood giant like MGM, Lin Haoran naturally needs to find a professional and suitable manager.
However, MGM is currently facing difficulties in Hollywood, making it challenging to find a suitable candidate.
The fact that Citigroup recommended Barry Diller suggests that Citigroup believes Barry Diller has a chance of being persuaded.
However, Lin Haoran was very familiar with this Barry Diller; he had been mentioned in many intelligence reports before.
For example, in the six major companies' attack on MGM Studios, Barry Diller, though not the initiator, was one of the participants.
Lin Haoran didn't have a good impression of this person.
However, Citibank strongly recommends it.
The document also states that in the ten years after Barry Diller became Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, Paramount transformed from a company ranked low among the eight major Hollywood studios into an industry leader.
His influence in Hollywood is no less than that of any studio boss.
Such talent is indeed rare.
Now, however, the other party is being ostracized by the new boss, simply because Barry Diller's influence is too great.
Such professional managers are indeed hard to find.
Lin Haoran put down the documents and frowned as he pondered.
Since acquiring MGM Studios, he has gained a lot of knowledge about Hollywood, such as Barry Diller's experiences. He himself knows that Barry Diller is indeed a capable person.
He played an indispensable role in Paramount's development over the past decade.
But he was an enemy of MGM, and one of the participants in the attack on MGM Studios.
Is someone like that a good candidate?
"Mr. Ma, what do you think of Barry Diller?" Lin Haoran turned to Ma Shimin and asked.
The other party must know something about this matter, and he wants to see what this famous top professional manager in Hong Kong thinks.
"Boss, in the business world, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. He represents Paramount in joining forces with other giants to besiege MGM because MGM has threatened their interests. As the head of Paramount, he naturally prioritizes his own interests."
However, it must be said that if MGM could invite Mr. Barry Diller to serve as CEO, then with his talent and influence, the revival of MGM would be just around the corner. This kind of person makes a living based on real ability. Paramount under his leadership for ten years transformed from a low-ranking company into an industry leader, which is enough to prove everything.
"So, if we can invite him to MGM Studios, I think it will only benefit you, boss," Ma Shimin said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Lin Haoran fell silent.
In the business world, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.
He often said this, but when it came to actually making a decision, he still had some reservations.
It is a fact that Barry Diller was involved in the attack on MGM Studios; it is also a fact that he is a member of the Big Six.
“Mr. Ma, I understand what you’re saying, but Barry Diller is one of the Big Six. If he joins MGM, what will the people in Hollywood think of him? Can he handle the pressure?” Lin Haoran put down his teacup and asked.
Ma Shimin thought for a moment and said, "Boss, if Barry Diller came to MGM because he couldn't stay at Paramount, then there is no issue of betrayal. It was Paramount's new boss who forced him to leave, not because he wanted to leave on his own."
Even if those people in Hollywood have opinions, they can't really say anything. As for whether he can handle the pressure, I don't think that's a problem. Someone who can sit in the position of Chairman and CEO of Paramount must have strong mental fortitude.
Lin Haoran nodded and said nothing more.
He knew that thinking about these things now was pointless.
Even if he doesn't mind the other person's previous identity, the other person may not be able to persuade him to join MGM Studios.
There's no rush. MGM Studios is gradually stabilizing, with interim president Ivan Fuller and his team in place, so Lin Haoran can rest assured for now. Those Hollywood moguls can't do anything to him.
He picked up the folder, opened it, and continued reading.
The second document concerns properties in Manhattan, New York, and was sent by Universal Property Management Company.
According to the information, with the assistance of Citibank, the property management company has successfully taken over the management of all 45 properties without any problems.
Lin Haoran was not surprised by this.
After all, Citibank is a local power in New York. With its assistance, it would be strange if anything went wrong!
The third document was from Bernard Arnault, the future godfather of luxury goods. He said he had finished dealing with his investments in the United States and would be returning to France this month. He hoped that Lin Haoran would send someone to France to discuss further plans for the luxury goods market.
Aside from these, there's nothing else of importance.
Lin Haoran put the documents away, then looked at Ma Shimin and smiled, "I've been invited to visit the capital. Are you free? Why don't we go together?"
Upon hearing this, Ma Shimin shook his head and said, "Boss, I was invited to go for a few days in January, so I won't go this time. I have too much work to do and can't find the time." Lin Haoran didn't insist.
Simon Ma is now his chief steward and chairman of the Galaxy Strategic Development Committee. He has a lot on his plate, including resource sharing and cooperation among major groups such as Hong Kong Land Group, Hong Kong Electric Group, Wan Tsing Group, Oriental Press Group, and Hong Kong and China Gas.
During his few days in Beijing, Ma Shimin stayed in Hong Kong to oversee things, which actually made him feel more at ease.
“Alright, you can stay in Hong Kong. Call me anytime if anything happens.” Lin Haoran stood up, patted Ma Shimin on the shoulder, and said, “Shimin, you’ve worked hard all these years.”
"You flatter me, boss." Ma Shimin bowed slightly. "It is my honor to work under your guidance."
He thought for a moment and then said, "By the way, boss, there's something else I need to tell you. Mr. Liu Luanxiong came to the Kang Le Building to see you the day before yesterday. I told him you went to the mainland, and he said he would let him know when you come back."
Lin Haoran nodded and said, "Okay, I understand."
After leaving Ma Shimin's office, Lin Haoran returned to his own office.
In the office, Liu Xiaoli had returned at some point.
"Boss." Liu Xiaoli's face lit up with surprise when she saw Lin Haoran.
If the door hadn't been open, she would have already eagerly thrown herself into Lin Haoran's arms.
After returning from the United States, she went to visit relatives in mainland China.
The two have not seen each other for almost a month now.
Lin Haoran glanced at her loyalty rating, which was still 99, and felt relieved.
This level of loyalty is sufficient to determine whether the other party has betrayed him.
Moreover, Lin Haoran also sent two female bodyguards with her to visit relatives in mainland China, so there's really nothing to worry about.
Close the door and lock it.
Liu Xiaoli's previously reserved demeanor instantly crumbled. She quickly walked up to Lin Haoran, threw herself into his arms, and hugged him tightly.
"Boss, I miss you so much."
Lin Haoran put his arm around her waist, looked at her stunning face, smiled, and kissed her directly.
When we were in the US, we saw each other every day and didn't feel anything was wrong.
But after nearly a month apart, the novelty returned.
Soon, the clothes were scattered on the sofa.
More than an hour later, Liu Xiaoli finally finished tidying up Lin Haoran's clothes with satisfaction.
It has to be said that being in the office is quite exciting, and you have to be on guard against someone knocking on the door at any time.
No wonder so many bosses like to have affairs in the office; it certainly offers a unique experience.
The smell of hormones lingered in the air until the window was opened and the air conditioner was turned up to the maximum, at which point the smell slowly dissipated.
Liu Xiaoli stood beside Lin Haoran, her face still flushed.
From the other person, Lin Haoran learned that she had actually just returned to Hong Kong from the mainland yesterday.
"I'm going to Beijing tomorrow, so it won't be convenient for me to take you with me. You can stay in the office and handle some documents for me," Lin Haoran said softly, putting his arm around her shoulder.
Liu Xiaoli nodded, leaned against him, and didn't say anything.
She knew her identity, and she knew when to appear and when to disappear.
Since Lin Haoran said it was inconvenient to take her with him when he went to the capital, it's highly likely that he brought Guo Xiaohan, his official wife, with him.
"Boss, how many days are you going to stay in Beijing?" Liu Xiaoli asked.
"I'm not sure yet, but it should be no more than a week. You should rest well in Hong Kong and wait for me to come back," Lin Haoran said with a smile.
"Ah."
Lin Haoran picked up the phone and made a call to Liu Luanxiong.
"Ah Xiong, I heard you were looking for me?" The call was answered in just one second.
"Yes, Haoran, you're back? Are you at the Kang Le Building? I'll come find you right now. I'm in Wan Chai, I'll be there in about fifteen minutes." A car horn sounded from Liu Luanxiong's side, indicating that he was obviously in a car on the street.
“Yes, I’m in my private meeting room at the Kang Le Building. You can just come over here,” Lin Haoran said with a smile.
The two had actually met twice during the Chinese New Year, so it wasn't a long time since they had last seen each other.
"You stay in the office, no need to pour me tea. I'm going to the meeting room to talk to Liu Luanxiong," Lin Haoran said to Liu Xiaoli.
"Yes, boss," Liu Xiaoli nodded, her face flushed.
There had just been a major battle here. Although nothing seemed out of the ordinary, the lingering smell in the air had just dissipated, and she still felt a little guilty, afraid that someone might notice something.
Lin Haoran asked her to stay in the office, which she was more than happy to do.
The reception room was right next to Lin Haoran's private office. After he went there, he asked Ma Shimin's assistant to make him a cup of tea and also asked him to make a cup for Liu Luanxiong later.
Not long after, Liu Luanxiong strode in and sat down on the single sofa opposite Lin Haoran with practiced ease.
He had been here many times before.
After his assistant brought him hot tea, Liu Luanxiong finally spoke, "Haoran, you've been going to the mainland so often. Are there really such great investment opportunities there?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Haoran laughed and said, "Opportunities are everywhere, but they are not suitable for you. With your personality, you are more suited to the fast-paced finance industry. Investment cycles in mainland China are too long and returns are too slow, which you cannot tolerate."
Liu Luanxiong chuckled and did not deny it.
He is aware of his own personality and prefers fast-paced, high-return, and high-risk investments, such as stocks, real estate, and futures.
He simply doesn't have the patience for infrastructure, power, and port investments in mainland China, which often take several years or even more than a decade to see returns.
Especially after experiencing the enormous wealth that the stock market brought him, Liu Luanxiong lost even more interest in the kind of real-world investment that required a long wait.
He enjoys the feeling of rapid capital turnover.
Investment in mainland China is too slow.
"What brings you here today?" Lin Haoran asked, crossing his legs and taking a sip of hot tea.
“The Far East Investment Company’s financial statements for last year have been released. There were no dividends last year, but we have more funds this year, so I think we should distribute a portion of them.”
As Liu Luanxiong spoke, he took the handbag next to him, unzipped it, took out a document, and handed it to Lin Haoran.
Far East Investment Company was the investment company that Liu Luanxiong had set up. At that time, Lin Haoran invested HK$2 million, holding a 40% stake.
According to the 1981 financial report, the total capital had reached HK$42.5 billion. After deducting the principal of HK$5 million, the company had made a profit of HK$37.5 billion.
At the time, Lin Haoran felt that there were greater investment opportunities in US stocks in 1982, and that dividends would be subject to high taxes. Therefore, he suggested that Liu Luanxiong not distribute dividends for the time being, but instead continue to invest the more than 4 billion Hong Kong dollars.
As for investment direction, Lin Haoran naturally offered a lot of advice.
Otherwise, the other party wouldn't be able to make that much money.
Lin Haoran took the documents and started looking through them.
He was very curious that in 1981, with a principal of only HK$5 million, a profit of HK$37.5 billion was made.
So how much did Far East Investment Company actually earn from its initial investment of HK$42.5 billion in 1982?
Liu Luanxiong said from the side, "I moved the company's registered address to Bermuda last year, so I won't have to pay taxes on dividends in the future."
Last year, following your advice, I focused my investments on US stocks and Latin America, and reaped considerable profits. Haoran, bringing you in was definitely the right decision; your vision far surpasses mine.
Liu Luanxiong's tone was full of emotion.
After all, although he handled all the investments and Lin Haoran didn't interfere at all, only sending a finance team to supervise, without Lin Haoran's reminders, he wouldn't have had so many investment opportunities, and naturally, he wouldn't have been able to make so much money.
Therefore, Liu Luanxiong was very clear that the biggest contributor to the investment company's huge profits was not him, but Lin Haoran, a shareholder who did not participate in the management. (End of Chapter)