Hong Kong. Far East Stock Exchange!
Upon hearing that the conglomerates had already made their move, the expressions in the VIP lounge turned serious.
Especially upon hearing the target of their move, Li Yi glanced at Li Futiao beside him and said, “Li’s Hengye Real Estate… Old Li, isn’t that your family’s business?”
Li Futao nodded immediately and said, “It is our Li family’s business, but it’s not wholly owned. Although our family is the major shareholder, we only hold 27% of the shares.”
“Do you know the company’s market capitalization, share price, and free float, Old Li?”
Li Fuzhao sighed and replied, “Hengye Real Estate used to have a market capitalization of 3 billion Hong Kong dollars, but since last year’s stock market crash, it’s dropped to 1.2 billion. The free-floating shares account for 30% of the total shares, and the previous share price was 2.7 Hong Kong dollars per share.”
Li Yi nodded, then turned to Pang Feiyan, who was monitoring the market, and asked, “What’s the situation out there?”
“Just now, someone suddenly started buying up Hengye Real Estate shares at a high price. Upon investigation, we found that all of them were from VIP Room No. 3—the very group we’ve been closely monitoring. Our people immediately came over to report it!” Pang Feiyan said.
Li Futao immediately said, “They’re trying to take the Li family down first. I’ll organize funds right now to counter their move!”
Li Yi paused to think for a moment, then said, “Old Li, don’t act rashly. Let me handle this matter, all right?”
“Alright, Brother Li Yi, go ahead with confidence. It doesn’t matter if we wipe this little company off the map!” Li Futiao said with a determined expression.
Li Futiao spoke from the bottom of his heart. Setting aside the fact that Li Yi had previously saved his only son, in the past two years alone, he had profited over 20 billion Hong Kong dollars by following Li Yi.
A small company in which he held only a 27% stake—even if he were to pour everything into it, it truly meant nothing to him.
However, Li Yi just smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Old Li. Not only will you not lose money this time, but you’ll actually make a huge profit.”
“Oh, brother, what’s your plan?” Li Futiao asked with interest.
Li Yi didn’t answer his question. Instead, he turned to Pang Feiyan and said, “Organize a team immediately and go all out to counter them. No matter what price they quote, we have to outbid them by 0.2 Hong Kong dollars!”
“Yes!”
Pang Feiyan knew her boss’s temperament well. After acknowledging the order, she quickly set things in motion.
After Pang Feiyan left, Li Futiao said with some concern, “Brother Li Yi, while this might stop them from acquiring Hengye Real Estate’s shares, it also puts you in a risky position. If they sell at the peak and run, you’ll likely be stuck holding the bag…”
Li Yi smiled and said, “That’s exactly what I want them to do—sell at the peak!”
Li Futiao: !@#￥%……&
Seeing Old Li’s utterly baffled expression, Li Yi immediately explained, “If I’m not mistaken, this attack on your Li family’s real estate company is nothing more than a test on their part!”
“A test?”
“Exactly. Those bastards just want to see how we’ll react—especially me and Star Investment!”
Li Yi continued, “If, when they attack the companies under your name, Star Investment and I choose to sit idly by, then these people will swarm like mad dogs, tearing into every single business under the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.”
“At the same time, they’d launch a media campaign to sow discord within our ranks and drive us to self-destruction!”
Li Futao immediately replied, “But if we choose to defend Hengye Real Estate, won’t that give them a weakness to exploit? Then we might end up in an even more passive position!”
“A weakness? Weaknesses only exist when one is afraid to act. But if we have no reservations, there is no weakness!”
Li Yi then added, “If we go all out to defend Hengye Real Estate this time, it will inevitably lead the other side to believe we’ve reached a tacit agreement to stand united with all Chinese businesses.”
“At that point, given those bastards’ greed, they’ll inevitably launch simultaneous attacks on all eligible listed companies, hoping to completely bleed us dry.”
Li Futao sucked in a sharp breath and said in a low voice, “So, no matter what we do, those scumbags will launch a full-scale attack against us?”
“Exactly. After all, their ultimate goal is to destroy our Chinese Chamber of Commerce!” Li Yi said.
“Then how should we respond?” asked Li Futiao.
Li Yi smiled and said, “Old Li, I already have a plan to repel them, but it requires the full support of every member of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce!”
“Brother Li Yi, just tell us what you need us to do, and I guarantee everyone will stand with you through thick and thin!” Li Futiao said.
“Great!”
Li Yi continued, “Old Li, call an emergency meeting of all members right now. Tell them that if they’re willing to stand with me, Li Yi, and Starry Sky Company through thick and thin, they must follow my orders from this moment on.”
“Of course, I’ll also ensure no one’s interests are harmed. We’ll use today’s stock prices as a benchmark to calculate the market value of each member’s holdings. If anyone suffers a loss because of this, I, Li Yi, will compensate them in full.”
Upon hearing this, Li Futiao, Zhou Xinghua, and the others were stunned. This was a massive undertaking.
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce had 32 full members alone, with over a hundred listed companies under their names, and a combined market capitalization exceeding 200 billion Hong Kong dollars.
Even a 10% loss in market value would amount to 20 billion Hong Kong dollars!
“Brother Li Yi, there’s really no need for this. Even if you didn’t offer to cover the losses, everyone would stand by you through thick and thin!” Li Futiao tried to dissuade him.
Li Yi replied solemnly, “Old Li, these companies represent the life’s work of every chamber member—some may even be the accumulated assets of their families spanning generations. If I don’t demonstrate sufficient sincerity, how can I expect them to entrust such vital businesses to my management?”
“Well…”
“Old Li, no need to say more. It’s settled. You handle communicating with the members; I’ll handle fending off the enemy!” Li Yi said.
“Alright, then!”
With that, Li Futiao turned to leave.
However, after taking just two steps, he turned back and said, “Brother Li Yi, I don’t care what others do, but every company under the Li family will cooperate with you fully. Even if we suffer losses, you won’t have to cover them!”
With that, Li Futao left the VIP room without looking back!
After Li Futiao and the others had left, Yang Qian, who was standing nearby, immediately said, “Boss, the combined market value of all the companies owned by the Chamber of Commerce members is a whopping 247.6 billion Hong Kong dollars. What you’re doing is far too risky!”
“Risky? I don’t think so!” Li Yi said calmly.
Although his promise did sound a bit unbelievable, as if he were putting himself in a dangerous position.
But only Li Yi himself knew that he was certain to win this battle.
Every member of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce had been carefully selected by him and Old Li before being admitted into the chamber. These members shared one common trait: the companies under their names were primarily engaged in real industries and were in sound financial condition.
But right now, Hong Kong was in the final stages of a stock market crash, with both the real estate and stock markets in freefall. The market capitalization of every company was at its lowest point—and that alone put him in an unbeatable position.
After all, stock prices had already hit rock bottom—how much lower could they possibly go?
Yang Qian frowned and said, “But if the market value of these companies plummets, you’ll have to pay full compensation. That’s…”
Li Yi smiled and then asked in return, “As for the companies under our members’ names, is there really any room left for their stock prices to fall?”
At those words, Yang Qian was completely taken aback!
It took her a while to realize what was going on, and then she looked at Li Yi and said, “Boss, that was a brilliant move. With a promise that you’ll hardly ever have to keep, you’ve completely won over all the members. With the combined strength of so many companies, we really have nothing to fear from our enemies!”
“Got it?”
“Yeah… I get it!” Yang Qian nodded.
“Good to hear…”
Just as they were speaking, the door to the VIP room swung open again, and Pang Feiyan hurried in…
……….