Chapter 574: Dividing the Li Family’s Assets!

Everyone in the study was taken aback by Li Yi’s shocking proposal!

Wow, you really have some nerve!

“As far as I know, the Li family controls 42% of Longheng Bank’s shares, and those shares alone are worth 1 billion!”

Zhou Xinghua continued, “On top of that, they have seven real estate projects on Hong Kong Island with a total investment exceeding 2 billion Hong Kong dollars. That adds up to a full 3 billion in assets—how could he possibly sell them off for just 1 billion Hong Kong dollars?”

Li Yunbao chimed in from the side, “I don’t think it’s possible either. The Li family is just short on cash right now—they aren’t insolvent. Even if they were using assets to settle debts, they wouldn’t sell them off at such a bargain price!”

“Besides, the Lai family owes Longheng Bank 1 billion Hong Kong dollars alone, and they’ve borrowed another 300 million from other companies. That 1 billion wouldn’t even cover their debts—he definitely wouldn’t buy it!”

However, before Li Yi could speak, Li Futao said in a deep voice, “He’ll agree!”

“Why?” Li Yunbao and Zhou Xinghua asked in unison.

“Hope!”

Li Yunbao and Zhou Xinghua were both completely baffled. What kind of hope could be so valuable that it would make the Li family willing to sell their own assets at a fraction of their value?

Li Futao nodded and explained, “The assets Li Yi mentioned earlier don’t include the Li family’s gold shop. That’s the business that built the Li family’s fortune. As long as they hold onto that gold shop, Li Jiuying has a chance to make a comeback. He certainly understands that!”

“Secondly, there are their shares in the bank and those real estate projects. Thirty billion is merely the book value, but right now the bank is facing a run on deposits, and the real estate sector is in the midst of a systemic crisis—prices have plummeted by half, and the overall asset value has shrunk drastically.”

“If estimated at market value, those 3 billion in assets wouldn’t even add up to 1.8 billion. Giving him 1 billion is already quite fair—after all, one must pay the price for one’s mistakes!”

Hearing this, Li Yunbao and Zhou Xinghua both fell into deep thought.

Although they agreed with Li Futiao’s words, they were also secretly shocked. The business world truly is like a battlefield—once you fail, you become the fish on the chopping block, at the mercy of others!

Although the Li family’s assets amounted to only a little over 2 billion, they still held considerable clout on Hong Kong Island. Yet to see them completely crushed in less than 20 days was simply hard to believe.

Just then, Li Yi added, “It’s not just that. More importantly, Li Jiuying wants revenge. And to seek revenge, one must first bow one’s head—not let it roll!”

“Revenge? Are you talking about the British-owned conglomerates?” Li Futao asked.

“Right. It might include us, of course, but no matter what, the first ones Lai Jiuying will target are definitely those at the British-owned Group who kicked him while he was down!”

Li Yi had been analyzing Li Jiuying these past few days and could tell that he was quite a shrewd operator.

Now that he’d been played like this, he certainly wouldn’t let it go.

By now, he likely hated those people from the British-funded group to the very core of his being.

A man like that wouldn’t let even the slightest opportunity slip by!

“But… aren’t you worried that once he’s built up his power, he might pose a threat to us…”

“Haha, a lion doesn’t care about the barking of stray dogs, and besides, I’ll be keeping a close eye on him!” Li Yi said calmly.

Although Li Jiuying was a man of some skill and boldness, Li Yi truly didn’t take him seriously.

Although they had used 1 billion yuan to snap up the vast majority of the Li family’s assets at rock-bottom prices, Li Jiuying wouldn’t see a single penny of it. The moment the 1 billion yuan was in hand, it would be transferred to Longheng Bank to repay the Li family’s debts.

Although Li Jiuying owned 36 gold shops worth hundreds of millions, he still faced debt collectors from other parties. It would take the Li family at least three to five years to recover.

However, three to five years from now, whether it’s him, Li Yi, or Old Huang, they’ll have long since left everyone in the dust—they’ll be forces Li Jiuying won’t be able to challenge.

And that is precisely why Li Yi is content to simply seize the Li family’s assets this time—he has no intention of taking their lives!

“Agreed!”

Li Futiao then asked again, “Brother Li Yi, how do you plan to handle the Li family’s assets?”

“Longheng Bank goes to your Li family—you put up 400 million in capital. The Li family’s real estate goes to me and Old Huang. What do you think?” Li Yi said.

“I have no objections, but this way, you and Old Huang are getting the short end of the stick!”

After all, Li Futiao was a business tycoon; he was well aware of Longheng Bank’s value.

It’s important to note that while Longheng Bank currently appears to be on the verge of collapse, it isn’t actually insolvent—it’s simply burdened by that bad debt from the Li family.

As long as the Li family repays the debt, Longheng Bank could be revived without any capital injection from the Li family.

On the other hand, although Li Yi and Old Huang had secured a real estate project worth 2 billion with just 600 million in capital, the problem was that the real estate market was currently in the midst of a severe bubble, and prices had already nearly halved.

Who knows—those assets might crash again at any moment. By then, forget about making a profit; they might even end up in the red.

“Haha, no loss. Old Huang and I didn’t acquire these properties to wait for them to appreciate and sell them. If we hold them long-term, we won’t lose money!”

Li Yi was well aware of how promising Hong Kong Island’s future was. Properties currently valued at tens of millions or even hundreds of millions would easily be worth tens or even hundreds of billions in two or three decades.

Moreover, ground rents on Hong Kong Island are extremely high. Most of the Lai family’s projects are commercial CBD developments, so holding onto these properties to collect rent is a solid strategy.

More importantly, Starry Sky Corporation currently lacked a proper headquarters!

But Li Futao cut Li Yi off, his mind suddenly stirred.

Li Yi had mentioned long-term holding—clearly, he had great confidence in Hong Kong Island’s future. This was a very clear signal.

“Brother Li Yi, you seem to have high hopes for Hong Kong Island’s future, don’t you?”

Li Yi smiled and said, “Heh, if I didn’t have high hopes for this place, I would’ve pulled out after making my first profit—why would I still be here?”

Li Futiao nodded thoughtfully, but inwardly he was pondering: it seemed the Li family’s business portfolio needed a major realignment.

After all, half of the Li family’s assets had already been transferred overseas. In recent years, they had made massive investments in the United States, Europe, and Japan, all with the aim of mitigating potential risks.

In fact, it wasn’t just the Li family; the vast majority of families on Hong Kong Island were doing the same, including British-owned conglomerates.

Take, for example, Jardine Matheson, the flagship of the British-owned conglomerates. As early as the 1950s, while withdrawing from the mainland and retreating to Hong Kong, Jardine Matheson began ramping up overseas investments, including in the UK, the US, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

By 1977, Jardine Matheson’s overseas assets accounted for over 60% of its total holdings.

Although Jardine Matheson’s explanation for this was: “I’ve already made so much money on Hong Kong Island, and I’m everywhere now. If I expand further here, everything will end up in my hands. I can’t bear the accusation of monopolizing the entire industry, so I’d better go overseas and try something new.”

However, the real reason was that Jardine Matheson and other British-owned financial groups remained wary of Hong Kong Island, fearing that the mainland would eventually invade.

At this point, Li Yi reminded him again: “Old Li, if you’re going to take over Longheng Bank, I suggest that while you’re acquiring the shares held by Lai Jiuying, you also buy a portion of the shares from other shareholders.”

“By the way, Longheng Bank is also a publicly listed company. Given the current situation, their stock is likely to plummet—you might as well buy at the bottom!”

Li Futiao knew that Li Yi was reminding them to secure a controlling stake in Longheng Bank.

“Alright, I understand. We absolutely won’t let what happened with the Li family happen again. This time, the British Capital Group must hand over control of Longheng!” Li Futiao said.

Li Yi nodded and added, “We need to resolve the matter with Li Jiuying as soon as possible. Once the contract is signed, have him come see me!”

“You want to see him?”

“Yes. Whether it’s Ma Biao or Li Jiuying, they’re nothing more than lackeys kept on a leash by the British Capital Group. I need to see who’s really pulling the strings behind the scenes.”

He immediately added, “Only by identifying our target will we know how to strike back!”

Hearing this, everyone present knew that someone else was about to be in trouble!

Just then, Zhang Ziqiang walked in from outside and whispered a few words into Li Yi’s ear.

Upon hearing Zhang Ziqiang’s report, Li Yi’s eyes lit up…

……..