activa-t Chapter 325 Xi's Board of Directors (2)
Chapter 325 Xi's Board of Directors (2)
Xi Qingqing believed that her fourth brother Xi Qingzhou was her biggest enemy, and Xi Qingzhou also had some awareness of this in his heart.
Since Xi Qingqing officially joined the company during her internship after graduation last year, she has completed every project very well, and the company's grassroots employees have a very high opinion of her.
Although Xi Qingzhou used to arrogantly believe that Xi's company would definitely be his, and that his elder and second brothers could not compare to him, after Xi Qingqing quietly and steadily established himself in the company, Xi Qingzhou suddenly felt a little uneasy - putting aside the filter of the prerequisite of gender, Xi Qingqing's various behaviors seemed to be coveting the inheritance rights.
So, during the New Year, he had specifically asked Mommy to discuss their children's marriages with Daddy, hoping to use Daddy's mouth to test Xi Qingqing's opinion on the Xi family's inheritance rights. Xi Qingqing had been acting coquettishly with Daddy, saying she didn't want to marry so young, but secretly, she was even more attentive to preparing for this investment plan.
The private detective said that starting from the third day of the Chinese New Year, after Xi Qingqing left the Xi residence, she either attended meetings with her investment team or went on field inspections. Except for important gatherings at home, she went out early and came back late every day. The lights in the house where Xi Qingqing lived in the Wan Chai community were on until one or two o'clock in the morning every night.
With such careful preparations, Xi Qingzhou couldn't help but be suspicious.
When Xi Qingzhou learned that his father was interested in an arranged marriage, he felt a little flustered.
There are pros and cons to a marriage. If Xi Qingqing's real intention is to obtain the inheritance, then the marriage itself is more like giving her meat. Don't say that a woman who marries out has no chance of inheritance. As long as she divorces promptly after the project is completed, and if she has good ability and resources, Xi Qingqing might actually be able to take the inheritance.
If that were the case, it would be better to let him arrange a marriage. The man could obtain these resources through a marriage, and he could continue to fight for inheritance rights without having to divorce. As long as the divorce was not broken, the marriage could bring him even more benefits. For him, it was definitely a big piece of fat meat.
Unfortunately, the eldest and second brothers were eyeing him covetously and would never let him take advantage of this.
Fortunately, Xi Qingqing, whom he regarded as his biggest enemy, did not agree to the marriage, and kept talking about her long-term relationship with her boyfriend Su Tunan.
Fortunately or unfortunately? Xi Qingzhou didn't know, but he would never let Xi Qingqing take away the inheritance rights he regarded as a prize on the plate.
Xi Qingzhou began to share his investment plan with a smile, saying, "I believe Xi's Shipping can establish an Asian ship finance and leasing center, securitize shipping assets, and transform itself into a maritime financial services provider..."
When answering the routine questions after the presentation, he was calm and elegant, seemed very comfortable with the situation, and every word he said showed his optimism about his project.
The directors at the table heard Xi Qingzhou's project plan, and a hint of satisfaction flashed across the faces of several shareholders. These days, the financial industry is easy to do and profitable. Shipping is the company's core business, and securitizing shipping assets is indeed something that can be considered.
Fu Ziyan's expression remained unchanged, only the corners of her lips twitched slightly. She wasn't worried about the project, but about Qingqing. Xi Qingzhou must have a very good team under him. Qingqing had truly encountered a formidable enemy.
Unlike Fu Ziyan's slight worry, Xi Qingqing still had a smile on his face.
Xi Qingzhou is amazing, but she's not inferior either~
As the shareholders were talking in low voices, Xi Qingzhou left the stage and Xi Qingqing came on.
No one was surprised. After all, Xi Qingqing had been interning and working at Xi's for a long time, and the shareholders had more or less some understanding of Xi Qingqing's performance in the company.
After noticing the assistant placing photocopied documents next to each attendee, Xi Qingqing smiled slightly and jokingly redirected the shareholders' attention from Xi Qingzhou's project back to her own project plan. "Unlike Fourth Brother, who is transitioning to the financial industry, I'm leaning towards real estate as the first step in Xi's abandonment of investment."
As she joked to attract the shareholders' attention, the slides behind her, operated by her assistant, presented the theme of the plan - the development of a comprehensive commercial complex in Kowloon Bay.
Xi Qingqing has a round face that is liked by the elders. Her smile naturally makes people feel good about her. Even if it is just a little bit of goodwill, it can make these shareholders, who are a little impatient after listening to several investment plans, listen to Xi Qingqing's proposal presentation more patiently.
"The core strategy of this project is to transform the barren reclaimed land into an Asia-Pacific business hub through the triple leverage of 'land conversion + government-business integration + financial innovation'."
"I've researched whether we could leverage the Special Regulations on Industrial Land to buy up land like shipping facilities at extremely low market prices, and then develop the land through a 'New Town Pilot Project' initiated by United Land to increase the plot ratio..."
Xi Qingqing stood at the front of the stage without any hesitation, and confidently presented the results of his field investigation and detailed analysis of each part of the plan to the shareholders. From the presentation, it can be seen that Xi Qingqing's presentation was more detailed than Xi Qingzhou's, and every step of the project was considered with reference to real or past data.
After she finished speaking, there were naturally shareholders who were satisfied with the plan, but no matter how satisfied they were, they could not avoid the question-and-answer session.
"Ms. Qingqing just mentioned risk hedging in the financial innovations she mentioned, but the 15% annual interest rate on HSBC bonds is based on current interest rates. If the Fed continues to raise rates, the interest expenses will eat up all the profits."
Just as Xi Qingqing had the unequivocal support of his good friend Fu Ziyan, Xi Qingzhou, as the "hidden heir," would also have no shortage of shareholder support. For example, Director Ni, the director in charge of Xi's finances who first spoke out, was the top shareholder supporting Xi Qingzhou's ascension.
His second wife was the cousin of Xi Qingzhou's mother. Because of this relationship, he was naturally classified as a member of Xi Qingzhou's faction in the Xi family.
Despite this, he has been working here since the early days of Xi's establishment, and his initial shares came from employee stock incentives. As a long-time employee and board member, he knows better than anyone that some relationships can be presented on the surface, but when it comes to major company matters, he cannot show any personal feelings.
It is true that Xi Qingzhou is Xi Sen's son, but Xi Qingqing is also Xi Sen's child, and he is just one of the shareholders with a relatively small stake. Although he is in charge of the Finance Department, he is not the only voice in the Finance Department.
Therefore, although Director Ni asked the question first, what he asked was indeed a reasonable question about the capital chain, and he was not deliberately making things difficult.
The private detective Xi Qingzhou had assigned to monitor Xi Qingqing was right; Xi Qingqing had indeed been working tirelessly on this project. Xi Qingqing had already been prepared for the loophole Director Ni had raised.
She smiled confidently, "I've already found a solution to the problem Mr. Ni raised. I've already reached a verbal agreement with UK-based Prichi Capital on an interest rate swap agreement, locking in a maximum financing cost of 12%. This way, the project's IRR can still reach 23% even at an 18% interest rate. Of course, the corresponding written agreement has also been drafted. As long as the board of directors approves this project plan, Xi's and Prichi Capital can sign the agreement at any time."
As Xi Qingqing spoke, he took out a written agreement from his folder that was drafted by both parties and then faxed across the ocean, and handed it to the directors present for them to read.
In just half a month, during the Spring Festival, Xi Qingqing certainly could not fly to the UK, but her good friend Fu Ziyan was familiar with Felicity of Prichi Capital, and completed the conversation and agreement between the two parties through a long-distance phone call.
It's easier said than done, but Xi Qingqing and his team spent four or five days working on this drafted verbal agreement, just to address the board's questions.
Fu Ziyan tried hard to imagine the joy hidden under her good sister's pretended calm expression, and she felt secretly happy in her heart.
So what if Qingqing is a girl? Although she is at a disadvantage in terms of gender, Qingqing has this cheat~
This all-powerful Titti is Qingqing's golden finger!
"The Town Planning Ordinance requires that industrial land conversions require a premium payment. Does the HK$1.2 million budget in the clean-up plan include this potential premium? What if the government demands it? Also, Governor MacArthur will be leaving office next year, and the new Governor may end the 'Special PPR Incentive'. What will happen to the already built land then?"
This person is not a supporter of anyone in the Xi family. He is purely starting from the project itself, but the questions he raised are really sharp, directly pointing to two of the three core levers of Xi Qingqing's project.
Xi Qingqing was calm and composed. She had considered these two questions beforehand.
"According to Section 12(3) of the Town Planning Ordinance 1976, the conversion of industrial land to recreational use is exempt from premium," she said, her lips curled slightly. "In fact, even if a premium is required, we can still reach a 'supplementary loan standby agreement' with Bank SinoPac."
She took out the legal opinion from the Department of Justice from the folder and showed it to everyone, and her eyes, which glanced at Fu Ziyan, were full of gratitude.
This problem was solved thanks to the off-site assistance of Yanyan's cousin Fu Ziyi, who works at the Department of Justice. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to find out with so many regulations in a short time.
"As for the impact of the change of Governor, as long as the special permission is approved before the end of 1978, even if a new Governor takes office, it will have become a fait accompli."
Xi Qingqing stood in front of the stage with a faint smile, debating with the group of scholars with clear opinions. As each participant raised a question and Xi Qingqing answered it easily, several shareholders gradually became satisfied with this plan.
I have to say that Xi Qingqing was indeed well prepared, and his understanding of the project was better than Xi Qingzhou's.
Although the more perfect the preparations for an investment project are, the more likely it is that the project will make a profit, but a project with sufficient emergency preparedness plans will always make people feel more at ease than a project with complete content but superficial emergency plans.
The atmosphere in the conference room gradually became tense, and the shareholders' eyes wandered between Xi Qingqing and Xi Qingzhou. The meaning was self-evident.
Xi Qingzhou was no longer as elegant and calm as before, his brows slightly furrowed.
He really underestimated his sister Xi Qingqing!
The Xi family is a wealthy family with a great business. Two consecutive investments of more than 100 million yuan are not beyond their reach. However, in theory, the Xi family, which is in a period of transformation, cannot take too big a step.
It should be noted that different industries are like different worlds. One is involved in real estate and the other is involved in finance. The two projects are too different. Even if the Xi family has sufficient funds after selling the ship, it is impossible for them to invest the money in two cross-industry projects right away.
Xi Sen said nothing, as if he was in deep thought, and the members at the meeting also remained motionless.
From the perspective of data analysis and industry prospects, both projects are worth investing in.
When the atmosphere was cold, Fu Ziyan tilted her head to look at her father, her eyes sparkling, as if to say "Daddy, go ahead~"
It's not that she can't speak up to support her friend, but the people sitting here are all senior businessmen, and her father is also present, so it's not convenient for her to speak up to defend her. Everyone knows that she has a good relationship with Xi Qingqing. It's okay for her to appear at the board meeting, but speaking directly for Qingqing would seem too blatantly partial.
Dad is different.
He is the elder and the head of the Fu family. How could a dignified Mr. Fu show favoritism because of his daughter's friendship? That would be a disgrace to his character!
Fu Qiyuan felt amused. After so many years, Ti Ti was still acting like a spoiled child when she asked him to fulfill her wish.
However, Xi Qingqing's proposal presentation was indeed quite good. In this case, it was rare for Ti Ti to grow up to be crazy and think she could do anything, so she asked him for help when she had something to do, and as a father, he could not hold his daughter back.
"I think Miss Xi's plan is worth a try," Fu Qiyuan said calmly. "On the road of transformation, we must constantly try to open up a new path. Chairman Xi, why not let the children give it a try?"
“The development of the Kowloon Bay new town is indeed quite interesting.”
"Qingzhou's proposal is also good. The financial industry is booming."
Xi Sen stared at his daughter for a long time before speaking slowly, "Although the project Qingqing proposed requires an initial investment of over 100 million yuan, the funds can be invested in batches. So, I'll invest 50 million yuan in the first batch, and I'll let you form and lead a team to test the waters. Do you think you can pull it off?"
Xi Qingqing had mentioned earlier when presenting the project that, since they were new to the real estate industry, they would be forming a joint venture with other groups to share the risk. The 50 million yuan Xi Sen proposed was essentially a mortgage loan to purchase the land, with the goal of selling the first batch of ocean-view office buildings while they were being built.
Xi Sen's message was clear: if the office building sold well, then continue investing; otherwise, end the investment. At least, with the land in hand, at least there would be no loss. And judging by the overall upward trend in Hong Kong land prices over the past two decades, the worst that could happen was to hold onto the property for a few years and then resell it for a profit.
As for the Hong Kong issue, which has not yet been answered, although people's hearts are a little uneasy at the moment, Xi Sen personally believes that no matter what the situation is, considering Hong Kong's geographical location and current development, there will be no losses in the future, and the price of land will naturally be the same.
Hearing Xi Sen's words, Xi Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief and said with certainty: "I can do it."
Although she couldn't get the full amount, getting the investment approval was already a good thing. She was afraid that her father would favor her fourth brother because of the gender difference and reject her hard work for more than half a month.