kingnovel Chapter 540 Private Banks and Skyscrapers
Chapter 540 Private Banks and Skyscrapers
July is like fire,
The scorching sunlight shines into the chairman's office of Future Technology Group through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making the entire space bright and transparent.
The cool air from the air conditioner formed a sharp contrast with the scorching heat outside. Hao Qiang leaned back on the sofa and listened attentively to his secretary's work report.
"Chairman, Chairman Xu of Hengda Real Estate hopes to meet with you. What do you think..."
Pan Lewei's voice was gentle and restrained, while paying attention to Hao Qiang's micro-expressions.
Hao Qiang waved his hand without even looking up: "No!
Le Wei, remember my principle: I will not meet with any real estate company executive whose debt ratio exceeds the warning line.
"Ok, I see."
"These real estate developers, with one hand, obtained low-interest loans from banks, and with the other, borrowed high-interest loans to frantically hoard land.
They drive up housing prices, but in the end it is ordinary people who pay the price.
I really disdain to be associated with this kind of business logic."
"makes sense."
Pan Lewei nodded slightly and continued his report: "In addition, Chairman Liu of the Fanya Nonferrous Metals Exchange has also sent a meeting request."
"Fan Ya?" Hao Qiang pondered for a moment, "What's the origin?"
"I looked it up and found out it's a rare metals investment institution established in 2011. It's currently huge, with over 10 billion yuan in funds under management."
"Push it away."
Hao Qiang said solemnly, "Le Wei, the financial market is full of mixed bag. Aside from the state-owned banks we have long-term partnerships with, we will decline all offers from other financial institutions."
Seeing Pan Lewei taking notes seriously, Hao Qiang's tone softened: "By the way, you have to be careful too.
The P2P platforms on the market now often promise returns of more than 12%. Don't be tempted by such high interest rates.
"I understand, Chairman," Pan Lewei replied seriously. "I will convey your message to the front desk and other secretaries and have them strictly screen the visitor list."
"Well, these financial brokers are like sharks that smell blood.
"When they see someone with money in their account, they'll find ways to get close to them." Hao Qiang curled his lips with a sarcastic sneer, "In the capital market, the more tempting the pie, the deeper the trap hidden underneath."
"How about this, you notify the administrative department to draft a document to remind all employees of the group." Hao Qiang thought of how countless people had been deceived by those financial institutions in his previous life.
Company employees have a lot of savings and want to invest the money.
"Okay, I'll talk to the administration department later."
A few minutes later, Pan Lewei finished his work report and left the chairman's office.
Hao Qiang looked at Pan Lewei's back as he left. The office door was slightly ajar, and the room fell silent again.
He leaned back in his seat, his fingertips tapping rhythmically on the armrest, his eyes fixed on the sea skyline outside the window.
“It’s time to start your own bank!”
This idea was not a sudden one. As early as two years ago, he had envisioned the possibility of establishing a bank.
But at that time, the policy was not yet clear, the financial regulatory barriers were strict and the threshold was high. For private capital to get involved in the banking industry was tantamount to snatching food from the tiger's mouth.
By 2014, the tide had turned.
The China Banking and Investment Association officially opened a pilot program for private banks, and the first batch of five private banks were approved for establishment - Pengcheng Weizhong Bank of Teng Group, Zheshang Internet Commercial Bank of Alibaba Group, Huarui Bank of Junyao Group, Wencheng Minshang Bank of Zhengtai Group, and Jincheng Bank of Huabei Group.
Behind these banks are all capital giants or local consortiums.
Hao Qiang narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts churning.
“If they can do it, why can’t I?”
He is not coveting the high leverage and huge profits in the banking industry, nor does he want to emulate traditional banks that make huge profits by absorbing deposits and lending.
His goal is very simple. He just wants to establish a fully controllable financial system to ensure the financial security of Future Technology Group, and even in the future, create a financial ecosystem of his own.
Platforms like Jingdong Mall, Toutiao, and the short video platforms that are about to be developed all need a financial platform.
If policies permit, he may even consider issuing his own digital currency, such as "Future Coin" or "Hao Coin".
Only those who truly control their own banks can be considered big capital.
Banks, after all, are at the top of the wealth food chain.
He turned around, picked up the phone on the table, and dialed Jiang Ying's internal line.
"Come to my office, I want to talk to you about something."
ten minutes later,
Jiang Ying pushed the door open and walked in.
She was wearing a neat business suit, with steady steps and sharp eyes.
As the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Future Technology Group, she has become accustomed to Hao Qiang's sudden decisions over the past few years.
Hao Qiang gestured for her to sit down, then slowly said, "I'm thinking about setting up our own bank."
Jiang Ying raised her eyebrows slightly, but did not show much surprise.
She pondered for a moment and nodded, "Indeed, financial autonomy is the real moat.
However, domestic policies still set a high threshold for private banks, and the country has not yet opened up to the market.”
Hao Qiang raised his lips slightly: "Just because the policy doesn't allow it doesn't mean we can't make plans in advance.
If it does not work in China for the time being, we can first invest in foreign banks overseas, exerting pressure indirectly and forcing domestic opening up.
However, I feel that the domestic market will soon open up.”
"Chairman, your idea is feasible.
Financial licenses in Singapore, Hong Kong, and even Europe can serve as springboards.”
Hao Qiang stood up, walked to the sand table model in the office, and gently pointed at the location of Pengcheng with his finger.
"In addition, I plan to build a skyscraper in Pengcheng and Shanghai respectively as global landmarks for Future Technology Group and Future Bank."
Jiang Ying stood up, followed his gaze, and asked, "Chairman, is this for office use?"
Hao Qiang shook his head: "No, we don't need so much office space. The headquarters base is enough, but some positions are not suitable for placement here.
Top financial talents, for example, are often only willing to work in top landmark buildings.
These two buildings are our 'talent magnets.'"
Hao Qiang's brain was also working fast. Building a super-high-rise skyscraper with a construction area of about 300,000 square meters would cost about 10 billion yuan.
For example, the Pengcheng Ping An Financial Center is 592 meters high and was completed in 2017 with a total cost of approximately 90 billion yuan.
Wucheng Greenland Center was built in 2015, with a height of 475 meters and a total cost of approximately 80 billion yuan.
The Chow Tai Fook Center in Yuecheng was completed in 2016. It is 530 meters high and cost 100 billion yuan, with a unit cost of about 3.2 yuan.
Last year, Future Technology Group's net profit after tax was about 1500 billion yuan, so building two skyscrapers is really a piece of cake.
Jiang Ying smiled gently: "Our group's net profit last year was 1500 billion. Building two buildings is really just a drop in the bucket."
Hao Qiang smiled faintly, a little proud: "That's right, other companies building skyscrapers are afraid of a broken capital chain;
What we worry about is how to spend the money wisely.
However, money should not be spent indiscriminately, but not a penny should be saved on what should be spent.
Mr. Jiang, you are responsible for this matter as well."
"Okay, I'll make some plans. Where do we plan to build in Pengcheng?"
Hao Qiang tapped his fingertips lightly on the mahogany desk and said after a moment's silence:
"The headquarters is too close to the airport, and aviation height restrictions are strict, so it's not suitable for building super-high-rise buildings."
He pointed to the Pengcheng Bay area and drew a circle, "We also have a piece of strategic reserve land here, which is located opposite the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Link. It has great potential for appreciation in the future and is worth investing in.
Of course, it is also possible to stay near Future City.
We are a high-tech center here, so as long as it is far enough away from the airport and can be built, it will be fine."
“As for Shanghai, we will focus on the Pudong New Area.
Lujiazui is already saturated and we developed it too late. Perhaps Qiantan or Lingang New Area may be more suitable.
Of course, if there is still vacant land in Lujiazui, it would be possible. I am not very clear about the specific situation.
Arrange for someone to contact the local government to gauge policy trends."
Jiang Ying quickly wrote it down, looked up and asked, "Okay, does the chairman have any other instructions?"
Hao Qiang waved his hand and turned his gaze back to the clouds outside the window: "That's it for now, you go and get busy."
"Ah."
Jiang Ying left the chairman's office, gently closed the door, and walked towards her own office, looking thoughtful.
She knew the chairman's temper too well. Compared with the piles of steel and concrete, he cared more about the progress of core scientific research projects.
These two skyscrapers, after all, are just a symbolic display of the group's strength.
So, some details do not need to be reported to him.
Make a list of requirements and have the chairman review and confirm it.
Then you just need to report which design is suitable, where it will be built, how much it will cost, and when it will start and be put into use.
At the group's current rate of profitability, the monthly net profit is no less than 20 billion yuan. How could the chairman have the time to focus on the construction of two buildings?
After returning to the office, Jiang Ying immediately wrote a plan, established a project team, compiled a list of requirements, and assigned tasks in a vigorous and resolute manner. An investigation was still required in the early stages.
She must find out the chairman's needs, such as height range, functional positioning, investment ceiling, construction period requirements, construction location, and any special requirements.
The most taboo in this type of project is vague early-stage requirements, and the chairman's true intentions must be fully understood.
If you don't understand the needs in the early stage, you will make one wrong step and then all the steps will go wrong. The general direction will be wrong and all your efforts will be in vain.
The next morning, Jiang Ying stood in front of the chairman again with the demand plan that she had completed after working up all night.
Hao Qiang took over the demand plan, which clearly listed the following:
-Building height: 500-600 meters
Functional positioning: Financial headquarters + high-end business
Investment budget: Single building ≤ 120 billion yuan
……
After reading it, he made some revisions and handed it to Jiang Ying: "Okay, proceed in the direction of this requirement.
The exterior design should be tendered to a top international firm; don’t skimp on this expense.”
"Okay, no problem." Jiang Ying understood.
As he walked out of the office, Jiang Ying glanced at his phone.
It took less than 24 hours from project initiation to approval.
This is the efficiency of Future Technology Group. While other companies are still arguing about the feasibility of the project, they have already outsourced the drawing of construction drawings.
Three days later,
Future Technology Group officially released the "Global Landmark Building Design Proposal Tender Announcement".
This announcement was like a bombshell, instantly detonating the domestic financial and construction industries.
The bidding documents clearly require: two super-high-rise skyscrapers, located in the core business district of Pengcheng Bay and the Pudong financial belt of Shanghai, with a single building budget not exceeding 120 billion yuan, a building height of about 500 meters, and the integration of the most cutting-edge intelligent technology and green building concepts.
As soon as the news came out, top domestic architectural design institutes and internationally renowned firms took action.
Top global design teams including MAD Architects, KPF, and SOM held an emergency meeting overnight to evaluate the bidding proposals.
At the same time, the media was in an uproar.
A financial news headline reads: [Future Technology Group Invests Billions of Yuan to Build "Financial Twin Towers," Aiming to Become a Global Landmark]
An in-depth report from a construction network platform: [Hwaguo's new infrastructure wave of mega-projects: Who will write the future of technology?]
On social media, Hao Qiang's skyscraper topic quickly became a hot search, with readership soaring and netizens hotly discussing:
"Holy crap! Hao Qiang is going to go to the sky! Two buildings over 500 meters high, directly rivaling the Shanghai Financial Center!"
"Boss Hao's style is amazing...others build buildings by the number of units, but he builds by the number of pairs!"
"I'm jealous. Future Technology Group makes 20 to 30 billion yuan in net profit a month. Building two buildings is like buying two pairs of shoes for us..."
"It is recommended that Future Technology Group be renamed 'Cash Ability Technology Group'"
In addition, the financial circle was shaken.
After all, Hao Qiang built two skyscrapers, which are financial buildings. Does he want to enter the financial industry?
This is not surprising, as Hao Qiang's stock trading skills are quite impressive.
Well, although he only speculates on Tengxun and Moutai.
However, these two stocks have been rising.
If you buy a lot but always lose money, it’s of no use.
Future Technology Group wanted to build a skyscraper, so the leaders of the Yuecheng and Guicheng governments called Hao Qiang and asked him if he was interested.
Hao Qiang was already very annoyed, as it was originally just a small matter.
But he couldn't tell these government leaders that it was a small matter, otherwise he would have to build a few more buildings.
It is easy to build a building, but you need industry and people to support it.
Otherwise, it would be a dead building, what's the point.
Therefore, Hao Qiang politely declined the invitation from the leaders of the Yuecheng government and the Guicheng government, saying that this was a decision made by the group's strategic department and it was not up to him alone.
Besides, he didn't care about this matter, so let them go find Jiang Ying.
When Guicheng leader Wei Zhenhua heard what Hao Qiang said, he just complained inwardly: It’s still you who has the final say.
Of course, he also knew that there was really no point for Future Technology Group to build a skyscraper in Guicheng.
A building without people in it can only be a face-saving project.
Of course, Wei Zhenhua still wants to fight for it.
In addition to the government leaders of Guicheng and Yuecheng, governments of other first-tier cities have also extended invitations to Future Technology Group, hoping that Future Technology Group will invest in their cities.
Pengcheng Persimmon Chief Zhou Ze called Hao Qiang to inquire about the situation. Hao Qiang replied, "Boss, please talk to our group's vice president Jiang Ying. She is in charge of this matter and has full responsibility. I really don't have time to deal with it."
"This is an investment of tens of billions. How can we be careless?"
"If I'm not interested, it's not about money."
"Okay, haha, your company earns two skyscrapers a month, which is indeed a small matter for you. Then I won't bother you. I will go to find President Jiang." Zhou Ze hung up the phone with a smile. He also knew that Hao Qiang was devoted to studying technology.
Money really means nothing to him.