Chapter 906
High-Level Cash-Out, Killing Two Birds with One Stone
The warm winter sun in Shenzhen seemed unable to dispel the chill that lingered in the study of the Lu residence.
Outside the window, the tropical plants in the garden were still lush and green, and the sea breeze brought a salty and humid scent, but it couldn't get through the tightly closed French windows.
Lu Yang did not go to enjoy the rattan recliner anymore. He sat upright behind the large mahogany desk, his back straight, like a silent reef.
A document lay open on the table, but he didn't look at it. His gaze was fixed on the sea outside the window, its edges gilded by the sunlight. In his deep eyes was a calmness more unfathomable than the deep sea itself.
Lu Nini tiptoed in, placing a latest financial report on the corner of the table. Her voice was very low: "Chairman, the news... has already spread. Several major financial media outlets have received word about our group's plan to divest its shares in BBK."
Lu Yang didn't even turn around, he just nodded his chin almost imperceptibly.
It was as if the news that was about to cause a huge uproar in the business world was nothing more than a speck of dust brushing across the table.
Looking at his expressionless profile, Lu Nini felt a sudden tightness in her heart.
She knew that when Lu Yang was this calm, it often meant that the eye of the storm had formed, and he was the one who controlled the direction of the storm.
“Not a single drop will be left.” Lu Yang finally spoke, his voice deep and clear, like water flowing beneath the ice. “Spread the word to Century Group that we are seeking interested buyers for all 15% of BBK’s shares. The highest bidder wins.”
He paused and added, "Especially... inform the contacts at PCCW Digital and Intel."
"Yes," Lu Nini replied, understanding immediately.
The chairman is trying to intensify the conflict, putting Mr. Duan, the CEO of BBK, under intense scrutiny, while also forcing the two new shareholders to the forefront.
This "leaving no trace" stance represents a complete severance, a declaration to everyone that Century Group and BBK are now estranged, with no room for reconciliation.
The news spread like a pebble thrown into a pond, creating ripples that quickly spread throughout the mainland business community.
"A fire sale of BBK Electronics shares!"
"A complete break! Lu Yang and Duan Yongping part ways!"
"A discarded child of the Century Group? Is BBK's future uncertain or will it rise from the ashes?"
Various interpretations abound, but the core message is singular: Lu Yang, once BBK's most important angel investor and second-largest shareholder, is about to completely withdraw from the game.
This is not just a simple equity transaction; it is more like the collapse of a flag, announcing that the once close alliance of the "Century Group" has developed an irreparable rift.
At BBK headquarters, Duan Yongping's office had an oppressive atmosphere that made people feel suffocated.
Shen Wei stared at the briefing his assistant had urgently brought him, his face first showing astonishment, then a near-absurd anger rising within him: "Boss! Did Lu Yang really do that? He's going to sell all his shares? Good! Good for him!"
He slammed his hand on the table. "Since he no longer wants to be a shareholder and has voluntarily withdrawn, isn't this a fantastic thing? It saves us from him always bossing us around and hindering us at every turn! Now we're completely free!"
Duan Yongping showed no joy. He sat in his large executive chair, his hands crossed over his forehead, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.
The sunlight outside the window illuminated half of his face, but it couldn't dispel the gloom and anxiety in his eyes.
The ashtray in front of him was already overflowing with cigarette butts.
"Good news?" Duan Yongping's voice was hoarse from staying up all night and carried a hint of barely perceptible fatigue. "Shen Wei, you're thinking too simply."
Chen Mingyong, who was standing to the side, pushed up his glasses and took over the conversation, his tone serious: "Brother Wei, you can't say that. President Lu's withdrawal is not just about losing a shareholder. Once his shares change hands, especially if they fall into the hands of... certain specific people, it means that BBK will have no more feelings for Century Group. All the past ties will be completely burned out."
He glanced at Duan Yongping and continued, "In the future, if we face off against Lu's cronies like Little Genius, Little Prodigy, and Century Langke in the market... do you think they will leave us any room to maneuver? The chip supply cutoff is just an appetizer. Given Lu's personality and methods, what awaits us is probably a relentless and all-out attack."
"Yes..." Duan Yongping exhaled a long smoke ring and echoed in a heavy voice.
This was precisely his deepest worry.
Lu Yang's "cold treatment" and "let the bullets fly" were never just empty boasts; they were the calm before the storm.
The chip supply disruption had already caught him off guard, and his production line was at risk of shutting down. If he were to be completely targeted by the Century Group in the future... he dared not think about it.
Shen Wei's excitement froze instantly, and he retorted defiantly, "Not holding back? We're not even willing to hold back! What are we afraid of him for? Brother Chen, Boss, aren't you overestimating him? If it weren't for Lu Yang suppressing us at every turn all these years, BBK would have soared to the top long ago!"
He became more and more agitated as he spoke, his voice rising several decibels: "Back then, we were the ones who made the Red and White Learning Machine first! And what did he do? He secretly registered a 'Little Genius' and partnered with someone to create a 'Little Prodigy,' stealing the first and second positions in the market and pushing us down to third! What kind of investor is that? That's called stabbing us in the back!"
He selectively forgot, or rather, simply refused to think about it: it was Lu Yang who spent a huge sum of money to acquire Wanyan Technology, which secured the core patents for VCDs, and assembled a top-notch team to continuously invest in research and development, selflessly sharing the most cutting-edge decoding chip technology with "Century Group" affiliated companies, including BBK, which enabled BBK to break through the encirclement in the red ocean of VCDs and rank among the top in the country.
Not to mention that Lu Yang originally planned to license even more advanced DVD technology to them as well.
All this support and investment was dismissed lightly by a single word, "hindrance," in Shen Wei's complaints.
"Xiaowei! That's enough!" Duan Yongping suddenly looked up, his voice stern and unquestionable, interrupting Shen Wei's resentment. "Don't bring up the past! Now is not the time to dredge up old grievances!" He irritably stubbed out his cigarette.
Although deep down he was dissatisfied with Lu Yang's support for his "own sons," Little Genius and Little Prodigy, believing that it squeezed out BBK's space.
But he was even more aware that without the technology, resources, and a certain degree of protection provided by the Century Group, BBK would never have been able to develop to its current scale in just a few years.
The $4000 million in investment and commitments from Hong Kong and foreign investors were certainly tempting, and Intel's stable supply of low-priced flash memory solved the MP3 project's immediate crisis. However, this sudden "freedom" came with the enormous risk of a complete break from the behemoth, Century Group.
He took a deep breath and made a decision: "Arrange a car. I will personally go to Pengcheng to visit President Lu in person... to explain and apologize, and see if there is any way to salvage the situation."
Maintaining a superficial, lingering relationship, even if only temporarily, to make Lu Yang somewhat hesitant in potential future conflicts, would be crucial for BBK Electronics. At the very least, it would buy them some buffer time.
"Boss!" Shen Wei exclaimed anxiously, "It's already like this, and you're still going to beg him? Isn't that just humiliating yourself? He's clearly trying to distance himself from us!"
Duan Yongping waved his hand wearily: "We have to give it a try. Now is not the time to act impulsively." He looked at Chen Mingyong, who nodded slightly in support of the attempt.
Chen Mingyong understood that face was worthless in the face of a survival crisis.
Shen Wei looked at the two of them, opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed his resentment, snorted heavily, and turned to go out to arrange the itinerary.
A few days later, in Pengcheng, at the Lu residence.
Duan Yongping stepped into this mansion nestled against the mountains and overlooking the sea once again.
My state of mind was completely different from when I last came.
He was led to the study by the butler.
Lu Yang remained seated behind the mahogany desk, his posture even more distant than before.
He didn't get up, but merely raised his eyelids slightly, his gaze calmly landing on Duan Yongping: "Mr. Duan, a rare guest. Please have a seat." His tone was as indifferent as if he were receiving an unimportant visitor.
Duan Yongping suppressed his discomfort and sat down in the chair opposite the desk, trying to make his expression sincere: "President Lu, I apologize for bothering you. Regarding the recent news... I know that the investment by Yingke and Intel may have caused some misunderstanding. I'm here specifically to explain to you. This cooperation is purely for the company's development needs, to seize the window of opportunity in the MP3 market, and has absolutely no intention of betraying the Century Group! You have always been BBK's most respected investor and our strongest backing! If the change in the equity structure has caused you..."
"Mr. Duan." Lu Yang interrupted his carefully prepared "sincere" opening remarks in a calm tone, his slender fingers casually tapping the smooth tabletop, making a crisp sound. "There's no need for explanations. The news is in black and white, and the equity transfer agreement has probably already been signed. I've already made it very clear on the phone. We're all business people, so let's not beat around the bush."
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Duan Yongping as if it were a physical object, with a sharpness that seemed to see through everything: "Instead of wasting your time explaining these 'misunderstandings' that I don't want to hear, you should think about how to raise the money."
"Raise money?" Duan Yongping's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition rose within him.
“Yes.” Lu Yang’s lips curled into a faint, almost cold smile, as if stating a simple fact. “Raise money to subscribe to my 15% stake in BBK. After all, since I’ve decided to withdraw, these shares will eventually have to be sold.”
He paused, looking at Duan Yongping's instantly tense face, and slowly uttered those words that were like a venomous barb: "Mr. Duan, you don't want to see these shares in my hands eventually fall into the hands of that second young master of the Li family in Hong Kong, or... those foreigners at Intel, do you?"
These words struck Duan Yongping like a heavy hammer! His face turned pale instantly.
PCCW and Intel each hold 20%, totaling 40%!
If Lu Yang's crucial 15% stake falls into the hands of either party, especially the second young master of the Li family... that party could become the de facto largest shareholder!
Even with agreements protecting the founding team, the combined power and trouble that major shareholders can create under the rules of the capital game are enough to keep him up at night, and the founding team's control will face an unprecedented and enormous threat!
"President Lu, you...you must be joking, right?" Duan Yongping's voice was somewhat hoarse as he tried to force a smile, but it looked worse than a grimace. "Everyone in the industry knows about your feud with that second young master of the Li family. How could you possibly sell your shares to him? Besides, BBK is the culmination of our national capital's hard work. Selling it to foreign capital would be like inviting a wolf into the house, giving outsiders an opportunity to take advantage. This...this goes against your consistent stance!"
"Standard?" Lu Yang chuckled ambiguously, as if he'd heard something amusing. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze scrutinizing Duan Yongping with a hint of amusement. "Mr. Duan, let's talk business. I, Lu Yang, am an investor. My goal in investing is to obtain a reasonable return. Now, I feel it's time to exit. My demand is simple: to sell my investments of the past few years, with interest, for a good price. As for who takes over… does it matter if it's Li Er Gongzi, Intel, or some other capital that's optimistic about BBK?"
He shrugged, his tone as casual as if discussing a trivial transaction: "It's just a market transaction. Whoever offers the higher price and whose terms better meet my expectations will naturally get the shares. What do you say, Mr. Duan?"
Duan Yongping's heart sank completely, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
Lu Yang's indifference and scheming were even more thorough than he had anticipated.
The other party didn't care about the ownership of BBK or the so-called "national capital" at all; all he cared about was maximizing profits! And I, on the contrary, have personally exposed my biggest weakness, the fatal flaw in the shareholding structure, to this ruthless hunter!
He was silent for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty, his voice filled with struggle and heaviness: "Mr. Lu... what if I personally, or rather the BBK team, were willing to take it over? You... name your price?" This was his last effort, trying to take control of this bomb in his own hands.
Lu Yang slowly shook his head, a faint, cruel smile still lingering on his lips: "I'm sorry, Mr. Duan. I can't offer you that price right now."
Duan Yongping's heart tightened suddenly.
Lu Yang's next words completely shattered his last shred of hope: "When it comes to equity transfers, you always have to compare offers from multiple sources to see who is more sincere, right? I've already had the news spread, and I believe that soon, interested buyers will come to us to discuss it. If Mr. Duan is really interested in taking over, he might as well prepare himself and wait for the specific price and conditions to come out before we talk again."
Duan Yongping's face drained of all color. He understood, he understood completely! Lu Yang was going to publicly "auction" his shares! He wanted to lure both Yingke and Intel, those two wolves, into bidding! No matter who ended up with the shares, it would sow the seeds of huge suspicion and conflict within the newly formed shareholder camp of BBK!
Li Zekai might think: Will Intel team up with Duan Yongping to pressure me?
Intel might be thinking: Will Li Zekai team up with Duan Yongping to dilute my value?
Duan Yongping was caught in the middle, having to guard against the new shareholders' joint attempt to seize power, and also guard against the two new shareholders' mutual suspicion and even sabotage!
Lu Yang's seemingly casual "compare three shops" was like a precise dagger coated with poison, designed to sow discord among the three parties and plunge them into internal strife from the very beginning of their cooperation!
This is clearly killing two birds with one stone! It not only cashes out at a high price, but also personally chisels open an irreparable crack in the ship that has just obtained new fuel for BBK!
“President Lu…” Duan Yongping’s voice became low and hoarse, carrying a sense of powerlessness after being completely seen through and schemed against, with a trace of unwilling struggle remaining.
Lu Yang stopped looking at him and turned his gaze back to the sunlit, shimmering sea outside the window, as if the ups and downs of the business world before him were not as worthy of attention as that seascape.
He waved his hand casually, his tone indifferent and devoid of any warmth:
"Mr. Duan is very busy, so I won't keep you any longer. Please go back. As for raising the money... please hurry up."
The order to leave has been issued.
Duan Yongping sat stiffly in the chair, feeling as if all the blood in his body had turned cold.
The warm air from the air conditioner in the study blew on him, but it only brought him a bone-chilling cold.
Looking at Lu Yang's indifferent and cold profile, he realized for the first time with such clarity that this man truly had no more feelings for him whatsoever. All his calculations and struggles seemed so pale and laughable in the face of the other's absolute strength and ruthless will.
He ultimately couldn't utter another word. He simply stood up slowly and heavily, his steps faltering, and turned to leave the study that had determined his and BBK's future. The heavy wooden door closed behind him. (End of Chapter)