Growth-type Super Rich-Chapter 472 - 296: I Can Give You, I Can Take Away

Chapter 472: Chapter 296: I Can Give You, I Can Take Away

Finally, Lee Jae-yong made a decision, raised his head, and walked straight ahead.

Seeing his son in this demeanor, Lee Kun-hee’s expression changed instantly.

Before the meeting started, he had already advised Lee Jae-yong to abstain from the election, in order to prevent irreparable offense against Gu Bai, realizing the futility of unnecessary efforts against an already destined outcome.

But given his understanding of Lee Jae-yong, he already knew his decision.

Indeed, after Lee Jae-yong took to the stage, he held the microphone, scanned the meeting hall, and slowly delivered his speech. Though not grandiose, his words were resonant and powerful!

"Everyone has seen my contributions to the group over the years. I won’t elaborate further. After I become chairman, the group will reach new heights! Moreover, the shareholders and directors will gain even more returns, thank you all."

After finishing this brief statement, Lee Jae-yong bowed deeply and stepped back.

Gu Bai watched Lee Jae-yong on stage, squinting slightly, then turned his head towards Lee Kun-hee and said, "Chairman Li, your tactics are quite something, offering me all the respect upfront but acting according to your own agenda in the background.

To be honest, you could have spared the trouble. With your esteem in the Samsung Group, selecting a chairman successor should be a piece of cake, shouldn’t it?"

Hearing Gu Bai’s cold remarks, Lee Kun-hee was shocked, quickly explaining, "Mr. Gu, please don’t misunderstand. Regardless of how the election turns out, I will personally recommend Boo-jin as the group chairman."

At this point, Gu Bai was too weary to listen further.

He simply waved his hand and said, "No need. Since you’ve gone to such lengths, I’m curious to see how Jae-yong will break the situation. If he truly piques my interest, then why shouldn’t he become the chairman?"

The host, unaware of the exchange below, promptly proceeded with the next phase after Lee Jae-yong and Lee Boo-jin’s campaign declarations.

"Next, we will conduct a real-name vote by the company executives and directors."

"This chairman election follows a voting system. There are a total of 441 executives and directors present, with the option to abstain. Whoever receives the majority wins the election. Let’s begin with the subsidiary company executives voting."

Upon finishing, the secretary went on stage, and a large chart appeared on the projection screen.

"Samsung Life Insurance Company president representative votes, Lee Jae-yong!"

Samsung Life Insurance’s president Kwon Gu-hee stood up and cast his vote, unsurprisingly for Lee Jae-yong.

Instantly, Kwon Gu-hee’s photo appeared on the large projection screen, placed under Lee Jae-yong’s massive image.

With Kwon Gu-hee’s vote, the election for the future highest leader of Samsung officially commenced.

"Samsung SDS Company president representative votes, Lee Jae-yong!"

"Samsung Corning Company’s president representative votes, Lee Jae-yong!"

"Samsung SDI Company president representative votes, Lee Jae-yong!"

"Samsung Network Company president representative votes, Lee Jae-yong!"

Predictably, representatives from all subsidiaries chose Lee Jae-yong.

The Samsung Group has a total of 166 subsidiaries, and all the subsidiary representatives were present. The voting by subsidiary representatives alone took over an hour. Out of 166 representatives, less than 20 voted for Lee Boo-jin, even after all her networking efforts.

Looking at his overwhelming lead in the election results, Lee Jae-yong felt no joy.

His attention was constantly on Gu Bai, who was sitting at the chairman’s seat, chatting with Clayville Kirk Morgan. Because he knew that unless this man spoke, even if he won all the votes, he still couldn’t become chairman.

He was gambling now.

Gambling that Gu Bai wouldn’t defy the will of the entire Samsung Group to forcibly alter the election results. As long as he succeeded in the election, it would all be set in stone, and he would seek to gain Gu Bai’s trust through other means.

The thought of bypassing Gu Bai to take control of Samsung was an idea neither he nor his father, Lee Kun-hee, would entertain.

However, at this moment, Gu Bai was joking and chatting joyfully with Clayville Kirk Morgan and Roland Rockefeller, seemingly dismissing the voting process for chairman.

"Next, it’s time for the group’s headquarters executives and directors to vote."

"The group executive president Wen Yongxu abstains."

"The group finance minister Jin Nanhe votes, Lee Jae-yong!"

"The group CEO Ronnie MacReynolds abstains."

Compared to the overt support from various subsidiary representatives, the headquarters executives were much more cautious, having sensed the undercurrents in this election. Most opted to abstain.

Just the voting process alone took nearly three hours.

Lee Jae-yong led with an overwhelming margin of 265 to 61.

"Now, it’s time for the highest board of directors’ permanent members Gu Bai, Clayville Kirk Morgan, Roland Rockefeller, and Lee Kun-hee to vote."

"Each of the four highest permanent members holds multiple votes, each with the right to cast 100 votes."

No one questioned the rights of the permanent members; they are indeed the primary beneficiaries of the chairman’s position, and having more authority than regular directors and executives is perfectly normal.

"Chairman Lee Kun-hee, please start."

Gu Bai, with a smile, addressed Lee Kun-hee.

Although unsure of Gu Bai’s intent, Lee Kun-hee could only stand up with a smile and say, "I vote for Boo-jin."