For the second time, he has become the "richest man in Taiwan". Even if he wants to keep a low profile, in the past few days, the richest man, Zhang Congyuan, has become the focus of attention because he has taken a fancy to the luxury house beside Sulfur River in Taipei. In the

Although Zhang Congyuan, chairman of Taiwanese Holley Industries, has been crowned "Taiwan's richest man" for a second time, he has been known as the "mysterious shoe king" for half his life. Not to mention that the Taiwanese media did not report much about him. Even his Yunlin folks were surprised by how he became "Taiwan's richest man".

became "Taiwan's richest man" for the second time. Even if he wants to keep a low profile, in the past few days, the richest man Zhang Congyuan has become the focus of attention when he has taken a fancy to a mansion beside Sulfur Creek in Taipei.

"Taiwan's richest man" Zhang Congyuan has taken a fancy to the luxury house on the side of the Sulfur River in Taipei

The luxury house on the side of the Sulfur River in Taipei - Mulanju Tower B

Last year, Huali Group (300979) was listed on the GEM of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and also listed its chairman Zhang Cong Yuan pushed in one fell swoop He became the "richest man in Taiwan". In the "2022 Forbes China Taiwan Rich List" released not long ago, Zhang Congyuan continued to be the "Taiwan's richest man" with a net worth of US$12.1 billion.

Huali Industrial, also known as Hongfu Industrial in Taiwan, is the second largest shoe manufacturer in the world. In 2021, Zhang Congyuan became the "richest man in Taiwan" overnight because his company was listed on the A-share GEM. Even though this is the second time he has ascended to the throne of the richest man this year, the island's media also calls him the "mysterious shoe king". Not much is known about his past fortune. This is not surprising. Even the folks in Yunlin were surprised that Zhang Congyuan became the "richest man in Taiwan."

became the richest man. No matter how low-key Zhang Congyuan is, he can no longer keep a low profile. Recently, he bought Tower B of Mulanju, a luxury building by the Sun River in Taipei, and became the focus of the real estate industry on the island.

According to reports, cadastral information shows that Tower B of Mulanju, a luxury building located on the Suan River branch of Taipei's Tamsui River, has been occupied by "Taiwan's richest man" Zhang Congyuan in one fell swoop. The arrival of the richest man will naturally "double the value" of surrounding properties. Recently, the "Liqi Tianmu" and "Quanyang Baiyue" launched in this land have attracted the attention of wealthy people.

In addition to Zhang Congyuan, the richest new buyer, wealthy families such as the CITIC Gu family, the Yimei Gao family, and the Yangde Group Li family are also buying property here. Mulanju, with a sulfur stream flowing by, is located on Tianmu West Road. It is a famous medieval residence. By the way, in addition to the beautiful surrounding environment, life is also very convenient. There are department stores such as Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, Takashimaya and SOGO in the area.

Zhang Congyuan, chairman of Huali Industrial and "Taiwan's richest man"

Zhang Congyuan, the low-key chairman of Huali Industrial and "Taiwan's richest man", is known as the "mysterious shoe king". As can be seen from last year's IPO prospectus, this is typical Family business.

Before the listing of Huali Group, Zhang Congyuan held 38.89% of the shares of Huali Industrial, and his wife Zhou Meiyue held 9.72% of the shares. The eldest son Zhang Zhibang, who serves as vice chairman, holds 19.45% of the shares; the eldest daughter Zhang Wenxin, who serves as deputy general manager, and the second son Zhang Yuwei both hold 14.58% of the shares. One family holds 97.23% of the shares.

Even after the company went public and increased capital, the Zhang Congyuan family’s shareholding was as high as 87%. At the time of writing, the share price of Huali Group was 76.14 yuan per share, with a total market value of 88.855 billion yuan. The ownership structure and high concentration of ownership also reflect from the side that Huali Industrial is the result of "family-connected" entrepreneurship. It also reflects the pragmatic style of the Zhang Congyuan family, stable operation, no fancy capital operations, and no introduction of strategic investment or private equity. capital.

When Huali Group IPO, the group had 43 holding subsidiaries, including 5 subsidiaries in mainland China, 16 Hong Kong subsidiaries, 18 Vietnamese subsidiaries, 1 Dominican subsidiary, and 1 There are subsidiaries in Myanmar, compared to only 2 companies in Taiwan Province of China. Judging from the layout, Zhang Congyuan’s investment focus is no longer on the island. It’s no wonder that Taiwan doesn’t know much about him.

Zhang Congyuan’s Dingshang in Chang’anli, Douliu, Yunlin County, Taiwan.

It is understood that Zhang Congyuan has two companies in Taiwan: Dingshang and Liangxing Shoes.

Yunlin was an important shoemaking town in Taiwan in the past. Hongfu Industrial, where Zhang Congyuan started, was originally registered in Chang'anli, Yunlin Industrial Zone. Last year, Zhang Congyuan ascended to the throne of "Taiwan's richest man". The media visited more than 10 traditional old stores near Douliu Railway Station. Although many of them are shoe manufacturers, no one had heard of the "Hongfu" company.

What’s interesting is that even the Yunlin County Government’s Construction Management Office and Commercial Department and other public authorities have only “unclear impressions” of Zhang Congyuan, who started out in Yunlin, and can become the richest man. They were surprised, and some of them had never even heard of his name.

Zhang Congyuan is 74 years old this year. His OEM brands include Nike, Puma, Vans, canvas shoes CONVERSE, etc. His factories in mainland China are located in Guangdong, Fujian and Henan, and he has also invested in factories in Vietnam, Dominica, and Myanmar. In mainland China, the name "Huali Industrial" is mostly used, but in Vietnam, the company name "Hongfu" is used. There are many shoemaking bases, many OEM brands, and many registered group companies with 150,000 employees.

However, when the media visited the office address of Yunlin Dingxing, it was only an old bungalow factory located on the side of the provincial road, and it was only for purchasing. The grandma across the street knew the origin. She said that this company existed before she got married. It was originally located in Citong Township, Yunlin County, and later moved here. She also revealed that Zhang Congyuan is very approachable and enthusiastic about public welfare. "As long as he knows who is in trouble, he will help."

In fact, when Forbes made the list, it only used the market value of Zhang Congyuan's family's listed companies and did not Roughly estimate the net worth of a wealthy person by subtracting known debts from assets. For example, when introducing "Taiwan's richest man" Zhang Congyuan, Forbes said that "he shares his wealth with his family," which should also be derived from the analysis of the shareholding structure of Huali Group.

Yunlin folks are so surprised. How did Zhang Congyuan become the richest man in Taiwan?

Zhang Congyuan

Zhang Congyuan became the "richest man in Taiwan". He is a low-key man and has appeared in more media pages in the past year. However, he has always been low-key and somewhat mysterious. So how did he succeed?

Last year, Zhang Congyuan also gave back to Yunlin Township and donated money to Raoping Elementary School in Yutong Township, Yunlin County to help the school purchase 200 computer equipment. During the epidemic, students had to take online classes. Principal Xie Shumei said: This funding is like a "timely rain".

Zhang Congyuan has set up a factory in Raoping Community, Yutong Township, Yunlin County for decades. Although he has shifted his business focus to the mainland and overseas, many of the residents of Raoping Community, Yutong Township, are his old acquaintances, and some are his old acquaintances. Shao was an employee of his former factory.

Wealth never forgets the love of family, and so do many rich people. It is understood that Zhang Congyuan first worked in a shoe factory in Goubali, Douliu City, Yunlin County, and later started his own business in Raoping Community, Yutong Township, Yunlin County. The Liangxing Dexie Shoe Company here was his starting factory. .

Zhang Congyuan’s Liangxing Dexie Shoe Company backdoor

Zhang Congyuan’s Liangxing Dexie Shoe Company covers an area of ​​one hectare. At its peak more than 30 years ago, it had 300 young employees. The young villagers in Raoping, Huotong Township, almost It's his employee. In the 1990s, Zhang Congyuan went to Zhongshan, Guangdong to set up a factory, founded Huali Industrial and set up the group headquarters, and the focus of his business also shifted from Taiwan.

Ms. Gao, who used to be an employee under him, said that when she joined the factory 30 years ago, the chairman was a man named Ma, and Zhang Congyuan was the general manager. Zhang Congyuan is very friendly and has no airs. He dines with the employees in the factory.Ms. Gao said that the factory benefits were good at that time. In addition to a company dinner once a month, there were also employee trips once or twice a year. In the impression, Mr. Zhang often participated in activities with employees.

Liangxing Dexie Shoe Company is surrounded by rice fields and vegetable fields. Many Yunlin folks never imagined that Zhang would one day be listed as the "richest man in Taiwan".

At present, Dingshihang, Liangxing and Dexie Shoe Company have become purchasing units. There was an old employee who was unwilling to go to the Zhongshan Factory in Guangdong, so Zhang Congyuan asked him to stay and look after the old factory building.

Most of the old employees who worked in the factory are now over 50 or 60 years old. Since Zhang Congyuan went to the mainland to set up a factory, he has rarely had the opportunity to see his former "old employer", let alone know the company's subsequent operations. Condition. They were also surprised when Zhang Congyuan became the richest man last year. In fact, after the media reporters saw it on the spot, they couldn't imagine that the richest man in Taiwan would emerge from the small village of Yunlin.

Zhongshan Huali Industrial

Clothing and footwear industry are traditional industries in the eyes of many people, and some people look down upon them as "sunset industries". However, the "mysterious shoe king" Zhang Congyuan can suppress all the wealthy families and ascend to the throne. Ascend to the throne of the richest man.

There are many well-known companies in Taiwan that do OEM, such as TSMC, Hon Hai, etc., but their wealth is not as good as Zhang Congyuan. In fact, among the 50 richest people in Taiwan announced by Forbes, many are the bosses of giant shoe manufacturing companies, and some have become rich by focusing on one industry or one brand.

" As long as you keep walking towards the sun, the shadow will always fall behind you. " This is what the owner of " Sunrider " Chen Defu , whose ancestral home is in Chiayi County, Taiwan, China, said to his children and grandchildren. Having been poor since childhood, he gained a net worth of US$2.45 billion with the "Sunrider" brand; however, TSMC founder Zhang Zhongmou only had a net worth of US$2.6 billion on the list this year.

"Shoe King" Baocheng CEO Cai Peijun

If Huali Group had not been listed on the GEM, Cai Qirui and Cai Qijian's brothers Baocheng and Yue Yuen may be the more well-known leaders in the shoe industry, with " Known as the "Shoe King". On the 2022 Forbes China Taiwan Rich List, the Tsai Chi-rui family has a net worth of US$795 million.

Nowadays, there are not many shoe giants like Zhang Congyuan who are still working on the front line. Most of the Taiwanese shoe companies are already owned by second generation owners. Cai Peijun, the eldest daughter of Cai Qirui and the "Princess of Baocheng", has been the CEO of Baocheng for many years.

Cai Qirui was born in Changhua in 1940. He was a teacher in his early years. Later, the creative works of small animal masks made by Mr. Cai attracted shoe dealers. Later, after receiving orders from brands such as Adidas, he embarked on the road of OEM.

In addition to Zhang Congyuan and Cai Qirui, Wang Qiuxiong, the founder of Fengtai, known as the "Two Heroes of the Shoe Industry" among Taiwanese companies, is also an invisible rich man. Fengtai, owned by Wang Qiuxiong's family, was founded in 1971. It first made its fortune in Douliu, Yunlin, starting with the production of canvas shoes. Later, in 1976, Fengtai met Knight, the founder of NIKE, and Fengtai became NIKE's first brand in Asia. A foundry.

Zhang Congyuan also set up a factory in Douliu. Although he started his business later than Cai Qirui and Wang Qiuxiong, today's Huali (Hongfu) is not only the second largest shoe OEM in the world, but also the largest canvas shoe OEM. He was the first to get there. , the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead.

In the past, Yunlin and Changhua had a sufficient labor force in the surrounding areas. Because of this, they once became Taiwan's major shoemaking towns. Baocheng, Fengtai, and Huali all originated here. However, by the mid-to-late 1980s, many It has become a trend for shoe factories to invest in mainland China, and they have become the first new force in mainland China to enter the global shoe industry. Zhang Congyuan is a member of this industry transfer trend and has achieved unprecedented success.

Copyright statement: The copyright of articles and pictures published by "Yibao Shuo" belongs to the author and/or the relevant rights holders. No website or print media may reproduce them without the separate authorization of the author and/or the relevant rights holders.