Reborn Tycoon Rise

Chapter 193 Battle for Hutchison Whampoa (2)

On the fourth day after Cheung Kong Holdings purchased Hutchison Whampoa shares, a piece of even more explosive news completely detonated the entire Hong Kong:

"Evergrande announced that it already holds 18.3% of Hutchison Whampoa's shares, and starting today, it will acquire all Hutchison Whampoa's common shares on the stock market at HK$10 per share, up to a maximum of 49.9%!"

Countless people are unable to sit still: a Chinese-funded tycoon has just taken over one of the four major foreign banks, but he has been challenged by another Chinese-owned company!

Isn't this civil unrest?

Isn’t this painful for Chinese capital and fast for British capital?

Countless reporters went to Xu Zhi's home and company to block people. After arriving at the company, more than 20 security guards who had been prepared forcibly separated the reporters. As soon as they got out of the car, a reporter loudly asked: "Sheng Xu, Mr. Li Jiacheng." We have acquired Hutchison Whampoa Company, and now you are involved and already own a large amount of equity. When did you start preparing to acquire Hutchison Whampoa Company?”

Xu Zhi did not answer directly. He walked to the door of the building accompanied by security guards, then turned around and replied: "Hutchison Whampoa Company is one of the top companies in Hong Kong. However, in recent years, due to long-term poor management, it has suffered serious losses. But I am quite optimistic about this company. At present, under the management of Hutchison Whampoa Taiban Weili, the company has begun to turn losses into profits. However, the biggest problem is that the debt is too heavy, so I am here to appeal to the board of directors of Hutchison Whampoa to increase financing. , Evergrande Company is willing to provide Hutchison Whampoa Company with financing of HK$1 billion to provide sufficient funds for the company's future development!"

"One billion Hong Kong dollars?" All the reporters immediately became excited. Xu Zhi's meaning was very clear. Providing financing is not a loan, but a private increase of shares in exchange. At present, Hutchison Whampoa's total shares are only 400 million shares. Even according to the constant The acquisition price of Da is HK$10 per share, and the financing of HK$1 billion is enough to obtain an additional 20% of the shares. Together with all the shares of Evergrande itself, it can acquire Hutchison Whampoa Company in an instant.

Another reporter asked: "Xu Sheng, some time ago you and Mr. Li Jiacheng teamed up to acquire Yingni, and now you are acquiring Hutchison Whampoa at the same time. Will this time be the same as last time? You two will acquire Hutchison Whampoa at the same time." Split?”

Xu Zhidao: "This time the situation is different. We are not aware of Mr. Li Jiacheng's actions. We at Evergrande also really want to acquire Hutchison Whampoa. We were already acquiring Hutchison Whampoa's shares as early as a year ago. , and at that time Li Jiacheng was still the major shareholder of Wharf.

A few months ago, in order to successfully acquire Hutchison Whampoa, I asked Mr. Shen Bi, HSBC's chief executive, about acquiring all the Hutchison shares held by HSBC at a premium of 50%, but was rejected. Originally, I thought HSBC would I was optimistic about Hutchison Whampoa's development in the long term, but I didn't expect that Mr. Shen Bi would sell Hutchison Whampoa shares to Mr. Li Jiacheng at a more favorable price! "

After hearing this, a reporter immediately asked: "Xu Sheng, Mr. Shen Bi did not choose to sell to you at a high price. Instead, he chose Li Jiacheng. Do you think there is any problem here?"

Xu Zhidao: "Buying and trading are free in this world. HSBC is unwilling to sell to me at a high price. This is an internal matter of HSBC. I have no right to interfere and I don't want to ask!"

All reporters immediately knew that they had got big news, especially reporters from some British newspapers. You must know that the Chinese were very happy these days because Chinese capital had acquired one of the four major foreign banks, but the British capital was quite angry.

Since Hutchison Whampoa was taken over by HSBC in 1974, Jardine Matheson, Swire Pacific, Wheelock, and even overseas consortiums were interested in taking over, but Shen Bi rejected all of them on the grounds that Hutchison Whampoa did not have the best time to sell.

Now the decision to sell it to Li Jiacheng was made in the absence of the directors of Jardine Matheson and Swire. (The Taipans of Jardine and Swire are all directors of HSBC)

But at this moment, it was revealed that someone had purchased it at a high price, and was directly rejected by Shen Bi without even reporting it to the board of directors. There might be something fishy about it!

Another reporter asked: "Xu Sheng, currently you and Mr. Li Jiacheng are both major shareholders of Hutchison Whampoa. How should we deal with this problem? Who will take over the operation of Hutchison Whampoa?"

Xu Zhidao: "I have not yet negotiated with Mr. Li Jiacheng on this matter. Hutchison Whampoa will hold a board meeting this morning. Sorry, everyone, I am going to Hutchison Building soon, so the interview here ends!"

"Xu Sheng..." Many reporters still had a lot of questions, but there were too many bodyguards and they were all blocked from the door. However, the big bosses would gather at Hutchison Building later. After everyone thought about it, they packed up immediately. Go to Hutchison Whampoa.

According to Hong Kong's company law, if you hold 16% of the company's shares, you can directly join the board of directors, obtain a director seat, and have 20% of the voting rights!

Li Jiacheng took over 22.65% from HSBC, and Xu Zhi owned 18.2%. The two directly became directors of Hutchison Whampoa!

When Xu Zhi and others arrived at Hutchison Whampoa, it was only 20 minutes before the board meeting started. Wei Li, Li Jiacheng and others had already arrived.

"Xu Sheng, I can't believe we haven't seen each other in a few months. We are going to have another big cooperation!" Li Jiacheng did not get nervous because Xu Zhi intended to acquire Hutchison Whampoa. Instead, he greeted him politely.

Xu Zhi said with a smile: "We are really destined to have a close relationship. We both had a crush on Jingzhou Yingni back then, and the same is true for Hutchison Whampoa now."

Li Jiacheng said: "Then we can only say that the heroes have the same view. Xiangjiang is just a small city, and its excellent assets are actually very limited. You and I both intend to expand, so it is normal for us to encounter each other."

Xu Zhi nodded and said, "Then how is Li Sheng going to solve this problem now?"

Li Jiacheng said: "Xu Sheng, Hutchison Whampoa is not Yingni. It is impossible to split it up like last time. Xu Sheng's main business is not real estate, nor is it a traditional industry, and Xu Sheng is still young. It is light and difficult to control a company as big as Hutchison Whampoa.

Cheung Kong Holdings has been operating real estate for more than 20 years. If we cooperate with Hutchison Whampoa's huge real estate, we will definitely be able to maximize the benefits for all Hutchison Whampoa's shareholders. What does Xu Sheng think? "

"That's indeed a good thing, but I still can't agree." Xu Zhi smiled and refused.

If you are just investing, this is indeed the best way. Li Jiacheng started running real estate in 1959. In just 20 years, his property holdings reached 14 million square feet, surpassing Land and becoming the largest landowner in Hong Kong.

At the same time, Cheung Kong Holdings also began to actively participate in auctions in Central and other places, inserting a sharp blade into Land's headquarters. In just 10 years, the scale of Cheung Kong Holdings will exceed Land's. Hutchison Whampoa, due to internal management chaos and lack of funds, has been in the original history. In just a few years, Hutchison Whampoa was revived by Li Ka-shing. Its market value increased from HK$3.87 billion in 1980 to HK$9.85 billion in 1984, and its profits also increased from HK$411 million to HK$1.167 billion, surpassing Jardine Matheson and Land. It has become the third largest listed company on the Hong Kong stock market, second only to HSBC and Hang Seng Bank.

Unfortunately, Xu Zhi is not just for investment.

Li Jiacheng frowned and said, "Xu Sheng, if you and I fight, we will both lose, and there is no benefit in doing so!"

Xu Zhidao: "In this case, I can buy the Hutchison Whampoa shares held by Li Sheng at my current price. Li Sheng can make hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars in profits from each purchase and exit!"

Li Jiacheng shook his head and said: "HSBC and I have already reached an agreement, and it is impossible to sell it!"

Xu Zhi also smiled and said: "Then we can only lose out!"

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