Chapter 345 Isn’t it just bullying by taking advantage of your power?

For Hong Kong Island stock investors, the battle between Orient International and Jardine Matheson will only make them more excited.

Because there were too few shares in Hutchison Whampoa, not many investors were able to grab them in advance. As a result of the battle between Jardine Matheson and Pao Yu-kong, the number of investors who profited was relatively small.

But it is different for Hong Kong Swire Properties. It has so many outstanding shares and is the number one real estate company in Hong Kong Island, so many investors buy its shares.

Therefore, when the stock price soared to this level, many investors considered selling it.

"Grandma Liu, it's time to sell it. The price is already over 21, which is already a very high price."

"The two companies can't hold out for too long at this price. There are so many shares in Hong Kong Holdings, and it's easy to invest more than a billion. Which company has so much money?"

"If you wait any longer, if one party runs out of money or doesn't want to buy, the price will fall."

"Please believe our economic company's analysis. At this price, there is not much room for further increase."

In the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, a stockbroker was persuading a client.

"Well, should I sell Jardine Matheson or Oriental International?"

The elderly lady asked hesitantly.

"It must be Dongfang International. Not to mention the price is one dollar higher, you have 10,000 shares. You can get bonds for 10,000 shares and then go to Manhattan Bank to exchange them for US dollars."

"It's safer to hold US dollars than Hong Kong dollars."

The agent tried to persuade Granny Liu earnestly.

"Then let's sell it. 21 is not a low price. I'll do as you said and exchange it for bonds."

Grandma Liu hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to sell it.

Just like the broker said, this price is not low anymore. The stock price of Swire Properties has not seen such a big fluctuation for a long time.

I followed the trend and bought shares of Jardine Matheson back then. It’s not bad that they have appreciated so much.

When the agent heard that Granny Liu agreed to sell, a look of joy immediately appeared on his face.

Another 20,000 shares are in hand, and my bonus can increase again.

Among the four major exchanges in Hong Kong Island, there are countless such persuasions.

All major stock brokerage firms received commissions from Jardine Matheson and Orient International to pull stocks for each other.

But overall, China Eastern International has more advantages than Jardine Matheson, one is the high price, and the other is the US dollar exchange.

Although Orient International’s US dollar bonds require a minimum of 10,000 shares, stock brokers also have a way.

Find a few retail investors, then sign an agreement and divide the money in proportion.

This actually accelerated the pace of Oriental International's acquisitions.

In HSBC, in Shen Bi's office, he heard the phone ringing on the desk and picked up the call.

The call came from the Governor's Office, and Governor Murray MacLehose invited Shen Bi to attend his dinner.

Shen Bi put down the phone and shook his head.

As expected, it must be Jardine Matheson’s request for help.

But this time, he might lose face for the Governor of Hong Kong.

In the afternoon, Henry Keswick returned to the Connaught Building with an expressionless face.

"Mr. Henry, from the Hong Kong government?"

Seeing Henry Keswick's attitude, Newbijian was actually a little panicked.

"HSBC refused. Even when MacLehose came forward, Stephen Simpson refused to agree."

Henry Keswick spoke to Newbijian calmly at this moment.

Newbijian glanced at Henry Keswick and sighed silently in his heart.

This kind of calmness actually represents Henry Keswick's anger, just like a volcano about to erupt, calm on the surface, but actually turbulent in his heart.

But at this time, even if they are angry, they have to remain calm.

"Mr. Henry, I want to know why HSBC refused?"

Niubijian hesitated for a moment, but still opened his mouth to ask.

"Shen Bi said that this was a normal business behavior of the other party. The Hong Kong government and HSBC cannot easily get out of this situation because the Rockefeller family is also behind the other party."

"If the political forces come to an end, and the other side strikes back with the political forces of the United States, then it will not only be a political confrontation, but it may also attract financial capital from Wall Street, which will have an impact on the status of HSBC Hong Kong Island."

"During this period, Shen Bi also talked to Murray MacLehose alone for half an hour. In short, after the two of them finished talking, Murray MacLehose no longer supported us."

"I suspect Shen Bi knows more about the behind-the-scenes of this acquisition. They must have information that we don't know."

Henry Keswick snorted at this moment.

Newbijian shook his head helplessly. It was also possible that China Eastern International had already dealt with HSBC.

"Mr. Henry, we can't rely on HSBC now. We can only save ourselves."

"Do you have any good ideas?"

Henry Keswick looked at Newbijian and asked softly.

After listening to this, Newby thought for a while, and then said to Henry Keswick: "Mr. Henry, please forgive me for asking, what do you think of the positioning of the land?"

"Is it true that we must not lose the land?"

"If this is the case, then we must be determined to fight hard against the opponent."

"We can sell our properties at a low price and borrow money from banks at a high price. We can use the buildings under Hong Kong Land as collateral and use high interest rates to attract investors. We will definitely be able to borrow money from Standard Chartered and Bank of East Asia."

“Then I will use this money to fight the other party and buy up the shares of Hong Kong Land on the stock market.”

"In addition, we can also issue additional shares to other Jardine companies to dilute their shares."

"This way, we will take a multi-pronged approach and act like we are ready to fight to the bitter end."

“We can tell him clearly that even if we forcibly seize the land, what we will end up with is just a ruined company with many of its properties sold off.”

"In this way, the other party will definitely hesitate and may negotiate with us."

"Of course, this will cost us a lot. It's a lose-lose situation." Henry Keswick did not comment on this, but continued to ask, "So, do you have any other methods?"

"If Jardine Matheson can give up Hutchison Whampoa, then we can actually negotiate with them now."

"Both sides sit down to negotiate and there is no need to fight in the stock market."

"For us, the price we paid with the bank may not be much different than the price we paid to negotiate with them."

"The worst that can happen is that we lose some of our control over Hong Kong Land."

"The worst-case scenario is that we sell the property."

“But like Wharf, we can harvest cash.”

"Mr. Henry, I know that Jardine Matheson has been transferring its assets abroad over the years."

"So I'm not sure what you and your family are thinking. Do you want to do your best to keep the property, or do you want to negotiate with the other party like Wharf Holdings?"

"I think you need to clarify this with the company first."

Newbijian asked Henry Keswick seriously at this time.

After listening to this, Henry Keswick did not answer immediately, but fell into deep thought.

Go all out to protect the land?

Henry Keswick knew very well in his heart that it was unlikely.

Although Swire Properties is a cash cow, you can't ask them to risk their entire fortune to protect this company.

There was no way the Keswicks could do that.

Hong Kong Island is too dangerous. Jardine Matheson & Co. is well aware of what they did in the northern mainland. Once Hong Kong Island is taken back, the Keswick family is likely to lose everything and all their assets will be confiscated.

Otherwise, why would they move abroad over the years?

Isn't it just to transfer assets?

So Henry Keswick had actually rejected Newby's first proposal in his heart.

But peace talks?

Henry Keswick felt a little conflicted again.

He really wouldn't be willing to give up this cash cow, Jardine Matheson.

The most important thing is, once you give up on Jardine Matheson, you will first lose Wharf Holdings and then Jardine Matheson.

It was equivalent to Jardine Matheson being completely driven out of Hong Kong Island.

Emotionally, Henry Keswick couldn't accept it.

Seeing Henry Keswick standing there in silence, Newbijian did not speak anymore.

But he already had the answer in his heart.

Ever since the Keswick family gave up Wharf, Newby knew very well that the other party might let go of the land when necessary.

"In this way, I think we should make preparations for both scenarios."

"David, go contact that Oriental International and see their attitude first. Talk to them and see if the two sides can have a discussion."

"It's better to use this to buy some time."

"I will talk to banks like Standard Chartered Bank and Citibank to see if we can find funding."

"If in the end it is really impossible to do anything, then consider negotiating with the other party."

Henry Keswick thought about it and adopted a compromise plan.

It's too early to surrender now.

He felt that the property could still be saved.

After listening to this, Newbijian just nodded thoughtfully.

"Yes, Mr. Henry."

In Taiping Mountain, in the luxury house rented by Li Changhe, Jim quickly found Li Changhe again.

"Vic, the Kowloon Stock Exchange just called and said that Jardine Matheson wants to talk to us?"

"What do you think?"

Li Changhe smiled and said, "Jim, since they are willing to talk, then you can go and talk."

"Just remember, let's not compromise with each other."

"They can no longer find the source of funds. I just got the news that HSBC rejected their request for help."

Bao Yugang had already called Li Changhe just now, and Shen Bi rejected the Hong Kong government's request to help Jardine Matheson.

The Hong Kong government was persuaded by Shen Bi, so now Jardine Matheson is actually isolated and helpless, and has no choice but to negotiate.

"Also, you can scare them with the attitude of the mainland government in the north and tell them that the British Hong Kong cannot keep Hong Kong Island."

"As long as the Hong Kong Land remains in the hands of Jardine Matheson, it will definitely be taken away when the time comes."

"But we are different. We are not afraid of the mainland government. We have enough strength to keep the land."

"Believe me, Jardine Matheson is very scared. What they have always been worried about is that the mainland government will take back Hong Kong Island and confiscate all of Jardine Matheson's assets."

"Because they have already experienced it once, their assets have actually been transferred outward over the years."

"They are now actually making their last struggle."

When Jim heard this, he smiled confidently and said, "Then I understand. They are scared."

"That's right. Britain has weakened. They don't have as strong protection as the United States."

"Don't worry, Vic, I know how to talk."

It's just bullying by taking advantage of their power. They are good at this!

(End of this chapter)