In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

The fact that Citibank concealed the fact that Lin Haoran was the mastermind behind the acquisition gradually began to ferment among major forces in Japan.

An undercurrent of unrest surrounding Toyota's future control over the auto industry has quietly begun.

Lin Haoran, of course, had no idea about this.

He had no roots in Japan and had only been here for two months.

Therefore, he knew nothing about what was happening in the top circles of Japanese business.

It took Citibank only four days to secure a 20% stake for him.

However, on the third day, news came from Citibank that Toyota's trading volume had inexplicably increased, and that did not include those absorbed by Citibank.

Lin Haoran also specifically asked Galaxy Securities Department to keep an eye on Toyota's stock price. As a result, before the results of the US-Japan auto trade negotiations were announced, the stock price inexplicably began to rise and the trading volume also inexplicably began to increase.

This surprised Lin Haoran a little. Aren’t these investors said to be pessimistic about Japanese cars?

Could it be that someone already knew the outcome of the US-Japan auto trade negotiations in advance?

However, there are still two or three days until May 5st. If a Japanese consortium really knows about it, it is normal. After all, in addition to the government, major Japanese automobile companies should have representatives participating in the US-Japan automobile trade negotiations.

Besides, now that he has acquired 20% of Toyota's shares, it doesn't matter to him what Toyota's trading volume will be like before the negotiation results come out.

Lin Haoran never expected that his actions would put the Japanese consortium into crisis.

At noon on April 4, Lin Haoran and Huo Jianning arrived at Tokyo International Airport.

Not long after, a middle-aged foreigner walked towards the airport reception area.

This person is none other than Ma Shimin, President of Swire Properties Group.

After taking over Cheung Kong Properties, the strength of the Japanese branch of the Hong Kong Land Development Co., Ltd. increased greatly, and Ho Kin Ning's work became more arduous.

But after all, he is still inexperienced, and is definitely not as good as an experienced person like Ma Shimin in handling things.

Although Huo Jianning would call Ma Shimin for advice on some important matters, the business suddenly increased and a lot of work needed to be re-organized.

Therefore, Ma Shimin decided to take a week off to travel to Japan to guide his junior Huo Jianning.

Moreover, although the Japanese branch of the Hong Kong Land Group is now operated independently, it is ultimately a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Land Group. If it becomes stronger, it will also be beneficial to the parent company, the Hong Kong Land Group.

"Mr. Ma, long time no see!" Lin Haoran laughed and hugged Ma Shimin.

"Boss, it's been a long time. This is the first time you've been away from Hong Kong for such a long time since I took office at the Hong Kong Land Development." Ma Shimin said with some emotion.

"Anyway, I feel very relieved with you in Hong Kong!" Lin Haoran said with a smile, looking at the loyalty level of 92 above Ma Shimin's head.

If the loyalty level was only 60 or 70, Lin Haoran would definitely not feel at ease.

But with a loyalty level of over 90, what else does he have to worry about?
Lin Haoran's answer touched Ma Shimin a little. He felt that joining the Jardine Matheson Group was worthwhile to be trusted by his boss.

"Mr. Ma, welcome to Japan." Huo Jianning also smiled and shook hands with Ma Shimin.

Although before joining the Hong Kong Land Group, Ho Kin Ning and Ma Sai Ming were not familiar with each other.

However, since coming to Japan to serve as the head of the Japanese branch of the Swire Group, Fok Kin Ning would often contact Ma Shimin by phone to ask for advice on some difficult problems he encountered at work.

Therefore, the two are now quite familiar with each other.

After exchanging a few pleasantries at the airport, the few of them left the airport one after another in their cars and headed for Ginza Landmark Building.

Now that Ma Shimin has arrived, Lin Haoran feels more relieved.

Although he had great confidence in Huo Jianning's talent, he was still a little young after all, only 30 years old, and his biggest shortcoming was his lack of experience.

During his more than one year in the Hong Kong Electric Group, Fok Kin Ning did learn a lot, but the Hong Kong Electric Group is ultimately just a regional enterprise in Hong Kong, and he was just a middle-level manager in the Hong Kong Electric Group.

Now, coming to Japan to serve as the president of the Japanese branch of the Swire Group is a very big change and also a big challenge for Ho Kin Ning.

"Jianning, learn well from Mr. Ma. He used to be the executive director of Jardine Matheson. His ability is unquestionable. Now that he has come to Japan, you two must have a good communication during this week." Lin Haoran said with a smile in Huo Jianning's office.

"Yes, boss. I will definitely cherish this opportunity and ask Mr. Ma for more advice." Huo Jianning responded seriously.

He was naturally very aware that as the president of the Hong Kong Land Group and former executive director of Jardine Matheson, Ma Shimin not only possessed rich business experience and keen market insight, but also had the ability to navigate a complex business environment with ease, all of which he urgently needed to improve.

In the past, when he was working at the Hong Kong Electric Group in Hong Kong, he was taught by Chen Shoulin.

When he came to Japan, as the head of the branch, he was fighting alone, facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities.

Although he has the assistance of his deputy Zhao Xin, Zhao Xin's ability is ultimately mediocre, and he is helpless in the face of some complicated matters.

Although Ma Shimin can provide remote guidance, many things can only be understood better in person.

Lin Haoran nodded with satisfaction and continued, "The development of the Japanese branch of the Hong Kong Land Group is crucial. It involves a very important part of the globalization of the Hong Kong Land Group. My goal is to ensure that the overall strength of the Japanese branch of the Hong Kong Land Group in the future is not inferior to that of the Hong Kong headquarters!"

Lin Haoran has stressed this point many times with Huo Jianning and Ma Shimin. Now when facing the two of them at the same time, Lin Haoran stressed it again. Lin Haoran is full of confidence and determination in Japan's layout. After all, the upcoming Japanese economic bubble is the biggest opportunity he faces, so he must seize it.

After chatting with the two of them, Lin Haoran left the office. He would only disturb them if he stayed there.

Although the Japanese branch of the Hong Kong Land Development has taken over the business and assets of a large real estate company, Cheung Kong Properties, Lin Haoran is relieved now that Ma Shimin is here.

So, his attention then turned to Toyota Motor Corporation.

Tomorrow is May 5st. If nothing unexpected happens, Japan and the United States should reach an agreement.

Lin Haoran became more and more expectant.

In the evening, Lin Haoran hosted a welcome party for Ma Shimin in a luxurious restaurant and also arranged for him to stay in a luxury hotel near the Landmark Building.

In a blink of an eye, one night passed and it was May 5st.

This morning, the Japanese government officially announced that it had reached an agreement with the US government.

The agreement stipulates that Japan accepts "voluntary export restrictions" and can only export 168 million vehicles to the United States each year for a period of three years.

This is a concession Japan had no choice but to make in order to avoid more severe trade sanctions from the United States.

Seeing that Japan, its little brother, was so well behaved, the United States naturally knew not to push it too hard, so it set the time limit at three years instead of an unlimited period.

Moreover, the limited number of cars is much larger than the data at the beginning of the negotiations.

Last year, 1980, Japan exported a total of 191 million vehicles to the United States, which was also the year with the largest number of vehicles exported to the United States in history.

Now, after being limited to 168 million vehicles, it is only 23 vehicles less than last year.

Most importantly, the sanctions only last for three years.

This result can be said to be much better than everyone expected.

Before this, some pessimistic media even speculated that for the sake of America’s own interests, the United States would very likely completely ban Japanese cars from entering the US market.

But now, not only can we continue to export 168 million vehicles to the United States every year, but this agreement is only short-term, valid for only three years.

Although this is not great news for the Japanese auto market, it is a relief.

This export restriction can be said to be far below market expectations. When the news spread throughout Japan through the media, all practitioners and supporters of the Japanese automotive industry cheered.

They had been worried for nearly three months and could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Although Japan eventually had to bow its head when facing the United States, the United States also imposed sanctions.

But the final result was much better than expected.

Senior executives of Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Suzuki, Subaru, Daihatsu and others also breathed a sigh of relief.

This agreement has made them worried for so long, but now that the result is finally out, they naturally don’t have to worry anymore.

Although the export quantity is restricted, the impact on Japanese automobile companies is still great, especially for Honda, Toyota and Nissan, which have a very large export ratio.

But they were able to accept this influence after all, and the overall impact on the company was actually not that big.

What's more, as long as they can survive these three years, they will still be heroes three years later.

The three-year treaty restrictions made it clear to everyone that the reason the United States forced Japan to voluntarily limit the number of automobile exports to the United States was simply to overcome the difficult oil crisis.

As soon as the results came out, the stock prices of major Japanese automobile companies rose.

As Japan's largest automobile company, Toyota's stock price rebounded rapidly after the signing of the agreement, with the increase leading other automobile brands.

"Boss, the stock price is rising so fast. In just ten minutes, Toyota's stock price has risen by more than 10% compared to the final transaction price of the previous day. The trading volume in 10 minutes is more than the entire day's trading volume of the previous day!" In the office of Galaxy Securities Department, the person in charge reported to Lin Haoran while talking on the phone.

A 10% increase in 10 minutes?

It is indeed a bit exaggerated, but I don’t know how much it will eventually increase today.

Lin Haoran became more and more expectant.

He invested too much money in Toyota Motor's stock. Although Citibank helped him with the investment, he still had to pay it back eventually.

Therefore, how much he can ultimately earn from Toyota and how much the stock price rises are very crucial.

"Keep paying attention!" Lin Haoran ordered with a smile.

He knew very well that the rise in Toyota's stock price was not a matter of one or two days. It was a short-term rise that would last at least for a period of time. Although the subsequent increase would not be as crazy as the first day, it would still rise after all.

Therefore, he is not in a hurry to start selling today. (End of this chapter)