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John Madden paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Mr. Lin, what's the matter?"

His relationship with this young Hong Kong tycoon was only ordinary. Although they were both top entrepreneurs in Hong Kong, they did not have a deep friendship.

Lin Haoran is a newly rich Chinese businessman, while he is an old British businessman; there is always an invisible barrier between the two.

Although their subsidiaries have some collaborations, none of them require the big bosses to personally intervene.

In fact, there is a special relationship between the two parties, namely that Hongkong Land Group is also one of the major shareholders of Wheelock & Co.

Back then, Jardine Matheson coveted Wheelock & Co. and almost reached an acquisition agreement with John Madden.

However, at the last minute, Huifeng Bank intervened, ultimately causing the deal to fall through.

Jardine Matheson never gave up and continued to secretly acquire shares through the market. By 1980, it held 3300 million A shares of Wheelock & Co., accounting for 11.8% of Wheelock's shares. It was the third largest shareholder of Wheelock & Co., after the Zhang Yuliang family and the Madden family.

Previously, when Niu Bijian implemented the Jardine Matheson cross-shareholding plan with Hongkong Land, he transferred all the Wheelock and Company shares held by Jardine Matheson to Hongkong Land.

Therefore, the 11.8% stake in Wheelock Properties remains in the hands of Hongkong Land Group.

However, due to Wheelock's AB share structure, these 3300 million shares actually account for 11.8% of the equity, but the voting rights are not many.

Normally, Hongkong Land Group never participates in the actual operation and management of Wheelock & Co., so there is almost no interaction between the two parties.

Lin Haoran's sudden phone call, requesting a private meeting, was definitely not an ordinary matter.

Especially at this critical juncture.

Hong Kong real estate is in crisis. Lin Haoran just gave a speech on television last night, and now he's asking to meet with him again. The implications of this are hard not to think about.

"We'll talk when we meet, it just depends on when Mr. John is free," Lin Haoran said cheerfully on the other end of the phone.

Upon hearing this, John Madden pondered for a moment and then said, "I wonder if Mr. Lin is free now? If he is, you can come to my house now. Your house on Shi Xun Road is not far from mine."

He has to accompany his son to Kai Tak International Airport in Hong Kong tomorrow morning, then go back to the company to deal with some problems, and in the afternoon he has to meet with the legal team to discuss how to delay the final payment from Denmark.

In other words, he will be completely unavailable all day tomorrow.

It was still early, and he glanced at the clock in his study; it was only eight o'clock in the evening.

Lin Haoran was clearly surprised by John Madden's directness. He paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go over now."

After hanging up the phone, John Madden stood up and walked to the window to gather his thoughts.

He instructed the housekeeper to prepare tea and snacks, then sat on the sofa in the living room, waiting for Lin Haoran's arrival.

Both Shek Shun Road and Plantation Road are located on Victoria Peak and are indeed not far apart; in fact, the distance between the two roads is less than one kilometer.

Less than ten minutes later, the butler came in to announce that Mr. Lin had arrived.

Li Weiguo opened the car door for Lin Haoran, stepped out of the Rolls-Royce, and looked up at the villa nestled among the green trees.

It is indeed not far from his home, but the style is completely different.

The villas at Shi Xun Daolin Mansion are modern and minimalist, while this one on Plantation Road is in the classic English style, with red bricks and white windows, exuding the restraint of an old-fashioned aristocrat.

The butler was already waiting at the door and respectfully led him inside.

Walking down the corridor, in the living room, John Madden had already stood up. He was wearing a dark gray suit and his tie was tied meticulously. Although he was over sixty, he still maintained the demeanor of an English gentleman.

“Mr. Lin, welcome.” John Madden extended his hand.

Lin Haoran grasped his hand and said with a smile, "Mr. Madden, I'm sorry to bother you so late in visiting. I'm truly sorry."

John Madden waved his hand: "Not at all, Mr. Lin must have something important to discuss since he came here so late. Why don't we go to the study to talk?"

Lin Haoran nodded and followed John Ma up to the second floor.

The study is large, with bookshelves on three walls, filled with all kinds of books and documents.

In front of the floor-to-ceiling window was a huge mahogany desk, with several documents spread out on it and a fountain pen that hadn't been capped yet.

A globe stood in the corner, next to a yellowed world map.

Everything here exudes the air of an old-fashioned businessman.

John Madden invited Lin Haoran to sit on the sofa, while he sat opposite him.

Then, a waiter brought tea, snacks, and coffee, and then quietly withdrew and gently closed the door.

The study fell silent, with only the grandfather clock in the corner ticking.

Lin Haoran picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and found it to be a fine Ceylon black tea, with a mellow taste and a long aftertaste.

John Madden didn't rush to speak, but calmly looked at the young man in front of him.

Even though he was very curious about what the other party wanted to see him about, he knew that in this situation, whoever spoke first would lose the initiative.

Lin Haoran put down his teacup, looked at John Madden, and roughly guessed what the other man was thinking.

However, he didn't mind and said, "I heard that Mr. Madden hasn't been doing very well lately?"

John Madden was taken aback, but finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Mr. Lin, please just tell me what it is."

Lin Haoran smiled and stopped beating around the bush: "Mr. Madden, I heard that Wheelock has recently encountered some difficulties. I would like to ask if there is anything you can do to help."

John Madden's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

He picked up his coffee cup, took a small sip, and said slowly, "I appreciate Mr. Lin's kindness. Although Wheelock is facing some difficulties, they are still within a manageable range."

Lin Haoran nodded, his gaze falling on the open documents on the desk.

Although the specific details are not clearly visible, the words "Denmark," "shipyard," and "deferred payment" are still faintly discernible.

“Mr. Madden, if I’m not mistaken, you must be worried about those two giant ships, right?” Lin Haoran asked bluntly.

John Madden's hand paused slightly.

He had never made this public, so how could Lin Haoran know?
Although Hongkong Land is a shareholder of Wheelock, it does not actually participate in the group's management.

“Mr. Lin, you have excellent connections.” John Madden’s voice was a little strained.

Lin Haoran laughed and said, "Mr. Madden, in the business world, information is money. The matter of these two ships has long been an open secret in the shipping industry, but no one wants to say it out loud."

He knew about this because of the information provided by Bao Yugang.

Although he could find out if he wanted to, he wasn't particularly interested in Wheelock and Company, so he naturally wouldn't spend a lot of money to investigate these things.

However, Bao Yugang, who knew Wheelock very well, had obviously prepared this information very thoroughly.

Before Lin Haoran arrived, he had already thoroughly investigated Wheelock's financial situation.

John Madden fell silent.

He knew Lin Haoran was telling the truth.

These two ships have become his biggest worry.

If not handled properly, Wheelock's financial statements will look even worse, and the shareholders' pressure to resign will intensify.

“Mr. Madden, if I’m not mistaken, you’re trying to find a way to delay the final payment from Denmark?” Lin Haoran continued.

John Madden's expression changed.

He hadn't even told his closest relatives about this, so how could Lin Haoran know?
The shareholder representatives from Hongkong Land Group did not get involved in this matter.

“Mr. Lin, what exactly are you trying to say?” John Madden’s voice was a little hoarse.

Lin Haoran put down his teacup and looked at him seriously: "Mr. Madden, I want to say that your situation is worse than I expected. Those two ships are worth more than 400 million US dollars, which is more than 2.5 billion Hong Kong dollars."

As far as I know, besides the 50% prepayment, Wheelock still owes the Danish shipyard more than $200 million.

Given Wheelock's current financial situation, they could probably raise this money, but doing so would cause cash flow problems.

John Madden gripped the sofa armrests tightly.

He knew Lin Haoran was telling the truth. These two ships had become his biggest headache lately.

Normally, if the Hong Kong real estate industry doesn't face a crisis, then selling off some of his properties to raise this money would be an easy task.

But now, the real estate industry has collapsed, and those properties that were once valuable can no longer fetch a good price.

Even if they manage to sell, the price will be drastically reduced by opportunistic buyers.

Raising over a billion Hong Kong dollars is not as simple as selling a single apartment.

Although Wheelock Properties owns a number of properties, most of them are office buildings and shopping malls. The transaction cycle for such large properties is inherently long, especially given the current market conditions.

Even if he were willing to sell at a low price, he wouldn't be able to find a buyer anytime soon.

Moreover, the Zhang family and other shareholders absolutely disagreed with him selling the group's properties at a low price when the real estate market was cooling down.

They will only use this opportunity to attack the Madden family, make him a scapegoat, and force him to step down.

When Wheelock was at its peak, the Zhang Yuliang family would naturally coexist peacefully with it, since everyone was making money anyway.

But now that Wheelock is in trouble, these shareholders naturally harbor resentment towards him.

These people are usually incredibly enthusiastic when it comes to distributing dividends, but now that problems have arisen, they just want to find someone to take the blame.

As for directly defaulting on a contract with a shipyard in Denmark?
That would mean that the 50% upfront investment would be lost, and the other party would also demand huge compensation.

Danish shipyards are not small companies; they hold a pivotal position in the international shipping industry.

If it defaults, Wheelock's reputation will be devastated, and it will never be able to regain its footing in the international market.

Another option is to sell the ships, or find someone to take over the two giant ships that are under construction.

However, the shipping industry is currently in a downturn, and shipping prices have plummeted. It is extremely difficult to find a suitable consortium to take over both the existing fleet and the two giant ships under construction.

John Madden did consider finding someone to take over, but after asking all his friends in the shipping industry, not a single person was willing to do so.

Paul Yugang wouldn't do it, Swire wouldn't do it, international peers wouldn't do it, and those Chinese businessmen certainly wouldn't.

Nobody in this market is willing to invest money in the shipping industry anymore.

John Madden was caught in a dilemma.

If Wheelock pays, it must first liquidate the group's fixed assets; if it doesn't, Wheelock's reputation will be damaged.

No matter which path you choose, it will be difficult.

Zhang Yuliang's family is waiting to see him make a fool of himself, to see him make a mistake, and to see him removed from his position as the head of the class.

As for taking out a loan, it's not out of the question, but Wheelock's debt ratio has already triggered the bank's warning line, making it highly unlikely that they will continue to take out loans.

John Madden had considered this approach, but the banks had already blocked Wheelock's loan quota.

Huifeng Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Hengsheng Bank...

He asked them one by one, and the answers were all similar: due to the severe depreciation of Wheelock's fixed assets in the market, the debt ratio had increased, and they could no longer lend money.

John Madden seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly looked at Lin Haoran seriously, saying solemnly, "Mr. Lin, you are the boss of Hengsheng Group, and even more so the boss of Hongkong Land Group, which is also one of the major shareholders of Wheelock and Company. We all have common interests."

I hope you can speak with Mr. Ho Sin Hang and ask Heng Sheng Group or Hui Feng Bank not to be too restrictive in granting loans to Wheelock & Co.

You should know that crises, whether in the shipping or real estate industries, are ultimately only temporary and will eventually recover, just like the period from 1977 to 1980.

After listening, Lin Haoran smiled slightly, leaned back on the sofa, and rested his body slightly.

“Mr. Madden, you misunderstand. I am not here today to discuss loans.”

John Madden's eyes narrowed and his brows furrowed slightly.

Not for a loan?

So what was his intention in coming to Wheelock's door late at night and finding out so much about the company?
Lin Haoran didn't rush to continue, but instead picked up his teacup and took another sip, seemingly savoring the aftertaste of the black tea.

After putting down his teacup, he slowly began to speak: "Mr. Madden, whether it's Hang Seng Bank or HSBC, tightening credit to Wheelock is not something I, Lin Haoran, can change with a single word."

This was a collective decision made by the bank's senior management based on risk control; it's a market rule. Although I am the owner of Hang Seng Group, I cannot break the rules.

He paused, looked directly at John Madden, and then changed the subject.

"However, rules are rigid, but people are flexible. Just because the banking route is blocked doesn't mean there aren't other ways."

John Madden's heart skipped a beat.

"What road, Mr. Lin?"

"It's very simple, Mr. John. Why don't you sell your shares in Tak Fung? At your age, you should be retiring. Why continue to struggle in this quagmire?"

Lin Haoran's voice was calm as still water, yet it was like a pebble thrown into John Madden's heart lake, stirring up a thousand ripples.

John Madden's expression changed instantly; he finally understood the other party's purpose.

It turns out that Lin Haoran had his eye on Wheelock & Co. and wanted to acquire it!
“Mr. Lin, you must be joking?” John Madden’s voice was a little hoarse. “Wayfung is the culmination of generations of my Madden family’s hard work. How could I…”

“Mr. Madden,” Lin Haoran interrupted him, his tone still calm, “I’m not joking. As far as I know, you almost sold Defeng & Co. six years ago. At that time, you almost reached an agreement with Jardine Matheson, but it ultimately fell through because of the intervention of Huifeng Bank.”

"Since you were willing to sell six years ago, why can't you sell now?"

Lin Haoran's voice was calm as water, yet every word was like a knife, precisely cutting through the psychological defenses that John Madden had deliberately maintained.

John Madden's expression froze.

That period of his past is the one he least wants to mention in his business career.

In 1976, Wheelock was in trouble and he did indeed reach a secret agreement with Jardine Matheson to hand over Wheelock.

However, Huifeng Bank did not want to see Wheelock & Co. acquired by Jardine Matheson, so it stirred up the situation by getting Hutchison International involved in the acquisition. In addition, it was rumored that Swire Group, the Nanyang Consortium, and Chinese companies were also interested in participating in the acquisition, which complicated the transaction.

Ultimately, the deal fell through after Huifeng Bank persuaded them and promised to provide Wheelock with some financial assistance.

“That’s different.” John Madden’s voice was a little hoarse. “Back then, it was due to circumstances…”

Lin Haoran's tone became even more sincere: "Isn't it the same now? Mr. Madden, six years ago you wanted to sell because Wheelock was poorly managed. How similar is Wheelock today to Wheelock six years ago?"

Lin Haoran's voice was calm and unhurried, yet it carried an undeniable power: "The same operational difficulties, the same financial pressure, the same shareholder pressure."

The only difference is that six years ago HSBC came to your rescue. Will HSBC rescue you again today?

These words were like a bucket of ice water, chilling John Madden to the bone.

He opened his mouth, but found himself speechless.

Six years ago, HSBC intervened, not because it was optimistic about the Madden family, but because it did not want to see Jardine Matheson become too powerful and disrupt the delicate balance among British-owned conglomerates in Hong Kong.

But now?

Huifeng Bank has become part of the Hengsheng Group and is no longer the British giant it once was.

Back then, HSBC was the flagship of British capital in Hong Kong, a financial empire that could wield immense influence.

With a single sentence from Sir Michael Sandberg, Jardine Matheson's acquisition attempt vanished, and Chinese capital, Swire, and the Nanyang conglomerate all retreated.

But now?

Today, although HSBC still maintains its independent operation status, its parent company is Hang Seng Group, which is owned by Lin Haoran.

what does this mean?
This means that if Lin Haoran wants to acquire Wheelock, HSBC will not only not intervene as it did six years ago, but will instead become his best support.

“Mr. Madden, as far as I know, none of your sons are interested in taking over the business. Your eldest son is obsessed with history and art, your second son is mediocre, and your youngest son wants to go to Australia to become a farmer.”

Lin Haoran's voice was calm as still water, yet it precisely struck at the sore spot that John Madden least wanted to face.

Even if you manage to keep Wheelock, who will you hand it over to in the future?

These words were like a knife, piercing John Madden's heart. (End of Chapter)