Hong Kong 1980: The Savage Era

Chapter 383 384 [Are we beggars?! ]

Luo Qihong hesitated for a moment and said, "I want to take over half of the Jardine Matheson Group."

"Haha!! Young people are full of courage. They are different from us old people who retreat when faced with a little problem." Cheng Yutong laughed heartily, but there was some regret in his tone.

That is the Hong Kong Land Development, the tallest mountain in the Hong Kong real estate industry.

"I won't know whether I will retreat until the very end." Luo Qihong watched the birds flying away in the distance.

"Ah Hong, I have high hopes for you. You will definitely not be like us." Cheng Yutong patted Luo Qihong's shoulder earnestly.

Luo Qihong knew that Cheng Yutong and his group of predecessors all attached great importance to the word "cooperation". In their opinion, there was no need to completely break off relations with the Hutchison Whampoa and the Keswick family. Perhaps there would be opportunities for cooperation in the future.

But in Luo Qihong's view, today's business environment has changed. It is different from what it was more than a decade ago. As long as there are huge benefits, all grudges can be put aside.

"Uncle Tong, don't say that. It makes me feel pressured." Luo Qihong said with a smile.

Zheng Jiachun suddenly interrupted and asked, "Ah Hong, how about I help you?"

Luo Qihong became interested. "How do you want to help me, Brother Chun?"

"To be honest, I am interested in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Attacking the Keswick family's banner will definitely have some effect. Moreover, the Hutchison Whampoa only holds 34.5% of the shares of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel," Zheng Jiachun explained.

Luo Qihong felt that Zheng Jiachun was a bit cunning and was taking advantage rather than helping.

"Brother Chun, you know, I have a partner. I have to go back and discuss with Huang Tingfang before I can answer you." Luo Qihong said.

Of course, Zheng Jiachun could also launch an acquisition of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel without consent, but this would make Luo Qihong and Huang Tingfang very unhappy, and even make them enemies.

"Okay, I'll wait for your reply."

"Ah Hong, there's no need to force this business. I just want to help you, not to take advantage of you or rob you." Cheng Yutong said. He didn't want to get involved in this matter, but he couldn't resist Zheng Jiachun's persuasion.

"I know. Actually, I also want to acquire the Swire Group and then split it up. I have already set my sights on the big hotel group. A Mandarin Oriental Hotel would just be the icing on the cake. I might as well give it to you. However, Huang Tingfang may not agree." Luo Qihong said.

"Ah Hong, why don't you ask Huang Tingfang to come out so I can talk to him." Zheng Jiachun further said.

Luo Qihong thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll make an appointment with Huang Tingfang."

After the game, Luo Qihong called Huang Tingfang and asked him to come out for a chat.

"Mr. Huang, what do you think?" Luo Qihong said with a smile.

"Mr. Luo, to be honest, Mr. Zheng seems to be taking advantage of the situation. I am also interested in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. I mentioned this when we were dividing the local assets." Huang Tingfang's face looked normal, but his tone was a little cold.

"Simon Keswick has already asked us to negotiate. I wonder if the acquisition will go smoothly. If New World Development and Wheelock join in, it will also be beneficial to us." Luo Qihong tried to persuade.

"What if the negotiations don't go well? What if our acquisition is successful? How should the assets be distributed?" Huang Tingfang still held great hope.

"Since Mr. Huang doesn't agree, then I will refuse Uncle Tong." Luo Qihong said in embarrassment.

"Mr. Luo, I know about your relationship with Mr. Zheng, but this is a big business and there is no room for too many personal relationships." Huang Tingfang expressed his dissatisfaction.

"Okay, let's leave it at that. Let's talk about how to deal with Simon Keswick." Luo Qihong quickly changed the subject to avoid getting into trouble.

"I feel the same way about what Luo Sheng said just now about the failed acquisition." Huang Tingfang said, "Jardine Strategy has mobilized funds from all over. Although those foreign shareholders seem to be waiting and watching, they will still support them. It is unlikely that they will support us."

"So Mr. Huang means we should stop while we are ahead?" Luo Qihong smiled. "We can stop while we are ahead, but what we stop at is a big deal." Huang Tingfang said with a pursed mouth.

"Mr. Huang, stop playing tricks and be direct," Luo Qihong said.

"The trading square must be given to us. Do you want to give us some extra Luosheng?" Huang Tingfang said.

Luo Qihong laughed and said, "Simon Keswick will definitely not agree, but I still want to add one thing, the high-end residential buildings and several plots of land in the Mid-Levels owned by the Hong Kong Land Company. What do you think, Mr. Huang?"

"Very good. Since this is our bottom line, what else do you want? I think the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is good, and there is also the Pak Pik Shan luxury residential area on Tai Tam Road in Hong Kong Island."

The Baibishan luxury residential area is a cooperative project between Sino Real Estate and Hongkong Land. Construction began in 81 and is now basically completed.

“Haha!! If Mr. Huang hadn’t told me, I would have forgotten that Sun Hung Kai Properties and Swire Properties had cooperated before. Now we have a sure win.” Luo Qihong said.

"There's no such thing as a sure win. I just have a greater chance of success." Huang Tingfang said modestly, not caring about Luo Qihong's sarcasm.

Huang Tingfang has been doing business for many years and has dealt with many foreigners, so he is very familiar with their habits.

Foreigners are not merciful. When it comes to acquisitions, they are more ruthless than strangers. Moreover, there has always been a gap between Chinese and foreigners.

Therefore, Huang Tingfang had no psychological barriers to taking action against the Jardine Matheson Group.

The acquisition is being negotiated, but the acquisition has not stopped and has become more intense.

Everyone wants to gain more bargaining chips before the negotiation, especially Huang Tingfang.

Luo Qihong conveyed Huang Tingfang's intention to Zheng Yutong and his son. Since Huang Tingfang disagreed, there was no need for the meeting.

Cheng Yutong expressed his understanding, but Cheng Jiachun's reaction was a bit strong. He still wanted to take over the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, but was suppressed by Cheng Yutong.

A room at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel

Simon Keswick had a large table of dishes prepared, arranged entirely according to Chinese custom.

After a few drinks, Keswick got down to business.

"Mr. Huang, Mr. Luo, what conditions do you want to stop?"

Luo Qihong and Huang Tingfang looked at each other, and then asked their subordinates to hand the documents to the senior management of Jardine Matheson.

"All of our conditions are in there. Please take a look first, Mr. Simon."

Snapped!
Simon Keswick rudely closed the document and said in a deep voice, "Impossible! You want too much. The property and land in the Mid-Levels can be transferred to you, but not the rest."

Luo Qihong countered, "Mr. Ximen, do you think Mr. Huang and I are beggars? The properties and land in the Mid-Levels are not even one-tenth of the assets on file."

"If Mr. Simon doesn't agree, we'll have to go get it ourselves."

Simon Keswick was so angry that his teeth itched. "We can buy out your shares of the Landmark Company at 12 yuan per share, and you can make a lot of money and leave."

"We can also acquire the Hutchison Whampoa shares held by Jardine Matheson at a price of HK$12.5 per share," Luo Qihong continued to fight back.

(End of this chapter)