Hong Kong 1980: The Savage Era

Chapter 384 385 [Official Land Auction]

"It's not impossible for you to acquire the shares of Hutchison Whampoa from Jardine Matheson, but the price must be at least $17 per share," Simon Keswick said shamelessly.

Jardine Strategy's acquisition price is 12 yuan per share, while Qi Xin Company's acquisition price will be increased to 17 yuan per share, a difference of more than 4%.

What a double-standard dog!

Luo Qihong laughed secretly, glanced at Huang Tingfang, and said, "I'll add another 5 cents, 13 yuan per share."

"This is too low. It must be 17 yuan per share," Dai Weisi chimed in.

"In that case, we can also sell our Hutchison Whampoa shares to Jardine Strategy, and the price must be 17 yuan per share. How about that?" Luo Qihong sneered.

Simon Keswick started to show his double standard skills again, but everyone present was smart, so it was of no use at all.

"Okay, I agree to purchase the shares of the Jardine Matheson Company at RMB 17 per share. What do you think, Mr. Huang?" Luo Qihong suddenly agreed.

This made Simon Keswick, Davis and Bao Weishi all stunned, and Huang Tingfang widened his eyes and wanted to speak out to stop it, but when he saw Luo Qihong giving him a look, he could only nod reluctantly.

"17 yuan per share is still acceptable."

Simon Keswick didn't respond for a long time, his eyes rolling wildly, and it seemed that he was thinking about how to refuse again.

"Mr. Luo, Mr. Huang, this is just my suggestion. We also need to ask the opinions of the shareholders of Jardine Strategy. If they all agree, we can proceed with the transaction." Simon said.

"Okay, Mr. Simon. Let's stop playing guessing games and go back to the split plan on file." Luo Qihong restrained his smile and said seriously.

"If today's negotiations have no results, Qi Xin Company will still hold a shareholders' meeting. The war between us will not stop because of today's negotiations."

Simon said, "All the properties and land in the Mid-Levels, plus the project in Pak Pit Shan."

"Since Mr. Simon has made a concession, let's also make a concession. We can give up Dairy Farm International and keep other conditions unchanged," said Huang Tingfang.

"Central Exchange Square is the most important asset of the Hong Kong Land Development Company. It cannot be sold. I hope you can give it up," said Simon.

"We can do without the Central Exchange Square, but we must replace it with other things, such as Prince's Building, Alexandra House and Chater House," said Luo Qihong.

"Impossible! You want to destroy the Jardine Matheson Group. These properties are the crown jewels of the Jardine Matheson Group and cannot be sold." Simon became excited again.

"Mr. Simon, this is an acquisition, not a negotiation for a cooperation project. You don't really think we don't have the strength to fully acquire the land company, do you?" Luo Qihong really wanted to curse.

This negotiation was doomed to be fruitless because Ximen had always been thinking about getting rid of Luo Qihong and Huang Tingfang at a very low cost and never thought that he was the weaker party.

Luo Qihong was not a graceful man. On the second day, he asked the Tiantian Daily to publish the general process of the negotiation. At the same time, he attached a lot of information about Jardine Matheson Group's overseas investment mistakes and losses, and made an objective evaluation of its current strength.

This made Simon Keswick so angry that he jumped up and down and smashed things all over the office.

"This Keswick family is so arrogant, always trying to take advantage and treating Mr. Luo like a fool."

"Isn't this always the way foreigners do things?"

Upon hearing the news, reporters interviewed Luo Qihong and Huang Tingfang, and their words were very harsh.

Luo Qihong said that instead of selling Jardine Strategy Company cheaply, it would be better to give the money to shareholders, at least shareholders would say good things about him.

As a result, Qi Xin Company announced that it would increase the purchase price to 15 yuan per share without any conditions.

Jardine Strategy was forced to follow suit, but at the same price as Qi Xin Company, 15 yuan per share.

Jardine Matheson Group Office

"The current situation is extremely unfavorable to us. Qi Xin's shareholding has increased to 34%, and it will soon reach the bottom line for a full acquisition. However, Qi Xin has no intention of stopping at all," said Smith, managing director of iFunds.

"What did Citibank say? Are they willing to agree to our request?" Simon stared at Smith and asked.

Smith shook his head and said, "Bank of America has already refused. They said that they had already signed a contract with Qi Xin Company and that if they breached the contract, they would need to pay 1 billion Hong Kong dollars. If we are willing to pay for them, they are willing to cooperate with us." If Jardine Matheson Group had 1 billion, it would not have needed to bribe Bank of America and cut off Qi Xin Company's retreat.

"I guess what Qi Xin Company wants most is the Trading Plaza. The other things are just additional conditions. As long as the Trading Plaza is handed over, the Real Estate Company will be safe." Dai Weisi said.

Simon glared at Davis. Exchange Square and the seven nearby buildings, Prince's, Alexandra, Chater and York, were the most fundamental assets of the Hong Kong Land Development. If they could have been sold, they would not have reached this point.

"I suggest introducing other consortiums to jointly resist the invasion of Qi Xin Company," Bao Weishi suggested.

"Then which consortium do you think is the most suitable?" Simon asked with a sigh of relief.

If this situation continues, Jardine Matheson Group’s advantages will be wiped out and it will eventually lose control of the Hong Kong property company.

“The Australian Benda Group is good.”

"The yen has appreciated sharply recently, and Japanese financial groups are also making moves everywhere. This is an option."

"There are many companies in the United States that are willing to invest in Hong Kong Land."

"Then please submit your information as soon as possible and I will screen it myself." Ximen sighed secretly.

He understood very well what these senior executives meant. Bringing in other financial groups would be like inviting a wolf into the house, and they would not necessarily be better than Qi Xin Company.

Friday, October 5

The Hong Kong government held the official land auction as scheduled. There were many items on auction, among which the most eye-catching were the second section of the Admiralty Barracks and the former site of the Central Fire Station.

The latter covers an area of ​​2.26 square feet and is the most important item in the auction. Many peer companies have set their sights on this piece of land.

It’s not that the land in Section 2 of the Admiralty Barracks is not good enough, because it is already in the pocket of the Luo Qihong family. Many Chinese do not want to compete with Luo Qihong for fear of conflicts.

However, British companies are clearly not afraid.

The second section of the Admiralty Barracks land is the second to last item to be auctioned. The starting price is 7 million yuan, and each bid cannot be lower than 100 million yuan.

Luo Qihong was the first to bid: "8 million!"

The top executive of Swire Properties then bid “8 million!”

Landmark also took the opportunity to make things difficult for the "8 million!"

Luo Qihong pursed his lips and smiled. If the Land Development Company really took away the land, he would even pawn Zhaoan Real Estate Company to swallow up the Land Development Company.

It is not a wise move to come and provoke him now. Apart from adding more hatred, all other disadvantages will befall him.

"9 million!" Luo Qihong continued to hold up the sign, and the number 66 was particularly dazzling.

Swire Properties followed suit without hesitation, not even waiting for the first hammer to fall, "9 million!"

Colleagues all started talking about it.

"It seems that Hongkong Land and Swire Properties are in conflict with Luo Qihong."

"While Mr. Luo was acquiring the land company, he was also auctioning off land worth 10 billion yuan. He really had plenty of funds."

"Swire Properties is not afraid of angering the evil man Luo Qihong."

After several rounds of bidding, the Swire Properties Group gave up, probably because it was worried that it would really buy the land at a high price.

After all, the current land company is in a lot of trouble and it is not advisable for it to bid for land that is too expensive.

As for Swire Properties, they are not afraid of Luo Qihong. They are an independent company and their main business is aviation. Luo Qihong cannot really intervene for the time being.

(End of this chapter)