Hong Kong variety show: I Am a Tycoon

Chapter 192 Acquisition of China-Pakistan
Sir John still had some questions: "I have some questions, could you answer them?"

"The two sides should be open and honest in their cooperation." Boss Jun nodded: "Please speak."

Sir John Paul looked at Chen Jiajun and asked, "Why me?"

"You helped me when I targeted Wharf Holdings."

Chen Jiajun's inner thoughts were: You're so rich, who else would I choose if not you, this sucker?

Sir John Paul took a puff of his cigar and chuckled, “You’re wrong. I’m not actually helping you; I’m helping myself. Besides, if you don’t step in, Jardine Matheson’s taipan, Newbikin, is also planning to secretly sell me Wharf Holdings shares through a broker.”

“One thing at a time. If you hadn’t bought my Wharf shares at a premium, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Faced with Sir John Paul's frankness, Chan Ka-Chun remained very humble.

Sir John Bowie nodded: "Alright, I'll participate in this operation."

Then he looked at his son-in-law Wu Guangzheng and said, "Guangzheng, you should help Ajun well and learn from him."

Sir John Paul Wong, whose company is valued at 500 million, would naturally not personally intervene in the case of the China-Pakistan Group. Moreover, Yan Chengkun and he are old acquaintances. However, it is both reasonable and logical for his son-in-law, Wu Guangzheng, to step in.

Wu Guangzheng was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Understood, I will humbly learn from Mr. Chen."

Chen Jiajun laughed heartily: "Mr. Wu, you are the main character in this acquisition, and I will do my best to help you."

“Mr. Chen, if you don’t mind, you can call me Guangzheng.”

“You’re older than me, so just call me Ah Jun.”

After discussing the acquisition of the China-Pakistan Group, Chen Jiajun changed the subject and said, "By the way, Sir Bao, I'm holding a private investment meeting tomorrow, and I'd like to invite you, Brother Nan, Brother Xin, and Sir Lin Mingze to attend."

"Investment conference, where to invest?"

"Neon lights".

Chen Jiajun gave a meaningful answer.

The next day.

Guojun Building.

Henry Fok, Fok Chun-ting, Fok Chun-wan, Ho Sin, Ho Tin-pao, Sir John Pau, Ng Kwong-ching, Su Hai-wen, and the Lin Mingze couple sat around a table in the conference room, looking seriously at a financial statement and a K-line chart of bank stocks on the Japanese stock market.

Chen Jiajun explained, “It has been a year since I invested in Japanese bank stocks. The first batch of funds was HK$63 billion, which was equivalent to US$12.6 billion at the exchange rate at the time.”

"Based on the current market value, the annual return has reached 104%."

"The second batch of funds amounted to HK$45 billion, and the yield has already reached 30.9% in just two months."

Everyone here is a veteran of capital operations and knows the principle that it is not uncommon for a small amount of money to focus on a stock and double its value within a week.

However, when the amount of capital reaches tens of billions, achieving such a rate of return is extremely difficult.

Everyone started discussing it.

Chen Jiajun continued, "Hong Kong's economy is currently overheated, with housing prices rising again and again and inflation remaining high, but residents' incomes have not increased much."

Furthermore, with next year's negotiations approaching, the Hong Kong dollar is expected to continue its decline.

"Japan's economy has steadily improved in recent years, and 'Made in Japan' has become a calling card."

"What about Hong Kong? Due to the cheap labor and land prices on the mainland, many Hong Kong businessmen have gone to Shekou and the mainland to set up factories."

"With this shift in balance, Hong Kong's monetary policy will inevitably be unable to withstand it."

"So, the purpose of my gathering you all here today is to help you get rich."

My traders are Sima Xiang, Zhan Peizhong, Huang Shitong, and Chen Zhan…”

Every time Chen Jiajun called out a name, someone would stand up to greet the group of Chinese bigwigs. He had met top Chinese brokers such as Zhan Peizhong, Huang Shitong, and Sima Xiang, as well as Huo Yingnan and Sir Bao, many times.

They never expected that these top Chinese brokers would unknowingly side with Boss Jun.

Sir John Paul looked at Sima Xiang and said, "Xiang, investing in the Japanese stock market, that was your idea, wasn't it?"

He had previously acquired a considerable amount of Wharf Holdings stock through Sima Xiang, and knew that Sima Xiang was always steady and not reckless in his actions.

"Sir Bao, quite the opposite, it was Mr. Chen's idea to invest in bank stocks on the Japanese stock market," Sima Xiang shook his head and told the truth.

Huang Shitong also smiled and said, "Sir Bao, Mr. Huo, investing in the Japanese stock market is indeed not our idea. We have always focused on the Hong Kong stock market. How can we have Mr. Chen's visionary perspective?"

"Shh."

All the Chinese tycoons present looked at Chen Jiajun.

A year ago, Da Lao Jun was also a sniper expert.

Unexpectedly, after a year of silence, they had actually laid such a big hand in the Japanese stock market.

Chen Jiajun, the person involved, didn't seem to be under much pressure: "It's nothing. If anyone wants to invest, feel free to come and find me."

"Ah Jun, since this was your idea, and Sima Xiang and Huang Shitong are now your men, let's get this straight: how will we split the profits?" Lin Mingze, the head of the Lin Xishen family, asked a crucial question.

Chen Jiajun thought for a moment and said, "The benchmark is 10%. If your rate of return is less than 30% by the end of next year, I will not charge a penny. If it is higher than 30% but reaches 60%, I will charge 10%. If it is higher than 60%, I will charge another 10% on your returns. If there is a loss, I will make up for the loss."

He Xin raised his head and said, "Ah Jun has always been steady in his work. He wouldn't call us if he wasn't sure about something. How about this, I'll invest one billion. What do you say, Brother Nan?"

"I need to go back and discuss this with my family."

Compared to He Xin, Fok Ying-nam's style tends to be more conservative.

Sir John Paul was already considering how to proceed: "Should we transfer the money directly to our respective banks in Japan, or...?"

“Invest it in my Dragon Fund.” Chen Jiajun replied immediately: “If there are too many accounts, Sima Xiang and the others won’t be able to manage them, after all, Hong Kong and Japan are too far apart.”

Even if I lose money, I don't need you to make up for my losses; that's a matter of my judgment.

"But Dragon Fund has to prepare a report for me every week." Sir John Paul waved his hand dismissively. "As for how much to invest, I'll have to go back and calculate that too."

Lin Mingze said with a smile, "Since everyone else has voted, then our Lin family will vote too."

In this way, Chen Jiajun easily obtained a sum of money from several major financial tycoons in Hong Kong.

A week later, all the families had transferred their funds: the He family 10 billion, the Bao family 25 billion, the Lin family 15 billion, and even the most low-key Huo Yingnan, although he did not immediately agree, invested 20 billion.

The total amount is 70 billion.

Chen Jiajun quickly misappropriated 500 million... It's so comfortable to do big things with other people's money.

Once the funds were in hand, Chen Jiajun and Sir John Paul Wong's son-in-law Wu Guangzheng jointly established Asia Investment Limited, and had Zhan Peizhong arrange a meeting with the former head of Hutchison Whampoa, Wei Li.

Back then, Wayne Lai single-handedly revitalized Hutchison Whampoa, which was facing bankruptcy, through a series of sweeping restructurings.

Just when he was in high spirits, Sir Michael Sandberg sold Hutchison Whampoa to Li Ka-shing and Chan Ka-chun without saying a word. As the head of the company, Wayne Lai didn't even receive the news before the company was about to change hands.

This was a huge blow to Wei Li.

After Chen Jiajun sold his Hutchison Whampoa shares to Li Ka-shing, Wei Li was dismissed by Li Ka-shing.

After being dismissed, it would not be an exaggeration to describe Wei Li as utterly humiliated. After taking a break for more than half a year, he now works at an investment bank.

Chen Jiajun knew that Wei Li was one of the most capable professional managers in Hong Kong, so when it came to choosing someone to handle the acquisition of the China Bus Group, Chen Jiajun thought of Wei Li first.

“Mr. Chen.” Upon seeing Chen Jiajun arrive, Wei Li quickly stood up.

"Hello, Mr. Wei Li." Chen Jiajun smiled and shook hands with him. "Have you been waiting long?"

"No, I just arrived too." Wei Li sat down on either side of Chen Jiajun. "I never expected to have tea with you, Mr. Chen. I am truly blessed."

Since becoming famous, Chen Jiajun's status has been steadily rising. In addition, he doesn't like socializing, so he rarely has afternoon tea with others.

Wei Li was a smart man; he knew that Chen Jiajun must have something important to discuss with him.

Anything that can be associated with Chen Jiajun is definitely not a trivial matter. Since stepping down from his position as the head of Hutchison Whampoa, Wei Li has been in a period of silence, during which he has thought a lot. Now, he is no longer aggressive, but has become more humble and reserved.

“Mr. Wei Li, you’re too kind.” Chen Jiajun sat opposite him and took a sip of black tea. “I just saw that you acquired a piece of land in Mong Kok from Bai Shun Real Estate for a mere HK$2 million. It was a clean and efficient deal.”

Before coming, Chen Jiajun made a point of learning about Wei Li's recent activities.

"It was just luck. Baishun Real Estate had suffered too many losses and could only use this to pay off its debts." Speaking of his achievements, Wei Li was a little happy: "I am very familiar with their general manager, and I used the most convenient cash, so I was able to complete all the transactions within 5 days."

"Mr. Wei Li, is your plan to continue doing this kind of low-buy, high-sell business?" Chen Jiajun asked, taking a pastry and eating it as he spoke.

"Let's focus on doing our current job well. There's no time to think about anything else." Wei Li sipped his tea. "I've already stumbled once. Now that I'm back in the workforce, I just hope to prove myself again."

"You're underestimating yourself a bit. By the way, would you be interested in taking advantage of this time in Hong Kong to discuss cooperation and show off your former glory?"

Chen Jiajun slowly sipped his tea, then casually joked.

Wei Li immediately understood: "Mr. Chen, please feel free to give any instructions you may have."

"That really depends on your own interests."

Chen Jiajun found a document and gently pushed it towards Wei Li along the wide, smooth desktop.

Wei Li quickly glanced at the documents and tentatively asked, "Mr. Chen wants me to take over the acquisition of China Bus?"

"This is a piece of cake for you."

Chen Jiajun nodded: "I will provide the necessary resources. After the deal is done, you can become a member of the board of directors of China Bus and share in the benefits of being an important shareholder."

Wei Li wasn't worried about being taken advantage of, because Boss Jun's reputation for integrity and honesty was well-known. He was just a little puzzled: "Since Mr. Chen is optimistic about the potential of China Bus's land reserves in Hong Kong Island, why doesn't he just make a move?"

"I've already acquired KMB Group, so it would be a bit troublesome to target China Motor Corporation as well."

Chen Jiajun explained leisurely: "Moreover, Yan Chengkun, who controls Chinabus, is not only the founder, but also, like Deng Zhaojian, holds the titles of Justice of the Peace in Hong Kong and Knight of England, as well as several public positions. He is highly respected and is also a big shot in the Chaozhou business community in Hong Kong. It would be undignified for me to personally get involved and fight with him."

Wei Li suddenly realized: "I'll go set up a company right now and take charge of acquiring China and Pakistan."

Chen Jiajun looked pleased: "I have already set up the company. The shareholders are me and Sir John Bao, but I will not be involved. Sir John Bao has put forward his son-in-law Wu Guangzheng."

"You'd better act quickly, because the buzz generated by my acquisition of KMB will inevitably attract other companies once we acquire China Motor Bus."

While Wei Li was meek and submissive in front of Chen Jiajun, it didn't mean he lacked arrogance in front of others. He confidently said, "Don't worry, with Sir John Paul and your connections in Hong Kong's financial circles, I believe the chances of acquiring China-Pakistan are very high."

Chen Jiajun nodded slightly: "I hope everything goes well."

Soon, Wylie became the chairman and CEO of a company called Asia Investment.

Sir John Paul Wong's son-in-law, Wu Guangzheng, serves as the company's executive director and general manager.

In addition, Sima Xiang and Huang Shitong, members of the Landlord Association, also appeared on the board of directors of Asia Investment Company.

As for the financial advisor for Asia Investment's acquisition of China Bus, it was HSBC's subsidiary, Victory.

Once the funds were in hand, Chen Jiajun and Sir John Paul Wong's son-in-law Wu Guangzheng jointly established Asia Investment Limited, and had Zhan Peizhong arrange a meeting with the former head of Hutchison Whampoa, Wei Li.

In essence, Wiley was completely ousted from HSBC by HSBC tycoon Sir Michael Sandberg.

At that time, Wei Li had even lost all face.

But Wei Li did not dare to harbor resentment towards HSBC, the dominant force in Hong Kong's banking industry.

Wyman readily accepted Chen Jiajun's choice of HSBC's subsidiary, Wintek, as his financial advisor.

Faced with overwhelming power, rational people often choose to be pragmatic.

Although Asian investments are not known for their high returns, the services provided by just a few top-notch brokers were enough to acquire China Bus.

Why would Chen Jiajun go to the trouble of inviting Wintek to serve as the financial advisor for the acquisition of China Bus?

The reason is very simple.

This acquisition of China Bus is nothing compared to the "blitzkrieg" against Kowloon Motor Bus.

The capital market has now come to its senses.

Compared to the land held by KMB Group, the land reserves of China Bus Group on Hong Kong Island are even more coveted.
Once the Asian Investment Corporation launches its offensive, the share price of the China-Pakistan Investment Corporation will instantly double.

Asia Investment Corporation took the lead in courting Wharf Holdings, and according to the exclusivity agreement, China-Brazil Group and other competitors could no longer court Wharf Holdings as their financial advisor.

Well-known to Wei Li was that as long as they weren't hampered by HSBC, he, Sir John Paul, and Mr. Chen could do whatever they wanted in Hong Kong's capital circles.

Acquiring Chung Hwa Bus would be an opportunity for him, Wayne, to shine brightly again in Hong Kong's business world.

Wei Lixiang handled the acquisition of China Bus Group brilliantly, so his first priority was to do the most with the least amount of money.

Therefore, when acquiring China Bus, one should try to avoid simply throwing money at people without any skill or regard for cost.

Therefore, after receiving Chen Jiajun's appointment, Wei Li immediately notified Wu Guangzheng, the son-in-law of the shipping magnate, and members of the landlords' association to hold a meeting.

Within the next week.

Wyman acquired 7561 shares of China Bus in the primary and secondary markets, spending a total of HK$1.66 million, with an average cost of HK$22 per share.

Now, Asia Investment Company, with a 20.4% stake, has become the second largest shareholder of China-Pakistan Investment Corporation, second only to Gan Chengkun.

This achievement is enough to prove that Wei Li is a very qualified professional manager, and he has saved Chen Jiajun a lot of money.

The next day.

Oriental Daily News: "Company doctor Wei Li returns to Hong Kong's business community."

Hong Kong Economic Journal: "Asia Investment Corporation, the second largest shareholder of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor."

Business Daily: "The battle for acquisition by the China-Pakistan Group is about to begin."

Overseas Chinese Daily: "Former Hutchison Whampoa tycoon Wayne pointed out the drawbacks of Yan's control over the China-Pakistan Group."

No one expected that Wei Li, who had been silent in Hong Kong for a long time and was almost forgotten by people, would suddenly make a comeback.

This was the second objective of Wyman's acquisition campaign: to make the acquisition of the China-Pakistan Group more respectable.

After all, one must have a legitimate reason for taking action.

The China-Pakistan Investment Corporation (CPIC) already has an owner. For the Asian Investment Corporation to try to control it would be tantamount to robbery. It would be better to disguise their true intentions.

Chunghwa Bus, which is declining from its peak, has been criticized for many things. In addition to the problems of Kowloon Motor Bus, Chunghwa Bus also has unique drawbacks imposed by the Yan family, the owners of Chunghwa Bus.

For example, the Yan Chengkun family has always maintained that buses are a low-end mode of transportation, and as long as they meet basic transportation requirements, there is no need to improve the comfort of the ride.

To give a simple example, office workers may dress smartly before leaving home, but after taking a bus, they may find themselves covered in sweat or even dust. The negative impact of this is self-evident.

It's important to understand that this is no longer the 1950s or 60s; Hong Kong residents have increasingly higher expectations for their quality of life.

However, the Yan Chengkun family has never thought of improving this situation. In addition, the Yan Chengkun family is quite stingy with dividends on China-Pakistan Group shares, leaving many retail investors with no profit.

When Wei Li presented his solutions to these problems to the board of directors of Chung Hwa Bus, Yan Chengkun scoffed at them and completely ignored them.

Therefore, Wyman immediately announced that Asia Investment Company would acquire 1350 million shares of China Bus at HK$37 per share in cash, increasing Asia Investment Company’s stake in China Bus to over 55%, thus securing complete control of China Bus.

The announcement of this capital operation, involving nearly HK$500 million in cash, immediately ignited the already brewing enthusiasm in the stock market, with the share price of China Bus Group jumping from HK$22 to HK$37.

This greatly encouraged many retail investors who held shares in China Bus.

At 64 Kennedy Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong Island, the atmosphere was tense as the family solemnly discussed their countermeasures. The house, which spanned nearly 28,000 square feet, was located in the Yan family mansion.

Although the Asian investment company was previously unknown, it boasts a strong lineup.

Yan Chengkun has one daughter and two sons, all of whom were placed on the board of directors and senior management of China Bus at an early age. Yan Jiewen, the youngest son of the Yan family, also became a director of China Bus as early as 1976.

Of course, the founders of Chung Hwa Bus were not only the Yan family, but also the Huang family, but the two families were very closely related by marriage.

(End of this chapter)