After divorce, I can hear the voice of the future

Chapter 734 Seeking Peace and Making Concessions
During Lu Liang's stay in Hong Kong, there has been fresh news every day, allowing a number of Hong Kong media outlets to meet their quarterly KPIs without leaving their offices.

This is both a blessing and a curse.

Because the news updates so quickly, it's no longer measured in days, but rather major events happen every hour.

Tokyo-based Star Investments made its second bid, and Lu Liang indirectly holds 20.37% of the shares, becoming the largest shareholder of Chinese Estates Holdings.

This news hasn't even had a chance to spread yet.

Around noon, someone took a photo.

Sun Hung Kai Properties Chairman Kwok Ping-shing and Henderson Land Development's Lee Ka-kit were seen at Plaza Tower Phase 2. According to sources who declined to be named, they were there to visit Luk Leung.

Although the bidding war for Chinese Estates Holdings has ended, the bidding war for New World Development, Sun Hung Kai Properties, and Henderson Land Development continues.

The fact that the heads of the two major groups have personally paid a visit makes their intentions quite clear.

It's either admitting defeat or seeking peace.

"I mean, is it really necessary to move this fast? Are you treating us retail investors like dirt?"

“Look at the Vanke-Baoneng battle back then. Vanke Group, Baoneng Group, China Securities Regulatory Commission, China Banking Regulatory Commission, local government and other major forces took turns to perform. It lasted for several months, and retail investors who were just watching the show made a fortune.”

In contrast, today, Lu Liang single-handedly challenged the four major families, and the outcome was decided in just a day and a half?

Once the news spread, investors in the Hong Kong stock market were devastated, feeling as if they had just escaped one danger only to fall into another.

Although the share prices of the four groups rose by an average of 49% in just one morning.

If you bought 100 million worth of shares at the end of yesterday's trading session,
I earned 49 today.

However, very few people can fully capitalize on the entire wave of a major positive market trend. Most retail investors hesitate and hesitate again, ultimately choosing to join at a high point.

However, news has now emerged that one company has surrendered and two others have come to sue for peace, indicating that this bidding war is very likely to end this afternoon.

Once the bidding war ends...

The stock prices of the four groups will definitely plummet.

Although Lu Liang's share purchase will not cause the price to fall back to its original level, a correction of ten to twenty percent is certainly unavoidable.

If you're lucky, you'll earn a little less. If you're unlucky, even with such a good market, you might lose money.

"Stocks? Even a dog wouldn't play with them."

They were tired and numb, and suddenly felt that life had no meaning, and the sunlight outside was too dazzling.

They scrimped and saved every day, working hard to earn money, only to lose months or years' worth of savings in just a few days.

If it's not due to natural disasters, it's due to man-made disasters. Is there any point in participating in this garbage market?

"Ah Zheng, are you still holding on?"

In Hong Kong's Central financial district, major conglomerates are paying close attention to this matter, including the Li family of Cheung Kong Holdings.

Li Ka-shing has quietly returned to Hong Kong. The three of them, father and sons, stood by the window, looking down at the Plaza 2 building not far away.

The place was bustling with people, and the entrance was filled with media communication vehicles, all waiting to get the latest news.

“Lu Liang’s goal should not be limited to Chinese Estates Holdings. He can only persevere.” Li Ka-shing stood with a smile on his lips and his hands behind his back.

"He also has ideas about the development of the new world?" Li Zheju asked in surprise.

“It’s not a matter of whether we have ideas or not. The Zheng family is a troublemaker, so we have to teach them a lesson,” Li Zhekai chimed in.

Li Ka-shing looked approving. Although his eldest son was steady but lacked ambition and was good at maintaining the status quo, his second son's ideas were more like his own.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Judging from the amount of funds Lu Liang has shown so far, his original target should have been HSBC, but who told Ah Zheng to be so reckless?"

"Lau is also a fool. He made a wise choice by leaving Hong Kong immediately, but he still got involved afterwards."

At that moment, Li Zheju's assistant knocked on the door and handed him a cell phone. He walked to the window and answered the call.

"I'll call you back in ten minutes." After ending the call, Li Zheju walked over and said, "It's Zheng's call."

"Borrow money?" Li Ka-shing asked with a smile. Seeing Li Zheju nod, Li Zhekai quickly said, "I can't lend it."

"It's definitely not possible to lend it."

Li Ka-shing nodded slightly and said, "On the contrary, after the market closes this afternoon, you'd better make a trip to Tianxing. Cheung Kong should also hold some shares in Chinese Estates Holdings and New World Development. If Lu Liang wants them, sell them to him."

Li Zheju frowned: "With Lu Liang controlling Chinese Estates and New World Development, I'm afraid no one in Hong Kong can check and balance him."

"Do we still need to control him? Nobody can do anything about him now." Li Ka-shing chuckled.

Let alone the Zheng, Liu, Li, and Guo families, even if you add the Changshi Li family, they probably still wouldn't be able to do anything to Lu Liang.

Li Ka-shing suddenly turned serious and said in a cold voice, "Chen Jiebin's attitude is the attitude of the authorities, the attitude of the mainland, and our attitude."

Fifty years is too long, and the situation is becoming increasingly tense. There have been too many incidents in Hong Kong recently.

I didn't have the opportunity before, but now I do.

Moreover, it was Lu Liang's subjective idea, a tacit understanding that led to an immediate agreement. Li Zheju remained silent; capital, though powerful, was as fragile as paper.

Li Zhekai asked, "When do you plan to meet with Lu Liang?"

Li Ka-shing replied, "Let's wait a bit longer, he's been quite busy lately."

"Aren't they in a hurry at the port?"

"It's been so many years, what's the use of being anxious?"

Li Ka-shing sighed. The Li family's business in the port of Panama had encountered some trouble.

They only want to make money, and the most profitable business is monopoly. However, large-scale monopolies often involve politics.

Given Lu Liang's influence in the international market, he might be able to help the Li family avoid some unnecessary trouble.

Meanwhile, on the 82nd floor of Phase 2 of the Plaza Building.

"Mr. Guo, Mr. Li, we meet again. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Lu Liang, all smiles, rushed into the next-door reception room, where he met Guo Bingsheng and Li Jiajie, who had been waiting for a long time.

"Not at all, we just arrived too."

Both men were old enough to be Lu Liang's fathers, but when they saw Lu Liang enter the door, they quickly stood up and smiled broadly.

Seeking peace requires a willingness to do so. Although it had been a long time since they had been so humble, Liu was subdued and Zheng was powerless and furious. The only option left for them was to show goodwill.

"Please have some tea."

Lu Liang brewed some tea, took a sip, and asked, "I heard from Qi Sheng that you two wanted to see me?"

Guo and Li exchanged a glance, and Li Jiajie said, "Mr. Lu, the lunch break is very short, so let's get straight to the point."

“Alright, please go ahead.” Lu Liang nodded slightly.

“We would like to know what your purpose is in investing in Sun Hung Kai Properties and Henderson Land Development?” Li Ka-kit asked.

"I'm optimistic about the future development of both companies, just like I'm optimistic about Chinese Estates Holdings and New World Development." Lu Liang's smile remained unchanged.

A look of exasperation flashed across Guo Bingsheng's eyes as he looked at Lu Liang's smug expression and wanted to imprint his size 43 shoe sole on Lu Liang's size 42 face.

Their visit was a clear indication of their desire for peace, as if their will to do as they pleased was written all over their faces.

Lu Liang, that bastard, is obviously a womanizer, yet he still pretends to be a gentleman.

Old Guo took a deep breath to calm himself down: "Mr. Lu, it is our honor that you are optimistic about Sun Hung Kai Properties and Henderson Land Development. However, the group has some business needs recently and may need to repurchase some shares. I wonder if you would be willing to part with some of them?"

Before they arrived, they had roughly estimated that, excluding the shares held on behalf of Hengtai, Lu Liang indirectly held approximately 8.2% of Sun Hung Kai Properties and 8.6% of Henderson Land Development.

Today's acquisition of two companies with a combined 3%+ share capital must have cost around HK$8 billion.

They are willing to pay a 30% premium and offer some additional terms to repurchase about 3% of the outstanding shares, thereby achieving their goal of seeking peace and goodwill.

Although they have exceeded 5% and made a public disclosure, there is a six-month lock-up period. However, they can draft a contract that will take effect immediately once the six-month period expires.

If Lu Liang's goal is not to acquire them, but to lay the foundation for future investment banks, then holding 5% of the shares in each of them would be sufficient.

Lu Liang looked thoughtful, and after thinking for a long time, said, "Since your company has this kind of business need, we, as shareholders of the group, should cooperate. However, the price is negotiable, but what exactly are these conditions?"

"What conditions are you looking for?" Li Jiajie asked.

By saying that, he was essentially giving Lu Liang a signed check, which he could write down as much as he wanted.

Guo Bingsheng stared wide-eyed. They had already chewed the food and were waiting for Lu Liang to swallow it. They were already more than willing to take the initiative.

Lu Liang smiled and stopped hiding his intentions: "You two are seniors, and I don't want to make things too difficult for you. I hope you can also be willing to part with your New World shares."

Liu Mingwei was right next door, drafting an equity agreement to sell the 18.75% stake held by the Liu family in one go.

With this, including Hengtai's shares, Lu Liang now holds 39.12% of Chinese Estates Holdings.

With Lau giving up resistance, Luk Leung will no longer face competitors in his move into Chinese Estates Holdings. A 39.12% stake is sufficient, and there is no need to acquire it at a high premium.

That province, that flower.
As long as the news of privatization is released later, the remaining shares will automatically be handed to you.

Lu Liang no longer needs the shares of Chinese Estates Holdings, but the Zheng family still wants to put up a stubborn resistance, so he needs to bail out Old Xu.

He and Lao Xu are now in the same boat. If Hengtai's acquisition of New World fails, Lu Liang's plan will not be considered a success.

Kwok Ping-shing breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "No problem, Sun Hung Kai holds a 6.32% stake in New World Development."

Lee Ka-kit also said, "Henderson Land Development also holds a 4.69% stake in New World Development, so let's use yesterday's closing price."

"Based on today's closing price, given your support, we can't let you suffer a loss."

Hearing Lu Liang's words, the two suddenly felt that this young man was actually quite nice; he hadn't made an exorbitant demand, and they should get along well in the future.

(End of this chapter)