After divorce, I can hear the voice of the future

Chapter 740 This market can only have one voice

"Standard Chartered's attitude will probably depend on your attitude towards them."

Because of their different positions, people can see things from different angles. Li Zhekai believes that the biggest challenge for Lu Liang in assisting Hengtai in acquiring New World should be the floating shares in the market, rather than Standard Chartered.

"What do you mean?" Lu Liang frowned, pondering carefully what he might have overlooked.

"Although HSBC and Standard Chartered are both British-owned, they have been at odds since the colonial period."

With a smile, Li Zhekai recounted the feng shui battle of yesteryear. A typhoon turned HSBC's guns toward Standard Chartered, an accident, but also a test that went with the flow.

At that time, Bank of China represented the mainland in entering the Hong Kong market, and Hong Kong had already set a date for its return to China. HSBC dared not provoke them and could only avoid their sharp edge.

But a super conglomerate that has dominated the market for many years is unlikely to accept a change of market position so easily.

Even if they are dissatisfied, the situation is beyond their control. With nowhere to vent their resentment, Standard Chartered becomes the best target for their anger and a target for gradual encroachment.

That typhoon caused the mortar on the HSBC building to be moved; it was truly just an accident.

HSBC, however, saw this incident as a divine revelation that led them to target Standard Chartered, another British-owned conglomerate.

After all, listed companies are under pressure to perform, and their returns can only improve year by year, otherwise they will be considered by the market to have lost their investment value.

Upon learning of this, Standard Chartered reacted swiftly, filing a lawsuit against HSBC to demonstrate that they were not to be trifled with. However, this was misinterpreted and spread as a follow-up to a feng shui battle.

Despite Standard Chartered's countermeasures, Bank of China, constrained by its status, could not intervene, leaving HSBC virtually invincible.

In recent years, Standard Chartered has been severely bullied by HSBC, with its profits gradually declining and its market share decreasing year by year.

While it's true that HSBC cannot be held entirely responsible, given that the Big Four banks have all entered Hong Kong, the blame can only be placed on HSBC, making it impossible for the two sides to reach an agreement.

As long as Lu Liang shows even a little goodwill to Standard Chartered and promises certain conditions, Standard Chartered's defection is to be expected.

"The waters of Hong Kong are truly deep," Lu Liang couldn't help but sigh, realizing there were so many old stories behind it.

"It's because the water in this pool is too murky that my father is unwilling to wade into it too deeply."

Li Zhe-kai gradually realized why Lao Li had left Hong Kong and why he had been sent to Singapore to develop his career.

He suddenly looked at Lu Liang, his expression meaningful: "But now that you're here, the muddy waters of Hong Kong will only become clearer in the future."

If the Li family hadn't shifted most of their businesses and diversified their operations, the Zheng family wouldn't be the one being purged now.

Lu Liang joked, "Second Brother, I don't have that kind of ability. I'll go wherever there's money, and I'll be wherever it's easy to make money."

"That's just how we businessmen should be."

Li Zhekai laughed, exchanged a few casual words, left the authorization document for the agent, and then took his leave.

Li Zhekai left, but Lu Liang remained. He looked out the window at the city night view once more, his eyes gradually hardening.

He came to make this pool of water clearer.

If there can only be one colossal object and one voice inside, then it can only be their Tianxing.

"Mr. Lu? I didn't expect to meet you here." A woman's excited voice suddenly rang out from the side.

Lu Liang looked up and saw a tall, slender young woman wearing a black bodycon halter dress and Valentino speed boots, being blocked in front of Fang Shiyu.

"Hello." Lu Liang bowed slightly, gesturing for Xu Jiawei to put away all the contract documents on the table.

He left his seat and approached the girl: "Miss, is there anything I can help you with?"

The girl smiled and introduced herself: "Mr. Lu, my name is Lin Siyu. We met this afternoon."

Lu Liang frowned, unable to recall anything: "I'm sorry, I don't remember you."

The girl smiled, but wasn't angry anymore. She quickly tucked her hair back and asked, "Now?"

Lu Liang suddenly realized: "You're a reporter from Phoenix.com?"

They did meet at the press conference held at the Chinese Estates Building in the afternoon.

He was deeply impressed by Lin Siyu; she had taken the lead on several important questions, all of which struck a chord with Lu Liang.

Back then, she was wearing a professional women's suit and had her hair in a high ponytail, which is completely different from her current figure-hugging skirt and big waves. They look like two completely different people.

"Mr. Lu, would you mind having a drink?" Lin Siyu smiled, her eyes sparkling with a gentle light, and blinked.

Opportunities are for those who are prepared. Since I heard that Xu Jiayin is staying at the Four Seasons Hotel, Lu Liang should come over.

She immediately changed her clothes and bowed at the hotel. Sure enough, Lu Liang arrived, and Li Zhe Kai also arrived.

"Mr. Lin, it's a pleasure to meet you, but it's not convenient right now." Lu Liang smiled slightly, declined the invitation, and walked straight out of the restaurant.

"I really want to know what they're talking about?"

Watching Lu Liang's departing figure, Lin Siyu pouted, looking depressed, but not angry.

If dressing up a little sexily could have won over Lu Liang, he wouldn't have achieved what he has today.

"But it's not without gain."

Lin Siyu grinned mischievously, like a cat that had just stolen a treat. She scrolled through her phone and successfully captured photos of Lu Liang meeting with both Xu Jiayin and Li Zhe Kai. She had photographic evidence to prove it.

Tonight's meal was well worth it; it was worth the 10,000+ Hong Kong dollars she gritted her teeth and spent to book a table at the hotel restaurant.

After paying the bill, Lin Siyu strolled leisurely out of the hotel, dangling her bag.

I immediately called the newspaper: "Editor-in-chief, I have some big news about Lu Liang and the situation of tomorrow's New World board meeting. Ask if there are any interested bosses."

If it weren't for money, if there weren't ulterior motives, where would so many anonymous insiders come from?

As a journalist, if I get firsthand information, I will first find a relevant seller through the newspaper to earn a tip fee, and then choose to publish the report according to the buyer's requirements.

As night fell, news that Lu Liang had met with Xu Jiayin and Li Zhekai at the hotel quickly spread throughout Hong Kong's elite class.

As a key stakeholder, the Zheng family also learned of the news immediately.

“The Li family must have sold their shares in New World; they’ve always supported Lu Liang.” Zheng Qilong said nervously.

He witnessed his father making phone calls all afternoon, saying he was busy and would call back later, but he has not called back yet.

Since the Li family reduced its investment in the Hong Kong market and the Cheng family became the leading family, this is the first time in more than ten years that such a situation has occurred, as if the Cheng family has been excluded from the local elite families.

It's as if, apart from HSBC, no one is willing to risk offending Lu Liang and Xu Jiayin by providing them with financial or resource assistance.

"Don't panic. I've told you so many times, stay calm in the face of adversity."

Zheng Jiachun frowned, suddenly realizing that tomorrow's board meeting would not be peaceful.

He received news that Xu Jiayin had visited Liu Guolong, the chairman of Bank of China, and had reportedly received support from the bank.

With 26% + 6.42%, plus the Li family's 3.14%, Hengtai's stake in New World Development has reached at least 35.56%.

The Zheng family holds 49.12%, a difference of 13.56%, but since it's below the absolute control threshold, there's basically no difference.

Zheng Jiachun said in a deep voice, "Contact your elder brother and have him sell off a portion of the gold held by Chow Tai Fook, reserving at least HK$500 billion to support New World at any time."

It's better to rely on yourself than on others. HSBC can be trusted, but not entirely. They must prepare enough funds to prepare for a possible second wave of bidding wars.

He had a vague premonition that Wheelock and Standard Chartered would both side with Hengtai, and the more than 7% stake floating in the secondary market might become the key to determining the outcome.

Two days after the typhoon, the night was bright, and even in the bustling Central district, you could see the stars in the sky. But it seemed as if an invisible dark cloud was shrouding the entire Hong Kong.

The long night passed quietly.

the next morning,
Lu Liang and Xu Jiayin arranged to meet at the hotel restaurant.

"Good news?"

Lu Liang went to the restaurant to eat first. When he looked up, he saw that Lao Xu had light blue circles under his eyes, but his face was rosy. He guessed that they had won another victory.

"Mr. Lu understands me best."

Old Xu smiled broadly. Last night, he contacted Wu Gangzheng of Wheelock Properties and received their support.

Including the 3.14% stake held by Li Ka-shing's Harbourfront Investment, their shareholding in New World Development has reached 40.21%.

If we can capture another 4.23% of Standard Chartered's shares, we can begin the final battle.

All shares are held by both parties, and they will jointly strive for more than 7% of the shares on the secondary market.

At that point, it will be a pure battle of capital, and with the support of Shanghai's top cash dealers, their chances of winning are very high.

"Don't be too happy yet. We should think about how the Zheng family will make their move and how we should respond."

Lu Liangyuan was not as optimistic as Lao Xu. Zheng Jiachun was the chairman of the board of directors of New World and had veto power.

They must consider how to guide Zheng Jiachun to exclude them from the poison pill strategy if they cannot stop its implementation.

"This sends a signal: if Hengtai doesn't get what it wants, then the Zheng family won't get away with it either." Xu Jiayin narrowed her eyes, her gaze menacing.

In addition to selling its stake in Chinese Estates Holdings, Hengtai also diverted some of its funds from Hengchi Automobile with the RMB 263.5 billion investment.

Hengtai is truly out of money right now, so the acquisition of New World Development had to be successful.

Only by successfully acquiring New World Development can Hengtai's stock price surge and enable it to launch new financing.

If an acquisition fails, although the equity remains, all the funds will be locked up, and the stock price will fall.

At that time, good fortune never comes in pairs, but misfortunes never come singly.

The ensuing chain reaction was enough to blow him to pieces.

They had to adopt a "what if we lose, we lose" mentality to force the Zheng family into a second wave of bidding.

“That is one way. The New World is the Zheng family’s ancestral business, and emotions might slightly influence their judgment.”

Lu Liang bowed slightly. Just from the name, one could tell that the founder of Chow Tai Fook must have the surname Zhou, not Zheng.

New World is the true ancestral business of the Cheng family; Chow Tai Fook is merely Uncle Tong inheriting his father-in-law's property.

(End of this chapter)