Hong Kong 1980: The Savage Era

Chapter 489 491 [Thanks for the reminder]

Luo Qihong was slightly startled, and sighed, "Li Wenzheng is really a dragon from another river. He dares to offer such a high price, and he doesn't want to take advantage of it at all."

It can be seen from this that Lippo Group is executing its strategy of aggressively entering Hong Kong with all its might and is very optimistic about the Hong Kong market.

Luo Qihong lowered his head and thought. It was not that Asia Securities was not worth the price, but its business was highly overlapping with Zhaoan Group, especially the properties, which needed to be split out.

After careful calculation, Luo Qihong still could not offer a price of HK$2.7 per share, even though Asia Securities' Citizens Centre in Causeway Bay was worth hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars.

After returning to the Zhaoan Group office, Luo Qihong immediately called Bai Jinyan and explained the matter to her.

"The current stock price is only 1.1 yuan, and Li Wen Zheng actually offered 2.6 yuan. Is he crazy? Even if he really wants to expand, there is no need to pay such a high price, right?" Bai Jinyan exclaimed in surprise.

It was more than twice as high. According to Bai Jinyan's idea, a bid of 1.6 or 1.7 yuan per share would be enough, but he was greatly disappointed.

"In fact, Asia Securities is still worth the price, but acquisitions are all about finding bargains. There's no point in making an acquisition if there are no bargains to be found. Li Wenzhen should have taken a fancy to the properties under Asia Securities, or to be more precise, the former Guangshenghang International." Luo Qihong said confidently.

Lippo Group is involved in securities and finance, and Asia Securities' securities and stock investments are highly overlapping with its business, so it is obviously unlikely to spend a large amount of money to acquire it.

"Oh!" Bai Jinyan sighed, and missed the opportunity with Asia Securities Company again.

Early July.

All the companies under the United Group were investigated by the Hong Kong Securities Regulatory Commission, which ordered the suspension of trading of ten listed companies related to the United Group. As a result, the share prices of all the companies in the United Group plummeted, with Asia Securities' share price at HK$0.91 per share before the suspension.

Lippo Group's Huadi Company has not stopped its acquisition of Asia Securities, and there have even been rumors in the market that it is acquiring Asia Securities at a high price, making the prospects of the United Group companies unclear.

At the same time, the name of Lippo Group began to spread among shareholders, and some knowledgeable people suspected that Southeast Asian financial groups were shielding each other and wanted to defraud Hong Kong people of their money.

As a result, the media began to criticize Lippo Group and rarely spoke well of it.

"Li Wen Zheng is so bold that he actually ignored the China Securities Regulatory Commission." Bai Jinyan said unhappily. She thought that Li Mingzhi's investigation and the suspension of United Group would scare Li Wen Zheng, but not only was he not afraid, he also insisted on continuing the acquisition.

Luo Qihong laughed and said, "It's not that Li Wenzheng is bold, but that Li Mingzhi acted quickly. Asia Securities was sold to Li Wenzheng's Lippo, Dongrong Steel and Santai Baoye were sold to Shougang (a mainland red chip), and United Printing was sold to Haiyu Baoye."

"With these three companies supporting us, and Li Wenzheng being blameless, what is there to be afraid of? Can the CSRC turn over half of the Hong Kong stock market?"

The law does not hold everyone responsible. The officials of the CSRC are not stubborn. Such a huge force also makes the officials feel cautious.

"That's true. Taking down a United Group is already a big enough commotion, and it also drags two Southeast Asian consortiums and mainland companies into the water. The China Securities Regulatory Commission simply can't handle it." Bai Jinyan sighed, the last glimmer of hope was shattered.

"Okay, you have enough cash flow, so why do you insist on acquiring a listed company? Apart from exposing the value of our family's assets to the outside world, what benefits can it bring?" Luo Qihong directly exposed Bai Jinyan's thoughts.

Bai Jinyan was slightly stunned. She thought that Luo Qihong's lack of objection meant he tacitly agreed. She didn't expect that Luo Qihong didn't want to invest in the company's listing at all.

"I am thinking about increasing my family's influence in the business world. Hutchison Whampoa's market value is 70 to 80 billion Hong Kong dollars. Once our group goes public, it will definitely surpass it."

"Ayan, haven't you tasted enough of the destructive power of public opinion? Those who stand in the front have to shield others from the wind and rain. Li Jiacheng wants to stand in the front and be the first to do so. Let him be the first to do so, so that we can have less trouble." Luo Qihong said seriously.

Bai Jinyan has always wanted to increase his influence so that he can feel safe and not have to worry about having his position taken away by other women.

Recently, there are many rumors about rich men in Hong Kong, all of which are about dating female stars or models. The divorce of Liu Luanxiong and Bao Yongqin has caused a lot of controversy. This has further strengthened Bai Jinyan's idea of ​​consolidating her position. Since she can't tie down her husband, she will tie up the family's assets to make her husband hesitate.

Thursday, March 3th.

Public opinion in Hong Kong was rife with rumors that Lee Myung-chi was arrested in Singapore, but in the afternoon Lee Myung-chi's family issued a statement denying the claim.

The ten original listed companies under the United Group resumed trading the day before, and the share prices of nine companies fell by 9% to 1%. The large-scale "encirclement and suppression" by the China Securities Regulatory Commission caused great damage to the image of the "United Fleet" and its credibility.

Fortunately, Li Mingzhi cut the Gordian knot and sold several companies, cashing in HK$16.11 billion. Li Mingzhi only retained three listed companies: United Group, United Properties and United Industries.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Central.

Li Mingzhi made another appointment with Luo Qihong. Naturally, his purpose was not pure. After all, Li Mingzhi was in a lot of trouble now, and the China Securities Regulatory Commission was pursuing him relentlessly, and they were determined not to give up until Li Mingzhi was brought down.

"Mr. Li is really amazing. He fought with the Securities and Futures Commission in Australia, and now he is fighting with the Securities and Futures Commission again after coming to Hong Kong. He really has a lot of energy." Luo Qihong said with a sarcastic laugh.

The acquisition by Asia Securities Company failed due to the low price. This is nothing and is a normal phenomenon. But Li Mingzhi was unwilling to sell it after all, and now he has come to Luo Qihong again, which is really not a good thing.

"Mr. Luo, you misunderstood. I have always abided by the law. I have no intention of challenging the China Securities Regulatory Commission. United Group is my hard work, and I don't want to suffer such a crisis." Li Mingzhi complained bitterly.

"It's none of my business who is wrong. Mr. Li, just tell me what you want to talk to me about." Luo Qihong was too lazy to argue with Li Mingzhi.

"I would like to invite Luo Sheng to be a director of the United Group. What do you think?" Li Mingzhi's eyes showed hope.

Luo Qihong sneered, "Mr. Li, being a director of the United Group now, isn't that a slap in the face of the Securities Regulatory Commission? I don't want the Securities Regulatory Commission to turn around and investigate me, causing my company's stock price to plummet."

Anyone who dares to support Li Mingzhi now is going against the CSRC and is very likely to be retaliated against by the CSRC.

The CSRC is now in a difficult situation. If it fails to bring down Li Mingzhi, it will not be able to make an example of him and more small companies will follow Li Mingzhi's example, using tricks to evade securities regulations.

The prestige of the CSRC at that time would be completely destroyed, and it would no longer be able to control all listed companies in Hong Kong. So this was a war, a war with the CSRC.

"Mr. Luo, it's actually not that serious. If you agree, I can sell the United Plaza in Tsim Sha Tsui to you for HK$3 million. How about it?" Li Mingzhi finally put forward the bargaining chip.

We are all smart people. Since Luo Qihong is willing to keep the appointment, there is room for negotiation.

According to the current market price of buildings in Tsim Sha Tsui, this United Plaza is worth 7 to 8 million Hong Kong dollars. Selling it to Luo Qihong at such a low price is naturally because they want to use Luo Qihong's reputation to rescue the United Group and resist the "attack" of the Securities and Futures Commission.

Luo Qihong knew that this was 'greed brings trouble', and he did not value such a small profit. Although he had the ability to negotiate with the Securities and Futures Commission, such things could cause unpredictable impacts. If it caused a sharp drop in the share price of his company, the 3 to 4 million Hong Kong dollars could not make up for it.

"Mr. Li, I accepted the invitation today because of our past relationship, not because I want to ask for any benefits." Luo Qihong said, "If I had acquired Asia Securities, I would have decisively supported you, Mr. Li, but now I don't want to get involved in this mess. You should seek help from someone else."

Hearing this, Li Mingzhi gritted his teeth. Luo Qihong's words were indeed harsh, but the person in front of him was not someone he could afford to offend, so he could only part ways amicably and did not dare to have any malicious thoughts.

"Mr. Li, the CSRC is an official agency, and only official agencies can resist. Didn't you sell the two listed companies to the mainland Shougang Company? You can continue to develop your advantages," Luo Qihong reminded.

Hearing this, Li Mingzhi suddenly came to his senses, raised his glass and said with a smile, "Thank you Luo Sheng for your reminder."

(End of this chapter)