Started from Hong Kong Island

Chapter 439 437 [The Dragon Crossing the River Comes]

Yang Zhiyun Family Villa

Yang Zhiyun's widow Guo Enci and a group of second-generation Yang family members sat on the sofa. Li Zhaoji was the only outsider.

"Ah Ji, to be honest, the Miramar Hotel is no longer what it used to be. Even if the Tuen Mun project is completed, it will only survive. There are so many talented people in Hong Kong, and it will be difficult for our Yang family to resist the next acquisition." Guo Enci sighed and said, "So I hope you can become a director of the Miramar Hotel and take over the shares held by Liu Luanxiong and Zhang Yan. What do you think?"

Although Li Zhaoji is a real estate tycoon, he has almost no strength in the hotel industry. It would be a great thing if he could take the opportunity to step into the door of Miramar Hotel.

Li Zhaoji has already seen that the Yang family is only barely holding on to the family business at this time, and will definitely not be able to keep it in the future, and he should be the first person to take over.

Joining the board of directors now is a good opportunity to build up some power and prepare for taking over in the future.

However, Li Zhaoji still had to refuse first, after all, he had to save face.

"Sister-in-law, Bingzheng and the others can keep the ancestral property. Don't worry, I will definitely help them run the Miramar Hotel well." Li Zhaoji said.

Yang Bingzheng continued, "Uncle Li, we are already a little unstable in the board of directors. If you are in charge, those directors should give you face."

Li Zhaoji thought about it awkwardly and said, "Okay, I will buy 5% of Miramar Hotel's shares."

"Uncle Li, can I have some more?" Yang Bingzheng said quickly.

"5% is enough. Too much will affect you." Li Zhaoji didn't want the Yang family to think that he had ambitions for the Miramar Hotel.

"Aji, if you have enough funds, you should acquire 10%, which will be better." Guo Enci said.

Guo Enci was also helpless. Since her eldest son Yang Bingzheng took over the Miramar Hotel, the business has not been very smooth, which has aroused doubts from many shareholders. If Li Zhaoji was in charge, Yang Bingzheng's position would be more stable.

Although she knew that she had to be on guard against others, she still believed that Li Zhaoji was more trustworthy, and the Yang family needed the help of such a person.

Li Zhaoji thought for a long time and said, "Funds are not a problem."

Guo Enci nodded and said, "We will slowly compensate you, Aji, for the difference in stock price this time."

"Sister-in-law, there's no need to do this. This is my investment. I don't need to make up the difference." Li Zhaoji refused.

Some joy appeared on the faces of Yang Bingzheng and his five brothers. You know, this price difference cannot be settled with just tens of millions.

"No, Aji, you are here to help. How can the Yang family let you suffer any loss? But this will take some time. Jingfu Jewelry Company is not doing well now." Guo Enci said apologetically.

In the end, Li Zhaoji was still defeated by Guo Enci, but he did allow the Yang family to pay 40% less in price difference, saving tens of millions of yuan.

After the transaction between the two parties was completed, the stock price of Miramar Hotel began to plummet, falling by 4.5 yuan in just one day, causing investors to wail.

Zhang Yan and Liu Luanxiong made tens of millions of yuan in profit, totaling 1 million yuan.

Li Wendi was tempted by the profits involved, but unfortunately due to his status, it was unlikely for him to make these sniper acquisitions.

Mid-July 86
Pao Yue-Kong hurriedly found Li Wendi and said that he had something very important to discuss. Li Wendi would not refuse, after all, Pao Yue-Kong was not only a senior in the business world, but also a super tycoon in Hong Kong.

"Mr. Bao, you are in such a hurry to find me. Is there some great project you want to help me with?" Li Wendi asked jokingly, holding Pao Yue-kong's hand.

Pao Yue-Kong smiled and said, “The project is quite large, but I am not sure whether it is a good project.”

"Oh? It seems to be a really big project. Let's sit down and talk about it." Li Wendi slightly restrained his smile.

Pao Yue-Kong sat down and said, "Lloyds Bank of the United Kingdom is planning to acquire Standard Chartered Bank. I am planning to join forces with some people to fight against the outsiders. I wonder if Mr. Li is interested?"

Li Wendi fell silent. He remembered that in his previous life, Pao Yue-Kong once said, "There are two major failed investments in my life. One is Dragonair and the other is Standard Chartered Bank." Obviously, the acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank by Lloyds Bank was not a good investment project.

However, as a Hong Kong tycoon, it seems a bit underestimating to sit back and watch Standard Chartered Bank, one of the three major note-issuing banks, be acquired.

The reason why Pao Yue-Kong's acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank failed was that he encountered the global stock market crash in 87. This was a natural disaster that no one could avoid.

As long as you sell some before the stock market crash, you should be able to reduce a lot of losses.

"There should be more than just the two of us involved in this cooperation plan, right?" Li Wendi said with a smile.

"There is also the Nanyang tycoon Qiu Depu and the Australian tycoon Robert." Pao Yue-kong explained, "I think the financial strength of the four of us is enough to compete with the British Lloyds Bank."

"What do Standard Chartered Bank and the Hong Kong government say?" Li Wendi asked. The Hong Kong government holds a certain stake in Standard Chartered Bank.

"The attitude of the Hong Kong government is very clear. It will not favor anyone. Standard Chartered Bank certainly does not want to be acquired by Bellissima. After all, Standard Chartered Bank is one of the top 100 banks in the world. How could it be willing to be acquired by outsiders?" Pao Yue-Kong said proudly.

"Yes!" Li Wendi nodded. "How much money does Bao Sheng want to invest? What proportion do you want?"

"I want to use a rotation system, with me going to the front. When my funds are exhausted, you guys can take over. I want to put Mr. Li at the end to hold the fort. What do you think, Mr. Li? I can also give up my position in the front row." Pao Yue-Kong said.

Li Wendi shook his head and said, "Let Bao Sheng take care of the front row, and I'll be the one holding the line. To be honest, I'm a little short of funds right now, and it'll take some time to get them back."

"Okay, but Mr. Li should be mentally prepared. It may take a large amount of cash to support the team," Pao Yue-Kong reminded.

"I know this. You don't have to worry about it. If it doesn't work, I can borrow 20 billion yuan from the Bank of Communications. I think this loan should be enough." Li Wendi said with a smile.

"20 billion yuan is enough. The current market value of Standard Chartered Bank is only more than 90 billion yuan, and 20 billion yuan already accounts for one-fifth of the market value," said Pao Yue-kong.

a few days later
As expected, Lloyds Bank launched a takeover bid for Standard Chartered Bank at a 1% premium per share.

In response to the aggressive approach of Lloyds Bank, Standard Chartered Bank brought in Yue-Kong Pao, Wendi Lee, Khoo Tak Puat and Robert to its board of directors, with Yue-Kong Pao taking the lead in launching a counter-takeover, offering a 12% premium per share and a price of HK$15.5 per share.

Standard Chartered Bank is not afraid at all. After all, it has two backers, Yue-Kong Pao and Wendi Li. If Lloyds Bank wants to successfully acquire it, it will definitely have to work hard.

All major newspapers in Hong Kong reported the acquisition on their front pages. Suddenly, the acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank was no less impressive than the Niu Buffet War and the Wharf Holdings War in the past, and was even more sensational.

(End of this chapter)