Hong Kong: Starting with 10 billion

Chapter 34 Shen Bi: Yihe, you are such a loser! (Please collect, recommend and vote for me)
Pao Yue-Kong was a man of action.

After agreeing to You Bingwen that day,

He immediately called HSBC's chairman, Stephen Simpson.

And asked him to have afternoon tea together tomorrow.

The next afternoon, Peninsula Hotel.

When the two met, they were like old friends.

We chatted for a while about each other's recent situation.

When this greeting is over,
Shen Bi was the first to ask:
"Mr. Bao, what new moves have you made recently?"

"Chairman Shen misunderstood. I am acting as a guarantor for someone and would like to borrow HK$4000 million from your bank."

Bao Yugang smiled and shook his head.

Shen Bi raised his eyebrows and said in surprise:
"Did I hear you right? Bao Sheng is the guarantor for someone else, not you who wants the loan yourself?"

"Haha, do I still need to ask HSBC for help for such a small amount of money?"

"That's right. You either don't want to borrow it, or the starting price is 100 million."

"Haha, that's too much. I remember the first time I borrowed money from your bank, it was only $100 million."

"How many years ago was that? I remember Mr. Sanders mentioned it, maybe 1956?"

"Yes, time flies. Twenty-two years have passed in the blink of an eye."

"Mr. Bao has also transformed from a layman in shipping to a world-renowned shipping tycoon."

"That's just my colleagues making trouble and my friends in the media flattering me."

"I'm very curious, what kind of person can ask you, the world's shipping king, for help?"

"Haha, a little guy, my fellow countryman, also from Ningbo, quite interesting."

"Oh, now that you mention it, I am somewhat interested in meeting your fellow countryman."

"You may be disappointed. Even I haven't seen him yet."

Even a blind man could sense Shen Bi's surprise this time. He asked curiously:
"You haven't even met him, but you dare to vouch for him. I really don't understand the Chinese way of thinking."

"Haha, you don't know what he did, otherwise, you would be willing to help."

".Oh. I'd like to hear more about it."

"He gave me Wharf shares worth HK$2000 million."

"Give it away? Not sell it. Oh my god, is there such a generous person in the world? No, no, no. He has something to ask of you."

"Haha, that's true, but I'm not disgusted. On the contrary, I'm very happy."

"Wait, you just said Wharf shares? Why did he give you this stock? Do you want to acquire Wharf?"

"I have cooperated with HSBC for more than 20 years. I will not hide anything from you on this matter. Yes, I am determined to acquire Wharf Holdings!"

After hearing Pao Yue-Kong's affirmative answer,

Shen Bi's eyebrows were furrowed even more.

He remained silent, as if he was thinking, and seemed very conflicted.

After a while, he slowly opened his mouth and said:

"Have you really decided?"

"My determination is as strong as iron!"

"It's not easy to acquire Wharf Holdings. Jardine Matheson will not let go easily."

"So this time I asked you out, not only for that little kid, but also to tell you in advance. I hope you can think clearly about which side you want to support."

“You are such a good friend of HSBC!”

"Haha! I do regard HSBC as the most reliable partner in my business."

"Thank you!"

"To be honest, Wharf Holdings is really wasting its resources in the hands of Jardine Matheson. Their management philosophy is too conservative."

"Well I agree with that."

"The worst thing is that the Jardine Matheson Group is not optimistic about Hong Kong, or has no confidence in the north."

"Are you confident?"

"Of course, the little kid wrote me a letter, and after reading it, I became more confident."

"You really aroused my curiosity."

Pao Yue-kong saw that he was really interested.
So he roughly told him the contents of Fang Hexuan's letter.

After listening, Shen Bi frowned and thought for a while.

"Does he mean that the north is going to be opened? The gate is going to be opened?"

“His ideas coincide with mine.”

"You know, I go back north to visit my family from time to time."

“We have heard some rumors of transformation.”

"And then consider the international situation."

"China and the United States broke the ice in 1972, China and Britain established diplomatic relations in 1972, and China and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1975." "These are all very clear signals."

"That kid concluded that the two major countries will formally establish diplomatic relations next year. I agree with his judgment."

“Once an agreement is reached politically, economic exchanges between the two countries will begin and will be unstoppable.”

Shen Bi also nodded in agreement and sighed again:

"We are not the only smart people!"

“We in Ningbo really produce talents.”

"Yes, yes, Bao Sheng is the most intelligent person, haha!"

"Then does Chairman Shen support me in taking over Wharf?"

"This is not something I can decide on my own. I need to report to the board of directors."

"Of course, everything must be reasonable and compliant. I'm waiting for good news from Chairman Shen!"

Pao Yue-Kong was very confident that Shen Bi would definitely support him.

This is not only because Pao Yue-kong's current personal assets rank first in Hong Kong,

I also understand Shen Bi's personality and style of doing things.

Shen Bi was different from the several HSBC managers who preceded him.

He was a military man and had served in the British Army in several colonies.

There is no strong nationalism or racism.

After joining HSBC in 1948,

He worked in HSBC branches in Singapore, Japan and other Asian countries.

It can be said that he has been dealing with Asians for a long time.

Because of his pragmatism,
That's why he can build good relationships with these Asian clients.
Only in this way can he rise step by step,

He finally became Chairman and Chairman of HSBC in 1977.

His core idea is,

Let's stick to the facts and talk business as usual.

As long as it can bring practical benefits to HSBC,

That's a good partnership.
There is no need to distinguish whether it is British or Chinese capital.

In fact, his thinking is very modern and international.

In line with the subsequent wave of globalization.

It is precisely because of Shen Bi's unconventional style that
HSBC developed rapidly during his tenure.
Gradually from a British Asian bank,
Transform into a global international bank.

Undeniable,

Many Chinese companies also benefited from HSBC's financing.
Only then can you grow bigger and bigger.

Pao Yue-Kong then asked:

"Is there any problem with the loan of my fellow villager?"

"How could your reputation as a charter king not be worth 4000 million?"

"Ha ha."

"Three days later, ask him to arrange for someone to come and sign the contract."

"I thank you on his behalf!"

"No need to thank me, you praised him as a man who knows everything about astronomy and geography. To be honest, I'm very interested in meeting him!"

"There will be a chance, wait until he is released from prison!"

Shen Bi was stunned when he heard this and said in surprise:
"He's a prisoner?"

"Well, I heard there's something hidden. Maybe he was framed."

"Interesting! He looks quite like Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo."

"Maybe. He also told me about someone."

"Oh? Who?"

"Mr. Li from Cheung Kong Group!"

"What's up with him?"

"He also covets Wharf Holdings and is currently secretly buying up shares."

"you sure?"

"I had my suspicions at first, but I asked someone to check and found out that he had already taken action last year."

".It seems that Jardine Matheson is in big trouble. They are unlucky to be targeted by two tigers at the same time."

　Thanks to Shifang Caishen and book friend 20171029004947168 for their recommendations!

(End of this chapter)