Legend of Xiangjiang Tycoon

Chapter 567: see each other

"Speaking about business in business" - Shen Bi's point of view is similar to the mantra of Chinese businessmen.

Shen Bi's thoughts have penetrated into the souls of HSBC employees. A supervisor named Thomas Mann Morrison said: "There are two ships, one is a compatriot and the other is a foreigner. The compatriot's ship is sailing into the wind and waves. , the alien's boat is in calm waters. We must support the safer boat to keep going."

Now go back to the British and Chinese businessmen in Xiangjiang. In all fairness, wealthy people in Hong Kong are sensitive to the mainland, and British businessmen have extensive international connections. Even in the Commonwealth of Nations, there are dozens of places for them to choose.

They left Hong Kong for capital. They returned to Hong Kong after breaking their wings. After returning to Hong Kong, they were half-hearted and looked for opportunities to go for capital. This is repeated over and over again.

The Chinese businessmen did not have the advantageous conditions of the British businessmen, but instead "received a blessing in disguise". They can only give up their minds to develop in Xiangjiang.

Facts have proved that the return on investment in any place is not as high as that of Hong Kong. The past two or three decades have been the era of rapid rise and rapid growth of Chinese businessmen.

HSBC has never turned a blind eye to this astonishing change. It has increasingly shifted its focus on investing in Hong Kong to Chinese businessmen.

HSBC develops in tandem with Chinese businessmen and the Hong Kong economy. Heung Kong's return to HSBC is the best among HSBC's stable Tang peers.

In 1982, through a series of successful acquisitions of HSBC, it has 300 branches in Hong Kong and 800 branches overseas, with total bank assets of 428 billion Hong Kong dollars and a total of 40,000 employees. Deposits account for 60% of the industry's total.

This year, Shen Bi was elected as "the most outstanding banker of the year" in the voting for the chairman of the world's 500 largest banks.

There is no doubt that Shen Bi is the most outstanding one of HSBC's successive executives and the greatest banker since the opening of Hong Kong.

Nongbi admits that not everyone in the industry has a favorable impression of him. HSBC has huge reserves, and almost all of its peers want the support of HSBC. Shen Bi rejected most of the people's borrowing requests. Shen Bi said in a speech to the media:

"God didn't send us here to fund our competitors. It doesn't seem like a reasonable thing to lend to our competitors so that they have the ability to steal our customers."

Shen Bi will always be a banker.

Among the three major Chinese ship kings in Hong Kong, Dong Haoyun focuses on container ships, most of Zhao Congyan's ships are bulk carriers, and Bao Yugang's oil tankers account for more than half of its total merchant tonnage.

Bao Yugang keeps a close eye on the trends of the global oil industry all the time.

The two oil crises in the 1970s made Western oil tycoons realize that relying on oil from the Middle East is undoubtedly weaving a noose.

The North Sea oil fields in Europe and the Texas oil fields in the Americas have set off a development boom again. The good news of oil production made the owner of the tanker feel on pins and needles.

Japan, a big oil-consuming country, has stepped up its oil reserves since the early 1970s. In the late 1970s, Japan, whose tanks were full, suddenly cut its oil imports. This was a blow to Bao Yugang, which has a huge tanker fleet.

Another important reason why Bao Yugang abandoned his boat and landed was that in 1977, Shen Bi replaced Sanders as the HSBC executive.

Sanders once fully supported Bao Yugang to borrow and build ships, fulfilling Bao Yugang's dream of being a ship king. HSBC has also received abundant loan returns and is also a major shareholder of Global Shipping.

Shen Porridge's attitude indicates that he will not be keen on borrowing for shipbuilding. His attitude became more and more clear in the years to come.

In addition to the Universal Group, Dong's Jinshan, OOCL, Zhao's Huaguang, Jardine, Wheelock and other large shipping companies are HSBC's loan targets.

HSBC has invested more than 10 billion Hong Kong dollars in the shipping industry. If there is a slight flash, HSBC will fall into the disaster of extinction.

At the end of the 1970s, Bao Yugang owned more than 13 million ton ships, including 50 supertankers. Together with the new ships still under construction at the shipyard, by the early 1980s, Bao Yugang's fleet will have a total deadweight of more than 20 million tons.

According to the market value of the world's shipping peak, an oil tanker is worth a building. If Bao Yugang did not build oil tankers and bought properties, he would have a "concrete forest" consisting of 50 buildings.

In the March 1973 issue of the American "Fortune" magazine, it was estimated that the total tonnage of Bao Yugang's fleet was 9.6 million tons, and the family's shares were worth 700 million to 1 billion US dollars.

Bao Yugang is firmly seated on the throne of the richest Chinese in the world. If the world shipping market has been booming, then Li Zhiwen will be delayed to become the richest Chinese.

Anyone can be an afterthought, but few people are as sharp-eyed and responsive as Bao Yugang.

In 2018, when world shipping was still at the end of its boom, Bao Yugang set a price for most of the tankers—a low asking price that surprised and excited those shipowners who were still optimistic about shipping. Bao Yugang's low-price policy made all the ships that should be sold out.

However, once the turbulent ship disaster hit, people found that Bao Yugang, who took the lead, still grabbed a better price. At this time, ships with long service life can only be sold as scrap iron.

Jack Willoughby, author of Shipwrecked, said: "Some smart shipowners have long seen problems in the shipping industry. For example, Sir Bao Yugang, the ship king of Hong Kong, saw that Hong Kong's real estate industry is a long-term investment rather than a shipping industry. Well, Bao Yugang has sold 125 cargo ships and VLCCs since 1980, reducing his fleet to only 85 ships, some of which are still under long-term leases. ."

Bao Yugang naturally paid a price in the big ship reduction action. It was worth paying the price. Bao Yugang weathered the difficulties in the big ship disaster.

And most of the shipowners who were reluctant to pay the price were dragged down by the burden. Bao Yugang kept his mouth shut about his loss.

The media pointed out that Bao Yugang's biggest loss was the collapse of Yamaguchi Corporation in Japan, and Bao Yugang had a giant ship Bao Yugang chartered for him.

The Far East Stock Exchange has compiled nine sub-stock indices since 1972, with a base of 1,000 points for that year. As of July 31, 1981, the classified borrowings of Cangwu stocks rose by as much as 25.5 times; the real estate stocks were 9049 points, an increase of 9 times.

Once a popular airline stock, the index was only 565 points, a negative growth, ranking the last in the score index.

The changes in the market are so great that the hearts of shipowners are chilling. This year, the crown of "Landing Ship King" has been firmly worn on Bao Yugang's head, and people call Bao Yugang a real estate giant.

The history of Wharf can be traced back to August 1, 1871, when British businessman Chater and Xiao Shi founded the Hong Kong Wharf and Warehouse Company.

This is Heung Kong's first public wharf and warehouse that undertakes external business. Due to the limitation of Wanchai land, in 1875, it moved to the west side of Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, and the company changed its name to Hong Kong Kowloon Ferry Terminal and Warehouse Co., Ltd., referred to as Wharf.

In addition to the founders, the major shareholders also include Jardine and other foreign firms.

In the late 1970s, real estate boomed, and Wharf's warehouse sites in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong Island, and the New Territories became the big fat meat coveted by real estate developers.

Li Jiacheng has the intention to seize the Wharf warehouse. He learned through the think tank that Jardine has less than 20% of the shares of the Wharf warehouse. That is to say, as long as you secretly absorb 20% of Wharf's shares, you can openly bid with Jardine.

Li Jiacheng knows very well that the shares issued by Wharf are less than 100 million shares, and the value of each stock market is only between Hong Kong dollars. Then, the market value of Wharf is at best more than 1.4 billion Hong Kong dollars, which is obviously underestimated.

The large sites and scattered properties in the Wharf Wharf can be worth at least four to five times! Li quietly absorbed it and had bought 20 million shares of Wharf.

When Li started, the stock market responded, and Wharf shares climbed all the way up to HK$30, which was basically stuck.

The sensitive Jardine Taipan realized that something was wrong, and it was estimated that Li's acquisition of Wharf would immediately deploy a reverse takeover and request financial assistance from HSBC.

Li Jiacheng did not want to have a conflict with HSBC, so he mixed up the idea of ​​acquiring Wharf. Li Jiacheng's smart move will be rewarded in the future - HSBC has made it possible for him to control another big ocean company - Hutchison Whampoa in one fell swoop.

Li Jiacheng remembered the ambitious Bao Yugang. He also learned through the think tank that Bao Yugang had the idea of ​​landing since Shen Cong was the senior class of HSBC. Bao Yugang has a closer relationship with HSBC, and it will be beneficial for Bao Yugang to complete the package.

One afternoon in the summer of 1978, the two giants of Chinese businessmen met in the cafe of the Mandarin Hotel. The two are not old friends and treat each other with courtesy only in public.

It was Li Jiacheng who called Bao Yugang. He didn't say anything, but Bao Yugang realized that it was a big deal. After a brief chat, they immediately got to the real issue.

Without too much explanation, two smart people can immediately guess each other's intentions and weigh their own interests; and without the endless talk of butterflies, Fang An has a lot of knowledge for both parties, which can be called "Absolute Bridge" (a clever trick). ). The two hit it off and reached a gentleman's agreement.

The Wharf shares in Li Jiacheng's hands were transferred to Bao Yugang at a price of more than 300 million Hong Kong dollars, and a total of 20 million shares were transferred.

Bao Yugang assisted Li Jiacheng in taking over 90 million shares of Hutchison Whampoa owned by HSBC from HSBC, and when necessary, transferred cash for support.

This secret transaction is the most successful transaction in the history of Heungkong's acquisition, and it is determined that both the two major British companies will fall into the hands of Chinese investors.

For Mr. Li, he transferred 20 million shares, and the profit was calculated in billions, and he bought the "controllable Hutchison promissory note" without spending a penny; for Bao Wanggang, it made him a Kowloon now. The largest shareholder of the warehouse, landed to find a piece of land with gold deposits - Bao Yugang is engaged in shipping, and the Wharf has two container terminals in Kwai Chung. Develop commercial and recreational residential properties.

This meeting of Li's Bao Yugang is of great significance and far-reaching, so some media said that this day "sounded the death knell of the decline of British-owned groups".

Angrily swallowing Wharf Baotu was eager to land, and after reaching a deal with Li Jiacheng, he immediately began to absorb Wharf stocks from retail investors. In just eight days, he bought 10 million shares. In addition to the transfer by Li, Bao Yugang controlled 30% of the stock. The equity of Wharf greatly exceeds that of Jardine Land Company, which directly controls Wharf.

For the sake of safety, Bao Yugang transferred the 30 million shares to Longfeng International, which he controlled, at a price of HK$55 per share, which was a few yuan higher than the market price.

Bao Yugang's "absolute bridge" can benefit both offense and defense, and the offense can further control more than 50% of the equity of Wharf; if the acquisition fails, at most, ask Longfeng International Company.

The transfer of Bao Yugang is actually a change of name, not a change, at no cost. In January 1979, Jardine and Landmark Taipan Niu Bijian found out that Bao Yugang had controlled 30% of the shares of Jiuyou Warehouse. Under company law, the Wharf board had to invite the largest shareholder to participate.

Bao Yugang and his second son-in-law, Wu Guangzheng, naturally became directors of Wharf.

Bao Yugang's father-in-law is undoubtedly a thorn in the eyes of the head of Jardine and a thorn in the flesh. Since Bao Yugang's father-in-law was promoted to director, the commander has asked hundreds of questions about the company's fears and the senior class, Niu Bijian, as if he has become a full-time senior class of Jiuyoucang. He has to attend almost every board of directors and show Bao Yugang's father-in-law at the meeting. by color.

Bao Yugang is not a vegetarian, and he did not miss the opportunity to return his color. There are constant frictions between the two sides, two of which stand out the most.

"The first thing happened in early 19S0, when Bao Yugang proposed to the board of directors that Universal Group's seats on the Wharf board should be increased from two to four. Niubijian immediately objected and instead proposed that Landmark CEO Bedford, Joining the Wharf board and becoming executive director. Bao Yugang also immediately objected.

After the dispute between the two sides, they both compromised - Universal won four seats, and Bedford also entered the Wharf board of directors.

"Being at peace with each other", the two sides have their own place, and the smell of gunpowder is permeated under the board of directors. In fact, the two sides were waiting for the opportunity to counterattack. New Bijian wanted to expel Bao Yugang's father-in-law from the Wharf board of directors, while Bao Yugang wanted to further acquire Wharf and control Wharf.

Two months later, Cha and the board of directors met with Bao Yugang. The talks were held in the board room of Chaho Plaza Building. On the one hand, Cha He Taipan Niu Bijian, and Landmark CEO Bedford; on the global side, Bao Yugang and his son-in-law, Wu Guangzheng.

Newbijian avoids all "ceremonies", UU reading www. uukanshu.com did not beat around the bush, but went straight to the point, asking Bao Yugang to sell the equity of Wharf in exchange for a considerable land property.

The Landmark property occupies a prime location in Hong Kong, especially the mansion and forest in Central, which are invaluable.

Bao Yugang, without any humility, proposed three buildings in the Central District: Jinmen Building, Dagu Building, and Prince's Building.

Newbican and Bedford were stunned, as if they had met a giant python with its mouth open. Niu Bijian sneered a few times and firmly denied it. He proposed that it could only be the Golden Gate Building in the Central District, the Star Plaza in Tsim Sha Tsui and some residences in the Mid-levels.

The two sides clashed fiercely, and naturally broke up unhappily.

In fact, the contradiction between the two parties has intensified, and Jardine Matheson will never fall into the hands of Bao Yugang.

And Bao Yugang spent so much money, it is impossible to back off, otherwise so much money will be wasted, and the loss can be in the hundreds of millions.

Therefore, neither Jardine Matheson nor Bao Yugang will step back, the conflict is about to break out, and the confrontation will be right after.

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