69novels Chapter 143 Nine Dragons Acquisition
Chapter 143 Nine Dragons Acquisition
In the villa's living room, on the rosewood coffee table in front of everyone.
The celadon tea set was filled with wisps of white steam, and the refreshing aroma of Longjing tea wafted past the nose, but it couldn't dispel the anxiety between the shipping magnate's brows.
His hand holding the white porcelain teacup was slightly suspended, and his gaze occasionally swept over the clock on the wall.
With each tick of the minute hand, his heart tightened a little more.
With only two days left in the share swap window for Wharf Holdings, Jardine Matheson has already started building momentum, and many retail investors are watching closely, potentially switching sides to Jardine Matheson at any time.
Although Lin Zhou's appearance at Zhonghua Group was like a lifesaver.
But businessmen are driven by profit, and this 22% stake is enough to leverage the entire battle. What price does the other side want?
What if they take the opportunity to make exorbitant demands? These thoughts tangled in his mind like a jumbled mess.
Lin Zhou took in his expression and lightly tapped the coffee table with his fingertips, breaking the slightly stagnant silence.
He didn't beat around the bush; his tone was calm, yet every word was clear:
"Shipping magnate, I've come to discuss the transfer of Wharf Holdings shares."
The shipping magnate snapped out of his daze, put down his teacup, and leaned forward unconsciously, his eyes filled with urgency.
"Mr. Lin, please speak! Regarding the price, the 105 yuan per share I mentioned before is negotiable!"
"As long as you're willing to part with it, the premium is negotiable!"
He had already done the math; even if Lin Zhou raised the price to 110 yuan or even 120 yuan, he could grit his teeth and bear it.
After all, if he could acquire this 22% stake, his shareholding would reach 40%, completely controlling Wharf Holdings, which was more important than anything else.
But Lin Zhou's next words completely stunned him.
"No premium needed," Lin Zhou said calmly, noticing the shipping magnate's astonished expression.
He reiterated, "I'll transfer it to you at cost price."
"Cost price?" The shipping magnate almost thought he had misheard.
He frowned and pressed on, "Mr. Lin, you're not joking, are you?"
Wharf Holdings' share price is fluctuating daily. With so many shares in hand, even if you wait for Jardine Matheson to raise its offer, you could still make a fortune. Why bother...?
Why not make a good profit and instead sell it at a flat price?
This is illogical, utterly illogical.
The company executives behind him exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with disbelief.
In Hong Kong, a place where every inch of land is precious and everyone wants a piece of the pie, it is only natural for businessmen to pursue profits.
Lin Zhou's actions completely shattered everyone's expectations.
Lin Zhou picked up his teacup, took a sip of the warm Longjing tea, and looked up at everyone.
His gaze held a mixture of solemnity and sincerity.
"Shipping magnate, do you think I would have waited until today if I wanted to make money?"
He put down his teacup, took out a neatly folded newspaper from his clothes, and when he opened it, the four large characters "Jardine Matheson Share Swap" on the front page were particularly eye-catching.
"From the day Jardine Matheson announced its share swap plan, I knew this was no ordinary business acquisition."
This is a power struggle between Chinese and British capital, a crucial battle for whether we, the Chinese people of Hong Kong, can stand tall on this land.
The shipping magnate narrowed his eyes slightly, and his hand holding the teacup tightened unconsciously.
Lin Zhou's voice was not loud, but it carried a power that penetrated people's hearts.
"Over the years, British trading companies have controlled the economic lifeline of Hong Kong. Wharf Holdings, Hongkong Land, HSBC... which one of them did not grow by exploiting the interests of the Chinese?
In their eyes, we Chinese businessmen are nothing more than a group of "gold diggers" who can be manipulated at will.
Now that Chinese capital has finally risen to the point where it can surpass British capital, how can I possibly think about making money off my fellow countrymen at this crucial moment?
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, his tone tinged with emotion.
"Hong Kong is our root, and Wharf Holdings is the throat of Hong Kong."
This lucrative opportunity cannot be allowed to remain in the hands of British trading companies like Jardine Matheson.
We Chinese should unite and work together as one to stand firm.
His words were powerful and resonated deeply with everyone present.
The shipping magnate was also very excited. In his life, he had worked in the shipping industry for decades and had seen too much arrogance and domineering behavior from British trading companies.
Back then, he wanted to expand his dock business, but Jardine Matheson made things difficult for him at every turn.
Over the years, he had been holding his breath, wanting to prove himself and Chinese businessmen.
But he never expected that this young junior would have the same breadth of vision and perspective as him.
"Good! Well said!"
He slapped his thigh suddenly, his eyes slightly reddening. He stood up and tightly grasped Lin Zhou's hand.
"Mr. Lin, what you said really resonates with me! We Chinese should unite! We should stick together as one!"
The people behind him nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at Lin Zhou.
All the previous speculations about whether Lin Zhou would raise the price on the spot have now vanished.
"Mr. Lin, everyone in our shipping company will remember your kindness!"
The shipping magnate's voice was choked with emotion as he shook Lin Zhou's hand forcefully and made a solemn promise.
"From now on, if you ever need me, just ask! I'll go through fire and water for you; if I even flinch, I'm no longer the shipping magnate of Hong Kong!"
Lin Zhou felt the warmth from his palm and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Shipping magnate, you flatter me. I just did what I was supposed to do."
After saying that, he gave Chen Man a look.
Chen Man immediately understood and took out a pre-prepared document from her briefcase.
He handed it to the shipping magnate with both hands: "Shipping magnate, this is the transfer agreement for 22% of Wharf Holdings' shares. The transfer price listed on it is our cost price for holding the shares, which is HK$78 per share. You can take a look at it first."
78 yuan!
This figure is a full 12 yuan lower than the market price, not to mention the 105 yuan that the shipping magnate had previously offered.
The shipping magnate took the agreement, his fingers trembling slightly as he turned the pages, reading each one carefully.
The terms of the agreement were clear and straightforward, without any additional conditions or hidden traps; it was unbelievably clean.
He looked up and saw Lin Zhou's open and honest eyes, and his admiration for him grew even stronger.
"well!"
He said "good" twice, picked up the pen handed to him by his assistant, and signed his name without hesitation at the end of the agreement.
The moment he put pen to paper, he felt as if a huge boulder that had been weighing on his heart for days had finally been lifted off his feet.
Chen Man took one of the signed agreements, and after confirming that it was correct, she put it away in her briefcase.
Thus, this crucial transaction, which determined the fate of Wharf Holdings, came to a close.
The atmosphere in the reception room instantly relaxed, and the previous anxiety and tension were completely replaced by a warm feeling.
The shipping magnate finally showed a long-lost hearty smile and patted Lin Zhou on the shoulder.
"Mr. Lin, you're my benefactor today! You absolutely must stay for a simple meal and try my chef's cooking!"
Lin Zhou did not refuse, and replied with a smile, "Then I will accept without being impolite."
Lunch was served in the villa's dining room; it wasn't luxurious, but it was exceptionally plentiful.
Steamed grouper, boiled shrimp, and char siu pastry are all authentic Hong Kong home-style dishes.
The shipping magnate personally accompanied them, and even brought out his treasured Moutai, pouring a glass for Lin Zhou and himself.
After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the two became increasingly congenial.
From the business landscape of Hong Kong to investment opportunities in mainland China, from the future of the shipping industry to trends in the real estate sector.
The more the shipping magnate talked, the more he felt that Lin Zhou was not only a person with a broad vision, but also a long-term perspective.
Moreover, his insight into problems is even more shrewd than that of many seasoned business veterans who have been in the business world for decades.
"Mr. Lin, you are so young, yet you possess such a broad mind and vision; your future is truly promising!"
The shipping magnate raised his glass and exclaimed in sincere praise.
"The shipping magnate flatters me; I was just lucky."
Amidst laughter and cheerful conversation, the meal lasted a full two hours.
As the afternoon sun gradually slanted westward, Lin Zhou checked the time and got up to say goodbye.