Chapter 19: Snatching and Robbery (Second update, please recommend and collect)
Who would have thought that in the 1940s, there were still remnants of the 19th century!
North Borneo Company!
A company owns a colony. In that land, the company is the king's law and everything.
The current predicament of the North Borneo Company has made Li Yian see an opportunity. If he seizes this opportunity, he can make the company his own.
But...can you seize this opportunity?
For a moment, Li Yian frowned and his expression became a little solemn.
It would be a pity to miss such a God-given opportunity. Besides, it is easy to buy but difficult to keep!
"Sir, your judgment on this company is undoubtedly correct. At this time, selling the company is the best choice for the directors of North Borneo Company. However, as your lawyer, My suggestion is that you should not acquire him, after all, God knows whether the British government will take back the company's land and other properties after the war."
Ian Thorpe, the Queen's Counsel, is really good. I can't understand that there are still people interested in this company now.
"So, do they have this power?"
Li Yian asked back. The barrister in front of him was a royal barrister worth 1,000 pounds. If he wanted to buy the North Borneo Company, he would definitely not be able to do without such a person. He is needed to coordinate many affairs.
"This..."
Ian Thorpe thought for a while, then shook his head and said.
"Legally speaking, the British government has no right to take back the land and property in North Borneo. After all, North Borneo was an American company's equity purchased by British businessman Dent and others in 1880. Even in 1881 The fact that it obtained a royal charter in 2008 cannot change the fact that it is a private company and Borneo is a company territory. However, it has the right to revoke the royal charter it holds. After the charter is revoked, the United Kingdom will not grant it defense and diplomacy. protection, which means that he is not exposed to all countries.”
And such a good thing!
Li Yi'an almost wanted to laugh out loud. Originally, he was most worried about the British having the right to take back the colonies. This was the biggest problem. Unexpectedly, there was an unexpected gain.
"Exposed? This is not a problem, as long as they have no power to take back the company. By the way, do they have the power to prevent me from acquiring the company?"
Faced with customer problems, I have faced this problem more than once Ian Thorpe, who had received colonial customers, said in a very arrogant tone.
"Sir, this is London, not a colony. Britain is a country that adheres to the rule of law. No one has the right to prevent you from acquiring any business, and the North Borneo Company is just a business. Of course, the business owner Except.”
Then he looked at a report in front of him and added.
“The board of directors of the North Borneo Company currently consists of five directors. According to company law, a proposal can be passed as long as two of the five directors agree. In fact, five of the board of directors Together, the members only control 48% of the company's total shares, and the other 52% are scattered among more than 5,300 shareholders, large and small, across the UK. A good number of them seemed to be married women or widows. After all, many of them were buying and selling stocks before the First World War, and most of those people died in the First World War. There is no doubt that after the Japanese occupied North Borneo, the company's stock securities. In fact, it is worthless, and even the debt interest needs to be paid.”
As a royal barrister, Ian Thorpe, although he can’t figure out why anyone would think that such a company is destined to disappear from history. companies were interested, but as a lawyer he still suggested.
“So, sir, I feel that now is not the time to acquire. If you are determined to acquire this company, you can wait until next year. When they receive the bond interest call notice again next year, I believe When the time comes, they will be eager to transfer the shares to you for free. After all, everyone knows..."
Folding the documents together, Ian Thorpe adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and said .
"The British colonies after the war will definitely move toward self-government, and the colonial companies will definitely not be able to continue to operate, and the stocks in their hands will certainly be worthless. Before the war, its stock price was 18 shillings per share, and It's 1 shilling and 3 pence a share now, and next year it will be even lower," said Ian Thorpe, leaning forward in his chair and resting his elbows on his desk.
“But we will definitely not buy it at this price. If you don’t change your mind next year, I can help you realize your wish at a very cheap price.”
……
Very cheap?
Li Yi'an didn't know how cheap it was, but he quickly came to see White directly. He inherited 9% of the company's shares from his father. As a member of the board of directors, although he is not the company's largest shareholder, But he is one of the five largest shareholders and has served the company for many years. As one of the company managers, White is very aware of the current situation of the North Borneo Company.
The current situation is...the North Borneo Company is finished!
In the past few decades, White has maintained an extremely decent life by relying on dividends, but after the outbreak of the war, the good days ended. Not only do annual dividends require payment of 99.5% personal income tax, but dividends are always long overdue. After Japan occupied the North Borneo Company, it lost all of it. Not only that, the shareholders also had to pay interest on the debt according to law. It has to be said that as a shareholder, he is also very painful.
At this time, he was looking at the Chinese man in front of him. When he was young, as a deputy manager of the company, he had lived in North Borneo and Singapore for more than 20 years. He didn't know much about Chinese people. strangeness.
"So, you are interested in the shares in my hands."
Li Yian raised the corners of his lips lightly and said.
"Mr. White, I am helping you solve your trouble."
While speaking, he took out a Lucky Strike from the gold cigarette case and handed it to White. He picked up the lighter, lit the cigarette, took a puff, looked at her and said.
"Interest, how should I say it? In this world, businessmen will always be interested in profits, but no businessman is interested in loss-making business. As we all know, everyone including the colonial secretary admitted that after the war At least the colonies must implement self-government, which also means that after the war, the North Borneo Company is likely to end its operations."
As soon as he finished speaking, White glanced at him casually. , then took a puff of tobacco and said.
"Mr. Li, what you said will not happen. How can the company end its operations? After the war is over, the company will take back everything."
"Take back everything? Take back what?"
Li Yian smiled coldly and said sarcastically.
"Reclaim a pile of ruins?"
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(End of this chapter)