Chapter 457 The Beginning of the British-funded Foreign Firms Scheme
After negotiating with Huo Yingdong, Yang Wendong returned to Changxing Building, called Zheng Zhijie, and asked: "How is the negotiation for the land at the old navy site? ”
Zheng Zhijie replied : "We are still negotiating the price with the Hong Kong government. I quoted 9 million, but the Hong Kong government wants 10.5 million. I estimate that the final deal will be between 950-1,000."
"Huo Yingdong half a year ago The bidding price is 16.5 million "This has cost the Hong Kong government almost 7 million, and I don't know if they regret it." Yang Wendong said with a smile: "It may be a good thing that Huo Shengshao lost so much money."
< br>Although the Hong Kong government has taken back the land, the money they received before still needs to be returned, otherwise it will be an open robbery. Even though they may want to do this in their hearts, they actually dare not. If they really want to do this, It immediately became a global laughing stock, and even global capital was afraid to invest in Hong Kong.
Zheng Zhijie said: "It's hard to say. After all, for ZZ's purpose, losing a little money is nothing."
"Let it go. Anyway, we can just keep the price down." Yang Wendong asked again: "What about the subsequent construction? No time requirements? ”
Zheng Zhijie replied: "The Hong Kong government has made concessions in this regard. It only requires us to start construction within 3 years and complete it within 5 years. In terms of floor area ratio, it is 12."
"3 Year? That's okay, I can agree to this." Yang Wendong nodded.
It is now the end of 1965, and in three years it will be the end of 1968. In fact, Hong Kong’s real estate market began to gradually recover at the beginning of 1968. It was a good time to build houses.
In terms of floor area ratio, 12 is already considered very high. This 39,000-square-foot land can be used to build a 470,000-square-foot building, about 50,000 square meters. Perhaps it is not very large compared to many buildings in previous generations, but in This era is already very good. After all, even in Central, 20-storey buildings are common.
Zheng Zhijie replied: "Well, in this case, as long as the price is negotiated, the matter will be settled."
"Yes, okay." Yang Wendong nodded and said, "The land Just buy it and leave it alone. The core of the real estate company will still be in Singapore, and the hotel and plaza there will be built as soon as possible."
"Understood," Zheng Zhijie agreed.
Yang Wendong added: "In addition to real estate and ports, we also need to send people to learn from people in Singapore. In addition, you also sent people to contact Huo Yingdong. I reached an agreement with him. Small cooperation is like this.”
Zheng Zhijie also listened carefully to the boss's description, and then said: "That's no problem. I'll provide the funds here. Anyway, I still have a lot of Hong Kong dollars in my hand. I can take this opportunity to exchange U.S. dollars directly with HSBC;
And if you can participate in the construction of a container terminal port The process is also of great significance to our future entry into the port operation industry.”
From the perspective of the boss, Changxing Group will definitely invest in container terminals on a large scale in the future. This is indeed a very good opportunity. Industry can provide opportunities for new people and new companies.
It’s just that this industry is very challenging. It’s not as simple as building a house in Hong Kong. Although it can be outsourced, as an operator, it will be much more convenient if you know the specific situation.
"Yes, this is what I value." Yang Wendong nodded and said: "I don't expect to make much money from this cooperation. I can learn relevant experience, and then we will participate again when a container terminal is built in Hong Kong. , which is much more convenient.”
"When this real estate crisis is over, the Hong Kong government has money, and all sectors of society have confidence, it is estimated that the construction of the Hong Kong Container Terminal will begin." Zheng Zhijie also said.
Yang Wendong said: "If we don't build it, I'm afraid our position as the Asian trade center will be gone in the future. Now the whole world is engaged in containerization, and those who refuse to make progress will only be eliminated."
Zheng Zhijie added: "Unfortunately, the docks in Hong Kong are controlled by British-owned foreign companies. Otherwise, if we acquire one, the subsequent operations will be much more convenient. ”
Although the current terminals are different from the container terminals, except for the loading and unloading mode, other aspects are similar, such as providing ship berthing, barge anchorage, pontoons and other facilities to ensure the safe entry and exit of ships and berthing. Cargo loading and unloading plan (containers also need to be planned), ship entry and exit, ship material supply, terminal management, etc.
These are all very complicated. Even if a new company can recruit people on a large scale, there will definitely be a lot of bumps and bruises in the early stage, and the operation of ships involves safety. If something goes wrong, it will be an international event
"British capital?" Yang Wendong thought for a while and said: "There are now three major terminals in Hong Kong. Jardine Matheson controls Wharf Wharf, Swire Pacific controls Taikoo Wharf, and Whampoa Group controls Whampoa Wharf;
The strength of Jardine Matheson and Swire is no less than We can’t do it, but Whampoa is a good target.”
Many people don’t know about the three major docks in Hong Kong before the 1970s, but their docks will be the same in the future. The famous buildings in Hong Kong correspond to Harbor City, Grand Old Town and Whampoa Garden respectively;
Among them, Harbor City is the largest commercial plaza in Hong Kong, with an annual rent of tens of billions, which is rare in the world;
Taikoo Shing was the largest residential project in Hong Kong from the 1970s to the early 1980s, and its location was excellent. It earned more than one billion Hong Kong dollars for the Swire Group. It is also the fundamental reason why Swire Properties will become the top ten in Hong Kong in the future.
As for Huangpu Garden, it was the largest residential project in the 1980s and 1990s, and Li Jiacheng made billions from it.
Whether it is acquiring these skilled employees to help them enter the port business in the future, or acquiring port properties so that they can look for opportunities to develop real estate after the construction of the container terminal is started, they are all profitable.
"Yang Sheng, you want to acquire Huangpu Group?" Zheng Zhijie said in shock.
Yang Wendong asked: "What is the market value of Huangpu Group?" Zheng Zhijie replied: "I saw it some time ago. It seems to be more than 80 million Hong Kong dollars. This market value is not high, but British capital controls more than 50% of the shares. , we want to make a move unless we can convince their board of directors to make a friendly acquisition.”
"I guess not." Yang Wendong thought for a while and said: "But a hostile takeover is even more unfeasible. Let's not talk about whether it can be successful financially. Even the Hong Kong government, HSBC, and Jardine Matheson will not agree with the malicious intent of Chinese capital against British capital. Acquisition.”
ZZ factors determine that this kind of thing cannot be done in this era, but it should be possible to plan in advance. After all, it is almost 1967, and in more than a year, for large groups, According to the plan, it is not very long.
"Yes, although the Hong Kong government maintains fairness on the surface, if Chinese and British capital compete in a certain field, it will most likely suppress Chinese capital." Zheng Zhijie continued: "At the beginning of the year, Although the bank run was not promoted by the Hong Kong government, deliberate inaction is enough. "
As a government, pretending to be dead can often cause a large group blow, and it is only superficially fair. The actual operation is another matter, and people will not be caught.
Yang Wendong thought for a while, then picked up the phone and called his assistant: "Aying, let Fang come first."
Fang Xianming is the person in charge of Changxing Financial Company. He has been responsible for investment and acquisition business during this period. However, it is not yet 1967, so there is not much progress. At present, his main business is to collect global financial information, and Organize various financial assets within the group, etc.
Soon, Fang Xianming arrived: "Yang Sheng, Zheng Sheng."
"Fang Sheng." Zheng Zhijie nodded.
"Sit down." Yang Wendong waved his hand and said, "This is what happened."
After listening to the boss and Zheng Zhijie finish explaining the matter, Fang Xianjue replied: "The Huangpu Group is indeed not Although their equity is not concentrated, they are all in the hands of British capital. If we want to acquire them, they will definitely communicate among themselves
Although Huangpu Group is a listed company, it has only been listed for a few years and there are not many circulating stocks. Even if we acquire them all, it will be useless. ”
“Then there are other ways. "Yang Wendong thought for a while and said.
When he acquired Watsons, it was of a different nature. Watsons in the previous life was very large, but in the 1960s it could only be said to be a small company. If it weren't for its long history and the Otherwise, few people would know about the livelihood-related industries in Hong Kong.
The port is the core of Hong Kong’s economy. I am afraid that it is the lowest-ranked port, but it is also a huge wealth. It is also the basis for British capital to control Hong Kong's economy. It is too easy to let Hong Kong Chinese do manufacturing and then British capital controls the port acquisition.
< br>If the mainland and the West were not better off in the future and Britain gradually declined, this parasitic relationship might never be broken
Fang Xianjue and Zheng Zhijie looked at each other and asked: "Yang Sheng, what method?"
"We can choose a medium-sized British-owned company, buy a certain amount of shares first, and then let him invest in Huangpu. "Yang Wendong said: "In this way, we can indirectly control Huangpu."< br>
Since there is no way to do it yourself, then find an agent. Many European and American capitals like to operate this way. Therefore, he quickly thought of the original history. Hutchison first took a stake in Whampoa and then looked for opportunities to annex it. , and became the most famous Hutchison Whampoa Group in its previous life, ranking among the four major foreign banks.
Maybe you can also refer to this path.
"Control the British capital first, and then operate?" Fang Xianjue asked: "Yang Sheng, even if this succeeds, it will be difficult to directly obtain the relevant rights and interests of Huangpu Terminal,"
Changxing Group does not invest for profit, otherwise why choose British capital? The purpose of this investment is for the terminal.
Yang Wendong said: "I know that it is currently impossible to directly control Huangpu Wharf, but we should take the first step now and consider the next step when there is an opportunity in the future;
When it comes to acquiring large British companies, it won’t be so easy. To succeed, we can only try to figure it out slowly.”
Mainly due to ZZ reasons, otherwise it would have been possible to succeed. The Huangpu Group was very large in the early days, but over the years, it has gradually declined, otherwise it would have been successful. Historically, it will not be annexed by Hutchison in the end.
Fang Xianjue saw that the boss had already decided on two options, so he asked: "So Yang Sheng, which British company should we choose?"
PS: Please vote
Some people may think that the Hong Kong government's "free market" strategy will not control British capital being acquired by Chinese capital, but according to the data, before the 1970s, there were also some very strong Chinese capital companies. , Guo family, Zhang family, Lee family, etc., have not touched the traditional British-owned industries. Therefore, if Chinese-owned capital acquires British-owned capital such as port power, will the Hong Kong government interfere? , no one knows,
But Chinese capital is not stupid. There are probably reasons why they did not develop in this direction. In addition, it was difficult for Chinese companies in Hong Kong to go public. At that time, the rejection was very strong, so this book It was assumed that the Hong Kong government would protect these British-owned core industries before the 1970s, which was not a few years away. This book will definitely advance some history and will not follow the history books.
(End of this chapter)