Chapter 458 Successfully bought shares in Hutchison Group
“Hutchison, what do you think?” Yang Wendong asked.
The most suitable target is naturally the target of successful cases in history;
The four major foreign banks in Hong Kong in the future, among which Jardine Matheson, Swire, and Wheelock are the traditional giants. As early as It has been operating in Hong Kong a hundred years ago. Over the past century and several generations, Hutchison has successfully become the king of this era; but Hutchison or Hutchison Whampoa is different. In the early 1960s, Hutchison was only a medium-sized enterprise. It was relying on the current CEO Qi Dezun and more than ten years of hard work that it became the king of the era. Grow your business to giant level.
In other words, even if Huangpu Group is ignored, just investing in Hutchison now is still cost-effective. Qi Dezun is also a rare smart man. During the real estate crisis in 1967, he purchased land and made mergers and acquisitions on a large scale. Then Hutchison became one of the four major foreign banks in the future.
"Hutchison & Co.? They are engaged in trading." Fang Xianjue reminded: "Isn't it a bit inappropriate to let Hutchison acquire Huangpu?"
Yang Wendong said: "Huangpu's main business is the port , that is, Jardine and Swire are peers. We cannot have any ideas about Jardine and Swire, so it is not suitable to find any other British-funded company.
As for the British capital in Hong Kong, Except for a few, most of them are engaged in trading-based businesses. It doesn’t matter which company I choose, but what I value is the company’s ability.”
For the British giants in Hong Kong history. , he was familiar with many of them, but it was hard to say which big classes were more powerful, because these big classes themselves had a high starting point, and besides HSBC, other British-funded companies were also wallowing in the fish pond of Hong Kong.
Qi Dezun is half an exception. At least Hutchison Group has grown from small to large in his hands. Although he misjudged the real estate crisis in 1973 and ruined his career, his ability is also There should be.
When there is no choice, choosing this person must be the most suitable.
Fang Xianjue said: "As far as I know, Hutchison Matheson was completely acquired by Wanguo Enterprises in the middle of the year, and then changed to Hutchison International. Qi Dezun himself holds almost 30% of the shares, and the others are also with Like the Huangpu Group, there are many British shareholders.
If we want to buy shares, we can't do it just by buying them on the stock market. A certain share.”
“I agree with this.” Yang Wendong nodded and said, “Let’s check the entire Hutchison International information first, and then I’m going to ask Qi Dezun to come out and have a chat with him. , let’s see if we can cooperate.”
After listening, Fang Xianjue agreed and said, “Okay, Yang Sheng”
"Then let's do this for now." Yang Wendong said again: "Old Zheng, you don't need to worry about this matter for now. Even if you succeed, you won't be able to get Huangpu so quickly."
"Okay." Zheng Zhijie nodded and said : "I will follow Singapore and Huo Sheng with peace of mind to study the terminal matter together."
"Yes, even if one day we successfully acquire Whampoa, we will need to build a container terminal in Hong Kong in the future. people, fighting against the old forces in Huangpu ." Yang Wendong continued: "Otherwise, we would not be able to accept their management rights. "
Acquiring a company with high technical content is definitely not a matter of peace of mind after success. It turns out that historically. Li Jiacheng, after acquiring Hutchison Whampoa, even though he was repeatedly contradicted by Hutchison Whampoa's senior management, he could only pretend not to care and generously expressed that he would respect Hutchison Whampoa's independence. It was not until four years later that Hutchison Whampoa's management was divided and many years of Only after learning can one officially take over Hutchison Whampoa.
“Understood.” Zheng Zhijie agreed.
Yang Wendong said again: "Lao Fang, please check the information of Hutchison International and Qi Dezun or their board members as soon as possible. Only after confirming it can we take the next step."
In history, Qi Dezun's ability Although it is strong, it is limited by its own capital. Therefore, in the next few years, it will acquire various enterprises and real estate through large-scale stock issuance. Although it has successfully turned Hutchison Group into one of the four major foreign banks, it is also heavily in debt. And his own equity has been reduced to a negligible amount.
However, this is not a big problem. Many British-owned and even European and American families do not play large holdings in their own companies, but hold a small number of shares to expand the company's scale.
< br>The first advantage of this is that the scale of the enterprise is larger, and the person or family has greater influence. The second advantage is that through legal cooperation, one's own privately held enterprise can cooperate with the company, thereby seeking greater profits.
Under normal circumstances, there is no problem with this, but once there is an economic crisis or a big business problem, there is a huge risk of losing control. However, the benefits of doing so are too great, so many people will still do it. .
Greed is unavoidable for any capitalist. The British capital in Hong Kong are also worried about the future, so they will use this method to cash out their wealth and leave.
This also foreshadows the possibility of large-scale acquisitions of British capital by Chinese capital in the future. Otherwise, even if the mainland strongly supports Chinese capital, it can only be done on a "fair" basis. There are no structural problems with British-owned companies, so there is nothing the Chinese companies can do about them. Just like Swire, the wealth they control is also very high-quality, but they have never been attacked because the family has a firm grip on the controlling stake, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Create more airlines to compete with Cathay Pacific.
"Yes, I will investigate immediately." Fang Xianjue also agreed.
A week later, Fang Xianjue came to Yang Wendong's office again and handed over some information: "Sheng Yang, these are the detailed information of Qi Dezun and Hutchison International."
"I Take a look." Yang Wendong also put down the newspaper in his hand and took it and started reading.
Fang Xianjue briefly described it from the side: "Yang Sheng, Qi Dezun was an artilleryman in Hong Kong in his early years. Later, when the Japanese came, he became a prisoner. He stayed in prison for more than a year without surrendering. In 1942, He successfully escaped from prison and went to eastern Guangdong Province to become an artillery commander of the anti-Japanese armed forces. Later, he also went to India and Myanmar, where he fought against Japan. His highest position was colonel, and he also won many British and Allied medals.
After the war, he retired and came to Hong Kong and joined Hutchison Company, which was still a subsidiary of Wheelock at the time. After ten years of operation, Hutchison's scale became larger and larger, and he gradually passed through the listed company Wanguo Enterprises. After acquiring Hutchison shares, Hutchison eventually separated from Wheelock and merged with Wanguo Enterprises to become Hutchison International Group. "This experience is really amazing," Yang Wendong also had to praise.
If it had not been for being too radical in 1973 and causing Hutchison to fall into a debt crisis, then Qi Dezun would definitely have become the most successful modern British businessman in Hong Kong history. Unfortunately, history has no ifs. If he were a Chinese, Yang Wendong would be He might be able to help him, but he is a white guy. He will praise you, but he will never help him permanently. At most, he will use it.
Fang Xianjue also said: 'Yes, just because he has fought against Japan for several years, I am also somewhat impressed. ’
"Well, the same goes for me." Yang Wendong added: "In this information, 57% of Hutchison Group's shares are in British hands, and 12% is controlled by unknown parties. The remaining 30% is circulating on the stock market. Even if we If you buy it, you will probably get around 10 points.”< br>
Trading shares do not mean that all of them are being traded. After many shareholders acquire them, they may not trade and become small shareholders. Therefore, once a large consortium enters the market to acquire, no matter how low-key it is, it acquires a certain share. Abnormalities will be discovered by the market or the company.
Fang Xianjue also said: "Yes, what should we do now?"
"In this case, ask Qi Dezun out for me." Yang Wendong said: "Make it clear to him directly , but it may be more convenient . ”
He also hopes to get Hutchison or Hutchison in the future, but not now, because although the current Hutchison is not small, it is not big, compared to the original history. The one above is far different from Huang.
If I acquire it now, even if Hutchison is not "secretly blocked" by the Hong Kong government because of its small scale, it will not mean much, because only its "British capital" status can make Hutchison one of the four major foreign banks in the future. and yellow.
"Okay, I'll make the arrangements right away." Fang Xianjuese said immediately.
"Yang Wendong of Changxing Group wants to see me?" In an office building in Central, Hong Kong, Qi Dezun, a white man, said in surprise after hearing the assistant's report.
The assistant said: "Yes, he has asked you to meet at the presidential suite of the Four Seasons Hotel within the next week on your time."
"Did you say something?" Qi Dezun asked road.
The assistant replied: "No, no one from Changxing Group said anything."
"Okay, just tell me that I will go to the appointment in the afternoon two days later." Qi Dezun then agreed.
Although Hutchison International Group has no major relationship with Changxing Group, the other party is also the largest Chinese-owned consortium today, with influence throughout Hong Kong. Even the Governor of Hong Kong and the HSBC executive team have to give him three points of face. No matter what happens here, I have to go and meet him.
"Okay." The assistant agreed.
Two afternoons later, in the presidential suite of the Four Seasons Hotel:
"Hello, Mr. Qi Dezun." Yang Wendong also extended his hand politely and smiled. He and Qi Dezun have actually met before. The Hong Kong government has invited political and business people to gatherings many times before. Yang Wendong also knows the bosses or executives of famous Hong Kong companies.
But they knew each other, but they never said a word, because there was no business cooperation, and even Changxing Trading was still a competitor of many British-owned foreign companies.
Qi Dezun also shook hands and said: "Hello, Yang Sheng, I have admired your name for a long time."
"Please sit down." Yang Wendong's spiritual consciousness signaled. After the two sat down, Qi Dezun went straight to the topic, Asked: "Yang Sheng, I don't know why you asked me out?"
"Mr. Qi Dezun, I want to invest in Hutchison International." Yang Wendong also said directly.
The two of them don’t know each other personally, and there’s nothing else to talk about. It’s better to talk about things directly.
“Invest in Hutchison International? Why?” Qi Dezun had actually made a guess before, but was not sure.
Yang Wendong smiled and said: "The first is because I am optimistic about your ability, Qi Dezun. The second is that I want to indirectly invest in many industries in Hong Kong, but you also know that I am Chinese and it is not convenient for me to participate in many industries."
"Yang Sheng wants to plan some British-owned industries?" Qi Dezun had no doubts, and asked: "I don't know which industries Yang Sheng is interested in."
Yang Wendong replied: "I am interested in a lot of Hong Kong's infrastructure, including electricity, transportation, ports, large real estate, gas, communications, etc."
"These are all listed Enterprise, if Yang Sheng is interested, can't he just buy the stock directly?" Qi Dezun asked in confusion.
For many years, the Chinese forces in Hong Kong and even some new British capital have had strong objections to the control of large-scale infrastructure projects by several British companies. They have organized many battles, which eventually led to the water company being taken over by the Hong Kong government. For self-control, even electricity was almost recycled by the Hong Kong government a few years ago.
Therefore, in order to avoid further conflicts, the Hong Kong government ordered that all public enterprises must be listed. Anyone who is a sole proprietor will lose the corresponding license. Therefore, around the 1960s, a large number of monopoly companies were listed one after another, creating the Hong Kong financial market. A brief boom.
Yang Wendong said with a smile: "Buying stocks is of course easy, but what I want is a certain degree of influence. Otherwise, in terms of investment income, they may not be able to match my management."
"Yang Sheng's business ability is indeed well known in Hong Kong." Qi Dezun nodded, and then said: "So Yang Sheng wants to use me to participate in investing in these companies; then you and I will obtain some of the director rights of these companies, and you will Become a director of my company? "
"Smart, I like to cooperate with smart people," Yang Wendong said: "Qi Dezun, this matter will also be of great benefit to you. I will become a shareholder of Hutchison. Director, whether it is funds or relationships with banks, you can expand rapidly
Whether it is social influence or wealth, you will receive a very big improvement, even Hutchison International can do it. Participate in the cooperation with some of our Changxing Group’s businesses.”
If you want the fish to take the bait, you will naturally need to give more bait. If you give enough bait, then even the smartest fish may not be able to resist coming over to eat. One mouthful.
“But if this happens, I’m worried that one day I will lose control of Hutchison.” Qi Dezun said with a smile.
He is a very smart person, and he naturally knows the benefits of this, but there are also risks. There is no free lunch in this world.
“Why do I want control?” Yang Wendong asked: “When you become a director of Hong Kong Electric, Wheelock & Johnson or even Jardine Matheson one day, if I swallow Hutchison, wouldn’t it mean that I am annihilating myself? These companies?
But I understand your concerns. I can make a paper commitment that my shares in this financing will not be with you. Fighting for control of Hutchison."
Before the rise of the mainland and good relations with the West, this sentence is absolutely correct. The British consortium and the Hong Kong government will never allow Chinese capital to interfere in their local core industries. , or even Yang Wendong, if the foundation of Changxing Group's rise was not manufacturing, they would not be involved, otherwise they would have been suppressed long ago.
As for this promise, it is also to reassure Qi Dezun, so that with his own support, he can expand even more than in his previous life, and the promise is only for this time's shares, which is a loophole.
When Hutchison reaches its peak, all he needs to do is sell his shares, the promise will be gone, and he can still make a fortune, and then just wait for it to collapse. As happened in previous lives, once Hutchison is on the verge of collapse , you can then acquire other stocks and take over again.
"What kind of cooperation method is that?" Qi Dezun felt relieved when he heard that there was a written commitment.
Yang Wendong, a Chinese upstart, wants to increase his influence, rather than severing himself from the British Hong Kong government and confronting so many British-owned foreign companies. Even HSBC, which has a good relationship with him, will not do this in this matter. It was impossible to support him.
If he cooperates with him, even though the other party will become a director of Hutchison, it will not affect his rights at all.
Yang Wendong said: "We will raise funds directly. I will get 20% of the shares of Hutchison International, and Hutchison International will get a large amount of cash. The price will be based on the average market value of the previous few days.
After you get the funds, we will use bank loan funds to invest in some stocks of British foreign banks that we think are suitable.
Even if Hutchison International is still British-owned after I become a shareholder, your purchase of shares in a British-owned company will not cause much market reaction. When the shares are large enough, you can then seek a board seat. how? ”
As long as Hong Kong people have a desire for power, they will not be able to resist this temptation. Being able to become a director of many large British-owned foreign companies is enough to become the top figure in Hong Kong, probably the Governor of Hong Kong. , I have to be polite.
Qi Dezun is such a person. In order to expand the scale of Hutchison in history, he used crazy financing and acquisitions to create Hutchison International Group, which is comparable to Jardine.
“I need to think about it. "Qi Dezun did not answer directly. Even if he has the power in the company to handle such a big matter, he still has to ask other people's opinions.
"Okay." Yang Wendong naturally knew that this matter would not be settled as soon as we met, so he said: "Qi Dezun, I hope you make a decision on this matter as soon as possible, because Hutchison International is not my only choice."
< br>His goal has been Hutchison International and Qi Dezun from the beginning to the end. Only Qi Dezun can successfully run a medium-sized company into the future "Hutchison Whampoa", so the so-called indirect influence on other British capital is just a myth. It's just a pretense.
Of course, if Hutchison can really acquire the stocks of many high-quality British-owned companies, it will also be a good thing for him. This will require him to negotiate with Qi Dezun on how much to invest when he becomes a director of Hutchison in the future. company.
The Huangpu Group will also be one of them, but now he will not reveal his intentions.
If successful this time, investing in Hutchison can help him accomplish many strategic goals in the future.
"Okay, I will reply as soon as possible." Qi Dezun naturally thought that Yang Wendong was not telling lies.
If he were Yang Wendong, he would naturally try to communicate with a number of British-owned medium-sized foreign banks, and then choose a suitable one. Moreover, under such conditions, other foreign banks would definitely agree, although it may make his company more A Chinese shareholder can make it possible for himself and his company to reach the top of Hong Kong. He is also very excited about this situation.
A few days later, news came from Hutchison Group that it was willing to discuss cooperation. Therefore, Fang Xianjue from Changxing Financial immediately formed a comprehensive team of financial investment, legal affairs, and business to go to Hutchison International Negotiations are held with the company's headquarters.
The time soon came to December. Hong Kong's real estate market and stock market were still falling, and the same was true for Hutchison's stock. Under the request of Changxing Group to insist on the stock price one week before the day of negotiation as a condition for buying shares, Qi Dezun The others also quickly made concessions.
As a listed company, Hutchison International also had to announce such big news, so on December 12, a piece of news spread throughout the Hong Kong stock market.
Changxing Group invested HK$23.6 million in Hutchison International Group and obtained one of Hutchison International's six board seats.
PS: Please give me monthly tickets
(End of this chapter)