Chapter 359: The Beginning of Shocking Changes!

Entering September, Yin Jun actually cares about another thing besides "Kirin Weekly".

This incident changed the trajectory of a middle-tier real estate company, and also changed the trajectory of a middle-aged man with glasses.

It made this real estate company the largest real estate conglomerate in the world, and it also made this middle-aged man with glasses the richest man in Asia for more than ten years.

This is the famous incident of Cheung Kong's annexation of Hutchison Whampoa.

It is also the largest "snake swallowing an elephant" event in the commercial history of Xiangjiang.

At the beginning of March this year, Hutchison Whampoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Wei Li, in an interview with a British newspaper, uttered nonsense, saying that he was a genius in business operations, and that Hutchison Whampoa was able to get from dying to its current status, all on its own , It won't work if you change anyone.

To be honest, Wei Li is indeed a business genius.

This Australian-born Scottish native worked as a logger in his early years. He left Australia to work in Malaysia at the age of 19. After struggling all the way, he came to Xiangjiang in 1964 and became the general manager of Xiapa Motor Company. Developed the Xiapa company in crisis into a huge enterprise group with 7 companies.

Three years later, he took over Xinchang Company, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, and turned it around in two years, earning him the title of "company doctor".

But this was only the beginning of his legendary career. In this year, that is, 1975, Hutchison & Co., which was still majestic a few years ago, fell from the top to the bottom. Countless shareholders implored the major shareholder HSBC to end this century-old store. , distribute the remaining assets to shareholders.

However, the then general manager and vice chairman of HSBC Bank, Shen Bi, disagreed with this. He felt that Hutchison was still saved, so he invited Wei Li, who was also from Scotland, to be the vice chairman and executive of Hutchison. President.

He also promised Wei Li that after he brings Hutchison Matheson to profitability, he can enjoy 2.5% of the net profit dividend.

Naturally, Wei Li readily agreed. During these four years or so, Wei Li carried out a series of drastic corporate reforms, sold a series of unprofitable businesses, and streamlined all unnecessary personnel and administrative expenses. Just one year later, that is, in 1976, Hutchison Matheson achieved a major breakthrough in profit of 107 million, and Wei Li also received a huge bonus of 2.6 million in this year, and became a famous super worker in Hong Kong back then. manager.

In the following time, Wei Li started his own transformation by leaps and bounds even more radically.

He bought shares in Watsons Company and Whampoa Dockyard and turned them into his own subsidiary companies, and then at the end of 1977, he asked the board of directors to approve the merger. On January 3, 2011, Hutchison Whampoa Company officially replaced Hutchison Matheson's listing status, which is the listed company Hutchison Whampoa we see today.

As of March of this year, Hutchison Whampoa's assets are conservatively estimated to be 6 billion Hong Kong dollars, which is more than a hundred times higher than four years ago!

Few people can match this kind of achievement, so Wei Li also began to feel elated, and said the above-mentioned proud words.

It didn't matter if he said that, but he annoyed one person.

Shen Bi.

In 1975, Shen Bi was the general manager and vice chairman of HSBC Bank. In 1977, he was promoted to the chairman of HSBC Bank.

Let's put it this way, what is the status of the Federal Reserve in the United States, and what is the status of HSBC in Xiangjiang, even more powerful.

From this we can see how powerful Shen Bi is.

When Wei Li said this, he completely attributed the credit for Hutchison Whampoa to him alone, and Shen Bi immediately became angry. Nima, I didn't promote you to this position, what a fool? In terms of credit, I am the number one, okay? The leader who knows people and makes good use of them is the first credit!

Scots are stingy, and Shen Bi is no exception, so he wrote it down for Wei Li in his little book.

Next, Wei Li really felt that he had done a lot of hard work and was full of control over Hutchison Whampoa, so he began to install his cronies on a large scale, and became more and more arbitrary. Many things were not reported to HSBC, the largest shareholder, for approval. I made my own decision.

One time doesn't count, two or three times doesn't matter, after doing it seven or eight times in a row, Shen Bi finally exploded.

I'm stupid, if I don't give you some power, you still don't know who said this about Hutchison Whampoa?

Originally, MacLehose had been discussing with Shen Bi for the past two years. Isn't it a little inappropriate for you, a super big bank that controls the fate of Xiangjiang Company, to have so many assets outside the financial industry? How about reducing some non-core business assets, so that it will be easier for the British side, and your reputation in Hong Kong will be better?

Originally, Shen Bi didn't want to do this. I, HSBC, have money and can have so many subsidiaries. Can you control me?

But now that Wei Li has committed suicide like this, Shen Bi began to think about it. Just in time, I took Hutchison Whampoa out as a favor and showed the British and Xiangjiang government. We are not unreasonable.

Of course, it is impossible to sell Hutchison Whampoa in such a hurry.

Who can take over Hutchison Whampoa well and continue to develop it, so that he will not be ridiculed by Wei Li as a "prodigal boy" in the future, this is an issue that must be considered absolutely.

Another one, after taking control of Hutchison Whampoa, who can still be respectful to himself and fully support his work, this also needs to be carefully considered.

Bao Yugang was originally the best choice.

But on the one hand, Bao Yugang has already set his sights on Wharf, and it is really inappropriate to give him Hutchison Whampoa, which is of similar size; With such a relationship, he can't be regarded as his confidant, and with Bao Yugang's status, it is impossible for him to listen to his errands.

After looking around, Shen Bi chose Li Chaoren, the chairman of Cheung Kong Industrial Group, who had always been flattering to him and was even close to him.

Over the past seven or eight years, Li Chaoren has always wanted to make friends with Shen Bi, but Shen Bi looked down on him at first, but after Li Chaoren made a big move and smashed down the properties on the subways in Central and Admiralty, Shen Bi felt that This person is very courageous and capable in doing business, not that kind of mediocrity.

Next, Shen Bi tentatively entrusted Li Chaoren with the work of re-building the Huaren Building, but Li Chaoren completed it with the fastest speed and the best quality. Shen Bi felt that Li Chaoren was still able to act very well. of.

The third test was when Bao Yugang bought Wharf stocks last year, Shen Bi asked Li Chaoren to give up the stocks in his hand to Bao Yugang, and Li Chaoren gave it without saying a word, which also made Shen Bi feel that he was very obedient.

Another point is that Li Chaoren is in the real estate business. Who in Xiangjiang can do real estate without the support of the bank? Which bank dare not listen to HSBC?

So even if Hutchison Whampoa was given to Li Chaoren in the future, and Li Chaoren became rebellious, Shen Bi still had a way to kill the traitor.

Bao Yugang is different. Not only is he a director of HSBC, he is the only Chinese director, and he has a very good relationship with Japanese banks. Many of his funds come from Japanese banks, and he does not rely on HSBC. Shen Bi It is impossible to control Bao Yugang - besides, Bao Yugang is still a knight personally appointed by the Queen of England, and his status is higher than Shen Bi, how can he control it?

Another reason is that Li Chaoren has a very good relationship with Huajing in the past two years. He went to Huajing last year to meet the biggest boss. The group also has active cooperation, which proves that Li Chaoren has good contacts in the mainland.

He has a better relationship with Li Chaoren. If Huaguo really takes back Xiangjiang, having such a relationship will help HSBC to develop steadily in Xiangjiang in the future, and it will also help him to control Shen Bi.

Therefore, after so many comprehensive conditions, Shen Bi called Li Chaoren and asked him if he wanted Hutchison Whampoa.

It is conceivable that Li Chaoren was overjoyed when such a large piece of super cake fell on his head. Of course, he firmly answered that he wanted it.

Then the two began to discuss how to sell Hutchison Whampoa to Cheung Kong Industries.

Of course Yin Jun knew how they discussed and acted.

To be honest, after 20 years, no, even 10 years later, people will be attacked crazily, and the direct business will be cancelled, but in the era of 1979, Shen Bi and Li Chaoren were successful!

In addition to the special environment and the identity of HSBC, there are also some changes in the external situation, as well as the element of luck.

For example, the global financial reform such as "Banks should not hold too many assets other than their main business" is a huge loophole, and it also allows many people to eat a lot of money during this reform. important prerequisites.

Yin Jun didn't dare to influence the direction of this incident.

Even when Li Chaoren vaguely asked Yin Jun for his opinion last time, Yin Jun only answered him very conservatively, and he fully supported it.

But other than that, Yin Jun didn't make any moves.

If because of some superfluous things of his own, Cheung Kong Industrial Group will not be able to eat Hutchison Whampoa, then Yin Jun is not only Li Chaoren's sinner, but also his own sinner!

He wants to rely on the skyrocketing stock price of Cheung Kong Industries to make money and build his own culture and entertainment empire!

Without Hutchison Whampoa, it would be very difficult for Superman Li to become a real superman again!

Fortunately, until September 25th, the overall business environment in Xiangjiang was still calm.

But on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 25th, Shen Bi first convened a board meeting of HSBC to discuss whether it is possible to transfer the shares of Hutchison Whampoa to Li Chaoren. With Shen Bi's full efforts and the help of luck, The result was successfully passed.

Why do you say luck?

Because the afternoon that Shen Bi specially chose was the day when the two executives from Swire Group and Jardine Matheson Group were unable to attend the board meeting due to business, the directors of HSBC Bank of these two tough British-funded institutions would certainly not be willing to do so Easily give Hutchison Whampoa to a Chinese.

Just this afternoon, after Li Chaoren and Shen Bi signed the transfer agreement, they finally held a press conference happily, announcing that after negotiations with Hutchison Whampoa's largest shareholder HSBC, Cheung Kong Industrial Group will pay 7.1 per share. At a price of RMB 1,000,000, the acquisition of 90 million shares of Hutchison Whampoa in the hands of HSBC, which will occupy a total of 22.4% of this part of the shares, will make Cheung Kong Enterprises become the largest single shareholder of Hutchison Whampoa!

In fact, he became the largest shareholder of Hutchison Whampoa and its power holder!

As soon as the news came out, the whole Xiangjiang was instantly shocked! !