20demayo Chapter 139 9 Dragons Warehouse Acquisition 1
Chapter 139 9 Dragons Warehouse Acquisition 1
The seas surrounding Hong Kong are calm, with occasional sea breezes carrying away the city's heat.
It blows through the gaps between streets and skyscrapers.
However, it couldn't bring even a trace of coolness to this city, which is known as one of the Four Asian Tigers.
After finishing the last document in his office at Zhonghua Group's headquarters, Lin Zhou picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
He held an unlit cigar between his fingers, his gaze fixed on the unfolded newspaper.
The headline of the financial section of the Zhonghua Daily is prominently displayed: "Wharf Holdings' share price hits a new high as foreign consortiums continue to increase their holdings."
But at this moment, these words were far less attractive to him than the terracotta warrior ornament that had just been brought from the mainland on his desk.
That was a souvenir specially sent by the director when the crew of "A Step into the Past" arrived in Xishi.
It is said that the replica was found by chance while filming in mainland China, but it is still finely crafted and has a rustic and dignified charm.
Since Lin Zhou managed to get the "A Step into the Past" crew filming smoothly in mainland China through the connections of that high-ranking official, Lin Zhou has been able to enjoy a period of "leisure" for the first time.
It's no longer the anxiety of being chased by countless trivial matters at the TV station that I felt a while ago, nor the tension of working non-stop in the early days of taking over.
Rather, it is a sense of composure that comes from having control over the overall situation.
Every morning, he would appear on time in the office at the headquarters of Zhonghua Group, handling important documents that had undergone rigorous screening...
Whether it's a subsidiary's development plan for the next year or a game console sales report from an overseas branch, he can usually set the tone with just a few approvals.
The afternoons are even more pleasant.
He would have his driver take the newly purchased black Rolls-Royce to inspect the various subsidiaries.
Sometimes I would go to Zhonghua Records to check on the production progress of the new album, and then chat with established singers and stars like Zhao Yazhi.
Sometimes I would go to Zhonghua Real Estate to see if the properties I had purchased had been rented out under their management.
Occasionally, I would go to the factory in Zhonghua Industrial Park and watch as cartridge game machines were packaged and shipped from the assembly line.
Such uneventful days passed in the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by.
There was no thrilling business battle as everyone imagined, no scheming and deceit.
Even the phone ringing had become much less frequent, which gave Lin Zhou a sense of leisure, as if he had stolen half a day of peace from his busy life.
At three o'clock that afternoon, Lin Zhou had just come out of his office after taking a nap, still feeling a little lazy.
He had just sat down on the sofa when his secretary, Chen Man, walked in hurriedly in high heels.
She held a thick folder in her hands, her face showing a hint of urgency, breaking the rare tranquility.
"Boss, there's been some new activity in the Wharf Holdings stock that you asked me to keep a close eye on."
Chen Man's voice was clear and crisp, yet it couldn't hide a hint of seriousness.
She walked to the desk, gently placed the folder in front of Lin Zhou, and pointed her finger at a chart on one of the pages.
"Look, this is the stock price trend over the past month; it has almost skyrocketed."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhou slowly opened his eyes, the languidness in his eyes instantly fading away, replaced by a sharp glint.
He put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and focused his gaze on the chart.
The red line rose steeply upwards, like an unstoppable bugle call, stirring up quite a few waves on the Hong Kong stock market map.
Wharf Holdings.
These three words had lingered in Lin Zhou's heart for far too long.
That was something he had already started thinking about when he secretly got rid of Boss Li.
The memories of later generations are as clear as yesterday: in the battle for control of Wharf Holdings, Mr. Li held 20% of the shares, which he eventually sold to the shipping magnate.
That transaction, seemingly a concession by Mr. Li, was in fact a crucial turning point in the rise of Hong Kong's Chinese conglomerates...
With this 20% stake and his own strategic planning, the shipping magnate finally wrested control of Wharf Holdings from the foreigners.
That was the first time that Hong Kong's Chinese community had won such a resounding victory in a direct confrontation with foreign conglomerates.
Since then, Chinese conglomerates and their influence have truly begun to rise in Hong Kong's business landscape, gradually breaking the long-standing monopoly held by foreigners.
All of this should have been a mark left by Boss Li in the long river of history.
But now, Boss Li has already been kicked out by Lin Zhou, so his 20% stake is naturally gone.
Therefore, this matter should be taken over by Lin Zhou.
From the moment Boss Li fell from power, Lin Zhou had already decided to make his own plans.
So, two years ago, he secretly instructed his subordinates to gradually accumulate Wharf Holdings shares through various hidden accounts.
He kept a very low profile, like a hunter lurking in the shadows, patiently waiting for the best opportunity.
Hong Kong's stock market is always volatile, and foreigners are particularly adept at sensing opportunities.
If it is too ostentatious, it will inevitably arouse the vigilance of foreign conglomerates. At that time, not only will the cost of the acquisition increase greatly, but it may also bring unnecessary trouble.
Therefore, Lin Zhou chose to lie low.
This period of dormancy lasted for several years.
It wasn't until the 1980s, when Hong Kong's economy experienced a new boom and Wharf Holdings' value became increasingly prominent, that Lin Zhou finally got Chen Man to start paying close attention to news about Wharf Holdings.
He knew that the storm that would befall Wharf Holdings was about to begin.
"Explain the situation in detail, what is the current situation?"
Lin Zhou's voice was low, carrying a hint of barely perceptible expectation.
His fingers unconsciously traced patterns on the chart.
Chen Man took a deep breath, opened the folder, and took out a detailed report.
She spoke a few seconds faster: "Boss, the ones driving up Wharf Holdings' stock price right now are those foreign conglomerates."
They've been aggressively increasing their holdings lately, and have even announced plans to dilute existing shareholders' equity by increasing share capital.
Increase share capital.
This is a common tactic used by foreigners, and it's also their most ruthless move.
By issuing new shares, the original shareholding ratio is reduced, so even if the shipping magnate holds a lot of shares, they will be diluted to almost nothing.
At that time, the foreigners will be able to firmly control Wharf Holdings by subscribing to new shares.
"These foreigners are determined to drive the shipping magnate to the brink of ruin."
Chen Man's tone carried a hint of indignation.
"They raised the stock price in order to increase the cost of the shipping magnate's acquisition."
Wharf Holdings' share price has now risen to an outrageous level. At this rate, even if the shipping magnate wanted to continue increasing his holdings, he probably wouldn't be able to afford it.
Lin Zhou nodded slightly, but his face did not show much surprise.
All of this was within his expectations.
The foreigners will stop at nothing to keep Kowloon Wharf, this lucrative piece of the pie.
"What's the shipping magnate doing? Anything happening?"
Lin Zhou asked. He was more concerned about the movements of the shipping magnate who enjoyed a prominent reputation in Hong Kong's Chinese community.
"The shipping magnate is no longer in Hong Kong."
Chen Man immediately replied, "I heard it's about a business deal in Europe, but I've already received the news and am rushing back."
However, even if he rushes back, it will probably be too late.
The foreigners' move was too hasty and ruthless; the stock price has risen so quickly that the shipping magnate's funds may struggle to keep up.
Chen Man's words were all reasonable.
Anyone in his shoes would think that the shipping magnate is in grave danger this time.
Lin Zhou simply smiled faintly and remained silent.
He leaned back in his chair, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table, making a crisp sound.
Seeing Lin Zhou's confident demeanor, Chen Man's doubts gradually dissipated.
Having been by Lin Zhou's side for so long, she knew that her boss never fought a battle unprepared.