Chapter 252 The takeover battle begins
Kangle Building in Central, Xiangjiang, this 52-story (nearly 180-meter) building is located in the most prosperous location of Xiangjiang. It is currently the first skyscraper in Xiangjiang.
Here is the headquarters of the Jardine Group, the first of the four foreign firms.
The building was completed in 1973, that is, last year. It is said that the entire building took only 16 months from the start of construction to the flat top, which seems to have broken that record.
The company responsible for the overall construction of the building is Golden Gate Construction.
A week ago, the stock prices of Jardine Land, Wharf, and Golden Gate Construction began to rebound slightly. The Jardine Group executives are naturally happy to see the rise in the stock prices of their own companies.
At this stage, the stock prices of most companies have fallen to the point of despair. Although Jardine has a big business, it cannot withstand the continuous decline in stock prices.
Therefore, everyone is optimistic about the stock price recovery.
Because of this mentality, the stock prices of the three companies rose by 10% in just one week. Such a rise made Jardine Matheson finally discover something was wrong.
In this situation, everyone knows that someone must be buying up the stocks of Hongkong Land, Wharf and Golden Gate Construction in the market.
In response to this incident, Jardine Group Chairman Henry. Keswick was not too anxious. At first, he just sent people down to investigate to see who was buying the stocks of the three companies and what their purpose was.
According to Henry. Keswick's idea must be that some investors feel that the stocks of the three companies have fallen to the same level, so they plan to take advantage of the opportunity to buy some stocks of the three companies.
However, the truth is far from as simple as he imagined.
Just this morning, the stock prices of Hongkong Land, Wharf and Golden Gate Construction rose sharply again. Compared with yesterday, the stock prices directly soared by 10%, and the stock prices of the three companies rose by more than 20% in a week.
Now, Henry. Keswick finally couldn't sit still.
Who is so generous in cleaning up the stocks of the three companies in the market? Is there any ulterior conspiracy? Until half an hour ago, Henry. Keswick never suspected that anyone would dare to attack his company.
However, things backfired. Some people really took the courage to attack Jardine, and all of them were not small.
Facing the report submitted by Niu Bijian, Henry. Keswick couldn't believe his eyes, because according to the report, the people who took action against Jardine this time actually involved three parties, and all Chinese capital, British capital and foreign capital were involved.
Citibank, Mitsubishi Bank, Bank of East Asia, Hang Seng Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC, the six top financial giants of the tripartite forces came together to open fire on Jardine, which made Henry. Keswick almost jumped out of the boss chair.
Henry. After reading the report, Keswick took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. After a while, he stared at Niu Bijian, the general manager of Jardine, with red eyes like a tiger eating people.
Henry. Keswick asked earnestly: "Are you sure there is nothing wrong with this report? Are these six banks currently buying the stocks of Hongkong Land, Wharf and Golden Gate Construction?"
Although some couldn't believe it, Henry. Keswick looked at Niu Bijian who didn't seem to be lying in front of him, but in the end he didn't deceive himself.
As early as a few days ago, Henry. Keswick received a report from the group personnel that the outstanding shares of Hongkong Land Company, Wharf and Golden Gate Construction in the market were rapidly decreasing.
At first, he didn't care about it, but he just randomly sent someone to investigate. Until today, the stock price fluctuated abnormally, Henry. It was only after Keswick found out that something was wrong, and asked Niu Bijian, the general manager, to investigate in person.
Before, the people of Jardine Matheson Co., Ltd. had not been able to collect useful information. The main reason behind it was that the power of the six major banks was too great, and ordinary people could not get inside information from the exchange at all.
As the general manager of Jardine Matheson, Niu Bijian's status is only inferior to Henry. Under Keswick, relying on Jardine's human energy in Xiangjiang, he wanted to inquire about something, even if the exchange concealed it, some things would still reach Niu Bijian's ears.
After repeatedly identifying the forces behind it, Niu Bijian discovered that this was definitely a big conspiracy against the entire Jardine, so he rushed back to the company and reported the matter to Henry. Keswick knew.
The six major banks joined forces to attack. For Jardine Matheson, this matter is no less than a catastrophe. If one is not careful, if one of them is not handled well, the entire Jardine Matheson Group may be destroyed at once.
Facing the six major banks, Rao is the Jardine family with a big business, covering the sky in Xiangjiang, but Henry. Keswick still shuddered.
Is this a long-premeditated plan to put Yi He to death, or is there another inside story?
Henry. Keswick: "Have you found out the specific reason why the six major banks quietly acquired our company's stock?"
It stands to reason that the six major banks belong to three different circles, and it is absolutely impossible to urinate in one pot, but now they are so unanimous in targeting Jardine Matheson, which makes Henry. Keswick was a little puzzled.
For this kind of thing, it is impossible for the six major banks to target Jardine for no reason.
Niu Bijian shook his head and said: "The specific reason has not been investigated yet, but I have asked someone to inquire, and I believe there will be news back soon."
"The most important thing now is how to deal with this matter. According to the news from the exchange, many stockholders are now selling their stocks after seeing the stocks of Landmark, Wharf and Golden Gate Construction rising all the way."
"According to the data of the exchange, the shares held by the four banks targeting the two companies of Wharf and Golden Gate Construction have surpassed ours. If no action is taken, I am afraid"
Niu Bijian did not say the following. The market value of Hongkong Land, Wharf and Gammon Construction is not low, especially Hongkong Land is the core of the core enterprises under Jardine Matheson.
Once Jardine loses control of the three companies, what will happen is predictable.
The reason why Jardine became the top of the four foreign firms has always been due to its own strong strength. In the three-acre area of Xiangjiang, Jardine has always eaten others, and no one has ever dared to tease Jardine.
Even if the opponents are the six major banks this time, Jardine cannot sit still. If the six major banks are allowed to acquire three companies, then Jardine will not face the six major banks next.
By that time, the six banks may become sixteen in the blink of an eye, or even sixty.
——
(end of this chapter)