Reborn Tycoon Rise

After China and the United States had good relations and the mainland implemented reform and opening up, Shen Bi, as the most visionary executive in the history of HSBC, had long realized that it was impossible for Britain to continue to control Hong Kong after 1997, because any permanent member of the Council would not tolerate being surrounded by " colony” existence.

For a hundred years, HSBC has been playing the role of the central bank of Hong Kong. Once Hong Kong returns, it will be a very difficult matter whether HSBC can maintain its transcendent status.

As the current chief executive of HSBC, Shen Bi's greatest contribution during his tenure is to lay out two strategic plans for HSBC: supporting controllable Chinese consortiums and internationalization.

The mainland government began to contact various Chinese business tycoons in Hong Kong as early as 1976. Chinese businessman Huo Yingdong also went around for this matter. However, HSBC had offended him a long time ago, so it chose a new target: Li Jiacheng and Bao Yugang.

Bao Yugang himself has a very good relationship with HSBC. HSBC is the major shareholder of Global International, and Bao Yugang is also the first director in the history of HSBC. This is why after the Wharf War broke out in 1980, Bao Yugang was the only one I borrowed HK$2.1 billion over the phone (secured).

Li Jiacheng is also a figure that HSBC values ​​​​extremely. In 1978, Li Jiacheng gave HSBC enough face to give up the acquisition of Wharf. At the same time, in the reconstruction project of the Chinese Bank, Li Jiacheng's performance satisfied Shen Bi. In 1978, In October, Li Jiacheng was invited to participate in the 29th anniversary military parade and also served as a director of CITIC Group. He is already one of the important figures in the eyes of the mainland government. This is also in line with HSBC's requirements to cultivate Chinese capital. More importantly, Li Jiacheng His main business is real estate, and real estate can never be separated from banks. HSBC can control it very well.

However, the sudden rise of Xu Zhi still broke HSBC's plan, and the battle for Hutchison Whampoa reached a climax. The two major Chinese capital openly confronted each other in the stock market. In order to support Li Jiacheng, HSBC also invested a lot of money, and the war burned from Hutchison Whampoa to the Yangtze River. After the industrialization, the nature has completely changed. Once Li Jiacheng loses, HSBC will also suffer heavy losses.

Originally, with the "Central Bank of Hong Kong" continuously injecting capital behind him, Li Jiacheng could not lose. However, Shen Bi never dreamed that Xu Zhi would actually acquire SITC Bank in the United States.

SITC Bank is the sixth largest bank and the largest retail lending bank in New York State. It is also ranked among the top 100 in the entire United States. However, due to the oil crisis and economic recession in 1974-1975, non-performing loans appeared, thus In 1980, HSBC acquired 51% of the shares of SITC for US$262 million, successfully entering the world's largest market, the United States. This was also the first step in HSBC's internationalization.

Shen Bi said: "How could Xu Sheng think of acquiring shares in SITC? This company's performance over the years has not been good!"

Xu Zhi said with a smile: "I like bargain hunting the most. SITC Bank has indeed been operating poorly in recent years. The fundamental reason is that operating errors during the first oil crisis resulted in excessive debt. However, in recent years, it has actually There has been an improvement only because of the current global banking tightening and loan interest rates being too high. All of SITC's profits have been repaid to the loans, so the profits on the books are not very good. As long as the economy recovers, SITC will definitely resume its previous performance.

And most importantly, SITC Bank is also one of the top 100 banks in the United States, with offices spread across a large number of cities in North America. Being able to acquire such a bank is a once-in-a-century opportunity! "

"Indeed." Shen Bi smiled. He understood that Xu Zhi's last sentence was meant for him. A few years ago, he had already prepared to internationalize HSBC. In order to obtain the consent of the Hong Kong government, Shen Bi took the initiative. It gave up some special treatment of HSBC as a "quasi-central bank" and intended to fully commercialize HSBC and completely decouple it from politics. The price involved is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

HSBC's internationalization is divided into two steps. First, it must enter the US market, and then return to Europe after the US market stabilizes.

It is extremely troublesome to acquire a US bank. HSBC, a small regional bank, does not like it and it is not in line with its strategic intentions. HSBC, a larger bank that can cover the entire United States, cannot afford to acquire it, and the US government may not agree.

After spending countless funds on investigations, SITC Bank became the best choice for HSBC to “go out of Hong Kong and enter the world”. However, due to price reasons, the negotiations were never in place. Not many people in Xiangjiang knew about this matter, but in the United States, many people in the government and banking circles knew it very well.

After thinking for a while, Shen Bi said: "Xu Sheng, we are all smart people. You can't run an American bank. The purpose of the acquisition is self-evident. SITC Bank is indeed very important to HSBC, but Li Jiacheng It's the same, it's hard for me to make a decision, but what you said before is right, this matter should end!"

Xu Zhidao: "Then how do you want to end it?"

Shen Bi said: "First of all, the SITC shares in your hand must be sold to HSBC!"

Xu Zhi smiled and said: "Yes, as long as the price is right, no problem!"

Shen Bi asked: "What price does Xu Sheng come up with?"

Xu Zhi smiled and said: "300 million US dollars."

Shen Bi said: "It's impossible, the price is too high."

Xu Zhi smiled and said: "Then there's no point in talking about it. I spent about the same amount on the acquisition. Mr. Shen Bi can't let me lose money, right?"

Shen Bi thought for a while and said: "Let's do this, Xu Sheng, I can agree to buy your shares of SITC Bank for US$280 million. In addition, I will lend you a low-interest loan of HK$1 billion for five years." How about you, 6% interest?"

Xu Zhi thought for a while and said: "The interest is okay, but I want to change the method. I want this money to be returned in one lump sum with interest after 5 years!"

Shen Bi frowned for a while, then nodded in agreement: "Okay!"

"Congratulations to HSBC for successfully acquiring Bank of America. As long as the Hutchison Whampoa matter is over, we can trade immediately!" Xu Zhi immediately said with a smile. Due to the global economic downturn, the mortgage interest rate in Xiangjiang is basically around 12% now. The interest on deposits is almost 6%, and the low-interest loan of 1 billion Hong Kong dollars is very valuable.

The reason why it was changed to a one-time return after 5 years is that not only can I make good use of the funds in the past few years, but I can also save a lot of money when the Hong Kong dollar depreciates in 1983.

Shen Bi smiled and said: "As for the current situation in Xiangjiang, there is no point in continuing to fight. Xu Sheng, I can persuade Li Jiacheng to give up Hutchison Whampoa's stocks and let you gain controlling rights, but you must also promise not to acquire any more Cheung Kong Holdings shares.”

Xu Zhi nodded and said: "No problem, I currently hold 28% of Yangtze River stocks. As long as Li Jiacheng does not maliciously dilute my shares in the future, I will not forcefully acquire more Yangtze River stocks!"

Even if Hutchison Whampoa is lost, Li Jiacheng's Cheung Kong Holdings is still a very worthwhile investment company. Many people think that without Hutchison, there would be no achievements of Li Jiacheng in later generations. This is actually not entirely true. In later generations, Cheung Kong Holdings acquired Before Hutchison Whampoa, Cheung Kong had the largest land reserve in Hong Kong. By 1981, land prices in Hong Kong soared, and Cheung Kong's net profit reached HK$1.09 billion. Its market value ranked fifth in Hong Kong, and the second among real estate companies.

With Hutchison, Li Jiacheng has soared to the sky, but in this life, even if he loses Hutchison, with the support of HSBC, Li Jiacheng may not become the richest man in China as he will in the future, but his achievements will still not be too low.

Shen Bi continued: "As for the Hutchison Whampoa stocks in your hands, you and I have to discuss how to trade and how much to trade. Let's do this. I will meet with Li Jiacheng first, and then the three of us will meet again to deal with each other face to face. Once this matter is resolved, you two will be the future leaders of Xiangjiang, and there may be more cooperation in the future."

"Okay, thank you very much, Mr. Shen Bi!" Xu Zhi nodded and agreed. In the Xiangjiang business world, there are no permanent enemies and no permanent friends. After the later Bao Yugang acquired Wharf, he reunited with Land and Land a few months later. Cooperation, for the same reason.