Warren Tony sighed, "I will try my best to persuade Wujiang Group to raise the acquisition price..."

The following day, Warren Tony met with Zhou Anping.

For the sake of the original shareholders, he had to tentatively ask Zhou Anping, "Mr. Zhou, Hong Kong Telephone Company was established in the 1920s and holds the exclusive right to provide and operate telephone services in Hong Kong. It has always held the leading position and monopolized the fixed-line and international telephone business. Therefore, the shareholders have expressed their hope that Wujiang Communications Technology Company can raise the acquisition price a little more!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Anping considered for a moment and asked, "How much will it increase?"

“Based on Hong Kong Telephone Company’s current market capitalization, that’s a 40% premium,” Warren Tony said.

Zhou Anping frowned and said, "Hong Kong Telephone Company's current market value is HK$12 billion. With a 40% premium, that means an increase of HK$4.8 billion..."

Zhou Anping shook his head and said, "The premium is too high. Wujiang doesn't absolutely need Hong Kong Telephone Company. We cannot agree to this condition!"

Warren Tony said, "35% is fine, isn't it!"

Zhou Anping said firmly, "Wujiang can offer a 25% premium, but no more!"

Warren Tony said, "Then I'll go back and discuss it with the shareholders!"

“Alright, then you should go back and discuss it properly,” Zhou Anping said calmly, showing no hurry.

"Then I'll take my leave!"

Warren Tony stood up to say goodbye.

...

Europe, Britain.

Rex Eden's trip went relatively smoothly. He found the telecommunications service company, negotiated for about a week, and then secured the contract.

The acquisition price was cheaper than the price Li Ka-shing later paid for it.

Only HK$7 billion.

Wujiang Group sent its best personnel to take over the company and renamed it "Orange" Telecommunications Company.

Orange Telecom's first task was to develop GSM mobile phone services. To help Orange Telecom develop its GSM business, Wujiang Group invested an additional HK$3 billion in Orange Telecom.

Most of this money was used to build GSM base stations and open service centers.

At this moment, Zhao Ye listened to Reske Eden's report and, thinking about Nokia's rise to prominence, ordered, "Have Orange Telecom cooperate with Nokia to produce customized phones for Orange Telecom!!!" Wujiang Group hadn't even developed its own phones yet, so they had no choice but to cooperate with Nokia.

Customized machines did not exist in this era.

If Orange Telecom were to be the first to launch a "customized Orange phone," it would surely win over a large number of users.

Customized phones are mobile phones specially customized by telecom operators. These phones have certain extended applications and services of the telecom operator pre-installed, which may restrict the service functions or networks of other operators.

Customized phones are priced much lower than regular phones because telecom operators pay a portion of the cost, making them attractive to a large number of consumers.

In this day and age, customized machines are definitely a killer feature.

With this momentum, Orange Telecom will soon be able to rise in the UK and even the European market.

After Zhao Ye finished explaining to Rex Eden in detail what the customized machine was and what its function was.

Rex Eden was greatly astonished.

"The release of the Orange customized handset will undoubtedly cause a great sensation in the British telecommunications market, and this will be a rare opportunity for Orange Telecom to develop!" Rex Eden exclaimed.

"That's right! Therefore, Orange Telecom must build GSM base stations and service centers before the 'customized handset' is released!"

“Yes, I will have a good talk with Sean Richardson about this and make sure he carries out your plan, boss!” Rex Aiden nodded and said.

Sean Richardson is the new CEO of Orange Telecom, a highly capable executive poached from Vodafone.

...

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, Zhou Anping's attitude remained firm. Warren Tony tried his best to persuade Zhou Anping, but to no avail.

At this time, the senior management of the Eastern Telegraph Company did not want to engage in vicious competition with the Wujiang Group, thereby allowing Hong Kong Telephone Company to reap the benefits.

On this day, Luke Teresa, the general manager of Cable & Wireless (Hong Kong) Limited, came to Zhou Anping at the request of the parent company to express his intention to cooperate.

“Mr. Zhou, Hong Kong Telephone Company is deliberately provoking a battle between Wujiang and Cable & Wireless to drive up the stock price and reap the benefits. In my opinion, why don’t we, Cable & Wireless and Wujiang Group, cooperate to jointly acquire Hong Kong Telephone Company?” Luke Teresa suggested.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Anping was slightly startled: "Tell me, how did Wujiang and the Great Eastern Telegraph Bureau join forces, and how will the shares be distributed in the end!"

Luke Teresa smiled and said, "Cable Telegraph originally planned to acquire Hong Kong Telephone Company and then merge it with Cable Telegraph (Hong Kong) Limited to form a new company called Hong Kong Telecom. Therefore, our cooperation method is that your company will provide the capital, while Cable Telegraph will contribute its Hong Kong branch as an asset, and together we will merge with Hong Kong Telephone Company to establish Hong Kong Telecom! As for how the shares will be allocated, I think that as long as the cooperation intention is reached, the equity allocation can be discussed slowly and should not be a problem."

Luke Teresa smiled bitterly to himself. Cable & Wireless simply couldn't afford the huge sums of money to acquire Hong Kong Telephone Company. If it weren't for the interference of the Wujiang Group, Cable & Wireless would have acquired Hong Kong Telephone Company with a small amount of cash plus equity.

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