"So," Chen Bi's voice was filled with cruel mockery, "a businessman as shrewd as Kobayashi Tenwang, a manipulator who can use the market as an ATM and public opinion as a weapon, do you think he can't understand Hong Kong's current predicament? Can't he see the thick fog of 'mainland reclaiming Hong Kong Island' hanging over Hong Kong?"
"You want to proactively offer him the entire Landmark, a massive 20% stake, like pie in the sky, and ask him to eat it all and take on this asset that could explode at any moment?"
Shen Bi paused, giving Newbijian ample room for imagination, and then said in a tone that was almost a verdict: "Believe it or not, if you approached him right now and said, 'Mr. Xiaolin, please accept the Jardine Matheson Land Development!' What do you think his first reaction would be?"
He paused deliberately, and Newbijian's pupils contracted violently when he heard that. Then he heard Shen Bi continue, "He'll immediately conclude that your British assets have obtained some insider information and that the mainland is about to close in! That's why he's so anxious to get rid of this hot potato. Maybe before he hangs up, he'll even say to you, 'Want to trick me? In your next life!'"
"Then, without hesitation, he'll quickly inform his Asia Times after hanging up on you. Tomorrow's front-page headlines will be: 'Jardine Matheson's Last Struggle, Conspiring to Transfer Hong Kong Holdings and Drag Others Down with It!' or 'A Shocking Scam! Newbigin Begs Kobayashi to Take a Poison Pill!'"
"Not only will he not take over, but he will use this as leverage to further denigrate Hongkong Land, pushing you, Jardine Matheson, and the entire British capital into an abyss of no return! Let your stock become utter garbage! Then he can leisurely pick up the scraps scattered in the market at even lower prices!"
The knuckles of Newbigin's fingers, gripping the receiver, had turned white from the strain, their knuckles even bluish purple. Cold sweat soaked his temples and back. He felt as if an invisible hand were gripping his heart, cold and suffocating.
The picture Shen Bi paints is incredibly realistic, each step perfectly timed, directly pointing to the young man's cold, realistic business logic. If I were in Kobayashi Tenmo's shoes, faced with such a "gift," my first reaction would undoubtedly be: "Trap! A massive trap!"
The risk was too great; it was practically a gamble of one's life and future. If anything happened on the mainland, the huge amount of money invested would be wiped out immediately.
"And," Shen Bi's voice was like the hammer of final judgment, striking down without question, "where's the money? Where does he even have it? Even if he's overwhelmed by the huge opportunities inherent in the land, and has the same 'ambitions' as the Huo family, his capital pool has already reached its limit."
"Acquiring 7.5%—at an average price of HK$130 per share—would cost him nearly HK$400 million! This would have practically wiped out all of his available cash flow. Swallowing 20%? How much would that cost? At least HK$1 billion! Where would he even come up with HK$1 billion right now? Could he expect his Dragon Teng Newspapers to sell hundreds of millions of copies overnight? Or would he rely on his family connections in Tokyo to pour in the cash?"
"He has no money!"
Snap! Niubijian felt as if a barrier he had long held onto had been completely shattered by Shen Bi's series of sharp analyses. He leaned weakly against the leather chair, but the expensive Italian leather couldn't bring him any warmth.
A crushing sense of defeat and the humiliation of being completely stripped and scrutinized washed over him. Hong Kong Land, once a crowning glory, had now become a hot potato no one dared to take on? He even had to beg others to let him off the hook?
"You... you make a lot of sense." Newbigin's voice was dry, and every word seemed to be squeezed out of his throat, with the friction of gravel. He felt an unprecedented fatigue.
Shen Bi's analysis, like a cold scalpel, precisely sliced through the elegant exterior of the company, revealing the rottenness beneath and the immense uncertainty of its future. All his anger and resentment paled in comparison to the stark reality.
Begging? Facing a "prey" with no money and facing enormous risks, his "begging" is the world's greatest irony. How can he convince him? With a stack of stock certificates that could become worthless at any moment?
Chen Bi on the other end of the line seemed to have anticipated this reaction. His deep laughter echoed again, this time with a hint of playfulness and urging from someone who had succeeded. "So, my Lord Newbigin? Now, shouldn't you seriously think of a way to 'beg' this Mr. Xiaolin? For yourself, and for Jardine Matheson's survival."
"Beg?" Newbigin almost uttered the word in a groaning voice, his facial muscles twitching stiffly, revealing an expression uglier than crying. It was the sound of the last dignity of the old colonial comprador aristocracy shattering.
"Peter, even if...even if I were willing to put aside my old pride, throw away all the dignity of the Jardine Matheson and the title of knight, and go 'beg' him! What can I do? You've already blocked the way: he has no money! The risk is too huge for him to take it!"
"I really... I really can't think of any reason or bargaining chip that can impress him! Not even a single one!" His voice was filled with powerless despair.
"Haha..." Shen Bi's laughter became lighter, even with a hint of subtle mockery, as if mocking Newbijian's trapped predicament. "Funds? That's not a problem. The biggest obstacle, we at HSBC will help you remove it."
His tone carried the certainty of someone in control of the situation. "As long as Xiaolin Tianwang gives him the nod and agrees to take over Hong Kong Hutchison Whampoa, HSBC will naturally provide him with sufficient financial support to acquire this 20% stake. This money can be a loan, or we can provide a special financing guarantee for his acquisition."
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