"How do you think those small shareholders who just had a glimmer of hope, counting on Jardine Matheson to stabilize prices, will react? 'Kobayashi Tenbo' has already sold his shares and run! Jardine Matheson's small investment is simply a sham! Disaster is imminent!"
Shen Bi's voice was filled with a coldness that came from someone who saw through the dark side of human nature:
"Then the stampede will be ten times more brutal than it is now! The 20% below HSBC's mortgage line will be instantly crushed into the mud! It will be truly hopeless! Newbigin's hundreds of millions? They'll be swallowed up in the blink of an eye, without even a sound! You want him to die like this?"
These words fully exposed the deadly murderous intent behind Lin Huowang’s “well-intentioned advice”!
At this point, all feints have been used up and all cards have been revealed.
Chen Bi knew that Lin Huowang wanted it, but was just haggling over the price; Lin Huowang also knew that Chen Bi had to sell, and HSBC had a huge motivation to push the deal through - to eliminate the risk of bad loans, maintain financial order, and more importantly, to find an agent who was "safe" enough, kept a distance from the mainland, and was "contradictory" enough to oppose the Huo family to control the land, maintain the invisible control of British capital and the balance of Hong Kong Island.
Shen Bi took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and his voice carried a final showdown and subtle concession:
"Okay! Mr. Xiaolin! Since you insist on getting a bargain, I'll make a concession! 20% of Hong Kong's shares, the total price remains at 7 billion, but..."
He threw out a new weight:
"You only need to pay HK$100 million out of your own pocket! HSBC will still cover the remaining HK$1 billion loan! Furthermore, that HK$100 million is just HSBC's 'loan start-up capital'; you don't need to pay any additional funds to Jardine Matheson! This loan is for you to repay the HK$1 billion owed to Jardine Matheson, release the mortgage, and get the shares! Do you understand? With your HK$100 million start-up, you'll get a 20% stake worth HK$1.4 billion! Add to your existing 7.5%, and your position as the controlling shareholder will be unshakable!"
Shen Bi's tone was firm:
"If the Huo, Bao, and Li families knew about this price, they'd probably think the sun was rising from the west! They'd wake up laughing in their dreams! Xiao Linsheng, this is the limit I can offer! Land is not cheap, and you still expect to take this jewel in the crown for the price of a rotten vegetable."
The conditions are indeed generous! 100 million in start-up capital, leveraging 1.4 billion in assets!
In the living room, Gao Qiaohao's eyes widened as he listened, and he stared at the boss nervously.
This time, Lin Huowang did not refuse or ridicule immediately.
He fell into true silence.
There was only a faint crackling sound of electricity in the receiver, as if one could feel the pressure of Shen Bi holding his breath on the other end of the phone.
The silence lasted longer than any time before.
Shen Bi did not urge him. He knew that the prey had already been caught in the net and was making its final struggle.
Finally, Lin Huowang's voice rang out again, steady, low, and with a clarity that felt like the dust had settled:
"This condition... is fine."
Shen Bi's heart instantly dropped. It's done!
But just as this thought came to mind, Lin Huowang's next words made him feel nervous again:
"However, I have one condition."
Shen Bi frowned slightly, but did not lose his temper: "Please speak."
Lin Huowang's voice was calm, but every word he said was as heavy as a thousand pounds:
"Boss Shen Bi, to be honest, my pockets are really empty. I can't even come up with 100 million for start-up capital. Not to mention that I have acquired so many small Chinese-funded enterprises. I have to invest money in them to fill the holes and develop them."
He paused, then made a shocking request:
"Please ask Jardine Matheson, Newbigin's company, to lend me HK$300 million at a low interest rate for working capital."
"Furthermore, the contract terms for this 300 million loan must be identical to your HSBC loan! It clearly states: If any changes occur within three years that affect Hong Kong's political stability, I will not repay the 300 million! At that time, I will use my Hong Kong shares to pay off the debt! If necessary, the debt will be written off!"
As if this wasn't enough, Lin Huowang's voice was firm and decisive, with an unquestionable determination:
"Also, after I take over the Hong Kong Land Group, I don't like others telling me what to do. Those people that Jardine Matheson has placed on the Hong Kong Land Board and management, be they horses or cattle, have Newbigin clear them all out within a week! Make sure the handover is clean! My people will take over. No one will be left behind!"
“Bang!”
There seemed to be a tiny sound of something hard falling on the table or a pen breaking from the other end of the phone!
“…”
There was only dead silence in the receiver.
How can this be called a condition? This is simply pissing and pooping on HSBC and Jardine Matheson! Requiring sellers of high-quality assets to sell at a low price, and then in turn providing a 300 million yuan low-interest loan to the buyers? And with a risk exemption clause? And then ruthlessly clearing out the original controllers?
Isn't this like giving away 300 million in cash for free? Doesn't that mean Lin Huowang got away with a 20% stake without spending a cent, and also got 200 million in cash along with it?!
Even though Shen Bi's cultivation skills were impeccable, the lion's yawning mouth still made him lose his breath and his head buzz. He felt a surge of blood and anger rush to his head, and the calmness he had cultivated over the years was almost torn apart by this shameless condition.
Then, a loud laugh that was almost inappropriate burst out from the receiver:
"Hahaha... Xiao Linsheng!!!" Chen Bi's voice was filled with a complex mix of disbelief and rage. "I really... really can't imagine that a young man under twenty can be more greedy than those Chinese businessmen who have been in the business world for half a century! More shameless! And ten times thicker-skinned! How can you be talking about business? You're clearly planning to break into the British vault with a knife and rob it!"
Gao Qiaohao was terrified as he listened. The boss's asking price was too high! It was outrageous! It was a complete humiliation to HSBC and Jardine Matheson! Shen Bi's fury burned through the phone line! It was over! It was screwed!
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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