HSBC's shareholders were also pessimistic about the situation in the East, which is why they wanted to sell some shares to mitigate the risk.
Some shareholders were even considering selling all their shares.
For capitalists, it's instinct to jump into profitable industries and escape when danger looms.
Few would hold onto their investments for the sake of so called beliefs, stubbornly sticking around when the risk is high. That's not the mindset of a competent capitalist.
Now that David Rockefeller had pinpointed HSBC's major problems, this deal seemed increasingly difficult to secure.
"So, Mr. Rockefeller, what is your suggestion?" David Sassoon asked.
"If you're looking for partners, you need to offer a sincere price. I had my economists evaluate HSBC's worth, and right now, it's probably only valued at $150 million," David Rockefeller replied, slashing more than half of the original price with one swift cut.