บท 981: Chapter 981: Two paths, British or Chinese?
Song Bo frowned and pondered for a moment before sighing and saying with difficulty, 'Mr Xia, you've given me a big problem.'
'What you said makes sense, but it doesn't apply to every situation. It so happens that the situation of my Song family is quite special.'
Song Zhicheng added: 'Yes, Mr Xia, you are really putting us in a difficult position!'
Xia Yu smiled faintly and said: "What's so difficult about it? As we all know from doing business, everything has a value, and as long as the price is right, it can be sold, and no one can blame us, can they?'
Song Zhicheng glanced at his father and immediately retorted: "But Mr Xia, if you knew about the cooperative relationship between our Song family and the Shih Yahuai family, you would know that there are some assets that we cannot sell just because we want to.'
'Our Song family has cooperated with the Shih Yahuai family for decades. We have equity in many Swire Pacific Group companies, Cathay Pacific being one of them.'
'It's just that compared to other assets, the equity in Cathay Pacific is very special. If we sell the equity to you, we would be betraying our old friends, which would be wrong.'
'Moreover, the Shih family is far more powerful than our Song family. If we sell our stake in Cathay Pacific to you, the Shih family will lose Cathay Pacific.'
'They can't do anything to you, but they can retaliate against our Song family. At that time, our losses in other areas will be difficult to estimate, and they will likely be higher than the value of the Cathay Pacific stake.'
As Song Zhicheng spoke these words in a series, Song Bo pretended to be displeased and scolded, 'Zhicheng.'
Song Zhicheng then smiled sheepishly and stopped talking.
Song Bo said apologetically to Xia Yu, 'Mr Xia, Zhicheng speaks his mind, but he doesn't mean anything by it, he's just objectively stating the facts.'
'In fact, you've probably heard that there's been a persistent rumour going around that my Song family was supported by foreigners and that we relied on the Swire consortium to rise step by step.
'Although I don't like to hear this either, and it's not an accurate statement, it would be a lie to say that we haven't received the slightest bit of help from the Sze family.'
'As you know, our Song family is a shareholder in both the Hong Kong Swire Group and Swire Pacific Limited, but our shareholding is not high, just average, and it's not comparable to the Sze family at all. If we offend them, the situation of our Song family could be dangerous.'
At this point, Song Bo saw that Xia Yu's face seemed to be a bit bad, and he said solemnly, 'Mr. Xia, it's not that I'm not giving you face. If it's an equity that has nothing to do with the Swire Group, as long as you say so, I will agree without saying a word, and I am willing to sell at a loss.'
Haha!
He spoke so openly, but in fact it was all nonsense. Who can't speak empty words?
Xia Yu sneered inwardly, but kept his gaze fixed on Song Bo as he spoke slowly, 'Mr Song, I know your difficulties, and of course I know you're being modest. The Song family's strength is obvious to all, and the Shih Yahuai family has many enemies. If I were Norman Shih Yahuai, I would never be so stupid as to push the Song family into opposition!'
Seeing Song Zhicheng open his mouth and trying to speak, Xia Yu directly raised his voice, ignoring Song Zhicheng and staring at Song Bo, and said in a resolute tone, 'Six hundred and sixty million, a one-off payment in cash. What do you think of my sincerity?'
Song Bo was taken aback. After doing some quick mental arithmetic, his pupils suddenly contracted, obviously startled by Xia Yu's offer.
Based on Cathay Pacific's valuation of HK$2.8 billion, the 16% stake held by the Song family is worth HK$448 million.
And Xia Yu's offer is a direct premium of more than HK$210 million, which is no small feat!
More importantly, Xia Yu directly promised to pay in cash in one lump sum, which shocked Song Bo even more and made him feel in awe of Xia Yu's strength.
In the history of the Hong Kong business community, there have been precedents for buying equity and companies in one lump sum, but without exception, these were all relatively small transactions.
For transactions of more than 100 million yuan in general, the payment is basically a down payment, and the rest is paid in several installments, some even taking two or three years; some are paid in stock + cash.
After all, everyone knows that the equity of a company only seems valuable, but no one can guarantee that a company can continue to make money, and it is difficult to prevent it from falling into an operating crisis tomorrow.
Only money in your pocket has real value!
And in the whole of Hong Kong, there are only a handful of people who can come up with 660 million in cash at once.
Song Bo was tempted by the price, and Song Zhicheng needless to say.
However, the one who had the final say was still Song Bo, so Song Zhicheng looked at his father.
Song Bo was silent for a moment, his face showing a look of gratitude, and said, 'Mr. Xia, I can truly feel your sincerity.'
After saying this, his face changed again, and he said with a troubled expression, 'It's just that...'
He had only just said two words when Xia Yu, without regard for politeness, interrupted him directly and said in a louder voice, 'Mr. Song, why don't you stop trying to get out of it so quickly? How about you listen to what I have to say?'
Song Bo nodded and made a gesture of invitation: 'Please go on!'
Xia Yu lifted his teacup, took a big sip of the now room temperature tea to moisten his throat, and said slowly: 'Mr Song, the times have changed. This is not the same as it was a few decades ago, nor is it the same as it was ten years ago. Chinese capital has risen, and British capital is on the decline.'
'Hong Kong is after all a Chinese Hong Kong, and the British are just outsiders. When they are weak, the British can still bully in all fields, but we Chinese were born to like to fight. When we are weak, it's fine, but when we are strong, no one likes the British to oppress and restrict us.'
'So you can see the changes that have taken place in recent years in the development of British-owned companies and consortia of all sizes. Wharf, Hutchison Whampoa, Jardine Matheson and so on have fallen one after the other. Only two of the four major British consortia remain, and the remaining Swire and Wheelock are under pressure that is several times greater than before.
'The strength of Chinese-owned companies has increased several times over, and in fact Chinese capital has surpassed British capital. The future of British capital is becoming increasingly dangerous.
'And as you know, the strength of British capital today is basically due to the protection of the Hong Kong government in the past, which has given them monopolies in various highly profitable industries. They are just lying on a gold mountain making money, not earning it the hard way. Who do you think will be convinced?'
'In the future, the Swire Group will become more and more self-sufficient. If the Soong family gets too involved with the Swire Group, I'm afraid they will be implicated when the time comes!'
'Hong Kong is after all a Chinese city, and there are still 16 years to go...'
After saying this, Xia Yu didn't say anything more, and he poured himself a little more tea, and also refilled the cups of the father and son. Then he lifted up his teacup and blew gently, dispersing the white mist rising in the cup. He slowly began to sip his tea.
The faces of Song Bo and Song Zhicheng, father and son, kept changing, as Xia Yu's words clearly struck deep into their hearts, causing them to struggle fiercely within.
In particular, Xia Yu's last two sentences had the greatest impact on the Song father and son, because the possibility was too high, and the risk the Song family faced was also very great.
At this moment, Xia Yu was about to tell him that there were only two paths in front of him: the first was to follow the Swire consortium to the end, and the second was to accept his friendship, and the Song family would be under his protection.
There was no doubt that, judging from Xia Yu's ability to take down Hutchison Whampoa and the Jardine Matheson consortium, the Jiuding consortium was indeed stronger than the Swire consortium.
But the key lies in the fact that the Song family's assets and strength are in the Swire group, not in the Jiuding group, which is why he is hesitant.
Song Bo took a deep breath, his face solemn, and said to Xia Yu, 'Mr. Xia, this matter will have a significant impact after all. The Song family has developed steadily so far, and the Song family is not just mine, it is the family that my ancestors and their descendants have worked hard to build together. I am also responsible to them.'
'On such a critical matter, I still have to gather the clan members to discuss it together. We won't know the specific outcome until later. If there is a result, I will invite you to negotiate. What do you think?'
Xia Yu and Song Bo looked at each other calmly, and after a moment, they both smiled and said lightly, 'That makes sense. Then why doesn't Mr. Song think about it first and also seek the opinions of others?'
'But...'
Upon hearing these words, Song Bo frowned and said with a calm voice, 'Mr. Xia, why don't you just say it!'
Xia Yu said in a joking tone, 'I don't think you and Song Bo will put me in a difficult situation, will you?'
Song Bo immediately shook his head and said, "Absolutely not. You can rest assured, Mr. Xia. I have a minimum of integrity, and Zhicheng is not a nosy person.'
Xia Yu laughed heartily and picked up his teacup, saying, "Haha, Song Bo, you're a straight shooter, I believe you.
After finishing the tea, Xia Yu got up and said, 'Master Song, I suddenly remembered that I have something to do, so I'll go back first. I'll come again next time!'
'What are you talking about? You are always welcome, Mr Xia!'
'I'll see you off!'
...
After seeing Xia Yu's car leave, Song Bo and his son returned to the living room. Both of them looked grave, and the atmosphere in the living room was a bit dull.
Song Zhicheng sighed and said, 'Dad, this Xia Yu seems to have set his sights on the Swire Group after Hutchison Whampoa and the Jardine Matheson Group. Perhaps there will be a fight soon. I don't know if the Swire Group has a good chance of winning...'
Song Bo pondered for a long time and shook his head, saying, 'It's hard to say. After all, Xia Yu and his Jiuding Group are well hidden, and no one knows their true strength.'
'And the Taikoo Group is different from Hutchison Whampoa and the Jardine Matheson Group. Norman Shih Yawai has long been preparing for this day. Otherwise, Xia Yu would not have approached us today. It is not that Xia Yu can't use the same tactics against the Taikoo Group as he did against Hutchison Whampoa and the Jardine Matheson Group, but rather that Xia Yu can only find a way to break down the Taikoo Group's fortress from within because the Shih Yawai family controls the company so tightly.
...
Just as Song Bo and Song Zhicheng were concentrating on their negotiations, Song Zhiming, Song Bo's third son, who had not fully sobered up from last night's revelry, returned from outside. After greeting his father Song Bo and second brother Song Zhicheng, he ignored his father's dark face and walked straight upstairs.
However, during the walk, Song Zhiming heard some of the conversation between his father and second brother.
As he walked up the stairs, he slowed down a little to hear more...
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