Chapter 807: Mobilize Standard Chartered Bank

However, before taking action against the Kadoorie family, Xia Yu still had to find out what the Swire Group was thinking.

'Wang Qi, what is the attitude of the Swire Group towards our acquisition of Hong Kong Telephone Company?'

Wang Qi immediately replied, 'Chairman, I also sent someone to the door today, and the situation is even worse than yesterday. Although we didn't reach an agreement yesterday, at least I met Norman Shi Yahuai, but today our people couldn't even see Norman Shi Yahuai, saying that he went to Macau. The meaning of refusal is very obvious.'

Xia Yu nodded slightly and laughed lightly with indifference, 'Since neither party is willing to sell, it is estimated that the other minority shareholders will also act according to the wishes of the Swire Group. Even if we obtain the shares of the minority shareholders, it will be useless.'

Having said that, Xia Yu changed the subject and said, 'However, we still need to continue to follow up with these minority shareholders and the circulating shares in the market. We can acquire as many as possible. No matter how small it is, every little bit helps.'

We don't have enough conditions to fight the Swire Group yet, but killing Kadoorie is just the right move.

We'll cut off its powerful wings first, and see if anyone else dares to get so close to the Swire Group!

"The Swire Group only needs to be on guard. If we go after the Kadoorie family, there will be too many voices in Kowloon!'

Hearing the chairman's order, Wang Qi took out the plan he had already prepared to take action, and handed it to Xia Yu.

'Chairman, this is the plan I have prepared for the move, combining our advantages to deal the Kadoorie family the heaviest blow with minimal effort.'

Xia Yu took it and after looking at it carefully for ten minutes, he gave a satisfied smile and commented: 'The plan is very well done, so let's execute it according to this plan. Let other companies help to buy the stocks, and wait until the right time to announce it all at once, don't scare them now.'

'Understood!' Wang Qi smiled, speculating in his heart what the expression of Sir Lawrence Kadoorie would be if he knew the truth at that time.

'Smart for a lifetime, but foolish for a moment. Sir Lawrence Kadoorie doesn't know what a formidable opponent he is rejecting...'

With a sigh, Wang Qi took the plan and quickly left the office.

After Wang Qi left, Xia Yu took his assistant and went to Standard Chartered Bank in a low-key manner.

Since returning, he has not taken over Standard Chartered Bank. In London, although Xia Yu previously acquired 84.6% of Standard Chartered Bank's shares, the shares have been dealt with again, with multiple shell companies cross-holding the shares. Although Bright Fund is still the largest shareholder of Standard Chartered Bank, its shareholding ratio is only 21%.

Xia Yu did not make a big deal about the acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank. He kept a low profile in the UK, not to mention Hong Kong, where public opinion was controlled by him. None of his media outlets reported a single piece of related news.

As for Ming Pao, Sing Pao, Hong Kong Economic Journal and the like, they were still struggling with the Hong Kong and Macau markets, and had no interest in a minor incident in the UK.

It was precisely for this reason that Lawrence Kadoorie did not know that Standard Chartered Bank had already been taken over by Xia Yu, and he dared to refuse Xia Yu so recklessly.

...

'Knock, knock, knock!'

Garth Liddle, the CEO of Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong, was a professional manager who did not hold any shares in the bank. However, because he had been in his position for such a long time, he knew Standard Chartered Bank inside and out, and he ran the bank well, so he had a high reputation.

At this time, he was signing documents when he heard a hurried knock at the door.

He frowned, looked in the direction of the sound, and said sternly, 'Come in.'

The subordinate quickly came in and said hurriedly, 'President, Mr. Xia Yuxia, the chairman of Jiuding Financial Group, is here and is being received by other colleagues. He wants to see you, what do you think?'

Ooh!

Gars Liddle suddenly stood up, startling the subordinate who had come to report.

Without explanation, Garth Liddle immediately got up from his desk and said to his subordinate, 'Where is the person? Take me there!'

The subordinate was confused, nodded dumbly and led the way.

Soon, Garth Liddle met Xia Yu in the reception room on the fifth floor, accompanied by other subordinates. He walked quickly over and just as he was about to say 'hello, Chairman', he saw Xia Yu shake his head slightly. Garth Liddle was startled and quickly swallowed his words, respectfully saying, 'Hello, Mr. Xia!'

Garth Liddle's behaviour really left the subordinates confused, and they looked at each other in bewilderment.

'Hello!'

Xia Yu said with a smile, and then said, 'Can we go to your office and talk?'

'Of course!'

After saying this, Garth Liddle led Xia Yu and the others to his office, and as he sensed that Xia Yu seemed to want to keep things confidential, he dismissed his subordinates.

After closing the door, Garth Liddle finally let out a sigh of relief and said hello again with a slight show of respect, 'Chairman, I'm really sorry to have kept you waiting.'

'No problem, you've done a good job of not letting anyone else know what they shouldn't,' Xia Yu said with a smile.

Gars Liddle immediately broke into a smile.

After Standard Chartered Bank Group was acquired, Gars Liddle, as the head of Standard Chartered Bank's Hong Kong branch and also the Asia division, naturally went to London to meet with Xia Yu and learned that Standard Chartered Bank had changed hands without his knowledge.

While in London, Xia Yu had told him that his position would remain unchanged, that he would continue to manage Standard Chartered Bank, and that he should do his best to ensure that no news leaked out. He would instruct him when there was something to do.

Garth Liddle had been keeping an eye on Xia Yu's news, and of course he knew when Xia Yu returned.

However, he could not take the initiative to visit Xia Yu, as he remembered his previous instructions. He could only wait for Xia Yu to come to him, just like the concubines waiting for the emperor's favour.

After waiting for so many days, Gars Liddle was actually relieved when Xia Yu finally came.

'Chairman, what can I do for you this time?'

Sitting opposite Xia Yu, Gars Liddle asked with concern.

'Well, there are a few things I need you to do,' Xia Yu said with a slight nod.

Looking at Giles Liddle, who was leaning forward slightly to listen, Xia Yu continued, 'Now according to the information we have found, Standard Chartered Bank holds 35% of the equity of Baoyuan Investment Xiangjiang Co., Ltd., 5.1% of the equity of Xiangjiang Telephone Company, 5.7% of the equity of Xiangjiang Shanghu Hotel Group, and 23.4% of the equity of China Power Limited. Don't sell these shares yet, and wait for my instructions before disposing of them.'

'Leave Baoyuan Investment Xiangjiang Co., Ltd. aside for now. For the other three companies, you should mobilise the resources of your connections at Standard Chartered Bank to acquire as many minority shareholders' stakes as possible. As for the stakes involving the Kadoorie family, the Swire Group and the Leung family, you should leave them alone. Understand?'

Garth Liddle's heart sank, and he immediately replied, "I understand. I'll make the arrangements right away.'

After saying that, Garth Liddle hesitated for a moment and asked, "Chairman, are you going to take action against the Kadoorie family?'

Xia Yu did not hide anything from his own people and nodded, saying, 'That's right.'

However, he did not explain the specific reasons.

Seeing this, Gars Liddell decisively quashed his curiosity.

'By the way, how are Standard Chartered Bank's business dealings with the Swire Group?' Xia Yu suddenly asked after a moment of thought.

Gars Liddle immediately replied, 'It was fine before, but since last year, the Swire Group's business volume has decreased. I have specially investigated and found that it is not because it has been divided up with HSBC, but rather with other foreign banks, making the Swire Group even more covert.'

'However, Standard Chartered Bank still holds shares in many listed companies under the Swire Group, although the quantities vary, there are still quite a few types. I can't remember the specific details, it will take a few days to sort them out.'

Just as Giles Liddle thought Xia Yu wanted to take action against the Swire consortium, he heard Xia Yu say, 'Okay, don't sell any more of the stocks of the companies involved in the Swire consortium, and keep buying them in the future. If this increases operating costs and makes it more difficult to operate, just let me know and I'll deal with it.'

'Understood!' Giles Liddle's pressure decreased sharply, and he secretly thought that the chairman was reasonable.

'Go ahead, speed up the efficiency. Time is tight, but be careful not to let the cat out of the bag.'

'I understand!'