Chapter 976: The big show begins

"Jiuding Industrial Group?'

Norman Shi Yahuai frowned as he mumbled the name, vaguely remembering having seen that Jiuding Industrial Group was a shareholder of Xiangjiang Airport Ground Services.

However, it was a long time ago, and he was mainly responsible for the affairs of the parent company and its first-tier subsidiaries, so he didn't pay much attention to a third-tier subsidiary like Hong Kong Airport Ground Services Limited, and his memory was very vague.

He asked his nephew Wade, 'When did Jiuding Industrial Group enter this company?'

Wade Shiyahuai immediately explained, 'Uncle, this happened a long time ago. The 15% stake held by Jiuding Industrial Group originally belonged to Hutchison Whampoa, which was later acquired by the Jiuding consortium.'

Norman Shiyahui looked enlightened.

After thinking for a while, he asked again, 'From your daily observations, is there any movement or tendency on the part of Jiuding Industrial Group?'

Wei De Shiyahui frowned for a long time, shook his head and said, 'No. Although Jiuding Industrial Group holds a considerable number of shares, it has a weak presence. Apart from appointing directors and financial supervisors, it pays little attention to the company's operations. Even if a board meeting is called, as long as the proposals are for the company's development, they will agree.'

When he heard his nephew say this, Norman Shi Yahuai's brows did not unknit, and his suspicions grew even stronger.

'If Bao Yugang only wanted to strengthen strategic cooperation, he only needed equity, and he didn't have to buy it from us. With the relationships between Chinese people, it would definitely be easier to acquire it, so why did he approach us?'

After pondering for a long time, Norman Shi Yahuai found a suspicious point.

Wade Shiyahuai froze for a moment, his face instantly becoming grave. He immediately said, 'Uncle, I came in such a hurry that I only focused on analysing Bao Yugang's motives and didn't have time to confirm the shareholdings of the other three shareholders.'

Norman Shiyahuai instructed, 'Starting tomorrow, you will contact each of the three shareholders separately and make sure to confirm their shareholdings.'

'Chinese people stick together, so it's hard to guarantee that they haven't already colluded. You must be 100% sure.'

'Try to complete the confirmation within two days. If you need assistance, just let me know.'

Wade Shiyahui nodded and said, 'Okay, I will definitely do my best to investigate.'

...

Over the next two days, Wade Shiyahui first contacted Cao Guangbiao, who had the largest shareholding.

As instructed by Garth Liddle, Tsao Kwong-piu stated that he had taken on too much debt in the expansion of the factory, which had led to a shortage of funds and an inability to repay the loan from Standard Chartered Bank. In order to focus on the development of his own Yongxin Enterprise, he had given Standard Chartered Bank the equity of the originally mortgaged Heung Kong Airport Ground Services Company at a discount.

Wade Shiyahuai also visited the president of Standard Chartered Bank in Xiangjiang, Giles Liddle, to confirm this matter, and learned from Giles Liddle that Standard Chartered Bank was optimistic about the aviation market and had already held a meeting to discuss the decision to hold long-term equity until it went public.

Wade Shiyahuai believed 90% of what Giles Liddle said, and invited him to identify candidates to enter the company's board of directors.

He then approached the Fok Group to confirm the shareholding information and learned that the Fok Group's stake in Hong Kong Airport Ground Services had been pledged to the bank, and he also saw the pledge loan contract.

Finally, Wade Schiaway approached Jiuding Industrial Group.

Unexpectedly, Jiuding Industrial Group directly admitted that the equity had been transferred to Bao Yugang. Such straightforwardness and honesty left Wade Schiaway at a loss for words. Afterwards, he hurried back to the family after reading the equity transfer contract to confirm the matter and reported it to his uncle Norman Schiaway.

That evening, in the living room of the Shiyahuai family villa.

After listening to Wade Shiyahuai's detailed report, Norman Shiyahuai frowned slightly, and the information kept playing back in his mind as he tried to find some connections.

He always felt that something was wrong, as if there were some coincidences.

Cao Guangbiao's shares were transferred to Standard Chartered Bank during this period of time. According to Gars Liddle, no candidate had been selected yet, so there was no need to liaise with Xiangjiang Airport Ground Services.

Norman Siyahuai did not doubt the pledge of shares by Huo Yingdong, because according to his nephew Wade, he had personally seen the pledge loan contract, and the lender was Xiangjiang Bank of China. The contract was signed for three years on February 16 last year, and it has been more than a year since then.

He never thought that this mortgage loan contract could be fake.

After all, it was well known that Huo Yingdong had connections with the mainland, and it was more likely that Xiangjiang BOC would take the risk of accepting the mortgage of the shares of Xiangjiang Airport Ground Services, which had not yet been listed, than other banks.

'Standard Chartered Bank...'

Norman Shi Yawei thought of everything about Standard Chartered Bank, and remembered his business dealings with Standard Chartered Bank and his friendly personal relationship with Giles Liddell.

After a long time, Norman Shi Yawei found the phone book, picked up the phone, and dialed Giles Liddell's home phone number.

On the phone, Giles Liddell acted as usual, being as warm as always to Norman Shi Yawei, and even extended an invitation to a party.

In response to Norman Shiawai's enquiries, Garth Liddle 'told the truth' and expressed optimism about the aviation market. If Swire Group wanted to expand vigorously in the aviation sector, he would offer more preferential policies and support than HSBC, and hoped that the two sides would strengthen cooperation...

As the conversation progressed, the topic changed directly to the competition between Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC, as well as the wooing of Swire Group and Norman Shiawai.

Garth Liddle's enthusiasm and attitude dispelled Norman Shi Yawai's doubts about Standard Chartered Bank.

'It seems that I have been thinking too much. Swire and Standard Chartered have such a deep cooperation, Garth Liddle is not likely to betray me...'

Conclusion After Garth Liddle's phone call, Norman Shi Yawai's only doubt was about Bao Yugang's acquisition of the equity held by Jiuding Industrial Group.

After thinking for a moment, he instructed Wade Schiavoni, 'Wade, you call Bao Yugang now and ask him directly if this is true.'

Wade Schiavoni nodded, then looked up the number in the phone book and dialed directly.

Ten seconds later, the phone was connected, and the deep voice of Bao Yugang came through the receiver.

'This is the Bao residence, who is calling?'

Wade Shiyahuai said with a smile, 'Good evening, Mr. Bao, this is Wade Shiyahuai. I'm sorry to disturb you so late!'

Immediately, the receiver came the warm voice of Bao Yugang, 'It's Mr. Wade Shiyahuai. It's not a disturbance at all. I'm very happy to receive your call.'

'What can I do for you? Have you already made a decision?'

Wade Shijiahuai replied, 'Let's not talk about that for now. I have something I want to confirm with you.'

'Have you acquired the stake in Xiangjiang Airport Ground Services held by Jiuding Industrial Group?'

After asking, Wade Shijiahuai held his breath, looked up and saw his uncle Norman Shijiahuai, who was squinting his eyes and leaning slightly forward towards the phone.

There was silence on the other end of the line for three seconds.

Just as Wade Shiyahuai thought Bao Yugang would try to argue, he heard Bao Yugang's frank words: 'So you already know. Yes, I did buy the shares held by Jiuding Industrial Group.'

Wade Shiyahuai and his uncle Norman Shiyahuai looked at each other in silence...