Chapter 43: Reactions from All Sides
“Mr. Lin, this is actually a very direct and highly effective strategy.
Given our current strength and the market environment, pushing up Wharf Holdings share price won't be difficult.
The key is that several financial groups are already quietly positioning themselves behind the scenes, waiting for the right moment.
If we launch a full-scale buying campaign and absorb shares aggressively, those conglomerates are very likely to misread the situation. They'll assume that an even stronger competitor has entered the battlefield, and there's no way they'll simply stand by and let someone else seize control of the market.
When that happens, they'll be forced to join the competition in order to protect their own interests—exactly as you foresaw, Mr. Lin.
Our role is merely to provide the initial push. Once the chain reaction begins, events will naturally develop in a direction favorable to us.
So, I don't see any major difficulty in achieving the objectives you've laid out. If you've decided to proceed with this strategy, then this afternoon we'll give it everything we've got and prove it with results.
I have complete confidence in our team and our plan,” Su Zhixue replied enthusiastically.
“Good. Zhixue, I'll leave the afternoon's operation to your team. Give it everything you've got. Don't disappoint me,” Lin Haoran said firmly.
He understood better than anyone how critical this operation was. Failure simply wasn't an option.
The funds available to him were nearly exhausted. This battle was his last stand.
Not only did he need to push Wharf Holdings stock price to new highs, but he also had to skillfully exploit market sentiment, drawing both Jardine Matheson and Pao Yue-kong into the fray so they would end up fighting each other under the conditions he had carefully engineered.
Feeling the immense weight of Lin Haoran's trust, Su Zhixue straightened his back and answered resolutely,
“Don't worry, Mr. Lin. We'll do everything in our power and live up to your expectations. This afternoon, we'll let our actions speak for themselves.”
While Lin Haoran was carefully outlining the afternoon's trading strategy with Su Zhixue, the atmosphere inside the headquarters of the Worldwide Shipping Group at Prince's Building in Central was so heavy it seemed almost frozen.
As soon as the morning trading session ended, Mr. Wu, Pao Yue-kong's son-in-law, immediately placed an overseas telephone call to Singapore, where Pao Yue-kong was attending a conference.
He gave a meticulous report on every subtle movement in Wharf Holdings stock during the morning session.
After hearing the report, Pao Yue-kong made a major decision on the spot.
He immediately canceled the golf match he had scheduled that afternoon with an important government official.
“I'll personally stay by the phone this afternoon,” he instructed his son-in-law without hesitation.
“You keep a close eye on the market. Report any unusual movement to me immediately.”
For the Pao family, acquiring Wharf Holdings was an extremely important strategic objective that allowed no room for carelessness.
Although they were already Wharf Holdings largest shareholder, they still did not possess controlling interest, leaving them in an awkward and vulnerable position.
To secure full control of the company, they knew they had to continue increasing their stake and strengthen their influence.
Publicly, however, they continued to insist that they had no plans to purchase additional shares.
It was merely a smokescreen designed to conceal their true intentions, avoid unnecessary market fluctuations, and keep their competitors off guard.
In reality, the Pao family had long regarded Wharf Holdings as the cornerstone of their strategy of "abandoning shipping and moving ashore," allowing them to reduce the massive risks posed by the shipping industry's coming downturn.
Originally, Pao Yue-kong believed they would be able to quietly accumulate Wharf Holdings shares over the course of at least six months to a year through discreet purchases.
To his surprise, barely a month after publicly revealing his intentions, Wharf Holdings stock had once again become the center of market attention, with trading activity exploding almost overnight.
From his perspective, it was obvious that Jardine Matheson had finally begun to feel the immense pressure from the Pao family.
The question of who would ultimately control Wharf Holdings had suddenly become urgent.
To protect its own interests and prevent control of the company from slipping away, Jardine Matheson had no choice but to respond by launching its own share accumulation campaign.
The sudden development marked the premature end of Sir Pao Yue-kong's carefully planned strategy of quietly buying shares.
The battle for control of Wharf Holdings had officially entered its most intense phase.
At the same time, Hugh Barton, Executive Director and General Manager of Hongkong Land, sprang into action.
He urgently contacted Henry Keswick, the Taipan of Jardine Matheson, and gave him a detailed report on the unusual movements in Wharf Holdings stock that morning.
Barton was deeply concerned.
In his judgment, the sudden surge in Wharf Holdings trading activity was almost certainly a clear sign that Pao Yue-kong had finally begun buying shares on a massive scale.
"This is serious," Barton thought grimly.
After listening to the report, Keswick immediately realized the gravity of the situation.
This wasn't merely a battle over Wharf Holdings control—it directly affected Jardine Matheson's long-term interests and strategic position.
“Mr. Barton, I'm heading to Hongkong Land headquarters immediately,” Keswick declared decisively.
As Taipan of Jardine Matheson and also chairman of Hongkong Land, he knew that every decision made by Hongkong Land at this critical moment would directly influence Jardine's future.
He had to personally take charge and formulate a response strategy as quickly as possible to ensure Jardine maintained its advantage in the struggle for Wharf Holdings.
Jardine Matheson's headquarters and Hongkong Land's headquarters were only a short distance apart.
Less than ten minutes later, Keswick arrived and met with Barton.
Dispensing with formalities, they got straight to business.
Barton swiftly pulled out the morning's Wharf Holdings trading data from a file folder and handed it over.
Keswick accepted the documents and studied them intently.
Every figure commanded his full attention, giving him a clearer picture of the rapidly evolving market.
He understood perfectly well that behind those numbers lay a fierce contest of capital, with control of Wharf Holdings at the very heart of the battle.
As he continued analyzing the data, Keswick's brows gradually furrowed.
He realized that Sir Pao Yue-kong's offensive had come much sooner—and with far greater force—than he had anticipated.
Faced with this situation, he knew he had to make decisions immediately and adjust Jardine Matheson's strategy if they hoped to maintain the upper hand.
“Do we have any liquidity problems?” Keswick asked.
“Taipan,” Barton replied with a bitter smile, “Hongkong Land currently has a little over HK$200 million in available funds.
“But if we're going head-to-head with Pao Yue-kong, that amount is clearly insufficient.
“If the competition truly escalates into a full-scale battle, those two hundred million dollars will be exhausted very quickly.”
Please keep reading! Please keep reading! Please keep reading!
(End of Chapter)
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