Chapter 43: Reactions from All Sides

“Mr. Lin, this is actually a very direct and efficient strategy. Given our current strength and the market environment, driving up Wharf Holdings' stock price will be no difficult task.

The key lies in the fact that several syndicates are already making covert moves in the market, waiting for their opportunity.

If we strike with full force and absorb a large volume of shares, these syndicates will likely misjudge the situation, believing a much stronger opponent has entered the fray. They will never sit idly by and watch a competitor easily seize control of the market.

In doing so, to protect their own interests, they will be forced to join this race, just as you foresaw with your foresight, Mr. Lin.

Our actions only need to serve as a catalyst to trigger a chain reaction; the subsequent developments will naturally evolve in a direction favorable to us.

Therefore, regarding the conditions you have proposed, I feel there are no major obstacles to their implementation. If you decide to adopt this operational strategy, then let us show our prowess on the battlefield this afternoon and prove it all through our actions!

I have full confidence in our team and our plan,” Su Zhixue responded passionately.

“Good, Zhixue. I am entrusting the heavy responsibility of this afternoon to your team. You must give it your all; do not let me down!” Lin Haoran said with unquestionable authority.

He possessed a profound understanding of the importance of this trading operation; it was a mission where only success was permitted, and failure was not an option.

His available capital was already stretched thin. This battle was, in essence, Lin Haoran's last stand. He not only had to push Wharf Holdings' stock price to new highs but also skillfully exploit market sentiment to draw the two giants, Jardine Matheson and the "King of Shipping," into the fray, forcing them to contend with one another under his manipulation.

Feeling the weight of Lin Haoran's trust, Su Zhixue straightened his back and replied firmly, “Mr. Lin, rest assured. We will do our utmost to live up to your expectations. This afternoon, let us prove everything through our actions!”

While Lin Haoran was meticulously deploying the afternoon's trading strategy to Su Zhixue, the air inside the Global Shipping Group headquarters at Jardine House in Central seemed to freeze, the atmosphere exceptionally heavy.

As soon as the morning stock market session concluded, Mr. Wu, the son-in-law of the "King of Shipping," impatiently placed an overseas call to connect with the "King of Shipping," who was currently attending a meeting in Singapore.

He reported every subtle fluctuation in Wharf Holdings' stock during the morning session to the "King of Shipping" in exhaustive detail, without missing a single word.

Upon learning of this series of developments, the "King of Shipping" immediately made a major decision, resolutely canceling a scheduled friendly golf match with a certain leader that afternoon.

“I will personally preside over things this afternoon and stay glued to the phone. You must also closely monitor the stock market trends on your end. Notify me immediately at the slightest sign of movement,” the "King of Shipping" quickly issued clear instructions to his son-in-law.

For the Bao family, acquiring Wharf Holdings was a vital strategic move, the importance of which could not be overlooked in the slightest.

Although they were currently the largest shareholder of Wharf Holdings, this status did not grant them controlling interest, leaving them somewhat powerless.

To achieve full control over Wharf Holdings, the Bao family understood they had to further increase their holdings to enhance their influence and decision-making power.

However, they cleverly claimed publicly that they had no plans to increase their holdings, a tactic used to mask their true intentions and avoid unnecessary market volatility and the alertness of competitors.

In fact, the Bao family had long viewed Wharf Holdings as a key component of their "lifeboat" strategy to avoid even greater losses from the impending shipping depression.

Originally, the "King of Shipping" believed that by absorbing Wharf Holdings' shares in a low-key and secretive manner, the process could proceed smoothly for at least a year or half a year.

To his surprise, however, just over a month after he announced his related intentions, the Wharf Holdings stock market boiled over once again, as if returning to its previous state of frenzy.

In the eyes of the "King of Shipping," it was evident that Jardine Matheson had sensed the immense pressure from the Bao family. They had developed an unprecedented sense of urgency regarding the ownership of Wharf Holdings. To defend their interests and prevent the loss of control, Jardine Matheson had been forced to react swiftly, also initiating a plan to increase its holdings in Wharf Holdings.

This sudden turn of events signaled that the "King of Shipping's" original strategy of secret stock absorption had to be declared over prematurely.

The struggle between the two parties for control of Wharf Holdings had officially entered a white-hot stage.

Meanwhile, Paul Chater, the Executive Director and General Manager of Hongkong Land, acted swiftly. He urgently contacted Taikoo Tai-pan (Jardine Matheson's head), John Swire, to provide a detailed report on the abnormal fluctuations in Wharf Holdings' stock during the morning session.

Paul Chater was deeply worried. His analysis suggested that this sudden, intense reaction in the Wharf Holdings market was likely a clear signal that the "King of Shipping" could no longer restrain himself and had begun a massive takeover of the company's shares.

"This is serious!" Paul Chater exclaimed inwardly, realizing the urgency and severity of the situation.

After listening to Paul Chater's detailed report, John Swire also sensed the gravity of the problem.

He immediately realized that this was not just about the control of Wharf Holdings, but directly affected the interests and strategic layout of Jardine Matheson.

“Mr. Chater, I am heading to the Hongkong Land headquarters immediately!” John Swire's words carried an unquestionable resolve.

As the Tai-pan of Jardine Matheson and also the Tai-pan of Hongkong Land, he knew that at this critical moment, every decision made by Hongkong Land was closely linked to the future of Jardine Matheson.

Therefore, he had to preside in person and quickly formulate a response strategy to ensure that Jardine Matheson's advantageous position in the battle for Wharf Holdings remained unshaken.

The headquarters of Jardine Matheson and Hongkong Land were not far apart. In less than ten minutes, John Swire arrived in a hurry to meet with Paul Chater.

The two did not engage in much pleasantry and went straight to the point.

Paul Chater appeared exceptionally efficient; he quickly pulled the morning's trading data for Wharf Holdings from a folder and handed it to John Swire.

John Swire took the data and began to review it with a focused expression.

Every set of numbers tugged at his nerves, giving him a clearer understanding of the market dynamics.

He was well aware that behind these numbers lay a fierce battle of capital, and the control of Wharf Holdings was the very focal point of this struggle.

As his analysis of the data deepened, John Swire's brow gradually furrowed. He realized that the "King of Shipping's" moves were much faster and more aggressive than he had anticipated.

Faced with such a situation, he had to make decisions quickly and adjust Jardine Matheson's response strategy to ensure they maintained a favorable position in this tug-of-war.

“Is there any difficulty with the Group's available funds?” John Swire asked.

“Sir, currently Hongkong Land has over 200 million HKD in available funds, but compared to the competition with Bao Yugang, 200 million is clearly not enough. If we truly enter a white-hot competition, this money will be exhausted very quickly,” Paul Chater said with a bitter smile.