After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future

Chapter 955 - 919: The Anti-HSBC Movement

"Ms. Zheng, I want to know your thoughts?"Zheng Minhui is a veteran in the financial sector of Xiangjiang. She joined the HSBC Group in 1999, rising from a retail department director to the group’s general manager. In 2016, she was reassigned by the board to serve as vice chairman and concurrently chief executive officer of Hang Seng Bank, a post she holds to this day.

"Mr. Lu, the decline of HSBC is already a fact. In just three to five years, Hang Seng will naturally return to the embrace of the Chinese Capital Group. By then, it would be a natural progression. Why must you be so aggressive now?" Zheng Minhui sighed softly.

Lu Liang is too domineering, giving them no room to choose: either submit or be forced to submission.

When Tianxing Finance entered Xiangjiang and HSBC suffered a setback at New World and chose to lie low, she anticipated this day would come, though she hadn’t expected it to come so quickly.

Lu Liang chuckled lightly, "I hope the Xiangjiang Market can restore stability as soon as possible. This is also the choice of all the citizens in Hong Kong. Because only with a stable market can we enter a new bull market without concerns."

Before Zheng Minhui could respond, he continued, "I can grant Hang Seng 100% autonomy, even openly promise not to interfere in its independent operations. If Ms. Zheng still disagrees, I trust there will be others who will agree."

Hang Seng Bank was founded in 1933, initially named Hang Seng Silver Number, a pure Chinese-funded bank, co-founded by He Shanheng and friends.

However, during the period when Xiangjiang was occupied, to escape the ravages of war, they had to relocate to Macau for a period.

It wasn’t until the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, as Xiangjiang’s environment began to improve, that Hang Seng Silver Number returned to the Xiangjiang market and was renamed Hang Seng Bank.

Through twenty years of development, Hang Seng Bank became the leader of the Chinese-funded banks, possessing the ability to compete with the quasi-central bank, the British-funded HSBC.

However, by 1965, the Huo Family successively created loans for house purchases and presales (pre-sold property).

In an instant, the entire real estate industry in Xiangjiang fell into a frenzy. Developers flocked to banks for loans to build, and ordinary citizens rushed to borrow from banks to buy houses. Banks, in the quest for business, began to excessively lend.

Thus came the crisis. On June 10th of that year, Mingde Bank refused to honor a 7 million US Dollar check.

Once this news spread, depositors fell into a panic, all rushing to withdraw their money.

Thirty million was withdrawn in a morning,

One billion in two days - one billion in 1965.o call the head of Penguin’s investment department: "This is Lu Liang, can you connect me to Liao Wenjun?"

After waiting for a while, the call was transferred to the private number of Liao Wenjun, the head of Penguin’s investment department.

Lu Liang, smiling, said, "Director Liao, sorry for disturbing you late at night, there’s a matter I’d like to discuss; Imperial Dream’s listing plan might be delayed by two years..."

"Alright, thank you for Penguin’s support of Imperial Dream, Mr. Yang would like to discuss the details of delaying the IPO with you."

Half an hour and four phone calls later, Imperial Dream Media Group gained another two years of development time.

Satisfied, Yang Qisheng planned to leave.

Just before leaving, Lu Liang suddenly said, "HSBC should be withdrawing completely; in areas like education and media in Xiangjiang, seize opportunities when you can; if funding is insufficient, I can help you raise money."

Yang Qisheng nodded, keeping this matter in mind.

HSBC Group has occupied the Xiangjiang market for nearly a century, and it shouldn’t be so easily driven away by Tianxing Finance.

The reason is still that Lu Liang, no matter how powerful, couldn’t completely swallow up all HSBC Group’s business.

Taking over HSBC’s business in Xiangjiang has its priorities, and Tianxing’s focus should be on the financial and banking industries.

When they’re busy digesting this, it creates opportunities for other companies.

The next morning, as the A-share market opened, it immediately broke through 3000 points, and Hong Kong stocks slightly rose by 1.24%.

Both markets showed promising connectivity, hinting at the offshore renminbi even having a trend of correction.

The stock market is an economic barometer; when the market economy is good, it’s like not being affected by disasters, and currency naturally appreciates.

Before noon, during a meeting, Lu Liang suddenly received a call from Zheng Minhui. She said, "Mr. Lu, the board just passed a resolution, unanimously agreeing to issue 20% of shares to Tianxing Finance."

Previously, HSBC Group directly or indirectly held 62.2% of Hang Seng Bank shares, even though after yesterday’s sell-off, it still held about 56%.

Completing a share transfer in the secondary market almost had zero success rate, so she decided to issue shares selectively, bringing Tianxing Finance into the board for further discussion.

This inevitably brings up the weakening of British consortium influence after the return in ’97, forcing HSBC Group to keep Hang Seng Bank nominally independently operating.

When HSBC was strong, it could say Hang Seng was independent but still parachute personnel into key positions.

But now, HSBC’s dominance is no more, hence Hang Seng’s board can operate independently without HSBC interfering in board decisions.

"Ms. Zheng, you go ahead, let me know when it can be announced." Lu Liang smiled and said.

He wasn’t surprised by Zheng Minhui’s decision, even though she was supported directly by HSBC.

Just like Lu Liang only cares about the current loyalty of his subordinates; he doesn’t think about whether the group will be dismembered if it falls, or if he would be betrayed.

Because the answer is affirmative.

By noon, several companies long controlled by HSBC, led by Hang Seng Bank, unexpectedly announced they would issue 10%-20% of shares to Tianxing Finance.

"The reputation as a sharpshooter truly lives up to its name."

"Who would’ve thought, Hang Seng managed by HSBC for 54 years, would turn so quickly."

"Previously, Li Family Port was not living up to its name, now Lu Family Port is genuine."

"HSBC withdrawing, Tianxing taking over, this round of market should be assured, right?"

"Hard to say, it still depends on HSBC’s stance, whether it’s resisting or leaving."

As the market anticipated, HSBC only announced Qi Yaonian’s resignation, with Wenster taking over.

Creating a calm impression in the market, as if entirely indifferent to the defection of Hang Seng Bank and others.

"The big move is coming."

Some still hoped that the current silence was strength-building, not helplessness.

However, Li family’s Hutchison Whampoa announced first, imitating Hang Seng Bank, and selectively issuing 5% of shares to Tianxing Finance.

Hutchison Whampoa was not controlled by HSBC nor in Tianxing’s plans.

Yet Superman Li wanted to give Lu Liang face, showing the market that the Li family chose Tianxing Finance and abandoned HSBC.

Accepting Superman Li’s goodwill could better stabilize the Xiangjiang market, Lu Liang had no reason to refuse.

With the Li family statement, companies like the Zheng family, He family, and Huo family either chose to selectively issue shares to Tianxing Finance, or opted to repurchase HSBC Group shares at a high price to show their stance.

A grand ’Anti-HSBC Campaign’ officially commenced in full swing.