Hardy Empire 1945

  Chapter 240 Freighter changing land

  The price of Freewheel and Victory Wheel is only half of the fake ones. Although they are second-hand ships, they are still very attractive.

  The Four Oceans Bank not only has business in Hong Kong, but also has operations in the UK, India, and Europe. They also have shipping business themselves, especially Jardine Matheson. There were several routes in Mainland China that year, and eight freighters transported goods to and from mainland China.

  The same is true for other foreign companies, even they have their own piers in Hong Kong.

  After the visit, the presidents and managers of the foreign banks went back to the meeting and discussed. In the end, Jardine Matheson decided to order 4 ships, two free ships and two victory ships, but I hope Victor will keep the price down.

   Victor thought for a while, and said to the manager who came to negotiate: "The price of the freighter can be negotiated, but we also have a condition."

  "What conditions?" the manager asked.

   "I heard that you have a piece of land on the South Bay side. The Hardy Group is developing in Hong Kong. There is a shortage of land. I hope that Jardine Matheson will transfer it to us." Victor said.

  The so-called South Bay refers to later generations of Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay, but the area is larger.

  The manager was a little embarrassed, "Mr. Victor, this is not something I can decide. I need to go back and ask for instructions."

"no problem."

  After the manager went back, he reported to the president. The president and the directors communicated that they were very optimistic about the place in Nanwan and planned to develop real estate there in the future, but that may be a plan in ten or even decades.

South Bay is now very remote, mainly because it is far away from the city. It takes more than three hours by car to travel around the mountains. There is only one resort built by Jardine Matheson, a few buildings and dozens of villas. Fu came here for his vacation.

  "How much land do they want to acquire?" a director of Jardine Matheson asked.

   "I didn't say, I just said that the more the better. With the appetite of the Hardy Group, I would not like it if it is too small." The manager said.

  At this time, another director said: “I think it’s okay. The land is exchanged for freighters. Their freighters are very cheap. I think this condition can be agreed.”

  "If they want more, I suggest giving them all the land, and how many ships can be exchanged for them."

  The president frowned slightly and said, “Mr. Davis, if that piece of land is left for a period of time, it will definitely increase in value. It’s a pity to change it now.”

Director Davis shook his head and said solemnly: "Are you concerned about the domestic battle situation in China? Now Chiang's army feels unsustainable. This makes me very worried about the future of Hong Kong."

   "You mean the Communist Party will win?"

"It's not impossible. War, any result can happen. Didn't you read the newspaper? The analysis in the Global Times is very clear. Because Jiang was disobedient, the United States imposed sanctions on him and banned the export of weapons, and the Communist Party has Soviet Union Support, so it is very difficult for Jiang now."

  "I’m worried that if the Communist Party wins, it will take back Hong Kong. By then, all of our investments here will be in vain. Now the land-for-shipping business is just bidding, and we won’t lose out."

   "And once the things we worry about happen, these freighters can be driven back to the UK, but the land cannot be taken away."

Another director nodded, "I think Davis's analysis is good. We need to consider long-term. The company's land on Hong Kong Island is enough for us to use. It is just investment over there. I think it can be traded. "

  In the end, most people voted in favor. Jardine Matheson agreed to sell the land and formed a team to contact Victor.

   "Mr. Victor, how much land do you want?" the president asked.

   "We need as much as you sell." Victor said.

  The president took out the map. The land marked in red was the company's land, and the area in South Bay was the largest.

  "The land of South Bay, including the beach and the mountains behind, totals 3,561 acres. There is also a resort village on it. We also opened a highway for that side, and the investment amount reached 3.36 million US dollars."

  "If you take this piece of land as a whole, our price will be $10.7 million."

   Victor looked at the figures, calculated it in his heart, and frowned: “The land price is about 2,000 US dollars an acre, which is almost catching up with the land price in New York and Los Angeles. No, it’s too expensive.”

   "I mean 1,000 dollars an acre."

  The president of Yihe International Co., Ltd. immediately shook his head. He did not accept the price, and the two sides began to discuss it.

  Victor wants land, and Jardine Matheson wants freighters. If you don’t sell it to me, then I won’t sell you freighters.

  Both sides have handles and advantages, and the rest is to grind their lips.

  After two days of negotiation, the transaction was finally sold for US$8.6 million, including the entire Nanwan land and above-ground buildings owned by Jardine Matheson.

   On the Hardy Group’s side, there are 4 Victory Vessels and 4 Freedom Vessels. The price of a Liberty Vessel is 80, four are 3.2 million, the Victory Vessel is 1.5 million, and four are 6 million, for a total of 9.2 million.

  Victor gave the other party some discounts. Each freighter was 20,000 cheaper, and finally there was a difference of 440,000 US dollars. Jardine Matheson provided the Hardy Group with cash.

  Sold eight boats at once, Victor was so excited, you know, he has a commission on selling the boats, and he can make 46,000 US dollars in this transaction.

  Hadi is not a stingy person, he should be given a lot of bonus points, as long as you do things, the money promised to you is absolutely in place.

  Swire Pacific also found Victor and prepared to buy two freighters. Victor offered to buy land, and Swire Pacific took out a piece of land in Sha Tin and asked Victor if he wanted it.

  Sha Tin.

  Now it's a small wilderness fishing village.

The surrounding area is wasteland and roads are not accessible. If you want to go in the past, you need to take a boat to go around half of Hong Kong. However, the area of ​​this land is not small. There are more than 2,000 acres of wilderness, mountains and farmland, and the price is naturally much cheaper than Nanwan. .

  The last piece of land was valued at 560,000, and the remaining money was made up in cash.

  Hutchison and Wheelock both have docks and docks, but they did not buy boats, but were very interested in leasing. Hutchison and Wheelock rented 6 boats at once, and Wheelock also rented 4 boats.

  More than them,

  Some Chinese families are also very interested in this business.

  Some people were originally involved in shipping business, such as the current Hong Kong shipping tycoon Xu Aizhou, who is the grandfather of Xu Jinheng and the founder of the Hong Kong Xu family.

  Xu’s family has been shipping for more than 20 years. There are routes in China, Southeast Asia, Japan, North Korea, and even Australia, the United Kingdom and France. There are more than forty freighters. They are now the veritable king of Chinese ships in Hong Kong.

  He knew very well the price of the freighter, and the price Victor offered, which could not be bought anywhere else. Xu Aizhou planned to buy a batch.

A family manager said: "Master, we have checked the information. Because of the tight time, the United States used welding technology instead of tenon and tenon to make these ships. This is the first time this technology has been used to build a sea vessel, so the design and use given are The number of years is 5 years, and many of them are over the years now."

Xu Aizhou thought for a while and said: "Usually, a 10,000-ton freighter costs more than US$5 million, while the Victory ship only costs 3.3 million. Now the second-hand one only costs 1.5 million. There is a reason why it is cheap. matter."

"Everything, as long as you think it is appropriate, then do it. If it is inappropriate, do not do it. Normally, a freighter needs 5 years to pay back its costs, but this ship only needs more than a year to pay back its costs, so how do you count it? Both have advantages."

   "Let the company find a bank loan." Xu Aizhou ordered.

  "How much does the master want to borrow?"

  "How much can be loaned out."

   "Which bank to look for?"

   "Look all!"

   said that Xu Aizhou paused, "including the newly opened Wells Fargo Bank. I heard that Wells Fargo Bank is the property of the owner of the Hardy Group. Just say that we plan to buy a ship and see how much they can lend to us."

   "Good lord."

  Hong Kong Dong's family.

  Dong Haoyun also participated in Victor’s freighter sales meeting. After returning, he thought a lot. He felt that this was a rare good opportunity.

Dong Haoyun has been in shipping business since 41. At that time, Japanese invaders were raging in Asia. He opened a company in Hong Kong, flying the British and Panamanian flags. The business was fairly smooth, but soon after Hong Kong was occupied by Japan, the company was also taken over by the Japanese. .

  After Japan surrendered, he resumed his previous business and established companies in Hong Kong and Shanghai. In the past few years, he owned 13 freighters.

  This time Victor publicly sold Liberty Wheels and Victory Wheels. Dong Haoyun was very eye-catching. He really wanted to eat them all at once and quickly form a world-class transportation company. Unfortunately, he did not have that great strength.

  He only ordered two new ships last year, both of which are 10,000-ton freighters, and now there are more than 8 million US dollars in bank loans.

Now he is thinking of ways to raise money, maybe he can buy two or three freighters, but Dong Haoyun is very reconciled, and he will not come when the so-called opportunity cannot be missed. If this opportunity is missed, it may take him several years or even ten years to catch up. .

How to do?

  After thinking hard, he is going to talk to Victor.

  Called about Victor, the two met at the Hardy auction, and the company's younger sister left after serving tea.

  "Mr. Dong~www.readwn.com~ You said on the phone that you plan to do freighter business with me. I don't know how to cooperate?" Victor asked.

  "Mr. Victor, let’s tell you, I’m very interested in the freighters your company sells. Unfortunately, I don’t have that much money now. I have an idea. I don’t know if your company is willing to take a stake in Global Shipping?" Dong Haoyun said.

  Global Shipping is the name of Dong Haoyun Shipping Company.

   Victor was a little surprised when he heard it, "Let us take a stake in your company. We didn't really think about this before. Please tell us your thoughts carefully."

"My idea is very simple. My global shipping now has 13 ships, the smallest is more than 3,000 tons, the largest is more than 14,000 tons, and now there are two 10,000-ton freighters under construction, totaling 15 ships. , The tonnage exceeds 100,000."

   "I am willing to accept Hardy Group's shareholding, either to invest in ships, or to invest in capital. I will manage and expand the company. I am very optimistic about the development of the shipping industry and there is a lot to do in the future."

  "I can't decide on investment matters. I need to ask the head office for instructions. How much investment is allowed by Mr. Dong and what is the share of shares?" Victor said.

   "The bigger the investment of Hardy Group, the better, but I hope to account for more than 30% of the shares." Dong Haoyun said.

  (End of this chapter)