Chapter 851: Shareholders’ Meeting!
Outside a company near the docks in the northern suburbs of Hong Kong Island.
Early in the morning, a large crowd of people and vehicles had already gathered here.
A closer look revealed that these were no ordinary people; they were all local Hong Kong media reporters, ranging from mainstream outlets like the South China Evening News and the Oriental Daily to numerous obscure tabloids—numbering in the dozens.
These reporters had set up their cameras and microphones right at the company’s entrance, ready to capture the latest developments firsthand.
The company under intense media scrutiny was none other than the management firm of New Territories Warehouse, which was set to hold its annual shareholders’ meeting today.
While it was billed as a business restructuring, thanks to the foreigners’ extensive publicity, everyone knew this was a showdown between Li Yi’s Star Investment and the Sassoon family’s team—a decisive battle to redefine ownership of New Territories Warehouse.
More importantly, according to information leaked in advance by those foreigners, the outcome of this showdown looks very unfavorable for Star Investment.
Some of them have even been telling the media that today marks not only Li Yi’s first investment failure but also the shattering of a myth.
The media, naturally drawn to such sensationalist news, had set up a massive stakeout specifically to cover the event.
At 8:30 a.m., just as everyone was growing impatient, a convoy of over a dozen vehicles arrived at the company’s entrance.
Soon after, the media reporters saw Gustaf, who had been making headlines for the past few days, step out of the car.
Immediately after, the renowned Sir and Mr. Dolsen also stepped out.
The last to step out were Henry, General Manager of Huifeng Bank; Peter, Deputy General Manager of Jardine Matheson; and executives from key British-owned conglomerates such as Swire and Jardine Matheson.
Seeing so many heavyweight figures from the British-owned conglomerates arrive, the reporters swarmed around them, first snapping away furiously with their cameras, filling the air with a deafening “click-clack” of film being devoured!
It must be said that the reporters on Hong Kong Island were truly dedicated to their work.
After taking their photos, they didn’t leave. Instead, one by one, they immediately raised their microphones and, regardless of whether their subjects would answer, kept firing off a barrage of tricky questions:
“Mr. Gusta, we’ve heard that you’ve already secured a controlling stake in New Territories Warehouse, and that you’re here today to vie for control of the company. Is that true?”
“Mr. Gustaf, was it you who defeated Mr. Li Yi of Star Investment? What are your thoughts on this?”
“Mr. Dolsen, did your British Capital Group participate in this move against New Boundary Warehouse? Don’t you have a non-aggression pact with Star Investment? Is it appropriate for you to so openly violate the previous agreement?”
“Mr. Dolsen…”
Faced with the reporters’ questions, Gusta remained composed.
He stopped his bodyguards from escorting them away and instead stepped forward to address the reporters. With the air of a true gentleman, he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for your attention. As you’ve mentioned, we’re here today to secure control of the New Territories Warehouse Center—this company belongs to us!”
“Furthermore, I must add that this is only the beginning. Next, all companies—including Hang Seng Bank, Longheng Bank, and Wharf Holdings—will return to our hands…”
Listening to Gustave spouting such nonsense in front of the media, Dolsen behind him couldn’t help but shake his head—it was both arrogant and foolish.
With the matter still unresolved, there was absolutely no need to grant media interviews.
More importantly, he knew Li Yi well—the man was meticulous in his dealings. There was no way he would let Gusta regain control of New Territories Warehouse so easily.
Although on the surface, the shares held by Gusta and his group appeared to exceed those of Star Company, Dolsen couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
However, he didn’t warn Gusta. On one hand, Dolsen actually hoped Gusta would take a hard fall to thoroughly dampen his arrogance.
On the other hand, Dolsen knew that given Gusta’s stubborn and self-willed nature, no matter how much he warned him, Gusta wouldn’t listen.
After speaking to the media for over ten minutes and dropping a series of eye-catching “bombshells,” Gusta finally entered the New Territories Warehouse Management Company office building, flanked by his bodyguards.
Less than five minutes after they left, another massive motorcade arrived at the entrance of the New Territories Warehouse Management Company.
This time, the visitors were from Star Investment and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Aside from Li Yi and several executives from Star Investment, the rest were all members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, including Li Futiao, He Dongying, and Bao Chuanwang!
As soon as they appeared, they were swarmed by reporters. However, unlike Gusta’s high-profile entrance, before the reporters could rush forward, a large contingent of bodyguards stepped in to block them.
Shortly after, Li Yi and his group were seen making their way through the crowd and entering the New Territories Warehouse Management Company…
……..
When Li Yi and his group entered the conference room at New Territories Warehouse Management, they found that the Westerners had already arrived. Seated on one side of the round conference table, they waited for the Chinese Chamber of Commerce delegation with the air of victors.
Seeing Li Yi and his group enter, Gusta didn’t even bother to stand up from his seat. Instead, he spoke haughtily in a tone befitting a superior: “Li, if you admit defeat now, we’re willing to buy the shares you hold at 80% of market value. Otherwise, your investment will be completely wiped out…”
However, Li Yi merely glanced at him and said indifferently, “You must be Gustave. What makes you so sure you’ve already won?”
“Hahaha, that’s not important. What matters is that we’re going to win today, and you’ll have to hand over control of the company!” said Gusta with a loud laugh, his tone brimming with smugness.
A cold smile played at the corner of Li Yi’s mouth, and he replied calmly, “Haha, speaking so confidently is just asking to be proven wrong!”
“Li, you’re bound to lose today…”
Li Yi ignored Gusta and turned to He Yunsheng, who was seated at the head of the table. “General Manager He, let’s begin!”
He Yunsheng nodded, then stood up and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, there have been frequent changes in the company’s shareholding structure recently. We’ve welcomed several new shareholders, while some have withdrawn from the company.”
“To ensure the company’s continued growth, and at the request of certain shareholders, we have convened this shareholders’ meeting of New Boundary Warehouse Management Company to discuss the company’s next phase of development…”
Before He Yunsheng could finish, Gusta stood up abruptly and declared, “Excuse me. As the company’s largest shareholder, I hereby move to dissolve the current board of directors and appoint a new chairman and general manager!”
Gustav’s sudden outburst did not come as a surprise to those present; everyone had anticipated this before arriving.
Soon, all eyes turned to Li Yi.
“Mr. Gusta, since you claim to be the company’s largest shareholder, then produce the evidence!” Li Yi said calmly.
Gusta was clearly well-prepared. Unflustered, he took a stack of documents from his briefcase and said, “This is the New Boundary Warehouse Share Transfer Agreement. We currently hold a total of 43% of New Boundary Warehouse’s shares, which exceeds the stake held by your Star Investment Company!”
However, Li Yi’s expression remained impassive as he calmly replied, “So what? You must know that a major shareholder cannot—and has no right to—dissolve the board of directors unless they hold a controlling stake of 51%!”
Gusta looked at Li Yi with a smug expression and said, “It’s true we haven’t reached the controlling stake, but we’ve secured the support of other shareholders!”
“Oh? I wonder which shareholders support you?” Li Yi asked again.
“Dear Yang and Hu, as far as I know from banbanhaobang, your respective shareholdings are 3% and 6%. Is that correct?” said Gusta.
A middle-aged man sitting nearby immediately stood up and said, “The Yang family does indeed hold a 3% stake in New Territory Warehouse!”
Then another middle-aged man stood up and said, “Our Hu family also holds a 6% stake in New World Warehouse!”
Gusta burst out laughing. “Li, now that both shareholders Yang and Hu support me, their combined 9% plus my own 43% exceeds the 51% required for a controlling stake. I’m now qualified to restructure the board, aren’t I?”
But just then, Li Yi looked at Gustaf with a half-smile and said, “Gustaf, are you sure these two shareholders support you?”
Hearing this, Gusta froze for a moment, a sense of foreboding welling up inside him…
…….