ebonymovies Chapter 1038 Are you going to acquire Volkswagen?
Chapter 1038 Are you going to acquire Volkswagen?
"Be vigilant, be vigilant, be vigilant!"
A sudden capital attack is violently impacting the Volkswagen Group, a core pillar of German industry.
This newspaper has exclusive and irrefutable leads: In the past two months, a mysterious offshore capital firm called Huanyu Investment has been operating on two fronts. On the one hand, it is acquiring shares from existing shareholders, and on the other hand, it is quietly and continuously increasing its holdings in the secondary market, accumulating more than 15% of Volkswagen Group's shares.
The actual controller of this capital force is Lin Haoran, one of Hong Kong's top tycoons.
Those familiar with Lin Haoran in the industry know that he has always been keen on corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Even before establishing himself in the global market, he had already completed several major acquisitions in Hong Kong, including leading local companies such as Hong Kong Electric Holdings, Hongkong Land, Hong Kong Telephone, Hong Kong and China Gas, Kowloon Motor Bus, Greentown China Holdings, Oriental Press Group, Bank of East Asia, Hang Seng Bank, and Hua Feng Bank.
But his business empire did not stop in Hong Kong.
In the years that followed, he successively completed the acquisition of internationally renowned assets such as 7-Eleven, Lawson convenience store chain, Lane Crawford Group, MGM Studios, and MGM Hotels;
At the same time, it built its own fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry group and successively acquired a number of leading FMCG brands such as Budweiser, Heineken, Red Bull, L'Oréal Paris, Kraft Heinz, and Snickers.
Recently, Lin Haoran has further increased his investment in the European market.
First, it invested in Rolls-Royce, and then joined forces with shipping magnate Bao Yugang to acquire classic car brands such as Austin, MG, and Land Rover.
Now, his capital strategy has officially landed in Germany, targeting the Volkswagen Group to carry out a large-scale shareholding.
Based on Mr. Lin Haoran's style, we cannot help but suspect that his covert arrangements with the Volkswagen Group are far more than just a simple financial investment.
Judging from his acquisition trajectory in Hong Kong, he is never satisfied with being just a small shareholder.
Whether it was Hong Kong Electric Holdings, Hongkong Land, or later MGM Resorts, his ultimate path was almost identical: first, he quietly acquired shares, then gradually increased his holdings, and finally gained control.
This scene is now being repeated on the masses.
As a symbol of German industry, the fate of the Volkswagen Group is not only related to the livelihoods of tens of thousands of employees, but also to the status and reputation of German manufacturing in the world.
It would be a disgrace for Germany if such a group were to be acquired by a capitalist from Asia.
For many years, Volkswagen has been a symbol of Germany's post-war economic recovery and the most resounding name card of "Made in Germany" in the world.
If even Volkswagen has fallen into the hands of foreign capital, then what defenses remain for German industry?
While Volkswagen's engines were still roaring in the Wolfsburg factory, its steering wheel might already be in the hands of a Far Eastern tycoon.
Who's next?
......"
The entire article is filled with inflammatory language and a fear-mongering rhetoric about foreign capital intrusion, almost an open call for all sectors of German society to be vigilant and resist Lin Haoran's capital entry.
The reporter looked at the article, nodded in satisfaction, picked up the manuscript, and strode towards the editor-in-chief's office.
Half an hour later, the editor-in-chief made a decision in his office: this article would become the front-page headline of tomorrow's latest edition of the Business Daily, presented with the largest page and the most eye-catching headline.
The editor-in-chief also specifically instructed: "Pair it with an aerial photo of the Volkswagen headquarters building, along with a photo of Lin Haoran when he took over MGM, to create a strong visual contrast."
On one side is the traditional symbol of German industry, and on the other is the emerging capital power from the Far East, allowing readers to immediately grasp the weight of this contest.
In the blink of an eye, a day has passed.
On the morning of April 3, many Germans habitually went to newsstands.
The bold, large headline on the front page of the Handelsblatt immediately attracted the attention of many Germans.
"Shocking! A silent takeover by Far Eastern tycoon Lin Haoran – will he control the future of Volkswagen?"
As Germany's leading business newspaper, Handelsblatt already has a large following in Germany.
Such a shocking news story even made ordinary people who don't usually read business newspapers stop and buy it.
In a short time, the sales of the Business Daily more than doubled compared to usual.
The news that Lin Haoran had secretly become a major shareholder of Volkswagen spread throughout Germany in an instant.
With the guidance of the Business Daily, everyone suddenly believed that Lin Haoran was aiming to acquire Volkswagen.
In an instant, panic about "foreign capital swallowing up the jewel of German industry" spread rapidly to every corner along with the scent of ink.
Radio stations, television stations, cafes, office buildings, factory workshops, and family dining tables are all discussing this topic.
Even in the Bundestag, some members of parliament have expressed their concerns in informal settings: "Volkswagen is not just a company; it is a symbol of Germany's post-war economic miracle. If control of Volkswagen falls into the hands of foreign capital, it will be the heaviest blow to the history of German industry."
In Wolfsburg, outside the Volkswagen factory, workers gathered in small groups, clutching copies of the Handelsblatt newspaper, their emotions running high.
A veteran worker who has worked in the stamping workshop for thirty years said in a trembling voice, "I always thought Volkswagen would always be a German Volkswagen, but now it seems that even Volkswagen is not going to survive."
A young worker nearby expressed his fear for the future even more directly: "If he moves the factory to Asia, I won't even be able to pay my mortgage."
The entire city was shrouded in an atmosphere of unease.
Soon, a large number of media reporters gathered at Volkswagen's headquarters, carrying cameras and microphones, crowding the entrance to the Volkswagen headquarters building.
Everyone wanted to get an official response from Volkswagen as soon as possible, and everyone wanted to dig out more information from behind that tightly closed door.
The public relations department's phones rang incessantly, and the operators were sweating profusely from their busy work.
Meanwhile, after the stock market opened, Volkswagen's stock price rose sharply.
Everyone knows that if Lin Haoran really wants to acquire Volkswagen, he will inevitably engage in a fierce battle with the Lower Saxony state government and German domestic capital.
Such competition often means higher acquisition premiums and more complex capital operations.
Investors sensed an opportunity and began buying up shares of Volkswagen, hoping to get a piece of the pie in this capital war.
Within just one hour of the market opening, Volkswagen's total market capitalization was boosted from around $65 billion to $73 billion, a gain of 12 percent.
This is an extremely rare single-day increase for a large automaker, and it only lasted for less than an hour.
The Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany does not set daily price limits for individual stocks, allowing prices to fluctuate freely in order to maximize market freedom. Many investors know that a 12% increase is just the beginning.
If it is confirmed that Lin Haoran intends to acquire Volkswagen Group, then it is not impossible for Volkswagen's stock price to double in the short term.
After all, Lower Saxony couldn't just stand by and watch Lin Haoran actually take control of Volkswagen.
Therefore, they have no choice but to engage in a direct capital battle with Lin Haoran, and may even have to join forces with other German conglomerates to increase their stake in Volkswagen in order to hold onto their last line of defense.
If this happens, Volkswagen's stock price will be pushed to a higher level amidst the competition from various parties. Whether it's Lin Haoran, the Lower Saxony state government, speculative capital that gets caught up in the news, or retail investors, they will all become the driving force behind the stock price increase.
At the Volkswagen Group headquarters, in the Chairman's office, Karl Hahn stood by the window, watching the growing number of reporters gathering below. His mood grew heavier, and he couldn't help but feel somewhat helpless.
He didn't expect that the news would be exposed before he could even contact Lin Haoran.
As the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Volkswagen Group, Karl Hahn would naturally find it easy to obtain Lin Haoran's contact information.
However, even they only learned about this matter yesterday afternoon. After the supervisory board meeting, they had a consultation with the members of the think tank and tried to obtain more useful information through the intelligence agency. Therefore, they had not had time to contact Lin Haoran.
Therefore, when the Handelsblatt report appeared across Germany the following morning, Karl Hahn had not actually spoken to Lin Haoran by phone or letter.
He wasn't even 100% sure that Lin Haoran was eyeing the shares of Dazhong, but the Business Daily had already published a report on it, and the content of the report made him worry.
As the Business Daily stated, Lin Haoran does indeed enjoy acquiring companies.
If he really sets his sights on Volkswagen and has the idea of acquiring it, then he, as the chairman of the board of directors of Volkswagen Group, will face the most severe challenge since he took the helm of Volkswagen.
Acquisition and simple financial investment are completely different concepts. If it were just a financial investment, Lin Haoran would only care about the stock price and dividends.
However, if it's for control, he will get deeply involved in the company's strategic decisions, management appointments, and even corporate culture.
The reason why Volkswagen has become a source of pride for German industry is precisely because it has maintained a relatively stable governance structure and a clear strategic direction over its decades-long history.
Once control changes hands, all of this could be rewritten.
"Mr. Chairman, would you like to go down and say a few words to the reporters? If you don't come out soon, I'm afraid the headlines in the media tomorrow will be even more outrageous," the secretary knocked on the door and came in, reporting with a wry smile.
Upon hearing this, Carl Hahn shook his head and said, "No, the news I know has already been reported in the newspapers. Everything that should and shouldn't be said has been clearly stated on the front page."
"If I go down now, whatever I say will be interpreted as the public panicking or showing weakness. It's better to wait until I contact Lin Haoran and get everything settled before making any public statements."
The secretary nodded, offered no further advice, and turned to leave the office.
Karl Hahn walked back to the window, looking down at the reporters who were still unwilling to leave, his eyes filled with a complex expression.
He has been in the industry for decades and has experienced countless ups and downs, but this is the first time he has been led by the nose by the media like this.
Back at his desk, Carl Hahn picked up the phone book, turned to a page, and saw a phone number that belonged to the official residence of British Minister Lawrence.
Finding Lin Haoran's contact information was not difficult for him.
Since Lin Haoran is currently in the UK, we should contact the officials there directly.
As Chairman of the Board of Directors of Volkswagen, Karl Hahn naturally had met Minister Lawrence several times. Although they were not close friends, they still had each other's office contact information.
He picked up the phone and dialed the number for Minister Lawrence's residence.
After the call was connected, Hahn didn't waste any time with pleasantries and went straight to the point: "Minister Lawrence, this is Karl Hahn from the Volkswagen Group. I'm sorry to bother you, but I have an urgent matter that requires your assistance."
I'd like to contact Mr. Lin Haoran in Hong Kong. He's currently in the UK. You should have his contact number; could you please pass on my message? I hope to speak with him as soon as possible, as there are some things that need to be discussed in person.
“Oh, it’s Mr. Hahn. Since you want to contact Mr. Lin, I’ll just give him his London phone number!” Minister Lawrence readily gave Hahn Lin Lin’s temporary contact information in London.
Hahn thanked him repeatedly, wrote down the number, exchanged a few more polite words, and then hung up the phone.
He put down the phone, his gaze falling on the string of numbers he had just written down. He remained silent for a few seconds, then picked up the receiver and dialed.
Lin Haoran, far away in London, England, had just hung up the phone.
He had just finished a phone call with Bernard Arnault, the future godfather of French luxury goods.
Actually, it mainly involved Bernard Arnault reporting to him what he had done after returning to France and what he planned to do next.
The man who was once the world's richest man in Lin Haoran's previous life now acts like one of Lin Haoran's subordinates, reporting on his work progress in great detail.
He was quite confident about investing in Bernard Arnault.
This luxury goods empire is destined to become one of the world's most profitable business empires in the coming decades.
And he has become the behind-the-scenes boss of this luxury goods empire.
Thinking about this, Lin Haoran was in a very good mood.
Next, it's time to announce that he owns 20% of Volkswagen, and then go to Germany to gain the status and influence he deserves.
Holding more than 20% of the shares means he is already Volkswagen's second-largest shareholder. German company law grants him veto power and also gives him the seat he deserves on the supervisory board.
He doesn't need to fight for management control, but he needs to have a voice on the board to ensure that his interests and strategic intentions are not ignored.
However, just then, the phone rang.
Lin Haoran picked up the phone receiver with a puzzled look. Not many people knew this number.
"Hello, this is Lin Haoran."
"Hello Mr. Lin, I am Karl Hahn from the Volkswagen Group. I would like to ask you something. I wonder if your acquisition of so many Volkswagen shares is for the purpose of taking over Volkswagen?"
A calm and direct voice came from the other end of the phone, without any unnecessary pleasantries or polite introductions, getting straight to the point. (End of Chapter)