A Chinese consortium May Pull out of the Deal of the Center, Central Hong Kong
In November last year, Li Ka-shing's Cheung Kong sold 75% interests of the Center at99 Queen's Road Central, Central toa China and Hong Kong joint venture consortium for hk $40.2 billion, brokethe record of the highest univalent record of Hongkong office buildings. The mail shareholder of the buying consortium is the British Virgin Islands-registered "C.H.M.T. Peaceful Development Asia Property Limited", and the big shareholder isChina National Storage Energy and Chemical Industry Group, accounting for 55% of the shares. But, according to Reuters and the South China Morning Post quoted sources, the CEQCG all of a sudden "abstains" and intends to retire all overfour months after signing the agreement, and will be taken over by Chu Yuet Wah, CEO of Kingston and Mr. Hui Wing Mao, chariman of the board of Shimao Property Holdings Ltd. Ms. Chu said to take part in the acquisition was mainly expecting a bullish market for Hong Kong's commercial properties, so she co-invested with other buyers, though she only invested a minority stake. She is the richest woman in Hong Kong. According to Forbes' 2018 ranking, Zhu is the seventh richest person in Hong Kong, with a fortune of $12 billion. Mr.Lu Wenrui Chairman ofC.H.M.T. Peaceful Development Asia Property Limited andDeputy director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPPCC National Committeewasthe lead person to promote the Center, Central deal.He said, CEQCE did not exit the Center deal, "because it is a central enterprise, if it goes abroad to buy property with a holding more than 51%, the approval of the SASAC is very troublesome and has a long time, so it is convenient to sell a few shares and reduce the stock holding.