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GOME founder fights for shares and company

GOME founder fights for shares and company
0 CommentsPrint E-mail CNTV, September 29, 2010
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Once China's richest man, Huang Guangyu built Gome into the country's biggest appliance chain. He's now scrambling to prevent his assets from being diluted. Yin Hang takes a look back, at how this bitter battle began.

The showdown is on for GOME, after months of embittered infighting.

Currently, the Huang clan holds around 35 percent of GOME's shares. The jailed billionaire tycoon initiated an earlier vote before the special general meeting. That means if less than 70 percent of total shareholders vote on Tuesday, Huang will win. So far, around 60 percent of shareholders participated in the earlier vote.

Industry onlookers believe, however, the 10 minute vote won't be the end of the fight.

Ye Tan, Finance Commentator said "The interim shareholder meeting held on September 28th is only the first phase meeting. Although we'll know who'll be the controller of Gome after the result is announced, this won't be the end of the story. A new round of bitter fighting will start when Gome issues new shares in the future."

The Gome electrical appliances chain was founded by Huang in 1987.

It was listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange in 1992.

In November 2008, Huang was investigated for stock market manipulation. He was later jailed for 14 years, for insider trading.

Huang's successor, Chen Xiao, stepped in, taking on more shareholders despite Huang's objections. When Chen gradually strengthened his position at a company board meeting, Huang was marginalized.

The conflict between Huang and Chen was sharpened on August 4th this year. Huang dispatched a letter, in a bid to unseat Chen from the chairmanship. And Chen fought back, asking for compensation to cover Huang's liabilities to the business.

Huang's representatives are in discussions with all Gome shareholders, including Bain Capital. As he fights to regain control of the company he created, industry insiders say the constant warring is doomed to a bitter ending.

 

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