In an off-exchange transaction Thursday, the 89-year-old sold five million shares of SJM, according to a disclosure on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Also in an off-exchange transaction, according to another disclosure, the woman he calls his fourth wife, Angela Leong, acquired five million shares. Leong later bought an additional 750,000 shares through the market; the two purchases combined raised her stake to 8.21% from 8.11%.
Last month, Pansy Ho, the eldest daughter of Ho's second wife, acquired a chunk of Ho's property and transport flagship, Shun Tak Holdings, according to a statement from the company. Shun Tak said Ms. Ho, who is the company's managing director, bought 36,285,523 shares from her father at market price, raising her stake to 12.67% from 11%. The purchase came to us$ 22.77 million.
Earlier this year, a family dispute burst into the open when Mr. Ho, who is in poor health, accused the children of his second wife of colluding with his third wife to steal the holding company that held the bulk of his assets. They denied his accusations. Mr. Ho said the dispute was settled in March.