CHEUNG Kong (Holdings) chairman Li Ka-shing joined Public International Investments chairwoman Chen Wei-li for a reception at the China Club, the old Bank of China Building, yesterday, following Public International's results on Wednesday. During the evening, Mr Li denied market suggestions that listed companies in his group were planning to place shares with mainland investors. He said: ''Nobody has approached us, and we haven't approached anybody. ''And this [the rumoured placement] is simply not a possibility.'' Cheung Kong (Holdings), China Venturetech Investment Corp and Shanghai International Securities Co now have a controlling stake in Public International - to be re-named First Shanghai Investments. The group will focus on insurance, securities and corporate financing. Public International Investments announced its final results on Wednesday for last year, which saw an 84.3 per cent plunge in profit attributable to shareholders to $4.75 million.
