I’m in Hollywood - Chapter 616
[Chapter 611 Risky]
Before 1995, although Microsoft had already shown a dominant position in the operating system software market, its annual turnover was actually only more than two billion US dollars, and its main competitor, Apple, had an annual turnover of more than one billion US dollars. In comparison, Microsoft does not have an absolute advantage.
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this time, in this small restaurant near the library of Harvard Business School, Bill Gates, who has calmed down, knows that although Yahoo is only a small company with little resistance compared to Microsoft at this time. Little sheep, but behind this sheep stands a ‘giant beast’ that is even more ferocious than Microsoft at this time. Bill Gates’ original tough stance quickly subsided, revealing the shrewdness of business negotiations. With a look, he said, “Eric, I can consider your suggestion of pre-installing the IE browser.”
“It will be the Yahoo browser soon. I think you must already know that I have just integrated the three companies.”
Bill Gates was a little dissatisfied with Eric’s sudden interjection, but patiently said: “Well, Yahoo browser, if Yahoo browser wants to become pre-installed software, it must be in the form of permanent exclusive.”
Eric Although he knows the development trend of the operating system market in the next few years, the market share of the Microsoft Windows system is only %. Impossible, being able to monopolize the latest technology of Yahoo’s browser to achieve user diversion in the short term is already the biggest concession I can make. If you follow your suggestion, unless it can completely dominate the operating system market, Yahoo will automatically give up. % of the operating system platform. This is obviously impossible.”
If you completely abandon other platforms at this time, it is equivalent to tying Yahoo’s browser software to Microsoft. If Microsoft suddenly turns its face, Yahoo will be very passive. Commercial credit in this area has never been very good.
Not yet.
Even Bill Gates himself does not have the confidence to absolutely dominate the operating system market. Although he did not agree to Eric’s words, he did not continue to refute, saying: “I will consider this matter. However, it is impossible for Microsoft to let a company with If Yahoo browser wants to be pre-installed software, Microsoft needs to get at least % of Yahoo’s shares.”
“Yahoo will choose next year, if you sell % of shares to Microsoft, you will Become Yahoo’s largest shareholder, which is no different from selling Yahoo to Microsoft. ┟╡┟┠╡┟.<. Moreover, Microsoft's asking price at this time is far lower than my personal expectations." Eric originally planned He directly refused to sell the shares, but after saying this, a thought suddenly flashed in his mind, so he decided to throw a good bait to Bill Gates: "I can promise Microsoft to acquire % of Yahoo's shares at most, but not now. Five years later, % of the stock options. After five years, Microsoft can decide whether to acquire % of Yahoo's shares in cash, stock exchange, etc. based on Yahoo's market value at the time."
Bill Gates quickly calculated in his heart. Yahoo is very optimistic, but I don't believe that Yahoo can surpass Microsoft in five years.
Microsoft's internal estimate of the value of Yahoo Network is between $8 and $1 billion. Even if the best estimate is that Yahoo's market value will double in five years, Microsoft will only need about $100 million to acquire % of the shares.
Taking Microsoft's annual market value growth of over % at this time, Microsoft's market value may rise to $100 million in five years.
At that time, US$100 million was nothing to Microsoft. If it took % of Yahoo's shares, Microsoft could become Yahoo's largest shareholder as long as it operated on the public market.
After that, it would be easy to take over the entire Yahoo in a hostile takeover.
Eric has been quietly paying attention to the changes in Bill Gates' expression, seeing that the other party's expression gradually relaxed, maybe even thinking of something good, and showing a smug smile, he knew that the door classmate had fallen into the pit.
I don't think there is anything wrong with my calculations.
Bill Gates said: "Eric, I can consider this point, in addition, Yahoo must open a part of the browser software patent license to Microsoft."
"If you insist, of course there's no problem," Eric seemed to be very easy to talk, and continued to ask: "Is there anything else?"
"That's all for now. If we think of other things, we can add more when we formally negotiate. "
Alright," Eric said: "Since your conditions are finished, let me tell you mine. If we can reach a cooperation, we can no longer consider details such as exclusive licensing fees. However, Yahoo guarantees that the Yahoo browser version on the platform will continue to be ahead of other platforms, but Microsoft must also guarantee that it will not launch its own browser software within five years."
Eric originally planned that some of Yahoo's technical software would be the first to rely on the platform. For Yahoo itself, it doesn't even need to make any layout adjustments. Instead, it can be used as a 'chip' in exchange for some benefits.
═┝┟╞.﹝.
Bill Gates suddenly felt that Eric was still too young. As long as Yahoo entered the capital market, Yahoo would almost be Microsoft's possession after five years.
Moreover, five years is enough for Microsoft to understand all the technical details of Yahoo's browser and develop alternative technologies. Even if things change, Microsoft can drive Yahoo's browser out of the platform without hesitation.
But as a shrewd businessman's natural prudence, Bill Gates still did not agree immediately. Although he felt that there was no serious problem, he still planned to take these terms to Microsoft's special strategic exhibition department to study the pros and cons.
So he continued to say ambiguously: "No problem, I can think about it."
Eric doesn't have as many calculations as Bill Gates, and he doesn't mind that Bill Gates's words are full of word games such as 'can be considered'. Anyway, both parties understand that before the final contract is signed in black and white, any Promises have no legal effect.
And, Eric is very clear.
Entering the new century, browser software will be used more as a vassal service of Internet giants. Compared with the 1990s, the role of the interface has been greatly weakened.
not to mention.
In the original time and space, even if Microsoft basically dominated the browser market in the early stage, and always occupied a large amount of market share, its own network business was still beaten by Yahoo, Google, Amazon and other companies in turn, and basically no profit was generated.
Originally the best msn online service finally closed its doors.
The general intention of cooperation was confirmed. It was already dark outside the window, and the two parties did not intend to continue to stay in this small restaurant.
When saying goodbye, Bill Gates also hopes to visit Yahoo headquarters next year. Eric will entertain John Chambers and Steve Case tomorrow. Of course, he doesn't want his classmates to get involved. After two days.
Watching the Gates and his wife leave in the luxury car, Eric took a few steps to the quiet lawn next to him, touched his pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes. Pedestrians passing by.
Still a little curious in his heart, he and Bill Gates had already revealed their identities, but they did not attract any onlookers, which was beyond his expectations.
Caroline, who had always been reluctant to leave, sat down next to Eric. She wanted to remind Eric not to smoke on campus, but seeing Eric seemed to be seriously thinking about things, she didn't bother. .
Looking at the sparks dangling in Eric's hand, Caroline was a little worried that Eric would throw cigarette butts everywhere, but then she felt that if he waited to throw it away, she would help him pick it up.
Think of something trivial to do for Eric.
Her mood suddenly became much happier.
Eric recalled the negotiation with Bill Gates just now. Although the two parties have initially reached some cooperation intentions, the specific contract terms will definitely be adjusted in the future negotiation process, which is the biggest risk in this cooperation.
It may be the % option clause, which is also the biggest bait that Eric threw to the door classmates.
What Bill Gates can think about, of course Eric can't think of.
However, after planning for more than two years in advance, and possessing the prophetic advantage of the reborn, if five years later take advantage of the east wind of the Internet wave.
Yahoo's market value still can't reach the point where Microsoft is discouraged, then he will simply sell Yahoo and continue to go back to Hollywood.
As for the others, Eric didn't care too much. Bill Gates, who relies on software, was still most concerned about browser software at this time, and his classmates can also see that even if Yahoo browser is completely free, it can still be promoted properly. It has a very big promotion effect, so it will be eager to come to Yahoo in person before the sale.
The facts of the original time and space have proved that the dominance of browser software does not bring much advantage to Microsoft's Internet business.
In terms of choosing to cooperate with Microsoft, in addition to wanting to take advantage of next year's Dongfeng to promote the Yahoo browser, Eric is mainly worried that Microsoft will rely on the market advantage of the Windows system to launch a new browser to create different technical standards, hindering the development of the Internet industry. In the original time and space, Microsoft's IE and Netscape browsers used the same kernel, and still launched various peripheral technical standards respectively, resulting in a series of website incompatibility incidents.
If Microsoft launches a new browser and a completely different web page decoding core, then this incompatibility will be even more serious. Eric does not want to have a technical standard war with Microsoft that lasts for many years, which will only hurt both sides.
Caroline's eyes swayed with the cigarette in Eric's hand, but Eric suddenly turned his head, waved the cigarette that was about to burn out, and asked, "Do you want to try it too?"
Carol Lin quickly shook her head: "No, I don't want it."
Eric smiled, got up and put out the cigarette butt in his hand, threw it into the trash can by the road, and then said to Caroline, "Which dormitory do you live in? , shall I take you back?"
Caroline's eyes flew into the entrance of the garbage can with the cigarette butt. She was stunned for a moment. After hearing Eric's words, she turned her face and replied, "I don't have a dormitory. I live in an apartment on the east side.
" Following Caroline's guidance, Rick walked east and said, "Why do you live outside, it's not safe for you to be a girl?"
"No, it's not me, I live with my classmates, and it's far from the school. Very
close."
Eric hummed and said nothing.
The two walked forward for a while before Caroline found another topic and said, "Eric, why did you agree to sell % of Yahoo's shares to Microsoft, even five years later, it seems that the risk is too high. How big is it?"
The market value of Yahoo in the original time and space was once close to 100 million US dollars. Eric believes that after integrating a series of plans in his memory, as long as the Internet wave comes as scheduled, there is absolutely no problem in doubling the market value of Yahoo in this time and space, even if There are only 100 million. At that time, % of the shares will be 100 million US dollars, which is equivalent to % of the market value of Microsoft at the highest point in the original time and space. Microsoft will definitely not be able to take out billions of dollars in cash. Eric remembers that in 1999, Microsoft was at the highest point of the Internet bubble in the original time and space. The turnover is only 100 million US dollars. It will be difficult to determine whether Bill Gates will be willing to exchange % of Yahoo's shares for % of Yahoo's shares. For Microsoft, which is a publicly held company, it is equivalent to introducing a major shareholder to Microsoft, which will affect Bill Gates' control over Microsoft.
Moreover, even if the transaction is successful, Eric will definitely not lose money. After all, it is an operating system platform that is about to achieve a monopoly. As long as it is not eliminated, Microsoft can continue to bring stable huge profits. As Bill Gates continues to reduce his holdings in Microsoft Stocks, Eric might even scoop up one of Microsoft's largest individual shareholders, Dangdang.
Moreover, even if Microsoft did not encounter an anti-monopoly investigation in this time and space, according to the madness of the Internet bubble at that time, UU reading www.
The day when the sonicmtl.com bubble burst is still inevitable.
After the burst of the Internet bubble, with the stock price of Internet companies plummeting, Eric can still use the funds cashed out during the bubble to easily complete the second Internet industry layout.
However, these are not things that can be told to the girl beside him. Eric just said casually: "The greater the risk, the greater the reward."
Caroline used the information accumulated in her little brain, but only Seeing the risks, she didn't think Eric could gain anything from this transaction.
However, imagining the series of miracles that Eric has created in just a few years, Caroline has no doubts about any of Eric's views, she thinks, she can't think of it, it must be too stupid.
Walking all the way, looking at the red brick apartment building in the Soldier Factory Community, Caroline felt more and more uneasy. She knew that if she didn't take the initiative to catch something, Eric would send her back, and she would definitely do it again. Disappearing from her own life, and thinking that she can only see him in some newspapers and magazines in the future, Caroline felt a little flustered, and after walking a few steps, the girl finally summoned up the courage, pulled Eric and said: " Eric, you just said in the restaurant that you want to hire me as your personal assistant." (To be continued.)
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[End of this Chapter]
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