After arriving in the United States, Lin Fan attended board meetings of Facebook and YouTube.
Lin Fan did not participate too much and only occasionally expressed his opinions.
He didn't participate much in the company's operations, and he didn't want to take care of it. He just wanted to be a good investor, and he would withdraw from Facebook and YouTube when a suitable opportunity came.
When you come to the United States, the most important thing is to make money.
After it was over, the group was ready to have dinner.
It was already noon after the meeting. Lin Fan fell into the common dilemma that people often have and asked the people around him: "What are you going to eat today?"
One director smiled and said: "No need to think hard, Qiu will deliver takeaway to us after a while."
"Qiu?"
Lin Fan thought for a while and asked: "Qiu Zhiyi?"
"Yes, that's him."
The Chinese name is too hard to pronounce. They usually call each other "Qiu". When Lin Fan reminded him, he instantly remembered that the other person's full name was this.
Someone interjected: “Didn’t you ask him to contract lunch and dinner for Facebook and YouTube employees?
He has been delivering food to us since the beginning of this month. You may not know it yet since you returned to China."
"Yeah?"
Lin Fan smiled. At that time, he wanted to help Lao Qiu start his own business. He didn't know if the dishes he cooked would suit the taste of these foreigners?
Just when he was about to ask further questions, there was a commotion outside the conference room, accompanied by a rush of footsteps.
"What's going on?"
Lin Fan spread his hands and asked around with a confused look.
"Let's go, you'll know when you get out."
Lin Fan followed several people out of the conference room.
After coming out, he saw a dense crowd of people. Everyone was gathered around the front desk, bustling with people.
From time to time there were some quarrels among the crowd, as if they were fighting over something.
Lin Fan looked around. Everyone pursed their lips and smiled, but they refused to tell him the answer to the riddle.
So, he had no choice but to push aside the crowds of people gathered in circles and walked inside.
An employee was pushed away by Lin Fan, and when he was about to curse, he realized that it was from the board of directors. Halfway through the curse, he said "Fake oil" and suddenly changed it to "Fake rice".
Lin Fan ignored the stupid employee and pushed aside two more people. The others noticed that someone from the board of directors was coming, and they all wisely moved out of the way.
Lin Fan walked into the center of the crowd and found Qiu Zhiyi and a young Chinese guy sweating profusely while distributing lunch boxes one by one.
"The Kung Pao chicken is gone, only fish-flavored shredded pork and sweet and sour pork. Who wants it?"
Qiu Zhiyi was burying his head in sorting lunch boxes and didn't notice Lin Fan's arrival.
While he was working, he was thinking that these foreigners were too unruly and noisy. They were all colleagues, and they had to quarrel and push each other in order to grab lunch boxes.
I heard that all of them have bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and even doctoral degrees. Is this the quality?
It’s worse than primary school students in China. Do all primary school students know how to queue?
"Brother Qiu, is business good?"
Hearing the familiar voice and Chinese, Qiu Zhiyi looked up and a smile suddenly broke out on his face, "Mr. Lin, have you returned to the United States?"
"Yes, I just came back a few days ago, and I just came to Facebook today."
Just like that, Lin Fan started chatting with Qiu Zhiyi.
A group of foreigners hesitated to speak. They saw that the boss and the chef seemed to know each other. Although their stomachs were growling with hunger, they couldn't interrupt.
All we can do is wait! I’m so anxious!
Fortunately, Qiu Zhiyi saw the anxiety of the people around him and said to the young man in his early twenties next to him: "Brother, please divide the lunch boxes, and I will go and have a chat with Mr. Lin."
The young man nodded and then started shouting in half-baked English.
Lin Fan and Qiu Zhiyi came out of the crowd, and there was another noisy sound inside.
Lin Fan turned his head and glanced at the crowd behind him, "Is that brother your helper?"
Qiu Zhiyi nodded, "Yes, it's my cousin who just came from China to help me."
"The people there really help each other. Your cousin takes care of you, and you take care of your cousin."
Lin Fan smiled and gave a thumbs up. He once again learned how strong the clan culture in Fujian and Guangdong is.
Qiu Zhiyi smiled without saying anything and followed Lin Fan into the latter's office.
To be honest, this was the first time Qiu Zhiyi entered Lin Fan's office. His first impression was that the furnishings were simple and plain, completely unlike some big bosses in TV dramas who made it splendid and extravagant.
"sit down!"
After asking Qiu Zhiyi to sit down on the sofa, Lin Fan made him another cup of tea, and then began to inquire about the business situation of the Chinese restaurant.
Under Lin Fan's guidance, Qiu Zhiyi quickly found a shop in Silicon Valley, hired several people, and opened the business with great success.
The restaurant is very simple, no dine-in is available, all takeout is delivered.
In order to facilitate delivery, Qiu Zhiyi also bought a second-hand pickup truck.
After understanding the situation, Lin Fan nodded, "It seems pretty good. At least I can see that the employees in our company really like the Chinese food you cook."
"Not everyone may like it, there is a process of adaptation..."
Qiu Zhiyi talked about the situation these days.
Lin Fan returned to China, so naturally he didn't know all this and listened with great interest.
"...Foreigners don't like spicy food, and they don't eat animal offal, heads and claws. They either throw them away or make them into pet feed."
Lin Fan smiled and answered, "There are also exports. Sichuan Province eats 300 million rabbit heads a year. Smart businessmen have already made plans to go to the United States and Europe."
Qiu Zhiyi nodded, "Yes, eating habits and cultures are different, so to adapt to foreigners' tastes, Chinese food must be improved.
At the same time, we have to give up some Chinese food, such as braised rabbit head, braised goose feet with vermicelli, stir-fried liver and kidney...
I found that foreigners like to eat kung pao chicken very much, because the chicken is made from chicken breast, and foreigners usually only eat these parts of meat.
At the same time, it’s not good if it’s too spicy. The Kung Pao Chicken I made half a month ago made several foreigners cry.
Later I changed it to sweet and sour flavor, and the foreigner was instantly hooked.
Every day when I come to deliver food, they crowd around the front desk, all trying to grab a piece of Kung Pao Chicken..."
After hearing this, Lin Fan finally understood. It turned out that those employees were so obsessed with Chinese food that they all wanted to run ahead of others and grab a box lunch they liked.
"This shows that the dishes you cook are constantly adapting to the tastes of foreigners. What are you going to do next? Should you expand the store for dine-in dining, or continue to expand the takeout business?"
Qiu Zhiqiang shook his head, "Let's take it slow first, step by step."
Lin Fan didn't say anything more, chatted for a few words, and sent Qiu Zhiyi out of the office.
In the open office area, all the employees were feasting and gesticulating while eating, "Good! Good!"
There was also someone holding a DVD and filming each employee having a meal.
Facing the camera, some employees put down their spoons and performed an impromptu rap, praising the delicious Chinese food and the good company benefits.
Lin Fan laughed and sighed that the company is really a hidden dragon and a crouching tiger, everyone is versatile.
The photographer came over with a DVD and said to Qiu Zhiyi: "Qiu, you have delivered takeaways for us for free for so many days, we will make an advertisement for you.
Later, please send me the restaurant's address and contact number.
After a while, I will place the advertisement for you on Facebook and YouTube.
You have to be mentally prepared and expand the restaurant's capacity as soon as possible, otherwise there will be too many customers and you won't be able to sit down."
Qiu Zhiyi didn't quite understand how effective this advertisement was, but he thanked him profusely for his kindness.
"It's been free for so many days? How can this be done? Go and ask the finance department to pay for all the meals."
Lin Fan had said before that he had to pay, and he couldn't let Lao Qiu deliver the food in vain. It was not easy to start a small business.
Qiu Zhiyi repeatedly waved his hand, saying no, but was dragged towards the finance department.
Lin Fan also ordered a portion, but looked at this dish.
Fish-flavored shredded pork, potato beef, sweet and sour pork loin, Kung Pao chicken...
Others ate with gusto, but Lin Fan felt that it was just a piece of cake and sighed as he ate.
This Chinese food is suitable for foreigners' tastes, but it is not suitable for his Chinese taste.
It's either sour or sweet. This is really a shame.
Maybe this can’t be called Chinese food, maybe it’s more appropriate to call it “Western Chinese food”.
...
On February 18, 2005, Eastern Time in the United States and February 19, Beijing time, Shanda announced that Shanda and its controlling shareholders have held 19.5% of Sina's equity through secondary market transactions, and in accordance with relevant U.S. laws and regulations, Shanda has reported to the U.S. Securities Regulatory Commission sec.
Filed Beneficial Equity 13-D filing.
As soon as this news was announced, it caused thousands of waves!
Sina and Shanda stock prices both rose!
The United States is okay, but the domestic media has launched a series of reports.
It is described as a shocking merger. After the merger is completed, an Internet giant with a value of 5 billion or 10 billion US dollars will be born. China's largest Internet company will distance itself from Sohu and NetEase, and directly challenge international giants such as Google and eaby.
.
As the media dug deeper, more inside information was unearthed.
In order to acquire Sina, Shanda spent US$230 million in cash, accounting for 60% of the company's total liquidity, which shows its determination.
At the same time, coupled with Chen Tianqiao's aura as "the richest man in China at the age of 30", the outside world is relatively optimistic about this marriage.
Both bricks and mortar believe that Sina's equity is too dispersed. After acquiring 19.5% of the equity, it is already a fish on the chopping board and can be slaughtered by others.
Sina, on the other hand, has remained silent, refusing to accept interviews or making any public comments. It seems that it has acquiesced in the settlement of the upcoming hostile takeover.
Against this background, the Autumn Harvest Fund under Lam Capital is going against the general trend, selling its stocks crazily and running for its lives.
There is no need to worry about not paying the price. A large number of institutions are optimistic about this marriage and are frantically shopping for goods in the market, preparing to profit from the skyrocketing stock prices brought about by this wave of mergers.
Therefore, the shipment of the Autumn Harvest Fund was relatively smooth.
"I heard that Chen Tianqiao has arrived in Beijing and is negotiating with Sina. Why don't you keep some on hand and wait and see for a few more days?"
In the Lin Capital office, Liu Hai couldn't help but suggest as he watched employees continue to sell sales orders, but Shanda's stock price was barely suppressed and still maintained a slight rise.
Lin Fan glanced at his bangs in surprise.
Liu Hai quickly explained, "What I mean is to sell the principal and half of the profit, and keep half of the profit to strive for excess returns."
If he didn't know the future development, Lin Fan might agree with Liu Hai's suggestion. After all, the negotiations between Shanda and Sina are still unknown, and even the merger hope is more than 50%, giving them the upper hand.
"Sell them all. Chen Tianqiao will not sacrifice his own short-term interests. You can see that he only bought 19.5% of the shares. He never crosses the 20% position line. He can enter the board of directors or withdraw.
Sell and take profits..."
The boss had already spoken, but Liu Hai did not insist anymore and urged his subordinates to speed up the selling.
…………
…………
Four days later, Sina issued an announcement stating that it would launch a "share option plan", the so-called "poison pill plan", to prevent any third-party acquisitions, including Shanda.
Poison pills, also known as "equity dilution anti-takeover measures," will come into effect once an unauthorized party acquires 10% or 20% of the shares of the target company.
The acquired company will issue new shares at a low price to other shareholders, excluding the hostile acquirer from the list of additional shareholders, thereby achieving the purpose of diluting equity.
Hostile acquirers can still buy shares in the secondary market, but because of the increase in new shares and the expansion of total equity, if they want to reach the control line or obtain more equity, they will have to spend a lot of money.
The poison pill plan announced by Sina is that ordinary shareholders other than Shanda will receive stock options of US$150 for each ordinary share they hold, and can purchase new shares at half the price when Sina issues new shares.
After some calculation, Sina’s total share capital is 50.48 million shares, Shanda and its related parties hold 9.84 million shares, and the remaining shareholders with share options hold a total of 40.64 million shares.
Sina's stock price is about US$32, and the half price is US$16. Each ordinary share is entitled to US$150 stock options, which means that for every ordinary share held, you can enjoy the right to purchase new shares.
These 40.64 million shares, after the poison pill is activated, can be issued into 431.48 million shares, while Shanda will still have 9.84 million shares, and its proportion of the total share capital will be diluted from 19.5% to %.
In addition to the dilution of equity, Shanda will also bear certain losses because other shareholders bought new shares at half the price of US$16.
Shanda spent a total of US$230 million to buy 9.84 million shares of Sina, with an average shareholding cost of more than US$23.
However, the poison pill is not yet activated. It will only be activated if Shanda buys another 0.5% of the stock.
This is actually to scare Shanda and make him stop at the brink.
If Shanda doesn't listen to the advice, it must be prepared to lose money and have its equity diluted.
If Shanda stops taking action, Sina can redeem the options at US$1 per share option.
It probably cost more than $40,000 to settle this matter.
As soon as the news came out, Shanda's stock price fell.
However, all this has nothing to do with Lin Capital. They have already cleared Shanda's shares and are counting the results.
"Mr. Lin, as you expected, Shanda is now in a dilemma.
We bought 10,000 shares of Shanda at the average price of US dollars and sold them at an average price of US$33.7, making a profit of approximately US$12.9 million."
Liu Hai said angrily: "If we retreat now, our profits will probably be cut in half, but you are right."
Lin Fan smiled and said: "It's not yet time to make a final decision. What kind of poison pill plan is actually a bargaining chip to put pressure on Chen Tianqiao at the negotiation table.
If he can afford the price, believe it or not, Sina's management will immediately redeem all the stock options and have a happy marriage."
Liu Hai nodded, gaining a deeper understanding of business competition, and sighed: "Everything is hustle and bustle for profit, you are right."
Lin Fan said: "Shanda didn't call us, right?"
"No, I don't care. It is estimated that many shareholders of Shanda are ready to sell and run away.
Shanda has spent so much cash on Sina. If they can't reach an agreement and merge, it will definitely be a huge bad news."
Lin Fan nodded, originally a little worried that Chen Tianqiao would call to ask questions.
We just met each other some time ago, and you are actually playing dirty tricks behind your back. How embarrassing is that?
But thinking about it carefully, even if Chen Tianqiao did find out, Lin Fan felt that the other party would not call to question him.
Now that they are adults, these accusations seem funny and useless.
At most, I'll just keep a distance from myself from now on.
Lin Fan didn't have any moral baggage. He didn't think he was cheating anyone, he was just making a little money.
Liu Hai said: "Sina and Shanda have cleared their positions and got back US$44 million in principal and more than US$29 million in profits. Which stock should we invest in next?"
Lin Fan smiled and said: "China's Focus Media and Baidu are also preparing to go public in the United States this year, so you can pay attention to them."
Liu Hai understood. Lin Fan didn't want to say more and wanted to study it carefully.
After understanding what Lin Fan meant, he didn't ask any more questions, but made up his mind that he would have to study hard and not rely on his boss for everything.
