Chapter 769 It’s going to rain and my mother wants to get married.
On New Year’s Eve, Su Yehao was still not idle.
John Zhou, the COO of Yanwen Group, together with the CEO and CFO, came to Hong Kong City to negotiate with Su Yehao the details of the acquisition of several peers.
The high-tech industry is always filled with a lingering anxiety, and the 80-20 rule is particularly evident in this industry, prompting Silicon Valley to form another unique acquisition logic.
——Either you eat other innovative companies before they acquire you, otherwise they may also eat you, or be eaten by your peers, and then become an unavoidable stumbling block on the road to development.
It is difficult to achieve harmonious coexistence in the Internet circle. Even if Su Yehao does not like high-tech mergers and acquisitions, it does not prevent other companies from making such choices.
For example, in the instant messaging industry, a company with good momentum of development recently is trying to acquire AOL's chat and social business.
Once their deal is completed, the number of users will quickly reach about 35% of the Yanmoji Group, which will directly impact Su Yehao's interests, affect the company's stock price, and compress the future growth space of the Yanmoji Group.
The second floor of the small castle in the mansion garden of Big Wave Bay.
At this time, John Zhou was sitting by the window basking in the sun, with a worried expression on his face, and told:
"I was careless before. Microsoft's instant messaging software MSN Messenger has been tepid since its launch in 1999, accounting for almost 13% of the market share. We didn't expect that it would actually connect with AOL, and we even tried
Acquiring their related businesses, if this transaction is successful, will definitely have a very negative impact on our company."
Su Yehao lowered his head and looked through the documents in his hand.
He knew that Microsoft's MSN, whose full name is "Microsoft Service Network", was initially just a portal developed by Microsoft. Later, it gradually became involved in instant messaging software, online news, e-mail, online shopping and other industries, fully demonstrating Microsoft's expansion into the Internet industry.
Ambition.
Until now, MSN has provided Internet access services to more than four million American users, and claims to have more than 200 million portal users.
If Su Yehao hadn't taken the lead, integrated ICQ and TVT, and opened up the market for instant messaging software through farm mini-games, personal space, nearby people, etc., it is estimated that with the size of Microsoft users, MSN Messenger would also be able to
Capture more instant messaging software markets.
Look at it this way, Microsoft wants to do everything, and it also has a special advantage. It is no wonder that it is being attacked by a group of people and is deeply involved in antitrust lawsuits. It is indeed a bit ugly to look at it.
Next to him, Richard, the white chief financial officer of the Kaomoji Group, nodded and told:
"It seems that there are rumors that Microsoft will soon get rid of the antitrust lawsuit. It should be true. They have made a lot of moves recently. We are already studying the possibility of continuing to sue MSN for monopoly once it reaches this deal. The situation
Not too optimistic.”
John Zhou continued: "In addition to technology patents, market share, customer resources and other businesses, we are also worried that MSN will directly swallow up a large number of talents from AOL through this transaction..."
Su Yehao listened very seriously, crossed his legs, closed the document, and asked, "Does other Silicon Valley companies have no objection to Microsoft doing this?"
His English proficiency can only be considered average. In order to prevent the white people present from misunderstanding, Linda Yun, who had just returned to work today, acted as the translator.
The CEO of Kaomoji Group told reporters: "Of course they are just like us, they are disgusted with Microsoft, a company at the top of the food chain, abusing its dominant position in the market, and Microsoft has too much cash, many companies will feel dangerous,
But nominally MSN is a spun-off independent company, so it’s not convenient for them to do anything.”
After Su Yehao listened, he then asked: "What about AOL? They have decided to agree to this deal? If the instant chat and part of the social business are divested, at what price is the deal expected to be completed?"
Speaking of AOL.
When Su Yehao first got involved in the instant chat business, AOL was the leader in the entire industry. With its popular paid chat room business, it made money and became popular all over the world.
Needless to say later, the free ICQ and TVT teamed up to defeat them. Now that free chat groups have appeared, who would be stupid enough to pay to chat? The personal space function launched by TVT in the United States has indeed changed it to a certain extent.
The lifestyle of American netizens.
Since the merger of America Online and the traditional media giant Time Warner Group, the stock price has plummeted, almost falling into a dilemma. It has become a joke in the financial and Internet industries, causing the shareholders of the original Time Warner Group to follow suit.
.
If America Online hadn't merged with Time Warner Group, it might not have received such attention. How high it was at the time, it's been badly beaten now. A giant with a market value of more than 140 billion U.S. dollars at its peak.
He was reduced to the point where he needed to cut his flesh to restore his blood.
Hearing Su Yehao's question, John Zhou looked at his colleagues and replied: "According to the information we gathered, it is worth about three billion US dollars. Gates did meet with their chairman a few days ago."
When he learned that it would cost three billion US dollars, the corners of Su Yehao's eyes twitched a few times, and he quickly suppressed the idea of preemptive acquisition in his heart.
In his opinion, even if we really want to use the three billion US dollars, we should acquire some companies with greater potential, such as Amazon or Apple, and spend high prices just for market share, buying some carefully packaged garbage, no matter what
It's very frustrating to think about it.
really.
Chief Financial Officer Richard took the opportunity to speak: "Boss, I suggest acquiring AOL's business first. Even if there is a premium, it will not exceed US$4 billion at most. Only MSN competes with us."
For a moment, Su Yehao wanted to find a new chief financial officer. There was really no tacit understanding between them.
He looked at John Zhou, sipping his coffee and glancing out the window at the scenery, without any intention of persuading him.
If you have worked under Su Yehao for a long time, you will know that this boss only wants his employees to do good things seriously. As for strategic planning issues related to the company's long-term development, he has always made the decision himself.
Su Yehao waved his hand decisively and replied:
"I'm not optimistic about this deal."
“First, because the entire market is still declining and the value is obviously inflated; second, because AOL’s related businesses are not as good as ours, they involve different directions, and they cannot bring us many talents, but will hinder the company’s development; third,
It’s because we don’t have enough funds, and fourthly, the MSN deal may not really be successful.”
"I think these reasons should be enough. Microsoft can only be a great company when it concentrates its business in the field of operating systems. If it develops in other industries, everyone will have a hard time. Its antitrust lawsuit is after all
It’s not over yet, I’m worried that someone is trying to put out smoke bombs to induce us to acquire AOL’s business at a high price, or they want to short-sell and suppress our stock price.”
Other reasons are all excuses, the fundamental reason is that Su Yehao doesn't want to spend the money.
If it takes three to four billion U.S. dollars to fully acquire Apple or the already established Amazon, then Su Yehao would definitely have to raise the money by selling everything without blinking an eye.
But parts of AOL's business...are clearly not worth the money in his opinion.
Wait until he finishes.
John Zhou immediately made a thoughtful expression and flattered him:
"As expected of the boss, his ideas are more thoughtful than ours. I never thought that there might be invisible enemies hiding in the dark. The news came out too suddenly. There might be something really wrong inside."
Su Yehao said calmly:
"Soldiers are coming to block you, water is coming to cover you, soil is coming to cover you, it's going to rain, your mother is going to get married, let them go first."
"???"
Linda Yun, who helped translate, had a blank look in her eyes.