After the first day of contact, formal negotiations finally began.
Although Gu Yunkai was not optimistic about Penguin's future, he could not resist Cao Xuan's insistence. As a part-time worker, he would naturally do whatever the boss said.
The content of the negotiation was very simple. It was simply that Cao Xuan wanted to pay less and take more shares, while Brother Xiao Ma and the others wanted to pay less and get more money.
After nearly two days of discussions, the two sides basically reached an agreement.
Xiao Ma and others gave up 40% of their shares, which was the largest share they could offer after several discussions. Any more would make the controlling stake of their founding team unstable.
For their 40% stake, Xiao Ma hopes to raise US$2.2 million.
This price is not set casually, but is the result of repeated calculations by Xiao Ma's team based on future needs.
In 1999, the exchange rate between the US dollar and the RMB was 1:8.27. US$2.2 million was equivalent to more than 18 million RMB, which is by no means a small amount now.
Even though Cao Xuan was mentally prepared, his eyelids still jumped. This Internet is really not for ordinary people.
Taking down an infant penguin will directly consume more than half of the cash in his hand, which is too expensive.
However, Cao Xuan did not push the price down. After all, with less money, Penguin could not develop, and his money was wasted. Cao Xuan still knew clearly what was more important.
Moreover, in the original space and time, Penguin also sold 40% of its shares at this price, which shows that Xiao Ma's cost calculation did not deceive him.
Besides, this is 40% of Penguin's shares. Let alone 18 million, even if it is increased tenfold, it is still a bloody profit.
However, Cao Xuan still tried hard. He invested 20 million, but the shares must account for 45%. At the same time, he was willing to entrust the daily business of Penguin Company to Xiao Ma's team.
Xiao Ma and others were hesitant. At the critical moment, Cao Xuan came up with another big code. He endorsed QQ for free for three years to cooperate with the promotion of QQ.
Cao Xuan's condition made Brother Xiao Ma and others' eyes light up.
They had previously intended to let QQ tie up Cao Xuan's reputation. With Cao Xuan's current popularity, QQ's influence could be greatly spread in a short period of time.
It's just that Brother Xiaoma and the others have never been embarrassed to mention this matter.
After all, in business, even if Cao Xuan is the major shareholder of Penguin, Penguin does not belong to him alone. To endorse QQ, the cost will definitely have to be calculated separately.
With Cao Xuan's current fame, his annual endorsement fee is at least several million, which is simply not something Penguin can afford.
But now, Cao Xuan has exchanged three years of endorsements + cash for 5% of the shares. It has to be said that it has scratched the itch of Xiao Ma and others.
40% is also for sale, and 45% is also for sale. Anyway, there is still a controlling interest. Xiao Ma and others discussed it and finally agreed to Cao Xuan's request.
So far, Cao Xuan (Jiaoyang Venture Capital) has acquired 45% of Penguin's shares with 20 million + three-year commercial endorsements, becoming Penguin's largest shareholder.
Even if the second round of financing, listing, etc. continue to be diluted in the future, the remaining shares will be enough to make Cao Xuan proud.
Cooperation achieved.
Cao Xuan was very happy, Xiaoma Ge and others were also smiling, and even Penguin's employees were very happy because their jobs were saved.
That night, Cao Xuan, the new major shareholder, funded and invited all employees to dinner in the name of the company.
At this party, Cao Xuan not only showed his face at the beginning, but also gave all the display opportunities to Brother Xiao Ma's team. While everyone in Brother Xiao Ma was grateful, they also let go of their worries.
He is the largest shareholder holding 45%, and he is a big star with great fame and connections.
Brother Xiaoma and the others are also afraid that Cao Xuan will turn them into the main guest, but now it seems that Cao Xuan has no such intention.
Several people really want to establish a good relationship with Cao Xuan. With his full support as a major shareholder, we can focus on growing Penguin.
Everyone was thinking about establishing a good relationship with Cao Xuan, but little did they know that Cao Xuan thought the same way.
QQ is not that great of a software. At least for now, you can just find some team to build it.
This is also the reason why many people dismiss Xiao Ma when he is looking for investment.
Therefore, the real value of Penguin is not QQ, but the founding team of Xiao Ma. It is precisely because of the optimization, innovation, and upgrading of Xiao Ma and others that there will be a huge Penguin empire in the future.
If Cao Xuan can establish a deep personal relationship with these core Penguins, it will definitely benefit him a lot.
Therefore, Cao Xuan stayed in Shenzhen City for a few days, handling various contracts and procedures for financing, while actively cultivating feelings with Xiao Ma.
And Xiao Ma Ge and the others thought the same way. The two of them hit it off immediately, and their relationship developed by leaps and bounds. Soon they were calling each other "Brother Ma" and "Lao Cao".
Brother Xiao Ma even took the initiative to invite Cao Xuan to his home, but Cao Xuan refused to give in. He inquired about his family situation and came to the door with gifts.
The house where Brother Xiao Ma lived at this time was a residential area. From the perspective of Cao Xuan, who owned several properties, it was indeed an ordinary family...
At Brother Xiao Ma's house, Cao Xuan met Xiao Ma's wife, but he didn't know if she was the one who came later. After all, Brother Xiao Ma hid her too closely, and Cao Xuan couldn't match her.
As for the penguin princess Ma Manlin who [gives Q coins on her birthday], it is completely a rumor.
According to the online information, the girl was born in 1992. Brother Ma had not graduated from college at that time. How could he have time to have a daughter? He even posted on Weibo that he wanted to fall in love with Mr. Wang. Even if Brother Ma had such a daughter, he would have to get rid of her.
Home door.
That night, the guests and hosts had a great time.
Brother Ma, who was a little drunk after drinking too much, expressed his gratitude to Cao Xuan in a sentimental way, thanking him for saving the penguin and himself.
Cao Xuan felt ashamed. After all, without him, there would be other people investing later. He didn't know what to say, so he simply broke the rules and had an affair with Brother Xiao Ma.
It’s all in the wine…
After the ordinary family gathering, Cao Xuan was about to leave Shenzhen City. Gu Yunkai stayed on to help handle the subsequent investment matters.
Cao Xuan is only responsible for signing and cooperating with subsequent endorsement promotion plans formulated by Penguin.
On September 4th, Cao Xuan returned to the capital. The money in his pocket had shrunk by more than half, but his net worth had soared countless times.
If calculated based on Penguin's peak market value, Cao Xuan's shares can easily make him the world's richest man.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work out that way.
Cao Daguan's "dream of being the richest man" is not only far away, but he also has to work hard to make money to replenish his small treasury.
The last time he was in Shanghai, and a few days ago in Shenzhen City, he was so greedy when he looked at the houses. He had to stock up on a few houses so that he could have a place to stay next time he went there.
When Cao Xuan returns to Beijing in September, he will participate in the rehearsal of this year's National Day Gala.
This year marks the 50th anniversary, and the higher-ups attach great importance to it and specially organize a number of parties. Cao Xuan, a popular figure in the mainland, was hand-picked to attend.
This is a great honor for Cao Xuan, and at the same time, it is also official recognition given to him.
As far as Cao Xuan knows, most of the people attending this year's party are members of the national team. There are countless pop singers on one hand, and they are all top mainland singers.
From the late 1990s to the early 1990s, many singers were jokingly called party singers, but little did they know that in the industry, no matter how many people wanted to, they couldn't get into the party.
Especially at major evening parties, if you can perform on stage, it proves that the official recognizes you and is a good person.
No matter how high your commercial achievements are, even the King of Asia is just a singer. But if you are officially recognized, you are a singing artist, and the level is completely different.
