Age of Dreams

"Bill, Paul, we can't wait so silently anymore."

In the spacious office of Microsoft's headquarters, Ballmer sternly said Contrast Gates and Paul Allen.

Bill Gates has gradually retreated to the second line in the past two years, no longer specifically managing Microsoft's tedious affairs, it can be said to be very easy.

But if you feel that he is no longer interested in Microsoft, and his influence is no longer, then you are quite wrong.

At present, most of Microsoft's personnel are still Bill Gates' cronies, and as Microsoft's largest shareholder, he is the biggest reliance on guaranteeing his own strength.

Not to mention that after Paul Allen came back, as a firm supporter of Bill since the beginning of his business, he would never go against Bill.

Therefore, Ballmer knew that he could only do Paul Allen's work after he had been moved by Bill first.

"Paul, what do you think?" Bill turned to his friend.

Paul Allen, who returned to the Microsoft board of directors, didn’t do much on specific matters. He worked more on Microsoft’s world influence software monopoly, but he had invested in the business for so many years and had so much experience. , Is also the reads(); that Bill values.

Relying on Paul Allen's squandering for so many years, and now that his wealth hasn't been reduced, he knows that he stumbled and is already a successful investor.

In this regard, Bill Gates is not as good as him, because Bill Gates's greatest mind from the beginning to the end has only been spent on Microsoft. There are so many investment opportunities that he is unwilling to do it.

Of course, it is precisely because of the concentration of Bill Gates that Microsoft has been at the forefront of technology companies for so many years, and it will not be surpassed by Apple until a few years later.

Paul Allen groaned and said, "I have dealt with Xiao Qi. This person is very difficult to deal with, and he has a strong dedication to his company. From this point of view. He is a little like the leader of Qiao, and because he is A true genius. So it’s even more difficult to deal with than Joe’s gang. From the way he invests in Skype, this is a typical Xiao Qi’s style, using the best strategies and methods, using the largest investment, to do his best Exploit and occupy the market, thus forming the scale of the industry leader.

If we want to acquire skype, we must first look at the value of skype. I personally think that Skype still has great potential for development. After all, the network communication market has broad prospects, especially in today's integrated Europe. Less cost, better service quality, better service items, etc. These advantages are all that skype has, and they are also the most important advantages of the network communication market.

Now we have to consider two points. The first is what price Microsoft can offer, and can it overwhelm other acquirers? Xiao Qi, if you want to buy his things, if you don't give the full price, he won't pay attention to you at all. Second, after buying skype. Can we withstand the EU's investigation and suppression? What is the opinion of the US Department of Commerce? "

Listening to the analysis of his friend, Bill Gates nodded slightly and said to Ballmer: "Stephen. How about the Ministry of Commerce?"

"There should be no problem." Ballmer said, "I had dinner with Secretary Wardwah before, and he also hoped that Skype could be controlled by our American company. If it is Microsoft, then the US Department of Commerce has no reason not to help us. !"

"What about the EU?" Bill Gates said again.

"Not to mention the European Union. We Microsoft has a large network of contacts in the European Union, and our system has involved all aspects of them. Since they dare not use the system to speak, they will not use skype to embarrass us. Because it doesn't make much sense. We Americans are not so easy to bully!" Ballmer said with confidence.

"Okay. So here comes the most important question." Bill Gates said, "How much do you think we can pay? How much is appropriate. How much does it make sense to buy?"

Ballmer deliberately said: "The highest quotation right now is from the Saudi National Consortium. It is said that the real quotation has reached 12 billion U.S. dollars. And another prince of Kakuwait is said to bid no lower than this price. If we Microsoft bid, I think it should be no less than the 11 billion US dollars that Xiao Qi said, so that there is hope for skype.

"Isn't Xiao Qi very greedy for money? Why is he willing to sell to us when we give so much cheaper?" Bill Gates pondered, "He wouldn't be using Microsoft to raise prices, just want to use us? "

"From Xiao Qi's previous trading company, there is no such thing. After all, this is not speculation, but normal business trading." Paul Allen said, "Can we understand from another aspect, that is Skype It is also Xiao Qi’s painstaking effort. He feels that it is better to fall into the hands of Microsoft than to fall into the hands of those oil tycoons? With skype in our hands, the development potential must be the greatest!"

"Well, I think so too. Xiao Qi doesn't want someone holding Skype but can't exert its power reads();." Ballmer said the same.

"11 billion U.S. dollars..."

Bill Gates began to ponder.

For Microsoft, they are not short of money, nor do they lack liquidity.

As a software company, Microsoft spends more on product research and development, and saves a lot of manpower and financial resources in the sales and after-sales links, so their working capital is usually more than 50 billion US dollars.

Of course, as their replacement, the liquidity reached 100 billion U.S. dollars.

Then when Apple came to dominate, they didn't know how to spend the more than 200 billion U.S. dollars. How could they have a lot of money?

The topic is far off.

Just because there is enough cash on hand, when Microsoft wanted to acquire, more than 40 billion US dollars was nothing.

Moreover, they can also issue additional company stocks in exchange for other people's shares.

Now Bill Gates thought of this trick, "You said, we give out 5 billion U.S. dollars in cash and then give out 6 billion U.S. dollars worth of Microsoft shares. Will Xiao Qi agree?"

"I don't know, but I guess Xiao Qi would not agree." Ballmer smiled bitterly. "If he was interested, he would have done so long ago when we wanted to acquire shares in Dreampad and Dreamstars. In fact, it proved. He doesn't like Microsoft, or he is not optimistic about Microsoft's development."

Bill Gates frowned. But there is no way to get angry.

Ten years ago, who dared to talk to him like this was purely reckless.

But now it has entered the Internet age. Seeing that companies such as Apple, Samsung, Fairy, etc. have surpassed Microsoft and become upstarts, Microsoft has no better way to catch up with them.

From absolute dominance to falling behind others, the gap in Bill Gates's heart is conceivable. This is more uncomfortable than losing the throne of the world's richest man.

After clenching his fist, Bill Gates finally nodded, "Let's start with the rise of Skype! Microsoft will return to its peak one day!"

Ballmer breathed a sigh of relief, with joy on his face.

In the past two years, Bill Gates' investment strategy has become more and more conservative, and even Ballmer has finally won it. He is afraid that this skype will fail.

It seems that Paul Allen's words are indeed right, that is, to use the success of the Fairy Company to stimulate Bill, and he will be aroused to win!

Looking at Paul Allen, Ballmer found that he was only smiling slightly, if it weren't for him to be one of the parties. Unexpectedly, before this meeting, the two of them had already reached a consensus. It's just that the only obstacle is to persuade Bill's shoes in front of him.

Paul Allen has never lacked the ambition to make a fortune!

...

"Microsoft's quotation is like this. At present, 11 billion US dollars is not only the highest quotation, but also the most detailed follow-up plan." Skype's Lande said respectfully to Xiao Qi.

It is reads();.

There are many companies and groups that offer skype prices, but the most expensive of them is the prince of Qatar, who gave a price of 10 billion U.S. dollars.

In fact, Saudi Arabia only gave 8 billion US dollars, which is less than the Cowell Group.

The Duke of Saatchi of the United Kingdom, that is, the one who sold the Weiyu theater in his hand to Qiao Guoer, he really wanted to buy skype. However, all his recent funds have been invested in the great cause of real estate speculation in London, and the offer is really 10 billion U.S. dollars. But only $3 billion in cash will be given, and the remaining $7 billion will be repaid interest-free for the next five years. Such a condition was considered acquaintance by Xiao Qi and him, and there was no way to agree to it.

In such a situation, Microsoft can give an offer of 11 billion U.S. dollars, and it is all cash transactions, it is really full of sincerity.

"Do you think it's better to wait, or just agree to Microsoft?" Xiao Qi asked him.

"This..." Lund gritted his teeth and said: "I don't think things can be delayed anymore. Before the unfavorable clauses against us on the European side come out, I quickly find Microsoft to take over and let it deal with the European Union. So that skype can develop better, this is the best way!"

After saying this, Lande immediately lowered his head.

It was really embarrassing to urge him to sell the golden doll in front of the boss, and it was quite a bit of a taste.

But if you want to negotiate slowly, chances are not allowed.

Because the EU has too many variables, if they wait until they sanction Skype, then Skype will have to work harder to resume its development in Europe.

He was afraid that Xiao Qi would be angry, but when Xiao Qi heard it, he laughed, "Since you also agree, then do it!"

"Uh!?"

Lande thought he had heard it wrong.

"I agree to the 11 billion U.S. dollar quotation, and then you will have specific discussions about the sale and purchase!" Xiao Qi said sternly, "I hope Skype can grow stronger in your hands!"

"Yes Yes!"

Lande stood up ~www.wuxiaspot.com~ and bowed to Xiao Qi very seriously: "It is the glory of my life to be able to do things in your hands! Skype can have today's results and future development expectations, all You brought it from Qi Shao! Don't worry, we will definitely do a good job of skype!"

"That's good."

Xiao Qi smiled, "But having said that, I also want to congratulate you, everyone has accounted for tens of millions of dollars, and it will be a billionaire in the future!"

Of the 11 billion U.S. dollars, they have 4 billion U.S. dollars, while the management and R&D team have only more than 20 people. Naturally, they have gained a lot.

The executives of European and American companies have always talked about money, and when they heard that Lande also smiled: "We want to thank you Qi Shao, and we also want to thank Microsoft for being so bold!"

Even a year ago, they would never have imagined that skype would be the same as it is today.

The market value of 11 billion U.S. dollars is a very high valuation for any Internet company!

So, thank Microsoft for its ostentation, that's a matter of course! (To be continued.)