Reborn as a tycoon in Hong Kong

"How much is Microsoft worth now? I don't pay attention at all. What I value is the future prospects of companies with computer operating system technology."

Lin Baicheng doesn't pay attention to Microsoft's multi-million dollar company now. Although New Century Software Company is also allowed to make computer operating systems, Lin Baicheng really can't guarantee that it can beat Blue Software. Therefore, if there is a chance, it is not a bad thing to hold a certain amount of Blue Software shares.

New Century Software Company makes computer operating systems, and Blue Software also makes computer operating systems. So no matter which company wins, Lin Baicheng will not have nothing in the end.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket, that's pretty much what it means.

William Gates tried to persuade Lin Baicheng: "Mr. Allen, after an unpleasant cooperation, I believe you will no longer want to cooperate with Bill and the others. If you become a shareholder of the company, Bill and the others will not feel comfortable, so they will invest in Blue I think it’s not good for anyone to just forget about the software company thing.”

"I only have two conditions. I personally think they are reasonable. If we can't reach an agreement, I'll let it go."

Reconciliation or not is fine for Lin Baicheng. If it weren't for Jean Carter's sake, this conversation wouldn't have happened at all. He didn't want to meet William Gates in the first place.

"William, I think you should make appropriate concessions. Whether we can negotiate or not depends on this time."

Jean Carter reminded aloud that face is given to each other. Next time he would definitely not bring William Gates to meet Lin Baicheng without Lin Baicheng's permission. If he did, it would be tantamount to offending Lin Baicheng, so he would not do this. A thankless thing.

William Gates also heard the meaning of Jean Carter's words, and obviously he would not be the middleman next time.

Therefore, William Gates no longer insisted and said: "Mr. Allen, I can let you become a shareholder of Blue Software Company, but it is impossible to give so many shares. If you insist on 30% of the shares, I can only express regret."

"How much can you give me?"

Lin Baicheng also knew that asking for 30% of the shares was not appropriate, so he did not insist.

"10%, this is the largest share that Bill and the others can give."

William Gates solemnly said that he did not mention the figure of 5% because it was too low and meaningless to Lin Baicheng, who already controls a multi-billion dollar company, and it would be bad to be considered an insult.

"10% is too little and I won't agree to it."

Lin Baicheng shook his head and raised his hand to stop William Gates who was about to speak: "Specifically, I will send someone to talk to Bill Gates and the others. If the negotiation can be successful, then Bill Gates and I will reach a settlement. But if the negotiation cannot be done, Come on, forget it, Mr. Gates, you don’t have to think of ways to meet with me anymore, you can just fight the lawsuit how you want."

"Well, the rest will be discussed between Bill, the others, and Mr. Allen."

William Gates didn't object when he heard this. After all, the company was not his, not even his son's, and there were other partners.

"Very well, that's all. Let's start playing."

The happiest person is undoubtedly Jean Carter. Lin Baicheng and William Gates have not broken down. He will not offend Lin Baicheng by bringing William Gates here today, but he has gained a favor from William Gates.

"Then let's hit a few shots."

Because there was no breakdown in the relationship, Lin Baicheng did not chase them away and reluctantly played golf with William Gates. Anyway, the two would probably never meet again in the future.

More than an hour later, Lin Baicheng and others left.

In Extended Lincoln, Lin Baicheng said to Isabella: "Bella, if Bill Gates and I reconcile this time, at what price will the company acquire computer technology and patents?"

Isabella replied: "Chairman, it is not clear what the development prospects of computer operating systems are now, so if we follow normal procedures, we will not offer a high price. If the price is too high, other shareholders will not agree to it. .”

Of course it won't work by following the normal procedure, but Lin Baicheng is the chairman of New Century Software Company after all. If he wants to acquire it at a high price, as long as the price is not too outrageous, then there is nothing that other shareholders can do even if they are dissatisfied. After all, the value of technology is It's hard to define.

Of course, if the acquisition price is too high for shareholders to accept, then the shareholders will definitely ask Lin Baicheng to compensate them for their losses. After all, the technology acquired belongs to Lin Baicheng. Otherwise, they can sue Lin Baicheng for misappropriating the company's interests, and the high price acquisition is the evidence.

Of course Lin Baicheng would not act recklessly. Not to mention that he would not do that for the sake of reputation. The mere fact that this was the United States was enough for him to be cautious.

"In that case."

Lin Baicheng thought for a while and said: "Bella, if Bill Gates and I reach a settlement, you will split off the company's computer operating system research and development department and establish a subsidiary, and then this subsidiary will work with me to create a new company." The established companies work together to collaborate on the development and operation of computer operating systems.”

The reason why he did this was because Lin Baicheng knew the prospects of computer operating systems and did not want to benefit other shareholders of New Century Software Company in vain.

Lin Baicheng now only holds 75% of the shares of New Century Software Company. If he sells the computer operating system technology and patents to New Century Software Company at a low price, it will be equivalent to giving the remaining 25% shareholders an advantage.

Isabella immediately said: "There is no problem in this. As long as the valuation of your new company, Chairman, is not too high, other shareholders will not have any objections and cannot have any objections."

"That's what we plan to do for the time being. The specifics will depend on what Bill Gates and the others choose."

Lin Baicheng nodded and said no more.

Isabella didn't say anything anymore. It was said that she had had many contacts with Bill Gates and the others. When she was Lin Baicheng's assistant, she helped Lin Baicheng manage the industry in the United States. At that time, she was still stationed in A director of Apple and Microsoft.

Having reached this point, Isabella couldn't help but feel sorry for Bill Gates and the others. A company with a bright future was ruined by their greed and got into lawsuits. In the end, they had no choice but to surrender and admit defeat.

Seattle.

After leaving Los Angeles, William Gates went back to Seattle, and it was already evening when he returned here.

The headquarters of Blue Software Company is not in Redmond like Microsoft, but in Seattle, so Bill Gates now also lives in Seattle. When William Gates returned home, he immediately called his son Bill ·Gates, ask him to come over immediately after contacting him.

That’s right, although Bill Gates and William Gates both live in Seattle, they don’t actually live together.

In the United States, children usually move out when they reach adulthood. On the contrary, only the unprofitable and old people live with their parents.

The difference between Eastern and Western cultures can be seen from this point.

"Dad! Mom!"

Not long after, Bill Gates came over.

"Come on, let's go to the study to talk."

William Gates greeted Bill Gates to the study.

"Dad, how was your talk?"

As soon as he arrived in the study, Bill Gates asked aloud. He knew what his father was doing in Los Angeles, and he also knew that his father must have seen Lin Baicheng, otherwise he would have told him directly on the phone that he had not seen anyone like last time. .

"I asked Carter for help, and I finally got to meet him this time."

William Gates said: "Lin Baicheng put forward two conditions. One is that he wants a copy of the technology and patents for the computer operating system. This is non-negotiable and I have already agreed to it."

Bill Gates nodded when he heard this: "He was the one who proposed the development of this technology in the first place. We all know that he is very optimistic about the prospects of this technology. I am not surprised that he wants the technology and patents. I can give them to him."

William Gates continued: "His second condition was to invest in Blue Software, but he asked for 30% of the shares, and I refused. But he also did not agree to the 10% of the shares I offered, saying I will send someone to talk to you.”

"30% of the shares is impossible. If we really agree to him, Paul and I won't even think about how many shares are left."

Bill Gates shook his head. The reason why he wanted to reconcile with Lin Baicheng was not for profit. If reconciliation requires greater benefits, then why settle?

William Gates: "You can discuss the specific share ratio slowly, but I want to remind you that this is your only negotiation. If the negotiation fails, the lawsuit will continue, and it is basically impossible for you to settle. Next time I can’t find anyone else to be the middleman.”

"Dad, thank you."

Bill Gates knows that his father has paid a lot of favors for his affairs.

"You are my son, there is no need to be polite to me."

William Gates waved his hand: "Bill, this choice is very critical for you. Once you make the wrong choice, it is likely to affect your destiny for the rest of your life."

"Dad, what do you think I should do better? Do you have any suggestions?"

Bill Gates humbly asked for advice. He was too hasty when he fell out with Lin Baicheng. He thought he could handle it, so he didn't tell his father or ask his father for advice, which led to such a big problem.

William Gates: "Bill, sometimes you have to make choices. Don't take too many risks. You're still young."

"Dad, you want me to step back?"

Bill Gates understood the meaning.

William Gates nodded: "Lin Baicheng wants to invest in Blue Software. You can give up a little bit on the shares. It's just that you and Lucian's shares will be smaller."

"You have to know that once you fail to reach a settlement with Lin Baicheng, the lawsuit will continue until you can't bear to admit defeat or the court will no longer accept the case. At that time, you will inevitably have to pay a huge amount of compensation."

"If Blue Software can develop into a company with a market value of billions of dollars or even tens of billions of dollars by then, then everything will be fine. Your company will have money to compensate. Even if it affects you by then, the impact will not be too great. At least it won’t affect your wealth.”

"But I think it will be difficult for Blue Software to develop when it faces a lawsuit. IBM will most likely no longer cooperate with Blue Software because of the lawsuit. As president, Lucian is responsible to IBM's board of directors. IBM It’s not him who has the final say.”

"If Blue Software fails to develop and you face huge compensation, it will leave you with nothing and heavy debts, and you will lose hope of continuing to make progress in the future."

"You are still young, there is no need to bet that Blue Software Company will develop greatly. You cannot afford the consequences of losing the bet. If you don't bet, it is just to pay more shares. No one can guarantee the value of these shares in the future. "

William Gates's meaning is very clear. He does not want Bill Gates to gamble on the future for a few shares whose current value is unclear. The consequences of losing the bet are too disastrous, and the gains are not much, so it is not worth it at all.

"Dad, thank you, I'm going to discuss it with Paul and we'll seriously consider it."

Bill Gates knew that he and Paul Allen needed to seriously consider this matter. It was related to their future and they had no choice but to be cautious.

"I have said everything that needs to be said. As for how to choose, you can decide for yourself. After all, it is related to your future, so it is better for you to decide for yourself."

William Gates did not make the decision for Bill Gates. Although he believed that concession was the best option, it is better for the children to make such important decisions themselves. The only thing he could do was to leave the child with him when he failed. A way out.

William Gates believes that even if Bill Gates chooses to take a gamble and loses in the end, he can still leave a sum of money for Bill Gates in the future. The Gates family fund will not be implicated if something happens to Bill Gates. He will be able to help Bill Gates when the time comes.

After Bill Gates left, he went directly to Paul Allen. He knew that Paul Allen was waiting for his news, and he wanted to know it as soon as possible regardless of whether the news was good or bad.

Although it was quite late, Bill Gates came to Paul Allen's house and told him the situation.

Paul Allen asked, "Bill, what do you think?"

Bill Gates did not answer, but said: "Paul, let's think about it carefully. Don't be influenced by another person's opinion first, and then we can express our opinions together, so as not to feel that we have been influenced by the other person later and regret it." Make a decision."

"fair enough."

Paul Allen nodded and considered it seriously.

In fact, both Bill Gates and Paul Allen now have some regrets. They regret the decision to kick Lin Baicheng out, and they regret not doing it well when doing so, so that it would be detrimental to them. situation.

After all, Bill Gates and Paul Allen are still young now. They are not old foxes who have experienced the intrigues and intrigues in the shopping malls decades later. They did not consider things comprehensively enough and did not do everything in a flawless manner, so the accident happened.