Reborn as a tycoon in Hong Kong

March 15th, Saturday evening.

Lin Baicheng was holding a party at a large villa in Los Angeles, and guests walked into the party.

Jobs came over before the party started, found Lin Baicheng, and said that he had something to talk to Lin Baicheng, so Lin Baicheng took Jobs to the upstairs of the villa to talk, with Maori Haruko accompanying him.

Lin Baicheng signaled: "Jobs, tell me what it is."

Jobs said: "Alan, you should also know that IBM will officially enter the personal computer market, and Apple will have a strong competitor."

"I heard what Bill Harveys said." Lin Baicheng nodded slightly.

"Because of this matter, after discussion, shareholders are inclined to let Apple start preparations for listing from now on. It will take almost half a year from now on to preparations for listing. IBM's entry will not destroy the company all at once, so the company is sure It can be listed normally and have a not-low valuation.”

"Once Apple cannot defeat IBM, shareholders will have a way out, and going public will also be beneficial to Apple. It can raise a considerable amount of funds. The more funds Apple has, the better."

Jobs said that IBM's entry would have a great impact on Apple, and shareholders had already begun to prepare for a retreat.

Now let Apple go public, with half a year of preparation time and a half-year sales restriction period. It will take a year for shareholders to start selling their stocks. As long as Apple does not collapse in the competition from IBM within this year, what will happen to shareholders? , the worst thing is to sell Apple's shares and make less money, so as not to lose everything.

Lin Baicheng asked: "Everyone is inclined to let Apple go public?"

Jobs explained: "At present, only a small number of shareholders have expressed their stance. Allen, you are the company's major shareholder. I should have consulted you as soon as possible, but you have never come here, so our management has to work with other shareholders." The shareholders discussed it first.”

"It's not your fault."

Lin Baicheng didn't think about whether Jobs was telling the truth. Anyway, he wouldn't keep holding on to his shares in Apple. After all, the changes brought about by his rebirth would only become bigger and bigger, and Apple would probably never be as good as it would be in the future. With a market value of more than one trillion US dollars, there is no need to keep Apple’s shares forever. Instead, it is necessary to reduce some of the holdings and cash out after the listing.

Lin Baicheng will not always hold shares in Apple, and he does not know how long he will remain a shareholder. Therefore, it does not matter even if Jobs and other management reject him. As long as the company can develop, he can make money from this company.

Lin Baicheng only wanted to make money from Apple, not to make friends with Steve Jobs and others.

"Jobs, what do you think? Are you more inclined to let Apple go public?"

"Yes, after the company goes public, financing will be much easier, which will help compete with IBM and increase the company's possibility of winning."

What Jobs didn't say was that Apple was all his hope. If the company went bankrupt, he would have nothing and would need to start over. But if the company goes public successfully and maintains it until the six-month lock-up period has passed, he can reduce some of his stock holdings and cash out, thus having a net worth of at least hundreds or tens of millions of dollars.

In this case, even if Apple loses in the end and cannot compete with IBM in the personal computer market, leading to bankruptcy and having reduced its shareholding, Jobs still has hope of making a comeback and can continue to start a business, and this time his business will be better than the last one. More relaxed and smooth.

Of course, Apple is not only related to Jobs's net worth, but more like his child, so Jobs will go all out, and he hopes that Apple can become bigger and stronger.

"Since everyone is leaning towards letting Apple go on the market, I respect everyone's opinions and I also agree to let Apple go on the market."

After hearing this, Lin Baicheng said that it would not be bad for him to have Apple go public. At least he would not have to worry about losses on his investment in Apple.

However, just now, Lin Baicheng suddenly remembered something, that is, if Apple really fails, it will not be a bad thing for Lin Baicheng. He can completely acquire Apple and then use Apple's technology to make his own personal computer.

Lin Baicheng is rich and doesn't mind spending money on research and development of technology and market development. As long as the computer company can survive, he will definitely make money in the future.

"Thanks for your support, Alan."

Jobs couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. After all, Lin Baicheng was the company's major shareholder. If he objected, and talked through a few small shareholders, it might be possible to change the shareholders' decision and not allow Apple to be listed temporarily.

Lin Baicheng waved his hand: "You're welcome, this is what I should do as a shareholder."

"Anyway, thank you for your support, Alan."

Jobs thanked him again, and then said: "IBM is about to enter the market to compete with the company. Allen, you are the company's major shareholder, and I hope you can support the company more."

"I will try my best."

Lin Baicheng said yes, but in his heart he had shelved his original plan to support Apple by purchasing a batch of personal computers. If Apple failed to compete with IBM and eventually went bankrupt, it would not be a bad thing for Lin Baicheng.

If Apple's technology patents and R\u0026D personnel can be obtained, even if the investment in Apple cannot make a lot of money, it will still be worthwhile for Lin Baicheng.

Therefore, Lin Baicheng changed his decision temporarily and decided not to help Apple anymore and to become a bystander shareholder. If Apple blocks IBM, the company successfully goes public, and the stock price rises, then Lin Baicheng will make a lot of money from his investment; on the other hand, if he cannot compete, Lin Baicheng can wait for Apple to fall into a trough and acquire Apple, seize the expertise that Apple has, and then start a new business.

No matter what the outcome of Apple is, it will not be harmful to Lin Baicheng, so there is no need for Lin Baicheng to spend effort to help Apple.

After chatting with Jobs for a while, Lin Baicheng said he wanted to go down to entertain the guests, so he went downstairs with Jobs and Haruko Moori.

"Chairman!" "Good evening, Chairman!".

Although the party has not officially started yet, many guests have already arrived, and some executives have already brought their families.

Lin Baicheng greeted them one by one and chatted for a few words.

"Chairman, long time no see!"

After a while, a middle-aged man came over.

"Barry, long time no see."

Lin Baicheng shook hands with the visitor, and then motioned for Barry Diller to walk aside with him.

There were not many people around, just Haruko Mouri and Catherine.

Lin Baicheng said to Barry Diller: "Barry, last time I heard you said that you were working at Paramount until you leave at the end of this month. There is only half a month left. Will you get into work immediately or take a rest?" a period of time?"

Barry Diller immediately said: "Of course we will start working right away, and we will talk about it after a break."

"Then we'll start registering the company next month."

Lin Baicheng certainly had no objection when he heard this: "By the way, for your investment share, did you invest 10 million U.S. dollars or how much?"

"$10 million!"

Although Barry Diller does not have tens of millions of dollars, he has not worked in vain over the years and has accumulated a lot of contacts. Therefore, he invested part of it himself and found investors to invest part of it, and the investors' shares will be held on his behalf. , which means he owns 10% of the controlling stake in the TV station.

"Okay, you invest US$10 million for 10% of the shares, and I will personally give 5% of the shares as equity incentives for the management. For the remaining 85% of the shares, I will find a few partners. If they are willing to join, I will I will give up 15% of the shares and I will invest the remaining 70%."

"When the TV station needs financing, I will give up an appropriate amount of shares to win more powerful partners."

Lin Baicheng knows very well that he cannot control the TV network here in the United States, so he does not need to hold too many shares. When the next financing is raised, he will sell part of the shares to offshore companies or funds under his name, achieving a secret shareholding the goal of.

On the surface, Lin Baicheng's shareholding in the TV network must not exceed 20%, or even only 5%-10%. It is enough to retain a director seat on the surface and have a certain influence on the TV network. .

"Chairman"

"Barry, just call me Allen."

Lin Baicheng interrupted and said: "I thought about it, you don't just work for me, you are also one of the company's shareholders and the company's boss. The relationship between us is a cooperative relationship, not a superior-subordinate relationship."

"this"

Barry Diller looked hesitant.

Lin Baicheng saw this and said, "Barry, just listen to me on this point."

"I'd better call you Mr. Allen."

Barry Diller maintains respect for Lin Baicheng. He also wants to get Lin Baicheng's support so that he can control the developed TV network and become a media tycoon in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain respect for Lin Baicheng.

"As long as you like it."

Lin Baicheng did not insist, as long as Barry Diller did not call him Chairman. This title was not conducive to maintaining a 'friendship' between him and Barry Diller. In the future, as Lin Baicheng's control over the TV network declined, he would also need Barry Diller. The president has his back, so there's no harm in being friendly with Barry Diller.

Barry Diller said: "Mr. Allen, do you know when can I meet with the shareholders? I would like to explain my development plan for the TV network to the shareholders. At the same time, the development of the TV network cannot be separated from the shareholders. support."

"We will definitely meet, but the specific time of the meeting will be decided after I have decided on the partner to work with. Don't worry, I will decide on the candidate before the end of this month."

Lin Baicheng said that the first person he was looking for was Phil Smith, the second was Claude Rockefeller, and the third was Abigail Johnson, whom he had just met during the day.

Although I have just met Abigail Johnson, personal relationships are gradually strengthened through contact, travel, and cooperation. The more investments we make in working together, everyone makes money, and a community of interests will naturally be formed and we will become friends.

This kind of friend with a community of interests is much stronger and more reliable than the so-called friendship.

"Then I'll wait for Mr. Allen's notification."

As long as it's decided before he leaves, Barry Diller is fine with it.

"Catherine, go and call Lansing over. Check to see if Stan Lee is here. If he is already here, call him over."

Lin Baicheng spoke to Catherine, and after Catherine left, he said to Barry Diller: "I have a film production company and a comic company under my name. You may be familiar with Marvel Comics."

Barry Diller immediately said: "Marvel Comics are the two major comic book giants in the country, of course I know that."

Lin Baicheng nodded: "I will introduce you to the presidents of these two companies. If there is any cooperation with these two companies in the establishment of the TV network, please contact them."

"There is definitely room for cooperation between TV stations, film companies and comic book companies."

Barry Diller now only hopes that the film production company Lin Baicheng mentioned is not too bad, but as Marvel Comics is a giant, the TV station will have no problem cooperating with Marvel Comics.

Barry Diller already has a preliminary idea, which is to adapt the well-known superheroes from Marvel Comics into cartoons, which he believes will attract some young viewers to the TV station.

"Chairman!"

Shirley Lansing and Stan Lee came together.

"Lansing, Lee, you are here."

Lin Baicheng called the two of them over, briefly introduced Barry Diller and the two of them to each other, and then asked them to cooperate more to achieve a win-win situation if they could cooperate in the future.

"Morning Star Pictures has many opportunities to cooperate with TV stations. I would like to ask Mr. Diller to take care of us in the future."

Lin Baicheng is the big boss of the company. Although Shirley Lansing is not sure whether this newly established TV station can develop, she will definitely cooperate with the TV station at the beginning. She will not report it to the big boss until the cooperation has no effect.

"They should cooperate with each other."

Barry Diller was relieved to learn that the film company was Morningstar Pictures, which produced and distributed "Home Alone". This was a second-tier Hollywood film company, and there was no harm in the TV station cooperating with it.

Lin Baicheng did not keep chatting with Barry Diller. He also went to meet with other executives, so he left Catherine behind while he took Maori Haruko away.

Soon after, the party officially started.

Lin Baicheng chatted with corporate executives, sometimes chatting, and also talking about the affairs of their companies.

Barry Diller met many people under the leadership of Catherine. Everyone also knew that the big boss was planning to establish a TV station with others. In the future, if their respective companies launch TV advertisements, they can give priority to this newly established TV station. .

Not to mention anything else, in terms of advertising alone, Lin Baicheng, the major shareholder, has given considerable support to the TV station.

For a TV station, the customers who place advertisements are very important. As long as there are enough advertisers every year and the revenue and profit are high enough, then there is no need to worry about the TV station not being able to survive, and if you have money, you don't have to worry about not being able to develop.

Unlike Barry Diller, who had gained a lot, Jobs just chatted with some people he knew at tonight's party and did not get any actual help.