Reborn as a tycoon in Hong Kong

"Smith!"

While Phil Smith and Iwasaki Mineryu were chatting, Wade Thomas walked over.

"Uncle Thomas."

Wade Thomas and Smith Sr. are old classmates, and the two sides have cooperated frequently. Otherwise, Phil Smith would not have introduced Wade Thomas to Lin Baicheng.

"Mr. Iwasaki, I didn't interrupt your chat with Smith, did I?"

Wade Thomas raised his glass and gestured to Iwasaki Mineryu. He had met Iwasaki Mineryu twice, and they were just acquaintances, not very familiar.

"Of course not."

Iwasaki Mineryu smiled and shook his head.

Wade Thomas nodded and said to Phil Smith: "Smith, let's talk."

"You two chat."

Mineryu Iwasaki said goodbye with a wink, and Wade Thomas obviously had something to say to Phil Smith.

"Uncle Thomas, what's the matter?"

After Iwasaki Mineryu left, Phil Smith asked.

"Related to New Century Software Corporation."

Wade Thomas said: "New Century Software's performance last year was very good, and we believe it is time for the company to launch its listing."

"New Century Software only raised funds in August last year, right?"

Phil Smith frowned slightly, it has only been about seven months, it is too fast to go on the market now.

"It has nothing to do with the length of time."

After a pause, Wade Thomas decided to reveal something: "We at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup have contacted us. We all believe that New Century Software Company's performance will be difficult to maintain forever. In another year or two, the company is likely to reach a bottleneck, so It is necessary to recommend the company to be listed while the company's performance is good now."

"What does Allen mean?"

Although he asked this question, Phil Smith had actually already made a guess. Lin Baicheng probably didn't know about it yet, otherwise Goldman Sachs wouldn't have come to tell him about it.

Wade Thomas said: "We, the small shareholders, will communicate and reach an agreement first, and then discuss it with Allen. It will be beneficial to everyone if the company goes public earlier. The sales restriction period can come earlier, and everyone can cash out earlier."

"really!"

Phil Smith secretly thought in his heart and said: "Uncle Thomas, we small shareholders have united to find Allen. It seems like they are coercing him. He and I are friends, and I don't want this matter to affect our relationship." friendship."

Phil Smith only holds 2% of the shares of New Century Software. Even if New Century Software is worth US$1 billion, 2% of the shares is only US$20 million. Although this is a lot of money, it is not worth the loss and damage. Lin Baicheng's relationship.

"Smith, where are you thinking? How can we coerce Allen? He is the company's largest shareholder. We are just discussing with him. If he firmly refuses to let New Century Software go public, we can only Give up, there is no other choice.”

Wade Thomas immediately explained that neither his personal position nor that of Goldman Sachs would be hostile to Lin Baicheng over the listing of New Century Software Company, and there was no need to go to that step.

For Goldman Sachs, it would be best if it could go public sooner. However, if the major shareholder does not want to go public earlier but wants to go public later, Goldman Sachs is not unacceptable. It is just a little bit more risky.

After all, the future is uncertain, and Goldman Sachs's judgment may not be correct, so there is no need to lose current big clients for the sake of an uncertain future.

"If that's the case, then fine."

Phil Smith pondered for a moment and nodded.

Afterwards, the two first went to the place where Sean Dana and Derren Lawrence were. Don Valentine of Sequoia Capital was also here. In addition, there were representatives sent by three other fund shareholders. .

It can be said that except for Lin Baicheng, the largest shareholder of New Century Software and executive shareholders, the remaining shareholders are here.

Everyone saw Lin Baicheng walking over after finishing chatting with someone.

Lin Baicheng noticed them when they came. He couldn't help but raise his eyebrows after seeing them. They were all shareholders of New Century Software Company. They came to him together. All he could guess was those two things.

One is the listing of New Century Software Company, and the other is the replacement of the company's president.

Isabella belongs to Lin Baicheng, but she is young and has insufficient qualifications. She manages a large company with assets of nearly one billion U.S. dollars. It is normal for Wall Street not to believe in her ability and to want to replace her.

When New Century Software Company was financing in August last year, both Goldman Sachs and Citigroup mentioned this matter, but because of Lin Baicheng's insistence, they did not firmly oppose it. Now it is not impossible to bring up the old matter again.

"Mr. Valentine!"

Lin Baicheng raised his glass to greet Don Valentine. Among the few people, he was the only one who had not said hello to Don Valentine.

"Ellen, long time no see."

Don Valentine raised his glass in response with a smile on his face and took a sip of wine.

Although Don Valentine is not a shareholder of Galaxy Games, Lin Baicheng also invited his business partners this time. Don Valentine can barely be considered one. Only by communicating more can everyone become familiar with each other.

Lin Baicheng looked around at the group of people: "You guys came to me together, maybe there's something going on, right?"

"Alan, they want to talk to you about the launch of New Century Software."

Phil Smith was the first to speak out and took it out directly. Anyway, he didn't want to cause trouble with Lin Baicheng because of this incident.

"Is it too early to list the company now? Should we wait?"

Lin Baicheng had already made some guesses, so he wasn't too surprised after hearing what Phil Smith said.

"It's not too early, Mr. Allen."

Sean Dana immediately said: "Galaxy Game Company also went public two years after its establishment. If we start preparing for New Century Software to go public now, by the time the listing is successful, New Century Software will have been operating for two years, which is almost the same. "

"Alan, from an investment perspective, if New Century Software goes public earlier, you can reduce your holdings and cash out earlier, and then use the funds to make other investments."

Don Valentine also said that Sequoia Capital holds 1.5% of the shares of New Century Software Company. It can reduce its holdings in almost a year after preparing to go public, which means that it can be cashed out in less than two years, while New Century Software Company is listed. Afterwards, the stock price could triple due to Wall Street's hype, and Sequoia Capital's investment could earn a return of almost four to five times.

In two years, the return rate was four to five times, which is already very high.

Not every company is Google, Facebook, or Microsoft. If you want to obtain hundreds or thousands of times of return, you must invest in angel rounds. Otherwise, it will be impossible to obtain such high returns with subsequent financing.

“Y’all want New Age Software to go public right now?”

Lin Baicheng looked at everyone. He invited these people to cooperate. In addition to paying "protection fees" to Wall Street, he also wanted to make some business partners. If everyone's opinions were consistent, he would have to be cautious even as a major shareholder. Think about it, you can't make friends but have more opponents.

"Alan, you are the largest shareholder of the company, and your opinion is the most important."

Phil Smith said something out loud, expressing that his position was on Lin Baicheng's side.

Derren Lawrence followed closely and said: "Mr. Allen, Citigroup means the same thing. It would be best to go public sooner, but it's okay if it goes public later."

"Thank you."

Lin Baicheng toasted to the two of them respectively, and then said: "I will seriously consider the launch of New Century Software. Before I leave the United States this time, I will definitely give you an answer. Please rest assured."

"Mr. Allen, please take your time and think about it slowly. We at Goldman Sachs respect your wishes."

Sean Dana immediately said, don’t be misunderstood that Goldman Sachs is taking the lead in forcing the other party.

"Thank you for your support."

Lin Baicheng said to the shareholders of New Century Software Company: "Please rest assured, since I invite everyone to cooperate, I will not let you suffer. New Century Software will definitely be listed. It is just a matter of time. Since Everyone wants the company to be listed as soon as possible, and I will seriously consider it after I return, take comprehensive considerations, and make a decision that is beneficial to everyone and the company."

Sean Dana said: "Alan, there is no doubt about your ability. Galaxy Games is the best example."

"Yes." "We all believe in you." "In the end, it is up to you to decide whether to let New Century Software go on the market."

Others also spoke out one after another. As long as their interests were not harmed, they would never offend Lin Baicheng for no reason.

This has nothing to do with whether you dare to offend Lin Baicheng or not. Everyone is just here to make money. How can they add opponents to themselves for no reason? Such people will not last long on Wall Street.

Lin Baicheng expressed his gratitude to everyone for their trust and affirmation, but his heart was like a mirror. Now that New Century Software's performance is good and the company's valuation is higher than when it was financing, these people certainly believe in him, but if the company's performance changes in the next year or two, these people will definitely change their attitude as well.

Not only will they not trust him like they do now, but they will also interfere in the company's operations and make the company run as they envisioned. Intrigue will be inevitable.

Unlike now, institutions such as Goldman Sachs rarely interfere in the operations of New Century Software Company. Not only because Lin Baicheng has absolute control over the company, but also because the company is developing well and they do not want to affect the company's development because of their intervention.

"Mr. Dana, Thomas, and Mr. Valentine, let's take advantage of this rare opportunity to get together and have a chat."

Lin Baicheng said to the three of them, and then smiled apologetically at the others, who also wisely said goodbye and left.

When they left, Lin Baicheng called Catherine over and asked Catherine to call Logan Rockefeller and Jobs over.

"Alan, what you want to say has to do with Apple."

After Catherine left, Don Valentine spoke up and called Jobs over. They were shareholders of Apple, and what Lin Baicheng wanted to say was obviously related to Apple.

Lin Baicheng nodded: "Yes, it is related to Apple."

After a while, Catherine came with Jobs and Logan Rockefeller.

"Jobs, tell me."

After Jobs came over, Lin Baicheng said to him.

Jobs first greeted others, and then said: "You are all shareholders of Apple, so let me tell you straight. IBM's products are about to enter the market, and the company's personal computers will usher in the biggest competitor. For the benefit of all shareholders and in order for the company to raise funds to meet the challenge from IBM, we believe that the company's operations should be listed."

"I personally agree with taking Apple public."

Lin Baicheng said something immediately after.

"Leave it to Goldman Sachs to take Apple public."

Sean Dana knows the situation at Goldman Sachs, and of course he is happy to see Apple go public as soon as possible. By the way, he can also earn an underwriting fee from the listing.

"I agree."

Sequoia Capital only holds 1% of Apple's shares, which is a small proportion. Seeing that several major shareholders have agreed, Don Valentine, as a small shareholder, will certainly not object.

Logan Rockefeller also supports listing Apple. He does not have a lot of assets. The 4.5% of Apple shares he holds is currently worth more than 10 million US dollars, which is not a small amount of money for him.

"The development of the company also requires the support of all shareholders. Only when the company develops well can the listing be smooth and it can have a better valuation when it is listed."

Jobs couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief when he saw no one objected. In fact, it was enough to have the support of Lin Baicheng, the major shareholder. Their management held more than 40% of the shares, and with Lin Baicheng's shares, it exceeded 60%, accounting for more than half.

However, listing is a major event for a company. If not all major shareholders agree and some shareholders cause trouble during the listing, not to mention whether it will damage the company's listing path, the loss in valuation alone is enough to make people heartache. .

"I can only say that I will support you as much as possible, but in fact what we can do is actually very limited." Lin Baicheng sighed with pretense of regret.

Others nodded in agreement. IBM is a giant. In this kind of competition with giants, there is indeed a limit to what everyone can do. The only thing that can be guaranteed is that when IBM uses off-market moves, it can mobilize resources to block and create a competitive environment that is as fair as possible.

"It would be nice to be able to help even a little bit."

For Jobs, confirming that Apple will go public is the biggest gain tonight. As long as Apple successfully goes public, withstands competitive pressure and operates normally before the sales limit expires, then the stock price should not break, and then he will You can reduce your holdings and cash out.

By that time, even if Apple really cannot compete with IBM and its development is not satisfactory, Jobs will not get nothing. At least he will cash out a sum of money, which will be enough to guarantee his future wealthy life and the opportunity for a comeback.

Everyone said they would help. Apple's listing went smoothly, which is good for everyone. Before reducing their own shares and cashing out, in order to protect their own interests, they would definitely help if they could.

Helping Apple means helping yourself.

Of course, help also depends on the number of shares held. For example, Sequoia Capital will definitely not put much effort into helping. After all, it only holds 1% of the shares, which is too low. How much effort is given according to the benefits.