Reinventing the Millennium

People in virtue are already dazzled.

It’s not that Fang Zhuo has never poached people, but the company he owns poachs people all year round.

Especially ice cores, I dug from south to north, from universities to companies, from home to abroad, but every time I started digging based on "individual" and "position". I never thought that I could be so wealthy. selection.

Texas Instruments has a total of 30,000 employees worldwide, and this time it plans to lay off more than 3,000 employees.

Of course, this is the latest statement Fang Zhuo got from the head Richard. The news heard by the outside world is still about 600 people.

About half of these 3,000 people were either directly laid off, or voluntarily retired or resigned.

The attitude given by Deyi is that they provide convenience, you have a two-way choice, and everyone can get together and relax easily.

Some of the resume lists that Yike got were really excellent. After explanations, Fang Zhuo was surprised and asked about Deyi's personnel, why such a technically accomplished talent had to be laid off.

The answer is very simple.

"The department has rigid layoff targets."

"Everyone is good, we know that, but hard numbers are hard numbers."

"Dr. Mason's research has great potential, but he and his team need continued investment in research and development. It cannot be commercialized or profitable in the short term, and it is not in line with our current strategic goals."

Layoff indicator + short-term inability to make profits = move to Yike.

Fang Zhuo once again felt the cold wave of the times at close range, no matter whether he was a doctor or a doctor... When TI's CEO Ricky confessed his worries to the media - "The company is preparing for a continued global recession. As we prepare our spending plan, we cannot expect the economy to improve in the near future, and the actions we are taking to reduce spending and inventory will position TI to achieve good financial results during this prolonged economic weakness." Everything can only be obeyed. for the survival of business organizations.

It was after these remarks that TI's stock bucked the trend and rose by 4%.

Because, according to estimates, TI's layoff plan can save US$200 million in costs every year, and when this is combined with the news that TI has a larger layoff plan that has begun to circulate in the market, the savings can be even greater!

On October 5, Bingxin’s evaluation team arrived at TI’s headquarters and began their selection.

The ice core work will be relatively difficult because it means that the new engineers will have to travel far away from China, which will greatly affect their choices.

Three days later, after half a month of hard work at TI, Yike initially selected 146 employees, while Bingxin listed a list of 348 engineers, but the subsequent selection was left to the other side. .

The advantage that Yike and Bingxin can provide is that they can ensure that their salaries will not decline. However, TI employees do have more choices. They may not really want to join a mobile phone manufacturer or leave China, or even plan to do so. There is no shadow of the German factory.

On October 10, Fang Zhuo left Dallas and flew to Austin, the "low-end Silicon Valley". TI still left a mini team of Yike and Bingxin to deal with the problems and needs of the selected employees face-to-face.

"Finally, we don't have to face mountains of resumes. When the economic crisis comes, it will be difficult for everyone."

Even sitting in the passenger plane, Fang Zhuo seemed to still see what he had seen and heard these days.

There's never been a more puppet-like moment than this, because when it comes to evaluating technology, it's an area where he has little to show his strengths - he can't just rely on it.

In addition to learning more about the internal operations of Deyi these days, Fang Zhuo's main job is to make promises and pay attention to external changes. The 700 billion bill that was rejected on the 29th was finally passed by Congress on the 3rd of this month, but the economic crisis has begun. The prologue cannot be easily undone.

The most important things in the United States right now are two things. One is the wide-ranging impact of the economic crisis, and the other is that the winner between O'Neill and McCain will be decided next month.

Time has entered October, and different polls have shown that more voters are beginning to pay more attention to O'Neill's platform on "change", and McCain's lead has been reversed to a greater extent.

On the evening of the 10th, Fang Zhuo's team settled in the hotel and revised the guiding ideology of this operation.

TI spends a lot of time here, and then tries to improve efficiency as much as possible. If the company or talent on the other side hesitates, then quickly go to the next one, pass through the valuable companies on the list, and then re-examine the valuable ones. place.

On the 11th, Fang Zhuo and others met the second target of the operation, P.G\u0026A Company. This is a small design company dedicated to researching ARM server chips. This year, it was selected for the industry's new talent selection.

Because the Hummingbird team that Yike previously acquired worked in Austin, the companies here have some social connections and connections.

P.G\u0026A is a bit like a company under TI's internal evaluation standards. Their research on the ARM architecture was difficult to commercialize in a short period of time. The originally negotiated investment was ruined after September 15, and now it is quite precarious.

Fang Zhuo hopes to acquire this small company at a good price, just like the Hummingbird team, contributing nutrients to Yike's independent chips.

His psychological price is $20 million.

Time is limited, but greetings after meeting are still required.

Porter is the co-founder of this company. He is the "P" in the company's name. He graduated from Stanford University and has a dazzling resume in the industry.

This time, he took over the task of negotiating with the rich people in the East, because Porter was half a Chinese expert.

Porter carefully elaborated on P.G\u0026A's innovative work on server chips using ARMv7. He boasted that as long as the current research direction is followed and the ARM architecture continues to be upgraded, there will be a very good commercial market. .

Fang Zhuo listened patiently and politely to the introduction. He didn't even need Elder, his deputy technical director, to ask questions. He first talked about two key points.

"Porter, it is difficult for the 32-bit ARMv7 instruction set to shake the X86 architecture. It is difficult for your research on server chips to make breakthroughs beyond the architecture itself."

"Also, even if ARM releases the v8 architecture in a few years, using a 64-bit instruction set and improving performance, the business ecosystem will be weak and there will be a lack of compatible hardware and software. This is not a company's business, but a need The industry’s efforts and at least 5 or even 8 years will be needed.”

"I appreciate your work on the ARM architecture, but this is really not something that can be done in a short time, especially in the current economic downturn."

Elder looked at his boss in surprise, but he didn't expect that what he said was very correct. The ARMV7 architecture has two manifestations in the field of mobile phone chips and servers. The latter still requires a better architecture and more time.

Fang Zhuo picked up the coffee cup, noticed Elder's gaze, took a sip of coffee and winked at him.

As long as you live and learn, you can't go deep into it, so why can't you just try one thing?

Regardless of whether a technology has real prospects, persistent R\u0026D investment and industry business ecology are similar. Since P.G\u0026A is an independent company, it must consider such issues.

However, Porter did not panic. He calmly talked about the innovative work in the company's research, which is a solid foundation for further progress in the future.

As the topic deepens...

Fang Zhuo gave Elder a look, and he needed to let professionals go.

Yike and P.G\u0026A took turns taking turns. There was also the technical director of the Hummingbird team in this line, who happened to be good at the ARM architecture, so there were some differences in opinions between them.

Sparks are flying and the coffee is fragrant.

When Fang Zhuo started drinking his second cup of coffee, it was finally time to make a bid.

"20 million U.S. dollars." He offered the full purchase price.

Porter frowned: "Our financing valuation for this round is US$80 million. Mr. Fang, if you are not sincere about the price, there is really no need to waste your time."

"Didn't you fail to negotiate this round of financing?" Fang Zhuo shook his head slightly, "Although I very much hope that you will join Yike to continue the research of mobile phone chips, I also respect your wishes. If you are willing to continue to delve into the field of server chips, , that’s okay, Yike can invest in this aspect.”

"The economy is terrible right now, and I think P.G\u0026A should value people who are willing to shell out cash and commit to research and development."

"Elder told me that he likes your work very much, and for this love, I am willing to pay an additional $3 million."

Fang Zhuo put down his coffee cup and offered a price higher than his initial price: "23 million US dollars."

Potter stared at the serious expression of the oriental man opposite.

Everything is correct, no matter the v7 architecture, the current situation, or cash or R\u0026D, there is no problem.

It's this price... I feel like it's a loss just to accept it.

Besides, how can such an acquisition be negotiated once and for all?

Porter shook his head: "This price is too low and we can't accept it. Mr. Fang, I like Yike's mobile phone products very much. If it is really acquired, we are willing to study ARM mobile phone chips."

He took out the chips of intention and continued: "But at this price, I really can't see the sincerity."

Fang Zhuo had some regrets: "Then you should think about it again. The current economic situation is like this. 23 million is really good. I will fly to Houston tomorrow morning. I hope we can reach an agreement today."

Flying to Houston tomorrow?

Porter was skeptical of this claim.

As a half-expert in China, he thought of an idiom from the Eastern countries - play hard to get.

Also in Austin, as far as he knew, Yike had ideas on chips, otherwise he wouldn't have acquired Hummingbird.

Since Yike's intentions are so big, he must pay the price he deserves.

He shook his head gracefully and confidently: "Mr. Fang, let's discuss it separately and talk in the afternoon."

Fang Zhuo wanted to emphasize that this was his final price, but he still endured it until the afternoon out of politeness.

23 million!

that's it!

No more!

At the second meeting in the afternoon, Fang Zhuo reiterated the price, reiterated the itinerary, reiterated that cooperation would benefit both parties, and division would lead to bankruptcy.

However, Porter, who is leading the P.G\u0026A negotiations this time, has already identified "play hard to get" and resolutely refuses to accept such a price.

By evening, the two sides could not reach an agreement.

Fang Zhuo shook hands with Porter regretfully. P.G\u0026A seemed really good, but...if it doesn't sell, it won't be sold. The next one will be better.

In the evening, Porter discussed the conditions of this negotiation with the company's other two founders, Grace and Autumn, emphasizing that Yike would never let go of the opportunity to strengthen its chip design capabilities.

"Don't worry, even if they don't call me tonight, they will talk again tomorrow."

"The Chinese are very particular about negotiation strategies. They will find a level that is acceptable to both parties to complete a hard-to-get deal. Although we cannot get 80 million, we can at least double the current 23 million."

"Fang Zhuo is a rich man in the world, and Yike's Mars is selling well. We can definitely negotiate on the price."

Porter vowed that he had figured out the mind of the head of Yike.

However, this night, he really didn't receive a call from Yi Kexin.

The next morning, Porter, who was slightly uneasy, waited for an hour and decided to have a cup of coffee at the hotel where Yi Ke was staying. Aren't things like steps always given to you? Everyone is given the same thing!

However, he sat in the hotel lobby and waited, but never saw anyone from Yike showing up.

Porter finally dialed the number of the head of Yike.

"Oh, I'm already in Houston." Fang Zhuo was already sitting in the conference room of the third company and said briefly, "I flew here last night. After all, I have nothing to do in Austin for the time being, and I have made an appointment here."

Porter was dumbfounded: "Fang, Mr. Fang, that, that... this acquisition..."

"Didn't you already refuse?" Fang Zhuo asked.

Porter thought about the word "play hard to get" and once suspected whether the other party was acting, but he did not dare to bet on this possibility. He said sincerely: "We can talk about it again. How could the acquisition be decided so quickly?"

"It's still 23 million, the price remains unchanged." Fang Zhuo said simply.

Potter faltered again.

"Then you think about it again." Fang Zhuo ended the call.

Porter put down his cell phone and immediately rushed to the hotel front desk to ask about the movements of Yike and his party.

Sure enough, the other party had really left the hotel.

Porter walked out of the hotel in silence, never expecting that everything was true.

how so?

He was very puzzled.

However, there is a big gap between 23 million and last month's 80 million and the psychological price, so I really can't agree to it.

Porter hurriedly shared the situation with the two founders.

An hour later, he called Mr. Fang again and gave his final price: US$40 million!

Fang Zhuo refused.

It was during the intermission of the acquisition negotiations in Houston. Fang Zhuo pondered for a moment and told his secretary Liu Zonghong: "If you want to badmouth ARM's server chip field in the local media in Austin, write about the venture capital judgment under the current economic situation, just take P.G\u0026A gave an example of their failure in the last round of financing and their business prospects.”

Liu Zonghong suppressed his shock and followed the order, thinking that his boss had gotten better...

Fang Zhuo frowned and suddenly regretted, what was he doing? Wasn't this trying to rob someone by force?

"Boss, how about P.G\u0026A? They are really accomplished in the field of server chips." Elder, the deputy chief engineer of technology, is also obsessed with P.G\u0026A.

Fang Zhuo frowned. Look, this is not just a personal wish, he is just tied up by the company.

He took a sip of coffee and replied: "Wait a minute, don't rush, give them some time, let's talk about the company in Houston first. This time, we have to get the IC design on track no matter what."

Three days later, Fangzhuo, who had left Houston for his next destination, received a call from Porter.

"Mr. Fang, we are willing to accept US$23 million." Porter's voice was a little tired.

Fang Zhuo hesitated instead: "Porter, it's not that I want to go back on my word, it's that I noticed the analysis of experts in the media. The prospect of ARM-based server chips seems... it seems... Porter, you know."

Porter was silent for nearly thirty seconds: "$20 million."

This is Fang Zhuo's first quotation.

"Let's do this. I'll discuss it with Elder and the others. After all, they are the ones who know best. I'm not good at making judgments in the technical field, Potter, you know." Fang Zhuo replied.

Porter hung up the phone and waited anxiously for a reply. He didn't know if he knew.

Because of the acquisition failure and media reports, he and his two friends had quarreled several times in the past three days. Yes, the economic situation is different!

That night, Porter received a call from the head of Yike.

20 million, just 20 million, Yike is willing to gamble once!

In this way, Yike completed a conventional acquisition and gave the precarious P.G\u0026A a warm home.