Investment Life

After setting the rules, the next matters will naturally follow the trend.Among the three companies, the Eagle's Nest Alliance is the best liquidator. As an agent and distributor of CDs and software, Eagle's Nest has also developed extremely rapidly in the past two years. With News Corporation as the actual controller, its distribution channels are naturally unquestionable. The introduction of the [-]th Century Fox Film Company and China Film Company has been opened up, and the potential has been raised to a higher level.

In contrast, Zero Hour's position was a bit awkward.As Mr. Harold said, Zero Hour is essentially Feiyan's research and development department, and only cooperates with News Corporation for financing.Therefore, although Zero Hour has its own development direction and has a different R&D department from Feiyan, it is still quite dependent on Feiyan. In addition, most of the shares are in Feiyan's hands, and it is basically a joint venture subsidiary.

Such conditions are naturally not conducive to listing operations.But when the detailed performance of Zero Hour was displayed in front of Goldman Sachs, they were still taken aback.It turned out that Feiyan did not regard this company as a pure laboratory. On the contrary, in terms of company management, Zero Hour still has considerable independence. Its current CEO, Pierre, is from AT&T, the largest company in the United States. The telecommunications company itself has such a well-known scientific research institution as Bell Labs, so he has a unique set of insights on the balance between sales and technology.

Under the leadership of this experienced and skilled CEO, Zero Hour not only did not fall into the "laboratory dilemma", but also made some achievements in the application and promotion of patent rights. Now the company has 78 patents and has developed He set up a CD coating factory, specializing in the production of patented products under his own name.Logically speaking, this kind of factory cannot obtain the maximum profit, but due to the relationship between Feiyan and China, Zero Hour's production department is directly located in Zhuhai, and it is likely to be relocated to the vicinity of Yuxi Mining, which has a large amount of raw materials. With its strong technical strength, China's cheap labor costs and vast market, Zero Hour may indeed be more attractive than expected.

The last two companies have been evaluated together. The market value of Eagle Nest is set at 7.3 million U.S. dollars, and plans to raise 1 million U.S. dollars after listing; it is slightly lower at zero hour, and plans to raise 7 million U.S. dollars.The two companies were listed on the main board of Nasdaq one after another.

However, Feiyan, the most important company, is not planning to list on NASDAQ.In order to stagger the Internet bubble a few years later, Chen Yuanming prefers the New York Stock Exchange.As the main board, the New York Stock Exchange not only has a larger market, but also has stronger risk resistance capabilities.At the same time, Feiyan's plan introduced a concept, that is, to divide the issued stocks into two types: Class A and Class B. Class A has more voting rights, while Class B directly faces the market.

This idea also comes from the idea of ​​Warren Buffett, the stock god.Berkshire Hathaway, owned by Buffett, has the most peculiar stock operation mode in the world. The stock price of A shares is 10 US dollars, while that of B shares is around 4000 US dollars. The sky-high price of A shares means that no one can easily operate them. It also has far more voting rights and decision-making rights than B shares, ensuring that the company's power is firmly controlled by Buffett.This concept was also used by Google and Baidu in later generations, and achieved great success in IPO.

And what Chen Yuanming needs to guarantee is his own absolute control over Feiyan.The sole purpose of Feiyan's listing is to further raise funds and expand its own development capabilities, not to send it to other people's population as mermaid.

It's just that such a model is bound to infringe on some of Goldman Sachs' interests.Although he reached a preliminary cooperation intention with Goldman Sachs, Chen Yuanming did not regard this company as a truly innocent and morally good conscience enterprise.Efforts made in anti-malicious mergers and acquisitions cannot conceal the filth under Goldman Sachs' glamorous appearance. The previous Shuanghui case, the plot against PetroChina, etc., can all see the cruelty and cunning that Goldman Sachs displayed when it swallowed up other companies.Just like institutions such as Morgan Stanley and Quantum Fund, Goldman Sachs is only a slightly glamorous cover on the outside, but its essence is still a bloody crocodile that is mercenary and insatiable.

Chen Yuanming didn't mind spending a longer time dealing with such a bloodthirsty beast.As a company with full potential, especially Chen Yuanming's talent in venture capital and his close relationship with the Chinese government, Goldman Sachs took it easy and focused on entering rounds of negotiations.

Of course, while dealing with listing matters, Feiyan has finally taken a big step towards another door.After more than half a year of special research and development, Lingshi has achieved some surprising results in flash memory. At the same time, due to the deliberate initial investment, SanDisk, which was the first to develop flash memory cards, has been acquired by Feiyan and incorporated into Feiyan through mergers and acquisitions. system.

Today, the real use of flash memory has not been valued by the world, but when the concept of "digital" really begins to mature, flash memory cards will become one of the core products of digital technology.As small as U disk, MP3, as large as smartphones and digital cameras, this small card also carries the take-off of digital technology.And this urgent need for research and development is also the original intention of the three companies to go public this time.In the next three years, Siemens' MMC card, Toshiba's SD card, and Sony's memory stick will appear one by one. At that time, the first round of the digital war will begin. Time is waiting for me...

It took more than a month in Silicon Valley, and on Christmas Eve, Chen Yuanming still took the time to go to Blizzard and spent Christmas Eve with the group of gamers.Now Blizzard is no longer the original Blizzard. Due to the hot sales of the two Warcraft games and the huge profits gained from peripheral products, Blizzard has grown again and acquired the previously funded Condor studio to establish a new Northern Blizzard.

This acquisition also means that the masterpiece "Diablo" is officially on the release schedule.

Due to Blizzard's abundant funds, this time Northern Blizzard did not follow the old path of embezzling other companies' production funds, but concentrated on starting its own masterpiece.Abundant funds and manpower naturally make Diablo's progress like a godsend. In the constant communication with Blizzard, Mike and Allen also gradually discovered the significance of Diablo to Blizzard.After some negotiations, the two companies were eventually merged into one.

With Blizzard's assistance, Diablo took shape at an unimaginable speed, and a sales notice was issued before the Christmas holiday, and it is scheduled to be officially released on Christmas Eve.

With this release, and knowing that Chen Yuanming is now in the United States, how could these young people not drag him into the bandit boat.We specially rented a hotel next to the largest software sales store in San Francisco, where the celebration banquet and Christmas reception were held together.It's just that compared to Chen Yuanming's calmness, this group of boys is obviously more enthusiastic about the scene outside the window. From time to time, someone cheers like "Look, there are ten more!"

That's right, following Microsoft's overnight rush to buy Windows 95, Blizzard finally ushered in such treatment for the first time.Just after 10 o'clock in the evening, there was already a long queue in front of the store, facing the biting cold wind and the snowflakes falling with the wind, a large number of Blizzard fans were eagerly looking forward to it, hoping to get this new work as quickly as possible.

In order to publicize Diablo, Blizzard used the Internet for the first time this time.As early as two months ago, a coveted notice was posted on the official website. In the pre-internet era when the network speed was still calculated in KB, they also used the very fashionable FutureSplash mode, which is the famous Flash animation in later generations. It has brought amazing publicity effects to the game of Diablo.At the same time, with the help of the game publisher Eagle's Nest Alliance, the game's expectations in the hearts of players have been maximized, and it has not been completely detonated until today.

"A hundred! We've got a hundred!"

There was a cheer from nowhere, and most people in the room raised their wine glasses and joined the celebration.This is just a store in San Francisco. How many players in the United States are waiting enthusiastically in the snowy night?

Compared with the four real "Dark Fathers" of Northern Blizzard, Mike's mood today is much more stable.Unlike Allen's pure enthusiasm for games, Mike has now begun to show his talent in business and has become the most talkative person in the Blizzard group.Since he toured China last year and completely opened up the peripheral production line, he overcame public opinion and contributed to the merger and acquisition of Northern Blizzard.And today was the first sweet fruit they tasted.

"Chen." Looking at the scene outside the window, Mike's eyes sparkled, "Maybe it's time for us to invest in the production of the next game! There is also a new Diablo expansion! We are living in the best era!"

There is no danger of being resold, and there is no future conflict with the parent company. Blizzard in this world is indeed walking in its best era.

Chen Yuanming raised the wine glass in his hand and looked out the window with him.There, the first generation of computer game players are looking forward to the arrival of the masterpiece in their hearts with red faces and unparalleled enthusiasm.And this work didn't disappoint them.

This is indeed the best era for computer games. CD-Rom has officially begun to become popular, and the fifth generation, that is, the Pentium series of CUPs, has begun to establish its dominance in microcomputers. The industry has brought about an earth-shaking revolution, making it the largest entertainment industry after the film and television industry.Standing on the cusp of such a wave, how could it not make people feel agitated.

"What do you want to do with the new game?"

"Probably a sci-fi theme, we are still discussing the details." Mike's voice has an almost fearless passion, "It will be different from Warcraft. This time we will have more races and more complex technology Tree, this will be a better game!"

"Better than Warcraft?"

"That's right, even better than Warcraft!"

There is both confidence and persistence in the voice.

Chen Yuanming smiled, and took a sip of the slightly cold champagne in the glass, "Then you should add some foreign aid."

"What?" Mike turned his head differently, "No, Blizzard's philosophy should not be changed, what we need is not to rush for time..."

"Well, I know." Chen Yuanming nodded, "But I need it."

These words froze Mike's enthusiasm in an instant. He looked at Blizzard's biggest club in disbelief, and his heart was full of worries and doubts.Blizzard can be profitable, this is something anyone knows.But at the same time, it takes too much money and time to make a game. In this almost endless investment, how many bosses can be patient and let them fulfill their vows?

Excellence and mass production are inherently contradictory. They cannot be both perfect and efficient, and no one can do it.

Sensing Mike's nervousness, Chen Yuanming shook his head lightly, "It's not what you think. It's just that in the past year, how have the employees I selected for you performed?"

"Excellent." Mike didn't hesitate this time.

Chen Yuanming was talking about the game producers he recruited from China, all of whom were from Chinese universities, and 7 of them passed Blizzard's examination and became the core of the production team.This group of Chinese people has unexpected acceptance and creativity, and unparalleled diligence. They quickly integrated into the Blizzard team and even brought them many excellent ideas.As an employee, you don't get much better than these guys.

"That's right." Chen Yuanming was not surprised by this answer.

In China, there are also countless game enthusiasts and computer geniuses. These people may not be able to enter the industry they most desire due to various reasons, but if they are given a chance, they will burst out with amazing energy.

"I don't need to squeeze Blizzard's current manpower, all I want to do is to provide you with more." Gently uncovering the mystery, Chen Yuanming explained calmly, "Blizzard, and the Eagle's Nest Alliance under me, should also gradually set foot on It is not only the manufacturing industry that can find OEM factories there, but also the game industry and animation industry.”

Seeing Mike's expression of disbelief, Chen Yuanming smiled, "It may be too early to talk about the core structure, but those basic artists already have enough potential. What China lacks most is labor, and this The foundry, as well as learning and imitation, will also be the beginning of their beginning. In the near future, I will also establish a mature animation game training school in China to provide more useful talents in this regard.”

This time Mike finally heard the subtext, "You mean this when you say rushing for time?"

"Of course." After a pause, a smile appeared on Chen Yuanming's lips, "It just depends on how much I can grab..."

Intensive labor is an advantage that will never fade away, before South Korea, Taiwan, or even other large companies' outsourcing teams are formed, and it is time for him to dig a nugget on this land.