I Am A Trilionaire - Chapter 24
On February, it rained lightly in Cupertino, California, and a Ford car from WYN, Virginia, was parked outside Apple headquarters!
Apple CEO’s office.
John Sculley was discussing the problem with two guests, these two guests were not the other, that was executive director of Sequoia Capital Ford Brook and AOL CEO Steve Case!
Sequoia Capital is an investor who helps Apple. When Apple sought investment for the first time, Sequoia Capital offered to help! Sequoia Capital has obtained dozens of times the profit from investing in Apple. Despite having sold a lot of shares, he still holds 10% of the shares and has certain rights to speak on Apple’s board of directors!
This time, Sequoia Capital will lead AOL to work with Apple!
“This time we will talk about the problem between AOL and Netscape, Sculley, I think we are here, and you also know the purpose of our arrival!” Ford Brook said bluntly, “Look how high Netscape’s market value is! Can Apple not suppress it?”
Ford Brook smiled confidently after speaking, he never believed that Sculley would not be bothered by the Netscape browser. Then Ford said: “Sculley, AOL has excavated the original members of the Netscape browser development team. I believe the new” Netscape “will soon appear!
“How do we help AOL?” Sculley smiled and asked hastily.
Ford Brooke said: “Install the AOL browser on Apple’s desktop system!”
“But what’s the point of this for our Apple?” Sculley said slyly, “You know, the Netscape browser is very popular among internet users now if our Apple computer doesn’t install the Netscape browser. It will definitely affect our computer sales!”
Steve Case never spoke when he came to Apple. Ford Brook will try to persuade him. However, at this critical moment, he suddenly said: “10% stake in the AOL browser !!!”
Sculley looked at Steve Case, pondered for a moment, and said, “20% !!!”
“Agree !!!” Steve Case didn’t seem to think carefully, and made a very decisive decision.
At this time, Ford Brook is a little worried, Sequoia Capital has more shares in AOL than in Apple. He gave the code to Steve Case with his eyes telling him to stop playing around and not giving Apple so many shares! !
Steve Case has made the final decision!
It was too difficult for AOL to break the Netscape browser monopoly. AOL must win more allies!
Among other choices, obviously Apple is the best choice for AOL!
Apple is one of the top companies in the computer industry and has a big influence in this industry! If Apple uses and installs the AOL browser, this will greatly increase the momentum of the AOL browser and the browser can be launched more smoothly! !
Seeing that Steve was very decisive, Sculley was a little stunned, but he immediately reacted and was happy in his heart. He said happily: “Mr. Steve is truly talented. We Apple are very willing to work with you!”
“Thank you, I hope we can work together with pleasure,” Steve Case answered.
“Of course!” Sculley smiled.
Ford Brook shook his head quietly, forget it, because Steve had decided, Sequoia Capital could not force it, anyway, Sequoia Capital had shares on both sides …
Next, the three of them began to discuss the details of cooperation and browser promotion issues.
Three days later.
Apple held a press conference and announced: “Apple and AOL will work together to make the best browser in history,” AL Browser “!!!”
The reporter asked: “Are the AL names taken from the two Apple and AOL companies?”
“Yes!”
“Sorry, will every computer that Apple launches in the future automatically use the AL browser?”
“Of course!”
“The Netscape browser has taken the lead. Do you have confidence in the AL browser? Do you think that the AL browser can defeat the Netscape browser?”
“Apple and AOL are both very good companies, and we are very confident !!!”
After the press conference, television, newspapers and radio all major media reported.
Netscape’s browser was affected by this news spread, and its share price fell immediately, down four dollars on that day.
Henry was also the first to get specific news from Apple’s press conference.
Henry sat in the office, propping his face on the table with his hands, frowning slightly, Apple was really working with AOL. This is really complicated. However, it makes sense to think that Sequoia Capital is the investor of both companies.
Microsoft hasn’t intervened in the browser yet, but Apple jumped out first!
Apple is far behind Microsoft in the computer industry and Henry is a little afraid of Microsoft, but not afraid of Apple.
In 1995, Microsoft’s operating system ruled the world, and no one did not use it. At present, Sculley dares to step into Apple’s browser hufft CEO Sculley deserves to be the worst CEO, Sculley thinks Apple is the first-place computer market share?
After IBM appeared, Apple Jobs CEO was finished. Now that a compatible computer is mainstream, how can Apple computers compare it?
AOL launched its attack and Henry could not sit still. Because they can find Apple as a partner. Have you not found an ally to help him?
Henry sent a team to lobby Microsoft, IBM, HP and Compaq. Henry himself will visit Dell in person! Dell was founded in 1984, and has only been in development for more than three years, although now it cannot be compared to large companies such as IBM and Hewlett-Packard, Henry knows that Dell will be very strong in the future, and in 1988, Dell prepares to go public If the Nicholas Group can take Dell shares to form a strategic alliance, it will benefit both parties!
Thinking about this, Henry called Michael Dell to meet him! When Michael Dell learned that the chairman of the Nicholas Group was going to meet him, he immediately agreed, and said happily he would take the initiative to rush to San Jose to meet Henry!
Now Henry’s status is high!
Like Bill Gate suddenly called out to you and said that he wanted to talk to you, would you not volunteer to rush to see him?
Although Dell has progressed well, it is far worse than the Nicholas Group. Dell cannot possibly produce computers without knowing the existence of the Nicholas Group. Only the Netscape browser has a market value of 3.98 billion US dollars!
Three days later, Michael Dell arrived at the headquarters of the Nicholas Group.
Michael Dell is a young man only 23 years old now. But when he saw Henry, he was stunned for a long time, because the employees of the Nicholas Group introduced him that Henry was the chairman of the Nicholas Group!
“It’s strange to see me?”
“No … I just didn’t expect Mr. Williams to be so young. For a while I was shocked!” Said Michael Dell.
“Hehe, you’re also very young,” Henry smiled, and then invited him to the office to sit. After Helen brought coffee for Dell, Henry said straightforwardly, “You must be curious, why would I want to talk to you? Actually … I’ll explain. If the Nicholas Group wants to get Dell shares, I don’t know if you mind?”
When Michael Dell heard this, his expression was stunned, and he paused for a moment, and then asked, “You want to have controlling shares? Or?”
“What if the Nicholas Group requires ownership shares?”
“Then it will be difficult for you … Dell will never give up control rights !!!” Michael Dell said firmly.
Henry laughs at this moment. Of course, Michael Dell is very ambitious and possessive. No wonder Dell will be privatized in the future! Think of Dell after privatization, Michael Dell actually holds 75% of Dell’s shares that are too much for large companies with a market value of hundreds of billions! ! ! ! !
However, Henry’s stake in Dell was only a temporary response to the joint efforts of Apple and AOL. Henry’s future goal is still Apple. Apple has “soft and hard” skills, lots of talent, and lots of patents. The reason Henry likes Apple is based on these two points!
“Hehe, then, how about 20%? Nicholas Group’s shareholding in Dell is only an investment! If we sell shares in the future, we can authorize you to have the right to buy back shares!”
As soon as Michael Dell heard this, his skin subsided and he pondered for a moment, and then answered: “Yes. How much do you plan to invest in? Even though Dell has only been established for more than three years, Dell has grown very fast! So, if conditions are too bad. I will not agree! ”
“Hehe, of course. However, as far as we know, even though Dell’s sales exceeded 100 million US dollars last year, profitability was relatively low, only 20 million US dollars! Therefore, we estimate Dell’s total market value to be 250 million US dollars. ! ”
Dell sells assembly machines. Compared to branded machines, the price is much cheaper and the profits are much lower. But with a small profit there was a rapid turnover, Dell’s performance has improved greatly, and the company has grown rapidly. When the company becomes famous, assembly machines are sold, and it will become branded machines. A computer from a giant computer company, dare you say it’s an assembly machine?
Michael Dell was not satisfied when he heard this estimate. He frowned and said: “250 million US dollars is too little. Dell’s sales this year will be more and profits will be higher than last year!”
“Then 300 million dollars! Do you think that if the Nicholas Group took a stake in Dell that would push Dell down? With our publicity and promotion, Dell will develop several times faster than now. !!!”
Michael Dell thought for a moment, and finally nodded, “Well, I agree with this estimate!”
Henry smiled at this moment: “Are you interested in a browser?”
“You mean the Netscape browser?”
“That’s right,” Henry said, “the Nicholas Group intends to hand over 1.5% of Netscape’s browser shares and exchange shares with you. What do you think?”
Michael Dell frowned and had to think about whether it was better to take cash or take stock in the Netscape browser! In Dell’s view, Netscape Browser’s stock prices are very volatile, and may rise sharply or fall sharply. Some time ago, due to the joint efforts of Apple and AOL, Netscape’s market value fell from 4.95 billion to under 4 billion. Maybe it will fall in the future!
Jingle Bell …
At this moment, the telephone rang. Henry apologizes to Dale and then picks up the phone.
“The chairman, IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Compaq all agree to install our Netscape browser and refuse to install the AL browser !!! Now you can turn on the TV to watch CBS news and watch joint statement reports from these three companies !!”
After Henry hung up the phone, he smiled at Dell and said, “Mr. Dell, I now invite you to see something.”
After speaking, Henry turned on the TV and watched the CBS news with a smile on his face.
Reporter: “Welcome everyone and enjoy CBS News. Now we will broadcast the latest news from this station: Although Apple and AOL will release the AL browser, three computer companies, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Compaq, have successively released statement that they will continue to use the Netscape browser. Stanford University computer professor Fred Bruce believes that the status of the Netscape browser will remain unshakeable … ”
After Dell finished watching it, he became excited and could not help but turn to look at Henry. He smiled and said, “Mr. Williams, your company is truly extraordinary! I agree to exchange shares!”
“Hehe!” Henry can’t help but smile.
IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq continued to support the Netscape browser which did not surprise Henry. First of all, Netscape has monopolized the market, and is very popular with netizens. If your computer doesn’t install this, which one? AOL or Apple’s AL browser? Oh, they haven’t appeared … Besides, Apple also sells computers. If companies don’t attack it. Do you want Apple to benefit alone?