Chapter 1144 Irreconcilable Differences

Silicon Valley has a typical Mediterranean climate, with warm winters and cool summers. In another space, Google Chairman Schmidt even said, why is Silicon Valley so successful? Why is it difficult to replicate in other places?

Mainly because it attracts world-class talents.

Why are those top talents willing to settle in Silicon Valley? He believes that the climate of Silicon Valley is a very important reason.

This is indeed not without reason. For example, Feng Yiping is definitely a top talent now. Why did he choose to be an exchange student at Stanford instead of Harvard in the east? It is because the winter here is warm.

However, the Mediterranean climate also has a bad thing, that is, when the temperature is high, there is little rain, and when the temperature is low, it is rainy.

The day before yesterday, it was light rain turning cloudy, yesterday it was cloudy turning sunny, and today, it is intermittent and light rain again.

Although there is no rain at this time, the sky is overcast, just like Randolph's mood at this time.

After a quarrel with Feng Yiping, his mood has been like this most of the time.

These days, he is even more out of shape at work because he has been thinking about Feng Yiping's words.

Logically speaking, there is really nothing to hesitate about. After talking with Feng Yiping, he is sure of one thing, that is, with Feng Yiping's joining, Netflix will usher in great development!

He should immediately go to Hastings to have a good talk and discuss letting Feng Yiping join.

The key to the problem is that the three parties involved in this matter currently have three attitudes.

He himself hopes that Feng Yiping can join Netflix as a strategic investor and become a member of the company's board of directors. Of course, becoming a single major shareholder seems to be more difficult at present.

Hastings, he only knows his attitude from Feng Yiping's mouth. On such an issue, Feng Yiping has no need to deceive him. So Hastings is firmly opposed to Feng Yiping, who has a strong desire to acquire, being introduced as an investor, not to mention joining the company's board of directors.

Feng Yiping's attitude is also clear and firm. To acquire, that is, to maintain control of the company.

He felt that his decision was correct from the perspective of the company's growth. Investors like Feng Yiping should be the opportunity for the company's second major development. Just look at the Coin Star he acquired.

The current development trend of Coin Star really made him envious.

Feng Yiping insisted on the acquisition, and Randolph felt that his reasons were actually sufficient.

He did not seem to lack money or means to make money. He chose Netflix because he was optimistic about this industry, and he also had sufficient ideas, conditions and resources to run Netflix well.

He paid so much, but ended up being only a small shareholder of Netflix. Randolph felt that if he were in his place, he would not agree to such conditions.

In other words, his and Feng Yiping's demands were actually very reasonable, so the only one who was a little untenable was Hastings.

It seems that he really opposed it for the sake of opposition.

In other words, to make this happen, you must first convince Hastings so that he at least does not oppose this merger.

However, after so many years of cooperation, he knew Hastings's character. On such a critical issue, he was not the kind of person who could listen to his opinions.

And, to be honest, although he thought that the company was acquired by Feng Yiping, it was indeed good for their children and Netflix would develop better, but psychologically, he was also a little bit unable to accept it.

They founded Netflix not to cash out as soon as possible, but to treat it as their own business and Netflix as their own children.

Psychologically and emotionally, he really couldn't accept his children calling others dad.

But the problem is that if it is not so, it is really difficult to survive the challenges that the company is facing one after another, especially when Hastings seems to have really lost his mind.

After thinking about it and repeatedly considering it, he decided to have a good talk with Hastings and talk openly.

…………

“Walmart is better than us in many other aspects, but it is not as professional as us in the field of online DVD rental. So, I think the best way to deal with Walmart’s challenge is to further enhance our professionalism,” said Sam, the director of operations, in the meeting, while analyzing the pros and cons of the company and Walmart.

“Therefore, Hastings, we feel that, whether for business needs or to deal with the challenges of Walmart and Blockbuster, we need to build another transfer center to improve our logistics efficiency and thus improve member satisfaction,”

It should be said that this is at least a more appropriate proposal.

“The company’s finance department can definitely come up with this budget,” added Billy, the financial director.

Hastings had not responded before, with his elbows on the conference table, staring at his laptop screen intently, but when he heard Billy say that he wanted to take money out, he immediately responded, "No, no," he shook his head a few times, "At least for the rest of this fiscal year, we will not make a large investment in fixed assets."

"But, Hastings, don't you think this is a good investment to consolidate our advantages and improve our competitiveness?" asked Sam, the operations director.

He was a little dissatisfied.

Hastings wanted to chase them these days and ask them to come up with a practical response plan.

This is a very good decision that his department came to after such a long period of research and achieved multiple benefits. However, Hastings actually denied it for such a reason. Why?

"Is it for the fourth quarter report?" Financial Director Billy thought further.

For listed companies, every financial report is equivalent to their report card, and investors rely on this report card to decide their support.

If you see that the customer growth in the financial report is weak and the remaining profits after excluding various investments are very small, most of them will not bother to care whether you have made necessary fixed asset investments and whether you have consolidated your business. The foundation has strengthened its own advantages.

They will only think that Netflix’s performance is very poor and its future development is not optimistic, so they will not abandon you or give up. It is estimated that as soon as such a financial report comes out, many people will immediately sell their Netflix holdings. stock.

That would definitely make matters worse for Netflix and Hastings.

"There are considerations," Hastings said.

Everyone is waiting for his next words, that is, there are other considerations, which ones?

But Hastings did not continue to answer this question.

The key is that it's really hard to answer. Under the premise that there may be a hostile takeover at any time, every dollar of cash reserves is precious. But, how can he say this now?

"Next comment," Hastings said, looking back down at his computer.

Sam and Billy looked at each other and shook their heads subtly.

Although they didn't know the inside story, they could still feel Hastings's recent strangeness. For example, just like now, he would often veto some seemingly good and normal proposals without any reason.

There must be something wrong with him.

What is it that makes Hastings, who has always been resolute, so out of shape? Could it be that even he is optimistic about the company's development?

"We believe that the center of all company activities should revolve around user satisfaction, so our next opinion is," before Sam could finish his words, there was a "bang" and the door of the conference room was pushed open. Randolph, who had become a regular absentee from meetings these days, walked in.

Everyone present at the meeting clearly saw that, like Hastings, Randolph also had very obvious dark circles under his eyes. They both couldn't sleep at night. It seemed that the company's prospects were really not optimistic. Several people immediately think.

Hastings heard the noise, looked up, and then motioned to Sam expressionlessly, "You continue,"

"Wait a minute," Randolph knocked on the table, "Let's dismiss the meeting first. I have something to discuss with Hastings."

Hastings looked up at Randolph dissatisfied, but Randolph clapped his hands and urged, "Let's go, let's go,"

The executives who noticed something strange left quickly. As soon as the door was closed from the outside, Hastings couldn't help but slam the notebook shut, "Randolph, what are you doing?"

The atmosphere in the conference room was tense for a while.

Randolph pulled up a chair and sat down next to him, "It's because of NEXTDOOR, it's because of Feng Yiping, right? I mean you are under the greatest pressure now,"

Hastings was stunned for a moment, "What did you say?"

Seeing that Randolph was still looking directly at him, he changed his words, "How do you know?"

Then he became suspicious, "Could it be that they are looking for you?"

"Yes, they are looking for me. I just met Feng Yiping a few days ago," Randolph said very calmly.

"How could he do this? How dare he do this?" Hastings pulled up his chair and stood up suddenly, furious.

"Hastings, I don't know if you have reached any consensus with him, but you must understand that, at least with regard to Redbox, our approach is actually very commendable," Randolph said.

Hastings stroked his goatee. It was indeed true. He should be a solid obstacle to Feng Yiping and NEXTDOOR.

Furthermore, Feng Yiping did keep his promise to him and did not reveal the news about his last trip to NEXTDOOR to the newspaper.

However, since he has made up his mind to acquire Netflix and he does not agree with it, it is only right that they start to contact the board members.

Randolph, who is also a co-founder, is naturally the most important target.

"By the way, before that, they had already made a request for merger and acquisition, right? That's why you reacted so strongly to them cooperating with McDonald's to operate Redbox,"

"Hastings, your first contact should have been this summer, right? Why did you hide this from me? Should you have told me earlier?"

"Randolph, man, I don't want to put too much pressure on you," Hastings said.

"No, no, I don't think that's the case at all. I know you should understand my choice, so you won't choose to tell me," Randolph had already figured out why Hastings wanted to hide this from him.

"I don't understand why you say that,"

"Don't understand?" Randolph also stood up with his hands on his hips, "How could you not understand? You should understand very well. You should know that after I listened to Feng's explanation and proposal, starting from the interests of the company, You must agree with part of his plan, right? That’s why you chose to hide it,”

"So, you agree with Feng, the little Chinese guy, to acquire our company?" Hastings was anxious, and even his words became rude.

Although Randolph has always stood behind him, it is undeniable that Randolph has a great influence both in the company and on the board of directors. If even he does not support him, it is conceivable that other members of the board of directors will definitely find it more difficult to support him.

Wait, other members of the board of directors? "Do you know that they have contacted those other people?" he asked anxiously.

"What do you think?" Randolph asked back, "Even if they don't contact them now, they will definitely contact them in the future. Moreover, I don't think they will be as patient with everyone as they are with us,"

Randolph paused, "Other directors and shareholders, they may make direct offers,"

"Hastings, do you think that under the current situation, as long as their offer is reasonable, will others agree to sell or not?"

Of course they agree, and I believe that others will be happy to think that they finally have a chance to get out of the predicament.

"Randolph, as long as you support me, there will be no problem," Hastings said.

"I think what Feng said makes sense,"

Hastings was really annoyed and could no longer control his anger. He slapped the table, "Why don't you understand?"

"Why don't you understand?" Randolph's tone was higher and he slapped the table louder. "Netflix is ​​not your Netflix. I have the right to support plans that will definitely benefit the company based on the interests of the company."

Hastings shook his head in pain. Randolph put his hands on his waist and looked at him unmoved. The two co-founders were like bullfighting in the conference room.

Outside, Netflix employees who heard the noise in the conference room looked at each other in surprise.

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