Chapter 2631 Extremely Disappointed

Gates' ability to express his position so simply was not out of concern for Feng Yiping.

This kind of transaction involving more than 40 billion US dollars does not depend on anyone's face.

Frankly speaking, from the time they proposed the acquisition of Yahoo after the Spring Festival until now, they have used both soft and hard tactics and used all their methods. However, Yahoo, which they thought was easy to win, has never been able to win. However, many people are already waiting to see them. joke.

This is certainly an important project before Ballmer prepares to completely take over Microsoft, but why is it not the last important project before Gates prepares to retire?

Is Gates satisfied with the current situation?

Do you really think he is someone who doesn't care about success or failure?

If he was really that kind of person, he would have lost his enterprising spirit long ago, and he would not have been the world's richest man for so many years.

You may not care about some things when you can't get them, but if you get them, you still get them often. Once you lose them, the loss will be huge.

Because really speaking, at that level, of course it is impossible to get everything you want, but how many opportunities does he have to lose?

Because there are few opportunities to lose, you will be particularly disappointed when you lose.

Just when they were in a difficult situation, Feng Yiping promised to help them remove the biggest obstacle, and he could also join forces with them in acquisitions to increase the chance of winning while reducing costs. All he asked for was a possible candidate on his own side. When you are excited, you have the right to stop, so why not?

Gates is also confident that Feng Yiping will not be ready to tease him before he is ready to retire.

"Gates, if there was that moment, I would say it was a decision made by both of us," Feng Yiping said.

"You must be thinking about me when you take me with you. I completely trust your judgment of the general trend," Gates said. "Then Feng, Jerry, I will leave it to you."

…………

At the end of the month, Chief Yang, who was extremely busy, was invited to attend an event in San Francisco, a gathering held by international students from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to celebrate Labor Day.

Of course, the purpose of his attendance at the party was not to celebrate Labor Day, but because it was Feng Yiping who invited him.

It was not just because Feng Yiping was the one who invited him. In the past two days, he had also heard related rumors. Feng Yiping had two contacts with Microsoft's Ballmer. Some even said that they were forming a joint team to come. Acquired Yahoo together.

Chief Yang really wants to discuss this issue face to face with Feng Yiping. Why do you, along with so many people, choose to stand against me at a time like this?

Yes, in the past two months, Chief Yang has faced not only Microsoft, but also Yahoo's board of directors, especially those on the board of directors who like to take advantage of such opportunities to make profits for themselves.

For example, the famous "Wolf of Wall Street", Carl Icahn.

This Wall Street activist investor, known for his hostile takeovers and corporate predators, has successfully attacked companies including TWA, MGM, and Motorola.

This time, as before, he is preparing to launch a proxy battle with the goal of replacing all 10 members of Yahoo's board of directors.

Because in Carl Icahn's past experience, the small shareholders who stood with him and acted in concert did gain tangible benefits from dividends or stock prices - and the cost was probably the core of the company. High-quality assets are split and sold, or the development funds urgently needed by the company are forced to become dividends.

But how many small shareholders or investors who have no say in the board of directors care about these things?

They only value how much actual profit can be distributed to themselves.

Although Chief Yang has called on shareholders several times not to sign or return any power of attorney documents sent to them by Icahn-affiliated companies, it seems that many shareholders have already sided with Carl Icahn.

The main reason why Carl Icahn launched the proxy battle is also to hope that Yahoo can accept the acquisition of Microsoft. For Yahoo's small shareholders, being able to sell their Yahoo shares at a premium of more than 60% is obviously a good choice.

If someone like Carl Icahn, who has a successful history, is willing to stand up and fight for their interests, what does it matter if he is entrusted to exercise relevant rights on his behalf?

Now that the economic environment is so bad, the Yahoo stocks you hold can be sold at least for more than 60% of the price. Why don't you agree?

How many years will it take for Yahoo to pay out so much dividend?

So for the current Chief Yang, on the one hand, he has to fight against Microsoft's offensive, on the other hand, he has to appease the current board of directors, and on the other hand, he has to resist Carl Icahn, who has coerced many small shareholders. attack...

If one of these three directions fails, then the company he founded will have nothing to do with him anymore.

Under such circumstances, if Feng Yiping tried to stab him, he would really not be able to accept it.

He thought to himself that he really treated Feng Yiping well.

…………

The venue for this gathering was a bit special, it was a cruise ship.

Shortly after Chief Yang arrived, the cruise ship set off immediately. After cruising in the San Francisco Bay Area for a while, it headed towards the open sea. After Chief Yang greeted some people, he arrived at the top deck of the cruise ship under the leadership of Wu Qian and saw Feng Yiping facing the wind. And Li, his face looked quite serious.

Are you still serious?

"Yiping, tell me honestly? Are the rumors true?"

"Chief, please sit down first," Feng Yiping picked up the wine prepared on the table, "I think you need a glass,"

Chief Yang suddenly understood everything, but he didn't understand, "Why?"

"As a founder, can't you understand what Yahoo means to me?"

"As the most visionary and successful entrepreneur of an Internet company, don't you know the value of Yahoo?"

Feng Yiping certainly knows these two points.

Yahoo is not only of great significance to Chief Yang, but also to the entire Internet industry.

It is no exaggeration to say that it was Yahoo that laid the foundation for the Internet industry and created the existing model of the Internet industry.

Some of it is equivalent to the significance of the electric light invented by Edison to the electrical age.

But can Edison accept that his General Electric was acquired by someone?

So, Chief Yang naturally couldn't.

And Feng Yiping also knew the value of Yahoo.

Although Yahoo failed to successfully invest in Alibaba because of him, Yahoo itself is still the most popular website for American users. All of Yahoo's products combined still have the most users in the world, not one billion, but at least more than 600 million.

At the same time, he still holds more than 35% of Yahoo Japan's shares. Adding Yahoo's own value, such as cash, convertible bonds, core and non-core patents, Yahoo's current value is indeed no less than 40 billion US dollars.

The reason why Microsoft's offer with a 60% premium is less than 40 billion US dollars is that the stock price does not necessarily reflect the true value of the company.

"Chief, believe me, I really understand everything,"

Understand everything?

In this case, why do you still do such a heart-breaking thing?

As a senior, I have nothing to do with you.

Chief Yang drank the glass of wine that Feng Yiping poured for him in one go, and it was obvious that he wanted Feng Yiping to give an explanation.

"Chief, I am not only preparing to acquire Yahoo with Microsoft, but the purpose of inviting you here today is also to convince you to agree to sell Yahoo," Feng Yiping said.

"Bang", the always elegant Chief Yang slapped the table heavily, "Why are you like this?"

Although the sea breeze was blowing in his face, he still felt very stuffy.

He unbuttoned two more buttons on his shirt and stood by the side of the ship. At this moment, the blue sea and the blue sky all lost their colors in his eyes.

He also understood what Feng Yiping's joining meant.

That not only meant that Microsoft had a very powerful partner, but also that the Microsoft board of directors would no longer have any doubts about Microsoft's offer. Even Feng Yiping agreed to such an offer, so what else could be said?

In other words, Microsoft, without any noise in the board of directors, would be more powerful in action.

And because of Feng Yiping's joining, other people who were originally on the sidelines would definitely be ready to compete.

And there would definitely be more and more small shareholders of Yahoo who would entrust Carl Icahn with the exercise of their shareholder rights...

That meant that he would face greater pressure from more directions.

And that was a pressure that neither he nor the Yahoo he founded could bear.

"I think we have nothing to talk about. Let them stop the ship. I want to get off the ship,"

"Chief, if I say that I made such a decision, to a large extent, for your consideration, can you believe it?" A voice floated behind him.