Chapter 0

　　Even on New Year's Eve, Su Yehao was still busy.

　　Yanwenzi Group's Chief Operating Officer, John Zhou, along with the CEO and CFO, came to Hong Kong to discuss the details of acquiring several competitors with Su Yehao.

　　The high-tech industry is always filled with an ineradicable anxiety. The Pareto principle is particularly evident in this field, prompting Silicon Valley to develop a unique acquisition logic.

　　Either swallow other innovative companies before they acquire you, or they might eat you, or your competitors might eat them, and then become obstacles on your path to development.

　　It's difficult to coexist harmoniously in the internet world. Even if Su Yehao doesn't like high-tech mergers and acquisitions wars, it doesn't prevent other companies from making such choices.

　　For example, in the instant messaging industry, there is a company with good momentum that is trying to acquire AOL's chat and social business.

　　Once their deal is reached, the number of users can quickly reach about thirty-five percent of Yanwenzi Group's, directly impacting Su Yehao's interests, affecting the company's stock price, and compressing Yanwenzi Group's future growth space.

　　The second floor of a small castle in a luxury garden on Big Wave Bay.

　　At this time, John Zhou was sitting by the window, basking in the sun, looking worried, and said:

　　"I was careless before. Microsoft's instant messaging software..."

　　To this day, MSN has provided internet access services to more than four million American users, and claims to have more than two hundred million portal website users.

　　If Su Yehao hadn't seized the opportunity to integrate iCQ and tvt, and taken the lead in opening up the instant messaging software market through farm mini-games, personal spaces, nearby people, and other functions, it is estimated that with Microsoft's user base, MSN Messenger would have been able to capture more of the instant messaging software market.

　　Looking at it this way, Microsoft wants to do everything, and it is particularly advantageous, so it is no wonder that it is attacked by the crowd and is deeply involved in antitrust lawsuits. Its behavior is indeed a bit ugly.

　　Next to him, Richard, the white CFO of Yanwenzi Group, nodded and said:

　　"It seems that the rumors that Microsoft will soon get rid of the antitrust lawsuit are true. They have been making big moves recently. We are already studying the possibility of continuing to sue it for monopoly if MSN completes this transaction, but the situation is not too optimistic."

　　John Zhou continued, "In addition to technology patents, market share, customer resources, and other businesses, we are also worried that MSN will directly swallow a large number of talents from AOL through this transaction..."

　　Su Yehao listened very carefully, crossed his legs, closed the document, and asked, "Does Microsoft doing this bother other Silicon Valley companies?"

　　His English level can only be considered average. In order not to be misunderstood by the white people present, Linda Yun, who had just returned to work, acted as an interpreter today.

　　The CEO of Yanwenzi Group said, "Of course they, like us, are disgusted by companies like Microsoft, which stand at the top of the food chain, abusing their dominant position in the market. Moreover, Microsoft has too much cash, and many companies feel dangerous. However, nominally, MSN is an independent company that has been split off, so it is not convenient for them to do anything."

　　After listening, Su Yehao then asked, "So, has AOL decided to agree to this deal? If the instant messaging and some social businesses are divested, what is the expected transaction price?"

　　Speaking of AOL.

　　When Su Yehao first entered the instant messaging business, AOL was the leader in the entire industry. Relying on the popular paid chat room business at the time, it made money and swept the world.

　　Later, needless to say, it was defeated by the free iCQ and tvt. Since free chat groups have emerged, who would be stupid enough to pay for chatting? The personal space function first launched by tvt in the United States did change the lifestyle of American netizens to a certain extent.

　　Since AOL merged with traditional media giant Time Warner Group, its stock price has plummeted. It has almost fallen into a predicament where only one out of ten shares remains, and has become a joke in the financial and internet industries, implicating the original shareholders of Time Warner Group in cursing.

　　If AOL hadn't merged with Time Warner Group, it might not have received so much attention. It was held up so high in its heyday, and now it has fallen so miserably. A giant with a market value of more than 140 billion US dollars at its peak has fallen to the point where it needs to sell assets to recover blood.

　　Hearing Su Yehao's question, John Zhou looked at his colleagues and replied, "According to the news we have gathered, it is worth about three billion US dollars. Gates did meet with their chairman a few days ago."

　　Learning that it would cost 3 billion US dollars, the corner of Su Yehao's eye twitched almost imperceptibly, and he quickly suppressed the idea of ​​a preemptive acquisition in his heart.

　　In his opinion, even if he really wanted to use these 3 billion US dollars, he should use it to acquire more potential companies, such as Amazon or Apple. It would be a loss to spend a high price for market share and buy some carefully packaged garbage back, no matter how he thought about it.

　　Sure enough.

　　CFO Richard took the opportunity to say, "Boss, I suggest acquiring AOL's business first. Even if there is a premium, it will not exceed four billion US dollars at most. Only MSN is competing with us."

　　For a moment, Su Yehao wanted to replace the new CFO. There was really no tacit understanding between them.

　　Look at John Zhou, sipping coffee and looking out the window, without any intention of persuading him.

　　After working under Su Yehao for a long time, one would know that his boss only hoped that his employees would do a good job seriously. As for the strategic planning issues related to the company's long-term development, he always made the decisions himself.

　　Su Yehao decisively waved his hand and replied:

　　"I am not optimistic about this transaction."

　　"First, the entire market is still falling, and the value is obviously too high. Second, AOL's related businesses are not as good as ours, and the directions involved are different, so they cannot bring us a lot of talent, but will drag down the company's development. Third, we don't have enough funds. Fourth, MSN's transaction may not really succeed."

　　"I think these reasons should be enough. Microsoft is a great company only when it focuses its business on the operating system field. If it develops in other industries, everyone will have a hard time. After all, its antitrust lawsuit has not ended yet. I am worried that someone is trying to release smoke bombs to lure us to acquire AOL's business at a high price, or they may want to short and suppress our stock price."

　　The other reasons were just excuses. The root cause was that Su Yehao didn't want to spend the money.

　　If he could fully acquire Apple or an established Amazon for three to four billion US dollars, then Su Yehao would definitely raise the money without blinking an eye, even if it meant selling everything he had.

　　But AOL's partial business... in his opinion, it was obviously not worth that much money.

　　After he finished speaking.

　　John Zhou immediately made a thoughtful expression and flattered him:

　　"As expected of the boss, your ideas are more comprehensive than ours. How could I not have thought that there might be invisible enemies hidden in the dark? The news appeared too suddenly, maybe there is really a problem."

　　Su Yehao said calmly:

　　"When soldiers come, we will block them; when water comes, we will build dams. If the sky wants to rain, and a woman wants to marry, let them go for now."

　　"???"

　　Linda Yun, who was helping with the translation, looked blank.

　　……