On February 10, it was raining lightly in Cupertino, California, and a Ford from Vienna, Virginia, parked outside Apple's headquarters!
Apple's CEO office.
John Scully is discussing matters with two guests, these two guests are not others, it is the executive director of Sequoia Capital Ford Brook and AOL CEO Steve Case!
Sequoia Capital is an angel investor in Apple. When Apple first sought investment, it was Sequoia Capital who offered to help! Sequoia Capital has earned dozens of times by investing in Apple. Although it has sold a lot of shares, it still holds 10% of the shares and has a certain right to speak on the Apple board of directors!
This time, Sequoia Capital will lead the way, and AOL will cooperate with Apple!
"The city is full of trouble between AOL and Netscape, Scully, I think we are here, and you know it too!" Ford Brook said straight to the point, "Look at how high Netscape's market value is! Is it Apple? Not tempted?"
Ford Brook smiled confidently after he finished speaking. He never believed that Scully would not be indifferent to the fat of the browser. Immediately, Ford said: "Scully, AOL has dug the original members of the Netscape browser development team. I believe a new "Netscape" will appear soon! But AOL hopes to get Apple's help!"
"How do you want us to help AOL?" Scully smiled and asked unhurriedly.
Ford Brooke said: "Install AOL's browser on Apple's desktop system!"
"But what good will this do to our Apple?" Scully said slyly, "You know, Netscape browser has been very popular with netizens, if our Apple computer does not have Netscape browser installed It will definitely affect the sales of our computers!"
When Steve Case came to Apple, he didn't say anything. Ford Brook was talking about it. However, at this critical moment, he suddenly said: "10% of the browser's shares!!!"
Scully looked at Steve Case, pondered for a moment, and said, "20%!!"
"Deal!!" Steve Case didn't seem to think carefully, and made a very decisive decision.
At this time, Ford Brook was a little anxious. Sequoia Capital had more shares in AOL than in Apple. The more browser shares Steve Case gave to Apple, Sequoia Capital The more you lose. He motioned to Steve Case with his eyes, telling him not to mess around, and he can't give Apple so many shares!
Steve Case has made the final decision!
It is too difficult for AOL to break the monopoly of Netscape browsers, and AOL has to win over more allies!
Among them, Apple is the best choice for AOL!
Apple is one of the top companies in the personal computer industry and has a huge influence in the industry! If Apple takes the lead in installing AOL browsers, this will greatly increase the momentum of AOL browsers, so that the browser can be launched more smoothly!
Scully saw that Steve was so decisive, he couldn't help but was taken aback, but he immediately reacted and was happy in his heart, and said happily: "Mr. Steve is really a talent, and we at Apple are very willing to cooperate with you!"
"Thank you, I hope we can cooperate happily!" Steve Case responded.
"Of course!" Scully laughed.
Ford Brooke shook his head secretly, forget it, since Steve has decided, Sequoia Capital can't force it, anyway, Sequoia Capital has shares on both sides...
Then, the three Steves began to talk about cooperation details and browser promotion issues.
Three days later.
Apple held a press conference, announcing: "Apple and AOL will join hands to create the best browser in history, 'AL Browser'!!!"
The reporter asked: "Is AL taken from the two letters in the names of Apple and AOL?"
"That's right!"
"Excuse me, will every computer that Apple produces in the future will install the AL browser?"
"Of course!"
"Netscape browser has taken the lead. Do you have confidence in AL browser? Do you think AL browser can beat Netscape browser?"
"Apple and AOL are both very good companies, we are very confident!!"
After the press conference, TV, newspapers, and radio all major media reported.
Netscape browser was affected by this spread news, and its stock price fell instantly, falling by four dollars that day.
Henry was also the first to get the specific content of Apple's press conference.
Henry sat in the office, propped his face on the table with his hands, frowned slightly, Apple actually teamed up with AOL, which is really tricky. However, it makes sense to think that Sequoia Capital is the investor of the two companies.
Microsoft hasn't intervened in the browser, but Apple jumped out!
Apple has already sunk, and it is far behind Microsoft. Henry was afraid of Microsoft, but not Apple.
The Microsoft operating system ruled the world in 1995, and no one could use it. At that time, it dared to enter the browser. Apple ceo Scully deserves to be the worst ceo, think that Apple or Jobs era, the personal computer market share occupy the first?
After the lion of IBM woke up, Apple CEO Jobs was dead. Now that compatible computers are the mainstream, how can Apple computers compare?
AOL has made a move, and Henry can't be idle either. Since they can find Apple as a helper. Don't you know how to find someone?
Henry sent a team to start lobbying Microsoft, IBM, HP, Compaq. And Henry himself was going to visit Dell in person! Dell was founded in 1984, and it has only been developed for more than three years. Now it is far incomparable with big companies such as IBM and Hewlett-Packard, but Henry knew that Dell would be very powerful in the future. In 1988, that year, Dell was preparing to go public. If the Nicholas Group can take a stake in Dell to form a strategic alliance, it will be beneficial to both parties!
Thinking of this, Henry called Michael Dale and asked him to meet! When Michael Dell learned that it was the chairman of the Nicholas Group who was going to meet him, he immediately agreed and said that he would take the initiative to rush to San Jose to meet Henry!
Different status is just different!
It's like Ma Yun suddenly called you and said that he wanted to see you, but you still ran away without excitement?
Although Dell has developed well, it is far worse than Nicholas Group. It is impossible for Dell to produce computers without knowing the existence of the Nicholas Group. Its Netscape browser alone has a market value of 3.98 billion US dollars!
Three days later, Michael Dell arrived at the Nicholas Group headquarters.
Michael Dell is a young guy, 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 weird to see me?"
"No... I just didn't expect Mr. Williams to be so young. For a while, I was surprised!" Michael Dell said.
"Hehe, you are quite young too" Henry smiled, and then invited him to the office to sit down. After Helen served Dale coffee, Henry said straightforwardly, "You must be curious, why should I see you? Actually... I'll just put it straight. If the Nicholas Group wants to buy a stake in Dell, I don't know if you welcome it?"
When Michael Dell heard this, his expression moved, and he was silent for a while, and then asked, "You want to have a controlling stake? Or?"
"What if the Nicholas Group requires holdings?"
"Then it will be hard for your life...Dell will never give up the controlling rights!!" Michael Dell insisted.
Henry laughed at this time. Sure enough, Michael Dell was very ambitious and possessive. It is no wonder that Dell will be privatized in the future! Think about Dell's privatization, he actually held 75% of Dell's shares, which is too much for a large company with a market value of tens of hundreds of billions! ! !
However, Henry's stake in Dell is only a temporary response to the joint efforts of Apple and AOL. Henry's future goal is still Apple. Apple has both "soft and hard" skills, talents and patents. The reason why Henry fancyed Apple was based on these two points!
"Hehe, in that case, how about 20%?! Nicholas Group's shareholding in Dell is just an investment! If we sell shares in the future, we can authorize you to have the right to repurchase preferred shares!"
As soon as Michael Dell heard this, his complexion eased and he pondered for a while, and then responded: "Yes. How much do you plan to invest? Although Dell has only been established for more than three years, it has developed extremely fast! So, if you open a business The conditions are too harsh, and I will not agree to it either!"
"Hehe, of course. However, as far as we know, although Dell's sales last year exceeded 100 million U.S. dollars, its profitability was relatively low, only 20 million U.S. dollars! Therefore, we valued Dell's total market value at 250 million U.S. dollars. US dollars!"
Dell sells assembled machines. Compared with brand-name machines, the price is much cheaper and the profit is much lower. But with small profits but quick turnover, Dell's performance has improved by leaps and bounds, and the company has developed rapidly. When the company becomes famous, the assembly machine is sold, and it becomes a brand machine. The computer of a giant computer company, dare you say it is an assembly machine?
Michael Dell was dissatisfied when he heard this estimate. He frowned and said: "250 million US dollars is too little. Dell will have more sales this year, and its profits will be higher than last year!"
"Then 300 million US dollars! Do you think that if Nicholas Group takes a stake in Dell, it will definitely push Dell to a peak. With our publicity and promotion, Dell will grow several times faster than it is now. !!!"
Michael Dell thought for a while, and finally nodded and said: "Well, I agree with this estimate!"
Henry smiled at this time: "Are you interested in browsers?"
"You mean Netscape browser?"
"That's right." Henry said, "The Nicholas Group intends to give up 1.5% of Netscape browser shares and exchange shares with you. What do you think?"
Michael Dell frowned and had to think about whether it is better to take cash or take the shares of Netscape browser! In Dell's view, the stock price of Netscape Browser is very volatile, and it 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 below 4 billion. Maybe it will fall in the future!
Jingle Bell…
At this time, the phone rang. UU Reading www.uukanshu.com Henry said sorry to Dell, and then connected the phone.
"The chairman, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Compaq all agreed to install our Netscape browser, and refused to install the AL browser!! You can now turn on the TV to watch CBS news and watch the joint statement of the 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 switched to cbs news.
Reporter: "Welcome everyone to watch CBS News. Although Apple and AOL will soon release AL browsers, three computer companies, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Compaq have successively issued statements that they will continue to use Netscape browsers! Thank you for watching this program... "
After Dale finished reading it, he became excited and couldn't help turning his head to look at Henry. He smiled and said, "Mr. Williams, your company is really amazing! I agree to exchange shares!"
"Hehe, nowhere!" Henry couldn't help but smiled triumphantly.
IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq continue to support the Netscape browser, Henry is not surprised. First of all, Netscape has already occupied the market, and it is very popular among netizens. If you don't install this on your computer, which one? AOL and Apple's AL browser? Oh, the ghost shadow hasn't appeared yet...Furthermore, Apple also sells computers. Everyone does not gather to attack it, so do you want to fatten it? ? ?