Chapter 254: Continue to attack! Too miserable!
Mr. Cai couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Lin, how much do you plan to invest?"
Lin Xiao: “About $100 million.”
Both bosses were shocked. How could such a huge investment be made?
Although Alibaba has only just started up, both companies are still companies of the same level.
Mr. Cai: "Mr. Lin, I don't mean to question you, but from what I know, although your company's cash flow is very good, it is also short of money, although not that much."
Alibaba is now developing explosively, with annual growth not of several tens of percent but of several hundred percent.
So, I'm almost going crazy because of the lack of money.
Moreover, it happens to be the golden period of development. It would be a pity if we missed it.
Lin Xiao: "Yes, I am also short of money. I need money in all aspects. So I plan to sell my property for money, sell a cash cow."
The two bosses were stunned. They were not used to such a frank way of communication.
But there is no doubt that Alibaba now needs Lightning Group more than the other way around.
Renren has encountered a huge change. Now Lightning Group controls a huge traffic entrance, not only online media, but also traditional media.
Mr. Cai: "Can I ask, is this move of yours related to the recent changes in Renren Group?"
Lin Xiao: “Yes.”
Suddenly, the two BOSSes looked at each other.
"It's amazing!" Mr. Cai couldn't help but say.
Lin Xiao: "If you are willing, I am willing to act as a matchmaker again to help Alibaba complete this transaction. Of course, I know that your company has been communicating with Yahoo Group and has a very close relationship with Mr. Masayoshi Son, so you don't really need my help."
President Cai: "No, no, no. If President Lin is willing to join this game, it will be very, very beneficial to us."
At least this largest investment can add one more investor and disperse power.
Historically, for this investment, Mr. Cai went to the United States countless times and met with Yang Zhiyuan countless times.
Mr. Cai and Mr. Ma were already very familiar with the relevant data, and could immediately judge that the benefits of this transaction far outweighed the disadvantages.
President Cai: "I will prepare the relevant materials and the relevant team. Whenever President Lin is convenient, we will go to meet with Mr. Yang of Yahoo and Mr. Masayoshi Son of Softbank. By the way, aren't they leaving soon?"
Lin Xiao: "I think he will be kept here for a while, but it doesn't matter if he leaves. We can just go to America to talk."
Mr. Ma: "We are ready here and are waiting to go with you at any time."
Lin Xiao: "Okay, goodbye then!"
He picked up the teacup on the table and drank it all.
Next, he did not return to Shanghai, but went directly to Xiaoshan Airport and flew directly to Hong Kong.
When the plane landed, Lucas was already waiting outside and the car was ready.
However, when the two met, there was still a little awkwardness.
After leaving the airport, I went straight to Yingke to meet the little giant Li Zekai without even having dinner.
"Although Yingke's investment in Renren Group was not very high, he was still very angry when this happened and fully supported Liao Feng's revenge on Wu Lingxi." Lucas said, "And because of my job change, he has a very bad impression of you."
Lucas not only changed jobs, but also took away a very mature team. And since he left, the Itchy Nets have really gone from bad to worse, struggling to hold on, and began to constantly test the bottom line.
Lin Xiao: "If it weren't for you, he probably wouldn't want to see me?"
Lucas: "No, he is a businessman. He knows that at this critical moment, if you ask for a meeting, it must be something important. It's business."
…………………………
More than an hour later, Lin Xiao appeared at Yingke headquarters and met this little superman.
His father is Li Chaoren, and he is Little Superman.
At present, it is still very legendary. It is said that he has earned as much money as his father earned in decades in just a few years.
His current net worth is about 10 billion Hong Kong dollars, and the assets he indirectly controls exceed 10 billion US dollars. In 2001, he sold his Tencent shares to South Africa's MIH Group for 12.6 million US dollars. The latter part of the shares is worth hundreds of billions of RMB.
This case was talked about over and over again more than ten years later, and people ridiculed him.
But now, he is still full of mythical aura.
This year, the revenue of TOM Group under his command will exceed 3 billion, and TOM Online was listed on NASDAQ last year. The current market value of the entire TOM Group is around 15 billion Hong Kong dollars.
The fact that Superman chose to meet Lin Xiao in the office represented a kind of coldness to some extent.
Otherwise, even if it's not at home, you should find a more private place.
"Mr. Lin, what advice do you have?" Little Li Chaoren asked with a smile, without mentioning a word about the changes in Renren Group.
Lin Xiao: "Mr. Li, although this is an internal conflict within the Renren Group and has nothing to do with me, Miss Wu Lingxi is Xia Xi's biological sister after all, so I still want to protect her."
Little Li Chaoren laughed and said, "Mr. Lin, this is a bit strange. Why are you telling me this? What does this have to do with me? We are just shareholders of Renren Group."
Then he glanced at his watch briefly, which, although not in any way urgent, indicated that he did not have much time.
Lin Xiao: "I want to sell Lightning Group's mobile SP business."
Little Li Chaoren couldn't help but be stunned.
Does Lightning Group have mobile SP business? Then, he made a phone call: "Let Ray come over."
The ray here refers to Wang Leilei, the CEO of tom.com.
Not long after, Wang Leilei appeared in front of Little Li Superman's office.
"Mr. Lin, please make yourself at your service." said Superman Li.
When Wang Leilei saw Lin Xiao, he nodded slightly in greeting, but he was filled with emotion in his heart.
This is the first time we have met in several years. The last time we met was when we acquired Yangwang.
In the eyes of Mr. Wang at that time, Lin Xiao was just a small character who was lucky enough to build a website, catch the boom of mobile SP, and make a fortune.
Unexpectedly, in just a few years, he has grown into a local giant.
In another office, Little Li Chaoren asked, "Lightning Group, does it also have mobile SP business?"
Until now, mobile SP business is still one of the biggest sources of revenue for the Internet.
Currently, the main revenue of Tencent, Sohu, Sina, NetEase, and Tom still comes from mobile SP business.
Of course, 2005 was almost the last glorious year for the mobile SP business. Since last year, they have been vigorously cracking down on illegal charges, which was called a massacre by many websites.
Wang Leilei said: "Lightning Group is an invisible giant in the mobile SP business."
"Since last year, China Mobile has started to crack down on illegal charges, so it's getting harder and harder to make money in the normal way, except for Cailing's business. The Lightning Group owns the online copyrights of hundreds of songs, and more than half of the top 50 songs downloaded by Cailing belong to the Lightning Group. So it's making money without making any noise."
"Lightning Group has two major cash cows, Lightning Entertainment and Lightning SP business."
Little Li Chaoren said: "Lin Xiao just told me that he wants to sell the Lightning SP business to us."
Wang Leilei couldn't believe it: "Really? This... this is a golden egg, and you can make money without doing anything."
Little Li Chaoren: "He wants to protect Wu Lingxi."
Wang Leilei: "Because he forcibly went to protect Wu Lingxi, he completely angered the Liao family and all the shareholders of Renren Group. So when they wanted to divide and disintegrate, they thought of us first?"
Xiao Li Chaoren: "Do you think I should buy it?"
Wang Leilei: "This is almost the most valuable asset. With the reorganization of China Mobile, it has become increasingly difficult to make money from the mobile SP business, but the Cailing business is the only one that is still growing."
Portal websites like Sina and Sohu, after losing their mobile SP financial resources, can still rely on advertising and online games to actively transform themselves.
As for TOM.com, after the mobile SP went bankrupt, it almost went bankrupt as well.
Wang Leilei: "The most important thing is that once we purchase the SP business of Lightning Group, it will be a huge boost to our group's stock price."
A moment later, Little Li Chaoren came out and asked, "Mr. Lin, are you selling the entire mobile SP business?"
Lin Xiao said: "Yes, including the online copyright of these songs. Of course, I have to add that even if the online copyright of these songs is sold, Qianqian Jingting still needs to be permanently authorized."
Little Li Chaoren: "How much?"
Lin Xiao: “US$150 million!”
When these words were spoken, both Little Li Chaoren and Wang Leilei were shocked.
This price? Crazy? At its peak, the mobile SP business of your Lightning Group only made more than 300 million RMB a year.
Sina is currently the company that makes the most money from mobile business, with annual revenue of around US$130 million. TOM also makes a lot of money.
But Lightning Entertainment makes the easiest money.
Superman Li: "Mr. Lin, this price is absolutely impossible. This is equivalent to the total revenue of your entire business for four years, and this business will not last that long."
"We...are willing to pay 60 million US dollars!"
Next, the two sides continued to seesaw.
Superman Li finally offered $80 million and refused to give in anymore.
Lin Xiao said slowly: "Mr. Li, China Mobile is currently rectifying content suppliers very severely. Last year, Sina was even temporarily suspended from trading. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly difficult to make some marginal profits, and fraudulent money from mobile phone users is gradually being eliminated. The SMS game business, after quickly reaching its peak, has experienced a rapid decline. Only Cailing is thriving."
"The reason why I sold this business to you is entirely because I want to gain your friendship in this matter of Wu Lingxi."
"But this friendship cannot be priced too high."
"If it's too much, I won't have this friendship anymore."
Lin Xiao didn't say it clearly. Yingke's strength is indeed impressive in Hong Kong, but in the mainland, it is just so-so.
"Then I'll take my leave first. I'm really in a hurry." Lin Xiao said.
Next, Lin Xiao left Hong Kong directly and returned to Shanghai, where he announced to the public that he would sell Lightning Group's mobile SP business and welcomed all interested parties to come to negotiate.
All of a sudden, the Lightning Group’s phone was almost blown up.
Sina, NetEase, even Kongzhong, Miyazaki and others called to inquire about the price.
Because everyone knows that Lightning Entertainment controls the most profitable and valuable resources of Mobile SP.
The copyrights of more than dozens of popular online songs.
Moreover, the number of mobile phone users is increasing rapidly every year, and Cailing’s business is also booming.
Lin Xiao is willing to sell such a valuable asset?
What on earth happened to the Lightning Group?
Are you so short of money?
Next, many people got a vague answer.
In order to protect Wu Lingxi, the Lightning Group needs a large sum of money to form a joint alliance.
Seeing so many people coming out to compete, Yingke's Little Li Chaoren suddenly became anxious.
Everyone wants this high-quality asset, but TOM.com needs it the most because it is most dependent on mobile SP business.
His offer has been increasing.
90 million US dollars.
US$95 million.
100 million US dollars!
…………………………
Lian Zheng acted quickly, and soon the leader sent out invitations to Masayoshi Son and Zhiyuan Yang.
Faced with the invitation from this sequence character, the two of them of course went there with pleasure.
So, of course, it was on the TV news that evening.
The next day!
Lin Xiao and Alibaba’s CEO Ma and CEO Cai went to visit Masayoshi Son and Zhiyuan Yang.
The only difference is that this time the meeting place is on the shores of West Lake in Hangzhou.
Yang Zhiyuan was still angry.
"Mr. Lin, I think you are too clever." Yang Zhiyuan: "When you attacked Renren Group, didn't you consider our reputation?"
Lin Xiao: "Mr. Yang, although we have been trying to recruit Ms. Wu Lingxi, we were not prepared for her drastic actions."
“Because, this is not in our interest either.”
"If I could manipulate this, I would have her have a secret conversation with you and Mr. Son."
"Rather than letting her completely overturn everything at the critical moment."
Yang Zhiyuan: "In this incident, Renren Group suffered the most, and we will be the next. Because that dinner was held for the signing of a strategic agreement between us and Renren Group."
Lin Xiao: "But Mr. Yang, if Wu Lingxi hadn't stepped in to stop it, and your investment had really taken shape, that would have been a real loss, right? Although Wu Lingxi's method was quite drastic, in terms of the results, she saved Yahoo Group and SoftBank Group from potential huge losses."
"To make up for it, I would like to jointly invest in Alibaba Group with your company."
"I have a huge amount of traffic here, which can provide a huge boost to Alibaba's development."
"I don't know how much you can offer, but I can offer $100 million."
“So in the end, we saved a disastrous investment and replaced it with the best and most successful investment.”
………………………………
Next, Alibaba Group’s CEO Ma and CEO Cai went to have a secret talk with Yang Zhiyuan.
Lin Xiao’s main target is still Masayoshi Son.
"What do you want?" asked Masayoshi Son.
Lin Xiao: "I want Wu Lingxi to become the CEO of Facebook in the United States, or even the head of Facebook overseas except for East Asia."
“I also want SoftBank Group to invest in Facebook in the United States.”
"In addition, SoftBank Group and I jointly acquired Android."
Masayoshi Son remained silent.
In fact, in the cooperation with Renren Group, Yang Zhiyuan has always been the leading player, and Masayoshi Son rarely speaks.
After a long while, Masayoshi Son asked, "Let me ask you a question. Was this dramatic change in Renren Group manipulated by you?"
This question is difficult to answer.
Because, of course, the group that suffered the most from this turmoil is Renren Group.
However, the reputation of Masayoshi Son and Yang Zhiyuan also suffered a huge blow.
Yang Zhiyuan was furious and found it hard to forgive.
About half a minute later, Lin Xiao said slowly: "You can say that."
Although it is a slap in the face, Masayoshi Son is a purer capital giant and he only cooperates with the strong.
Masayoshi Son: “Then what can you give me?”
Lin Xiao thought for a while and said, "20% of Lightning Entertainment's shares!"
As soon as these words came out, Masayoshi Son sat up suddenly.
This is the real cash cow!
Lightning Entertainment holds the copyrights to so many movies and several super-popular variety shows, making it a cash cow.
Moreover, this kind of extremely high-quality asset is absolutely not for sale.
How many more years can Cai Ling earn money?
Nobody knows.
But Lightning Entertainment will continue to make money for a long, long time, and the money will continue to grow.
Lin Xiao said slowly, "Mr. Masayoshi Son, I only care about realizing my territory and my ideals. When it comes to money, I am very generous."
Masayoshi Son: “How much?”
Lin Xiao: “US$300 million.”
Masayoshi Son: “At this price, you will regret it.”
Because in history, Huayi’s market value once soared to around 100 billion yuan.
Lightning Entertainment is undoubtedly more powerful.
And with the explosion of the Chinese film market, if "Kung Fu Panda" achieves huge success, Lightning Entertainment's brand value and market value will soar further.
Before, no matter how earnestly Son Masayoshi and Yang Zhiyuan tried their best to get shares in the core assets of Lightning Group, Lin Xiao flatly refused at that time. But now he has given in.
Lin Xiao: "In exchange, I want to get some shares of ARM. It doesn't need to be too much, $100 million will be enough."
Masayoshi Son fell silent.
You, are you eyeing ARM again?
That’s right, Masayoshi Son is now a big player in the ARM Group.
This is a typical value exchange.
Lin Xiao gave up 20% of his shares in Lightning Entertainment, his most profitable company. What he wanted in exchange was not just money, but something more important in his eyes.
In the next decade or so, ARM will undoubtedly be one of the most important semiconductors in the world.
Almost all underlying designs of mobile chips come from ARM.
But now...it is far from being so popular.
In terms of market value alone, it is pretty good. But in terms of revenue, it is really a junior. In 2004, its total revenue was just over 300 million US dollars, and the revenue from the CPU alone was only about 100 million US dollars.
Even in the distant future, it is not actually very profitable.
But, it is really, really important.
In other words, you can still get your hands on its shares now, but in a few years, there will be almost no chance.
Masayoshi Son: "ARM's financial reports in recent years have not been good."
Lin Xiao: “I know.”
In 2005, ARM's total revenue was about 400 million US dollars, but until 2009, it remained almost the same number, without much growth.
Lin Xiao: "Let's do as we said before. We will set up an investment company. Whether it is the acquisition of Android or the acquisition of part of ARM's shares, it will all be under the name of this investment company."
Son Masayoshi asked, “Mr. Lin, are you planning too far ahead?”
Lin Xiao: "This is a crucial step that must be taken."
Masayoshi Son: "Give me a day and I'll get back to you."
Lin Xiao: “Of course!”
………………………………
After returning to the company, Lin Xiao had two options before him.
"Drawing Sword" has been filmed and edited.
CCTV showed great interest and offered a sky-high price of 1.1 million per episode to purchase the first broadcast rights.
Historically, CCTV only spent 650,000 yuan to buy the first broadcast rights. On the contrary, a few years ago, "Swordsman" spent 1 million yuan per episode.
But in this world, Lightning Entertainment has become a golden signboard, and "Drawing Sword" is not a small production, but a big production, and it is also Lightning Entertainment's opening drama of the year.
The success of last year's "Insidious" is still fresh in our memory.
Of course, selling the first broadcast rights of a TV series to CCTV will not make as much money as selling it to local satellite TV stations.
Because local satellite TV stations usually purchase and broadcast programs jointly by several TV stations.
But at this time, Lin Xiao was not considering money, but strategic deployment.
In order to expand the influence of Lightning Entertainment, "Drawing Sword" should undoubtedly be sold to CCTV. However, for the sake of loyalty, it should be sold to local satellite TV stations.
You should know that over the past period of time, the relationship between the five major TV stations and Lightning Group has become increasingly close. It is an absolute strategic cooperation, and they are almost willing to help each other.
The five major satellite TV stations also need blockbuster TV series like "Drawing Sword".
Especially second- and third-tier satellite TV stations like Jibei TV and Guangxi TV.
Lin Xiao: "Let's sell it to the five major TV stations. We should help each other."
Li Shuang: "I understand."
………………
The next day!
TOM Group and Lightning Group held a press conference.
TOM Group officially acquired the mobile SP business of Lightning Group for US$100 million.
The industry is in uproar!
Everyone was shocked. Lin Xiao, you really spent a lot of money to save Wu Lingxi.
In the eyes of many people, how can they bear to sell such a high-quality industry? It is a goose that lays golden eggs.
But in Lin Xiao's opinion, this is absolutely the best asset replacement.
Selling the mobile SP business in a package and turning it into Alibaba's shares, this deal is simply a lucrative one, right?
The effect was immediate and visible on the board of directors of Renren Group.
Representing Yingke’s shareholders, he raised questions directly at the meeting.
"At this time, we should do everything we can to preserve the value of Renren Group instead of seeking revenge. It would have been fine if we just took revenge on Wu Lingxi before, but do we have to go head-to-head with Lightning Group now?"
Suddenly, Liao Feng's face turned pale! Yingke, you really are a man of action.
You just completed a deal with Lightning Group, and now you're turning against me?
…………………………
Lin Xiao met with Miyazaki.
"Brother Gong, we have known each other for many years, so there is something I want to communicate with you frankly."
Miyazaki: “You tell me.”
Lin Xiao: "Wu Lingxi, I have secured her. The entire system behind you, don't even think about touching her. Moreover, I will appoint her as the president of Facebook Overseas."
Miyazaki: "Lin Xiao, you are really going too far."
“You should know that I am the major shareholder of Renren Group. How much money have I invested from the beginning to the end?”
"Sohu used chinaren to invest. Liao Feng and Wu Lingxi invested a lot of money, but most of their shares came from the social part of Lingxi Island. Only on my side, I have been investing real money. I have already invested hundreds of millions."
"This crazy woman Wu Lingxi caused my family to lose at least a billion!"
"Unless you make up for my family's losses like you did to Yingke."
"Lightning Games and Lightning Entertainment, these two pieces of cake, let me give my family a piece, any one of them will do, the price will definitely satisfy you."
Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes.
In everyone's opinion, he sold the core assets to Yingke's Li Zekai just to save Wu Lingxi.
Lin Xiao was also very happy to have everyone see it this way.
But even if I sell my shares in Lightning Entertainment to Masayoshi Son, it is to exchange for something I want more.
You? Why? As for Hong Kong investment, it’s enough for me to deal with Yingke alone.
"No!" Lin Xiao.
Miyazaki: "I'm very sorry, we will pursue Wu Lingxi to the end. If you, Lightning Group, want to keep Wu Lingxi, then we will point all our firepower at you. Yingke has withdrawn, but our system is still very strong."
"It's far from enough for you to make friends with the Yingke family."
"You want us to give in and swallow this bitter fruit, what's the reason?"
"What can I get in return?"
Lin Xiao: "Brother Gong, give up Renren Group. I will show you a better way to quickly double your family's assets."
Miyazaki: "You are not willing to give anything? Just a so-called advice? Are you underestimating me?"
"Lin Xiao, unless you are willing to sell Lightning Games or part of Lightning Entertainment's shares, there is no point in discussing this!"
"You want a truce, forget it!"
Lin Xiao said slowly: "Well, then, I came to talk to you. Originally, it was because of our friendship over the years, but now I am redundant."
"goodbye!"
"But I still want to tell you that anger is worthless."
………………………………
Almost that night, a flood of cheats appeared in Perfect World, and all of them came from the Internet.
Moreover, all of them are deadly plug-ins that can deal a fatal blow to the balance of the game.
The game project team immediately shut down the service, fixed the relevant vulnerabilities, and banned the accounts using cheats.
but……
The repairs were finally completed and the server was reopened the next day.
Just a few hours later! New hacks appeared, exploiting new vulnerabilities.
Moreover, this plug-in is more covert and more destructive.
Moreover, the spread is faster.
In the following period of time, the entire Renren Game began to fight fiercely against plug-ins.
However, this game was rushed and is a half-finished product with too many loopholes.
A situation where the good is always outweighed by the evil.
There is no way to finish it.
In just a few days, the game was shut down several times and tens of thousands of accounts were banned.
Renren Games called the police and pointed the finger directly at the Lightning Group.
but……
Through various means of investigation, it was finally discovered that the source of the plug-in had nothing to do with the Lightning Group, but was related to the core members of the game group who had been expelled before.
Moreover, the core members who make the plug-ins are all overseas.
In order to maintain its remaining market value, the entire Renren Group relies on two projects, "Perfect World" and "World of Warcraft".
Even the former, as soon as their popularity returns to its peak, will immediately switch to charging for props, even during the internal beta test.
But now…
With cheats rampant, the number of online game players cannot return to its peak, and the downward trend cannot be stopped at all.
From 250,000, it dropped to 200,000, 150,000, 120,000! It will soon drop below 100,000! At this rate, there is no point in charging for props. It won’t last until then.
……………………
Liao Feng summoned the core members of "Perfect World" and cursed at them.
"What do you all do for a living? You can't even beat a hacker?"
“As soon as one vulnerability is fixed, a new one appears.”
"How can you be so incompetent and take such a high salary?"
Li Qing said quietly, "Boss Liao, this game was rushed to begin with, and a half-finished product was released. It's inevitable that there are many loopholes. Now there is only one way to save this game."
Liao Feng: "Speak."
Li Qing: "Stop the service completely and let the game go back to the drawing board for repairs. We will restart the internal test after at least half a year."
Suddenly, Liao Feng looked at Li Qing in disbelief.
"Half a year later, it would have been completely forgotten!"
"I'll give you a week to completely fix the cheats, or you won't be able to hold this position."
…………………………
The next day!
Li Qing, along with the entire team, formally resigned to Liao Feng.
Renren Games is almost shut down! When Liao Feng heard the news, his face turned pale.
"Who are their next customers? Who is it?"
"Is it a lightning game?"
The assistant reported: "No, some of them went to NetEase and some went to Tencent."
Liao Feng: "Didn't we hire a lot of foreign aid teams? Let them take over."
Assistant: "They, can't do anything? Because this game was made by Li Qing's team from beginning to end, these foreign aid teams can find faults and mistakes. But... they can't do anything else."
Then...
The core foreign aid he invited, the vice president of Renren Games from Taiwan, rushed in.
"Mr. Liao..."
"The source code of "Perfect World" has been completely leaked."
"Private servers have appeared on the market!"
Another fatal critical hit! The game was already in turmoil, with cheats rampant and constant downtime for maintenance.
Now the emergence of private servers is like the last piece of steel that breaks the camel's back.
Then……
Liao Feng watched helplessly as the number of people online in the "Perfect World" game continued to drop, drop, and drop...
Just like that, it was originally a very successful and excellent game.
Because he is eager for quick success and because he puts capital first.
It is heading towards destruction at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Some of Renren Group’s most valuable assets were wiped out in just about half a month.
An investment of more than two or three hundred million yuan was wiped out.
…………………………
Note: Dear benefactors, if you still have monthly tickets in your pocket, please remember to vote for me! Thank you very much! (End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
