"It's still a difference in the company's development philosophy," Eric replied: "I hope that AOL can stick to its corporate positioning as an Internet service provider, but Steve hopes that AOL can become a comprehensive Internet media company."
"As far as I know," judith miller looked down at the notebook and said, "as the largest shareholder of aol at the beginning, firefly investment's shareholding in aol was as high as 32.6%, and all of them were Common stock with voting rights. Firefly has enough strength to oust Steve Case, why did you not insist on doing so, just because of the collective resignation threat of Steve Case and AOL core management?"
Eric nodded and said, "Basically, that's it."
"So," Judith Miller looked at Eric, and the question became sharp again: "Don't you think you were too weak in dealing with this matter?"
Eric shook his head in a flat tone and said: "This has nothing to do with being strong or weak. It is the most stupid thing to be impulsive in the process of business operation. I think I have made the choice that is most beneficial to me. Firefly Investment initially invested 60 million U.S. dollars. Gained 30% of aol, sold 25% of it six years later, and we got back $10 billion. A 200-fold return, even for yahoo, was nowhere near that. "
Although he had paid attention to the whole process of Firefly's investment in AOL's stock transfer, Judith Miller still felt amazed when he heard the comparison of this set of data from Eric.
However, this emotion did not affect the next question, and she glanced at her watch without any trace, and she quickly said: "Mr. Williams, America Online is entering the Internet media industry with the advantage of the largest Internet service provider in North America, you Is there any concern that this will threaten Yahoo's market position?"
Eric shook his head and said, "Actually, I'm more worried about AOL."
This answer was obviously far beyond Judith Miller's expectations. She froze for a moment before asking, "Why?"
Although he has cashed out 10 billion US dollars, he still holds a large number of AOL shares in his hands. It is naturally impossible for Eric to analyze the reasons too thoroughly and affect AOL's stock price. He just said in general: "Because AOL is turning to something that it is not good at Field. My personal investment philosophy is to let the right people do the right things, and a series of fast-growing companies under Firefly Investment over the years have also proved the correctness of my persistence.”
Compared with Eric's answers to a series of questions just now, Judith Miller keenly felt Eric's reservations about this question, and she asked: "So, you are not optimistic about the future of America Online? "
Eric shook his head slightly: "It doesn't matter whether you are optimistic or not, because I can't see the future of AOL."
"Does this mean that Firefly will continue to reduce its holdings of 7.6% of AOL stocks in the future?"
Eric hesitated for a moment and said: "In order to avoid unnecessary disputes in the future, I must clarify that the entire firefly system currently holds 10.7% of aol's shares. In addition to firefly investment, we have a Years ago, another 3.1% of AOL shares were absorbed successively through the Clover Fund under the Firefly Group. However, according to the federal securities law, the shareholding ratio is less than 5%, and the relevant shareholders do not need the shares held by the opponent Shares will be disclosed and reported. The purpose of our doing this was to strengthen the control of AOL at the right time. Of course, it is no longer necessary. Finally, regarding your question just now, my answer is yes, However, the Firefly system will not do this in the short term.”
Judith Miller recalled the data she had seen, with a look of obvious surprise on her face. She believed that after the release of this interview, AOL would be even more surprised.
According to the shareholding ratio of 7.6%, originally Firefly should have been America Online's seventh largest shareholder. Moreover, during the last equity transfer transaction, other shareholders of aol will definitely impose various restrictions on the remaining 7.6% of firefly investment's shareholding. one of the conditions.
However, if the other 3.1% of freely held shares that are not restricted by AOL are included, the entire Firefly system will once again become one of the top five shareholders of AOL. Moreover, as long as it is willing, the Firefly system still has enough power to intervene in the management of AOL at any time.
After digesting the information just received, Judith Miller quickly said again: "Mr. Williams, according to your statement, can I think that you are still very optimistic about the Internet service provider business?"
"Of course, this is the cornerstone of the development of the entire Internet industry. When people use the Internet, they may be interested in portal websites, e-commerce, or instant messaging, but the first thing they need to do is to Connect to the Internet first."
"Microsoft's MSN has already begun to expand its business in this area, so does Yahoo have the same plan in the future?"
"This goes back to my investment philosophy just now. I will not let Ian and the others do things that they are not good at. Yahoo will always focus on the Internet media business. Of course, at the right time, Firefly Investment will do so. Like it used to be in AOL."
Judith Miller pressed: "When is the appropriate time for you to say?"
Eric shook his head solemnly: "We have no plans for this yet, because this time, we will be more cautious."
Judith Miller didn't see any flaws in Eric's expression, so he turned the topic to Yahoo itself again: "Mr. Williams, Yahoo is currently involved in almost all Internet business models that have appeared, portals, instant messaging, etc. , email, search engines, social blogs, etc., which aspect of your business are you most optimistic about?"
Eric's expression was more serious, his tone was firm, and he said: "Of course it is a portal website. Users accessing the Internet is just equivalent to building a road to this virtual world, but if you want to enjoy the cyberspace, you cannot do without The help of portals. Moreover, in my opinion, a series of network services such as e-mail, search engines, and social blogs are just supplements and continuations of portals, and they are actually integrated.”
Judith Miller nodded slightly, but immediately said: "However, Mr. Williams, it is not difficult for us to find that the operation mode of the portal website is very easy to replicate. What do you think about this issue?"
With a confident smile on his face, Eric said: "Many outstanding engineers are capable of assembling a propeller plane in their garage, but the Federation only has one Boeing Group."
This simple but convincing analogy obviously made Judith Miller agree very much. She glanced at her watch again and found that she didn't have much time, so she glanced at the notepad in her hand and began to speed up her questioning. .
During the smooth conversation, the study door was suddenly knocked a few times. Mayer pushed the door open and said softly, "Mr. Williams, it's almost time."
After that night in London, the female assistant started to take the route of the iceberg girl. Eric always wondered whether a group of goblins did something that night that made Mayer doubt his life, but he couldn't ask too much.
Hearing the reminder, Eric got up and held out his hand to Judith Miller: "Well, Ms. Miller, it's nice to see you again."
Although a little unfinished, Judith Miller had no choice but to stand up and shake hands with Eric, saying: "Me too, Mr. Williams, I look forward to our next opportunity to meet."
…
Throughout the weekend, major media in North America and overseas were crazy about the miracle of Yahoo's IPO, and at the same time, heatedly discussed the trend of Yahoo's stock price next week. Almost all media and industry analysts believe that after experiencing the peak of the first day, Yahoo's stock price will fall sharply in the new week.
Although Yahoo's management has done a lot of work over the weekend, it even announced some good news that has not been fully implemented in advance. However, even within the Firefly system, they are also psychologically prepared to meet the new week of Yahoo's stock price decline.
However, on Monday, when some stock managers who hadn't had time to pay attention to the media trends in the new week sat in front of their computers, anxiously considering whether to sell their Yahoo stocks and other technology stocks next, at 9:30 , the stock market opened, but the trend of Yahoo's stock did not appear to be the situation they imagined, but began to rise strangely.
In just ten minutes , yahoo 's share price rose more than 3 percent to $ 74.73 , from Friday's closing price of $ 72.56
It is not difficult to imagine that if this rate of increase continues, Yahoo's market value may exceed $100 billion in just one day.
These kept in the dark stockbrokers sat in front of the computer for a while, woke up one after another, and began to frantically search for what happened
So, when they turn on the TV, or log on to the portal, they find that the screen is full of discussions around a name that everyone is all too familiar with.
Two economists on CNN argue over Eric Williams' optimism about the dot-com bubble.
The front page of the Yahoo portal is hung high with commentary on whether the federal government should relax restrictions on the size of new technology companies.
The morning news on ABC TV broadcasts a special picture discussing the globalization of the Internet.
AOL CEO Steve Case spoke irritably in a phone interview to refute Eric Williams' comments about AOL in an interview with The New York Times.
A spokesman for the federal Department of Justice struggled with media quoting Eric Williams on whether the Department of Justice was being too hard on Microsoft.
And, most importantly.
Eric Williams' exciting statement in the "New York Times" interview was quoted countless times by various media in just a few hours: "In a huge user base with 1 billion best quality users, In the market, what else is impossible?"
In just one sentence, countless investors who have been full of worries and doubts about Internet technology stocks have once again boosted their confidence.
Since the rapid development of human society, almost all traditional industries have formed a very stable industrial structure, and the countless surplus wealth of the entire society is always looking for new investment hotspots.
At this time, suddenly a young man who created a series of wealth miracles stood up and told everyone loudly: a huge market with billions or even billions of consumer groups that needs to be developed is in front of us. Capital is boiling with enthusiasm.
Spurred by a New York Times interview with Eric Williams and the ensuing media storm, the Nasdaq rose another 35 percent throughout the day Monday.
However, this is just the beginning.
In the next few days, the media discussions surrounding Eric's personal interview did not cool down at all, but showed an intensified trend, and even spread into a global hot topic.
A series of topics such as the Internet bubble, the regulation of new technology companies, Microsoft, America Online, and portal websites that Eric covered in the exclusive interview have become the focus of heated debates in the media.
Although I am very dissatisfied with Eric's words about "Bill that arrogant guy" and the "New York Times" actually published this sentence truthfully, but has been under the shadow of the federal Department of Justice's antitrust investigation for several years. However, Microsoft decisively quoted Eric's point of view in the interview to launch a counterattack, claiming that the federal government is strangling a "global corporate giant" and harming the "fundamental interests" of the federation.
In the face of Microsoft's accusations and the media controversy driven by this trend, Attorney General Janet Reynolds had to hold a press conference to explain in detail the specific reasons why the Justice Department launched an antitrust investigation against Microsoft.
At the same time, Janet Reynolds also reciprocated in the same way. Based on Eric's remarks in the interview, she asked Microsoft to abandon the extremely selfish and closed market strategy and make more openness that is conducive to the healthy development of the entire industry. move.
Clinton, who is still troubled by the impeachment case, was asked about the interview with the New York Times at the White House press conference that week, and he also made a series of comments in a serious way. , Microsoft is wrong, the White House will unswervingly support the new technology industry', blah blah blah.
At the same time, when yahoo's share price officially reached 79.68 dollars on the third trading day of the thanksgiving week, and its market value broke through the 100 billion mark, aOL's management and major shareholders were saying to Eric, "I can't see aol the future' and the chickens fly.
Although driven by the overall market trend, AOL's stock price did not fall sharply again. Faced with the continuous fluctuation of AOL's stock price, Morgan Stanley President John Mark, who holds a large number of AOL's shares, had to call AOL in person. Rick, I hope he can come forward to make some 'supplements' to the remarks against AOL in the New York Times interview. After all, Firefly also holds 10.7% of America Online. AOL stock price fell, Firefly system will also suffer heavy losses.
Overseas, being reminded by Eric’s exclusive interview article, the media in many European and Asian countries also began to follow up. At the same time as the heated discussions, countless overseas media began to strongly call on the government to strengthen support for new technology companies in their country, and Limit the invasion of North American Internet giants.
Amid all the turmoil, the matter developed to the end. Every paragraph and every sentence Eric said in the interview became the target of many people's entanglement.
I don’t know if he was entrusted by a certain guy. Craig Barrett, the newly appointed president and CEO of Intel, specifically stated in an interview with CNN that Damen is very approachable in private, with a hearty personality and likes to joke. Absolutely Not the pompous guy Eric Williams claims he is.
However, it was fine if Craig Barrett didn't explain, but this explanation had the opposite effect. For some reason, 'Conceited Bill' quickly became a ridicule for Damen students in many media. This nickname eventually accompanied Damen students for many years and did not completely dissipate.
Even, somewhat inexplicably, several major airlines in North America also got involved for some unknown reason.
In an interview, the president of Lockheed Martin said very bitterly: The Federation not only has Boeing, but also Lockheed Martin.
An overlooked helicopter company also makes its presence felt weakly in the corner: Eric Williams' favorite VH-60 helicopter, we built it.
Over the years, although the accumulation of wealth has become larger and larger, Eric has become more and more low-key to the public.
Most people's personal impressions of Eric are big directors, super rich and gossip, but not many people have a deep and intuitive impression of Eric's wealth and power.
But in this short week, with the world-class media discussion caused by Eric Williams' exclusive interview with the "New York Times", countless people finally felt Eric Williams' unknowingly accumulated over the years. terror social influence.
Just an exclusive interview article, the multi-trillion dollar Nasdaq stock market rose accordingly, mainstream media around the world started to discuss it, the federal government was struggling to respond, countless corporate giants responded and followed up, and the new technology field was changing.
This young man who reached the top of the world's wealth at only 28 years old is like a giant dragon accustomed to keeping calm. When the other party flaps its wings casually, the whole world begins to turmoil.