Just the day after Wall Street reported that Apple was valued at $200 billion, an executive director of Goldman Sachs Group suddenly called Li Zetian's home.
Li Zetian answered the phone and chatted with him.
"Mr. Li, how high is Apple's valuation now, have you ever thought about listing Apple on Nasdaq!" the executive director asked tentatively.
Li Zetian laughed.
The other party called because he thought that if Apple went public, Goldman Sachs could be the lead underwriter.
However, Li Zetian did not want Apple to go public.
What do most companies go public for, not primarily to raise money
But does Apple need it
No need!
Since Li Zetian re-entered the Apple company, he immediately reversed the profit and loss, and has been profitable for many years, accumulating a lot of wealth.
In addition, with Apple's ability to make money, it is better not to go public. Li Zetian can get huge dividends every year without having to give it to other shareholders.
"Sorry, Apple has no plans to go public for the time being!!" Li Zetian decisively refused.
The executive director of Goldman Sachs Group sighed slightly, as if he had already guessed that this would be the case, so he did not force it, and ended the conversation with a simple chat.
In the next few days, people contacted Li Zetian one after another, still asking if Apple wanted to go public, but Li Zetian refused.
Investors on Wall Street saw that Li Zetian's attitude was so firm, so they did not continue to persuade him.
…
On the afternoon of August 11, Alan Shugart, CEO of Seagate Technology, suddenly called, and the content of the call surprised Li Zetian slightly.
"Mr. Li, there is a company in China that released a VCD one step ahead of us." Alan Shugart said with a wry smile, a small company released a VCD in front of Seagate Technology, no doubt it hit Seagate Technology. Face.
Li Zetian was moved and asked, "What is the name of this company?"
"The name is Wanyan Company," Alan Shugart thought for a moment, then added, "The founder of the company is Jiang Wanmeng!"
really! ! !
"Simply talk about the situation over there." Li Zetian said lightly.
"Okay, Mr. Li." Alan Shugart replied, and then briefly introduced Wanyan Company.
It turned out that Jiang Wanmeng saw the development potential of VCD as early as 1992, and then cooperated with c-cude company to let them design the decoding chip, and the movement was purchased from Sony. developed.
In the end, Alan Shugart couldn't help but admire: "Mr. Li, you are right! VCD may not be very popular in Europe and America, but it is really very popular in China!!! Wanyan's 1000 As soon as the table looks on the market, it is sold out immediately!!!”
Alan Shugart was a little excited. China has a population of more than one billion. How big is this market
Hearing this, Li Zetian couldn't help but draw a sarcastic smile on the corner of his mouth.
As soon as it was launched, it sold out immediately
Hmph, I'm afraid they've all been bought back, dismantled and counterfeited! Frankly speaking, the VCD player basically has no technical content. The real technology is the decoding chip and the movement. With these two, anyone can make a VCD. However, Wan Yan Company does not have either of these two companies.
The VCD, which was developed so hard, ended up being a wedding dress for others. How sad.
In fact, Wanyan Company is not completely without opportunities. This opportunity is the patent of the whole machine, which is enough to curb the development of other competitors. Wanyan Company even had a chance to obtain the patent of the decoding chip, because Wanyan Company invested and let c-cude Company develop the VCD decoding chip. If the big funder of the fund asks to share the patent, the c-cude company may still agree. There are VCRs and DVDs in the European and American markets, but VCDs have no soil for development at all. The c-cude company will not pay so much attention to the patent of the decoding chip.
After Li Zetian hung up the phone, he shook his head, Wan Yan company did not pay attention to patents, but was finally applied by a foreign company, and then used it to ask Chinese VCD companies for patent fees, which is really depressing!
…
China.
Wan Yan Company.
"Haha, I didn't expect our company's products to be so popular, they sold out as soon as they went on the market!" Jiang Wanmeng was overjoyed and said to the employees, "Let the factory step up production, and I will treat you tonight to celebrate Wanmeng. Yan VCD is a big sale!!!”
"Yeah!! Eat a big meal!!"
"Haha, Wanyan VCD is on fire, we are going to develop!"
"… "
Jiang Wanmeng said with a smile: "Haha, in order to develop and promote VCD, everyone has been working very hard recently, and by the end of the year, we will give each of you a big red envelope!"
"Mr. Jiang, how much is the red envelope?!"
"Hehe, we, President Jiang, are definitely not less!"
Jiang Wanmeng said with a smile: "Hehe, don't worry, as long as the company makes money, it will never lose you!"
…
China, Sony branch.
"Wan Yan VCD is really good, it's so popular in China!" A short middle-aged man looked at the VCD in front of him and said in surprise.
"President, this VCD has no technical content at all, but it is very popular in China. We at Sony can't let go of this market!" suggested a 25-year-old man.
The short middle-aged man nodded when he heard the words: "Well, you are right. VCDs still have a great market in China! Immediately call the headquarters to develop Sony VCDs!"
"Hi!!!"
…
At this moment, the employees of Wanyan Company are still holding a celebration banquet, but they don't know that the crisis has come.
Powerful companies such as Sony and Philips are also preparing to enter this market.
Two days later, Sony got a piece of news from Wanyan Company that Wanyan Company did not apply for any patent! ! !
"Uh... Is Wanyan an idiot who didn't even apply for a patent??" The president of Sony China Branch was stunned.
"President, this is absolutely true. The Chinese don't pay attention to patents in the first place, so I sent someone to investigate, and it was as I suspected."
"Haha, it's great, the Chinese are so stupid! Quick! We will apply for a patent for the VCD machine right away!!"
"Um!"
…
Wan Yan Company.
"Mr. Jiang, it's not good. Most of the users who bought our VCD are enterprises. They bought it back and disassembled it, and they copied it one after another. Thirty Chinese businessmen are ready to discuss cooperation with them. In addition, major international companies such as Sony and Philips also seem to be preparing to develop VCDs!!" Wan Yan, the vice president of the company, said anxiously.
Jiang Wanmeng was dumbfounded, sweating coldly.
My God, so many companies have entered VCD, even Sony and Philips, what should Wanyan do
"Mr. Jiang, many Sony employees laughed at us, saying that we didn't apply for a patent and that we were extremely stupid. As a result, anyone could come and get a piece of the pie." The vice president sighed with an ugly face.
Jiang Wanmeng was a little stunned. He originally thought that in China, a country where piracy is rampant, the patent for the whole machine is useless, and applying for a patent costs money. .
…
Seagate Technologies, Inc., CEO's Office.
"Mr. Li, are we going to release the Seagate VCD right now?" Alan Shugart asked. Seagate Technology Company is different from Wanyan Company, the decoding chip and movement are independently developed, and do not have to rely on c-cude and Sony.
"Prepare first, but you don't have to release it right away." Li Zetian's mouth rose, showing a strange smile, and said: "The current Chinese VCD market can be said to be a dance of demons, Sony, Philips and other companies are a bit embarrassed, so they simply let them do it again. Be a little shy, and then we will go out and attack their arrogance!!!"
"Hehe, okay, Mr. Li!" Alan Shugart nodded and smiled knowingly.
…
c-cude has a decoding chip, and Sony has a movement.
In just two weeks, several brands of VCDs have appeared on the market in China.
Even Sony soon launched the "Sony VCD".
The president of Sony Branch told reporters proudly at the VCD product launch conference: "Sony VCD uses more advanced technology than other VCDs, and is the best VCD product at present. We at Sony are very confident to make Sony VCD all over China. The biggest VCD brand!!!"
Li Zetian always pays attention to the news of Sony. After seeing the Sony conference, he pouted and called Alan Shugart immediately.
"Alan Shugart, launch Seagate VCD now! At the same time, sue Sony, sue him for illegally using Seagate's VCD patent, and ban Sony VCD from selling worldwide!!!"
"Okay!" Alan Shugart replied with a smile, he knew that Li Zetian was waiting for Sony to launch VCD, and then get it.
Immediately an order was passed to Seagate China Branch.
In the morning, Seagate China branch held a product launch conference and released Seagate VCD products.
In addition, he solemnly announced at the press conference that he would sue Sony for patent infringement!
Sony Corporation is a large international company with a strong focus on reputation.
As soon as the news came out, it immediately shocked China, and it didn't take long for the news to spread all over the world.
"The patent for the VCD machine is actually owned by Seagate Technology. It's awesome, it's well done, but I can't stand the small RB Sony!"
"Ugh, it's a fucking tragedy for Sony, just released Sony VCD, and in a blink of an eye, they were sued!"
"Hehe, what else did the president of Sony say, he is very confident in making Sony VCD the largest VCD brand in China, now, Seagate Technology has banned it from selling it in China, which is really pleasing!"
"Sony still wants to make money from the Chinese, but there's no way! We all support Seagate. This company is owned by Chronos Li. Although he has no Chinese nationality, he is Chinese. He invests in China and does charity to help China. Develop the economy! The Hope Primary School in my hometown is also invested and built by him!"
The Chinese hate RB a little bit, and even the RB company.
Every penny earned by RB in China may be turned into a weapon against China.
During World War II, some large RB companies were basically related to the military.
Between Sony and Li Zetian, the Chinese naturally choose to support Li Zetian.
As soon as the news of Seagate's lawsuit against Sony came out, there was a lot of support, and it was almost time to set off firecrackers to celebrate.
At this moment, there is a cloud of haze over Sony's head.
The president of Sony China branch threw a document to the ground angrily and cursed: "Although Wanyan is the first company to launch VCD, it seems that Seagate Technology has been developing VCD for a long time. , and also applied for a patent. Seagate Technology Co., Ltd. will not announce it sooner or later, but when we released Sony VCD, they said that the patent for the whole VCD machine belongs to them, and it is clear that they are going to deal with us!!!”
"President, don't be angry! As you know, Chronos Li has always been at odds with Sony, and it is reasonable to target us this time," the secretary said.
"I'm just angry. Now we have produced so many Sony VCDs that we can't sell them anymore. The loss is huge! The RB head office must be very dissatisfied with us!" To get the patent authorization of the whole machine!!!”
"Yeah." The secretary nodded and replied, knowing that this was a chore.
…
At this time, Wanyan Company.
Jiang Wanmeng and others watched Seagate Technology's VCD product launch in front of the TV, and everyone looked bitter and helpless.
"Mr. Jiang... What's the matter with you?" a female employee shouted.
Jiang Wanmeng's face was very ugly, even a little desperate. He heard someone calling him, he glanced at her, forced a smile, and said, "It's nothing, just a little tired recently."
Not to mention that Sony and Seagate have launched VCDs, and other workshops have also launched VCDs.
Wanyan's VCD sales plummeted and declined rapidly.
The miscellaneous brand VCD launched by the small workshop is much cheaper than the Wanyan VCD, and has a great advantage in price. And Seagate VCD and Sony are big foreign brands. Chinese people worship foreign countries and like to buy foreign products.
The position of Wan Yan's VCD was awkward, and Jiang Wanmeng's previous ambitions were instantly crushed by reality.
All the people in the company lamented and were apprehensive.
The red envelope is gone!
The bonus is gone!
The company is doomed!
Are you going to be unemployed
Jiang Wanmeng looked at the employees with low morale and said, "It's all my fault. If I applied for a patent for the whole VCD machine, maybe Wanyan Company would not be like this."
"Yes, Mr. Jiang, how can you save money in this area, what a good patent! Look how miserable Seagate has done to Sony!"
"Oh, look, Seagate's spokesperson predicted at the press conference that VCD sales in China will be a huge number, at least 10 million, or even more. Oh my god, if you charge per unit 10 yuan patent fee, you can earn 100 million yuan a year!!!”
As soon as this sentence was finished, the surroundings were silent!
100 million RMB?
Everyone present couldn't help but be shocked by this number!
You can earn 100 million RMB without doing anything, just sit and count!
"Unfortunately, the 100 million yuan does not belong to our Wanyan company now..." an employee sighed.
Everyone looked at Jiang Wanmeng with resentment.
Jiang Wanmeng also felt guilty, lowered his head and stopped talking.
Wanyan Company is a collective company, not Jiang Wanmeng's private company.
At this time, a leader sitting in the front row suddenly stood up and said coldly, very ruthless: "Jiang Wanmeng, I am very disappointed in you! Resign, starting today, you are no longer Wanyan Company. General Manager."