Before 1995, although Microsoft had already shown its dominant attitude in the operating system software market, its annual turnover was actually only more than 2 billion US dollars, and its main competitor, Apple, had an annual turnover of more than one billion US dollars. In comparison, Microsoft does not have an absolute advantage. Windos95 will not be released for more than a year. Although Microsoft is very optimistic about this new operating system, before it was released, perhaps no one in the world except Eric could have predicted how Windos95 would be destroyed.

At this time, Bill Gates, who calmed down in this small restaurant near the Harvard Business School Library, knew that although Yahoo was just a little sheep with little resistance compared to Microsoft at this time, there was a 'big beast' behind the sheep that was more ferocious than Microsoft at this time. Bill Gates' original tough attitude quickly restrained, revealing the shrewd look that he often had during business negotiations, and said: "Eric, I can consider the suggestions you just mentioned about pre-installing IE browser for Windows."

"It's Yahoo Browser soon. I think you must have known that I just integrated the three companies."

Bill Gates was a little dissatisfied with Eric's sudden interruption, but he said patiently: "Okay, Yahoo Browser, if Yahoo Browser wants to become a pre-installed software for Windows, it must adopt the form of permanent exclusiveness of Windows."

Although Eric knows the development trend of the operating system market in the next few years, the current market share of Microsoft's Windows system is only 60%. Maos, Linu, uni and even the original dos are still in large quantities. Of course, he cannot reveal any clues in advance and shook his head and said: "This is impossible. It is impossible for Windows to exclusively occupy the latest Yahoo browser technology in the short term to achieve user traffic diversion. If you follow your suggestions, unless Windows can completely dominate the operating system market, Yahoo will automatically give up more than 40% of the operating system platforms now. This is obviously impossible."

If you completely give up other platforms at this time, it is equivalent to completely binding the Yahoo browser software to Microsoft. If Microsoft suddenly turns against each other, Yahoo will be very passive. Microsoft's business credit in this regard has never been very good.

Windos95 has not been released yet. Even Bill Gates himself does not have the confidence to dominate the operating system market. Although he did not agree to Eric, he did not continue to refute, saying: "I will consider this matter. However, Microsoft cannot allow a company that has nothing to do with it to log on to the Windows platform. If Yahoo browser wants to become a pre-installed software for Windows, Microsoft needs to get at least 40% of Yahoo's shares."

"Yahoo will choose ipo next year. If you sell 40% of the shares to Microsoft, you will become Yahoo's largest shareholder, which is no different from selling Yahoo to Microsoft. Moreover, Microsoft's offer price at this time is far lower than my personal expectations." Eric originally planned to refuse to sell the shares directly, but as he said this, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, so he decided to throw it to Bill Gates a good bait: "I can promise Microsoft to acquire 30% of Yahoo's shares, but not now. It's 30% of the equity option in five years. Five years later, Microsoft can decide whether to acquire 30% of Yahoo's shares based on Yahoo's market value at that time, such as cash, stock exchange, etc., on its own basis."

Bill Gates quickly thought that he was very optimistic about Yahoo, but he did not believe that Yahoo could surpass Microsoft in five years. Microsoft's internal value estimate for Yahoo network companies is between 8 and 1 billion US dollars. Even the best estimate is that Yahoo's market value will double ten times in five years, and Microsoft only needs about $3 billion to acquire 30% of its shares. Judging from Microsoft's annual market value growth of more than 30% at this time, Microsoft's market value may rise to $80 billion in five years. At that time, $3 billion is nothing to Microsoft. If you take over 30% of Yahoo's equity, as long as you operate it in the open market, Microsoft can become Yahoo's largest shareholder. Then it will be easy to adopt a malicious acquisition method to swallow the entire Yahoo.

Eric kept paying attention to Bill Gates' expression change quietly. Seeing that the other party's expression gradually relaxed, and perhaps even thought of something good, and even showed a smug smile, he knew that the classmate at the gate had fallen into the pit.

I felt that there was nothing wrong with my plan. Bill Gates said: "Eric, I can consider this. In addition, Yahoo must open some browser software patent licenses to Microsoft."

"If you insist, of course there is no problem," Eric seemed very easy to talk and continued to ask, "Is there any?"

"There are only these for the time being. If you think of others, we can add them during formal negotiations."

"Okay," Eric said: "Since your conditions have been raised, let me talk about mine. If a cooperation can be reached, we can no longer consider details such as exclusive licensing fees. However, Yahoo guarantees that the Yahoo browser version on the Windos platform will continue to be ahead of other platforms, but Microsoft must also guarantee that it will not launch its own browser software within five years."

Eric originally planned to rely on the Windows platform for research and development, so letting Windows have the latest technology of Yahoo browser, so for Yahoo itself, it does not even need to make any layout adjustments. At this time, it can use this as a "bargaining chip" in exchange for some benefits.

Bill Gates suddenly felt that Eric was still too young. As long as Yahoo entered the capital market, Yahoo would be almost Microsoft's pocket in five years. Moreover, five years is enough for Microsoft to fully understand all the technical details of Yahoo browser and develop alternative technologies. Even if things change, Microsoft can drive Yahoo browser out of the Windows platform without any scruples.

But as a shrewd businessman, Bill Gates still did not agree immediately. Although he felt that nothing was wrong, he still planned to give these terms to Microsoft's special strategic development department to study the pros and cons. So he continued to say ambiguously: "No problem, I can consider it."

Eric did not have as many calculations as Bill Gates, and he didn't mind Bill Gates's words being full of text games such as "can be considered". Anyway, both parties understood that before the contract was finally signed in black and white, no legal effect was available at this time. Moreover, Eric knew very well. Entering the new century, browser software will be more of a vassal service for network giant companies. Compared with the 1990s, the interface function has been greatly weakened. What's more, in the original time and space, even though Microsoft basically dominated the browser market in the early stage and always occupied a large market share, its own network business was still beaten by Yahoo, Google, Amazon and other companies, and basically did not generate any profit. The original best msn online service eventually ended up closing.

The general intention of cooperation was confirmed. It was already dark outside the window, and both parties had no intention of staying in this small restaurant.

When he said goodbye, Bill Gates also hoped to visit Yahoo headquarters next year. Eric would entertain John Chambers and Steve Case tomorrow. Of course, he didn't want his classmates to get involved. He found a reason to shirk it after two days.

Watching the Gates and his wife leave in a luxury car, Eric took a few steps to the quiet lawn next to him, touched his pocket and took out a box of cigarettes, lit it, and sat down on the lawn casually in the darkness, taking advantage of the darkness to look at the pedestrians passing by occasionally. He was still a little curious, and he and Bill Gates had both exposed their identities, but did not attract any onlookers, which was beyond his expectations.

Caroline, who was reluctant to leave with a small tail, sat down next to Eric. She originally wanted to remind Eric not to smoke on campus, but looking at Eric as if she was thinking about things seriously, she did not disturb her. Looking at the Mars swaying in Eric's hand, Caroline was a little worried that Eric would throw cigarette butts everywhere, but then she felt that if he threw it around later, she would pick it up for him. Thinking of helping Eric do something insignificant, she suddenly became much happier.

Eric recalled the negotiations with Bill Gates just now. Although the two sides have reached some cooperation intentions, the specific contract terms will definitely be adjusted during the future negotiations. The biggest risk in this cooperation may be the 30% share option clause, which is also the biggest piece of bait that Eric threw to his classmates. Of course, Eric could not have imagined. However, after more than two years in advance, he has also owned the prophet advantage of the rebirth of the person. If Yahoo's market value still cannot reach the point that Microsoft is deterred after five years, he can simply sell Yahoo and continue to go back to Hollywood.

As for the others, Eric didn't care much about it. Bill Gates, who made his fortune by making his own software, still cared about the browser software. Students from the gate could see that even if Yahoo browser is completely free, it can still play a very important role in promoting the promotion of Windows. Therefore, he was eager to come to win Yahoo before the release of Windows 95. The facts in the original time and space have proved that having the dominant position of browser software cannot bring much advantages to Microsoft's Internet business.

In the original time and space, Microsoft's III III and Netscape browser use the same sai kernel, and they still launched various peripheral technical standards, causing a series of website incompatibility events. If Microsoft launches new browsers and completely different web page decoding kernels, then this incompatibility will be even more serious. Eric does not want to have a technical standard war with Microsoft that has lasted for many years, as it will only lead to both sides.

Caroline's eyes shook with the cigarette in Eric's hand, but Eric suddenly turned his head, waved the cigarette that was about to burn out in his hand, and asked, "Do you want to try it too?"

Caroline shook her head quickly: "No, I don't want it."

Eric smiled, got up and knocked out the cigarette butts in his hand, threw it into the trash can on the side of the road, and then said to Caroline: "Which dormitory do you live in? I'll take you back?"

Caroline's eyes flew into the entrance of the trash can as the cigarette butt flew into the entrance of the trash can. She was stunned for a moment. When she heard Eric's words, she turned her face and replied, "I don't live in a dormitory, I live in an apartment to the east."

Following Caroline's guidance, Eric walked eastward and said, "Why are you a girl who is not safe?"

"No, it's not me. I live with my classmates, and it's very close to the school."

Eric nodded and said nothing.

The two walked a while before Caroline found another topic and said, "Eric, why do you agree to sell 30% of Yahoo's equity to Microsoft? Even if it seems that the risk is very high even after five years?"

The market value of Yahoo in the original time and space was once close to 100 billion US dollars. Eric believes that after integrating a series of plans in memory, as long as the Internet wave arrives as scheduled, there is absolutely no problem for Yahoo in the current time and space to double its market value several times. Even if it is only 200 billion, 30% of the shares will be 60 billion US dollars, which is equivalent to 10% of the highest market value of Microsoft in the original time and space. Microsoft will definitely not be able to provide 60 billion US dollars in cash. Eric remembers that Microsoft's turnover at the highest point of the Internet bubble in 1999 was only 19 billion US dollars. Will Bill Gates be willing to exchange 10% of the shares for exchange

Going to Yahoo's 30% stake will also be a difficult thing to determine. After all, 10% stake is equivalent to introducing a major shareholder to Microsoft, which will affect Bill Gates' control over Microsoft. Moreover, even if the transaction is successful, Eric will definitely not lose. After all, Windos is an operating system platform that is about to achieve monopoly. As long as the PC is not eliminated, Microsoft can continue to bring stable huge profits. As Bill Gates continues to reduce its holdings in Microsoft shares, Eric may also make a profit of Dangdang, the largest individual shareholder of Microsoft.

Moreover, even if Microsoft did not encounter antitrust investigations in this time, according to the crazy degree of the Internet bubble, the bubble will inevitably burst. After the Internet bubble burst, as the stock prices of Internet companies plummeted, Eric can still use the funds cashed out during the bubble to easily complete the second Internet industry layout.

However, these are not things that can tell the girl around you. Eric just said casually: "The greater the risk, the greater the harvest."

Caroline only saw the risks with the information accumulated in her little brain. She didn't think Eric could gain anything from this deal. However, imagining the series of miracles that Eric created in just a few years, Caroline did not doubt any of Eric's views. She thought, she couldn't think of it, that must be too stupid.
Chapter completed!