A restaurant in Venice Beach.

Bill Gates rushed here directly after getting off the plane at Los Angeles International Airport. It was almost 12 o'clock, and there were many customers in this famous restaurant, but Simon had not arrived yet.

After being guided by the waiter to sit down at the reserved seat, Bill Gates was just thinking about what was going to happen next when he noticed a man and woman walking in, talking softly and laughing. Looking up, he immediately recognized that it was Hollywood star Richard

Gere and his supermodel girlfriend Cindy Crawford.

Richard Gere has gone out of style these years, but his girlfriend is as beautiful in real life as she is in TV newspapers.

Bill Gates couldn't help but glance at Cindy Crawford a few more times. Women are always more sensitive to certain gazes. Cindy Crawford felt Gates' gaze, turned around and noticed that it was

A man wearing black-rimmed glasses seemed familiar, but he didn't pay attention and just looked away lightly.

Realizing that he was almost ignored, Bill Gates withdrew his eyes angrily and pretended to look around. No one here seemed to care that a billionaire like him was sitting here.

Just as I was thinking this with some disappointment, there was suddenly some commotion at the door of the restaurant.

Looking again, it turned out that Simon Westeros had arrived. His bodyguard was blocking the reporter who wanted to come forward. The waiter in the restaurant noticed the movement and ran over to help the young man open the glass door.

When Simon Westeros walked in, the attention of everyone in the restaurant was immediately attracted. Some guests stood up visibly, as if they wanted to come forward to say hello, but they stayed where they were.

Bill Gates hesitated, then stood up and took two steps forward.

Simon came closer, stretched out his hand to Bill Gates enthusiastically and said: "Hi, Bill, good afternoon."

Bill Gates finally felt that there were more eyes on him, and his emotions were a little complicated, but he smiled and shook Simon's hand, saying: "Nice to see you again, Simon."

The two of them were about to sit down as they spoke, when Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford, who had just come in, came over and greeted Simon with an obviously flattering tone. Compared with the natural alienation they had when they entered the restaurant before.

His star style is completely different from the two.

"I seem to have read the synopsis of Paramount's "IA Files," and it should be pretty good... Cindy, your performance in "Imprint of Gucci" was really good. Maybe you can try to develop into Hollywood... Ha, okay,

I'm just kidding, don't rely on me."

After a few words of socializing and joking, Richard Gere and he returned to their seats.

Simon and Gates also took their seats, watching the beautiful waitress put down her reserve and take the initiative to ask for an autograph after Simon ordered. She also obviously left a card. Gates remembered that he came to Westeros this time and offered to lend it to him.

That Boeing 767, the envy in my heart couldn't help but accumulate more.

He has always been the focus of attention in the IT circle, but in front of this young man, in this city of fame and wealth, he can't earn any attention at all.

Thinking about the situation when he wanted to visit the front cabin on the plane but was refused by the stewardess on the grounds that it was Westeros's private space, Gates secretly made up his mind to have a plane that did not belong to this young man in the future.

car.

After finally finishing socializing and having some free time, Bill Gates thought for a while and took the initiative: "Simon, I saw the World Wide Web technology of Igret in San Francisco. I have to say that the development potential of this technology is really great.

.”

Ygrit's World Wide Web technology has connected Cisco, America Online, SUN and other companies in which Westeros holds shares.

However, Simon has no idea of ​​​​making the graphical interface browser produced by Igret a built-in browser in Windows systems for the time being. He plans to continue to keep a low profile and let this technology develop for another year or two, completely mature and become a unique standard in the industry.

, then we will carry out large-scale promotion.

Therefore, he did not pick up Gates' topic. Simon just smiled and said: "I have tried the test version of Windows 3.0. I have to say that compared with the previous versions, Microsoft's product this time has made great progress. It will be released next year."

It will definitely be no problem to gain a firm foothold later.”

Since Simon brought the topic here, Gates took advantage of the situation and said: "So you started buying Microsoft stocks again?"

"Yeah, you know, Bill, I have a lot of money recently. Since I have promising companies, I must invest them as soon as possible."

Bill Gates couldn't help but think of many reports during this period.

The young man in front of me may not be the richest person on the Forbes list, but he probably holds the largest amount of cash among all the billionaires in the world. It’s just that Cersei Capital, which has always been shrouded in mist, is said to have

The amount of cash has reached 8 billion US dollars, half of which seems to belong to this young man. Just this 4 billion US dollars in cash is more than the net worth of most of the super rich in the world.

Thinking about this, Bill Gates said: "But, Simon, I don't think you should continue to buy. Westeros Company's holdings of Microsoft's shares have exceeded 10%, because Westeros Company's purchase

In recent years, many institutions have begun to hold on to their holdings of Microsoft shares, and there are fewer and fewer scattered circulating shares in the market. You know, the reduction of circulating shares will definitely have a strong inhibitory effect on the rise of stock prices. I think,

Westeros has enough of a stake in Microsoft that you can consider buying other companies."

Simon had previously roughly guessed that Gates should have this kind of intention.

A company's proportion of circulating shares in the secondary market decreases and trading activity decreases, which will indeed inhibit the rise of the stock price. This is actually the reason why many companies will split their shares when the stock price rises to a certain extent.

"However, I still want to buy more Microsoft stocks," Simon said as usual, seeming to think about it, and then said: "Bill, otherwise, I have made such a suggestion before, and you will be

How about selling me some of the Microsoft shares in your hand, and I can buy them at 10% off the market price. Now you have 45% of them, and if you sell me 10%, you will still be the largest shareholder of Microsoft. Moreover, I am interested in

Control of Microsoft is meaningless at all. As long as you can sell me some shares, I can also authorize Westeros Corporation to hold the voting rights of Microsoft shares to you. Westeros Corporation is only a pure investment shareholder.

.”

Bill Gates couldn't help but think of the Boeing 767 he took when he came to Los Angeles.

Although he quickly entered the "Forbes" rich list after Microsoft went public, he also ranked at the top of this year's "Forbes" North American rich list with a net worth of US$1.5 billion. However, because his assets are basically all

It's Microsoft stock, but his current standard of living is not at all what a billionaire should be.

For example, he doesn't even have a private jet now.

Compared with the young people in front of me, it is even worse.

Speaking of which, when they first met, the young man mentioned to him the suggestion of buying Microsoft stock directly from him. Because he felt that Microsoft stock still had a lot of room to rise, he chose to reject it without hesitation.

.

Now, it seems that it would not be a bad idea to sell some stocks and improve one's life.

By selling a stock, you can obtain the voting rights of all the shares held by the Westeros company. This way, not only will you not lose control of the company, you may even achieve absolute control of the company.

However, selling 10% at one time will definitely not work.

Westeros is optimistic about Windows 3.0, and so is he. Microsoft's market value has remained at around US$3 billion this year, but he believes that after this operating system is launched next year, the company's stock price will definitely rise again.

"Simon, 10% is too much." After thinking about it, Bill Gates said: "And if you want to buy it, it must be at the market price. I will not sell it at a discount."

Obviously, my previous little arrangement should have worked.

Simon did not show any joy and said patiently: "Bill, think about it, if you sell me 10%, you can get the voting rights for 20% of the shares held by Westeros Company, which adds up to 55% of the voting rights.

, which gives you complete control over the company."

"At most 5%," Bill Gates ignored Simon's instigation, thought for a while, and then said: "However, I can talk to Allen, maybe he also has the idea of ​​selling stocks."

With Microsoft's current market value, by selling 5% of its shares, Gates would be able to cash out more than $150 million. In this era, this amount of money is still very affordable, after all, the price of a first-model Gulfstream is still affordable.

There are only more than ten million US dollars. In addition, with this funds, you can also make some other investments.

Bill Gates and Paul Allen have maintained a combined 70% stake in Microsoft in recent years.

At the beginning, Bill Gates tried every means to reduce his partner's shareholding ratio so that he could firmly control Microsoft. Unexpectedly, Gates still did not 'forget' his partner this time when he sold the shares.

Naturally, Simon would not express any objections and said: "In this case, I can also get in touch with Allen."

After all, Bill Gates felt some excitement from Simon's tone, and subconsciously added: "Simon, I can sell you a part of the stock, but you must give up the voting rights of the Westeros company's shares permanently.

Authorize me."

"This is impossible, Bill. You will definitely continue to reduce your holdings of Microsoft shares in the future. You can't sell almost all of your shares and still retain the voting rights for the shares held by Westeros. However, I

I really have no intention of fighting for control of Microsoft. You are the most suitable operator of this company. Therefore, the authorization period of Westeros Company is ten years. Of course, I may also reduce my holdings of Microsoft stocks appropriately during this process.

, Westeros Company still has its own freedom in this regard. In ten years, whatever remaining shares Westeros Company holds, the voting rights of these stocks will also be yours."

Bill Gates nodded slightly and said, "What about ten years from now?"

Simon shrugged and said: "Ten years is already a long time, Bill. Who knows what will happen in ten years?"

"Okay," Bill Gates nodded, and finally said: "Also, you must stop taking Microsoft stock from the open market."

"no problem."

The two chatted, and the waiter quickly brought lunch.

After Bill Gates obtained 5% of the shares, Simon felt that it would not be a big problem for Paul Allen to transfer the other 5% of Microsoft shares to himself.

Speaking of which, Simon actually only hopes to get a total of 5% more shares this time, so that he can increase his shareholding ratio in Microsoft to the planned 15%. Now, Westeros Company’s stake in Microsoft

The shareholding is likely to increase to 20%. Thinking about Microsoft's future value-added potential, this business will be extremely profitable.

However, Simon couldn't help but think about the issue of funds.

The original increase in holdings of Microsoft and Intel was a plan that lasted several months, and funds could be raised while absorbing them.

Westeros has made a lot of moves recently. If it wanted to obtain 10% of Microsoft's stock at one time, it would require more than US$300 million in cash.

If he does not draw money from Cersei Capital, Simon will have no choice but to borrow from banks again. Fortunately, so far this year, he has repaid a total of more than 200 million U.S. dollars in principal and interest to various banks, and the amount of debt has been reduced from 900 million U.S. dollars at the beginning of the year.

It is now just over US$700 million. At this time, another US$300 million in liabilities will be added, and the total will be already within the affordable range of US$1 billion.

The two had a pleasant lunch, and in order to help Gates strengthen his confidence in selling stocks, Simon very generously borrowed his Boeing 767 to send Gates back to Seattle.

The following days are still filled with endless work.

Daenerys Entertainment has a series of key projects for next year in various stages of production, and plans for the 10 movies are also progressing steadily.

Considering that the Los Angeles premiere of "Batman" was coming soon, Simon simply did not leave the United States. He just agreed with Janet to fly to Australia to spend Christmas with his family after the premiere.

At Microsoft, news came two days after Bill Gates left that Paul Allen also agreed to sell 5% of Microsoft stock to Westeros. Simon directly told James Raybould to put down all his shares.

At that time, I was directly responsible for contacting this matter to ensure the smoothness of this acquisition.

The news spread quickly.

Compared with Intel, which has exceeded 6 billion in market capitalization at this time, the increase in Microsoft stock in the past year has not been too high, and the market value has always remained at around 3 billion U.S. dollars. After the small collapse in October, there were also quite a few

Down.

Now, as the news spread that Westeros Company increased its holdings of 10% of Microsoft's shares, the company's stock price suddenly increased significantly.

Fortunately, the two parties had already agreed on the price in advance, and neither Bill Gates nor Paul Allen raised the price. Westeros Company also quickly discussed a new loan plan of US$300 million with Citibank.

When other companies want to borrow money to buy stocks, it is generally difficult to get money from banks.

But for the Westeros Company, this is not a problem at all. No one now doubts the repayment ability of the Westeros Company. Everyone knows that if it were not for the tax factors of Cersei Capital, the Westeros Company would
Chapter completed!