Back To 1995

   Chapter 605 Two peaches kill three soldiers

   Compared with the movements on ICQ, the scenes that are sought after by the media and the outside world, Amazon seems to be much more "calm".

   Amazon is also talking with people from Silicon Valley VCs and Wall Street institutions about going public, but compared to ICQ, it’s a bit far behind.

   Watching the news on TV, John Dole, a partner of KPCB Ventures, smiled and said to Bezos, "It seems that Director Bruno Song has no time to take care of Amazon!"

Bezos could hear that John Dole was provoking his relationship with Song Yang. For this provocation, Bezos raised his chin and said to the crowd, "Director Bruno, to Amazon. Very supportive, he handed over Amazon's voting rights and the right to handle affairs to Amazon's management..."

When Song Yang entered the e-commerce industry before, after the acquisition of eBay, he invested in Amazon. He gave Amazon a valuation of up to 80 million US dollars. He invested 28 million US dollars in Amazon and took 35% of Amazon's shares. Equity, becoming Amazon's second largest shareholder after Bezos!

It's just that compared to eBay, Song Yang directly let the North American Global Investment Foundation take over the management of eBay, while on Amazon, Song Yang handed over 35% of Amazon's equity to Bezos for trusteeship. The affairs are basically not involved, or Bezos is in charge of Amazon.

   "But Bruno Song has more support for eBay. In the future, eBay will definitely be one of Amazon's biggest rivals in the e-commerce industry. Where will Bruno Song stand?"

   The representative of the Wall Street agency who was preparing to underwrite Amazon's stock said to Bezos without leaving a trace.

Now the e-commerce industry has begun to become hot. As representatives of the two models of the e-commerce industry, eBay and Amazon have both become representative companies in the e-commerce industry. , are also advancing by leaps and bounds, but they are all dominated by Amazon and eBay.

  Wall Street institutions naturally began to bet on major e-commerce companies one after another, of which the most eye-catching ones are naturally Amazon and eBay, but these two have long been pre-empted by Song Yang.

eBay has been completely taken over by Song Yang. The president of eBay is also held by Whitman, the president of Double Click Company. Song Yang also took away 35% of Amazon's equity. Venture capitalists such as KPCB, as well as Wall Street institutions, feel a little clueless, and naturally they want to provoke the relationship between Bezos and Song Yang.

Listening to the words of John Dole and others, it is absolutely impossible to say that Bezos has no turbulence in his heart. eBay and Amazon are both under Song Yang, but eBay is more like the North American Global Investment Fund than Amazon. 's own son.

   Even if it is said to be equal, when he invested in Amazon, Song Yang promised Bezos that the resources he voted for eBay would also be invested in Amazon.

Double-click advertisements, ICQ, Hotmail mailboxes, and Xue Leshan Online's drainage, etc., have all been obtained by Amazon. Obviously, these companies are all closer to eBay. After all, they all eat in the same slot. Compared with Amazon, eBay's small life is a little more comfortable, and Bezos knows this well!

   But to say that Bezos changed his relationship with Song Yang after being provoked by John Dole and others, it would be a little overthinking.

When Amazon was looking for someone to invest in the past, other investment institutions, including KPCP Venture Capital, were only willing to give Amazon a valuation of 40 to 50 million US dollars. It was Song Yang who raised Amazon's valuation in one breath. As much as 80 million dollars, Amazon and eBay have become the first brother of the e-commerce industry.

  After Song Yang invested in Amazon, KPCP Ventures and Wall Street institutions had to follow up. Now KPCB Ventures has also got a 15% stake in Amazon.

   But KPCB, the venture capitalists and Wall Street institutions, are no better than Song Yang to Amazon. Song Yang is a sheep-herding model for Amazon.

Even if Bezos's skills are not as superb as later generations, he knows that as long as Song Yang is an upstart, KPCB venture capital and Wall Street, etc., must be a little bit wary, and dare not push Amazon's management too much, but let Song Yang left the Amazon board of directors, and then he will be alone, facing the pressure of Silicon Valley and Wall Street!

   "Amazon is willing to take a 12% stake, issue 6 million shares at an issue price of $18, and raise $80 million!"

   After turning off the TV, Bezos got straight to the point and told a group of people such as KPCB Ventures that Bezos would raise $80 million for Amazon in this listing.

Hearing this number, John Dole and others couldn't help but their eyelids jumped. They didn't expect that Bezos would dare to make such a bid, directly raising Amazon's valuation to $650 million. the point!

How high is this price? In today's Internet industry, which is worth billions and billions of dollars, it does not seem to be very eye-catching. After all, ICQ's valuation has almost reached more than 30 billion dollars. Yahoo, AOL and other Internet The company also has some prototypes of giants.

   For comparison, how much was Amazon’s previous valuation, less than 80 million US dollars, and now it has been directly increased by more than eight times, how long does it take.

  If Amazon can go public at a valuation of US$650 million, then Bezos' worth will directly exceed US$300 million, which is not bad compared to the scene when Netscape went public!

   "Is it too risky to raise 80 million US dollars?"

A representative of a Wall Street agency frowned and said to Bezos that the estimated market value of Amazon was more than $400 million, and the financing this time was more than $50 million, so that Wall Street agencies could use these The financing was all eaten up, but who knows, Bezos actually raised the price so high.

   "Amazon needs this financing. After going public, Amazon will begin to transform, not just book business!"

Bezos glanced in the direction of Goldman Sachs headquarters, looked back at John Dole and others, "If you can't underwrite Amazon's stock, Amazon can ask for the help of director Bruno, I think he is willing to Help Amazon complete the listing!"

When Bezos mentioned Song Yang, the expressions of John Dole and others changed slightly. Bezos really wanted to ask Song Yang for help. With Song Yang's connections and connections on Wall Street, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, etc. , is responsible for the listing of Amazon, it is not difficult at all, when the time comes, there will be no KPCB's share.

   "KPCB Ventures will help Amazon complete the listing!"

  John Dole looked at Bezos and said, "In the Internet industry, there is more than one Bruno Song!"

As an old gun in the technology industry, KPCB seems to be a little slow to respond in the Internet era. Except for Netscape, the rest of the Internet companies, including AOL, Yahoo, Lycos and other Internet companies, KPCB Venture Capital did not invest heavily. Instead, they smashed a lot of US knives in energy, medicine, biology, etc.

  Energy, biology and other industries, although they are also popular industries, can be compared to the Internet industry, which often doubles dozens of times in terms of stock price and market value.

KPCB’s big bet on Amazon also wants to regroup in the Internet industry. It doesn’t want to be overwhelmed by Sequoia Investment, which is equally famous in Silicon Valley. Sequoia Investment has bet on Yahoo. These two years have been brilliant. , that old man Moritz, but pressed John Dole on the head!

As a broker between Silicon Valley and Washington, John Dole has close ties with the FCC boss Reid and others. Even in the Internet industry, KPCB Ventures has little influence now, but John Dole is still in the technology industry. One of the most influential figures, Bezos knows the weight of John Dole's words.

  Bezos nodded to John Dole and the others. He brought Song Yang out to raise the price for Amazon. Now that the goal has been achieved, he naturally did not want to stimulate John Dole and the others.

Although Bezos's price was ruthless, but Amazon's price was tens of millions of dollars, and the market value of the listing was less than one billion dollars, which is not very eye-catching in the Internet industry, but ICQ is different. The US knife is a big deal in the entire Nasdaq, but it is not as easy to achieve as Amazon.

   "President Paulson, Manager Edison, President Stan O'Neal..."

   Song Yang, Irene and a group of ICQ executives entered the conference room, and after a while of greeting, Song Yang called to Paulson and the others.

   "Song!"

Paulson faced Irene, Wesley and others with a bit of courtesy. When facing Song Yang, Paulson smiled, hugged Song Yang, hugged Song Yang, and personally helped Song Yang. Pulled out the seat, looking very warm.

   Seeing this scene, everyone in the conference room had different thoughts, and Edison sneered sneeringly at the corner of his mouth, as if he didn't like Paulson's trick.

   But in the eyes of Wall Street executives such as Stan O'Neal, Pellet Greene, Anshu Jain, and Paulson's current identity, making such a move is enough to show the importance he attaches to Song Yang!

Song Yang faced Paulson's set with a smile on his face, but his heart was already raised. Paulson is a gluttonous person who doesn't see a rabbit and doesn't scatter an eagle. I don't dare to say 100%, but there is a high possibility that it was the weasel who gave New Year's greetings to the chicken, and Song Yang had no choice but to be on guard.

   "Song, I've been wanting to invite you to New York since the last time in San Jose, and this time I finally have a chance!"

   Paulson smiled and said to Song Yang. After a few words, Paulson suddenly changed his words, "Song, you also invested in RICK, right?!"

Song Yang glanced at Paulson for a few times, and his mind turned around. He wondered if Paulson had his eyes on RICK and Victoria's Secret, Eric and Chris Jain's Comerica Bank. , is also in New York recently, and is taking big shots everywhere, investing in RICK's luxury goods empire plan. RICK wants to take food from the tiger's mouth and **** Gucci from the LVMH group.

  Paulson heard some rumors and seemed to have said it too. After a few glances at Paulson, Song Yang nodded with a smile, "I'm just a shareholder of RICK Group. Goldman Sachs is interested in RICK's plan?"

   Hearing that Song Yang and Paulson suddenly started RICK and the luxury goods industry, Edison and Stan O'Neal felt a little strange.

Edison's **** confidant, Anshu Jain saw the puzzled look on Edison's face, leaned into his ear, and whispered a few words, Eric has been making investments around Wall Street recently, Deutsche Bank Investment Bank Naturally, there are also wind noises.

Hearing that RICK was about to take the Gucci brand from the tiger's mouth, Edison's eyes brightened a bit. He didn't care about RICK's acquisition of Gucci, but the stock prices of Gucci, LVMH Group and other companies. Because of this competition, it will definitely have an impact. It's the opportunity for Deutsche Bank Investment Bank to get its hands on it!

   Not only Edison, but Stan O'Neill also heard about RICK from his subordinates, as well as several other institutions, Morgan, etc. The major institutions looked different for a while.

"Of course," Paulson said with an air of righteousness, "America needs a luxury empire of its own. This is a $174 billion a year market, and now this market is controlled by those Europeans. Yes, from Manhattan Avenue to the Champs-Élysées, from North America to Europe, and from the other side of the Pacific to Africa, those luxury goods are popular all over the world. Goldman Sachs supports RICK and becomes America's own LVMH group.

   Those Europeans steal too many US knives from America with those so-called luxuries every year, it's time to end it all! "

   When he said this, Paulson took a special look at Edison. The Deutsche Bank investment bank where Edison worked was also an outsider, and he also came to Wall Street to grab money. These words were also insinuating the Deutsche Bank investment bank.

   For these words, Edison didn't care at all. Ever since he joined Deutsche Bank Investment Bank, he has never heard any ugly words. Paulson's yin and yang strange words are nothing at all.

   "Deutsche Bank Investment Bank is willing to invest in RICK. Deutsche Bank has its own channels in Europe and can provide support for RICK's plan!"

Edison said confidently that in America, Deutsche Bank is an air bag. Like Volkswagen and Japan Benzene, they were fined twice in three days, but in Europe, Deutsche Bank is the undisputed absolute overlord. Deutsche Bank is present in all walks of life in old Europe.

  If Deutsche Bank is willing to provide RICK with ammunition and connections, then the LVMH group cannot stop RICK from taking away Gucci!

   "Morgan is also willing to support RICK!"

   "Merrill Lynch is willing to provide RICK with a long-term loan of $500 million!"

Stan O'Neill also took the opportunity to say that Song Yang has never missed a beat since his debut. RICK also has the brand of Victoria's Secret, which is a daily gold medal. Coupled with the support of Goldman Sachs, Morgan, Deutsche Bank and other companies, he feels that RICK is this brand. There is a good chance of getting one.

   Song Yang did not expect that ICQ had not started yet, but he had raised a lot of ammunition for RICK.

   "Everyone, on behalf of ICQ management, I hope everyone here can help ICQ complete the issuance!"

   (end of this chapter)