Chapter 688: Blackstone and Carlyle

……

Guo Shouyun nodded, thought for a moment and said, "If nothing else, Ruby Company will be listed at the end of 2006." ”

"At the end of 2006?"

"That's right!"

"Why this time?"

"Because in this time frame, subsidiaries such as Facebook and YouTube have been able to generate enough exciting profits. Subsidiaries such as Today's News and Global Wealth Network have also made great progress, and it is in the interests of the company to go public at this time. Guo Shouyun said.

"I see!" Tim George nodded.

Glancing at him, Guo Shouyun pushed a box that was in his hand to the opposite side of him.

"Open it and take a look!"

Tim George nodded and opened the brocade box in front of him, and took out a palm-sized jade carving in the shape of a boy holding a lotus flower and a girl holding a box.

"How's that, do you like it?"

"Great! But does it have a name?"

Looking at his questioning eyes, Guo Shouyun explained: "This jade carving is called 'Harmony and Two Immortals', which symbolizes the harmony between family and husband and wife in Eastern culture. It was a gift I brought back to you and Emily from Huaxia. I forgot to give it to you the last time we met. ”

"Thank you, Bruce!"

In private, the two refer to each other by each other's first names, which signifies the closeness of their relationship.

"If you're satisfied, it's fine. After a pause, Guo Shouyun said with deep meaning, "Tim, it's July 04, and it's not far from the end of 06 when the ruby will be listed." I hope that when the time comes, we will stand together on the NASDAQ and ring the bell for listing. ”

"Of course, I'm looking forward to that moment too!"

Guo Shouyun glanced at him deeply, then nodded with a smile.

"Okay, that's all I have to say. You can now leave with my gift. ”

"I can't wait to share this wonderful gift with Emily. ”

With that, Tim George stood up.

"By the way, if you have time in the evening, bring Emily to my house for dinner. Wendy hadn't seen her girlfriend in a long time. ”

"Okay!"

Sending Tim George out of the office, Guo Shouyun squinted slightly at his departing back, and said secretly in his heart: "I have already given you the answer, I hope you don't make mistakes!"

I went back to my desk, opened the safe, took out a stack of papers, flipped through it again, opened the shredder and put it in.

As pieces of snowflake-like paper fell, Guo Shouyun's expression became a little more uncertain.

……

"Boss, it's this morning's paper!"

Guo Shouyun nodded, took the newspaper in Wu Xiaojing's hand and flipped through it briefly, and his brows immediately furrowed.

On the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, it was written: 'Ruby Company C-reshuffles, John Roberts resigns.' ’

The content of the article portrays the departure of John Roberts as a political struggle for power at the Ruby leadership. The newswriter named John Herry did have a bit of literary brilliance, and the whole press release was written with a lot of flowers, coupled with people's long-term attention to Ruby Company, Guo Shouyun could almost predict the impact of this article.

However, now that Ruby has become a big trend in the field of Internet social networking, as long as it does not make a fool of itself, no one can threaten its position. For Guo Shouyun, who has been reborn for more than ten years and has seen how various Internet companies tear up, it is natural that he will not make major mistakes in business operation.

After briefly browsing the newspaper, Guo Shouyun put it aside.

"Is there a result of the information I asked you to collect?"

Wu Xiaojing nodded and put the two documents in front of Guo Shouyun.

"This is a profile of the world's major terminal operators. This is a list of the world's major shipping companies. ”

"Let it go!"

After Wu Xiaojing put the information in Guo Shouyun's hand, "Boss, do you want to carry out mergers and acquisitions in the shipping industry?"

"No!"

After shaking his head, he looked at the curious woman beside him, "Although the core of Ruby Mall is Internet e-commerce, the main business is logistics, especially shipping. I know about e-commerce, but I know very little about logistics. Now that Ruby Mall doesn't have a CEO, of course I'm going to have to find a qualified manager for it. ”

"Do you want to find these terminal operators and shipping company CEOs?"

"I want to see which company is developing well, then as its CEO, the company's core management ability must be very good, such a person is also suitable for our CEO of Ruby Mall." ”

"Are you going to poach?" Wu Xiaojing was a little surprised.

"Can't you?"

"Of course not, just a little curious. ”

"Okay, you go out and get busy!" Guo Shouyun nodded and waved at her.

"Yes!"

……

However, Guo Shouyun didn't look at it for long, and the sudden ringing of the phone interrupted his thoughts.

"Steve, how do you have time to call me?"

"Bruce, the issue of Google's investment has been dragging on for too long, and I think it's time for us to talk about it and solve it!" Steve Schwartzman, CEO of Blackstone, said over the phone.

"Okay, but if you're still on the same condition as last time, I don't think we'll have to waste each other's time. ”

"We can make a concession, but I also hope that you can consider our long-term cooperation and make certain concessions. ”

"I can take a step back on the basis of mutual benefit, but if you want me to lose. Steve, even if we're good friends, I won't say yes!"

"Didn't we already know this very well in the previous negotiations?"

Guo Shouyun smiled, "The place to meet is in the Hanshan Courtyard, and the time is seven o'clock in the evening." As for David, let me know, I'm sure you must be very close to each other. ”

David Rubinstein is the CEO of The Carlyle Group. The Carlyle Group and the Blackstone Group were the two PEs selected by Guo Shouyun before Google's listing, not because Google needed money, but because of the Carlyle Group's deep connections in politics and Blackstone's extraordinary influence on Wall Street. Having them on the list of shareholders will not only boost the confidence of shareholders, but also facilitate Google's future development.

Originally, in this PE financing list, there were KKR and Apollo Global Management, but they were later deleted by Guo Shouyun. It is enough for Google to have him behind it, as well as the Carlyle Group and Blackstone, and there is no need for anyone else to share the benefits.

"We'll be there on time!"

"See you in the evening!"

"See you in the evening!"

Hanging up the phone, Guo Shouyun pondered for a while, and then packed up the materials on the table.

"Come with me to Google!"

Wu Xiaojing nodded hurriedly and followed him out of the study.

Mountain View, Google's headquarters. It was originally an industrial park, but today it has been bought by Google as the company's headquarters in Silicon Valley.

Guo Shouyun had already been here once when he came back from the Demon Capital last time. But that was half a month ago. Google's development is changing with each passing day, and half a month is enough to see the difference. Especially those newly recruited employees, many of whom he didn't know.

Greeting veteran employees along the way, Guo Shouyun knocked on Larry Page's office. The latter became the CEO of Google after Guo Shouyun was separated from the company's day-to-day management and was only responsible for strategic planning.

"Bruce?"

"Larry, you look a lot fatter than before!" Guo Shouyun walked over with a smile.

"Really, have I eaten too much this month?"

Laughing, Larry Page stepped forward and hugged Guo Shouyun.

"I heard you're going to be a dad again, congratulations, man!"

"Thank you. You're going to have to hurry, too. I'm still waiting to become a family member with you in the future!"

Larry Page shrugged his shoulders and said helplessly: "I also want to get married, but unfortunately not every girl is suitable!"

"Where's Marisa? Haven't you been talking?"

"She's too strong!" Larry Page shook his head, "Don't talk about me." You're a busy man rushing to the company, don't you want to come to see me?"

"Look at you, you're only partial. What's more important is Google's IPO negotiations!"

"There's a reply from the Carlyle Group and Blackstone?"

Larry Page was shocked and hurriedly asked.

They promised to take a step back. But the specific conditions will not be known until we meet tonight. ”

"What time is the evening?"

"Seven o'clock! ”

"I'm going to call Sergey!"

Guo Shouyun nodded and sat down on the sofa in the reception area next to him. It didn't take long for Sergey Brin, who got the news, to hurriedly push the door open and walk in.

"Bruce, Larry!"

"Sergey, long time no see!"

Guo Shouyun smiled, and the two hugged each other.

"It's been a long time. But what about my gift, what about the 'Beijing Duck' you promised to bring me from Huaxia?"

Didn't correct Sergey Brin's pronunciation of 'North ~ Beijing roast duck', because this is destined to be a big project, and even if it is corrected, this guy will return to his old view again next time. Guo Shouyun, who had already had several experiences, had already given up. But what surprised him was that Sergei liked to eat fat ducks, and he was a workaholic, so it was strange that he was still so thin.

"It's in my car. When I'm done with business in the evening, I'll send you home!"

"Thanks, Bruce. You're really my best friend!"

"If I can get your compliment, it is not in vain that I made a special trip to the capital to buy these 20 roast ducks. After a pause, he patted him on the shoulder, "Sit down, it's a big day tonight." It is directly related to the listing of the company, so we need to discuss countermeasures in advance. ”

"You know, I'm not good at that, you just have to make a decision with Larry. With that, Sergei sat down on the couch next to him.

Compared to Larry Page, who has a certain talent for management. Sergei Brin is the kind of pure science and engineering man, who is technically brilliant and emotional. His office is filled with basketballs, ping-pong rackets, skateboards, Rubik's cubes, paddles, and models of Japanese geisha.

Of course, all this is not all what Sergei Brin likes, it is his trophy.

Every once in a while, Google organizes an outdoor outreach campaign. Basketball, golf, rowing, rock climbing, etc., in order to increase everyone's participation, relax tension, and improve work efficiency, some gadgets will be specially prepared as prizes. Guo Shouyun has also participated a few times, winning a boxing set and a kettle.

"Sergey, as one of the three founders of the company, don't be lazy!" said Larry Page.

Guo Shouyun nodded, "Sit down and listen." If there's something we didn't expect, you can also give us your opinion. ”

"All right, but you'd better not expect too much from me. Sergey Brin shrugged.

The three have known each other for almost five years and already know each other very well. So seeing him like this, Guo Shouyun and Larry Page didn't say anything more.

"The reason why Blackstone and The Carlyle Group took the initiative this time is probably because they know our interim financial results for this year!" said Larry Page.

"Our interim earnings report has only been out for a week, how do they know?" Sergey asked.

"Among all the unlisted Internet companies in Silicon Valley, except for ruby, Google is the most valuable and the most expected, and it is also the focus of attention of major investment companies and financial institutions. Add to that the connections and influence of Blackstone and the Carlyle Group, and it's all too easy for them to find a senior executive within the company who is willing to provide them with information. ”

Larry Page nodded in agreement.

"We should find out this leaker!" Sergei said angrily.

"It's useless. More than 30 executives participated in the company's 2004 interim report, and it was too much work to find out. And it's just a palliative, not a cure. As long as Blackstone and the Carlyle Group are willing to make an offer, even if we clear this one, there will be another one in the future. Larry Page shook his head.

Guo Shouyun smiled, "Actually, this is also a good thing to some extent. If it weren't for the leak of intelligence, Blackstone and the Carlyle Group wouldn't have come to us. Now that they have come to the door themselves, the initiative is in our hands, and we can negotiate more favorable terms for Google tonight. ”

Larry Page and Sergey Brin nodded in agreement.

"Bruce, if we continue to negotiate, will we still stick to our last terms?" asked Larry Page.

In the two quarters of 2004, Google's revenue exceeded $3.78 billion and its net profit was $423 million. Based on the 30~40 times P/E ratio that is now popular among Nasdaq Internet companies, Google's valuation should be between $27 billion ~ $36 billion. Let's start with the high and gradually compress the price. But our bottom line is $30 billion, and Google's valuation must never be lower than $30 billion. ”

"What if they don't?" asked Larry Page after a moment's deep thought.

"They'll definitely say yes. Otherwise, Google will become more and more dazzling, and their competitors will grow. The price paid by the Carlyle Group and Blackstone to get Google's PE qualification will be getting bigger and bigger. ”

Looking at his confident expressions, Larry Page and Sergey Brin nodded. Over the years, Guo Shouyun's judgment has never been wrong. Therefore, they are also accustomed to taking his opinion as the main thing in such major decisions.