"It's still a difference in the company's philosophy," Eric replied, "I want AOL to stick to its corporate positioning as an Internet service provider, but Steve wants AOL to be a comprehensive Internet media company." Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info"

"As far as I know," Judith Miller looked down at her notepad and said, "As the largest shareholder of AOL, Firefly Investment's shareholding in AOL was as high as 32. 6 %, all of which are common shares with voting rights. Fireflies are well enough to depose Steve Case, why didn't you insist on doing so just because Steve Keys and the core management of AOL were threatened with a collective resignation?"

Eric nodded and said, "That's pretty much. ”

"So," said Judith Miller, looking at Eric, the question became acerbic again, "don't you think you've been too weak in dealing with this?"

Eric shook his head in a flat tone: "This has nothing to do with toughness and weakness, it is the stupidest thing to act rashly in the process of running a business, and I think I have made the most beneficial choice for myself." Firefly Investments acquired a 30 percent stake in AOL for $60 million, and six years later, we recouped $10 billion by selling just 25 percent of that stake. A 200x rate of return, even with an investment in Yahoo, is nowhere near that. ”

Although she has paid attention to the whole process of Firefly's investment in the transfer of AOL stocks, Judith Miller still has a breathtaking feeling when she hears this set of data comparison from Eric's mouth at this time.

However, this sentiment did not affect the following question, and after glancing at her watch without a trace, she quickly said: "Mr. Williams, AOL has entered the Internet media industry with the advantage of being the largest Internet service provider in North America, are you worried that this will threaten Yahoo's market position?"

Eric shook his head and said, "Actually, I'm more worried about AOL. ”

This answer was obviously far beyond Judith Miller's expectations, and she was stunned for a moment before asking, "Why?"

Although he has cashed out $10 billion, he still holds a large number of AOL shares, so Eric naturally can't analyze the reasons too thoroughly and affect AOL's stock price, but just said in general: "Because AOL is turning to areas that he is not good at at all." My personal investment philosophy is to let the right people do the right things, and Firefly Investment's series of fast-growing companies over the years have proven me right in this insistence. ”

Compared to Eric's answer to a series of questions just now, Judith Miller keenly sensed Eric's reservations about this question, and she asked, "So, you are not optimistic about AOL's future?"

Eric shook his head slightly: "It doesn't matter if I'm optimistic or not, because I can't see the future of AOL." ”

Does this mean that Fireflies will continue to reduce their holdings of 7 in the future. 6 % AOL stock?"

Eric hesitated for a moment and said, "In order for unnecessary disputes to arise in the future, I must clarify that the current shareholding ratio of the entire Firefly system to AOL should be 10. 7 % 。 In addition to Firefly Investment, a year ago, we successively absorbed another 3 . 1 % of AOL stocks. However, under the federal securities laws, if the shareholding ratio is less than 5%, the relevant shareholders are not required to disclose and report their shareholdings. We did this only to tighten our grip on AOL at the right time, and of course, we don't need it anymore. Finally, my answer to your question is yes, but the Firefly system won't do that anytime soon. ”

Judith Miller recalled the data she had seen, and there was a clear look of surprise on her face, and she believed that AOL would be even more surprised after the interview was released.

Follow 7 . With a 6% shareholding, Firefly should have been the seventh largest shareholder of AOL. Moreover, in the course of the last equity transfer transaction, AOL other shareholders will definitely invest in the remaining 7 of the Firefly. The 6% shareholding is subject to various restrictions, and Firefly Investment's waiver of AOL board seats is probably one of the relevant grey market conditions.

But if you count the other 3 that are completely unconstrained by AOL. 1% free shareholding, the entire Firefly system, will once again become one of the top five shareholders of AOL. Moreover, as long as it wills, the Firefly system still has enough strength to intervene in AOL's management at any time.

After digesting the information she had just received, Judith Miller quickly added, "Mr. Williams, according to what you say, can I assume that you are still very optimistic about the Internet service provider business?"

"Of course, this is the cornerstone of the development of the entire Internet industry, people use the Internet, they may be interested in portals, they may be interested in e-commerce, they may be interested in instant messaging, but the first thing they have to do is they must first access the Internet. ”

"Microsoft's MSN has already started to expand in this area, so does Yahoo have plans to do the same in the future?"

"This goes back to my investment philosophy, I'm not going to let Ian do what they're not good at, Yahoo will always focus on the Internet media business. Of course, at the right time, Firefly Investments will do so, just as it did when it took a stake in AOL. ”

Judith Miller asked, "When is the right time for you?"

Eric shook his head solemnly: "We don't have any plans for this for the time being, because this time, we will be more cautious." ”

Judith Miller didn't see any flaws in Eric's expression, so she turned the topic to Yahoo itself again: "Mr. Williams, Yahoo is currently involved in almost all the Internet business models that have emerged, portals, instant messaging, e-mail, search engines, social blogs, etc., what business are you most optimistic about?"

Eric's expression was more serious, and his tone was firm, "Of course, it's the portal." Users' access to the Internet is equivalent to building a road to this virtual world, but if you want to enjoy the cyberspace, you can't do without the help of portals. Moreover, in my opinion, a series of web services such as e-mail, search engines, and social blogs are just a supplement and continuation of the portal, and they are actually one. ”

Judith Miller nodded slightly, but immediately added: "But, Mr. Williams, it is not difficult for us to find that the operating model of the portal is very easy to replicate, what do you think about this aspect of the problem?"

With a confident smile on his face, Eric said, "A lot of great engineers can build a propeller in their garage, but there's only one Boeing in the Commonwealth. ”

Judith Miller was so convinced by this simple but convincing analogy that she glanced at her watch again and saw that she had little time left, so she glanced at her notepad and began to ask questions faster.

In the smooth dialogue, the study door was suddenly knocked lightly a few times, Mayer pushed the door open, and said softly with a faint expression: "Mr. Williams, the time is almost up." ”

After that night in London, the female assistant began to take the Iceberg Girl route, and Eric had been wondering if the group of goblins had done something that had made Mayer doubt his life, but he didn't bother to ask.

Hearing the reminder, Eric got up and held out his hand to Judith Miller, "Well, Ms. Miller, it's a pleasure to see you again. ”

Although she was still a little unsatisfied, Judith Miller had to get up and shake Eric's hand, and said, "Me too, Mr. Williams, I look forward to the next time we meet." ”

……

Over the weekend, major media outlets in North America and overseas have been frantic about Yahoo's IPO miracle and heated discussions about Yahoo's stock price action next week. Almost all media and industry analysts believe that after the peak of the first day, Yahoo's stock price will fall sharply in the new week.

Although Yahoo's management did a lot of work over the weekend, it even announced some good news in advance that had not yet been fully implemented. However, even within the Firefly system, it is mentally prepared for the fall in Yahoo's stock price in the new week.

However, on Monday, when some stock managers who didn't have time to pay attention to the media trends in the new week sat in front of their computers, anxiously considering whether to sell their Yahoo shares and other technology stocks next, the stock market opened at 9:30 a.m., and Yahoo's stock trend did not appear in the slightest as they imagined, but began to rise strangely.

In just ten minutes, compared to 72 on Friday. At the close of $56, Yahoo's share price rose by more than 3% to 74. $73.

It's not hard to imagine that if this rate of growth continues, Yahoo's market capitalization is likely to exceed $100 billion in just one day.

These stockbrokers, who were kept in the dark, sat in front of their computers for a moment, came to their senses, and began to frantically search for what was going on?

So, when they turn on the TV or log on to the portal, they find a screen full of discussions around a name that everyone knows all too well.

On CNN, two economists were foaming at the mouth of the argument about Eric Williams' optimistic statement about the dot-com bubble.

The front page of Yahoo Portal is hung with commentary on whether the federal government should deregulate the size of new tech companies.

ABC Morning News broadcasts a feature discussing the globalization of the Internet.

AOL CEO Steve Keys refuted Eric Williams' remarks about AOL in a telephone interview in an anxious tone.

A spokesman for the federal Department of Justice has been frustrated by media references to Eric Williams about whether the Department of Justice is being too harsh on Microsoft.

And, most importantly.

Eric Williams' uplifting statement, quoted countless times in just a few hours in a New York Times interview: "What else is impossible in a huge market with a base of 1 billion of the best users?"

In just one sentence, countless investors who are already full of worries and doubts about Internet technology stocks have once again boosted their confidence.

Since the rapid development of human society, almost all traditional industries have formed a very stable industrial pattern, and countless surplus wealth in the whole society are looking for new investment hotspots all the time.

At this time, suddenly a young man who has created a series of wealth miracles stood up and told everyone loudly: A huge market with billions or even billions of consumer groups that is completely untapped is in front of us, how can this not make countless capitals boil.

Spurred on by the New York Times' interview with Eric Williams and the ensuing media storm, the Nasdaq rose another 35 percentage points throughout Monday.

But that's just the beginning.

In the days that followed, the media discussion around Eric's interview did not cool down at all, but instead showed a trend of intensification, and even spread to a global hot topic.

A series of topics covered in Eric's interview, such as the Internet bubble, the regulation of new technology companies, Microsoft, AOL, and web portals, have become the focus of heated debate in the media.

Although very dissatisfied with Eric's remarks about 'Bill's arrogant guy' and the fact that the New York Times published this sentence truthfully, Microsoft, which has been in the shadow of the federal Department of Justice's antitrust investigation for several years, decisively quoted Eric's views in the interview to launch a counterattack, claiming that the federal government is strangling a 'global corporate giant' and harming the 'fundamental interests' of the federation.

In the face of Microsoft's accusations and the media controversy led by this trend, Justice Secretary Janet Reynaud had to hold a press conference to explain in detail the specific reasons why the Justice Department initiated an antitrust investigation into Microsoft.

At the same time, Janet Renault also reciprocated the way of others, based on Eric's remarks in the interview, asking Microsoft to abandon the extremely selfish and closed market strategy and make more open measures that are conducive to the healthy development of the entire industry.

Clinton, who is still haunted by the impeachment case, was asked about the New York Times interview at the White House press conference that week, and also made a series of comments in a series of serious comments, which were summed up as 'Eric is right, Microsoft is not doing right, and the White House will unswervingly support the new technology industry', balabala.

At the same time, when the Yahoo stock price finally officially reached 79 on the third trading day of Thanksgiving Week. At $68, when the market value broke through the 100 billion mark, AOL's management and major shareholders were jumping over Eric's "I can't see the future of AOL".

Although AOL's stock price has not fallen sharply driven by the overall market trend, in the face of the continuous fluctuation of AOL's stock price, John Mark, president of Morgan Stanley, who holds a large number of AOL shares, had to call Eric in person, hoping that he could come forward to make some 'additions' to AOL's remarks in the New York Times interview. After all, the Firefly system also holds AOL 10. 7% of the shares. AOL's stock price fell, and the Firefly system will also lose a lot.

Overseas, reminded by Eric's interview article, many media in European and Asian countries have also begun to follow suit, and at the same time, countless overseas media have begun to strongly call on the government to strengthen support for domestic new technology companies and limit the invasion of North American Internet giants.

Under the disturbance, things developed to the end, and every paragraph and sentence of Eric in the interview became the target of many people's entanglement.

I don't know if it was instructed by a certain guy, Intel's newly appointed president and CEO Craig Barrett specifically said in an interview with CNN that the gate classmate is very approachable in private, has a hearty personality, likes to joke, and is definitely not the arrogant person that Eric Williams claims.

However, it is good that Craig Barrett does not explain, and this explanation has the opposite effect. For some reason, 'Arrogant Bill' quickly became a ridicule of many media outlets, and this nickname eventually accompanied Patriarch for many years.

Even, somewhat inexplicably, several major North American airlines are also involved for some reason.

In an interview, the president of Lockheed Martin said very resentfully: The federal government has not only Boeing, but also Lockheed Martin.

A helicopter manufacturing company that has been neglected in a corner also weakly shows its presence: Eric Williams' favorite VH-60 helicopter, we built it.

Over the years, although the accumulation of wealth has become more and more large, however, Eric's impression to the public has become more and more low-key.

Most people's personal impression of Eric is that of big directors, super-rich people, and lace news, but not many people have a deep and intuitive impression of Eric's wealth and power.

But in just one week, with the wave of world-class media discussion caused by Eric Williams' interview with the New York Times, countless people have finally felt the terrifying social influence that Eric has unknowingly accumulated over the years.

With just an interview article, the trillion-dollar NASDAQ market has risen, the world's mainstream media has been hotly discussed, the federal government departments are tired of coping, countless corporate giants have responded to follow suit, and the new technology field has changed.

This young man, who has reached the top of the world's wealth at the age of twenty-eight, is like a dragon accustomed to keeping calm, and when the other party casually flapps his wings, the whole world begins to stir.