King of Capital

Chapter 59 US$235 billion

Turn the crown and the hands move back to twenty minutes ago.

Xie Jingxing took off his watch and placed it in front of Koum, with a sarcastic sneer on his face: "I think your decision to accept Facebook's acquisition is a stupid one."

“You keep saying that WhatsApp will never advertise, but Facebook is the largest Internet advertising company in the United States.”

He looked at Koum, who had a calm expression, and then paused before continuing, "I know what you are thinking. Zuckerberg has impressed you with his patience for a whole year. He said that after the merger, you will still have actual control and will not allow WhatsApp to advertise or do anything you don't want to do."

"He said the same thing when he acquired Instagram last year. Do you need to meet with the founding team of Instagram to see how they view Zuckerberg now?"

Koum knocked on the table: "Don't try your financial vampire negotiation tricks on me. I don't accept provocation."

"Okay, let's change the angle. You don't really care whether WhatsApp advertises or not. Entrepreneurial ideas are all bullshit. Making money is the real thing. Zuckerberg promised to give you a large sum of money, which is hard for you to earn on your own in your lifetime. It is enough to buy your soul."

Xie Jing Xing crossed his fingers and placed them on the armrests of the chair, looking at him.

Kum frowned and shook his head. "Whatever you say, I promised Jim I would give you 17 minutes. Oh no, it's 17 minutes now. After minutes, I will have the security guards fork you out."

"Growth, do you think Facebook can inject new fuel into WhatsApp's growth?"

Xie Jing Xing raised his chin in disdain: "Zuckerberg is old, and his understanding of Internet technology is still stuck in the last era. The fact that Facebook's self-developed instant messaging product was crushed to the ground by you is the best proof of this."

"Now that you've stated your needs, you can take a look at my price."

He pulled out three authorizations from his bag and spread them out on the table one by one.

Tencent has registered three companies in the Cayman Islands in joint ventures with Microsoft, Apple and Amazon, with Tencent holding a 30% stake in each company and Microsoft holding a 70% stake each.

Tencent then jointly registered a company called 'Forsan' with these three companies in the United States, with Tencent holding a 51% stake, the three joint ventures registered in the Cayman Islands each holding a 15% stake, and the remaining 4% held by Grapefruit Capital (USA) in technology.

And going one level higher, the companies jointly registered by Tencent Group, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon are achieved through cross-holdings.

In short, from a legal perspective this will be an American company, and after taking into account various dazzling capital operations, Microsoft, Apple, and Google will hold more than 50% of the shares.

From the perspective of actual control, as long as Pony Ma does not change his nationality, this is a Chinese company.

"The biggest risk standing in the way of our M&A transaction - the legal and regulatory issues in your country - has been resolved, right?" Xie Jingxing asked.

Koum was speechless and his heart beat faster. If Facebook is the king of Silicon Valley and the Internet giant, then Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon together are the roots of the American Internet. In last year's general election, they have replaced the traditional media in controlling the electoral discourse.

Even American children, who receive a happy education, do not question their influence on Congress.

How did Tencent manage to tie these three giants to its chariot at the same time? This is fucking outrageous...

"If you don't express your opinion, I'll take that as your consent, and then we can talk about actual control."

Xie Jingxing smiled with satisfaction: "Forsan's board of directors will have two seats from China, Tencent and Grapefruit Capital, and three seats from the United States, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon. Tencent will absolutely support your actual control over all operations of the company."

Koum unconsciously moved his Adam's apple and licked his lower lip. This method was a hundred times more reliable than the promise made by Zuckerberg.

Everyone is tied to the same rope. The US government has no choice but to passively "guarantee" Tencent, while Tencent and Microsoft are restraining each other.

As long as Tencent behaves excessively, the US officials will be the first to jump out and cause trouble for Tencent, and if Microsoft and the other two parties behave excessively, they cannot avoid Tencent.

Under such a structure, he, as the founder of WhatsApp, has a huge space to maneuver. As long as the company develops well, everyone is a solid triangular chariot, with the support of Microsoft...

Kum felt a tremor all over his body, and he couldn't help but make associations, feeling excited and scared.

"Our servers will be located in the United States, with Microsoft providing information storage and technical support; our communication encryption security will be guaranteed by Apple, and the two parties will work closely together to develop an installed version of instant messaging products suitable for the iOS system."

Xie Jingxing spoke calmly, giving him plenty of room for imagination: "I don't know if you've paid attention to WeChat. A few days ago, WeChat launched a mobile payment function in mainland China. In the future, people can use WhatsApp to pay on Amazon, and develop a dedicated mobile payment product."

"All of this is free. WhatsApp is always free. After all, developing countries also have instant messaging needs. They use their money to buy food, study, and treat illnesses. As a company destined to be great, we cannot suck their blood. What do you think?"

He slowly crossed his legs.

"Yeah, no... no, I mean..."

Koum was a little incoherent for a moment. It would be best if WhatsApp could be free forever, which would mean a huge market prospect. But he was a little confused about whether mobile payment was good or bad.

Xie Jingxing didn't give him time to think, and finally said: "When 30 billion people around the world use WhatsApp, and 15 billion people are using WhatsApp's mobile payment function, you will be grateful that I gave you the opportunity to talk tonight."

Twenty minutes passed quickly without him noticing, and the hands returned to the second when he just walked into the room.

"dong dong dong"

Xie Jingxing tapped the armrest of the chair lightly, making a dull sound. He said calmly, "Listen carefully. Now I say: Forsan will acquire WhatsApp for $250 billion, yes or no?"

"... I have to think about it. Facebook and Google have both made their offers. You know, thank you. I hate trouble. I really have to think about it seriously."

Kum stood with his back straight, his upper body leaning forward, and a sincere expression, trying to make his words sound more convincing.

"Actual control, future development, money, I gave you everything you wanted."

Xie Jingxing bent down and took out a few documents from his bag, then adjusted the hands of his watch to twenty minutes ago again: "You have twenty minutes to think about it. During this time, let's play a little game. I will remind you every five minutes. The timer begins." Under the light, a delicate copper lighter with a faint glow was gently rubbed and sparks jumped out. It turned into a slightly shaking fire, which ignited a document and the embers floated and fell to the floor.

"The offer has now changed to US$245 billion," Xie Jingxing said.

This was a desperate counterattack from the combined will of countless people behind him. There was no way to retreat or avoid, and if he didn't advance, he would die.

Koum suddenly stood up, widened his eyes, opened his mouth and shouted: "Hey, you can't do this, you will set my office on fire, there are wooden floors..."

"$240 million."

Five long minutes passed, smoke billowed from the floor, and another offer was ignited.

"I have to talk to my consultant and call Morgan Stanley. You are also in this business and you also want your clients to communicate with you before making major decisions, right? FXXK, stop, stop immediately. You win, I agree to the merger!"

When the fourth offer was about to be ignited, Kum violently rushed out of the desk and frantically stomped out the embers on the ground, grabbing Xie Jingxing's arm tightly.

"Look." Xie Jingxing nodded his chin towards his watch.

When Kum turned around to look, the third offer was still ignited.

Xie Jingxing stood up and said happily: "235 billion, happy cooperation."

"Fuck it...you lunatic, why are you doing this?!" Kum was a little overwhelmed, holding his head in his hands.

Xie Jingxing grabbed his collar, and the two stood facing each other and looked at each other: "Let me tell you why. Tencent created WeChat when facing its competitor Sina Weibo, and Facebook was terrified and helpless when facing its competitor WhatsApp. Seeking acquisition."

"So, I want Facebook to die, everyone wants Facebook to die, don't you?"

Koum looked at the final intended merger agreement, which was still $3 billion higher than Facebook's offer, and he couldn't even utter a word of curse in his heart.

He barely managed to maintain his dignity and hold on: "You gave in, begged for peace like a young wife and finally got WhatsApp. This is not glorious."

"……I do not care."

Xie Jingxing's momentum stagnated, and he spoke softly after a few seconds of silence.

The biggest risk for Tencent's acquisition of WhatsApp came from US officials. Many years later, another Internet giant encountered the same problem when it went overseas. After countless mediations, the latter finally found a glimmer of hope.

This was his biggest reliance in initially brokering the Tencent-WhatsApp merger. He just knelt, but he knelt quickly and steadily, and could even slide on his knees. He was experienced and skilled in his movements. Even if Ao Guanhai came in person, he would have to praise Xiao Xie for his standard kneeling posture.

But Xie Jingxing didn't care whether he was kneeling or standing. He only cared that when WhatsApp's global users exceeded 2 billion and "Subject Three" became popular all over the world like a virus, today's enemy Facebook would definitely die.

He was not a national entrepreneur who valued his reputation and left a loyal heart to shine in history. He was a financial capitalist who dared to hang himself.

Kum lowered his head, looked at the sweat stains on his white collar and breathed a sigh of relief. At least the person standing in front of him was still a human being.

…………

The next morning, a cruise ship slowly sailed out of the port.

Yan Wenhua stamped out his cigarette and exhaled: "Don't worry, I'm watching over here."

"I'm worried that Facebook will do something desperate." Xie Jingxing pulled his windbreaker closer.

Yan Wenhua glanced at Su He who was standing silently on the side, and said bluntly: "I think we should be more worried about Ali's counterattack."

"Tencent is not made of clay. It has no problem in China."

Xie Jing Xing spread out his hands to feel the cool raindrops, and his mind became clearer: "It's in New York. Alibaba is a bit strong now."

On the cruise ship are the M&A teams of Forsan and WhatsApp. The two parties will sign a formal M&A agreement within two days. At the same time, they have formally submitted an M&A application to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

The details of the transaction were exposed. Tencent not only entered the field of mobile payments, but also entered into a deep strategic partnership with Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce platform.

This blow hit Jack Ma's vitals. At that time, Alibaba was seeking to be listed on the Nasdaq, with the support of the largest financial backer in history. If he did not take the opportunity to launch a crazy counterattack to stop the merger and acquisition, he would not be a rural teacher.

"I have to go to New York." Xie Jingxing was not too reassured.

With Microsoft, Apple and Amazon entering the game, there is still room for lawsuits. At least on the surface, Tencent has to withstand the attacks from Facebook and Alibaba in public opinion on its own.

Su He pursed her lips and said, "I'll go with you."

"Juntai is under investigation." Xie Jingxing smiled and reminded that the M&A team on the cruise ship is a Wall Street institution invited by Bill Gates through his old friend Buffett to minimize risks.

Su He lowered his head and said calmly, "Tencent and Juntai have reached a deep cooperative relationship. I am now seconded to Tencent and temporarily serve as the assistant to the director of Forsan."

"So now you lead me, or I lead you?" Xie Jingxing asked with a smile.

Su He stroked the hair beside his ears unnaturally. Yan Wenhua saw that something was wrong with the two of them and interrupted to remind them: "Be careful, anything can happen at this critical moment."

Taking over WhatsApp is just the beginning. The next storm has really arrived. The madness of capital is beyond human imagination.

(End of this chapter)