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Chapter 1113: Chapter 972: It’s Not That I’m Incapable, It’s That the Opponent Is Too Cunning_2
"I’m sorry, that’s a trade secret, no comment."
"..."
Just as expected.
Next.
Around the game company’s twenty billion dollar valuation, there was a repeated argument, yet Fighter didn’t budge a dime. It was infuriating, but no one gave up.
This was a valuation negotiation.
Only after a universally recognized price emerged would trading begin. Of course, if a company agreed right away, the deal could be done now, but no company was foolish enough to jump out.
Seeing the deadlock.
They gradually shifted their attention to the live broadcasting software, which was not technologically complex compared to "Warfire’s" nearly terrifying game update speed that kept players constantly craving novelty.
The live broadcasting software had no real technical challenges from the inside out.
This point.
Fighter also admitted.
"You’re right, this software doesn’t have a high barrier to entry; any of your companies could develop it given some time, creating competition for us. With a user base, you could also take a significant share.
But do you think this software is just for live broadcasting? Of course not. Around live broadcasting, we can create a new media, a new software ecosystem. Similarly, if you’re not a board member, you can’t know the content of our new projects."
"To tell you the truth, if we wait another year, even without going public, ERV’s valuation could definitely exceed one hundred billion dollars. It’s a shame that it’s only fifty billion dollars now. I’m taking a big loss," Fighter kept shaking his head.
This scene.
Angered many people.
You’re taking a big loss.
We’re also set to take a loss. How do we proceed with negotiations when you won’t budge a single cent on a fifty billion dollar valuation? If the boss finds out, we’ll catch hell.
After all this time.
The more they talked, the more it piled up.
Such financing negotiations were something they hadn’t encountered for a long time. If it wasn’t a company that was epoch-making or had already become a small unicorn, they couldn’t get such treatment. ERV, however, had the confidence of a small unicorn.
That was the most infuriating thing.
ERV’s growth rate was too fast.
In just a blink, it had grown to this point; it never needed a startup phase and had never sought investment, growing rapidly and becoming more and more unshakable.
"Sir, if negotiations continue this way, it will be difficult for us to proceed," a person from Sequoia Capital said with a furrowed brow.
"That’s okay, I have plenty of time. If we don’t agree today, we can talk tomorrow; if not tomorrow, then next month, or even next year. By then, my valuation will also be increasing. Actually, I prefer it this way."
Fighter suddenly threw out a startling remark.
"..."
That’s utterly shameless.
You enjoy dragging out a negotiation until next year. Is this a pressure tactic?
Yes, of course.
If the talks go on that long, media attention alone could cause ERV’s valuation to jump significantly.
"Sir, we came here with the utmost sincerity, hoping to collaborate with your company, but you are not budging at all and your valuation far exceeds ours. We do not see your sincerity," the person from Sequoia Capital suppressed the anger in their heart.
"My sincerity is in the profits I can bring you, not in handing them to you on a silver platter. With ERV’s current market value at only fifty billion dollars, I think when it reaches five hundred billion, you will no longer question my words," Fighter said confidently, sweeping a glance over them.
"Five hundred billion? Do you think that’s possible?" a representative from Qualcomm squinted.
"Of course it’s possible. I don’t think doubling it is a dream. If I didn’t have that much confidence, ERV wouldn’t have come this far. I can only say that after this round of financing, I will take the directors to see the real ERV."
"The real ERV?"
"What’s that?"
"..."
"Alright, I know you don’t have the authority to decide; I’ve said so much just so you have something to report back. Tomorrow at this time, I hope you will bring me some good news."
Fighter stood up.
"Another thing, those interested can purchase stocks at my valuation after this meeting ends. I don’t want to receive phone calls bargaining the price; it wastes my time.
For the sake of fairness, an individual company’s maximum purchase is limited to five percent and the minimum to 0.5 percent. I’ll accept cash or designated stock swaps, but not personal directors for now."
"Goodbye."
After speaking.
Fighter turned and left.
So nonchalant it was unbearable.
In the conference room, representatives from various companies were quite bewildered. Is it over, just like that? How can we explain this when we return? The chairman was so rude.
However.
Personal charisma was distinct.
Decisive and efficient.
Eloquent and persuasive.
"What should we do?"
"They’re leaving just like that?"
"That’s too much."
"..."
At this moment, IDG’s Winters had already packed up and stood up.
He spoke loudly.
"Everyone go back to what you were doing. I’ve dealt with him for more than half a year; he’s like this. Once he makes a decision, no one can convince him to change. He is very rigid but keeps his promises, absolutely true to his word."
"Winters, did IDG already know about this?" asked a representative from Sony on the side.
"How would I know? I’m not a shareholder of ERV," Winters shook his head.
"That’s true."
"Goodbye, everyone, I need to go back and report."
After speaking, Winters left with two secretaries.
The rest was left to the IDG Board of Directors to worry about. If no one could bring Ling down, then he wouldn’t be responsible either.
Walking downstairs,
Winters realized that there was a group of journalists outside. He thought of taking the back door, but it was too late. Those journalists were well-informed, and Winters’ identity was far from secret.
"Mr. Winters, may I ask how much the financing amount for ERV is, and has it been completed?"
"Mr. Winters, how much is the investment from IDG Group?"
"Mr. Winters, why did you leave early? Were you kicked out?"
"..."
"I..." Winters was at a loss for words.
It’s fine to ask questions, but at least give me a chance to answer.
And that busty girl, show some professionalism, please. What do you mean by asking if I was kicked out? You’re here to report on financial news, so ask relevant questions, would you?
Though I might not answer them anyway.
Fortunately, at that moment, other people came down too and shared the burden of the interview. Everyone was used to it. But since Winters was the first to come down, he was surrounded by all the journalists. It would be strange not to be squeezed.
...
Finally, he made it back to the car.
The representative from Sequoia Capital immediately called his boss, the helmsman of Sequoia Capital.
"What, why ERV? How did you negotiate?" As expected, when he heard the 50 billion dollars valuation and that the projected investment could potentially multiply, the person on the other end could not stay calm.
"The ERV Chairman hinted at a lot within his words, like their second game, and the future strategy of that live broadcast software. He even mentioned the true ERV... We find it hard to value these unknowns effectively."
Immediately, he shifted the blame to ’the cunning tricks of the enemy.’
"The true ERV?" The person on the other side questioned.
He quickly said, "That’s what he claimed, but he mentioned only Board members could know. He also said we could buy up to five percent starting now, first come, first served."
"Hisss... Such a negotiation method is quite interesting," the other side went silent for a moment.
"Yes, I can usually tell if the future described by half the companies seeking investment is true or not at a glance. But with the Chairman’s depiction, having seen the success of ’Warfire,’ I find it hard to doubt."
"You must have been played," the person on the other side stated flatly.
"Played?"
"Forget it, we’ll discuss this in the Board meeting. Not a penny off, completely blocked our bargaining room, haha, interesting, one ring links another. No wonder you didn’t lose, our opponent is not simple."
"This..."
"That’s all, wait for our decision."
"Yes."
The call ended.
He breathed a sigh of relief, finally managing to convey one point back.
—It wasn’t that he was incompetent; it was that the opponent was too cunning.
...
Similar things happened at other companies. The Fighter’s linked strategy caught their negotiators completely off guard, and the sufficiency of their reasons genuinely surprised them.
They all convened meetings to discuss.
