Reinventing the Millennium.

Chapter 927 Conventional Acquisition (4k)

People in Deyi are already dazzled.

It's not that Fang Zhuo has never poached people before, but the company in his hand has been poaching people all year round.

In particular, ice cores have been dug from south to north, from colleges and universities to enterprises, and from domestic and foreign countries, but every time it is a matter of "personality" and "position", I never thought that I could be so rich. choice.

Texas Instruments has a total of 3 employees worldwide, and the number of layoffs planned this time exceeds 3000.

Of course, this is the latest statement that Fang Zhuo got from Richard, the head of the company. The information heard by the outside world is still about 600 people.

Almost half of these 3000 people were either directly fired, or voluntarily retired or resigned.

The attitude given by Texas Instruments is that they provide convenience, and you have two-way choices, so that everyone can get together and leave well.

Some of the list of resumes that Yi Ke got were really excellent. After explaining them, Fang Zhuo was surprised and asked about the personnel of Texas Instruments, why such a technically accomplished talent should be laid off.

The answer is very simple.

"Departments have hard redundancies."

"Everyone is good, we know that, but hard metrics are metrics."

"Dr. Mason's research has great potential. However, he and his team need continuous investment in research and development. It cannot be commercialized in the short term and cannot be profitable. It does not meet our current strategic goals."

Layoff indicators + short-term unprofitability = move to Yike.

Fang Zhuo once again felt the coldness of the wave of the times at a close distance, no matter whether it’s a doctor or a doctor... When TI’s CEO Ricky faced the media’s frank concerns——“The company is re-establishing itself for a global recession. We cannot expect the economy to turn around anytime soon, and the actions we are taking to cut spending and inventories will allow Texas Instruments to achieve good financial results in this prolonged period of economic weakness", everything can only be obeyed for the survival of business organizations.

It was also after these remarks that TI's stock bucked the trend and rose 4%.

Because, according to estimates, TI's layoff plan can save 2 million US dollars in costs every year, and if this is combined with the news that TI has a larger layoff plan that has begun to spread in the market, the savings can be even more!

On October 10th, Ice Core's evaluation team arrived at TI's headquarters and began their selection.

The work of the ice core will be relatively difficult, because it means that the recruited engineers will have to go to China, which will greatly affect their choice.

Another three days later, after half a month of hard work in Texas Instruments, Yike initially screened out 146 employees, and Bingxin listed a list of up to 348 engineers, but the right to follow-up was handed over to the opposite party. .

The advantage that Yike and Bingxin can provide is that they can guarantee that their salaries will not decline. However, Texas Instruments employees do have more choices. They may not really want to join a mobile phone manufacturer or go to China or even plan There is no shadow of the German factory.

On October 10th, Fang Zhuo left Dallas and flew to Austin, the "low profile Silicon Valley", where Texas Instruments still left a mini-team of Yike and Bingxin to deal with the problems and needs of the selected employees face to face.

"Finally, we don't have to face piles of resumes. When the economic crisis comes, it will be difficult for everyone."

Even sitting in the passenger plane, Fang Zhuo seemed to still see what he had seen and heard these days.

There is nothing more like a puppet moment than this moment, because when it comes to the evaluation of technology, this is an area where he can hardly use his strengths-it can't be fooled.

In the past few days, apart from learning more about Texas Instruments’ internal operations, Fang Zhuo’s main job is to make promises and pay attention to external changes. The 29 billion bill that was rejected on the 7000th was finally passed by Congress on the 3rd of this month, but the economic crisis has already begun. The prelude cannot be easily undone.

There are two most important things for the United States right now. One is the extensive impact of the economic crisis, and the other is that the outcome of Xiao Ao and McCain will be decided next month.

Time has entered October, and different polls have shown that more voters have begun to pay more attention to the platform of "change" from Xiao Ao, and McCain's lead has been reversed even more.

On the evening of the 10th, Fang Zhuo's team entered the hotel and revised the guiding ideology of this operation.

Texas Instruments spent a lot of time here, and then try to improve efficiency as much as possible. If the opposite company or talent hesitates, then quickly go to the next one, first go through the valuable companies on the list, and then re-examine the valuable ones. place.

On the 11th, Fang Zhuo and others saw the second target of the action, P.G&A Company, a small design company dedicated to researching ARM server chips, which was once selected for the industry's cutting-edge selection this year.

Because the Hummingbird team acquired by Yike previously worked in Austin, the companies here are more or less social and connected.

P.G&A is a bit like a company under Texas Instruments’ internal evaluation standards. Their research on the ARM architecture is difficult to commercialize in a short period of time.

Fang Zhuo hopes to acquire this small company at a good price, just like the Hummingbird team, contributing nutrition to Yike's independent chip.

His psychological price point is $2000 million.

Time is limited, but the greetings after meeting are still needed.

Porter is the co-founder of this company. He is the "P" in the company's name. He graduated from Stanford University and has a dazzling resume in the industry.

This time, he took over the task of negotiating with the rich man in the East, because Porter is half-handed in China.

Porter carefully explained P.G&A's innovative work on server chips using ARMv7. He boasted that as long as the current research direction is followed, as long as the ARM architecture continues to be upgraded, there will be a very good commercial market. .

Fang Zhuo listened to the introduction patiently and politely. He didn't need his own deputy technical director, Elder, to ask questions. He first talked about two key points.

"Porter, the 32-bit ARMv7 instruction set is difficult to shake the X86 architecture, and it is difficult for your research on server chips to make breakthroughs beyond the architecture itself."

"Also, even if ARM releases the v8 architecture in a few years and uses 64-bit instruction sets to improve performance, the business ecosystem is bound to be weak, and there is a lack of compatible hardware and software. This is not a company's business, it needs The industry will work hard and take at least 5 or even 8 years."

"I appreciate your work on the ARM architecture, but it's really not something that can be done in a short period of time, especially with the current economic downturn."

Elder looked at his boss with some surprise, but he didn't expect him to be very correct. The ARMV7 architecture has two performances in the field of mobile phone chips and servers, and the latter still needs a better architecture and more time.

Fang Zhuo picked up the coffee cup, noticed Elder's gaze, took a sip of the coffee, and winked at him.

Live to the old, learn the old, can't go deep, can't it be set?

Regardless of whether a technology has real prospects, persistent R&D investment and the business ecology of the industry are similar. Since P.G&A is an independent company, it must consider such issues.

However, Porter didn't panic too much. He calmly talked about the innovative work in the company's research, which is a further solid foundation for the future.

As soon as the topic goes deeper...

Fang Zhuo gave Elder a look, which requires a professional.

Both Yike and P.G&A took turns. In this industry, there is also the technical director of the Hummingbird team, who happens to be good at ARM architecture, so there are some differences in views between them.

Sparks splashed everywhere, and the coffee was fragrant.

When Fang Zhuo began to drink his second cup of coffee, it was finally time to ask for the price.

"2000 million US dollars." He offered the price of a wholly-owned acquisition.

Porter frowned: "The valuation of our round of financing is 8000 million US dollars, Mr. Fang, if you are not sincere in the price, then there is really no need to waste time."

"Didn't you fail to negotiate this round of financing?" Fang Zhuo shook his head slightly, "Although I really hope that you will join Yikelai to continue the research on mobile phone chips, but I also respect your wishes. If you are willing to continue to delve into the field of server chips , that’s okay, Yi Ke can invest in this.”

"The economy is in a bad place right now, and I think P.G&A should appreciate people who are willing to shell out cash for acquisitions and commit to research and development."

"Elder told me that he likes your work very much. For this liking, I am willing to add another 300 million US dollars."

Fang Zhuo put down the coffee cup and offered a price higher than the initial psychological price: "2300 million US dollars."

Potter stared at the serious expression of the eastern man opposite.

Everything is right, regardless of the v7 architecture, the current situation, or cash, research and development, there is no problem.

It's the price...it feels like a loss to accept it like this.

Besides, how can such a matter of acquisition be negotiated once?

Potter shook his head: "The price is too low, we can't accept it, Mr. Fang, I really like Yike's mobile phone products, if it is really acquired, we are willing to research ARM mobile phone chips."

He took out his intention chip and continued: "But at this price, I really can't see sincerity."

Fang Zhuo felt a little regretful: "Then you think about it again. The current economic situation is like this. 2300 million is really not bad. I will fly to Houston tomorrow morning. I hope we can reach an agreement today."

Flying to Houston tomorrow?
Potter was skeptical of this claim.

As a half-Hua Xia hand, he thought of an idiom in the Eastern Kingdom - playing hard to get.

Also in Austin, as far as he knows, Yike has ideas on chips, otherwise he would not have acquired Hummingbird.

Since Yi Ke's plan is very big, he must pay the price he should pay.

He shook his head gracefully and confidently: "Boss Fang, let's discuss it separately and talk in the afternoon."

Fang Zhuo wanted to emphasize again that this was his final price, but out of politeness, he endured until the afternoon.

2300 million!
that's it!

No more!
In the second meeting in the afternoon, Fang Zhuo reiterated the price and the itinerary, reiterating that if you cooperate, you will both benefit, and if you divide, you will go bankrupt.

However, Porter, who led the negotiation of P.G&A this time, has recognized "playing hard to get" and firmly refuses to accept such a price.

In the evening, the two sides failed to reach an agreement.

Fang Zhuo shook hands with Porter regretfully. P.G&A seems to be really good, but... if you don't sell it, don't sell it, the next one will be better.

In the evening, Porter discussed the terms of the negotiation with the other two founders of the company, Grace and Autumn, emphasizing that Yike will never let go of the opportunity to strengthen its chip design capabilities.

"Don't worry, even if they don't call me tonight, they will talk about it tomorrow."

"Huaxia people are very particular about negotiation strategies. They will find a level acceptable to both parties to complete a hard-to-get game. Although we can't get 8000 million, we can at least double the current 2300 million."

"Fang Zhuo is a rich man in the world, and Yike's Mars is selling very well. The price can definitely be negotiated."

Porter swears, thinking that he has grasped the mind of the head of Yike.

It's just that, this night, he really didn't receive a call from Yi Kexin.

The next morning, Potter, who was a little uneasy, waited for an hour, but decided to have a drink of coffee at the hotel where Yi Ke was staying. Isn't everything about the stairs just a matter of supervision?Everyone is the same!
However, he sat in the lobby of the hotel and waited, but he never saw anyone from Yi Ke show up.

Potter finally called the head of Yike.

"Oh, I'm already in Houston." Fang Zhuo was already sitting in the conference room of the third company, and said briefly, "I flew over last night. After all, I have nothing to do in Austin for the time being, and we have already made an appointment here."

Potter was dumbfounded: "Fang, Mr. Fang, that, that... this acquisition..."

"Didn't you already refuse?" Fang Zhuo asked back.

Potter thought about the word "playing hard to get", and once wondered if the other party was acting, but he didn't dare to bet on this possibility, and said sincerely: "We can talk again, how can the acquisition be decided so quickly?"

"It's still 2300 million, and the price remains unchanged." Fang Zhuo said bluntly.

Potter faltered again.

"Then think about it again." Fang Zhuo ended the call.

Potter put down his mobile phone and immediately rushed to the hotel reception to ask about the movements of Yi Ke and his party.

Sure enough, the other party had really left the hotel.

Potter walked out of the hotel in silence, never expecting that everything was true.

How could this be?
He was very puzzled.

However, there is a big gap between 2300 million and last month's 8000 million and the psychological price, and it is really impossible to agree.

Porter hastily shared the situation with the two founders.

An hour later, he called Mr. Fang again and gave his final price: 4000 million US dollars!
Fang Zhuo refused.

Just in time for the acquisition negotiations in Houston to take a break, Fang Zhuo pondered for a moment, and ordered his secretary Liu Zonghong: "If you write bad news about ARM's server chip field in Austin's local media, and write about venture capital judgments under the current economic situation, take For example, P.G&A, talk about their last round of financing failure and business prospects.”

Liu Zonghong suppressed his astonishment, and took his orders to leave, thinking that the boss had changed for the better...

Fang Zhuo frowned, and suddenly felt a little regretful, what was he doing, wasn't this going to take by force?

"Boss, how about P.G&A, they are really accomplished in the field of server chips." Elder, the deputy chief engineer of technology, also never forgets about P.G&A.

Fang Zhuo frowned, look, this is not just a personal wish at all, and he is just tied up by the company.

He took a sip of coffee and replied: "Wait a minute, don't worry, give them some time, let's talk about the company in Houston first, this time, we have to get the IC design on the right track no matter what."

Three days later, Fang Zhuo, who had left Houston for his next destination, received a call from Potter.

"Boss Fang, we are willing to accept $2300 million." Porter's voice was a little tired.

Instead, Fang Zhuo hesitated: "Porter, it's not that I want to go back on my word, but I noticed the analysis of experts in the media. The prospect of ARM-based server chips seems...it seems...Porter, you know."

Porter was silent for nearly 30 seconds: "2000 million dollars."

This is Fang Zhuo's first offer.

"Well, I'll discuss it with Elder and the others. After all, they are the ones who know best. I'm not good at making judgments in the technical field, Potter, you know that." Fang Zhuo replied.

Potter hung up the phone, waiting anxiously for an answer, he didn't know if he knew.

Because of the failure of the acquisition and media reports, he had quarreled with two friends several times in the past three days. Yes, the economic situation is different!
That night, Potter received a call from the head of Yike.

2000 million, just 2000 million, Yi Ke is willing to bet once!
In this way, Yike completed a regular acquisition and gave the precarious P.G&A a warm home.

(End of this chapter)