Chapter 239
Chapter 239 Killing chickens and monkeys
What does it feel like to be in enemy-occupied territory? I followed Ella Cherry, who came to Houston with the federal tax office, the Department of Justice, the antitrust agency, and the special investigation team for corporate fraud. I felt it.
In the past, when they went to a company to investigate, it was basically the style of the "Emperor of Earth". They would not stop until the company was demolished.
Actually, it is also a deterrent, telling the people of that company that they are being targeted, so when they arrive at a company, these investigators will act very roughly.
But this time it's different. The local police station and prosecutor's office in Houston stood by and watched the show, and beside them were a team of lawyers who were watching the investigators at all times, and there were cameras next to them. , will definitely appear in the show on TV.
The personnel from these local municipal departments in Houston will not help the investigators. Even if the investigators who followed Ella Cherry want to do it themselves, they will not be able to drive away the people who double-clicked the lawyer and the video. The surrounding circle is fully armed. Then the security personnel with fully automatic weapons stood aside, and really started to fight. It's not sure who will suffer!
Therefore, after coming to the double-click company, the personnel of these investigation teams are miserable. They have to handle things with care. If they want to see the accounts and funds of the double-click company, they have to apply to the double-click company. Arrange to go to a grocery room to check those accounts, even without lights, it's obvious to dissuade them.
Ella Cherry looked at the scene in front of her, and looked at Song Yang who was talking and laughing with Chuck Rhodes and others. At this time, Ella Cherry became calm instead.
In the first step today, Ella Cherry was going to make Double-Click Company go crazy. She was not interested in dealing with the listing, and let Double-Click mess up, but obviously these failed!
However, Ella Cherry was not angry. Double-click's preparations and all the experiences she experienced in Houston made Ella Cherry understand that it was impossible for Double-click to admit defeat easily.
"Song, as well as executives such as Whitman of Double-Click Company, I hope you can accept our question!" Ella Cherry said to Double-Click Company with several assistants.
Chuck Rhodes hesitated for a moment, but nodded to Song Yang. It can add trouble to the investigation team, but it can't really be that Chuck Rhodes and the people from Washington don't exist, otherwise they will If you fail, you can find a reason and continue to toss in Washington!
At the request of Ella Cherry, Song Yang, Whitman, Gleick, and two lawyers, Clifford Chance and Bob Joffe, entered a conference room with Ella Cherry .
As soon as she entered the conference room, Ella Cherry asked the investigation team to stand guard at the door of the conference room, and then asked people to turn off other equipment such as cameras and recording pens, and asked people to take out a set of interference devices to turn them on to prevent them from being stolen. listen.
Seeing this scene, Song Yang knew that this is the topic of today, and what is being discussed now will definitely not leave any records.
Ella Cherry sat down, shook her head slightly, looked at Song Yang and Double-click Company and said, "Is it worth doing all this?"
"Isn't it worth it?" Without outsiders and cameras, Song Yang naturally had no scruples, and directly responded.
Ella Cherry didn't take it seriously, and looked at the people sitting opposite in the meeting room, "You know, you can't win this time, even if you have to pay a huge fine, so what, even if I get nothing in Houston this time, I can still let you win." Capitol Hill and the Department of Justice have initiated an antitrust investigation of DoubleClick, and DoubleClick's listing has also failed!"
"Ms. Ella Cherry, I want to emphasize your mistake. No one can decide that Double-click is a monopoly before the federal court judges!"
Clifford Chance corrected Ella Cherry's threats. In a lawsuit, it's not certain who will win.
Whitman also spoke at this time, with some doubts, "Ms. Ella Cherry, I know that you are from the antitrust school, but with all due respect, you know that Double-Click is now in the Internet advertising industry. No monopoly!"
This is what Whitman has always been puzzled about. Although Double-Click seems to have a strong momentum, even if the entire Internet advertising industry explodes this year, the revenue of the entire industry cannot exceed US$7.8 billion. Competitors, although those Internet advertising companies are a little hip, but Ella Cherry has been staring at the double-click, which still makes Whitman a little puzzled.
Ella Cherry heard that, "The Internet needs order. Double-click now occupies 80% or even more than 90% of the Internet advertising market, and has the right to price and place Internet advertisements, and has established organizations such as the IAB Internet Advertising Association. , in my eyes, double-click is the monopoly of the Internet advertising industry!"
Hearing this, Song Yang couldn't help sneering, "If this theory is followed, then Microsoft should have been split up a few years ago. In the first half of this year, Netscape accounted for more than 90% of the browser market. I don't know why they weren't sued?!"
No matter how extravagant Ella Cherry's reason was, she couldn't get around it. She only focused on Song Yang and the fact that Double-Click Company, and even Song Yang felt that if it wasn't for Hotmail, he would have suddenly sold it to Microsoft last year. , Maybe this time the Hotmail mailbox will also be unlucky.
"As long as I am still in this position, no matter whether it is a technology or Internet monopoly company, it is impossible to escape!" Ella Cherry said with a serious face, tapping her finger on the table.
"Now is the Internet industry, I want to establish the order of the Internet, and we must not allow the Internet to appear like another Microsoft like the software industry!"
Song Yang, Whitman, Clifford Chance, and the others all understood the real reason when they heard this, and their faces became a little ugly. Ella Cherry is planning to make an example of others, and she will use the double-click company as a knife. Deter other Internet companies, and then promote the formulation of a set of strict Internet advertising laws. The premise of this set of laws must be that the double-click company kneels down, otherwise the Internet industry will not succumb.
After a lot of beating, Ella Cherry did not forget the purpose of her visit this time, "Song, there is no need for this. I still have the Trade Commission and I am not planning to split the double-click company!"
"As long as Double-Click accepts charges of false advertising and suspected monopoly, I can agree to an out-of-court settlement. Double-Click will not be fined $110 million, perhaps only one-tenth of the fine, and the class action in Tennessee will not continue. Go on, Song, you don't have to worry, you will be questioned on Capitol Hill!"
Ella Cherry said "in good faith", "In the future, as long as you double-click, the company in your hands can accept the upcoming Internet advertising bill and give up some of the equity. I guarantee that industries such as double-click will not be affected again." Influence!"
Ella Cherry is preparing to "kill chickens and monkeys" and regard the punishment for Double-Click Company as a standard. In the future, there will be standards for punishing other Internet companies. As long as the scale of Double-Click Company exceeds the current scale, it will be punished. industry, there will be no second Microsoft.
As for letting Song Yang give up part of the equity, the reason is of course to ensure that Song Yang does not interfere too much with the company's operations. Once successful, this will become the standard for the Internet industry in the future.
Of course, once Song Yang gave up the shares of Double-click, ICQ, America Telecom and other companies, Ella Cherry would intervene "a little bit" and let Howard Winslow and his gang take over these shares, which can be regarded as support for the other party s return!
Hearing these "full sincerity" requirements, pleading guilty and accepting punishment can ensure the smooth listing of Double-click Company, and giving up the shares of ICQ, America Telecom, etc., can guarantee that there will be no more troubles in the future. These conditions sound really "attractive" ".
In fact, companies in other industries in America have also encountered this kind of situation more or less. It is true that the rich and powerful in America are living for nothing. They play this empty-handed white wolf method. , simply not too much.
Not only playing in America, but taking advantage of America's dominance, those people even went abroad. First, they used people like Ella Cherry to suppress those overseas companies that entered America, and then there would be Winslow Waiting for someone to come forward to solve the troubles for those companies, the price, of course, is to get a large amount of equity in that company at a very low price.
Even this kind of routine is played overseas, and Wall Street also uses this method to "draw from the bottom of the pot", otherwise how can it invest in so many industries overseas!
Song Yang looked at Ella Cherry, who also looked at Song Yang. After a while, Song Yang said, "I'm sorry, Ms. Ella Cherry, I'm very sorry to tell you that what you said …
As the major shareholder of Double-click, including ICQ, America Telecom and other industries in the future, I will not accept any of your conditions! "
Song Yang tapped on the table lightly with his fingers, and said word by word to Ella Cherry and the few people who came in with her.
"I'll see you in court or in Washington." Song Yang, Whitman and others got up and prepared to leave. Knowing that the negotiation was over, they would definitely not waste any more time.
Before leaving the conference room, Song Yang pointed at Ella Cherry, "Thanks to Ms. Ella Cherry and some people I don't know yet, for the gifts that double-click the company to go public, I promise , I will definitely return these gifts!"
The reporter squatting outside the Harbor Building originally thought that the double-click and Ella Cherry's investigation team would have a long talk today, and even reach a settlement or something.
But to their surprise, in less than an hour and a half, Ella Cherry led the investigation team and left the hotel without even going back to the airport.
Subsequently, the photo of Song Yang and Ella Cherry shaking hands was reprinted by major technology media, and the news that came out was completely opposite to the seemingly "harmonious" photo.
Double-click Company and Ella Cherry did not reach any agreement, and Double-click Company even rejected any reconciliation conditions proposed by Ella Cherry. Behavior is a bit ignorant.
(end of this chapter)