Frank Cary's intention to find Gao Xian is not difficult to guess. It is to ease the relationship between Sir Gao and the current IBM CEO John Opel, so as not to cause irreparable negative impact in the capital market.
"It's normal for the new CEO to have new business ideas, but it's just a small difference. Is Sir Gao really going to quit the IBM board and even sell all his IBM shares?" Frank Cary advised painstakingly.
Gao Xian sighed gently, "since everyone's ideas are different, forcibly staying together will only deepen each other's contradictions, and finally ruin the once beautiful friendship."
Frank Cary sighed, then considered his words and said slowly, "Sir Gao's idea is also right. Sometimes in business, people really can't help themselves, open the distance between each other and leave a good talk."
Speaking of this, Frank Cary looked into Gao Xian's eyes and sighed: "in theory, sir Gao is the father of IBM's personal computer, and I am also the promoter of IBM's acquisition of Huanyu's personal computer business. They all have a deep feeling for IBM's personal computer and hope that it will develop better and better."
"Here comes the topic." Sir Gao, who whispered in the dark, echoed: "indeed, the reason why we disagree is, in the final analysis, because we want the development momentum of IBM personal computers to a higher level."
"Frank, I understand what you mean. Don't worry. Although I'm a little unhappy, I won't do anything to damage IBM personal computer." Gao Xian specially accentuated his tone on "IBM personal computer". It is estimated that only he himself knows the real meaning.
"Sir Gao's faith is well known all over the world. Of course, I have nothing to worry about." Frank Cary smiled. "However, business is business. IBM, as an entity with tens of thousands of people, not everyone knows Sir Gao. The management still hopes to make constraints in the form of legal documents."
"Listen to this, John Opel, do you want to suppress me with a restrictive competition agreement?" Sir Gao, who had been prepared for a long time, immediately showed his displeasure. "To do so is to spend a gentleman's belly with a villain's heart. I David Gao's most faithful commitment in his life is more reliable than the contract document. If I really want to sign a legal document, it's insulting me!"
Sir Gao became more and more angry. He slapped the table and shook out the coffee in the cup, startling Frank Cary. "Besides, I have the obligation to cooperate with John Opel. Do I do what I want? I'm David Gao. I'm not a soft persimmon. I can pinch as others want!"
"Sir Gao calm down, sir Gao calm down..." Frank Cary waved again and again. "Although it is an invitation, IBM will not bother Sir Gao in vain."
While waiting for the assistant to clear the table, sir Gao's anger subsided and asked slowly, "what terms can John Opel offer me?"
"I can only say a general framework now, and the specific content needs to be discussed in detail." Frank Cary relaxed. "For example, IBM is willing to pay Sir Gao a sum of money to make up for the loss that Sir Gao can't invest in the personal computer industry."
"For another example, Huanyu electronics can obtain the authorization to continue to use the existing eight bit IBM personal computer."
Sir Gao, who was sure to haggle and find fault, said sarcastically: "John Opel can really deceive people. The mainstream product of IBM personal computers in the American market is the 16 bit architecture. In the future, IBM personal computers will launch a new technical standard with closed patents. IBM personal computers will certainly start from the 16 bit architecture. Eight IBM personal computers are just obsolete products that have a sense of existence."
Frank Cary smiled when Sir Gao chased John Opel to "tear it up." anyway, the eight IBM personal computers are still useful in other markets in the world, such as France, and the Xiangjiang factory production line of Huanyu electronics can continue to give full play to the waste heat, so that Sir Gao will not be caught unprepared. "
"So John Opel has always thought of me." Sir Gao seemed to be thinking about weighing the pros and cons.
In fact, there was no plan for the lion to open his mouth when he performed the "delicate" high string in front of Frank Carney.
You know, Gao Xian is very satisfied with IBM's acquisition of Huanyu personal computer business. Not only has he made a lot of money, but also the personal computer standard written by him, with the help of IBM's great influence, has seized the opportunity to become the de facto standard of the personal computer industry.
Although John Opel is going to launch a new technical standard IBM personal computer with closed patent, which is breaking up with Gao Xian, the new standard cannot completely put aside the old standard.
Moreover, the personal computer standard created by Gaoxian groundbreaking did not set patent barriers, and the tenacity of vitality exceeded the imagination of "inexperienced" John Opel.
As long as Gao Xian secretly uses some means, and even he doesn't need to come forward at all, the capital most sensitive to interests will take advantage of IBM under John Opel to create another set of IBM personal computers with technical standards, hold up a compatible computer company with manufacturing capacity comparable to IBM and market capacity exceeding IBM, and grab IBM's cake.
To put it bluntly, Gao Xian has made a lot of money and is very sure to ensure that his personal computer standards continue, so he is contented and calm no matter how indignant he appears.
Now, John Opel has tried his best to offer conditions to Sir Gao to sign a competition restriction agreement. Gao Xian feels very ridiculous.
In Frank Cary's patient waiting, sir Gao finally made a "difficult" decision, "frank, since you personally mediate and I don't want to destroy my friendship with IBM, I'll fulfill John Opel's grand plan."
Frank Cary breathed a sigh of relief and said with a sincere smile: "it's best that both sides can resolve their differences with dignity, so that IBM won't be embarrassed to speak when it needs Sir Gao's help in the future."
"When a great company like IBM is really useful to me in the future, it is my honor and I will come at once." Sir Gao laughed happily, but what he thought was, "IBM will have that day, and it won't wait for a few years. Then see how I treat IBM!"
……
In the next step, the legal team was ordered to negotiate with IBM. Gao Xian was very attentive to this and reviewed each clause personally.
For example, John Opel hopes to build a high-tech company with IBM personal computer standards and promise not to get involved in the microcomputer business,
Gao Xian certainly can't accept such a broad restriction. NIMA, the future servers, workstations, laptops and other products are microcomputers. Don't I touch them?
Therefore, Gao Xian asked the lawyer to amend it to say that within three years, he and the company he controls will not be involved in the desktop personal computer business.
John Opel is not satisfied again. Three years is too short, at least five years.
Gao Xian said, no problem, then calculate the compensation on an annual basis.
Now in the personal computer market, from the most high-end commercial products of more than $9000 to "toy" products of $800, the average unit price is about $1500. I really want to do personal computer business again and sell tens of thousands of units every year. It's no problem. I'll calculate the compensation according to this standard.
John Opel doesn't have to wait for his subordinates to calculate the result. He knows that the price is too high. It's better to end it directly with the original condition of $30 million.
Besides, three years is enough for IBM to launch a new technical standard personal computer with closed patents.
……
After you come and bargain, Gao Xian and John Opel have reached an agreement, and IBM can hold a press conference to respond to the recent turmoil in the personal computer department.
In the face of hundreds of reporters gathered here, John Opel announced in high spirits that Charles Tandy and Gao Xianrong retired, and thanked them for their contributions to IBM's personal computer department in recent years.
When it was Gao Xian's turn to express his position, he blessed IBM's personal computer department with a smile.
The media is certainly not so easy to fool. In the questioning session, some reporters sharply asked the bottom of the matter. Before, your contradictions intensified as everyone knows. Now that you are reconciled, how can we talk about the conditions?
The conditions are certainly not suitable for publication. Sir Gao, who has the obligation to clarify, evaded the important and answered lightly: "the previous contradictions mentioned by you show that we seriously consider the operation of IBM personal computers. Now that we have a conclusion, the development direction of IBM personal computers will be determined, which is a great good thing for the market, users and investors."
"I need to emphasize that the contradiction you said is actually just a normal discussion. It doesn't mean that there is a contradiction between me and IBM. IBM is a great company. If one day, he needs me to work again, I'm honored!"
……
Not long after the press conference, which was full of public relations, the powerful media still heard some inside information about Gao Xian's breakup with IBM from some people who were unwilling to reveal their identity. For example, sir Gao will not invest in businesses that have a conflict of interest with IBM personal computers.
The media immediately found a treasure, and even wantonly played up eye-catching headlines such as "the father of IBM personal computer is out, and the personal computer industry has ushered in great changes".
People with a clear eye know that such news spreads with intentional elements, because the capital market needs to know, and the trend of IBM's stock price also confirms this.
Earlier, after President Reagan announced that the federal government would give up the monopoly investigation on IBM's monopoly of the mainframe computer market, the stock market response was flat. However, after IBM held a press conference on the changes of the personal computer department, investors' doubts were cleared away, and IBM's share price finally rose strongly.