China's semiconductor development has never lacked opportunities.

Just since the establishment of SMIC, domestic semiconductor foundries began to catch up with advanced processes. At that time, although the yield rate of a few domestic supply chains was not comparable to that of foreign countries.

For some Chinese companies, at least there is room for survival.

It will not be easy for these small and sophisticated companies that have survived for more than ten years to be listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board after 2018.

The most fundamental reason is that when we had the opportunity to buy foreign technology and build our own semiconductor industry chain, we did not realize the importance of this matter.

Needless to say, private capital cannot make money in this kind of industry.

Mainly depends on government support.

Just like the storage industry is counter-cyclical, it is reasonable for the Korean government to subsidize Samsung and Hynix on a large scale.

The country actually knows this truth, which can be seen from the subsidies given to BOE.

It’s just that in the semiconductor industry, the Hanxin incident in 2003 has affected many years.

You are also the only executive I have known during my tenure at Microsoft, and I have complete trust in your abilities.

Zhou Xin had previously discussed similar issues with some veterans of the semiconductor industry, and everyone agreed that the Hanxin incident had caused the entire Chinese semiconductor industry to set back at least ten years.

With the endorsement of Bill Gates behind Riot Games, and the characteristics of this business itself, is there any better investment target in Silicon Valley than Riot Games?" These are the original words of the head of Goldman Sachs' investment department.

You must know that this is the heyday of the Internet bubble. Basically, as long as there is a story to tell, you can go public without revenue or profit.

Going public is simply not easy.

However, Yang Zhiyuan hopes for a full acquisition, while Zhou Xin only accepts the transfer of part of the shares.

"If Zhou is just a rising star in the Internet industry, then Bill Gates is a figure like the sun in the Internet industry.

At the same time, Jerry Yang of Yahoo! also intends to acquire Riot Games, which is also an important reason why the Gates Foundation concluded the deal so quickly.

The share transfer procedures and funds arrived quickly. After the US$200 million arrived, Zhou Xin and Bill Gates injected a total of US$200 million into Riot Games in proportion to their shares.

According to internal sources, Bill Gates values ​​Riot Games at around $500 million, while other board members believe it is worth at most $100 million.

A Wall Street securities trading analyst said about the acquisition of Riot Games by the Gates and Melinda Foundation: This is a major benefit. RiotGames is the most dynamic forum in history and the forum with the clearest profit model in history.

It’s unclear how much Mr. Gates values ​​Riot Games, but getting a stake in Riot Games in the competition with Yahoo! is already a success.”

In their view, Riot Games can now be listed on Nasdaq.

Investment institutions that were already eager for Zhou Xin became even more enthusiastic.

The central and local governments have neither the ability nor the courage to distinguish the pros and cons of these high-tech semiconductor companies, and they dare not support truly technological semiconductor companies.

Microsoft's stock price rose slightly after news broke that Bill Gates had personally acquired some shares of Riot Games. Apparently the market was optimistic about the deal.

In other words, Zhou Xin still has 80 million US dollars in cash on hand and 60% of Riot Games’ shares. Riot Games has 200 million in liquidity.

A group of companies that originally needed to rely on policy subsidies to survive were basically dead after the Hanxin incident.

The investment in Riot Games represents the first time Microsoft co-founders Bill Gates and Newman Zhou have worked closely together on a business level.

He only needs to be responsible for strategic planning.

Before reaching an agreement, Jerry Yang specifically called Zhou Xin and expressed his willingness to acquire Riot Games at the same price.

Zhou Xin is the founder.

"The Bill and Melinda Foundation purchased shares of Riot Games, and the value of this business is expected to be approximately US$200 million.

Yes, after reaching an agreement with Bill Gates, he took the initiative to tell the other party that he had no senior management talents and needed to expand after the funds were in place.

"Mr. Gates strongly recommended you to me. He thinks you are a first-class management talent.

A Microsoft spokesman in New York declined to comment yesterday, as did a Microsoft spokesman in Seattle.

In the end, Zhou Xin and Bill Gates reached an agreement, and Bill Gates purchased 40% of Riot Games' shares for US$200 million.

Not only does he think so, other investment institutions also think so.

The specific proportion of shares transferred is unknown. This move will make Newman Zhou, the co-founder of Riot Games from China, a billionaire.

Analysts believe that Bill Gates' investment is not just a simple investment, but part of Microsoft's strategy. The reason why this investment was not made in Microsoft's name is because the Microsoft board of directors has been unable to agree on the amount.

Zhou Xin worked under Suzy Dink and knew that although she was of Indian descent, her work ability and management style were enough to control a start-up company.

"It's exactly what I said, you will become my boss soon." Susie Dink came to the Riot Games garage and hugged Zhou Xin.

With liquidity in place, Riot Games can begin recruiting new players and expanding massively.

Therefore, Suzy Dink became the new CEO of Riot Games and the first real executive after the establishment of Riot Games.

With Zhou Xin's current reputation in China, as long as he is willing to return to China to invest, he is basically guaranteed to prevent the Hanxin incident from happening.

He cannot devote all his energy to Riot Games alone, and hopes that Bill Gates can introduce some senior managers to him.

The acquisition was made in the name of the Gates Foundation, not as a business venture for Microsoft.

The huge gap in valuation between the two is the fundamental reason why this acquisition of shares was achieved in the form of the Gates Foundation.

Because of this, Bill Gates introduced Suzy Dink, head of Microsoft's product department, to Zhou Xin.

But I don’t know if you have a general idea about Riot Games and what you will do after you come here.”

Susie knew this was a test for him.

He didn't know the saying that offensive and defensive forces are different, but he felt similar in his heart.

Less than half a year ago, he hosted the last round of interviews for interns, and one of the interviewees was Zhou Xin.

Half a year later it was Zhou Xin's turn to interview him.
Chapter completed!