Feng Yu was not giving an excuse when he said he had sothing on. He really had sothing to do. He needs to read up about the mbers of the board.
Feng Yu only rember one of the board mbers in this era. Steve Ballr. He will also be Microsoft’s CEO in the future. He was not a co-founder and did not invest a single cent. But he got the company’s shares.
At the start of Microsoft, Bill Gates owned 49% of the shares, and Paul Allen owned 35%. Steve Ballr had 8%, and the rest of the employees had the remaining 8%. Of course, these were all voting shares.
During the days when Paul Allen left Microsoft, he invested in many companies. But most of these companies failed. Just last year, a TV company he invested, rejected his request to increase his stakes. In a fit of anger, he sold all his shares. But after he sold his shares, that company’s value raised by more than 50%.
Paul Allen had also argued with Bill Gates over shares more than once. Bill Gates told Paul that he sold his shares to raise money for his investnts, and this would lower their stakes in the company. He should just sell his shares to Bill Gates. But Paul Allen felt he had sacrificed before in the past, and he should not do it again. He was also not happy when Bill Gates gave Steve Ballr so many shares.
Steve Ballr was now Microsoft’s Vice President. The other directors, except for one director from an investnt company, were holding positions in the top managent. What surprises Feng Yu was, there were only 8 directors on the board.
Seems like Bill Gates loves being in control. There was an even number of directors, and when it cos to making decisions, they will decide base on the % of the shares. That ans Feng Yu, who owns only 2% voting shares, does not have any say.
In Feng Yu’s previous life, when Bill Gates retires, there were 10 directors on the board. 8 years after that, Microsoft increased the number of directors to 11. That was the ti when Bill Gates was only an ordinary director on the board. He was no longer the biggest shareholder.
Feng Yu looked through all the mbers of the board. There was only one person he should pull over to his side. This person was Steve Ballr because he was trusted by Bill Gates and will beco Microsoft’s CEO in a few years. Most importantly, he and Paul Allen did not get along well.
If Feng Yu could influence Steve Ballr to make so wrong decisions, like stopping Microsoft from entering the hardware sector, then Lenovo will increase its chance of becoming the top PC manufacturer in the world!
……
A few days later, Microsoft board eting started. All the directors were shocked to see Feng Yu in the eting room. Who is this young man? He looks like a Chinese. How did he co in?
Paul Allen took a glanced at Feng Yu and sneered. Steve Ballr was looking at Feng Yu with interest. This person is the new director Bill Gates talking about?
The other directors did not know about Feng Yu, and there will be a new mber on the board from today onwards. The new mber is this young man.
The other directors saw the Chairman of the board nodding and smiling to that young man. That ans they knew each other. From Paul Allen’s reactions, he should also know this person.
They were curious about who this person was, and what was he doing at their board eting.
“I have sothing to announce in this eting. Feng, from the far east, is the mysterious tycoon who has been buying our shares.”
The directors were surprised and looked at Feng Yu. Feng Yu only nodded and did not even stand up to greet everyone. The rest of the directors also did not mind. After all, Feng Yu was richer than them.
But Paul Allen was pissed. He felt Feng Yu was rude. But he did not think about himself. He also looks down on the other directors.
“Paul and I had exchanged so shares, about 1% each, with Feng. That ans Feng currently owns 2% voting shares. So, I nominated Feng to enter the board of directors.”
Bill Gates was the largest shareholder and have the authority to nominate Feng Yu to enter the board.
Many people thought that all mbers of the board must be the shareholders of the company. But this was not true. The board is ford during the shareholders’ eting through voting. Usually, the shareholders will nominate their self. But there are also board mbers who are not the shareholders. However, this is not common in China.
Those non-shareholders who had entered the board will generally be rewarded with the company’s shares. They will eventually beco a shareholder of the company.
This was why even if Bill Gates did not nominate Feng Yu, Feng Yu could also nominate himself. But if Bill Gates rejected Feng Yu’s applications, Feng Yu will also not be able to enter the board.
Actually, Bill Gates and Paul Allen or Steve Ballr can decide whether to let Feng Yu enter the board. Bill Gates was not nominating Feng Yu to join the board today. He was just informing the rest of the mbers.
The board of directors is chosen by the shareholders to lead the company. The mbers can also be removed. In the past, so directors were removed from the board. Those that opposed Bill Gates’s decisions were all replaced.
Bill Gates was the biggest-shareholder, Chairman, President, and CEO of the company. In many smaller companies, the Chairman and the CEO were the sa people. But most large corporations had a more complex structure. That’s why the board will appoint two people to manage the company and at the sa ti, check on each other.
Steve Ballr was the Vice President, but he is currently doing the work of a President.
After the mbers heard what Bill Gates had said, clapped to welco Feng Yu. Only Paul Allen continued to sip on his coffee.
Everyone was looking at Feng Yu. This person will be the newest mber of the board? Seems like Bill Gates was supportive of him, and Paul does not. These two n have conflicts again?
“Ok. The welco ceremony shall end here. Now, I appoint Feng as the Vice-President of Asia-Pacific region. He will be in charge of China’s business.”
Everyone imdiately understood why the new mber was Chinese. He should be from China. Microsoft is going to enter the Chinese market?
Steve Ballr asked: “What businesses will he be in charge of?”
Feng Yu replied before Bill Gates: “Everything. I will decide on all the businesses in China, and will not interfere with the company’s other matters.”
Steve Ballr frowned. China is an essential market for Microsoft. Is it too rush to hand it over to this young man? Although Feng is also a shareholder, that does not an he is a good manager.
Why did Bill Gates agree to let him be the overall in-charge of China? This young man is soone special in China?
Bill Gates added: “Feng can help Microsoft takeover the whole Chinese market. Don’t worry. Is there anything else to discuss? If not, the eting shall end now.”
This board eting was set up just for Feng Yu.
Steve Ballr noticed that Feng Yu had smiled to him a few tis, and he was puzzled…….
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