Chapter 975 Green Card and Immigration
Song Yuanchao chatted with Zhang Hao and asked about Zhang Hao and others' personal plans after the company went public.
After all, Zhang Hao is still a student and his studies in the United States have not been completed, but he has achieved his current success.
After the company goes public, Zhang Hao will have more wealth than ordinary people can match. In this case, will Zhang Hao continue his studies? Or does he have other plans? As his elder brother, Song Chaoyuan wanted to hear his thoughts out of concern.
"This... To be honest, the changes happened so fast that I didn't have time to think about it carefully." Zhang Hao said to Song Chaoyuan frankly: "When we started this company, we didn't have too many ideas. We just planned to do something . But who would have thought that the company would develop to this point today, and there are so many things these days. In addition to company matters, there are other things..."
"Anything else?"
Zhang Hao nodded and told Song Chaoyuan that after Netscape received capital investment, the U.S. Immigration Service took the initiative to contact Zhang Hao and suggested that Zhang Hao apply for American citizenship.
At first, Zhang Hao replied that he would consider it for the time being but did not make a decision. The Immigration Bureau did not force him and told him that it was okay if he did not want to immigrate for the time being, but they could help him obtain a US green card first. After all, Zhang Hao is now the chairman and major shareholder of Netscape, and obtaining a green card will make life and work much more convenient for him.
After considering it, Zhang Hao did not reject the good intention of the Immigration Bureau. A green card is something that ordinary people dream of, not to mention naturalization. But Zhang Hao did not apply for it himself, and the Immigration Bureau came to him. This level of service was simply outrageous.
It is normal if you think about it carefully. As a capitalist country, the power of capital is very strong. If Zhang Hao was an ordinary person, he would certainly not have such treatment. But now he is no longer an ordinary person. As the founder of an emerging company with huge potential and capital investment, how could the Immigration Bureau let go of such a target?
In this way, Zhang Hao easily got a green card, which temporarily resolved the "goodwill" of the Immigration Bureau towards him. But now, with Netscape's upcoming IPO, the Immigration Bureau came to and told him in a tactful tone that they hoped Zhang Hao could take a step further and that they would help him solve his naturalization problem.
Deep down, Zhang Hao doesn't hate the United States, and even has a favorable impression of it in some aspects. But as a Chinese who has been educated in patriotism since childhood, he doesn't want to become an American.
A green card is a green card, and naturalization is naturalization. These are two fundamentally different concepts. Although the immigration bureau's suggestion was very euphemistic, Zhang Hao also heard some hidden meanings behind the euphemistic suggestion. If Zhang Hao refused to immigrate, he would have to make some choices. The American political and business circles could accept a Chinese American as the chairman and major shareholder of Netscape, but they would never accept a foreigner to control such a new company.
In fact, this situation is not only in the United States, but also in the whole world. Zhang Hao is very smart. When the immigration bureau first found him, he understood the other party's intention. He agreed to get a green card in order to appease the immigration bureau and avoid trouble.
But now, the time has come to make a choice, and there are only two paths before Zhang Hao.
One way is to agree to the Immigration Bureau and apply for naturalization to become a Chinese American. In this way, Zhang Hao can continue to be the chairman and major shareholder of Netscape, and the United States will not set any obstacles for Netscape and will even provide support in some aspects.
Another way is for Zhang Hao to give up his shares and position in Netscape, and withdraw from the subsequent operation and management of Netscape. As a Chinese, the United States will definitely not sit idly by and watch him control such a company. Even if they will not suppress him openly on the surface, once Zhang Hao refuses the immigration bureau, something bad will definitely happen next.
"What are your thoughts?" Song Chaoyuan asked Zhang Hao. Zhang Hao can only accompany the bell ringing tomorrow because of his status, which has already revealed Zhang Hao's identity problem.
"What else can I do? It is absolutely impossible for me not to be a Chinese. Isn't that what I sing about my Chinese Heart? Although I am wearing Western clothes, my heart is still a Chinese heart..." Zhang Hao replied with a smile, and as he spoke he started singing in front of Song Chaoyuan.
"You kid, be serious! Let's discuss serious matters!" Song Chaoyuan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
"Isn't this business?" Zhang Hao suppressed his smile and sighed, "Brother, maybe you can't understand, but I really think so in my heart. I don't plan to agree to the Immigration Bureau. To tell you the truth, I have already prepared to withdraw from Netscape. After the company goes public, I will gradually sell off my shares and reduce my holdings to a certain proportion. By then, I don't need to reply to the Immigration Bureau, they will understand my choice."
Zhang Hao was right. He had made this decision before he came to New York, and he had also started preparing for it.
Of course, according to the regulations of the stock market, major shareholders like Zhang Hao cannot sell the company's stocks directly in the market even after the company goes public. Zhang Hao holds original shares, which according to normal regulations will take at least one year to enter the market for circulation.
Of course, there are exceptions in the United States, that is, as an old shareholder, the original shares can be circulated in the market in advance, and the shortest time is only six months or half a year. However, Netscape is not included, because it took only more than a year from its establishment to its listing, so Zhang Hao's original shares will have to wait until at least next year to sell them on the market.
However, this restriction only applies to the listing of original shares, and there is no restriction on commercial share transfers. After Netscape went public, Zhang Hao transferred shares through private transactions, and the share price of the share transfer would also be negotiated based on the post-listing share price.
Given the current popularity of Netscape, once Zhang Hao spreads the word that he wants to transfer his shares, I'm afraid that countless individuals will come to him to raise funds, so Zhang Hao is not worried at all that he won't be able to sell his shares.
After transferring most of the shares, Zhang Hao plans to hold 3%-5% of the shares in the end, thus withdrawing from the actual operation and management of Netscape and existing as a small shareholder. In this way, Zhang Hao will have little influence on Netscape and will no longer be able to exercise any control over Netscape. The remaining shares as a small shareholder are just a normal business investment. In terms of the business freedom that the United States has always promoted, the Immigration Bureau will not cause any trouble to Zhang Hao.
"Don't you think it's a pity to do this? Netscape will definitely develop further after it goes public. Maybe within a year or two, Netscape may surpass Microsoft and become the most powerful IT company. By then, it is possible that Netscape's stock price will increase several times. Transferring shares right after the listing will be a big loss!" Song Chaoyuan subconsciously took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, took a puff, and said to Zhang Hao with a serious expression.
Zhang Hao smiled and said with a relaxed look: "Brother, who can be sure of such future events? Theoretically speaking, the possibility you mentioned is very high, but things that have not happened have not happened. We can't treat things that have not happened as reality, right?"
"Besides, this company has only been established for more than a year, and the capital I invested is more than 300,000 US dollars, of course, including my hard work and technology in this company. But compared with the current returns, it is already an astronomical figure. People should not be too greedy. Isn't there a saying that contentment is the key to happiness? I think this has made me very satisfied."
"Good boy!" Song Chaoyuan secretly praised in his heart. He didn't expect Zhang Hao to have such ideas and mentality.
He was worried that Zhang Hao would fall into the temptation of early fame, and would not be able to control his original intention in the face of huge benefits, thus making wrong judgments.
But now Zhang Hao's answer made Song Chaoyuan completely relieved. Zhang Hao had a clear mind. Not only did he not have the idea of becoming an American citizen, but he also planned to retreat while the going was good and leave Netscape.
Song Yuanchao thought this choice was very wise. Although Zhang Hao would suffer some loss now, in the long run, Zhang Hao's choice was correct.
After Netscape went public, it did grow rapidly, basically monopolizing the browser market in just one or two years. Relying on its technology and product advantages, Netscape became the most sought-after Internet company in the world.
But in fact, Netscape's glorious days did not last long. Due to its inherent defects, Netscape's browser product was just a software built on an operating system, while Microsoft held an absolute advantage in operating systems around the world in personal computers.
With the advent of the Internet era, Microsoft, which controls personal computer operating systems, will not give up the browser market. Netscape's successful listing will inevitably stimulate Microsoft and Bill Gates. Given the character of Microsoft and Bill Gates, they will definitely intervene in this industry and compete with Netscape for the market.
Song Chaoyuan actually didn't know that Microsoft had had this idea as early as when Netscape was negotiating with capital. It's just that Netscape was still very weak at the time. Microsoft, as a giant in the industry, was arrogant and looked down on Netscape. The cooperation conditions it offered were also ridiculously harsh. Zhang Hao took a look at it and was too lazy to reply. He directly threw Microsoft's fax into the trash can.
But when Netscape goes public tomorrow, its market value will change dramatically, and Microsoft will wake up no matter how slow it is to react. Next, Microsoft can only take two approaches. One is to extend an olive branch to Netscape and propose cooperation. The second is to use the operating system as a killer weapon and directly bundle Microsoft's browser on the operating system, thus completely digging out Netscape's roots.
No matter which model is adopted, it is not good for Netscape. Although Netscape currently has an advantage over the huge Microsoft, the problem is that Microsoft has the inherent convenience of operating systems. It is like two boxers fighting in a boxing ring, one of them is Netscape and the other is Microsoft. The real strength difference between the two is not big, and Netscape even has a certain advantage.
But don't forget that in addition to the boxers in the boxing ring, there is also a referee. Microsoft is not only a boxer, but also a referee. Microsoft can formulate and modify the rules of the game at any time according to its own intentions. In this case, it is simply a foolish dream for Netscape to win the game.
