Europe — Luxembourg.
Starship Technology Company.
This company is one of Kyle's ventures, and the only one headquartered in Europe. When it was founded, its registered capital was 5 million US dollars. In just a few years, it has gradually developed into a technology company with a valuation of 8 million US dollars.
Its main businesses are Kazaa P2P file sharing and Skype internet telephony.
[Kazaa P2P file sharing: Internet peer-to-peer transfer technology.]
[Skype internet telephony: The world's first internet communication method, and also the world's largest internet telephone service. As of 2020, it has over 120 million users.]
Of course, as of now, only the Kazaa P2P file sharing business is operational, and it is still in the red.
Skype internet telephony, on the other hand, is still only in the research and development phase.
However... at such a crucial juncture, Niklas Zennström, the company's CEO, chose to resign!
Furthermore, as many as one-third of Starship Technology's employees, a total of 60 people, will also follow him.
"Niklas Zennström, you traitor! You are a despicable and shameless scoundrel!"
Jaanus Friis, the company's Vice President and Director of R&D, was furious, almost pointing his finger and cursing.
"What time is it now?"
"It's a critical stage in the development of Skype internet telephony!"
"If you, Niklas, leave alone, I will never stop you, nor do I have any reason to, even if you are the company's CEO. But why did you incite a large number of core personnel to leave with you?"
"Put your hand on your heart, since the establishment of Starship Technology, has Mr. Kyle ever treated you unfairly?"
CEO Niklas was silent.
He was speechless!
Kyle had indeed treated him well.
Niklas is Swedish.
Born in 1966, he graduated from Uppsala University in Sweden with dual degrees in Business Administration and Engineering Physics.
From a young age, he was known as a "genius" by his neighbors and envied by countless classmates, which was indeed true.
In 1999, Kyle hired him with a high salary to be the CEO of Starship Technology and entrusted him with important responsibilities, providing him with an annual salary, benefits, and no deficiencies.
Kyle also promised stock options, stating that as long as the company got on the right track, he would not be stingy.
To be honest, Kyle, who was usually a bit stingy, was definitely a good boss to Niklas.
However... not long ago, he received a promise from Barclays Bank in the UK.
"As long as you leave Kyle Page's Starship Technology, and can bring a large number of core members with you, then in the new company that will be formed, you will not only receive an annual salary of 500,000 pounds, but also 10% of the new company's shares."
This was the promise given by Barclays Bank in the UK!
Barclays Bank, the second largest bank in the UK and the seventh largest bank globally, employs over 100,000 people worldwide. In 2020, it managed over 1.75 trillion US dollars in funds, a veritable giant in the financial sector.
"Alas~"
CEO Niklas looked at Jaanus and sighed, "Consider me to have wronged the company and Mr. Page. I will repay what I owe you in the future."
Upon hearing this, Jaanus immediately scoffed, "'Repay'? You're playing both God and Satan!"
Sarcasm!
Blatant sarcasm!
Niklas's face was stern, and he said coldly, "Say whatever you want."
Business is like a battlefield; never overestimate the integrity of a professional manager. For a sufficient price, anyone can betray...
At the same time.
Kyle, who was far away in Los Angeles, USA, received the news from Vice President Jaanus at the first possible moment.
CEO Niklas resigned;
Over 60 core members of Starship Technology resigned;
Starship Technology's key R&D project, Skype internet telephony, was stalled due to personnel shortages;
Barclays Bank interfered;
"Haha!"
Kyle laughed in anger, "What a Niklas! What a Barclays Bank! They're shitting on my head!"
Starship Technology's Kazaa P2P file sharing, its peer-to-peer technology aside, even if it will be widely used by global internet companies in the future, it will not generate much commercial value, at most it will be an industry worth 50 million US dollars.
But!
But Skype internet telephony is vastly different.
Even if Skype internet telephony encounters strangulation from telecom and mobile operators during its operation, it will still stubbornly survive with cheaper communication prices. Over 120 million users worldwide is no joke.
Skype internet telephony, at its lowest, is a company with a market value exceeding 3 billion US dollars; its upper limit is immeasurable.
"Barclays Bank's interference and CEO Niklas's betrayal are completely destroying the foundation of Skype internet telephony."
Losses of billions, tens of billions of dollars in industry?
How could Kyle tolerate it?!
Immediately, Kyle unhesitatingly called back Jaanus, the Vice President of Starship Technology.
Kyle said into the phone, "Jaanus, you must, in the shortest possible time, appease the company's current employees, and at the same time, Skype internet telephony cannot be suspended."
"But... boss, I need funds, an investment of no less than 5 million US dollars!" Jaanus said.
"5 million US dollars? Haha! I'll give you 10 million US dollars. This fund will be credited before evening."
Kyle said, "Do you have confidence now?"
"Yes! Boss, I can swear to you now, with this investment, if I cannot complete the task, then I will have no face to see you!"
Jaanus was never a timid person...
3 PM.
Private lawyer: Paul Goodman;
Private financial advisor: Anna Josephine;
One of the think tank members, Little Baggio Lister;
And an assistant team of as many as 17 people, all gathered in the conference room, awaiting Kyle's orders.
"CEO Niklas's resignation from Starship Technology violated the employment contract. At the same time, the new company he formed, Hottafee Information, which accepted funds from Barclays Bank, is also a P2P platform-based peer-to-peer transfer software company, which undoubtedly also violated the non-compete agreement in 'International Law'."
"However, this lawsuit will definitely be very troublesome!"
"Barclays Bank's influence in Europe, and even globally, is not something we can easily challenge."
"According to my estimates, the legal team fees required for this international lawsuit will not be less than 10 million US dollars, or even more."
"Even if we win this international lawsuit, the compensation we receive will not exceed 1 million US dollars."
Lawyer Paul Goodman immediately made an analysis based on the situation.
Of course, this analysis was not fictitious; it was the conclusion reached by Paul Goodman himself and his legal team after rigorous analysis.
Ms. Anna Josephine said sharply, "This lawsuit must be fought!"
"Exactly!"
Little Baggio Lister echoed, "Everyone, you should know the importance of Kazaa P2P file sharing to Starship Technology. Even if this lawsuit takes a long time, we must delay the progress of Hottafee Information. At the very least, we cannot let this guy Niklas get to work as quickly as possible."
Although everyone despised Niklas's character, they also knew that this guy was a genius!
Kazaa P2P file sharing is very important!
However, what Kyle truly valued was always Skype internet telephony!
Of course, Kyle would not say this out loud.
Kyle made the final decision, "This international lawsuit must be fought, but there is one prerequisite, and that is that the lawsuit must never end early; we must drag it out!"
10 million US dollars in lawyer fees?
Haha!
It's just money, and Kyle is not short of it!
As long as Skype internet telephony can be launched as quickly as possible, let alone spending 10 million US dollars in lawyer fees, even 20 million or 30 million, Kyle would spare no expense!
...At the same time.
Willis King, the head of the investment department under Barclays Bank, personally led a large legal team to Luxembourg in Europe.
Niklas, the former CEO of Starship Technology, immediately rushed to the airport to greet them.