Reborn Tech Maniac

Chapter 422 was investigated by antitrust

Genichi Kawakami was indifferent to Tang Huan's way of hiding a knife in his smile, but he was going to be promoted to the stage to become the eldest son of the successor - Hiroshi Kawakami couldn't hold back, and asked stiffly, "If we don't want this so-called What about your kindness?"

"Why refuse in a hurry? After Nippon Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd. enters my system, it will be able to obtain the most advanced digital music technology and be rejuvenated. This situation, for both of us, is definitely the best of both worlds." Tang Huan, who showed surprise, continued to explain patiently.

"No matter how beautiful the prospect you describe is, it's only your own merit." Hiroshi Kawakami showed a sneer on his face, "Does it really have something to do with us?"

Tang Huan frowned, "Why is it okay? Yamaha Engine Co., Ltd., which has a backlog of hundreds of thousands of motorcycles, should be very weak now, right? Are you sure that Yamaha's engine can afford Honda's energy consumption?"

"Even if we are weak, you can't use them as a blackmail condition." Hiroshi Kawakami snorted disdainfully.

"I said yes, I can. Your knowledge is nothing more than watching the sky from a well." Tang Huan picked up the teacup and blew gently.

"Anyone knows how to talk big..." As soon as Kawakami Hiroshi finished speaking, he was shocked by Kawakami Genichi's "Baga" angrily, and he stood up quickly, bowing his head and agreeing to "Hayi".

Kawakami Genichi looked at Kawakami Hiroshi, and couldn't help but think of his hard work in the past two years to support him in his position, but the other party's performance has always been unsatisfactory.

Kawakami Genichi, who was furious, raised his palm and slapped it, "I don't know the importance of things, but I know how to play golf on weekdays. Is Mr. Tang also something you can offend?"

Hearing the crisp slap, Tang Huan's hand holding the teacup remained motionless, he squinted his eyes, took two sips, and then nodded slightly.

Hearing his father scold "Get out", Hiroshi Kawakami covered his face and left the reception room hastily. On the way, he met Tang Huan's assistant, Miyuki Nakajima and others, and felt more and more burning pain on his face.

After Kawakami Genichi finished teaching his son, Tang Huan gently put down his teacup and said slowly: "Although I don't know much about the professionalism of the motorcycle field, I still understand some common rules. Now the Yamaha engine and Honda are in a stalemate. The best result is to stop losses as soon as possible and explore other markets. Compared with the fierce competition in the Japanese and American markets, the Chinese market, separated by a water, will undoubtedly be much less stressful. It depends on who can Got the upper hand."

Looking at Kawakami Genichi, Tang Huan solemnly emphasized, "Perhaps, I can do my best."

"Mr. Tang really came prepared and thoughtful in every aspect." Genichi Kawakami pondered for a while, "Give me a month to think about it, how about it?"

"No problem." Tang Huan saw the assistant looking in his head several times, as if he was in a hurry. Tang Huan stood up and said goodbye. Before leaving, he said meaningfully, "Of course, Mr. Kawakami can also use this month's Time to prepare."

"Why is Yamaha being targeted by this evil wolf?" Looking at Tang Huan's leaving figure, Kawakami Genichi slapped the handle of the sofa in annoyance, and then sighed, "A man's strength is not based on his muscles and bones, Kawakami Hiroshi His ability is only at the level of a successful king, and he is really in trouble."

……

"What's so urgent?" Tang Huan asked the assistant.

"The office has received an urgent document from the United States, waiting for you to deal with it." The assistant answered while opening the car door.

After Tang Huan saw the document in the office, he couldn't help but swear, "Kirk Kerkorian, you old bastard."

It turns out that this incident happened around Columbia Pictures.

When Hollywood mogul Harry Cohn died in 1958, Columbia Pictures, without the president's strong leadership, entered another phase of ups and downs, nearly going bankrupt in the early 1970s.

Even like Paramount to Sega and Warner to Atari, Columbia Pictures also had a strong interest in the field of video games, and spent $1976 million to buy Gottlieb in December 12. Unfortunately, , whose performance is lackluster.

The current president of MGM, David Bigelman, once had a scandal of embezzlement of public funds at Columbia Pictures in the late 1970s, which in turn caused the senior management of Columbia Pictures to split and fall into chaos.

Kirk Kerkorian, a gambling tycoon in Las Vegas, has always been unwilling to be lonely in various speculations,
At that time, he not only recruited David Bigelman into MGM as the president, but also seized the opportunity to acquire 20.00% of the five shares of Columbia Pictures.

In view of the example of Kirk Kerkorian tossing MGM to death, the high-level executives of Columbia Pictures resolutely resisted Kirk Kerkorian's intention to seek control of the company, and even sued. laws, intends to repurchase these shares.

Kirk Kerkorian, who realized that his reputation in Hollywood stinks the streets, let alone the anger in his heart. Just for the sake of face, he can't make these senior executives of Columbia Pictures happy.

So, after successfully selling off the MGM mess to the Kuwait Investment Authority, Kirk Kerkorian approached Tang Huan, a very rich Silicon Valley upstart at the end of last year, and planned to use the 20.00 yuan from Columbia Pictures to %[-] of the shares, to get some cash, so as to find another speculative business.

For this transaction, Tang Huan's attitude is dispensable, so he said to Kirk Kerkorian, "If you agree to the transaction in half a year, I will not only accept the offer, but also give you an extra $1000 million in cash."

As soon as he heard such a good thing, Kirk Kerkorian endured the clamor from Columbia Pictures and agreed.To be on the safe side, he also signed a contract with Tang Huan.

When the time came to this year's North American summer, the box office performance of the movie "ET Aliens" made many businessmen, including Kirk Kerkorian, have subtle changes in their hearts.

Realizing that Hollywood is still so powerful in attracting money, Kirkorian felt that he might still be able to make a difference in the film field. At least the 20.00% stake in Columbia Pictures could be raised again.

But where was the contract written in black and white, Tang Huan was not easy to bully, especially when Coca-Cola Company suddenly intervened, and Kirkorian had no choice but to admit it.

Because the Shennong Foundation and Berkshire Hathaway hold a considerable number of shares in Coca-Cola, the combined voice of Tang Huan and Warren Buffett is still very important on Coca-Cola's board of directors.

So, Tang Huan said to Warren Buffett, help me lobby Coca-Cola's board of directors to acquire Columbia Pictures, so as to hit Warner, its partner, and share its film copyright by the way.

Warren Buffett has always been very conservative in high-yield and high-risk industries such as IT and movies, but there is one exception, that is, if Tang Huan encourages him, he will often choose to participate.

Not to mention, Roberto Goizueta, the president of the Coca-Cola Company who took office in 1980—Roberto Goizueta, was really tempted by fools.

The strong appeal shown by Gein's movie "ET Aliens" at the box office has really blinded the eyes of many scheming businessmen.

In addition, there is another point that cannot be ignored, that is, the soft advertisement in the movie "ET Aliens" has produced a huge publicity effect. For example, the sales of See's Candy, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, have increased. 90.00%.

Roberto Gosida, who has always been good at managing the Coca-Cola brand, discovered this situation and naturally associated the movie with his company's brand.

When the Coca-Cola Company and Tang Huan jointly invested more than 7 million US dollars in one go, Columbia Pictures became just like United Artists to the insurance giant Pan American. For the purpose of building a brand, Columbia Pictures obediently became a traditional A bright embellishment of the industrial giant, The Coca-Cola Company.

Although Kirk Kerkorian got the cash according to the contract, he felt uncomfortable. Under the pressure of verbal criticism from the senior management of Columbia Film Company, he fought with the opponent for more than half a year, but in the end he played a cover for Tang Huan.

The extra 1000 million U.S. dollars may seem like a benefit, but in fact it is just hard-earned money. Maybe it was not paid by Tang Huan himself, but paid by the Coca-Cola Company.

Just like that, Kirk Kerkorian, who was unbalanced in his heart, cocked his mouth without limit, and spread the rumor sourly, "The new owner of Columbia Pictures is actually Tang Huan."

Others may only treat this gossip as something to talk about after dinner, but Steve Ross, who was fighting secretly with Tang Huanming, had to take it seriously.

Gein has had a deep relationship with Warner and Columbia Pictures over the past decade or so.

As early as 1971, Shuangfa formed a joint venture company in the field of international film distribution outside the United States.

By 1972, the two had formed a close partnership, and Columbia Pictures could use many of Warner's resources in Burbank.

It is precisely because of this that Steve Ross is extremely sensitive to rumors that "Tang Huan actually controls Columbia Pictures". If Warner and United Artists are fighting fiercely, and the backyard suddenly catches fire, it will be a lot of fun up.

After a preliminary investigation, Steve Ross lobbied the U.S. Department of Justice in a panic to launch an antitrust investigation against Tang Huan.

Although the Reagan administration now promotes the so-called neo-liberal economics and does not advocate too much artificial intervention in the market, certain taboos cannot be avoided, and monopoly is one of them.

At present, Tang Huan already has two powerful Hollywood companies, United Artists and MGM, under his name, and his influence is increasing day by day. Now he is trying to control the third influential Hollywood company-Columbia Films, This is not engaging in monopoly, what is that for?
In this way, the U.S. Department of Justice launched an anti-monopoly investigation into Tang Huan's series of actions in the film field.

And looking at the current situation, the U.S. Department of Justice is very likely to launch a monopoly lawsuit against Tang Huan. Who has allowed his two film companies to frequently receive over [-] million US dollars in box office movies this year, and they have not allowed their peers to survive.

Naturally, Tang Huan couldn't help but yell at Kirk Kerkorian, Steve Ross and others for their pink eye disease.

When it comes to the acquisition of Columbia Pictures, Coca-Cola's status as one of his own is very obvious, so why was it fabricated that he controlled Columbia Pictures.

In fact, it just has some influence and is conducive to the development of film library copyright cooperation.

Besides, he is full of himself, monopolizing Hollywood with such explicit means without technical content?
Doing this, besides annoying people and attracting hatred, has almost no benefit at all. Do you think you are a fool?

"What should we do? Should we rush back immediately to deal with the monopoly investigation by the Ministry of Justice?" After Tang Huan regained his composure, the assistant asked cautiously.

"Of course we have to take it very seriously. We can't just slap such an unfounded label casually. Fortunately, the affairs in Japan are almost settled."

Tang Huan pondered for a while, "However, we can't give the impression that the outside world is in a hurry, so as not to think we are guilty. In this way, we should leave as soon as possible and stay in Canada for a few days on the way. The friends there also need to meet."

Now that Silicon Valley One stops in Canada, Celine Dion's small team can hitch a ride again.

When boarding the private jet, Tang Huan's mood improved a lot with a piece of news.

On August 8, because Mexico’s foreign exchange reserves had dropped below the danger line and it was unable to repay the principal and interest of its maturing public foreign debt of US$12 billion, it had to announce the indefinite closure of all exchange markets, suspend the repayment of foreign debt, and put domestic financial institutions on hold. Foreign exchange deposits in will be converted into domestic currency.

In addition, private consortiums in Mexico also took the opportunity to announce the postponement of debt repayment.

The Latin American sovereign debt crisis inevitably broke out.And Tang Huan secretly earned a lot of US dollars just through this wave of speculation, so of course he should feel better about it.With more money in hand, you can do more things.

Moreover, according to the historical trajectory and current development trend, after Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, Chile and other Latin American countries cannot escape such a fate. At that time, they can provide more or less speculative opportunities.

After Silicon Valley One landed in Vancouver, Canada, the small team of Celine Dion transferred back to Quebec, while Tang Huan met sisters Mi Xue who had arrived first.

(End of this chapter)