Hollywood Tycoon [US Entertainment + Business War]

"Acquire MGM?" Gusta's hand trembled slightly.

As the founder of Lionsgate Films, Gusta's ambitions in the film industry have always been very big.As a small distribution company originally established in Canada, Gusta dared to set foot in the closed pool of Hollywood where countless predators lurk.More importantly, he also succeeded.After acquiring Summit Entertainment and Roadside View, Lionsgate Films was reorganized into Lionsgate Entertainment.Gusta has also become the first film company in the new century to counterattack from a small company and become a small Hollywood giant.If Jed hadn't appeared, perhaps Gusta would have been the most eye-catching Hollywood tycoon of this era.

As a dick boy in the film industry, MGM is undoubtedly Bai Fumei in Gusta's heart.Although many Hollywood magazines think that Jed is a real "filmmaker", Jed knows in his heart that he is still an investor, so although he covets MGM, what he covets is only MGM's brand and film library .But after knowing the horrible debt of MGM and the headache-inducing equity structure, what Jed thought about was how to trick his opponent and get what he needed.But Gusta doesn't mind anything, even though he knows that MGM, the Bai Fumei, has declined, he still wants to get MGM.

But Gusta is not a fool. Since Jed came to cooperate with him, he must have his own requirements, so Gusta asked, "Mr. Sherman, I must admit one thing, the acquisition of MGM is something I have always dream. But there is no such thing as a free lunch, so what I want to know is, what do I have to give to get your help?"

"Mr. Gusta, buying MGM is not an easy task. I'm afraid that just combining the financial resources of you and me may not be able to eat MGM." Jed didn't want to scare Gusta.At present, MGM's biggest father, Kerkorian, has offered MGM a purchase price of US$48 billion, and must also assume MGM's future debts of up to US$35 billion.If MGM is to be acquired, at least $1 billion in cash must be prepared.Jed actually disliked Sony's acquisition of MGM with debt. Not only did it fail to save MGM, but it dragged himself to death.But the problem is that of course Gusta and Jed are worth $1 billion, but they don't have $1 billion in cash flow.So Jed asked a very real question, and this question also made Gusta fall into contemplation.

"Maybe we need more acquisition partners." Gusta gave a reason.

"But MGM is only so big, and the real value is nothing more than his film library and trademarks. In his film library, the only valuable works are "oo7" and "The Hobbit". Jed said lightly, "What can you give to your partners? MGM doesn't have many valuable things."

"Then what does Mr. Sherman want?" Gusta asked.

"I want the copyrights of "oo7" and "The Hobbit", and the right to use the MGM film library." Jed said without hesitation.

"Mr. Sherman is really unambiguous." Although what Jed wants is the most valuable thing in MGM, in Gusta's view, these things are not the most valuable thing in MGM.Lionsgate currently only has distribution capabilities. If it can annex MGM, it will not only inherit MGM's production capabilities, but also use MGM, the highest brand in the film industry.And Gusta wants to own the MGM trademark in his mind. "I think I may be able to find a few partners, but it depends on what you mean. Because the two companies I can find are just in conflict with you, do you mind?"

"What does Mr. Gusta mean?" Jed actually had the answer in his mind, but he still pretended to be confused.

"Comcast Group and Sony Pictures Entertainment Group." Gusta said lightly, "Vivendi Group intends to sell NBC Universal Group, and Comcast Group may take over. Comcast Group's cable network in North America TV operations are indeed among the best. They are currently planning to transform the company into an entertainment media group. Therefore, in addition to acquiring NBC Universal Group, they are also interested in MGM's profitability and film library usage rights. Currently, the pay TV market in North America Basically, it is a situation where HBO and Showtime are fighting for hegemony, Comcast Group intends to acquire NBC Universal Group and form an Epix channel with Paramount to challenge the status of HBO and Showtime.”

"Mr. Gusta has a lot of sources of information." Jed was secretly surprised. The pay TV business is also coveted by Jed, but he is currently acquiring the cable TV business leading to satellite TV and WorldCom, so he has no choice but to Do not temporarily put down the coveting of pay TV in my heart.But he naturally knows that the pay TV in North America will be the top three in the future.The so-called Sanxiong refers to HBO, Showtime and Starz, while the top three refers to a number of pay TVs including Epix. In the future, because of the film libraries of Universal, Paramount, and MGM, Epix can be regarded as a small achievement in terms of premium movie channels.But all this information was learned because Jed came from the future, but where did Gusta know it?

"I dare not say that there is any source of information, but I still have some friends in this circle." Gusta replied quite proudly, "As for the Sony Group, Mr. Sherman himself is also engaged in the optical storage industry, so he should know the current situation."

Jed smiled and didn't answer, he was at ease, and he naturally understood what Gusta meant.As vcd technology matures, the next generation of audio-visual standards are also being formulated.The Samsung Sherman Technology Group under the Sherman Group is naturally also involved, but because of Jed's prediction of the future, the Samsung Sherman Group and the Sony Group are both members of the Blu-ray Alliance, and because Samsung Sherman owns more There are more Blu-rays in return, so the entire Blu-ray Alliance is headed by Samsung Sherman.Sony's acquisition of MGM Group is also for the right to use MGM's film library. It wants the Blu-ray Alliance to have more entertainment film libraries, so that users will naturally choose Blu-ray.And Toshiba Group's hddvd group will naturally choose to compromise.

"If the Sony Group has no objections, I don't object to cooperating with them." Jade just wanted to cheat the Sony Group, and naturally he would not let the opportunity of the Sony Group go into the water. "Mr. Gusta can tell the Sony Group as much as he wants, and I will not object."

Now that both parties have settled the details, they naturally broke up and left with a smile.After sending Gusta away, Jed immediately called Carl Icahn, known as an investment genius.Carl Icahn was still a little surprised to receive Jed's call.Carl Icahn was running a good private equity fund at this time, making a big splash on Wall Street.However, he still knows a little about Jed Sherman. He knows that Jed has turned East West Bank, which was originally only aimed at Chinese and Asians, into one of the famous commercial banks in the western United States through acquisitions and mergers. Location.The Hualin Hong Kong Investment Bank established by East West Bank and Merrill Lynch Box has become one of the most famous investment companies in the Asia-Pacific region, and they are also the preferred agency for high-tech enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region to enter the US stock market.However, Carl Icahn didn't think there was any overlap between himself and Sherman, so he was quite surprised to see Jed's call.

"Mr. Icahn, if you can form a private equity fund with a scale of more than 3 billion US dollars within this year, I think we have the opportunity to send the famous Japanese Sony Group to bankruptcy court within the next three years." Jed laughed on the phone road.

"Mr. Sherman was joking." Carl Icahn was surprised. "Although Sony Computer Entertainment Group is currently losing money, with the launch of PS3, I think it will not be difficult for Sony Computer Entertainment Group to turn around. Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony The current financial situation of Music Entertainment is very healthy, even if it is intentionally shorted, there is no chance. The most important thing is the relationship between the Sony Group and the Japanese government, and the Japanese will not watch us kill the Sony Group.”

"What if it's the Sony Group's own problem?" Jed slowly hinted, "For example, if the Sony Group suddenly withdraws a large amount of cash to participate in a certain project investment, and Mr. Icahn is taking the opportunity to do something, everything is a normal capital operation."

"What does Mr. Sherman want in return?" Carl Icahn was a risk taker, and he had seen the risks and possible rewards of this business.He couldn't refuse, but he still felt that Jed would have other plans.

"I just need you to contain the Sony Group." Jed didn't hide his purpose, "Of course, I will also join Mr. Carl Icahn's private equity fund. I hope that Mr. Icahn can bring me good returns in the end. "

"If that's the case, when will Mr. Sherman be free to come to New York to attend my reception? Several of my partners are interested in getting to know Mr. Sherman, a new friend." Carl Icahn invited.

"No problem." Jed agreed. "I'm going to New York next week and hope to have the best booze and cigars."

"It seems that you want to take this opportunity to settle the Sony matter in one fell swoop?" John asked after Jed hung up the phone.

"Sony won't die so easily. If I die, I will seriously hurt the vitality of the Sony Group." Jed sighed, "From now on, the Sony Group and the Sony Group will be unstoppable sworn enemies."

"You make it sound like you are a guest with the Japanese now." John sneered.

"Don't say that I hate Japan, I love Japan so much." Jade sighed, "We didn't play enough of such a huge market in 1997, and it would be nice if we could play a few more times in the future. "

"After you go to New York next week, you will fly directly to the UK. I got in touch with a private hospital in London, and they will arrange for the best cardiac surgery team to stay on your crew." John shrugged, "Don't Protest, your little life is too valuable now."

"Okay, okay." Jed only compromised.God knows if John will have more terrible arrangements if he refuses the nursing team to enter the film crew.