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The complexity of this matter mainly lies in the printing of "instructions". It is revised every quarter, and each country has a version in a different language. At the same time, different operators also have different versions.

In total, there may be 100 versions for each printing. After printing is completed, these different versions of "instructions" must be distributed to different operators in different countries.

This is a very large offline job.

Neither Ziweixing nor Aisda has such strength.

In particular, I want to sign exclusive agreements with major companies before operators and other Internet companies react.

If you want to keep it secret, you have to be fast!

Multiple teams of people need to be dispatched at the same time, and each team is responsible for handling one operator. In the European and American markets, it is basically enough to handle 7-8 operators. The rest of the people who come and go can do it or not.

But what to do?

If you put it on the average person, it will basically be useless.

But Zhou Buqi can!

He has long since created a very complete business layout of "Ziwei Galaxy". The distribution of "instructions" is actually distribution, which is equivalent to the global distribution of mini-versions of Hollywood movies.

Ziweixing and Asda cannot do this, but Ziweixing Global can!

Hollywood movies can be distributed to every corner of the world, and distribution is easy with just the "instructions" provided by the mobile app. Moreover, the former NBCUniversal Group had a publishing business. However, NBC Universal was later split up, and the publishing business was merged into NBC, leaving Universal Pictures with no assets in the publishing industry.

There are no assets, but the relationship is still there.

Universal Distribution is very familiar with the entire operating model.

Done!

Zhou Buqi believed that this matter was very important and must be done. As long as it is done, Ziweixing will have a monopoly on entry-level product promotion channels for smartphones in the next 3-5 years!

Then, Boss Zhou began to arrange for Lu Qi, Zhou Shaoning, Ann Sarnoff, Joshua Carey, Paul Koerner and others to gather in London.

Through the three-party cooperation of Ziweixing International, Ziweixing Global and Asda, we can make this happen!

It is expected that we will meet in London next Monday, four days later.

Tang Binchen can't leave these days.

I followed Boss Zhou like an assistant and met a lot of people.

First, I met with a mergers and acquisitions team from Goldman Sachs, plotting about EMI Records.

Zhou Buqi is planning to acquire EMI Records through debt acquisition, replicating the successful acquisition of MGM. It is best to complete the transaction this year.

The process is complex.

Very deceptive.

The debt acquisition mainly involves acquiring the huge debt of EMI Records, and then converting the debt into equity... Ziweixing Global will be able to control 100% of EMI Records.

The previous shareholder, British Private Equity Terra Firma Capital, would be forcibly kicked out. They would not agree and would definitely resist.

This most complex financial operation is easiest for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup to perform.

In the previous life, Sony Records and Universal Records joined forces with Citigroup to drive away Terra Firma Capital through a debt-for-equity swap, and successfully acquired EMI Records.

The reason why Terra Firma Capital ended in embarrassment was because it borrowed huge US dollar debt from Citi during the leveraged acquisition of EMI Records. Terra Firma Capital is a British private equity firm with sterling assets. At that time, 1 pound could be exchanged for almost 2 U.S. dollars, but now 1 pound can only be exchanged for 1.3 U.S. dollars... The economic situation is terrible, and the pound has depreciated significantly in the exchange rate market, making Terra Firma Capital unable to repay the interest on EMI's U.S. dollar debt. The debt-to-equity swap agreement It takes effect.

Zhou Buqi has long been eyeing EMI Records, so he doesn’t bother with Universal Records and Sony Records. Both companies are monopoly-level music giants. Neither company can monopolize EMI Records. Otherwise, the market share will be too high, forming a monopoly and failing to pass regulatory review.

So Citigroup cooperated with Sony Records and Universal Records to carve up EMI Records. It was really a long tug-of-war. The whole process was very complicated and it took more than a year to complete the reorganization.

Just the various intermediary fees, consultant fees, public relations fees, lawyer fees, accounting fees, transportation fees, travel expenses, etc., can't stop it at 30 million US dollars.

If you have a choice, of course Citigroup is best to cooperate with Ziweixing Global!

In a cash transaction, EMI does not need to be split up, there is no monopoly review, and there is support from EMI's management. If it's straightforward and neat, maybe the case can be solved in 3 months.

Zhou Buqi met with the Goldman Sachs team first and hired them as consultants. The advice given by Goldman Sachs is not to be afraid of spending money, take the lead and invite the three major investment banks Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill Lynch.

The purpose of inviting these three major investment banks to come in is not to borrow their teams. Goldman Sachs is very confident in this and they are fully capable of running this case on their own.

The reason for doing this is to block the opponent's retreat and spend money to buy peace.

There are only a few of the top investment banks in the world.

Once the debt-for-equity swap agreement is officially launched, it will be a war.

On the creditor side, there are Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill Lynch, the world's five largest investment banks; on the equity side, Terra Firma Capital, what should we do? The most powerful investment banks are with competitors, so they can only hire some second-tier investment banks.

It can easily create a one-sided situation.

MSI Global spent an extra $15 million to invite Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill Lynch to serve as consultants. Being a consultant is fake, but it is true to bribe them and not let them go to Terra Firma Capital to go against them.

This strategy is very good and has been approved by Citigroup.

Then, get started!

Purple Star Global joined forces with the five major investment banks Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill Lynch to initiate a compulsory debt-for-equity swap of EMI Records.

The consulting fees of these five major investment banks alone reached US$35 million.

This is financial crushing.

In a capitalist society, whoever has money is the boss.

Now that Terra Firma Capital can't even pay back the interest, where can they pay high prices for lawyers or big investment banks to help? Basically, you can only watch helplessly as the capital tycoons take away your assets.

Tang Binchen was really frightened as he followed Boss Zhou, feeling firsthand the brutality of the capital market. At the same time, I also witnessed the non-stop pace of the big boss.

After meeting with people from several major investment banks at a suburban golf course, Zhou Buqi drove to the Manchester United Commercial Center in the city center, which was on the 22nd floor of an office building.

As soon as the elevator opened, all kinds of Manchester United elements came into view. Gilbert Lawrence, Joseph Delap, Chen Wenhao, Lang Weiyi and others were already waiting.

As soon as they met, Lawrence, the president of Manchester United Commercial, was very happy, "Zhou, I have a good news for you! The latest news!"

"Oh? What is it?"

"You made the right decision! Your keen strategic vision stunned the veterans within Manchester United and everyone was convinced!"

Zhou Buqi was a little funny, "What on earth is it?"

Lawrence laughed and said: "UEFA has introduced a new bill, the Financial Fair Play Act! This is to limit excessive investment by investors, as well as unequal business operation capabilities and huge expenditures in the competitive field."

Manchester United's commercial headquarters are in London, avoiding Manchester and the hostility of football people in the sports department. Although Boss Zhou has severely taught him a lesson, how many people will agree with him from the bottom of his heart?

Things are different now. UEFA is going to formulate policies and have financial fairness.

In other words, a club’s investment in the competitive field cannot be endless and must be linked to the club’s revenue capabilities. The more income you have, the more money you can invest in the competitive field, such as transfer fees, agent commissions, player salaries, etc.

If the income is insufficient, the competitive field will have to significantly reduce expenses, which will lead to a decline in team strength and thus affect competitive performance.

This ensures the justice of the club’s revenue generation from the legal aspect of football.

Of course, this is just "law" in football.

Super wealthy tycoons like Paris and Manchester City, even if they violate football laws, can still spend money to find the most powerful team of lawyers, appeal to higher-level institutions, and use real laws to "protect" their rights and interests.

So much so that the FPP Financial Fair Play Act became a joke, and even Platini, the promoter of this bill, resigned and was imprisoned.

The introduction of Middle Eastern capital is the general trend of European economies, and Platini cannot stop it. For example, when investigating Paris, a former head of state led the team with a strong political overtone, and then inexplicably announced that everything in Paris was normal, reasonable and compliant, and could not be punished!

But even so, the FPP Financial Fair Play Act has its flaws and has really saved European football.

Zhou Buqi said: "There should be such a bill. European football is simply ridiculous. With such good sports resources, the commercial operation is really poor. If it doesn't make money, how can the team survive? Just rely on fan donations and government subsidies. ? Nonsense."

As a businessman, Lawrence is of course very supportive of this bill. He smiled and said: "Yes, it should have been like this a long time ago. Of the 53 top leagues of UEFA's member states, only 8 can actually achieve profitability. Most of them Clubs rely on the investment of club owners to survive, and once the investors leave, they are destined to go bankrupt."

Zhou Buqi nodded, "With the introduction of the new bill, European football can really boldly carry out commercial development. The arrogance of football professionals should also be curbed."

Lawrence agreed: "Yes, this past season, European football lost 1.7 billion euros. If nothing changes, the ecology of European football will fall apart."

"right."

Zhou Buqi breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, Ziweixing Digital Media's business can develop more smoothly. He, an outsider, has led Manchester United to change its operating strategy, and he can be fairly evaluated.

In fact, this is also true. After the introduction of the Financial Fair Play Act, the effect was immediate. In the next year, European football's losses were reduced by 600 million euros. By 2016, the loss was only 300 million euros. By 2017, European football turned a profit, making a profit for the first time in history, with a total profit of 600 million euros!

The reason for this situation is not because the teams have cut expenses, but because of commercial promotion. When business operations improve, teams and leagues will make money.

However, there are only so many players and the plate is only so big.

According to the principles of economics, if the volume does not change but there is more money, inflation will naturally occur. Players' salaries are getting higher and higher, and the transfer market is even more exaggerated. The transfer fee for a kid who has never made a name for himself can exceed 100 million euros, and a new bubble problem has emerged.

For Zhou Buqi, the richer European football is, the better. Ziweixing Digital Media, as an "intermediary" leading the commercial development of European football, of course means that the bigger the football bubble is, the more intermediaries will make.

The FFP Financial Fair Play Act is good for Ziweixing Digital Media!