The Best Entertainment Era

Universal Studios, Ronan and Robert Iger entered an independent office building, and walked towards a meeting room under the guidance of a staff member.

Before approaching the door of the conference room, the door of the conference room opened, and a bald man with a big nose sent three middle-aged men in formal suits out.

The two sides shook hands and said goodbye, but they couldn't hear what they were saying.

Ronan and Robert Iger slowed down very tacitly. Robert Iger said softly: The person in the gray suit is Bernard, the CEO of NBC. I don't know the person on his left, and the former American Musician on his right. Company executive David Alisson.

Ronan asked in a low voice, The American Music Company that Universal Pictures used to belong to.

Robert Iger replied: Yes.

While the two were talking in low voices, the three middle-aged men in formal attire approached them and passed them by. Ronan could notice that the eyes of these three men had been examining him and Robert Iger for a long time.

Ronan and Robert Iger were prepared before they came, and like competitors, they were also scrutinized.

When he came to the entrance of the elevator, Bernat couldn't help but glance back. The two people just now had already walked into the conference room.

That is the place Vivendi Group uses exclusively at Universal Pictures to receive potential buyers.

The so-called potential buyers are competitors of NBC.

David, you are more familiar with Hollywood. Bernat stood in the elevator waiting for the elevator, and asked the people next to him, Do you know those two people?

The news that Vivendi sold Universal Pictures was a bit sudden. NBC got the information before the news was made public, and then approached Vivendi Group. Originally, they wanted to catch this sick cat while Vivendi was in financial crisis. Take a hard bite and take Universal Pictures Group into your bag.

But NBC will seize the opportunity, and Vivendi is not easy. They are indeed overwhelmed by the debt of more than 10 billion US dollars that is about to expire. Did not surrender obediently.

The two parties contacted several times, and NBC forced Vivendi to directly disclose the news, so as to attract more buyers to compete.

Fortunately, many of NBC's jobs are at the front, and with a certain degree of support from its parent company, General Electric, at present, apart from Comcast Group,

No other buyers have appeared yet.

This is a transaction worth more than 10 billion U.S. dollars, and Vivendi must cash out due to its own special reasons, and does not accept conditions such as redemption at all.

There are actually very few companies that are really interested in entertainment companies like Universal Pictures, have the ability to operate, and have the strength to eat them.

More than 10 billion US dollars in cash cannot be raised casually.

On Comcast’s side, someone has already communicated, and Comcast itself has a lot of problems, but it is temporarily unable to draw funds if it is interested.

There is also cooperation between the two parties. It is estimated that if some conditions are set, Comcast's side will temporarily subside.

But I didn't expect to meet two new faces here today.

This kind of deal that is up for grabs is most afraid of the emergence of powerful disruptors and competitors. Once the acquisition becomes a bid, it may cost hundreds of millions of extra funds.

David Alisson had seen those two people specifically, and whispered at this time: The younger one is Ronan Anderson, a famous Hollywood producer and the owner of Relativity Entertainment Group, and the older one is called Robert Iger , used to work at Walt Disney, and then moved to Relativity Entertainment as COO.”

Knowing who Relativity Entertainment Group and Ronan Anderson are, Bernat frowned: Could Relativity Entertainment be interested in Universal Pictures?

David Alisson said: No way, Relativity Entertainment has indeed developed like a plane in the past two years, but it doesn't have the strength yet.

Bernat did not dare to take it lightly, and said to the assistant on the other side: Ask people to pay close attention to the news of Relativity Entertainment.

The assistant came to NBC from Hollywood, and had a general understanding of some situations in Hollywood, and said: Ronan Anderson established a Pacific Foundation, which specializes in absorbing overseas funds for investment. Countries such as South Korea and Germany have successfully raised funds, with a total financing amount of more than one billion U.S. dollars or more.”

Bernat was startled: He has financing channels?

This makes people worry.

In the meeting room, Ronan didn't speak, Robert Iger looked at Jean-Pierce and said: After receiving the news that you want to sell Universal Pictures, Relativity Entertainment is making preparations, hoping to get a fair chance to compete.

Jean-Pierce touched his big nose and said with a smile: It's easy to say.

As long as the price is right, they don't care too much who they sell to. What Vivendi needs is cash.

The two parties have already had a brief understanding, and Robert Iger simply asked the key point: Mr. Pierce, Relativity Entertainment is very sincere in launching this acquisition. We are raising funds, and we are cooperating with the Pacific Foundation to raise funds. Currently, South Africa's The consortium such as Millard International Holding Group has agreed to raise funds from the foundation, and the first investment will be in place soon...

This is to show that Relativity Entertainment has the strength to participate in this acquisition. Jean-Pierce can naturally hear that it is also a good thing for Vivendi to have one more buyer. Otherwise, there are only NBC and General Electric as buyers, and the situation is not very good. .

Jean-Pierce was very calm, as if the Vivendi Group hadn't encountered any problems at all, and said lightly: I've heard that you, Relativity Entertainment, are indeed a very powerful company.

In the past two years, Relativity Entertainment has produced and distributed many blockbuster movies, such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Bourne Shadow and other films that he has watched.

Robert Iger's words continued: What is your reserve price for the transfer? Please also ask Mr. Pixar to express it so that we can raise funds.

Of course, Jean-Pierce would not be completely honest, and quoted a price: 13 billion US dollars. He smiled: If we can enter the stage of actual negotiation and transaction, your company can naturally carry out asset appraisal and other procedures, Vivendi will fully cooperate.”

Speaking of which, Jean-Pix added: We only accept cash transactions.

This type of transaction will undoubtedly cause many potential buyers to retreat directly, but Vivendi needs money, not other assets.

When they first met, Ronan and Robert Iger quickly bid farewell and left.

The goal has been basically achieved. After understanding Vivendi’s needs and showing their face in front of NBC people, how to develop in the future is not completely under their control.

Therefore, Ronan has to prepare with both hands.

Robert Iger returned to the company and led the specially established acquisition team to actually simulate the acquisition of Universal Pictures in order to accumulate practical experience and continue to release relevant news to the outside world.

Ronan turned around and came to the office of Universal Pictures to visit Ron Meyer.

Ron, we are old friends too. Ronan deliberately complained: The last time I called you, you refused to disclose any information.

Ron Meyer was not embarrassed, and said: This is a request from the head office, and I can't help it. You can't let me make a principled mistake, can you?

Ronan couldn't say much, and instead asked, After this acquisition, will there be any major changes in Universal Pictures?

That depends on how the future head office thinks about it. Ron Meyer was tight-lipped.

Ronan said casually, What if someone wants to buy Universal's films or other copyrights?

Ron Meyer is also an old fox, and asked back: Ronan, maybe you are interested in a certain movie project of Universal Pictures?

Ronan knew that his intentions could not be concealed, and he neither admitted nor denied it.

Ron Meyer shook his head and said: This is impossible. In order to sell Universal Pictures, Vivendi has temporarily frozen all assets including copyrights. During this period, let alone copyright transactions, Universal Pictures except for the existing Apart from film projects, there will be no new film projects.”

He turned to ask: What movie projects does Universal Pictures have for you?

Ronan half-truthfully said: Universal monsters movie remake copyright. I think Vivendi sells Universal Pictures, maybe it doesn't care about these copyright transfers.

Ron Meyer smiled: Copyright is the most important asset of a film company, not to mention that the asset is temporarily frozen, even if it is not the case, I will block this transaction. He knew that this was a very difficult young man. In order to make the other party give up, he simply said: I am a professional manager, and this is related to my reputation and professional ethics.

Ronan also knew that it was impossible to open a gap from Ron Meyer.

Reputation is very important for a professional manager, and Ron Meyer is far from retirement age.

Ron Meyer knew very well that he would not be able to sit in this position for a long time, so he said casually: Ronan, you have found the wrong person. We are old friends. I will say something clearly. If you want What, you should go to Vivendi, not me.

Of course Ronan understands what this means. It should be Vivendi's full involvement in Universal. Vivendi holds an absolute controlling stake in Universal Pictures. They don't want to sell. Universal has nothing to do. Vivendi wants to sell. Universal Can't stop it either.

Afterwards, Ronan notified Robert Iger, and he was in charge of the negotiation with Vivendi.

At the same time, prepare for the other hand.

After the business upgrade, the Pacific Investment Foundation held two press conferences in succession, and successively cooperated with Millard International Holding Group and Germany's Koch Foundation to accept investment from these two foreign companies.

The specific amount has not been announced, but the formation is very large.

Anyone who is a little bit well-informed knows the relationship between the Pacific Investment Foundation and Relativity Entertainment.

In addition, Relativity has commissioners who have started to move frequently in major banks or financial institutions. The news in this regard cannot be hidden from others. Many people know that Relativity Entertainment is going to apply for a large loan.

Ronan took the time to attend the opening ceremony of Night at the Museum, and the filming of this fantasy adventure children's film officially started.

But not every production crew went smoothly. There was bad news that reached Ronan, and internal conflicts within the production crew of Wedding Crashers that were in preparation suddenly intensified, seriously affecting the normal work of the crew.