Once Upon a Time In Hollywood

  Chapter 435 Fuck MGM (1)

  When Henry Paulson, chairman of Goldman Sachs, felt that Roland's asking price for Warcraft Film and Television was a bit too outrageous, and there was no possibility of negotiation between the two parties for the time being, Roland was also willing to accept the other party's proposal and separate from him first.

   This is actually the charm of power!

  If they were serious businessmen, facing Goldman Sachs' demand, they would inevitably have the idea of ​​compromise in their hearts. After all, this kind of political and business-integrated giant is not something Chang can compete with, but what about Roland?

  Before, he was really harmless to humans and animals.

   The guy who cooperates with him only needs to clarify his position and clear his interests without using intimidation. He will take the initiative to cut his flesh and leave quickly. But now, when his thighs are hugging and hugging himself into thighs...

   situation, there have been earth-shaking changes.

  Goldman Sachs took a fancy to my assets?

  I don't sell it!

  What can you do to me?

   Regardless of whether it is commonly used in the business field to support competitors, or the consortium's favorite way to suppress people when they attack, these methods that Goldman Sachs can use and are used to have no meaning to Roland.

  Because the former supports competitors, it is hitting one's own people!

  When my industry is closely related to the interests of your people, if you hit me, wouldn't that be the same as breaking up the team?

  For a small benefit, abolish the century-old racial grouping rules?

  The Jews are really going to be history.

   And power overwhelms people...

  Who is in power now?

  Little bushes!

  When the Elephant Party is in the limelight and the Donkey Party can only attack, isn't it a joke to have power over others?

Regardless of whether it is the CIA that can label people as a spy, the FBI that investigates federal crimes, or the IRS that maintains the army, Goldman Sachs cannot use these. When the famous Roland was actually being targeted, Goldman Sachs was the target of the investigation by the world's largest violent organization!

right! I do not have a gun!

   But I'm a grasshopper on the same rope as the guy who pulls the trigger!

This is enough!

Therefore, when Roland offered sky-high prices again and again, Henry Paulson could only go back and discuss countermeasures with others, and when the two parties smiled and parted, Roland, who was wearing stars and wearing moonlight, returned to the hotel to find his wife lying on the desk. on, fell asleep.

  Looking down at the watch, the twelve o'clock scale made him walk lightly.

  Take off your coat and throw it away, pull out the chair and support yourself.

  However, just as he was about to bend down and raise his hands, picked up his wife, and sent her to the bedroom, Kate, who was awakened by the noise, had already opened her eyes.

She glanced alertly at the source of the movement, and when she saw Roland's face clearly, her shiny eyes dimmed instantly, and a tired voice came out slowly, "Are you back? What time is it? Why am I already asleep? "

   "It's past twelve, it's normal for you to be sleepy."

  Although his wife woke up, Roland still hugged her.

   And Kate was not pretentious. When her body relaxed, she turned into a cat and put her face in Roland's arms.

   "Are you done talking?"

  The words came out in a loud voice.

"How about it?"

  The slightly concerned question is soft in the struggling voice.

   "It's okay, but it's not over."

"What's the meaning?"

   "It means that Goldman Sachs has already made an offer, so I have to go to Washington tomorrow."

   "..."

  The sudden arrangement made the guy in his arms fall into silence.

   And when Roland put her on the bed and rolled up the quilt to cover her, the plan he had made on the way back was also thrown out by him.

   "The matter is actually almost the same, and the rest are only details.

  You are not feeling well, then stay in New York and rest well, don't run away with me.

  Of course, I also went there on the same day and returned on the same day.

  I will finish breakfast with you tomorrow morning, and depart at around nine o’clock. After an hour’s flight, I will be able to talk with them at noon. After the talk, I will fly back in the afternoon. If I have enough time, I can accompany you for dinner in the evening.

Then…

  Go to communicate with the guy who is off work.

  Since they have long wanted to reach a consensus with each other, I think the rest of the communication should be easy.

  At least, it won't have much to do with me anymore..."

  Although Roland slowed down his speech, he hoped that his wife who was in a state of confusion could hear clearly.

  But what spoke slower than him was Kate's reflex arc.

  When Roland, who was standing next to the bed, explained everything clearly, looking straight at his wife, hoping that the other party would respond, the silly woman who had been silent for a long time suddenly said, "Don't smoke."

   "?"

Roland slowly put a question mark on his face, lowered his head and sniffed his shirt, and when the familiar but no longer familiar smell of tobacco penetrated his nostrils, he understood immediately: "This is smoked by Henry, and I'm fine."

  In order to prove his innocence, he leaned down and kissed his wife on the lips.

  Although it was touching, the guy on the bed still stuck out his tongue and licked his lips foolishly.

   "Hmm...it doesn't seem to be..." the dull words came out instinctively.

  The next second, feeling that there was nothing wrong with her, she turned sideways and curled up, "Then go take a shower."

   The inexplicable reaction made Roland a little puzzled, and while he followed his wife's instructions and went into the bathroom with his pants on, countless questions flooded his mind—

  ‘This guy has a **** change? '

  ‘Why are you so soft recently? '

  ‘You are weak when you talk, and you still like to sleep? '

  ‘…’

  Although Roland didn't think about what happened to Kate until after taking a shower, but seeing that it was getting late and he had work tomorrow, he suppressed all the doubts in his heart.

   After all, finishing the things that can be completed in hand is the top priority in one's own interests.

  Of course, as a qualified husband, he will not let his wife's abnormality go.

  Early the next morning, after breakfast with his lackluster wife, after confirming that she just didn't want to go to the hospital for a physical examination, Roland also asked his assistant to call for a personal doctor on the way to Washington after leaving New York.

   "Go and see what's going on with her."

   "Okay, Boss."

  Although it is quite irresponsible to leave everything to the doctor, but...

  Roland is not a doctor either! He also doesn't have superpowers that can see everything!

  So, believing in the profession has become the only thing he can do.

   While he was leaving, the private doctor who went to the guest room to diagnose Kate was confused, because she was sure that the guy in front of her who didn't want to cooperate with her but had to cooperate with her was very normal.

  The only thing that is abnormal, perhaps, is the nerves of this young couple.

   "Mrs. Allen."

"Um?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"I said that I don't have any discomfort recently, but I often feel sleepy, and I will have a physical examination every quarter, so you don't need to look at me with such a serious expression, because if there is something, it will have been found out long ago. "

   "That's not what I meant to say..."

   "Then what do you want to ask?"

   "What I want to ask is, when was your last physical examination?"

   "Before returning to England, at the end of October last year."

   "Then you are often tired, when did it happen?"

   "In January this year, after coming to the United States, what happened?"

   "Uh... so is your period normal? According to your description, you don't seem to have a period this month?"

   "!!"

  Such words caused Kate, who was leaning on the recliner to accept the doctor's question, to open her eyes suddenly.

  While staring at the female doctor, the brain that has not been used for a long time is also frantically searching for the latest information.

  When she confirmed that her relatives did not come this month, Ben's extremely lazy face suddenly burst into ecstasy.

   "I'm going to the hospital! I'm going to the hospital!"

   Shouted twice, the assistant guarding the door was surprised.

   And when they rushed into the house and helped Kate change her clothes and shoes, the guy in an extremely happy mood also ordered—

   "No matter what happens later, you can't tell Roland!

   Did you hear that? "

  ...

   Roland didn't know about his wife's joy, or, at the same time that Kate was excitedly heading to the hospital, he had already arrived in Washington, seeing Henry Rumsfeld's Roland, his head was extremely painful.

  Because when he told the other party about Goldman Sachs' needs, thinking that they could make an appointment on their own and sit down to talk in detail, Henry Rumsfeld stopped him, hoping that he could stay in Washington for a while.

   "Why?" Roland didn't understand why this guy would suddenly make such a request.

   But Henry Rumsfeld replied very simply, "I need to present these things to George, and then...we will give you an answer as soon as possible, so that you can pass on our ideas to Goldman Sachs.

   This time may be this afternoon, or this evening, or tomorrow during the day?

  In short, within 24 hours, we will discuss a result. "

   "What? Shouldn't you talk about the next thing?"

   Roland was startled, "Do you still need me to pass on this kind of transaction?"

"Of course!" Henry Rumsfeld felt that Roland was asking nonsense, "With you as an intermediary, we will have no difficulty in dealing with those energy giants and military enterprises, because we can ask them Said that this is a deal made by Goldman Sachs in agreeing to promote shale oil exploration!

  Ask for the position of Minister of Finance is the fundamental core of Goldman Sachs' release of shale oil exploration, rather than to allow shale oil to be exploited, we took the initiative to give the position of Minister of Finance to Goldman Sachs.

  The former is because we are forced to be helpless, and the latter is because we take the initiative to delegate power.

  Although it is a word game, the concept is quite different.

  You see what I mean? "

  When Henry Rumsfeld confidently described the deal he wanted as a Goldman Sachs take...

   Roland, who was sitting opposite him, had a dark face, just like Bao Zheng!

  ‘This is a transaction led by Goldman Sachs, and it has nothing to do with you? '

  'Hold the grass! '

  ‘You **** are really shameless! '

  Roland is not a fool, of course he understands what this means!

  Little bush government, this is a **** while erecting a memorial archway!

  As Henry Paulson said, they own Wall Street assets, and they don’t want those industrial giants to use a weak dollar policy to stimulate exports.

  In this case, where is the breakthrough?

   That's Roland who suddenly appeared!

  Why did Roland suddenly return to the United States after Ben stayed well in the UK?

   And fly straight to Washington for the bush?

   Is it because of House of Cards?

No!

  In the words of the small bush to appease the industrial giants, Roland came to help Goldman Sachs as a peacemaker under the banner of "House of Cards"!

   It was Goldman Sachs who first wanted to make a deal on the shale oil project, and then they did it!

   It's not that they are willing to hand over the position of finance minister, but that they have to give it up!

   In this way, the conflict between a strong dollar and a weak dollar is up to Goldman Sachs, but what about the little bushes?

   It cannot be said to stay out of it, but it is much better than being direct and supporting your own capital!

  Of course, this kind of routine cannot deceive people, but in many cases, the purpose of deceiving people is not to deceive people.

  Even if those industrial giants knew that the small bushes had sacrificed themselves in order to protect the interests of the energy giants, they would not directly tear up with them if they had enough steps.

   And as long as you don't tear up the beep, everyone is still a family.

  Even if you lose your heart in the future, it doesn't matter!

   The team is still here!

  No way, who makes capital full of compromise?

  This compromise can be derived from current developments, or from everything in the future...

   After all, it is a profit.

  What is the core of making those industrial giants lose the position of finance minister?

   Is Goldman Sachs wanting to control finance?

   No, the energy giants want oil.

  In this way, this is actually an internal conflict between industrial giants and energy giants, and if the internal conflict can be transferred to an external conflict, no one will take the initiative to break this balance!

   "Okay, then go get it!"

  Knowing that Goldman Sachs could not escape the blame, Roland sighed helplessly, and said, "But we have to make an agreement first, what will happen to me?"

   "Your side? What do you want?"

Henry Rumsfeld said: "House of Cards, that's what we should do. George will persuade his father to be a consultant for this show. If you need it, I think let him act in it." There is no problem with this role, of course, for the sake of George's tenure, they are definitely unwilling to accept too many negative portrayals.

   Beyond that, do you want us to help you with Sony Music?

   If you want to lower the price, we... that may really be impossible.

   After all, the money ended up going to the Justice Department.

But if you want a complete Sony Music Entertainment, then we can also find a way to get Michael Jackson to sell the shares in his hand, but the risk of this matter is very high. Once a dispute arises, the media needs to be favorable to us. Rendering, and in this regard, we can only affect Time Warner and Fox, as for other media...

   You know us better than us, right? "

   This is really a benefit, anyone can die!

   Roland still remembered that when he first came to them, these guys were reluctant to speak about anything, but now? With the shale oil deal finalized, anyone standing in their way is a corpse.

   Let Michael Jackson sell his shares?

   Grab the grass!

   Isn't this equivalent to sending someone on the road!

  Because everyone knows that it is impossible for him to sell himself!

If this matter was discussed before the establishment of the "House of Cards" project, Roland might really have such an idea, but after the confrontation with Goldman Sachs, after learning that the group of Wall Street capital had taken a fancy to his property, Roland had a very serious relationship with Sony. The integrity of the music is very insignificant. Before the pressure that is staring at him, he must let the assets in his hands thrive as soon as possible.

  Because only in this way can we resist the next offer from the giants.

  ‘Don’t you think my offer is a joke? '

  ‘But without your support, I can just do it! '

  ‘Want to buy or not! '

   But unfortunately, companies like Shouwang Venture Capital cannot be stimulated.

  So, Roland felt that the acquisition of Warcraft Film and Television had to be put on the agenda.

   "I want to buy MGM, 100 percent.

  According to the current calculation, it is worth at least four billion yuan, but I am not willing to pay so much money.

  Is there a way? "

   "MGM?"

Roland's demand did not exceed Henry Rumsfeld's expectations, or in other words, what Roland asked for now, they all think it is relatively reasonable. After all, compared with oil, billions of dollars in business, then They are all small things.

  But MGM has many problems.

   "If I remember correctly, the current owner of MGM is Kirk Kerkorian?

  His net worth is more than 10 billion, close to 20 billion.

   If you want to buy MGM from him...

  Okay, give me a moment, I'll go back and let the team help you set a plan.

  The content of the negotiation with Goldman Sachs is the same, within 24 hours.

  Okay? "

   "Okay!"

   That's right!

   After being tricked by various big capitals, the compensation plan selected by Roland is MGM!

   The reason is actually very simple.

  Because he came forward to buy, the process will be very troublesome.

In Roland's previous life, around 2004, Time Warner, who was in harmony with AOL, made an offer to MGM, hoping to acquire MGM for US$4.5 billion, but when they were negotiating with the other party, Sony stood aside. After breaking out, he gave a quotation of 4.7 billion, and in the end, he raised it to 5 billion.

  Of course, the price is not the point. The real core is actually the capital that appeared with Sony.

In the 5 billion leveraged buyout transaction, Sony only contributed 20% of it, and the remaining 80%, telecom giant Comcast contributed 20%, private equity funds TPG and Providence contributed 21% and 29% respectively, and the remaining 10% was jointly held by APriori and Sifang Group.

  If you just look at the name, it feels like a bunch of financial capital is dividing it up.

   But actually...

   Same as Guggenheim with Goldman Sachs.

  When these financial companies intervened in MGM around 2004, it was for the Hollywood financial model.

   But unfortunately, they are not as high-quality as Guggenheim and Goldman Sachs, they are just a mob.

   If Guggenheim and Goldman Sachs are deliberately messing around, then they simply want to package entertainment projects as real financial products, and continue to raise funds from the bond market in the form of collateral claims.

  In just five years, they made MGM owe four billion in debt, and then...

   They quit playing.

   Convert the four billion debts into 95% of the company's equity, pat your ass, and walk directly.

  Of course, it doesn't really have much to do with Roland whether they let go or not.

   The ones who really matter are actually the people behind these guys.

  The founder of Sifang Group is a friend of Michael Bloomberg, among them, there is also a share of Intel founder Gordon Moore;

  TPG was established in 1992, with General Electric standing behind it;

  Other than this, Comcast needs no introduction, because they bought NBC Universal directly in the end;

   And these guys—

   All of them are our own people who can't see up and down!

  Roland knew Michael Bloomberg, introduced by Ronald Perelman.

  Roland doesn't know Gordon Moore, but the remaining shares of ATi are still held by Intel.

  Although he has nothing to do with General Electric, the reason for promoting "House of Cards" is to make DreamWorks have a relationship with General Electric.

  So, after experiencing the demand from Goldman Sachs, in order not to let himself be grasped by the identity of "one of us", Roland must find a way to quickly and ruthlessly embezzle the target he wants!

   Bid with these guys, the highest bidder wins?

Do not make jokes!

  He is the guy who is not even willing to spend 500 million in the MGM acquisition case!

   And like Sony, implement a joint acquisition with these capitals?

  That's it!

   Roland can guarantee that Goldman Sachs, who has been staring at him, will pat his chest and say, I can pay 80%!

  Roland is unwilling to accept Goldman Sachs' investment and reject our offer with a high offer?

   It doesn't matter!

   Acquire the target you want to acquire, and then propose a stock-for-share merger, so can I still be a shareholder?

Goldman Sachs didn't have the guts to buy a 10% stake in World of Warcraft at a price of 3 billion, but if it bought MGM at a price of 4 billion and then promoted the merger of MGM and Warcraft, this kind of list , they can still do it!

  But if MGM is really acquired by Goldman Sachs, then...

  Roland would be in an awkward situation.

  In Hollywood, he is the only one who doesn't have a film library. After that, how will he live in the life of streaming media?

  So, while leaving Goldman Sachs in the air, it is the most convenient choice to let the small bushes who can be tough with each other.

  Because of this, not only can you avoid the accident of confrontation with your own people, but you can also minimize the risk of Goldman Sachs entering the market.

  ...

While Roland and Henry Rumsfeld reached a waiting agreement, Roland, who had nothing to do, also called his wife. When he had to stay in Washington and wait for the result, he might not return to New York tonight. After telling Kate, an unusually pleasant voice of approval came from the other end of the phone, "I have something to do tonight, so you won't be back?

no problem!

   Then I ate alone at night. "

   "?"

   A question mark slowly appeared on Roland's face.

   It's not that he has a problem, it's that he thinks there might be a problem with Kate.

   "Uh... honey..."

"ah?"

   "How do I feel, your mood will improve once I leave?"

   "Ah...is there?"

   "Isn't there?"

   "Then maybe you found a doctor for me today?"

When Roland heard his wife take the initiative to mention this matter, he wanted to write a light novel in the state of "I am happy as soon as my wife leaves, is it because I was green?" what did the doctor say?"

   "The doctor said I'm fine!"

   "Huh? Really?"

   "Of course it is true! I even went to the hospital for this! I have done all the tests that should be done, that is..."

   "What is it?"

   "The doctor said I'm a little fatter."

   "..."

   Roland felt that Kate was making fun of herself.

  Because he can't answer this topic!

   If you agree with the doctor, isn't that just thinking your wife is fat?

   If you don’t agree with the doctor, isn’t it that you don’t care about your wife’s body?

  If it was OneonOne, he could still choose an answer and pretend to be dead. Now...

  He felt that if he chose an answer randomly, his wife might hang up the phone directly.

   Then, regardless of whether he goes back now, he will be criticized the next time we meet.

However, when Roland was thinking about how he should answer, Kate on the other end of the phone was in a good mood and didn't struggle with this question, "But I think it doesn't matter whether you are fat or not. The important thing is that I am fine. Right?"

   "Yes, yes, yes..." Seeing the sun come out from the west, Roland nodded quickly in response.

   "Then do you think that when you come back tomorrow, you have to celebrate it?"

  ‘You can’t even manage your own weight, what the **** is there to celebrate? '

  Roland was speechless, but he still had to follow his wife and said, "Of course we have to celebrate, celebrate well!"

  After a few flattering words, Kate hung up the phone in satisfaction, and following her letting go, Roland, who was staying in the hotel, also raised his hand to wipe the sweat that didn't exist on his forehead—

  ‘Man is so difficult! '

  ‘There are so many things going on all day long! '

Perhaps his complaint was heard by God, but it was more like the small bushes. They wanted to promote the exploitation of shale oil too much. After Roland had a good dinner, he made preparations for these people to find him the next day. After ten o'clock, someone knocked on the door of Roland's guest room from the outside, and when he opened it, Henry Rumsfeld came directly.

  Besides him, there was a white man he didn't know, following behind.

   After opening the door to let them in, the old man straightforwardly introduced the identity of the other party—

   "This is Robert Mueller, the current director of the FBI."

   "Ah, hello~" Roland reached out and shook hands with the other party.

   He was in a daze and asked wonderingly: "Is there something to do here so late?"

   "Don't you want to buy MGM?" Henry Rumsfeld asked.

   "Yes." Roland nodded.

   "Don't you think more than four billion is too expensive?" Henry Rumsfeld continued to ask.

   "Yes!" Roland frowned, "What's wrong?"

   "After our afternoon of research, we found that there is a way for you to acquire it at a price of several hundred million."

   "What?" Roland was startled, "You guys are too efficient, aren't you?"

   "High efficiency? No, no, it's just that this case is very easy to handle..."

Robert Miller smiled and said, "Although this may not be your carefully selected target, but... I have to say that your luck is really good, because Kirk Kerkorian has a very thick criminal record in our FBI... "

Note: ① MGM was not simply sold. Time Warner made an offer first, and then Sony followed up. The reason why Ted Turner did not compete with Sony was indeed because of the shareholders in "MGM Holdings" It's just too much, and when the financial industry wants to buy a company, they really don't need money. ②'MGM Holdings''s final offer to MGM was indeed 5 billion, but it fell to 4.8 billion due to the problem of debt identification during the final docking and liquidation. ③APriori is an investment company controlled by Credit Suisse. In the acquisition of MGM in 2005, there were a total of four private equity funds with a scale of more than 50 billion, one communication giant, one Sony, and Sony acquired MGM Basically, it was not his film library, but MGM's membership in the Motion Picture Association of America to forcibly vote for the Blu-ray format. Although it seems silly to spend one billion votes, but once the Blu-ray format becomes 10%, they will make a lot of money. Monopoly does make money, but controlling the standard means monopoly! ④TPG's first business was to assist General Electric in completing the acquisition of Continental Airlines, and has been helping General Electric since then.

  

  

  (end of this chapter)