Hollywood New Century

The Los Angeles Country Club is a famous 36-hole golf course in California.

"Sure enough, it's a good place. If it wasn't for you, Brian, I wouldn't be able to come in," Simon said with a smile after a few swings.

Golf, Simon didn't know it at first, or did he play with Nicole Kidman later, and then communicated with the executives of several other film companies a few times, and understood something.

"Simon, if you want to become a member, you can't do it anytime," Brian Lord didn't know why Simon Pike asked Pat Kingsley to ask him out, but it didn't prevent him from having a good relationship with him.

Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway in "The Devil Wears Prada" are both CAA clients, and the film takes their careers a step further.

"By the way, congratulations to CAA for moving to the new headquarters in Century City now, and its future business will expand again," Simon smiled. CAA's new headquarters in Century City is called "Death Star"!

"CAA just entered the sports business this year, and the new headquarters is also for the company's development needs. I can't believe that you are still paying attention to our CAA, Simon. Our annual profit is not equal to the two movies of Xinghai Films!" Brian Lord He smiled at Simon, and then asked again:

"Simon, are you also interested in sports?"

Simon nodded and smiled: "I am interested in basketball, rugby (American football) and football!"

"By the way, in which European city are Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep currently promoting "The Queen Wears Prada"?" Simon asked suddenly.

Brian Lord smiled and responded quickly: "I understand that they have just arrived in London, England, and will be going to Paris, Rome and other places later. The Venice Film Festival at the end of the month is the focus of publicity, and it is also an overseas project. The premiere place!"

Brian Lord knows that Simon Pike must not see himself for the director, the star. But of course, the necessary work must be understood first, and it is normal to talk about atmosphere, scenery or other things before talking about business.

"Okay, let's go and sit down!" Simon felt that it was enough.

Of course Brian Lord nodded, readily agreed, and the business came.

In the lounge area, Simon Pike and Brian Lord sat opposite each other.

"Brian, I've recently become interested in Marvel Entertainment, and I want to entrust your CAA to acquire Marvel Entertainment for me!" Simon took a sip of juice and went straight to the point.

"Well, do you want to acquire Marvel?" Brian Lord was surprised for a moment, and said with some doubts:

"Simon, Marvel Entertainment is having a tough time now, but they got a $525 million investment film loan from Merrill Lynch, using all of Marvel's movie adaptation rights as collateral!"

"Moreover, the first funding of $225 million has been delivered, and Marvel Entertainment has taken back a lot of comic book character adaptation rights. They are preparing to develop "Iron Man" themselves, and they are now auditioning for Iron Man actors."

"A loan of $525 million? How much is Marvel worth?" Simon was surprised.

"That's not the case. 525 million is actually Merrill's investment in Marvel movies. The first $225 million supports them to take back the role and then shoot "Iron Man". If it fails, there is basically no hope, unless "Iron Man" Meet Merrill's expectations!" Brian Lord explained.

"Marvel is betting on this "Iron Man". After the failure, the film adaptation rights of all the characters will be lost. It seems that the current executives of Marvel are still very courageous!" Simon understands now, at least Marvel still Can continue to sell his toys is not.

The success of the "Spider-Man" series and the "X-Men" series has greatly increased the sales of these toy models of Marvel. Well, the derivative income of this movie is still after the release of "Spider-Man 1". Marvel from the court Fight back.

Sony Columbia, 20th Century Fox owns the movie revenue, box office, DVD and TV broadcasts, etc. It does not include the interests of the character's own comics, toys and other derivative products.

"Marvel Chairman Isaac Perlmutter is now the largest shareholder in Marvel Entertainment, Wall Street speculator Carl Icahn and former Chairman Ronald Perelman have both resigned from the board, and Marvel's creative chief After replacing Stan Lee, Vy Allard also resigned from the Marvel board of directors this year, and he was replaced by David Messer, who joined the company in 2003!" Brian Lord introduced Marvel's executives.

"Simon, Avi Allard owns 15% of Marvel Entertainment and he's been looking for a buyer for $50 million!" Brian Lord continued.

Avi Allard and Isaac Perlmutter were originally the two major shareholders of Toybiz toy company, which merged with the toy company after Marvel went bankrupt and reorganized.

"It seems that CAA is very clear about the situation of many entertainment companies," Simon smiled.

"Simon, you know, when we at CAA, under the leadership of Michael Ovitz, helped Sony acquire Columbia Pictures and Panasonic in the acquisition of Universal Pictures, of course we were prepared for this kind of work!" Brian Lord After Michael Ovitz left, the new head of CAA, 10 years later, CAA is not the aggressive CAA of the year, but its business is more extensive.

"Michael Ovitz, it's really a very distant name, and the AMG manager management company he founded doesn't seem to be a big deal," Simon said. respected.

At his peak in 1994, he went to the Disney Group as president, and was swept away by Disney's king Michael Eisner within a year.

"Simon, it's not very difficult to acquire Marvel Entertainment, the most difficult one is Marvel CEO Isaac Perlmutter, Ronald Perelman and Avi Allard both own Marvel Studios. 33% of Wei Entertainment, easy to get, needs cash, Carl Icahn as the creditor's representative owns 25% of the shares, he is supporting Isaac Perlmutter, but who is Carl Icahn, you too You know, a short-term opportunist, money can change his beliefs!" Brian Lord said politely, meaning that this was an acquisition involving hundreds of millions of dollars.

"I'll give you $20 million in cash first, and you can sign an option trading contract with someone who is willing to sell their shares. I'll have the funds before the end of this year, and it'll be three or four months. It's almost there. If the funds haven't arrived, the margin paid is their loss fee." Simon doesn't believe that Google will not buy YouTube this year, and history will change? Isn't it bullshit?

"Time is fast, I don't want to see Marvel's "Iron Man" ready as scheduled, it will disrupt my plan, Avi Arad's 15% stake of $40 million can agree, as for Ronald Perel Man's 18% can also be used at this price, as long as I get Carl Icahn, I will be the largest shareholder of Marvel, then everything can't be changed!" Simon's eyes are burning, with bloodthirsty rays of light, the stingy Ai Zac Perlmutter will eventually be his own loser.

The current market value of Marvel Entertainment is less than $300 million according to the stock price. Avi Allard owns 15% of the shares, and no one takes over the $50 million. He just premium Marvel Entertainment to $330 million!

Before going public that year, Marvel Entertainment had a market value of 80 million US dollars, experienced capital growth, some mergers and acquisitions, bubble economy, and then the bubble burst to bankruptcy and reorganization.

Spin-offs, debt restructuring, bankruptcy protection, and mergers and acquisitions, shareholders and creditors go to court, and a dizzying series of operations are dizzying.

In 1997, the "X-Men" universe series was sold for 7.5 million. In 1999, it sold the film adaptation rights of "Spider-Man" for 9 million. After 2002, it sold many characters such as black fertilizer, punisher, humanoid and so on. Artisan Pictures, after Lionsgate Pictures acquired Artisan in 2004!

The X-Men franchise and Spider-Man got Marvel stock back, but then came releases like The Punisher, Daredevil, Blade 3, Fantastic Four, Erica , "Humanoid" and "Hulk" either fell short of expectations or received rave reviews.

The stock price of Marvel Entertainment has recovered, and the reduction in the production of comics and toys has reduced the company's profits year by year!

"Iron Man" is an operation of Marvel's death and resurrection.

"Simon, have you decided? In fact, if Xinghai Pictures wants to make a superhero movie, it would be better if it cooperates with Marvel or buys the rights to adapt the character movie. There is no need for this. After all, Marvel's most popular "Spider-Man", The Fantastic Four, the X-Men characters are all in the hands of other studios!" Bryan said.

Simon shook his head. This is indeed the idea of ​​various film companies. Currently, the successful adaptations are the "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" series.

The first two films of the "Blade Warrior" series were also successful, but after all, the audience was small, and the third film was directly poorly reviewed, and even the first film of "Fantastic Four" did not meet expectations!

It's true that the studios didn't spend too much money on Marvel Entertainment, and of course they would be happy if the price was right!

"Brian, CAA, just do as I said this time, no matter what, as a Marvel fan, seeing the characters being spoiled by them, I am also very heartbroken, go and help me get Marvel back in its entirety! "Simon didn't say why he had a lot of money at the end of the year, and of course Brian Lord wouldn't ask.

However, just because you like Marvel and don't want to see Marvel being ruined, you have to acquire the entire Marvel Entertainment. Is this reason too far-fetched?

But does it matter? The purpose of CAA is to serve customers and earn commissions from the acquisition process.

"CAA will do its best to complete the acquisition for you as quickly as possible!" Brian Lord agreed, the acquisition is only two or three billion US dollars, it is not difficult!