Reborn as a tycoon in Hong Kong

Lin Baicheng was introduced to Abigail Johnson by Claure Rockefeller, but this does not mean that Abigail will not compete with Claure. Friendship is friendship, and business is business.

"Alan, you are the initiator of the investment, you make the decision."

Claure said to Lin Baicheng that it was only a 2% investment share. When it was uncertain whether the TV network could develop, it would not be enough for Claure and Abigail to fight to the death over this.

If it were a TV network with a valuation of over one billion US dollars, 2% of the shares would not be too small. Whether it was for the value of the shares or voting rights, it would be worth fighting for.

"This is my first time working with Ms. Johnson. Since Ms. Johnson wants to invest more funds, of course I welcome it."

Lin Baicheng's thoughts turned around. Logan Rockefeller's surname was Rockefeller after all. His and Claure's shares could actually be regarded as one family. Their combined share had already reached 10%, but they could not increase it any more. , and the others are too far apart.

If the equity of the TV network is unbalanced now, and if the Rockefeller family fights for control, Lin Baicheng may end up compromising unless he wants to completely offend the other party, so it is best not to give the other party a chance from the beginning.

Phil Smith and Anna Nord combined for 8% of the shares, the two Rockefellers, Claure and Rogan, combined for 10%, Abigail Johnson for 7%, and Barry Diller for 10%. % of the shares, the difference in shareholding ratios between them is not much.

"Since Ellen You said so, I will invest US$5 million."

Claure said with a smile that since he said it was up to Lin Baicheng to decide, he would not fight again.

"Thank you, Mr. Allen, and thank you Crowl for giving in." Abigail thanked him aloud.

Crowl: "You're welcome."

"In this case, the respective investments of those individuals have been decided."

"The Smiths invested US$8 million for 8% of the shares, Claure and Rogan each contributed US$5 million for 5% of the shares, Miss Johnson invested US$7 million for 7% of the shares, and Barry invested US$10 million for 10% of the shares. ."

"In the end, I invested US$65 million, accounting for 60% of the shares. The additional 5% of the shares were placed in the company's option pool as option rewards for senior executives and outstanding talents during the company's development."

"I will provide 5% of the shares for the previous option awards, but if I need to use a part of the shares as option awards for senior executives later, we will need to allocate them in equal proportions."

Although Lin Baicheng took out an additional 5% of the shares as an option reward, he was the initiator of this cooperation and the largest shareholder, so a little effort was nothing.

Besides, in fact, Lin Baicheng does not take out an extra 5% of the shares. If everyone shares the 5% together, he must give 3.25% of his 65% shares as option rewards, so the extra he takes out is actually only 1.75%. It’s just shares, which is an extra US$1.75 million.

The US$1.75 million was considered Lin Baicheng's payment for Smith and others.

Smith echoed: "If you need to give out shares as option rewards in the future, it must be shared equally among everyone. There is no reason to let Allen do it alone."

"That's right, everyone will naturally share it equally according to their shareholding ratio." Claure also said.

No one else has an opinion on this, and that's how it should be.

Lin Baicheng looked at Barry Diller and said: "Barry will be at Paramount until this Friday, which means there are only two days left, and then he can start building the company. Before that, we work together to build the company. Think of a name, then register the company, and everyone transfers their own funds to the company's account after the company is registered."

Regarding the name of the company, everyone decided after a few minutes of discussion.

Liberty Broadcasting Company, referred to as SLBC.

The company's name is mainly for the convenience of everyone's memory and for the audience to be familiar with it, and no one here in the United States will be unfamiliar with the four words "Statue of Liberty".

In addition to deciding on the company's name, everyone also decided on the company's headquarters. The company's headquarters is located here in New York, the same as ABC and other television stations.

After deciding on the name of the company, Lin Baicheng said: "The most important thing in a company is the board of directors. This is what I think about the arrangement of the board of directors. Let's take a look and let us know if you have any ideas."

"Smith and his wife each hold one board seat, Claure and Logan each hold one board seat, Miss Johnson, you hold two board seats, and Barry only has one board seat, plus my own four directors. seats, for a total of eleven board seats.”

"We are the founding shareholders of the company. In principle, as long as we maintain 3% of the company's shares, we can retain a director seat."

"As for the shareholders of the company's subsequent financing, they will add director seats. We will discuss the details later."

Although Lin Baicheng only occupies four of the total eleven director seats, which is not consistent with his majority shareholding. He cannot fully control the company, but he originally wanted to give up control of the company and win over partners, so Board seats had to be given away.

Otherwise, even if Lin Baicheng reduces his shares to 20% or even lower, it will be useless if he firmly controls the board of directors. The White House can see at a glance that he controls Statue of Liberty Broadcasting Company, and the company does not exist at all. Want to develop into a national television network.

"I'm OK."

Abigail Johnson was the first to speak out. She holds 7% of the shares but holds two board seats, which is far more than she expected. What else can she say about this.

"Alan, is it too little for Mr. Diller to have 10% of the shares but only one board seat? Do you want to add one to him?"

It was Claure who spoke out, speaking for Barry Diller because he wanted to get himself a board seat. Once Lin Baicheng agrees to give Barry Diller one more director seat, Lin Baicheng must add another director seat when the number of director seats can only be an odd number, and this additional director seat is his goal.

"No, Barry is currently only eligible for one board seat."

Lin Baicheng shook his head, looked at Barry Diller and said: "For now, Barry has the least resources among us, and his contribution to the company is limited. If Barry wants to increase the number of directors in the future, he must develop the company. While making significant contributions, the shareholding ratio should not be less than 6%, so that he can increase his voice on the board of directors."

"I am very satisfied to have a seat on the company's board of directors."

Barry Diller was certainly not truly satisfied, but he knew that he really had no resources to bring to the company, so he could only accept this arrangement.

"Anna and I have no objections. We will listen to Allen's arrangements."

Smith spoke up at this time. The couple held 8% of the shares. It was already overwhelming to have two seats. How could they have any opinions or other ideas?

"I agree too."

Claure was helpless and could only express his agreement. At this time, it was meaningless to object, but it would easily expose his own thoughts.

"Since everyone has no objections, the arrangement of director seats has been decided."

Looking around at everyone, Lin Baicheng made a decision, and then changed the topic: "Barry and I have discussed it. After the company is established, it is best to directly acquire a TV station for development. After the TV station is developed, we can then use this TV station as the core for development." TV network. What the company needs to do at the beginning is to acquire TV stations and develop them. If it cannot even develop TV stations, let alone set up a TV network."

"You really have to take your time building a network."

Claure adjusted his mentality and agreed with this. How could a TV network be so easy to set up? Without a core TV station, the combination of some small TV stations would not be of much use at all.

Lin Baicheng said to Barry Diller: "Barry, in addition to setting up the company, you also need to document the acquisition target as soon as possible and hand it over to everyone for review. Then everyone will discuss it together and decide on the TV station to be acquired as soon as possible."

"Mr. Allen, please rest assured, I will do this as soon as possible."

Barry Diller nodded heavily. This was his first battle as the company's president, and he had to do it beautifully. He knew that the directors were observing his performance to see if he was qualified for the position of company president.

Lin Baicheng smiled when he heard this: "Then the directors and I will wait and see."

Claure then said: "Mr. Diller, Allen values ​​you so much, we also believe in your ability and look forward to your performance."

"I hope you won't disappoint us." Abigail also said.

"Barry is the president of the company. We still need to give him more trust. The management of a TV station and the establishment of a TV network are not easy tasks. We need to give him more tolerance."

Lin Baicheng stood up for Barry Diller at the right time. Even if Barry Diller didn't do very well at the beginning, he would still give Barry Diller several opportunities. After all, Barry Diller's ability had been proven in the history before his rebirth. pass.

However, just like the future changed by Lin Baicheng's rebirth, it is uncertain whether Barry Diller can run the TV station well and build a TV network. Lin Baicheng will not have unlimited restrictions on Barry Diller. As long as Barry Diller fails a few more times, he will definitely choose to replace him instead of always giving Barry Diller a chance.

Smith said aloud: "Don't worry, Allen, we believe in your judgment of people."

"Yeah." "Alan, you can't be wrong about people."

Others also gave Lin Baicheng a bit of sympathy and echoed.

"Thank you for your trust and support."

Barry Diller thanked him aloud, but he knew that without Lin Baicheng's help, things would not have been so simple.

But this is normal. The initial investment of Liberty Broadcasting Company was US$100 million. A company with such an asset size is no longer a small company, and the personnel issues of any company are inherently complicated. Everyone wants to control the company, and everyone wants to control the company. Want to increase your influence.

"Everyone, regarding the company, we will stop here for today."

“Here, let’s raise a glass together and wish our investment will make a lot of money in the future!”

Lin Baicheng raised his wine glass as he spoke.

"Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses together.

Afterwards, everyone turned to chatting about other topics.

At about 9:30 pm, Phil Smith and others said goodbye and left, and Lin Baicheng sent them out of the apartment.

Among the people dining together, Mouri Haruko was the only one who did not leave.

While the servants were cleaning up, Lin Baicheng and Maori Haruko went to the study.

Haruko Mouri said: "Makoto-kun, you hold 60% of the shares, but you only get four director seats. You don't control the board of directors. Isn't that too little?"

“Less is a must.”

Lin Baicheng said: "We have talked about it. In my situation, I cannot control the broadcasting company at all. Only by giving up control can I win over them and let them work hard for the development of the company. Only then can the company develop into a national-level company as I expected." One of the top media and television networks. By then, even if I only have a few shares and a small proportion of board seats, I will make money if I can have a certain impact on the company."

"I always feel it's such a pity. Cheng-kun, you provided most of the funds, but in the end, after the company developed, it became someone else's."

Maori Haruko sighed. She actually understood the truth, but after all, she was a little regretful and unwilling.

"There's nothing we can do about it."

Lin Baicheng shook his head: "Actually, I am not willing to accept it, but this is the United States, I am a foreigner, and I am also Chinese. If you want to make money on other people's territory, you must abide by their rules. Don't want to abide? Okay, then Just don’t come here to make money, but if you come here to make money you don’t have to abide by their rules.”

As he said that, Lin Baicheng looked at Maori Haruko and said: "Actually, it's not the same in Japan. The economy is controlled by several major consortiums. When I go to do business with you, it's okay when the business is not big. But when the business is big, you have to abide by the same regulations. Your rules over there.”

"Makoto-kun, you are right."

Maori Haruko did not retort that it would not be like this in the motherland, because it was simply a lie. She knew very well that what Lin Baicheng said was absolutely right.

"Actually, this is a rule that applies to the whole world."

Lin Baicheng smiled and said: "If you go to Hong Kong to make money with Wall Street capital, you still have to attract local capital in Xiangjiang, otherwise it will still be difficult for you." Of course, it is different if you use British capital. Now after all, Xiangjiang belongs to the There is absolutely no obstacle for British capital to do business in Hong Kong.

Of course, there are no obstacles if there are no obstacles, but Chinese capital will compete with British capital. If they fail to withstand it, they can only blame the other party for their own inability.

Not to mention that it is just British capital that goes to Xiangjiang. Even if it is an established British-owned family that has been operating in Xiangjiang for many years, the Chinese capital should not fight for it, but at most leave a way out for the other party.

Maori Haruko said with a smile: "So, everyone is half-balanced."

"But that's not the case. Capital is a virtue."

Lin Baicheng was not too unwilling. After all, he was here to make money, not to give money. It was just a difference between making more and less, so he had nothing to feel wronged about.

Maori Haruko also thought about it. She understood the truth, so she was a little unwilling to be let go by her. After all, she couldn't change the facts. If you want to prevent yourself from feeling uncomfortable, change yourself if you can't change the facts.