Chapter 658： Auction house

Chapter 658

Eric sat in the back of the auction hall and quietly watched the positions of the major companies involved in the auction.

The sudden announcement of the payment time for the purchase of the animation department was also a well-thought-out result of the fireflies.

In order to ensure that there will be no Hollywood forces in the process of winning the Marvel, Eric will hang the 'Shuiling Cabbage' of the animation department for more than a month. For more than a month, he deliberately won the animation department. The buyers must have discussed and evaluated the business many times. The major movie companies should have calmed down from the initial suspicions and excitement of the firefly decision to sell the animation department. The final decision is based on their financial situation. The upper limit of the price can not even rule out the possibility of a series connection between the families.

Fireflies suddenly announced that they would extend the one-year payment period to three years, leaving the final buyer with ample fundraising payment time, which can easily break the established bidding strategy of potential buyers. After all, Disney Animation is really tempting for the big companies that want to enter the animated film market, especially now that the "Lion King" box office is climbing.

Of course, this sudden attack with a very obvious mind will definitely be plagued by the buyer's belly, but the ‘concession conditions’ given by the fireflies temporarily give the buyer no reason to refuse.

The people in the hall walked almost. Kasenberg went to the podium and sat down next to Eric. He asked both excitedly and expectantly: "Eric, how much do you think this time?"

Eric said: "It is sure to break through 2 billion US dollars. A few days ago, big-name stars unified the boycott of the studio's behavior of compressing the film should give them some touch and raise the price higher. After all, the animated film is not only animated. It can bring more benefits than real-life movies, and the characters inside will not ask for high pay as big-name stars, but also reduce their dependence on live-action movies."

Frank Wells, who is sitting on the other side of Eric, also asked: "Eric, do you think it is possible to reach 3 billion?"

"This is unlikely," Eric shook his head. Although in memory, the Pixar animation in the original space and time in the "Toy Story" success, the market value immediately rushed to $ 1 billion. But the technical difference between hand-drawn animation and computer animation is different from style_txt; the difference also limits the value of the Disney animation department: "Unless we expand the copyright license for several animations such as "The Lion King", or even completely transfer the copyright, Disneyland And the Disney store needs the copyright of these animated characters, we can't do that."

Several people chatted casually, and the bidding team that had just left gradually returned to the hall. After half an hour, Kasenberg returned to the stage.

Speaking a few words and stirring the atmosphere, Kasenberg picked up the raft and announced that the auction officially began.

Then, the hall was silent for a moment. No one seems to be planning to shoot for the first time, deadlock for a few seconds. A middle-aged man sitting in the third row raised the number plate for the first time: "$1 billion."

Eric looked at the past and raised the card of MGM's president, John Cali, shaking his head and smiling. He knew that MGM was coming to join in the fun. Of course, John Cali’s first placard must have some unrealistic fantasies. For example, in the case of other buyers hesitating, the hibiscus in the hands of Kasenberg suddenly fell, and the meter was high. Mei will definitely take the $1 billion to steal the animation department. Even if MGM has not fully recovered, Eric believes that MGM shareholders and creditors will not take out the $1 billion.

Of course, the reality is that this is impossible.

"No. 9, $1 billion..."

Kasenberger swayed in the direction of John Cali, and had not had time to say more words. Another bidder had already placarded: "1 billion."

The minimum markup for this auction was $10 million. Although the second bidder only cautiously added $10 million, the competitive atmosphere began to get more and more intense, and the auction price began to break.

1.3 billion, 1.5 billion, 1.7 billion, 1.9 billion...

The auction took less than ten minutes. With the release of $1.9 billion by Samuel Redstone, more than half of the potential buyers in the auction hall have been eliminated. Paramount is still active. Fox, Warner and the West Graham Group, which is about to buy the world.

After a significant hesitation at the $1.9 billion price, Fox's president, Joe Rose, raised the number plate in his hand: "$2 billion!"

"No. 4, from the 20th Century Fox Film Company, $2 billion," Kasenberg's voice on the auction floor rose again, full of confusion: "What I want to say is that just "Lion King" can Bringing a net profit of $1 billion to the film company. Therefore, $2 billion represents only the net profit of the two Lion Kings. I believe that the Disney Animation Department has experienced a team that has accumulated over half a century. It’s only a matter of time before the second, third and even more 'Lion King', then, $2 billion, for the first time..."

Eric listened to Kasenberg's swaying sway and looked at the direction of the Fox team.

At Eric's suggestion, Elizabeth apparently did not participate in the incident, and Murdoch did not know what to think about, nor did it appear.

Only President Joe Rose was the one who led Fox to the auction. To put it bluntly, the original "The Devil's Home" was produced by Joe Rose and issued by Fox. Joe Rose should have been dug up to Disney with the excellent box office of "The Little Devil" and in the original time, Frank Wells. After the accidental death, Michael Ovitz briefly served as the president of Disney.

However, this time and space because of the emergence of Eric, Joe Ross still maintains a cooperative relationship with Fox, and in the personnel changes after Barry Diller left Fox, got the position of the president of the 20th Century Fox, as for the ceo of Fox Rupert Murdoch personally serves.

Since Murdoch did not appear in person, Fox’s exit was almost certain after the firefly suddenly hit the card with extended payment deadline. after all. Relative to the radical of Summer Reston. Murdoch is much more conservative, and $2 billion is likely to be Fox's last bid.

After the price rose to 2 billion US dollars, the frequency of bidding was slower. In many cases, almost at the moment when Kasenberg was down, the price of the offer would appear in the audience.

After several rounds of bidding, after Fox, Seagram's ceo Edgar Bronfman also chose to go out at a price of $2.2 billion. There are only two companies in the final competition, Paramount and Warner.

This result is not beyond Eric's expectations. Buying Global is the first priority for Seagram. If you get the Disney Animation Department at a high price before buying Global, it will mean Sigra. The acquisition of global chips has decreased. In the unlikely event that the high price won the animation department, it caused the failure of the acquisition of the world, and Edgar Bronfman would cry.

In the hall, Time Warner ceo Terry Semel once again shouted the price of $2.33 billion, but Eric could hear it. Terry Semel is not so full-fledged, as opposed to still-high-spirited Summerr.

"It seems that the results are already obvious." Frank Wells whispered beside Eric.

Eric nodded lightly, listening to Summer Reston's quick follow-up offer, saying: "Terry Semel has suffered too much compared to Summer Reston. Time Warner Only the talents like Steve Ross can be fully controlled, and the situation of Time Warner’s internal hills is almost entirely caused by Steve Ross. Unless there is another manager who is expected to be in the future, the future is very long. For a while, Time Warner did not do too much inside."

Frank Wells once worked in Time Warner for many years, and he heard that he nodded his head, but shook his head slightly. He said: "The manager you are talking about is not likely to appear. The Warner Communications in the Time Warner system is now The leaders of the major factions of the company, Turner Broadcasting Company, Time Publishing Group and Warner Bros. Entertainment are very strong in their respective fields. They will not agree with a brand new manager, and will not be willing to let the other party occupy Time Warner ceo. The high position. Only Steve Rose, who created the powerful characters of Time Warner, will let them bow down. Unfortunately, Ross died too early."

Steve Ross is similar to Warren Buffett, Summer Reston and Rupert Murdoch, both of whom are just over sixty years old, compared to a group of old men who are still alive and kicking after twenty years. Steve Ross, the media that created Time Warner, died a lot early.

Eric looked at Terry Semel, who was hesitated again with the offer of Summer Reston. He said: "If I am a Time Warner shareholder, I would rather choose if everyone can’t twist it. Split the group. Otherwise, this long-term internal consumption will only cause the decline of Time Warner's overall strength."

In the memory of past lives, Time Warner finally went to the road of splitting the business. However, it was obviously too late for the media giant to make such a decision. Finally, before Eric reborn, it was originally in line with the Disney Group. The market value of Time Warner is only about 50 billion, which is less than one-third of the peak period. The market value of the Disney Group in the same period was close to 200 billion US dollars.

Frank Wells said with regret: "Everyone now feels that the bigger the group, the better. Time Warner wants to live in peace is not easy, but it is not easy to let them part ways. Eric, if the future The fireflies are too bloated, would you be willing to split the group?"

Eric smiled and pointed to Kasenberg on the platform: "Is not doing this now?"

Frank Wells nodded and said: "I have ignored this."

The two whispered, and the auction in the field entered the final stage. Eric clearly heard that Terry Semel’s tone almost trembled and reported a price of $2.41 billion, looking up at Terry. · The back of Semel.

Eric’s gaze on Terry Semel had not been able to turn around, but hesitated for a short while. Samuel Redstone raised his number plate and shouted: “2.5 billion Dollar."

Terry Semel’s shoulders were clearly smashed.

On the stage, Kasenberger said a few words without any confusion. After three consecutive sounds, Terry Semel did not placard again, so he dropped the hibiscus in his hand.

The knocking sounded, Kasenberger said: "Congratulations to Mr. Summer, Mr. Lei Shidong, Paramount Pictures will receive the Disney Animation Department."

In the applause that gradually sounded, everyone in the field stood up, and many people also walked toward Somer Ray Stone and others.

Eric also walked over with Frank Wells and others, and enthusiastically said the words of congratulations.

Subsequent official signings will be made after Paramount confirms the detailed contract and the animation department's asset list. Therefore, after a brief press conference, Firefly banqueted all the guests participating in the auction in another lobby of the Hilton Hotel.

Each of them had a round of champagne on the court, and Eric and Kasenberg came together to a corner where there were few people.

“The final price is at least $300 million higher than we expected,” Kasenberg’s expression is still excited: “It seems that the measures used to extend the payment period today have really worked, from Terry Semel. In the reaction of the scene, Time Warner’s original bid limit should be about 2.2 billion, over 2.2 billion, and Terry Semel’s expression is obviously not so calm, although the reaction of Summer Reshidong is not too Big change, but I guess his initial reserve price should be around 2.2 billion."

"Don't mention this," Eric said with a smile, "You are here, what's going on with the new Disney animation department. I haven't seen the relevant documents in recent days?"

Kasenberg replied: "I plan to fund a digital animation production at the California College of Art in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Art Institute in San Francisco. It is divided into semi-annual short-term training courses and two-year standard professional classes. Short-term training courses. By recruiting people from existing software or advertising companies, we mainly recruit computer and painting experts, and have accumulated professional experience in digital animation for professional software training, so that we can build a new Disney animation department as soon as possible, but this In terms of long-term consideration, we still have to rely on two years of training to continuously provide us with more professional digital animation talents. At present, I am making the strategic planning department to make relevant budgets. At the end of the month, you will be able to I saw the relevant report." (To be continued.)

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