December 29, 2003, 7 p.m. EST.

In a junior suite in a four-star hotel in Atlanta, USA.

Columbia Pictures CEO Glen Charles is standing in front of a half-width window, looking out at the bright lights.

His face reflected in the glass window was furrowed, and his lips were slightly pursed.

He took over as CEO of Columbia Pictures in August 2002 and served as Paramount Pictures Production Manager, Corporate Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer for more than a decade. Ten years ago, he was already known as the most promising Hollywood professional manager, and ten years later, at the age of 43, he took over Columbia, becoming the youngest of the seven major Hollywood studios, and he was also in the spotlight of the whole of Hollywood.

The reason why Coca-Cola, which was the owner at the beginning, chose to poach him to take the helm of Columbia was naturally optimistic about his ability, and hoped that after he took over Columbia, he would be able to bring Columbia, a sinking ship, out of the quagmire through his excellent financial management ability and super production ability, as well as the contacts he had accumulated over the years in Hollywood and the American business circles.

At the beginning of his tenure, Glen Charles was indeed very bold in carrying out a wide range of reforms and adjustments to the top and bottom of Colombia.

However, this big ship has been sinking for a long time, and it has only been a year since he took office, even if Glen Shire is capable, even if he has begun to make drastic reforms, the inertia of a company's operation is huge.

Therefore, in the first full fiscal year after taking over, that is, in 2003, which is about to pass, Colombia will still lose money - most of the films released and distributed by the company in 2003 were produced before he took office, some of them lost money and some made money, but in the end, there was still a little profit.

In the past year or so, Glen Shire's repeated emphasis on film merchandise sales has also improved considerably, and in the past 2003, it has begun to generate revenue for the company, which makes Columbia seem to be starting to keep up with the direction of Hollywood as a whole.

However, the huge administrative burden, the huge liabilities of more than a billion US dollars, and the interest they accrue are like bloodsucking worms attached to Colombia, which will not only suck up the profits generated by the company this year, but also cause huge losses of about 80 million to 100 million US dollars.

If there is no sudden cut in the Minghu culture, according to Glen Shire's "Columbia Transformation Plan" In 2003, he personally participated in and led the production of a number of films, which will be released in 2004 and 2005, by that time, he is confident that at least several of these films will bring strong cash flow to the company, at that time, once the box office of the film is profitable, plus it will do better and better movie sales, so after two years of accumulation, he will be very confident that a small round of deepening reform within the company - Repay a batch of loans that are about to expire and do not continue the loans, and at the same time, lay off 10% of the staff!

And, because of the profit, he will have the confidence not to be completely swallowed up by the huge backlash when he carries out layoffs - continue to sit in this position to talk about the next step.

In short, even if he has another two or three years of work, he can initially bring Colombia onto a normal and healthy development track.

Not long ago, when he met a Chinese company that came to the United States to seek distribution cooperation, he spared no effort to defy public opinion, kicked the arrogance of Hollywood filmmakers aside, and signed a completely equal five-film distribution cooperation agreement with the Chinese Minghu Culture Company.

In this way, in a growing market like China, Colombia will have a strong distribution partner - the box office is still a small matter, the problem is that once the two sides start to cooperate in distribution, once the Columbia-produced film has a better distribution opportunity in China, then the sales of film merchandise that I have always admired can immediately follow!

Think about it, while the other six Hollywood studios have not yet reached out, Colombia has begun to spread its film merchandise sales capacity to a huge market with a population of more than one billion people and an annual box office of more than three billion dollars!

He has every reason to believe that once his plan is fully executed, it will bring the company a net profit of more than $100 million a year, including the box office share of the film and the sale of movie merchandise—that's a damn net profit!

New market, pure profit!

By that time, perhaps his plan to lay off staff and cut loans to reduce the burden on Colombia could already be planned and implemented in the second half of 2005.

However......

I originally thought it was a friendly partner, a Chinese company that would strive to cooperate well in the next few years, so that the other party could develop the Chinese film market for itself, so as to continue to supply blood to the sick Colombia, but it was actually a giant crocodile that had opened its bloody mouth.

What's worse is that it wasn't until the news broke on Wall Street that the CEO of Columbia, the chief executive, got the news from those damn reporters that his company was about to be acquired! It's ridiculous and sad—— it's said that Morgan Stanley had already submitted an application and offer to Coca-Cola in Atlanta a few days before the Christmas holiday.

So, in fact, Coca-Cola's attitude has been the same for many years - as long as someone is willing to buy it, and the price given is very different, then I will sell it!

They never really thought about revitalizing Colombia!

Never!

No, it's not right, maybe when they first bought Columbia, they also thought that they were buying the bottom, and then as long as they found the right person at the helm, they could completely revitalize this large piece of assets.

It's just that they miscalculated.

Gone are the glory days of the company since it bought Colombia in 1987 for a staggering $3.9 billion – and, more importantly, in its sixteen or seventeen years of ownership, they have negotiated six takeovers with other companies to sell Colombia!

And in the sixteen or seventeen years of history, except for the first CEO appointed after they took over, who was given a four-year term, the longest tenure of all the other CEOs has not exceeded three years - in sixteen years, Columbia has changed seven helms!

As a result, Colombia has been in such constant turmoil all the way, and the valuation is getting lower and lower!

A bunch of damned merchants!

…………

The hand in his trouser pocket clenched tightly into a fist, Glen Charles gritted his teeth tightly, his face bruised and angry.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Glen Charles took a deep breath, and by this time, his assistant had gone over and opened the door.

Glen Charles turned around, walked over with a grim face, and held out his hand when he was far away, "Hey, Walter!"

Walter Foster walked over, shook his hand, and smiled, "I hope you didn't wait for me to have dinner, you know, we met with Morgan's negotiators in the afternoon." At dinner together, I told Wilson that you were already here, and he said he wouldn't invite you to dinner. ”

Glen Charles pursed his lips and barely smiled, but quickly put it away, frowned slightly, squeezed Walter's hand, and said, "Walter, you know, in two more years, only two years, I can bring Columbia to profit!"

Walter's face was a little helpless, but Glen Charles didn't wait for him to say anything, and said directly: "Selling it now can only be at a price far lower than its own value and assets, believe me, even if it is to be sold, it will take at least two years, preferably three or five years later!"

Walter spread his hands, turned his head and nodded at Glen Shire's assistant who was walking over, and said with a smile: "A cup of coffee, thank you!" When the other party nodded and walked away, he said to Glen Shire: "OK, man, don't get excited, let's sit down first, sit down and then talk about it, okay?"

So Glen Charles had no choice but to let go of his hand, and the two of them turned and sat down on the sofa in the living room of the suite.

Walter smiled and said, "I see what you mean, Glenn, and I believe in your ability, and I, and Wilson, and the board of directors of the company, we all believe that you are a good manager, and we all believe that you can turn Columbia into a profit, you know, I insisted on hiring you as CEO!"

"But, Glenn, you know, Columbia and for twenty years have been losing money, and we believe in your ability, but there is a risk in everything, let alone saving a company that has been losing money for twenty years? Now, we have an opportunity to sell it and turn this bad asset that is losing money every year into cash so that we can invest in other better industries, what reason do we have to refuse?"

Glen Charles heard this: "But you only need to give me another two or three years, two or three years later, since they want to buy, they will still be willing to buy it at that time, but at that time, it will definitely not be the current price, the current Colombia, the other party only gave an offer of 2.4 billion, but after two years, his offer will be given 4 billion dollars, believe me, Walter, I have the ability!"

Walter shrugged his shoulders and smiled, "It's two hundred and forty million, Glenn!"

The joke was so hard for Glen Charles to laugh at.

Although it was only a few simple words, he had thoroughly understood what Walter Foster meant, and Walter Foster was his biggest supporter within Coca-Cola.

Even he expressed his approval of the sale of Columbia, which has already shown in fact that Coca-Cola should have held a meeting to unify opinions!

So, he bowed his head and was silent for a moment, spread his hands, and said a little frantically: "I said that the company would support me to carry out a period of six to eight years of transformation of Colombia, and now I don't want the company to completely implement this promise, but can't I be given two more years? In two years, the negotiations can be delayed, the doubts about the asset audit, the back and forth of the quotation, etc., can be delayed, two years, and by that time, it can be sold for an extra billion dollars, or even more?"

Walter pursed his lips and looked at him earnestly.

When he finished talking and looked over, he nodded and said in a deep voice: "But, Glenn, two years is enough time to drain the other party's interest, and that will lead to a complete breakdown of this negotiation! ”

Glen Char pursed his lips tightly, and only after a moment did he say: "But Colombia is still losing money, and its assets, its brand, its influence, and so on, will be seriously undervalued, and it will be seriously lower than the normal value! For this, Coca-Cola will lose up to two billion dollars!"

Walter shrugged his shoulders and smiled: "But if we don't sell it now, we could lose two billion dollars next year!"

Glen Shire froze.

He knew that the other party was saying that Colombia had lost another 100 million this year!

But he still couldn't help but argue, "But I've only been in office for a year, and it won't be until next year and the year after that the company will really get on my track, and it will be implemented according to my requirements, and it will ...... by that time."

This time, before he could finish speaking, Walter had already waved his hand and interrupted him, "Glenn, man, I know your ideals, I know your goals, we all know you, we all admire you, but, man, no one can guarantee that Colombia will be able to turn around in two years! You can't, and neither can I!"

Glen Shire's face suddenly turned white when he heard this.

At this time, Walter spread his hands and said: "This afternoon, on behalf of Coca-Cola, I have made preliminary contacts with people from Morgan Stanley, and in the next negotiations, I will represent Coca-Cola and raise the issue of reservations about the current management of Columbia Pictures! I will suggest that the other party continue to give you a chance, even if it is only for two years! After all, they are outsiders, and if they want to gain a foothold in Hollywood, they need people like you, and even if they want to take over, they will need a period of time to cushion!" This period of time, as short as a year, as long as two or three years, is enough for you to do a lot!"

Glen Charles laughed when he heard this.

Walter Foster looked at him, frowning slightly.

"Your suggestion can only be ...... Suggestion!"

Walter pursed his lips slightly, with some obvious displeasure on his face, "Hey, Glenn, this is something that has been determined within the company, it is something that Wilson is pushing for, and you and I can't change anything!"

Glen Schal shook his head slightly, and smiled miserably: "If it were you, after completing the acquisition, would you let go of someone you don't know and don't trust to continue to exercise all your powers? Once the acquisition is completed, can I decide to invest in a movie, or can I decide to lay off 10% of the company's workforce?"

Walter pursed his lips and stopped talking.

Yes, everyone knows that once a company is acquired, even if the original management temporarily stays in office, it is impossible to exercise maximum power - at that time, the retention of management is only a buffer, leaving a period of time for the new boss to select the new management.

And there is no doubt that this is the fate that Glen Shire, who has only been in office for more than a year, will face next.

"Glenn ......" Walter tried to persuade something.

But Glen Charles shook his head suddenly, and said, "I want to see Wilson." ”

Walter's brows furrowed tightly when he heard this, and he shook his head, "No, you can't see him!"

Glen Charles said with some excitement: "I only need twenty minutes, believe me, I can convince him? Walter, please help me fight for it, I ......"

Walter Foster shook his head directly, "Impossible!"

After a pause, he stood up, his face was calm, and he said lightly: "Next, I will be responsible for negotiating with Minghu Culture from China and Morgan Stanley on Wall Street. ”

With that, he turned to leave, stood again, and turned back, "Ah, I almost forgot." Glenn, help me greet your wife and daughter!"

With that, he smiled, nodded, and turned to walk to the door.

Behind him, Glen Charles suddenly said: "If I can't see Wilson, the Colombian management will make an announcement tomorrow, and we will boycott this acquisition!"

Walter Foster stood still and turned his head to look at Glen Shire.

Glen Schal seems to have begun to calm down.

The two looked at each other, and he said slowly: "If this does not make Coca-Cola and Mr. Wilson change their minds, next, I will lead the current management of Columbia to resign en masse!"

Walter Foster pursed his lips tightly and nodded slowly, as if he was thinking carefully. But after a moment, he suddenly asked seriously, "Glenn, do you think this can threaten us anything?" or ...... Uh, do you really think your control over Colombia is that strong?"

Glen Charles was stunned when he heard this.

After a pause, Walter Foster smiled, nodded slowly, and said, "Good night! Sleep well, and fly back tomorrow!"

However, when he reached the door, he suddenly stopped again, turned around and looked around, and suddenly smiled: "What a good manager! A financial manager can not only formulate a sound financial control plan, but also always lead by example, which is really commendable! However, it is really commendable that a financial manager can not only formulate a sound financial control plan, but also can always lead by example! However, it is ...... Glenn, from now on, until you are fired, you can stay in the presidential suite of the five-star hotel. ”

"This can be regarded as a little apology to you, if you will!"

"Good night!"

***

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