After a while, he reorganized his thoughts and said, "Eric, do you mean that as long as Sony is willing to sell the film department to Firefly according to your offer, Firefly Electronics can license Sony's relevant patents related to digital players?"

Although Sony is not satisfied with Eric's offer of $2,992.5 million, Nobuyuki Idei also knows that with the current state of Sony Pictures, Eric's offer at this time is actually quite reasonable. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

Even if Sony can bargain, it won't be able to improve much in the end. If he can sell Sony Pictures and get the technical license for the digital music player at the same time, in Idei's opinion, the deal will definitely be worth it.

Eric nodded and said, "That's probably the case, but Firefly Electronics doesn't plan to unilaterally license, and Sony needs to exchange it for its own existing technology patents." ”

Nobuyuki Idei immediately became vigilant again: "Eric, what technologies are Firefly Electronics interested in Sony?"

Eric said, "Digital cameras." ”

Nobuyuki Idei instinctively blurted out, "It's impossible. ”

Cameras and camcorders of all types have always been Sony's most important products, and although we are still in the film era, most people can also see the future development trend of digital camera technology, and Sony has a very complete technology accumulation in this regard.

Although Sony is very covetous of Firefly Electronics' digital music player technology, in Idei's heart, the technology patent of digital music player can never be compared with Sony's digital camera technology, and he also knows that Sony's board of directors will also have this view, and will definitely not easily approve the exchange of Sony's digital camera technology with Firefly Electronics.

Eric didn't seem to expect such a violent reaction from Nobuyuki Idei, shrugged innocently and said, "Okay, Idei, maybe I didn't explain it clearly." Firefly Electronics did not want Sony's full set of digital camera technology, we were only interested in the miniature camera module that Sony was developing that could be applied to mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones, and Firefly Electronics did not have the idea of setting foot in the field of digital cameras. ”

Nobuyuki Idei relaxed a little, but immediately said, "In that case, Eric, this is actually a different matter from what we're going to discuss today. I think it's best to get back to the movie company. ”

"If you think so, of course it's fine," Eric said, "However, although I'm the boss, I can't do whatever I want, and it took me a lot of effort to convince the Firefly executives to agree to a technology exchange with Sony, and I don't guarantee that they will be willing next time." Moreover, on Sony's MD player, Firefly Electronics will definitely not show mercy. ”

"Eric, you are so, and so am I. If Firefly Electronics is interested in exchanging technology with Sony, we can find another opportunity to negotiate, but for now, let's talk about the film company. As I said, based on the current economic situation in North America, Sony Pictures is at least $5 billion or more, so your $3 billion offer is too low. ”

Eric said solemnly: "$2,992.5 million." ”

Nobuyuki Idei glanced at Howard Stringer, who looked embarrassed and angry, and said, "Well, if you insist, but Sony will definitely not agree to this offer." Moreover, the blocking behavior of the Firefly Group has seriously violated the antitrust laws of the United States, and we can file a lawsuit in federal court at any time as long as Sony is willing. ”

"First of all, it's clear to everyone that the NASDAQ market is full of bubbles right now, so the way it is valued in the current market form is simply not going to work, and I've made a very sincere offer," Eric retorted, continuing: "Secondly, the Firefly Group is not planning to shut down Sony Pictures, what you have heard is just a rumor spread by some people with bad intentions, and this incident has also caused very serious damage to the reputation of the Firefly Group. We are investigating this matter, and once we catch the rumormongers, we will also file a lawsuit to make the other party pay enough price. ”

Eric's words made Howard Stringer almost jump in anger, which was so shameless.

Nobuyuki Idei laughed angrily.

Only Bill Michanik twitched the corners of his mouth slightly, barely keeping a calm look.

The scene was a bit stalemate, and the waiter at the restaurant knocked on the door of the private room at the right time to ask if it was possible to serve the food, and Nobuyuki Idei waved his hand in agreement.

It wasn't until everyone's lunch was served and the waiters left again that the atmosphere eased a little.

However, after chewing wax and eating a few bites of food, Howard Stringer couldn't help but say: "Eric, since you said that Firefly did not target Sony, why did Qualcomm suddenly stop cooperating with Sony, and also, about the projector procurement negotiation of the Firefly RealD system." ”

Eric explained in a serious tone: "Qualcomm has Qualcomm's arrangement, and I basically rarely interfere in Qualcomm's management. As for the purchase of projectors for the RealD system, I think the price of Sony's projectors is too high, and if Sony is willing to give a suitable discount, the transaction between the two parties can naturally continue. So, Howard, the fireflies never targeted Sony, it's all just a matter of facts. ”

"So," Howard Stringer paused, "then, what about $2,992.5 million, isn't that an obvious target?"

"Of course," Eric nodded, looking at Howard Stringer with a slightly moving expression, and continued, "However, this is only for you personally, and has nothing to do with the two companies. Howard, do you know how serious the impact of $7.5 million buying a script will have on Hollywood, in recent years, the cost control of Hollywood films has been on the verge of getting out of control, and your behavior will further lead to an overall increase in the price of Hollywood scripts, which is very detrimental to the entire film industry. ”

"That's just your side of the story," Howard Stringer immediately retorted, "and, as far as I know, you've made far more than $7.5 million in personal gains from many films as a screenwriter alone." ”

As soon as Howard Stringer's words fell, Bill Michanick had a feeling that he couldn't bear to look at him directly, didn't he send his face up to hit someone?

Sure enough, Eric scoffed and said, "I got more than $7.5 million because I made a film that grossed more than $1 billion worldwide." Although the box office records of Hollywood movies have been broken in recent years, everyone can see that there are no more than two Hollywood films that can reach $1 billion at the global box office every year. What's more, most of my earnings are obtained through sharing, which means that I share the risk with the films I make, and if these films fail, I can only get paid for the script that is not much different from that of ordinary first-line screenwriters. So, my personal reward still follows the principle of more work and more reward, but you are destroying the normal order of Hollywood. ”

Howard Stringer was red-faced by Eric's refutation, and he was a little speechless for a while.

Nobuyuki Idei had to take the initiative to speak again: "Eric, since we are both interested in this deal, let's go back to the price negotiation." ”

"Of course," Eric said with a good tone to restrain his aggressive momentum, "Izumi, my attitude is clear, $2,992.5 million is the highest price I can offer." ”

Nobuchi Idei: "I've had people do the statistics, and Sony Pictures has a debt of about $1.9 billion. Leaving aside the price of the deal between our two sides for the time being, Sony's condition is that Firefly must take on the debt in its entirety. ”

"Don't forget that this is Hollywood, and no one knows the state of Hollywood's major studios better than ourselves. The overall debt scale of Sony Pictures is definitely more than $1.9 billion, and counting some hidden debts, this figure may be close to 2.5 billion," Eric shook his head and said: "Therefore, Firefly does not refuse to take over part of the debt left by Sony Pictures, but the upper limit is $1 billion, and the rest is better for Sony Group to find a way to solve it by itself." ”

Hearing Eric's words, Nobu Idei subconsciously glanced at Howard Stringer beside him, whose eyes were evasive, and a trace of anger arose in his heart.

With the U.S. stock market in the red, the overall market value of Sony Group, which is also listed in North America, has exceeded $100 billion. Therefore, Nobuyuki Idei doesn't mind whether the debt scale of Sony Pictures is 1.9 billion or 2.5 billion, and he is annoyed that at this point, he, the chairman of the company, has not been able to get the real business status of Sony Pictures.

With the idea that some ugliness should not be publicized, Nobuyuki Idei just glanced at it, and then quickly withdrew his gaze.

However, because of the disappointment in his heart, he lost the idea of insisting on bargaining with Eric, and just wanted to get rid of the mess of Sony Pictures as soon as possible.

One wants to buy and the other wants to sell, so after a lunch, the preliminary transaction price is basically agreed.

The price of $2,992.5 million was too sensitive, but in the end, Sony made some concessions, erasing a fraction and determining it at $2.99 billion, while Firefly Investments, which was responsible for the acquisition, will assume $1 billion of Sony Pictures' debt, and the rest will be borne by Sony Group.

"Well, I'm glad we were able to make this deal, and if Sony wants to work with Hollywood in the future, Firefly will definitely cooperate as much as possible," Eric politely shook hands with Nobuyuki Idei, Howard Stringer, and Bill Michanick in the parking lot outside the restaurant, then turned to get into the car and told the driver to leave.

Watching Eric's luxury car leave, Howard Stringer instructed Bill Michanik beside him, "Bill, you go back to the film company first, I still have some things to discuss with Mr. Idei." ”

"Okay," Bill Michanick nodded, remembering the meaningful look in Eric's last handshake with him, and waited for Howard Stringer and Nobu Idei to leave in the same car, before Bill Michanick quickly got into his car and chased after Eric's car where he had left.

At the same time, in the black Mercedes-Benz sedan in which Nobuyuki Idei and Howard Stringer were riding, Howard Stringer took out a pocket recorder from his suit pocket when the vehicle was driving smoothly, but did not press the play button, but just threw it aside.

Although he was forced to make the idea of selling Sony Pictures, Howard Stringer had no intention of giving in. The methods adopted by the Firefly system this time are too bad and clearly violate the federal antitrust law. However, Howard Stringer knew that if he really wanted to file a lawsuit, Sony would not be able to produce evidence at all.

The rumors circulating in Hollywood are also impossible to use as evidence, and in order to win the lawsuit, Sony will either get Firefly to try to squeeze out Sony Pictures' commercial contract, or wait for Firefly to actually make a move to block Sony Pictures in the future.

These two things are obviously unrealistic, in the special business environment of Hollywood, Firefly does not need to sign a similar anti-competition contract with others to squeeze out Sony Pictures, and for the blocking of marketing channels for Sony Pictures' films, as long as Firefly Pictures makes a little action, such as providing advertising resources for movies that Sony is not optimistic about, these 'rumors' can be dispelled, and even, Firefly can bite back and complain that Sony deliberately does not place advertisements on the media channels of the Firefly system.

Since these two don't work, then, if you can record the recording of Eric Williams personally planning to block Sony Pictures, although this kind of eavesdropping is not very legal, but combined with the recent series of actions of the Firefly system, Sony can still file a lawsuit in a grand manner, at least it can make Eric Williams disgraced.

But......

Neither Howard Stringer nor Nobuyuki Idei could have predicted how shameless a guy would be, and even in a private setting like a dinner party, he could talk nonsense with his eyes open.

Nobuyuki Idei glanced at Howard Stringer's movements, remembered Eric's words to break the detailed debt scale of Sony Pictures, and said, "Howard, before the end of the year, you should take the initiative to submit your resignation to the board of directors." ”

Howard Stringer's lips moved, he sighed, but finally nodded in dismay.

For the sake of his own face, although Sony did not hesitate to take the initiative to lower the price and did not accept the offer of $2,992.5 million, he also knew that Eric Williams added fuel to the debt scale of Sony Pictures, and this matter could not be stopped after all.