Elizabeth and Julia came out of the villa with breakfast and came to the round table, just in time to see Eric's slightly frowning face.

Placing a breakfast in Eric's hand, Elizabeth asked softly, "What's wrong?" ”

Eric pressed the newspaper under his laptop to make room, took a sip of warm milk, and said, "Over there in New York, the takeover negotiations are a little bit wrong. “

Elizabeth let out a low sigh, when it came to the acquisition negotiations of the ABC television network, she knew that she should not continue to ask, although Elizabeth had nothing else in her heart, even if she knew something from Eric's mouth, she would definitely not talk nonsense, but she knew very well that her old man wanted Eric's plan to buy the other three television networks all yellow, so that the Firefly television division was likely to continue to cooperate with the Fox television network, so Elizabeth felt that this kind of suspicion was very necessary.

However, Julia did not know Elizabeth's thoughts, and she did not have such scruples, so she sat down next to Eric and asked curiously, "What happened?" ”

"ABC is worried that Firefly's high debt will increase the company's burden after the merger, and requires Firefly to reduce the proportion of bond issuance and raise acquisition funds through listing."

Elizabeth, who listened quietly, raised her eyebrows slightly, although she didn't know the detailed acquisition plan of Firefly, but she also knew that if Firefly successfully completed the merger and acquisition of ABC TV Network, the market value would easily exceed $30 billion, but the long-term debt may only be about $10 billion. That translates to a debt ratio of only 30%, which is not high for any large company. It can even play a very good tax avoidance effect. The ABC made such a request. Definitely not for the purpose of worrying about the debt burden of fireflies. More likely to weaken Eric's control over the Fireflies as much as possible after the merger.

Although Elizabeth immediately understood ABC's intentions, Julia obviously didn't know much about some of the financial terms in Eric's mouth, but Julia easily found her interest and asked, "How much debt will you owe after you buy ABC?" ”

"Combined with the previous debt accumulation, it is about 10 billion US dollars."

Julia smacked her lips in surprise. said: "So much, if that's the case, I think it's still ...... That listing is better. ”

Eric smiled and shook his head, not saying anything.

Elizabeth said: "Julia, in fact, this is not the case, after the completion of the merger, according to the market value of the new Firefly may exceed $30 billion in the future, $10 billion is only equivalent to 30% of the debt, and the debt ratio of many large companies is much higher than 30%, and the ultimate goal of the ABC TV network is just to make Firefly public." And not to alleviate debt. ”

"Hehe, I don't know too much. However, even if the $10 billion is repaid in ten years, it is estimated that there will be interest, according to the profits of Fireflies this year, even if ABC's is added, doesn't it mean ......" Julia couldn't help but stick out her tongue as she spoke, and she also realized that this was obviously impossible, otherwise how could companies with so many debts higher than Fireflies make money like Elizabeth said?

"Of course not," Elizabeth didn't mind Julia's ignorance, but analyzed it with relish: "Based on $10 billion and a debt of 5% per year, the principal and interest to be repaid by Firefly Pictures in the first year may be $1.5 billion, of course, as the debt ratio decreases, this number will become less and less." According to the first year of 1.5 billion US dollars, this money is not from the net profit, but from the company's revenue as a business operating cost allocation, just like this year, firefly and ABC TV network although the total net profit is only 1.5 billion US dollars, but the total operating income of the two companies is close to 20 billion US dollars, and the 1.5 billion US dollars can also play a role in tax avoidance, according to about 35% of the corporate income tax in North America, Of the $1.5 billion, $525 million would have belonged to the IRS, and Firefly itself contributed less than $1 billion to pay off its debts. At the end, Elizabeth looked at Eric with a grin, a little gloating: "Of course, with such a high debt, if the performance of Firefly cannot continue to grow rapidly in the future, even if it just stops, you will definitely be in trouble." ”

Julia didn't understand much about Elizabeth's fast-paced and numerical analysis, but when she heard the last sentence, she looked at Eric with some concern.

"It's okay, in case I go bankrupt in the future, I can still eat soft rice." Eric said with a smile, reaching out and touching Julia's face with a worried face.

Elizabeth looked at Julia subconsciously squinting her eyes and putting her face on Eric's palm, made a disgusted expression, and said with her little hand to chase flies: "I can't stand you guys." ”

After breakfast, Elizabeth hurried to work in Century City, and Julia took Emma to her accountant's place, as Eric had told her last night.

Eric had breakfast and called Katzenberg to talk about some things before opening his email, since Hotmail, Alan no longer has to send documents to Eric in person many times, many things can be solved by email, and the people around Eric are gradually getting used to contacting Eric through email.

After reading the emails accumulated yesterday, it was already past nine o'clock, Eric packed up his laptop and put it back in Elizabeth's room, and was about to go to the girl's garage to find a car to go to Preavista, when his mobile phone rang.

The phone is Amy. Pascal called, and the two chatted on the phone, and Eric hung up.

An hour later, Eric appeared at a seafood restaurant in Venice Beach in a clumsy white Chevrolet van.

Amy. Pascal and Drew were already waiting here.

"Eric," Drew pounced and hugged Eric, saw Eric's Chevrolet parked in the parking lot, and subconsciously complained, "When did you buy this car." The vision is really poor. "Still. As soon as the words fell, Xiao Nizi realized that this might be a woman's car. Pouted, waiting for Eric and Amy. Pascal said hello and pulled him towards the restaurant.

It was still early for lunch, probably as ordered, and the three of them sat down at the table, and the waiter just served Eric a cup of coffee and walked away quietly.

Eric didn't have the heart to drink coffee, and pushed the cup to the side. Asked, "How many did you get back?" ”

Amy. Pascal took out a folder from his bag and handed it over, saying: "Three, the copyright owners of "Spider-Man", "Fantastic Four" and "Hulk" have all agreed to the transfer agreement, and the 21st Century Studios that owns "Captain America" insists on 30% of the capital injection rights of "Night at the Museum" and the same investment ratio for the follow-up sequel, and they have always refused to back down, so whether to agree or not, you have to make the decision." But, Eric, I wouldn't recommend agreeing to it, or else. Although the copyright has been obtained, the other three companies will definitely be very dissatisfied. They only get 20% of the funding rights, and the sequel is only 10%. ”

Eric listened to Amy's explanation, looked down at the copyright transfer agreement in his hand, in addition to "Spider-Man", although the other two are also Marvel's first-line superheroes, the adaptation in the original time and space was not too successful. However, as long as "Spider-Man" is in hand. When watching the "Avengers" series in the original time and space, Eric was the least interested in Captain America, if he really can't get it back in the future, then let Captain America hide in the Avengers, and Eric doesn't believe that without the cooperation of other superheroes, the so-called 21st century film company can play any tricks. When Marvel arrives in the future, the copyright of "Captain America" will automatically return sooner or later.

Eric didn't know much about the surprising superhero system, and after reading the three transfer agreements in his hand, he asked, "Are there any others?" ”

Amy. Pascal glanced at Eric and said with a smile: "There is a Blade Warrior, who was bought by the new line a few years ago, and it just expires at the end of this year, if the Firefly wants to continue to maintain the copyright, it will either negotiate with Marvel to renew the contract, or it will shoot the movie, and besides that, it will be almost gone, by the way, when I investigated, I found that Marvel Comics was negotiating with Universal about the transfer of the copyright of "X-Men", and after the seven main writers of Marvel Comics left together last year, Marvel's situation this year is even worse, So they desperately want to sell some more rights to get working capital. ”

A few other companies are okay, but it's Universal.

Eric has some headaches to Michael. Eisner's shrewdness, once they make a move, then Universal will definitely increase the chips, and if they want to snatch it again, unless they make a big deal and quote a super high price, it will definitely not be so easy.

Amy seemed to see Eric's concerns, and said with a smile: Eric, if you want to get the copyright of "X-Men", it's not that difficult, don't you know, Michael. Eisner has recently had a physical condition that may even be life-threatening, and he has been in contact with the heart surgery matter, and most of the affairs of the world are now handled by Michael Brown. Eisner's deputy was in charge, and I heard that Michael. Eisner also wanted to get his friend Michael. Ovitz becomes Global President. ”

It was then that Eric remembered that in the original time and space, Michael. Eisner did have a major physical condition in 1994, and it is not clear how Eric did. Eisner seems to have designated Disney's successor with the mindset that he might die on the operating table before the operation.

"If you can grab it, try to grab it, and of course, don't make too much of a fuss."

"I understand," Amy nodded, "Marvel needs funds the most right now, so as long as the offer on our side is high enough, Marvel will definitely choose us." Speaking of this, Amy suddenly said: "By the way, Eric, I think, if you are optimistic about the superheroes of Marvel Comics, why don't you buy all of Marvel Comics now, with Marvel's current situation, maybe you can't even use 200 million dollars if you want to buy it." ”

Eric shook his head lightly and smiled, "It's not time yet, anyway, you just grab the rights to "X-Men". ”

Amy. Pascal didn't understand what Eric meant, but she didn't ask much, nodded, and said, "So, now that we have Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, and Hulk in our hands, when are you going to start these projects?" ”

"Let's save it first," Eric said, "and wait for the special effects technology to develop in a few more years, if I make it now, I will definitely not be able to achieve the effect I want, and even if it does, the estimated production cost will be sky-high." ”

Amy nodded, in exchange for the copyright of these superheroes, she was already aware of this problem, compared to DC's Superman and Batman, the amazing superhero ability is definitely open, therefore, if you want to show these superhero effects one by one in the movie, it is definitely much more difficult than DC's superheroes, and now is indeed not the time to develop superhero movies.

After talking about it, Amy discussed the official purpose of calling Eric: "Kevin. Costner and his agent won't be over until 12 o'clock sharp, Eric, you can read this script first. ”

Amy said, pulling another script out of her bag and handing it to Eric.

Eric just glanced at the title of the script, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

The inertia of history is really super powerful.

A few words are prominently written on the first page of the script: "Future Water World".

Kevin. The culprit of Costner's career decline, after the tragic presumption of "Future Water World", originally related to Tom Brown. Cruise, Mel. Gibson and others are on a par with Kevin. Costner has since slumped in Tom. When Cruise was still famous in the "Mission Impossible" series, as a former Oscar for Best Director and Best Actor, Kevin Miss. Costner, however, could only be reduced to the role of Superman. The supporting role of Superman's father in "Man of Steel" is not enough.

"We invited Kevin. When Costner participated in "Mission Impossible", Kevin . Costner was preparing for this movie, and after I read the script, I thought it was fantastic. Costner hasn't negotiated with other studios yet, so I thought, Eric, why don't you take this movie down, I feel like it's going to be another Mad Max," Amy's tone seemed a little excited, but she quickly stopped talking and smiled, "Okay, Eric, you better read the script first, we'll talk later." (To be continued.) )