"I noticed that you used the word recent, can I interpret this term as you think Warner's music group can get out of this situation in the future?" Lei Shidong keenly grasped this very detailed problem. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

"The company has to be restructured and replaced, and I am confident that this company will perform well in the future!" Lin Mu knew that Warner Records had successfully entered the record industry in 1930 with the acquisition of Brunswickk Records. This was followed by the merger of two record labels, Atlantic and ElektranoneSuch~ in 1968 and 197 respectively, to form Warner Records. After entering the 90s, it accelerated the pace of expansion, and successively acquired the French company Erratto, the German company Teldec, the Finnish company Finlandia, and the Taiwanese UFO record.

The company's expansion brought huge profits to Warner Music Group, but the rapid expansion also brought a series of management problems, which was a big reason for Warner's financial difficulties in the mid-90s. "Viacom is a content provider, but even with the acquisition of a film company like Paramount, the group's business is still focused on the media sector. With the acquisition of Best, we have now established a well-developed downstream industrial chain, and now it is time to enrich the upstream content production links of the industrial chain! ”

"Warner Records doesn't seem to be the only company to choose from, you know Warner Records' current financial situation worries me!" Lei Shidong actually had plans to get involved in the record industry for a long time, but he was not concerned about Warner's record company, and his biggest concern was that Viacom would end up with a profitable company. Warner Records is now saddled with nearly $300 million in debt, and Wall Street rating agencies have downgraded its credit rating to C, which is essentially equivalent to a rating of distressed assets.

"Warner Records' foundation is actually very good, especially in the global expansion over the years, if it weren't for the eagerness in the acquisition decision, there was a problem in the integration of assets, there would not be such a problem! I think Warner's current predicament is only temporary, and once the company gets through the consolidation period, it will enter a rapid development phase. And purely from an investment point of view, there is no better time to invest in this company, whether it is the acquisition cost or the return on earnings, I am optimistic about the potential of this company! Lin Mu explained.

"But you seem to be overlooking a crucial question, Viacom is Time Warner's strongest rival, do you think Time Warner's top management will agree to sell Warner Records to their rivals?" Lei Shidong mentioned a very critical issue.

"Any company interested in buying this record label is a competitor to Time Warner, and whether it is sold to Viacom or other companies, Time Warner will not face any less competitive pressure." Lin Mu believes that this is not a key factor preventing Viacom from acquiring Warner Records.

"As far as I know, the current senior management of Warner is very divided on this issue, but it is basically divided into two factions, one group advocates that the head office should increase investment in Warner Records to help it survive the financial crisis; The other group believes that Warner Records has lost the value of continuing to invest in it, and has been waiting for it to become a non-performing asset of the company, so it is better to sell it now, so that at least it can recover its costs. The two factions were at loggerheads, but the one who was in favour of selling the company had the upper hand, and Viacom would be the last straw that would have broken the balance if he could come up with a suitable purchase price at this time! ”

"Then what price do you think will make Warner agree to our merger?" Lin Mu's analysis made Lei Shidong a little moved.

"I think 2 billion yuan will be a price that both parties are willing to accept!"

At the negotiating table with Time Warner, Lin Mu met his old acquaintance, but the meeting between the two was not as pleasant as Lin Mu imagined, and James himself did not advocate that Time Warner sell Warner Records.

"Xylonn, I didn't expect us to meet again!" James looked at Lin Mu sitting across the negotiation table with emotion, and he still clearly remembers the scene of his first meeting with Lin Mu. That was because James just regarded Lin Mu as a more talented screenwriter, but he didn't expect that in just five years, Lin Mu's growth in Hollywood was like riding a rocket, and what he didn't expect was that he would sit at the same negotiation table as Lin Mu.

"But I didn't expect our meeting to be on such an occasion!" James said with some sadness that Warner has been renewing his contract with Lin Mu to shoot "Friends", and this partnership has been very good, but James did not expect that Lin Mu would make a side move on the issue of Warner Records, and the faction that originally advocated continuing to invest in Warner Records in the board of directors has gained the upper hand, but Viacom's bid made this advantage lose in an instant. Time Warner's board of directors immediately decided to talk to Viacom, and James's efforts for so long were in vain.

"Warner and I have always had a good relationship before, so I came here this time with the purpose of working together!" After learning that James was the negotiator of Time Warner, Lin Mu knew that this negotiation would be difficult. This also conveyed to him the news that the attitude of Time Warner's top management is still wavering, which is not good news for the next negotiations.

"At the height of Warner Records' crisis, Viacom took advantage of the fire to rob, this is what you call sincerity!" James said unceremoniously.

"Mr. James, I have come to discuss with you about the acquisition of Warner Records at the invitation of your company, and sitting in front of you is the vice chairman of Viacom, and I hope you will pay attention to your identity!" James's attitude angered the assistant sitting next to Lin Mu, and he felt compelled to remind the other party's negotiators that it was perfectly okay to ask for a negotiation with a more vocal figure at Time Warner.

"James, it seems to me that selling a division is essentially the same as selling a script!" Lin Mu stopped his assistant's radical remarks, he didn't mind James's attitude, this was the pride and gesture of a superior person. "If I were from your point of view, I wouldn't agree with Time Warner selling Warner Records, a company with a lot of potential, and although it is experiencing some difficulties right now, these difficulties are not insurmountable! But what are Time Warner's directors doing during these difficult times? Aside from the quarrels, I don't see any initiatives that will help improve the operation of this company! ”

"We're working hard and we've made some progress, and if it weren't for Viacom's involvement, maybe the head office would have decided to invest in Warner Records!" Although James was disappointed with the board in this matter, he did not agree with Lin Mu's statement.

"Will a simple injection of capital solve the problem?" Lin Mu asked James rhetorically, "As far as I know, Warner Records has acquired a number of overseas companies in the past three years, and the company's capital book was once very abundant. ”

"I think we have made some mistakes in management, but we are also constantly reforming, Viacom should not have proposed to acquire Warner Records at the most difficult time, do you know how many people's efforts have been condensed in the development of Warner Records over the years?" James couldn't calm himself down.

"The development of a company is not a condensation of the creation of the painstaking efforts. If there is no acquisition. I doubt there will be any Warner records today? Blame Viacom with this sentimental reason. Don't you feel naïve? Lin Mu shook his head in disappointment. Mr. James. To be honest, I'm really disappointed in you. I really should seriously consider the assistant's opinion. Time Warner needed to find someone with more weight to speak and be more sober-minded to negotiate with us! ”

James ignored his assistant director. A punch slammed into the negotiating table" xylonn. Then I'm also telling you very clearly that it will stop you! ”

"Really?" A hint of playful sneer appeared on Lin Mu's face. "If I increase the purchase price by another 5 yuan. Time Warner would have signed me right away. I'll tell you this very clearly. Warner Records: I'm going to set it! ”

There was no point in continuing the negotiations in this way, leaving Time Warnerdy's headquarters. The woodland assistant asked puzzledly, "Do you really want to raise the price by 5 yuan?" ”

"Do you think I'm acting a little presumptuously?" Lin Mu saw through his thoughts.

"I think so!" Viacom's assistant for the temporary deployment of trees was very upright. Although he knew that Lin Mu was most likely the successor of Lei Shi Dongdi

Speaking his opinion, he thinks that this is a qualified assistant should

"What department did you work in before?" Lin Mu suddenly became interested in this guy who dared to speak up against himself.

"I'm from the company's business unit."

"Very well, from today onwards, you are officially my assistant in Viacom!" Lin Mu felt that he had found a suitable person to act as an assistant, "You will report to the personnel department when you go back!" ”

"But sir," the newly promoted assistant looked like he was about to say something.

"What I appreciate is boldness and straightforwardness, you can say anything directly!" Lin Mu's appointment seems to be a bit of a whim, but he is not without basis.

"I still don't know if you're really going to raise the purchase price of Warner Records?" The assistant expressed his confusion.

"The representatives sent by Time Warner can see some clues to this problem!"

"You mean James?"

"James is a representative of Time Warner's top management who is firmly opposed to the sale of Warner Records, and Time Warner asked him to talk to us, obviously not hoping that the negotiations can make any progress!" Lin Mu said the analysis.

"Since Time Warner doesn't have the sincerity to cooperate, is there still any need for me to talk about it?" The assistant had a new question.

"Time Warner's top brass are on the sidelines right now, and they're trying to bargain with us!"

"Isn't that the price increase right in their hands?" The assistant asked puzzled.

"I underestimated the weight of Warner Records in the eyes of its parent company, Time Warner, but Time Warner also underestimated my determination to acquire Warner Records! 2.5 billion yuan is the final floor of Viacom, and I don't want to waste time with them at the negotiating table! When he left the negotiating table, Lin Mu had already made up his mind.

James didn't expect that Lin Mu really didn't joke with him, 2.5 billion yuan was Viacom's final offer, Lin Mu was not even ready to have any more negotiations with Time Warner, all Viacom needed was a yes or no answer.

If the initial offer of 2 billion yuan made many Time Warner executives hesitate, then the price given by Viacom for the second time was enough to satisfy everyone, and in the board resolution, except for a few directors who abstained, everyone else was in favor of passing the resolution on the sale of Warner Records.

James had nothing to do about this outcome but to express his deep disappointment. $2.5 billion for a debt-ridden company is a successful deal in anyone's eyes. But James doesn't see it that way, he knows Lin Mu very well, and since Lin Mu is willing to exchange $2.5 billion for a company on the verge of bankruptcy, it means that the real value of this company is more than $2.5 billion. From the day he met Lin Mu, James had never seen him make a loss-making deal.

The news of Viacom's acquisition of Warner Records has caused a lot of shock in the industry, Viacom, a behemoth, has officially entered the record field, and people are not too surprised by this result, Viacom has been expanding to different fields over the years, and it is a matter of time before it enters the record industry. But many people were surprised that Viacom chose Warner Records, a music company that was in serious financial trouble.

The sky-high price of $2.5 billion was announced to many people dumbfounded, and the acquisition presided over by Lin Mu was naturally held hostage by many people, but both Viacom and Time Warner were very satisfied with the result. Warner got rid of a heavy burden, but also to reduce the pressure on the company's non-performing assets; Viacom opened the door to the record industry, and it seemed like a happy ending.

Everyone's eyes were attracted to this bizarre merger and acquisition, and no one noticed that at Time Warner, one person had left in disgrace.

James felt that there was no need to stay any longer, and he had lost faith in Time Warner's higher-ups. In his opinion, Warner's top management has lost not only a record company, but also perseverance and courage in the face of difficulties. He wanted to think back that Lin Mu was indeed not wrong, and the failure of Warner Records was not a financial failure, but also a failure of management and development concepts. Such a company is no longer worth his continued nostalgia. (To be continued.) )