That evening, Mr. Ji contacted Mr. Brown, senior vice president of Columbia Pictures.

This is the one he met when he accompanied Aniston to the audition.

Sitting on the sofa, Cheng Jianjun, Teacher Shi and others were chatting about jadeite not far away.

Ji Cheng dialed Brown's phone.

Both, all, all both.

It took about seven or eight rings to get on.

Brown's voice came from the other end, "Hi, I'm Rhys, Senior Vice President of Columbia Pictures. Brown, how can I help you? ”

Ji Cheng said with a smile: "My dear fellow Brown, I am Ji Cheng of Huajin Capital. ”

Brown immediately burst out laughing, "Dude, it's you, did you call me so late to ask about the progress of investing in the filming of "Chicago"?" ”

Ji Cheng didn't get straight to the topic, he asked with some interest, "How?" ”

Brown said: "Huajin Capital's $10 million fund arrived a few days ago, I had a meeting with the company's senior management, and the budget for the production of this film is about $20 million, and our company will pay five million, and then seek an investment of five million dollars, and start filming when the funds are in place." ”

Ji Cheng remembered that the original production cost and publicity and distribution costs of "Chicago" were more than 40 million US dollars, but at that time it was 2002, and now in 1989, 20 million is about 20 million.

Ji Cheng said bluntly: "In this way, I will also come out with the remaining five million dollars, what do you think?" ”

Brown was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, Mr. Ji." ”

Ji Cheng said "um", and then he really got into the topic, "By the way, can you introduce me to the chairman of your company?" ”

Brown was stunned for a moment, "Are you going to talk about film production and publicity?" If so, I suggest that you and our President and Chief Operating Officer, Lou Brown. It was better for Koeman to meet. ”

Ji Cheng smiled: "No, I want to talk about the acquisition of your company." ”

Brown was taken aback, "Mr. Ji, do you want to buy our company?" ”

Ji Chengdao: "It's not necessarily my acquisition, aren't many shareholders of your company seeking to sell the company to recoup funds?" Especially Coca-Cola, I've heard that they just want to get their money quickly, and I mean they want to help your company sell your company in a short period of time. ”

Brown was very concerned about this matter, "Okay, I'll talk to the chairman, and I'll get back to you later." ”

"Okay."

Ji Cheng hung up the phone after speaking.

At this time, Cheng Jianjun looked sideways, "Mr. Ji, how is it?" ”

Teacher Shi, Director Lin and others are also quite concerned.

Ji Cheng smiled and said, "I contacted the senior management of their company, and I will reply later." ”

Zheng Chun is a businessman in the end, and he knows a lot about these, "I heard that a large part of Columbia Pictures' shares are in the hands of Coca-Cola, so it's useless for you to just talk to Columbia Pictures, right?" ”

Ji Cheng shrugged helplessly, "I'm not familiar with Coca-Cola, and if I can negotiate with Columbia Pictures, I think they will notify Coca-Cola and finally make a shareholder bid, although it's a bit of a waste of time, but I don't have any other better way." ”

He could have used State Street, Citibank and other connections to meet with Coca-Cola in detail, but the problem is that in the end, Columbia Pictures still has to conduct shareholder bidding, so it doesn't really matter whether he talks with Coca-Cola or not.

Zheng Chun made a suggestion: "That's not the case, I heard that Coca-Cola has more than 40% of the shares of Columbia Pictures, if you can persuade Coca-Cola in advance, return shareholders to bid, Coca-Cola agrees to sell the company, then the possibility of other shareholders not agreeing is very low, I think it is better for you to contact Coca-Cola in private." ”

Ji Cheng hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Well, then I'll find someone to contact Coca-Cola." ”

Director Lin suddenly said: "COFCO and Coca-Cola have been cooperating for 11 or 2 years. The relationship between the two is very good, after all, Coca-Cola now values the Chinese market, if Secretary Zhou is willing to help say a few words, Coca-Cola should give some face. ”

Ji Cheng's eyes lit up, and then he went down secretly, and said with a wry smile: "I don't know Secretary Zhou either." ”

Director Lin snorted, "You don't need to know him, with your current influence in China, as long as you keep quiet, someone will help you say hello immediately." ”

Ji Cheng knew that what Director Lin said was the influence of his free donation of hepatitis B vaccine technology authorization in China, but he still didn't believe it, "Is it really okay?" ”

Director Lin said with a smile: "In this way, you don't need to speak, I will make a phone call with the domestic side later, and talk about this matter intentionally or unintentionally, you look, Lao Zhou promises to take the initiative to contact you." ”

Ji Cheng wanted to pretend that he didn't need his buddies to come by himself, but the problem was that, just like Zheng Chun said, if he could get the support of Coca-Cola, the possibility of getting a sale commission from Columbia Pictures would be greatly increased, and he didn't have to worry about running into Akio Morita who wouldn't let him finish speaking.

"Okay, then I'll bother you."

"Hehe, what's that? You help me more. ”

After a short conversation, Director Lin talked to Michael. Baker went to call, and now it's the morning in the country, and it's just the right time to call.

Just as Director Lin called, Brown called back.

"Mr. Ji, my boss promised to meet you in New York at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

"Okay, where's the location?"

"Let's go directly to your company, he and our president happen to be in New York, and they are supposed to be back tomorrow."

"Huh? Exactly in New York? ”

"Yes, today they met with Sony Chairman Akio Morita to discuss the acquisition, but unfortunately they did not negotiate again."

Hearing this, Ji Cheng blinked his eyes and said, "Brown, can I ask how much your company offers to Sony?" If it's a matter of confidentiality, it's okay if it's inconvenient to say. ”

"It's not a secret." Brown smacked his lips and said: "Coca-Cola has always wanted to sell the company as soon as possible, we listen to any offer from the outside world, the company's current offer to Sony is twenty dollars per share, but the company's share is now worth only sixteen dollars, and Sony is said to be willing to pay only nineteen dollars per share, so the negotiations are deadlocked." ”

Ji Cheng sweated.

Sony is really indecisive.

As far as he knows, by the time Sony bought Columbia Pictures in September, the price of Columbia Pictures per share had risen to $21, and it was precisely because the price of Columbia Pictures had risen by $9 per share from the beginning of the year to September that Sony panicked, fearing that Columbia's stock price would rise too much, and finally gritted its teeth and gave a high price of $27 per share.

If the price of $20 per share is promised now, Sony doesn't know how much money it will save.

But who can say what the future holds?

If Ji Cheng hadn't traveled to this time and space from the future, he would definitely not have imagined that Columbia Pictures' stock price would have risen from $12 at the beginning of the year to $21 in September.

After learning the price negotiated between the two sides from Brown's mouth, Ji Cheng had a point in his heart, chatted a little more, and hung up the phone.

It just so happened that Director Lin also came out of it at this time, and he said with a smile: "Mr. Ji, someone has gone to say hello to Lao Zhou, you can wait for the call at any time." ”

Ji Cheng hurriedly said, "Ouch, thank you, thank you, Director Lin." ”

He never thought that his free donation of hepatitis B vaccine technology authorization would bring him so much help, let alone that the relationship between China and Coca-Cola would be so good.

In fact, he didn't know one thing, that is, COFCO and Coca-Cola cooperated as early as 1978, and in the same year, Coca-Cola announced its entry into China, making it the first foreign company to enter the mainland after China's reform and opening up.

It is precisely because of this that the relationship between Coca-Cola and COFCO is extraordinary.

And in 200, the cooperation between the two sides was comprehensively upgraded, and a company was established in direct partnership, called COFCO Coca-Cola Company, COFCO accounted for 65% of the shares, Coca-Cola 35%, and since then, the Coca-Cola that Chinese people drink is produced by the company.

One can imagine how good the relationship between the two companies is.

After chatting about this matter, Ji Cheng chatted with everyone for a while.

Subsequently, Director Lin and others went back to the hotel first.

Cheng Jianjun and others are also in Michael. Baker's arrangement went to bed one by one.

Only Ji Cheng didn't even take a shower, so he sat there and waited for a domestic call.

Wait until twelve o'clock in the middle of the night.

Just when Ji Cheng thought that he couldn't wait for the call tonight, the mobile phone rang suddenly.

He hurriedly answered the phone and said, "Hello, is it Secretary Zhou?" ”

Who knew that an English voice came from the other end of the phone, "May I ask if you are Mr. Ji Chengji?" ”

Belch!

How is it a foreigner voice?

Ji Cheng was a little puzzled, and thought it was the person in charge of the company who was invested by the company, he leaned back on the sofa and said casually: "Well, I'm Ji Cheng, are you?" ”

"Hehe, hello Mr. Ji, I'm Robert of Coca-Cola. Goyinsueta. "Foreigners report their own doorways.

Hey?

Coca-Cola Chairman?

Ji Chengli Ma Zheng sat down and said, "Hello Mr. Goyin Sueta. ”

Robert. Goyin Sueta said: "I heard Zhou say that you want to buy 49% of our company's shares in Columbia Pictures? ”

Ji Cheng was stunned for a moment, and quickly explained: "I just want to get the entrustment right to sell your company's shares, and help you and even the entire Columbia Film company sell at the right price." ”

"Mr. Ji, I have also heard of your famous name in the financial industry, and I know that you are a top expert in foreign exchange and futures." Robert. Goyin Sueta first complimented, and then said: "But regarding the debt acquisition, Huajin Capital doesn't seem to have any record of success, right?" ”

Ji Cheng said confidently: "It's going to be there right away." ”

Robert. Goyinsueta wondered, "Oh? Which company? ”

Ji Cheng said: "Columbia Pictures is about to be the first debt acquisition business taken over by Huajin Capital, and at the same time, it is also a brilliant achievement that has started my reputation in the debt acquisition!" ”

Robert. Ge Yin Sueta didn't expect Ji Cheng to be so confident, and laughed, "I believe it." He paused, then asked, "Since you are so confident, and Zhou highly recommends it to me, then let me ask, how do you want to sell Coca-Cola's 49% stake in Columbia Pictures?" ”

Ji Cheng thought for a while and said, "How much do you ask?" ”

"Twenty dollars per share." Robert. Goyinsueta said without hesitation.

That's a lot of money for Columbia Pictures stock right now. Goyin Sueta thought that Ji Cheng would retreat when he heard this price.

Can be made by Robert. What Goyin Sueta didn't expect was that Ji Cheng actually agreed directly: "Yes, we can sign a VAM contract, I will help your company sell 49% of the shares in Columbia Pictures at a price of $20 per share, and I don't charge commissions, but I must state one thing in advance, if I can finally sell Columbia Pictures at a very high price, such as $30 per share, then the difference of $9 per share will belong to me." ”

Robert. Goyin Sueta smiled dumbly, now that Columbia Pictures has offered twenty dollars per share, no one has accepted it, and Ji Cheng actually said that he would sell it for thirty dollars, which he felt was a bit unrealistic.

It's just that Columbia Pictures has been weak in recent years, the company is in a state of loss every year, and Coca-Cola is in a hurry to expand globally and urgently needs a large amount of money. Without any hesitation, Goyinsueta said, "Twenty dollars per share is fine, but I won't sign a gambling agreement with you." ”

Ji Cheng was stunned for a moment, "Don't sign a gambling agreement?" ”

"Hmm." Robert. "If you are really so confident, I can persuade all the shareholders of Columbia Pictures to sell the company directly to Joaquin Capital at a price of twenty dollars per share, and then you sell the company to whomever you want, or how much money you make, it has nothing to do with us, because although the vast majority of the risks of the VAM agreement are on your side, I can't quickly return the funds to lay out the global strategy, so I can only give you this plan and help you win Columbia Films in a short time." ”

Romance

According to the calculation of the acquisition of Columbia Pictures at a price of $20 per share, Ji Cheng will have to take out $2.5 billion in acquisition funds at once, and he will also have to take on the debt of Columbia Pictures of $1.6 billion, as well as the Warner lawsuit of one billion yuan that he knows.

In other words, Ji Cheng has to take out $5.1 billion at once.

This amount of money is too much for him, his current total assets are only two billion US dollars, and he has spent a lot of money before, and the real cash is not more than 1.7 billion, which is too far from 5.1 billion.

But Ji Cheng thought about it, and resolutely agreed: "Okay, I am willing to buy Columbia Pictures at a price of twenty dollars per share, provided that I take ownership of the company in a short period of time." ”

Robert. Without hesitation, Goyinsueta said, "Okay, tomorrow I'll meet with you with Victor, the chairman and CEO of Columbia Pictures. Kaufman talk about it, don't worry, I can convince him. ”

Ji Changchang let out a long breath, "I made an appointment with him to meet in New York at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, why don't you come to New York too?" ”

"Yes." Robert. Goyinsueta agreed.

Hang up.

Ji Cheng sat there and was silent for a long time before raising his head and looking out of the starry window.

Yes, he currently has a maximum of $1.7 billion in cash on hand, and he has to keep at least $1.5 billion for this money, because soybean futures are still ongoing.

It stands to reason that he has no money in hand, so he should not have agreed to such a huge major acquisition as 5.1 billion.

But what will Ji Cheng promise?

Because he thought of a way, and that was a leveraged buyout!

At that time, he will have to pay a lot of interest, but in the end, as long as he can sell Columbia Pictures to Sony for the memory of $27 per share, he will still have hundreds of millions of profits.

Even, if Ji Cheng has a way to increase the value of Columbia Pictures, he can sell it to Sony in the future, and he can offer a higher price!

Moreover, the acquisition has a huge advantage over the VAM agreement, that is, Ji Cheng has enough time to increase the value of the company, rather than selling the company within the specified period.

As for how to improve the company's value, this is simply easy for Ji Cheng.

What determines the value of a studio?

Isn't it just a film!

As long as Ji Cheng finds a way to make a few high-quality movies with excellent box office, then the company's value is bound to rise in a short period of time, and how much money he will ask Sony for that time is not up to him?

No one else can guarantee that the movie will be a big hit.

Ji Cheng can guarantee it, because he knows which movie will be at the box office in the future, as long as he goes back to modern society to search for the North American box office rankings over the years, he picks the copy that is close to the time, and the original copy, is he still afraid that he won't be able to make a good movie?

Sony's money is set!

Jesus can't stop it, I said!