Chapter 597: Subject matter restriction
In response to concerns about media freedom, the fcc (Federal Communications Commission) restricted the number of media in a media company in the same region. Early fcc even stipulated that a TV network could no longer have more than two public television stations in the same area, but These restrictions have been relaxed under the development of the times and the power of capital. Otherwise, it will not form a phenomenon in which several major media companies in North America monopolize news channels. ●⌒,
However, at this time, fcc's restrictions are still strict. ABC's TV network covers the entire United States. In order to pass the fcc review, Fireflies have only promised to separate the public youth TV station in Los Angeles that was acquired when Disney acquired the company within a certain period of time.
Solved these problems, the firefly and abc mergers and acquisitions quickly won the fcc review.
At the same time as the fcc review, the fireflies began a large-scale debt financing plan. Fireflies have achieved high profits in the last two years, but in order to ensure the company's sufficient cash flow, Eric only intends to withdraw $2 billion in cash from the company for the acquisition, and the remaining $8 billion is raised through the issuance of bonds.
Fireflies and the abc TV network after the merger have a large amount of excellent assets, coupled with the same stable operating conditions and profit expectations of the two companies, no one will doubt the future solvency of fireflies, Moody's and other credit rating agencies on fireflies The credit ratings are maintained at a very high level of aa.
So, for a whole week, Eric was surrounded by Morgan Stanley, Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch and investment bank executives from around the world. After all, it involved $8 billion in bond issuance, investment banking. If you get this business, the basic profit and the spreads earned during the issuance are enough for them to get hundreds of millions of dollars in profits. In the 1990s, most of the US investment banks had annual profits of only about one billion dollars.
In order to raise this huge amount of money as soon as possible, Eric listened to Chris's suggestion and chose Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank's two lead underwriters to bear $4 billion in bond issuance, while raising funds in North America and Europe.
I was really busy in New York for a week because I was surrounded by a lot of media. Eric didn't even go to Long Island to see a pair of children who were almost full of ages, and even had no chance to adjust to Catherine in New York.
On March 21, although the affairs of New York were still in abundance, Eric had to sit on the plane back to Los Angeles. Go to the 66th Academy Awards.
Firefly's small Gulfstream business jet landed at Santa Monica Airport. I felt someone patted on his shoulder. Eric then opened his eyes and saw the tall stewardess in front of him. Eric gently touched it. head. Stand up.
In the week of New York, I have to go to the middle of the night to rest every day. The only thing Eric wants now is to take a good sleep.
Taking a suitcase alone, I walked off the plane and looked at the watch. It was already five o'clock in the afternoon. I felt the warmth and the bright sunshine above my head. Eric realized that the watch showed Eastern Time, Los Angeles. It should be two o'clock in the afternoon and five hours left from the Oscars.
As one of the most important film awards ceremonies in the United States and even the world, the stars who participate in Oscars are often waiting within a few days of the awards ceremony. Eric thought that his situation was rare. He only received a prize from the Oscar Organizing Committee three days ago, only because he was discussing the details of the bond issue with the acquisition team. Rick just looked at it briefly, and now he has basically forgotten his mind.
However, fortunately, he is going to present the final best film, near the end of the awards ceremony, there will be no more restrictions on the lines of the awarding guests, free to play, Eric believes that no one in the college will find their own account .
It was Kapoor who came to pick up the plane. Although Eric's identity has been far removed from the director's level, matters such as attending events will still be handed over to Icm for help.
The two men talked and laughed on a business car, Kapoor joked to Eric: "Only you are so careless about Oscar, some of the company's stars heard to attend. Even for several days without sleep. ”
Eric smiled at Kapoor and gestured to his faint dark circles. He smiled and said: "I can't guarantee that I will fall asleep on the Oscar now. Right, the seats they arranged for me will not be in the first place. Row?"
Kapoor said: "What do you think? Who is now willing to arrange you in a secondary corner."
"Well," Eric shrugged. "If I play on Oscar, it is estimated that I will increase the ratings for the awards ceremony."
Kapoor laughed. After a while, he said: "Yes, do you care about the latest Hollywood news?"
Eric shook his head and said, "No, what happened?"
"Last week, Michael Ovitz sold the shares of caa. This morning, Japan's Matsushita Group announced the appointment of Michael Ovitz as president of Universal Pictures, and Michael Eisner is about to undergo heart surgery." Captainton paused and said: "Michael Eisner's heart problem is very serious. I heard that the success rate of the quadruple bypass surgery to be performed this time is only about 75%."
Eric and Kapoor have nothing to do with Michael Eisner, not to mention Eric is very aware of the results of Michael Eisner's heart surgery, so there is no idea, just ask: "Panasonic did not let Did Michael Eisner leave?"
"The business situation in the past two years has been improving. Michael Eisner can still resume his previous work as long as he successfully completes the heart surgery. The Japanese are waiting for the results."
"I think that in the future, the world will definitely be in trouble," Eric said with a smile. "Although Michael Ovitz will run caa very well, but the film company is not a brokerage company after all, if Michael Eisner fails. After this operation, it is not so easy for Michael Ovitz to maintain the global situation. People say that Michael Eisner can successfully complete the operation, then the situation is even more fun."
Kapoor saw some smiles on Eric's face and asked: "What do you mean?"
"Michael Eisner and Michael Ovitz are very good friends, but this is only in the absence of corporate power disputes, two people are very kind of people with strong control, once Michael Ace After successfully going through the surgery, Universal Pictures is likely to fall into internal power disputes," Eric said, suddenly asking: "Right, Michael Eisner has prepared a golden parachute for Michael Owitz. Employment agreement like this?"
In memory, Michael Ovitz has taken more than $100 million in compensation for his work in Disney for more than a year, because Michael Eisner has tailored a compensation amount to Michael Owitz in advance. Very high golden parachute agreement.
"It seems like this is the case, otherwise Michael Ovitz will not give up caa to Universal Pictures so much. Five years ago, when Sony first acquired Colombia, Michael Owitz was invited to run the company. Michael. Orwitz immediately refused."
"That's it," Eric nodded with a smile. "We're just waiting to watch the show. In the future, the world will be very lively."
Kapoor nodded, but his expression was a bit strange.
Eric noticed Kapoor's look and smiled and asked: "You don't want to switch to movie company executives like Michael Owitz?"
Kapoor nodded slightly and did not deny it.
Eric knows very well that most of the executives of the brokerage companies are eager to become the top executives of the film company, which not only means more lucrative salary, but also more extensive power.
However, although there are many brokers who have turned to film company executives and producers in the history of Hollywood, there are not many successful ones. In the memory of Eric’s past lives, only Lang Meyer who successfully managed Universal Pictures One is the position to hold the head of the big film company.
From the bottom of my heart, Eric did not recommend Kapoor to change, but in the face of Kapoor's mind, Eric did not know how to persuade, it seems that only the facts can be proved.
"Talk about the Oscar tonight, I haven’t paid much attention to it. What are the prizes in "Pulp Fiction"?"
"There are no big-name directors competing this year. I think Quentin is likely to get the best director," Kapoor also said just aside. "But the most stable one should be the best original script."
Eric remembers that the best actor in this past life should be Tom Hanks, but because Hanks filmed "Save the Ryan" in advance, "Philadelphia Story" changed the actor, at the Golden Globe Awards Rick didn't see the nomination of the best man in the Philadelphia Story, but when he thought of another person, Eric shook his head: "The best actor in John Travolta should have no fun?"
Kapoor nodded: "Daniel De. Lewis lost to Al Pacino in the "My Left Foot" best man a few years ago. This year he won the second nomination and the chance of winning is better than John. The Travolta is much bigger."
Although "Pulp Fiction" has made the critics and fans amazed, there is no strong competitor this year.
However, Eric finally found that because of the limitations of the subject matter, the possibility of winning the important awards such as the best film is still very low, and the subsequent facts prove this. (To be continued.)