Chapter 1171: Two giants
In the next few days, Eric was mainly busy with the Williams Trust and the establishment of a charity fund for two women.
Although I have already done a detailed understanding in advance, but with the specific implementation, I also need the help of Chris and some professional consulting agencies in New York.
In addition, the last time Cindy mentioned the acquisition of IMG Group has also been eye-catching, just recently when the US Open tennis tournament was held, IMG Group founder and controlling shareholder Mark McCormack personally called around Eric watched the acquisition on Saturday to see the acquisition.
Time always goes too fast.
In the blink of an eye, at noon, Eric did not rush to the New York National Tennis Center in Queens, but met again in the Manhattan restaurant with Elite President John Casablanca.
After the last incident, Eric originally wanted Alexander Abrochu to transfer the contract from Elite to IMG, but John Casablanca then did not release it, and also told Alexander through Eric that he hoped to talk face to face.
"Eric, the four executives involved in the last documentary have all left," after simply chilling, ordering lunch, and waiting for the waiter to leave, John Casablanca went straight to the subject: "So, I think Miss Ambrosio can stay in Elite."
Eric knew about these things from Alexander in advance, and even guessed that John Casablanca had made his own intentions. He smiled and said, "So, are you just asking me to eat today?"
John Casablanca also smiled and said: "You must have guessed it, Eric. Since you are interested in model agency, then Elite is obviously a better choice than WM, isn't it?"
John Casablanca obviously does not know that Eric is about to acquire IMG Group. His participation in WM is only to give Carmen Kass a small exercise platform.
However, for Elite, Eric is still very interested, so he asked straightforwardly: "How many shares can you transfer to me?"
John Casablanca said: "15%, Eric, and the price is very reasonable. If you become an Elite shareholder, you can join the company's board of directors immediately."
According to Eric's prior knowledge, although it has been listed a few days ago, Elite's public offering shares are only 25%, and the other 75% of the shares are still in private hands. As the founder, John Casablanca has less than 5% of Elite's shareholding. Instead, a Canadian businessman named Nicholas Fare bought most of Elite in 1990 and is still the largest shareholder of Elite. The shareholding ratio is 37%.
"John, if you want me to buy Elite, 15% of the shares are definitely impossible." Shaking his head, Eric said: "Elite is just a very small company for me, and the last thing Obviously it’s just the tip of the iceberg of your internal problems. I won’t let myself fall into a possible trouble for a 15% stake.”
John Casablanca said: "Eric, I have started to reorganize the company during this time, and after the shareholding, you can join the board of directors and supervise the management of the company."
"Even if I buy Elite in full, I won't join the company's board of directors. I am more accustomed to standing behind the scenes." Eric shook his head again and said: "And, John, I think you should know Elite better than I am. Over-expansion, chaotic management, profit margins, and the content of the BBC's documentary is also very common within Elite. I'm sure that if these issues are not completely rectified, Elite's current surface boom will not last. More than five years. I think, you want me to join, also in order to use the resources of the firefly system to digest the problems of Elite and let the company develop further, isn't it?"
John Casablanca has realized at this point that Eric is definitely not interested in Elite. Although the implementation also discussed with the board of directors that the upper limit of the transfer of shares is more than 15%, but think about it, he asked straightforwardly: "Eric, in this case, how much do you think we transfer the right?"
"I just said that Elite is just a small company for me, but it is very risky, so I need absolute control." Eric said, immediately opened his own card and said: "I see After Elite's recent share price status, you can tell your company's board of directors that based on the current share price, I will have a 30% premium and $1.3 billion to acquire Elite."
Due to the impact of the overall market decline, coupled with Elite's profitability in recent years is indeed unsatisfactory, the current market value of Elite is only about 950 million US dollars.
However, when I heard that Eric had to buy Elite in full, John Casablanca’s expression was somewhat uncertain.
As the founder of Elite, he has been able to master the company's power for many years. The main reason is that the company's equity is relatively scattered, and shareholders can not find another more suitable manager to control the company.
But if Elite is fully acquired by Eric, the strong super rich is likely to kick him out of the company at any time.
Eric patiently waited for John Casablanca to weigh for a while before he relaxed his tone. "John, if you have been paying attention to the company of the firefly system, you should know that I am a boss who is willing to fully delegate power to professional managers." You created Elite more than 20 years ago and developed to the size of the world's number one. The ability is unquestionable, so I will be happy to let you take care of this company and you can keep your own shares. Of course, Elite needs a thorough rectification, just like the phoenix nirvana, otherwise it will only be extremely prosperous. So, if I buy this company, it will strengthen its control and ensure that it is my investment belt. There is enough return, but at the same time there will be no trouble like the last BBC documentary."
John Casablanca hesitated for a moment, saying: "Eric, the model industry is like this. If you can't default some of these hidden rules, then resources will only flow to other companies that allow these rules to survive."
"But everything should be limited unless you want to see the industry completely rotted. In fact, why did IMG's model subsidiary develop so smoothly these years? Because it is a latecomer, this company has no traditional models. The company’s ills, it also upholds the foundation of a commercial company, maximizing the maximum commercial benefits of the model. If a company only focuses on its own size, but ignores the essence of the profitable business company, then it also It is destined to be difficult to last."
This time, until the waiters gave lunch to the two, John Casablanca nodded: "Well, Eric, I will pass on your message to the board."
Eric sent a beautiful waitress who rubbed his eyes to give himself a bottle of water, then handed a card to John Casablanca, saying: "John, just $1.3 billion is my final offer, I don't. I will waste too much time on Elite. If you decide to come down, just call me. If you don't accept the acquisition, you don't need to contact me."
After lunch with John Casablanca, Eric rushed to Queens.
Today is the fourth round of the US Open. Eric knows little about tennis. I only know that this game is Anna Kournikova vs. another tennis star Davenport. Maybe Mark McCormack deliberately arranged that these two tennis players are all IMG's contracted sports stars.
Near two o'clock, Eric rushed to the National Tennis Center in New York and the game was about to begin.
Eric’s car just stopped in a parking lot, and a tall girl wearing a blouse and black trousers came over, but it was the life of Catherine Neumann that Cindy had just hired some time ago. assistant Manager.
Cindy is not convenient to make public appearances now, because both Cindy and Linda are involved in the acquisition of IMG. Eric originally asked Linda to come and join the meeting. I didn't expect to be the German girl.
Although there are not many opportunities to get along, Eric is not very suitable for the style of the girl.
Katherine Neumann has a dumb temperament similar to that of twins, but the two feel different, the quietness of the twins makes people feel very comfortable, Catherine Neumann is the kind of standing in the dark corner Still people can't help but feel the sense of existence in the past, and they are exuding an aggressiveness that seems to be plotting something.
Going to the front, the girl just greeted me faintly: "Mr. Williams."
Eric looked up and down the girl's costume, holding a bun, a touch of makeup, meticulous shirts and underpants, black short high heels, although the beautiful face and exquisite figure are quite pleasing, but It is also evident with a temperament of abstinence. Even in the face of Eric's undisguised observation, the only reaction of the girl was only a slight squint, but the blink of an eye was obviously unrelated to Eric's review.
After a few seconds of confrontation, Eric finally remembered something, turned and whispered a few bodyguards behind him, and said to Catherine Neumann: "Let's go."
Eric did not say too much when he spoke to the bodyguard. Catherine Neumann had no special reaction, quietly walked out of the parking lot with Eric.
Just out of the parking lot, IMG Group CEO Payne Forsterman greeted him and simply greeted him. Eric and Penn Forsterman entered the stadium through the internal passage and went straight to the stadium. A seat on the periphery.
Although the attendance rate of the stadium has exceeded 80%, there are no other people in these rows of vacancies.
Mark McCormack is a burly old man with a silver hair and a cane in his hand. His spirit is not bad.
Everyone chilled and everyone sat down on the seat.
However, after taking a seat, I noticed the live broadcasts in the venue. Eric looked around and directly to Catherine Neumann, who was next to him: "Go and see which TV station is live, let them not sweep the lens. come."
Katherine Neumann nodded and got up and left.
Mark McCormack listened to Eric’s words, but he said: “Eric, too low-key is not good.”
Eric laughed: "I just don't get used to the public's attention that is completely unnecessary."
Mark McCormack nodded with a smile and gestured to the two athletes who had already warmed up in the middle of the field. "What do you think of them?"
Eric said: "I don't know much about tennis. However, according to the information I have read, Anna's record from the official professional competition in 1996 to the present can only be said to be mediocre. Last year's record was the best, but only in The three majors in the four major tennis tournaments ended in the fourth round, far from the championship. I don't know too much about Davenport."
Mark McCormack showed a shrewd smile on his face and said: "Davenport has already got two Grand Slams. You don't know much about her, but you know exactly what Anna's record is, Eric, do you know? This just reflects the value of IMG."
Eric retorted: "But the tennis game is ultimately based on strength."
"Of course," Mark McCormack agreed. "In fact, the top players in the tennis world, Williams, Davenport, and Graf are all IMG's signing stars. However, the strength It is not the final factor that determines everything. Like Anna, she is indeed mediocre, her character is arrogant, and she is not working hard enough, but IMG can turn her into the most profitable actress in the tennis world. Just last year, Anna from Adidas, Rolex In the hands of the brand, I received a $12 million endorsement fee. As long as her grades can rise again, this number will increase in the next few years. However, 30% of her income belongs to IMG. Although Davenport is stronger with her at this time, her annual income is less than one-third of Anna's, and we can only get 10% from her contract."
If it is not for the IMG Group's mature business operation system, Eric will not be so interested in this company. It is said that IMG's business operation method even went to the Harvard Business School case textbook, which is enough to prove the company's Successful spending.
Listening to Mark McCormack, Eric also showed an expression of appreciation, saying: "So, I will sit here now, IMG is indeed a very good company."
Mark McCormack heard Eric compliment, his face was a little smug, and he shook his head with some sadness. "If it weren't for my children, I would never be willing to sell this." Home company."
The old man began to feel his life, but Eric did not know how to respond, only to calm down.
Mark McCormack just took a moment and quickly recovered. He said: "I heard that you are interested in the entire IMG Group. I can help you to lobby other shareholders to sell their shares. However, how much do you plan to offer? ”
“$1.5 billion,” Eric replied: “You can get an additional $75 million compared to the last offer. If it’s just a 55% stake in the McCormack family, my offer is still $750 million.”
"$1.5 billion, IMG is definitely worth the price," Mark McCormack nodded. "I will get it for you."
Eric heard Mark McCormack say this, but his face was a little surprised. He thought that this meeting, the other party is planning to bargain with him.
Mark McCormack noticed that Eric’s expression changed, but he smiled, but he was bitter in his smile. “Eric, I hope it will have a better price than IMG.” It’s my life’s hard work, so I just want to see his new owner in person.”