New York 2006

Chapter 269 The acquisition was successful
On March 2009, 3, it was a sunny day. At three o'clock in the afternoon, Luo Ji was driving through Wall Street. People on both sides of the road were holding protest signs. At first glance, they were all white men and women over 18 years old, well-dressed.There are only a few minorities.

Luo Ji took a quick look at it. The slogans above were basically against President Barack.

Barack is a devil!
Now we have nothing and Wall Street has big salaries.

Don't trust the liberal media.

Barack betrayed us by opposing tax increases!
Fiona said in confusion: "Why is the Tea Party movement still happening? It's been a month and it still hasn't stopped."

"This group of old white men and white women have very strong execution ability. No one thought they could persist for so long." Luo Ji looked at the policemen who were fishing outside. They were basically relaxed and not nervous at all. .

The protests by this group of middle-class people are still very mild, and violent incidents are rarely heard of.If it were black people protesting, the police would probably not be like this.

Fiona continued: "Hasn't President Barack signed a salary limit order? As long as Wall Street companies receive government assistance, the annual salary of senior executives cannot exceed 50 dollars. Aren't they satisfied?"

"This is just one of their demands. Moreover, this bill limits the future, not the past. Only companies that receive government bailouts in the future will have salary limits. If Wall Street does not accept bailouts in the future, they will not have to abide by this. Bill. Barack is clearly pulling a stunt and misleading the public.”

Fiona continued: "So this is what the Tea Party movement is against?"

"No, if their own interests are not involved, their protest will not last so long. The middle class is actually the most peaceful group of people."

Luo Ji continued: "What this group of middle-class people are fundamentally opposed to is tax increases. The government uses the taxes collected to subsidize the lower-class people who have suffered serious losses due to subprime loans and to protect their houses. And those people are mostly black and Latino. Such people of color.”

"Ok."

"Let's not talk about this anymore." Luo Ji continued: "By the way, what does President Barack's personal advisor want to see me for?"

…………

Luo Ji took Fiona and just walked into the door when he saw two black men, a man and a woman.Suddenly he understood everything, because the woman was Oprah.

When Barack was running for president, several video bloggers in the multicultural new media company he owned made some remarks that were unfavorable to Barack.

Then, when Luo Ji was on the Oprah show, she attacked him and wanted him to express his political attitude.The two formed a feud.

Oprah originally wanted to run for President Barack, and now it makes sense to ask people like Barack to act as peacemakers.

"Hi, Logic." Oprah walked forward enthusiastically and gave Luo Ji a kiss on the cheek, as if nothing had happened.

Luo Ji also smiled and responded enthusiastically: "Long time no see, Oprah."

A few people sat on the sofa and chatted about daily life.

Oprah suddenly said: "Logic, have you been avoiding me?"

Luo Ji looked puzzled: "Why did you say that?"

Oprah said jokingly: "When you were in California, I invited you to meet many times, but you always said you were busy. How come you have time when President Barack's people invite you?"

Luo Ji showed no guilt and said calmly: "I was really busy at that time. If you don't believe me, just ask Fiona."

Fiona smiled awkwardly: "Yes, Logic had shooting tasks every day at that time."

"It's better that you are not avoiding Oprah." Barack's personal adviser suddenly said: "President Barack thought you had some personal conflicts."

Luo Ji smiled and said, "Nothing."

Oprah looked serious: "Then why don't any of your artists come to promote my talk show?"

"I don't know." Luo Ji spread his hands and looked confused: "Is there still such a thing?"

Oprah said: "I invited you when you were promoting your second album, have you forgotten?"

Luo Ji looked indifferent, as if he was talking about another trivial matter: "That was all arranged by my agent Braun. I generally don't care about this."

Barack's personal consultant responded: "So, you and your artists will cooperate with Oprah normally in the future."

Luo Ji looked at the two of them calmly, his eyes showing no sign of weakness: "We were working together normally!"

"Hahaha." Oprah laughed, as if looking at a naughty child: "Logic, I didn't expect that you still remember when I attacked you on the talk show. You are really a little bit cautious."

Luo Ji pretended to be stupid: "I don't know what you are talking about?"

"You..." Oprah smiled helplessly, and then continued: "I actually brought you some important news today."

"what news?"

Oprah then looked at Fiona and motioned her out, with a serious look on her face.

Luo Ji directly stretched out his hand to stop her: "She is my aunt and I can trust her. If you have any questions, just tell her."

"I insist." Oprah continued: "This news is very important, and I don't want other people to hear it. If one more person knows, there is more risk of leakage. And, Logic, you have to promise me to get out of this." After entering the room, you can’t tell others that I told you the news.”

Luo Ji then looked at President Barack's personal advisor, who nodded seriously.

"Fiona, please go out." After Luo Ji said this, Fiona turned and left the room.

There were only three people left in the room.

Oprah looked serious: "So, Logic, did you agree to my request? You won't tell others that I said it."

"I promise you." Luo Ji nodded.

Oprah stared at Luo Ji with a serious look on her face: "Yesterday, I received a message that someone at Disney was discussing that your acquisition project has been stuck in a stalemate and there is no progress, and it should not be successful in the short term. So, can Disney do it? Participate in the acquisition of Marvel.”

"How do you know..." Luo Ji immediately questioned, but then responded: "You are also a member of Disney, affiliated with ABC."

"Yes." Oprah nodded.

"Who said that?"

"CEO Robert Iger."

Luo Ji's expression suddenly became serious. This was the emperor of Disney: "Where are you now?"

Oprah said: "Several directors participated in the discussion yesterday, but there was no result for the time being. As for now, I don't know."

Luo Ji tapped his fingers on the table and thought for a while, then looked at her: "You brought me such important news, probably not for the purpose of "normal cooperation" with me."

"Logic, you are relatively young and you probably don't know the history of cooperation between blacks and Chinese." Oprah continued: "When the civil rights movement was rising in the last century, Chinese and blacks cooperated particularly closely. We are not only politically and culturally The cooperation is also very close..."

Listening to Oprah's talk about ancient times, Luo Ji learned about many things that he had never seen in the media.

The history of cooperation between Chinese and black people can be traced back to 1869, when as ethnic minorities they hugged together to keep warm.Chinese people participated in Malcolm X’s Black Panther Party movement. During the Chen Guoren case in 1982, Jesse Jackson also publicly expressed support.

Culturally, the two have also collaborated very closely on movies, including Jackie Chan's "Rush Hour", Jet Li's "Romeo", and Wesley Snipes's "Blade".Black people also like Hong Kong Kung Fu movies because they include scenes of beating white people violently.

However, in recent years, with the changes in the economic status of the two ethnic groups and due to some social events, the two have gradually become antagonistic.

Oprah continued: "Although there are conflicts at the bottom of the two communities, we elites still know very well that we still have a cooperative relationship with each other. President Barack's chief of staff during the campaign was of Chinese descent, and now he is the White House Cabinet Secretary. long."

Luo Ji stated directly: "I support the Democratic Party, and racial equality is also one of my ideas."

"I know, otherwise I wouldn't be here today." Oprah continued: "So I hope you succeed in acquiring Marvel, not Disney."

"Yeah." Luo Ji nodded.

Oprah continued: "So, after you successfully acquire Marvel, you will give black people more opportunities, right?"

Luo Ji asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"'Black Panther', you will be planning this movie by then, right?"

In the end, it was an exchange of interests!Luo Ji was used to this way of doing things.

Luo Ji said politely: "If the acquisition is successful, I will. Then you can recommend people to come over."

Oprah said: "Some black politicians want to get to know you. I wonder if you have time."

"You make arrangements. I can do it." Luo Ji nodded.

Oprah then said: "Where is your private equity fund? I heard that the quota is very tight. Maybe you should set up a second-stage fund."

"The company already has this plan." Luo Ji was telling the truth. If the acquisition was successful, the promise to Marvel's small shareholders to accept them into the private equity fund would also be honored.

Oprah said seriously: "Can I ask for a few spots?"

Luo Ji thought for a while: "The second phase of the fund can give you ten places. But it only accepts private funds, not corporate funds."

Oprah smiled and winked at Luo Ji: "Then it's settled."

"OK!"

President Barack's personal adviser looked at Luo Ji with two rows of big white teeth and said with a smile on his face: "What about me? Logic. Can you give me a few spots?"

Sure enough, people who can make money for others are welcome wherever they go. …………

Eight o'clock in the evening, at home in New York.

Fiona looked at Luo Ji who was busy in front of the computer: "What's wrong with you? You looked serious after talking to Oprah. Did something happen?"

"No." Luo Ji stared at the computer without even raising his head.

"Then you won't eat dinner?"

"Just get me some and bring it over."

"Please pay attention to your health. You had an accident at the Oscars last month."

Luo Ji said impatiently: "I know, I know, go out and prepare food for me."

Fiona sighed helplessly, turned around and walked out of the study.Luo Ji looked serious and searched for news on the Internet.

When the stock market began to recover in March, Walt Disney's stock price was sluggish and remained in the doldrums.

Some critics believe that Walt Disney has failed to keep up with the times. Their fairy tale character library has become increasingly unpopular and has become out of touch with modern young people. What young people now like are vampires and superheroes.

According to Walt Disney insiders, Oprah is suspected of having conflicts with Disney CEO Robert Iger due to the continued decline in talk show ratings and salary issues.

……

For a multi-billion-dollar acquisition, Luo Ji couldn't just listen to Oprah's words and react hastily.

He looked at the news on his computer and gradually believed Oprah's words.

Oprah was dissatisfied with the CEO because of the company's struggles, and because of the exchange of interests, she had reason to reveal the news to him.

As for Disney, with its current stock price sluggish, whether it is to stimulate the market or for Marvel's library of more than 5000 characters, there is indeed reason to step in and acquire Marvel.

Luo Ji was banging his hand on the table and thinking. At this moment, the phone rang. The caller was Braun.

Braun said: "I asked someone to find out. Yesterday, several Disney directors did go to the headquarters for a meeting. However, the content of the meeting is temporarily unclear."

"How long will it take to find out?"

"It depends on how much it will cost. We can use money to bribe some insiders." Braun continued: "However, even if we bribe, we still need to distinguish, otherwise it may alarm Disney and make them wary."

"How long do you estimate it will take at least?"

"Three days."

Luo Ji said directly: "Three days is too long."

Braun then said: "Are you still asking?"

"Continue to inquire."

Braun continued: "What is it? If you tell me, it sounds more convenient for us to find an agent."

Luo Ji said casually, "I'm not sure either. Just find someone to keep asking."

Braun nodded: "Okay."

"Then I'll hang up now and let me know if there's any news."

……

Luo Ji hung up the phone and stared at the news on his computer, lost in thought.A few minutes later, Fiona walked in with a plate of food: "Feili, come on, it's time to eat."

Luo Ji slammed the table and stood up: "No wait, Fiona, you go contact Dr. Xu and John Waldron from Goldman Sachs and ask them to come to your home for a meeting."

Fiona looked confused: "Why are you so crazy? It's already eight o'clock in the evening."

Luo Ji looked serious: "Don't worry about the time, contact them and ask them to come over immediately. I have something urgent here."

Fiona was so familiar with her nephew that she knew he was serious from the look on his face, so she nodded: "Okay, I'll contact them right away."

Luo Ji continued: "Also, contact my partners in the acquisition of Marvel. After I finish talking with John and the others, you will prepare for a video conference."

…………

Two hours later, John Goldman arrived in the living room of his home first, and the two had been discussing for more than ten minutes.

John earnestly advised: "Logic, Marvel's price of US$38 billion is indeed exaggerated. This is more than 2009 times the expected revenue in 40. A price-to-earnings ratio of 40 times means that it will take you 40 years to make your money back. Could you please think about it again?"

Luo Ji said with a serious look on his face: "Don't think about it, you can just agree to their conditions tomorrow."

“This is 33 million meters short of the bottom line we set of 5 billion meters!”

Luo Ji waved his hand indifferently: "I don't want to wait any longer!"

John said angrily: "Logic, how did you promise us before the acquisition started? You said you would not interfere in Marvel's acquisition and leave everything to us at Goldman Sachs."

"That was then, and now is now." Luo Ji said nonchalantly, "It's been almost a month, and I still don't see any hope of the acquisition being successful."

"Now is a critical moment in the negotiation. It depends on who can't keep calm." John said with a serious face: "You were fine yesterday, but why did your attitude suddenly change today!"

Luo Ji looked at the somewhat angry John, thought for a while and decided not to reveal the news he had received to him.

It was okay before there were no competitors, and everyone spoke freely.Now that Disney may be involved, there are too many variables, so it’s best not to disclose it to Goldman Sachs.

Luo Ji looked him straight in the eyes and said in an extremely firm voice: "What I just said was not a discussion!"

John looked directly at him: "Are you serious? Logic!"

Luo Ji showed no sign of weakness and asked with a serious look on his face: "What do you think?"

…………

During the video conference, Luo Ji looked at Thomas Tull, Musk, Bill Lee, Li Zekai, Cheng Zhengchang, Jerry Yang and other partners.

"After these days of negotiations, Dr. Xu, John and I agreed that Marvel's offer of $38 billion is already their bottom line. Therefore, we decided to accept their offer of $38 billion."

Thomas Tull said: "This is quite different from the lowest price we originally imagined!"

"Yes." Luo Ji continued with a serious face: "So, if anyone feels that the offer is too high, they can withdraw now."

Musk immediately laughed: "Logic, I support your decision. You are a genius with an IQ of 167. I trust your judgment."

The other people, no matter what they were thinking, nodded in agreement with Luo Ji's decision.

Luo Ji said with finality, "Then it's decided."

"Okay." Musk continued: "But, Logic, what about the funds?"

John was expressionless and stated directly: "We at Goldman Sachs can provide up to $15 billion in leveraged buyout funds."

Everyone agreed that this was what was agreed upon from the beginning. Taking Marvel's closing price of 21 billion dollars on the day the acquisition was revealed, subtracting Marvel's 4 million debt, and then subtracting 2 million risk, it would be 15 billion. .

"In other words, we need to provide 23 billion U.S. dollars of funds." Luo Ji continued: "I can raise 14 billion U.S. dollars, plus your 6 million U.S. dollars. That is 20 billion, leaving 3 There is a funding gap of billions of dollars.”

Bill Lee suddenly said: "Isn't this right? We bought 14.9% of Marvel's shares before, and the cost price was only 2.5 million US dollars. Therefore, we only need to acquire 85.1% of the shares, and we have enough money."

Luo Ji said with a smile: "Because I want to introduce a new investor, I will also acquire 14.9% of the shares at a price of 38 billion U.S. dollars."

Musk said doubtfully: "Who is so optimistic about you and is willing to come in even if you increase the price midway?"

"I know a Malaysian Chinese named Low Taek Jho." Luo Ji pretended to be reluctant and said, "I actually don't want to accept his funds, but he has been pestering me during this time."

Bill Lee said flatteringly: "He must be your biggest fan."

Luo Ji smiled widely: "Hahaha, how do you know that?"

Just now, the atmosphere was a bit solemn because of the purchase price of 38 billion US dollars.At this time, when they heard that the 14.9% shares had appreciated 2.2 times in value in the blink of an eye, everyone's atmosphere suddenly became lively.

Luo Ji asked, "Then accept his funds?"

"Of course!" Everyone nodded in agreement.

…………

The next afternoon, the Wall Street Journal was delivered to thousands of households. The headline on the front page was today's largest acquisition case in the world. The headline read clearly!

"Logic acquired Marvel for US$38 billion, and Marvel ushered in its new owner Logic!"

(End of this chapter)