Chapter 658

Eric sat in the back row of the auction hall and quietly watched the teams of several major companies participating in the auction stand.

The sudden announcement of extending the payment time for the purchase of the animation department was also the result of careful consideration by Firefly senior executives.

In order to ensure that there would be no Hollywood forces in the process of taking over Marvel, Eric hung up the animation department's "Shui Ling Baicai" for more than a month. In the past month, buyers who intend to take over the animation department must have discussed and evaluated the business many times. Several major film companies should have calmed down from the initial suspicion and excitement of Fireflies' decision to sell the animation department, and determined the final quotation ceiling in detail based on their own financial situation. It could not even rule out the possibility of a series of connections between the companies.

Firefly suddenly announced that it would extend the one-year payment period to three years, leaving the final buyer with plenty of time to raise funds and pay, which could easily break the established auction strategy of potential buyers. After all, Disney's animation department is really tempting for several major companies that want to enter the animated film market, especially now that the box office of "The Lion King" is rising steadily.

Of course, this sudden attack with a very obvious mind will definitely be criticized by the buyer, but the "preferential conditions" given by Firefly also gives the buyer no reason to refuse.

The people in the hall were almost gone, and Carsonberg walked towards the podium and came to Eric to sit down. He asked excitedly and expectantly: "Eric, how many photos do you think you can take this time?"

Eric said: "It will definitely exceed $2 billion. A few days ago, big-name stars' unified boycott of studios' compressed pay should have some touch and raise the price higher. After all, animated movies can not only bring more benefits than live-action movies. Moreover, the characters in them will not demand high pay like big-name stars, but also reduce their dependence on live-action movies."

Frank Wells, who was sitting on the other side of Eric, also asked: "Eric, do you think it is possible to reach 3 billion in this way?"

"This is unlikely," Eric shook his head. Although in memory, the market value of Pixar animation in the original time and space immediately surged to $1 billion after the success of Toy Story. However, the difference in technology between hand-drawn animation and computer animation also limits the value of Disney animation department: "Unless we expand the scope of copyright authorization for several animations such as "The Lion King" and even transfer the copyright completely, Disneyland and Disney Store need the copyright of these animation characters, and we cannot do this."

Several people chatted casually, and the auction team that had just left gradually returned to the hall. Half an hour later, Kasenberg returned to the stage.

After a few simple words to liven up the atmosphere, Katsenberg picked up the gavel and loudly announced that the auction had officially begun.

Then, the hall was silent for a moment. No one seemed to be planning to take action at the first time, and the stalemate was stalemate for a few seconds. A middle-aged man sitting in the third row raised his license plate for the first time: "1 billion US dollars."

Eric looked over and held the bidder, John Cali, the president of MGM, shook his head and smiled. He knew that MGM was completely here to join in the fun. Of course, John Cali must have had some unrealistic fantasies when hesitated. For example, when other buyers were hesitant, the small wooden mallet in Carsonberg's hand suddenly fell down. MGM would definitely use $1 billion to snatch the animation department. Even if MGM has not fully recovered, Eric believes that MGM's shareholders and creditors will not be stingy with the $1 billion.

Of course, the reality is that this is impossible.

"No. 9, $1 billion..."

Katsenberg signaled to John Cali, and before he could speak more, another bidder had already raised his sign: "1 billion 10 million."

The lowest price increase for this auction was $10 million. Although the second bidder only cautiously increased $10 million, the competition began to become more and more enthusiastic, and the auction price began to go all the way.

1.3 billion, 1.5 billion, 1.7 billion, 1.9 billion...

The auction lasted less than ten minutes, and as Summer Redstone personally called out a price of $1.9 billion, more than half of the potential buyers in the auction hall had been eliminated, and only Paramount, Fox, Warner and the Seagram Group, which is about to buy Universal, remain active.

After a noticeable hesitation over the $1.9 billion price, Fox CEO Joe Ross raised his license plate in his hand: "$2 billion!"

"No. 4, from Twentieth Century Fox Films, $2 billion," Katsonberg's voice rose again on the auction stand, full of bewilderment: "What I want to say is that just "The Lion King" can bring a net profit of $1 billion to the film company. So, $2 billion only represents the net profit of two "The Lion King". I believe that Disney's animation department, which has accumulated over half a century, has produced the second, third and even more "The Lion King". It's only a matter of time. Then, $2 billion, the first time..."

Eric listened to Carsonberg's slutty tricks, and looked in the direction of the Fox team.

At Eric's suggestion, Elizabeth obviously did not participate in this matter, and Murdoch did not know what kind of concern was, either.

The only one who led Fox to the auction was President Joe Ross. Speaking of which, "Home Imperial" in the original time and space was produced and released by Joe Ross. Joe Ross should have been poached to Disney with a high salary for the outstanding box office of "Home Imperial", and Frank Wells died unexpectedly in the original time and space. Michael Orwitz briefly served as the president of Disney before taking office.

However, due to the appearance of Eric in this time and space, Joe Ross still maintained a cooperative relationship with Fox, and in personnel changes after Barry Diller left Fox, he won the position of president of 20th Century Fox. As for Fox's CEO, Rupert Murdoch personally served as the director of Fox.

Since Murdoch did not appear in person, Fox was almost certain to be eliminated after Fireflies suddenly played the card of extending payment period. After all, compared to Summer Redstone's radicalism, Murdoch was much more conservative, and $2 billion was likely to be Fox's last bid.

After the price rose to $2 billion, the frequency of bidding off the stage slowed down. Many times, the sound of quotes appeared off the stage almost the moment Katzenberg fell.

After several rounds of bidding, after Fox, Seagram's CEO Edgar Bronfman also chose to eliminate at a price of $2.2 billion. In the end, only two were left in competition, Paramount and Warner.

This result was not beyond Eric's expectations. Buying Universal is the first priority for Sigram. If you get the Disney animation department at an excessive price before buying Universal, it will mean that Sigram's chips to acquire Universal will be reduced. If you win the animation department at a high price, it will cause the failure of the acquisition of Universal, Edgar Bronfman will be in tears.

In the hall, Time Warner Ceo Terry Semer once again called out a price of $2.33 billion, but Eric could hear it. Compared with Summer Redstone, Terry Semer is no longer so full of energy.

"It seems that the result is already obvious." Frank Wells whispered beside Eric.

Eric nodded slightly, listening to Summer Redstone quickly follow up the offer, saying: "Compared with Summer Redstone, Terry Semer has been too much restrained. Time Warner is only able to fully control it. Moreover, the current situation of the mountains inside Time Warner is almost caused by Steve Ross. Unless a manager who is expected to appear again, Time Warner will not be too stable for a long time in the future."

Frank Wells had worked at Time Warner for many years. He nodded in agreement when he heard this, but shook his head slightly, saying: "The manager you said is unlikely to appear. The leaders of Warner Communications, Turner Broadcasting, Time Publishing Group and Warner Brothers Entertainment, are now very strong in their respective fields. They will not recognize a brand new manager at all, and will not be willing to let the other party occupy the high position of Time Warner CEO. Only Steve Ross, who created Time Warner with one hand, will make them obey orders. Unfortunately, Ross died too early."

Steve Ross is similar to Warren Buffett, Somer Redstone and Rupert Murdoch. They are all over 60 years old. Compared to the group of old men who are still alive twenty years later, Steve Ross, the media hero who created Time Warner, died a bit early.

Eric looked at Terry Semer, who was hesitant again with Summer Redstone's offer and said: "If I were a shareholder of Time Warner, since everyone could not be twisted, I would rather choose to split the group. Otherwise, this long-term internal friction would only cause the decline of Time Warner's overall strength."

In my past memory, Time Warner eventually embarked on the path of constantly splitting its business, but the media giant made such a decision obviously too late. In the end, before Eric was reborn, Time Warner, which was originally alongside Disney Group, had a market value of about 50 billion, less than one-third of its peak, while Disney Group's market value was once close to US$200 billion during the same period.

Frank Wells said regretfully: "Everyone now thinks that the bigger the group, the better. It is not easy for Time Warner to live in peace, but it is not easy to let them part ways. Eric, if Fireflies are too bloated in the future, would you be willing to split the group?"

Eric smiled and pointed at Katzenberg on the stage: "Aren't I doing this now?"

Frank Wells nodded suddenly and said, "I actually ignored this."

The two chatted in a low voice, and the auction in the venue also entered the final stage. Eric obviously heard Terry Semer's tone almost tremble and quoted a price of $2.410 billion, and looked up at Terry Semer's back.

Before Eric could turn his eyes on Terry Semer, hesitating for a brief moment, Summer Redstone raised the license plate in his hand and shouted with a full breath: "2.5 billion US dollars."

Terry Semer's shoulders collapsed significantly.

Kasenberg on the stage said a few more words in a sensation. After even three times, Terry Semer did not raise the sign again, so he fell down the small wooden hammer in his hand.

The knock sounded, and Carsonberg sang: "Congratulations to Mr. Summer Redstone, Paramount Pictures will receive Disney Animation Division."

Amid the applause gradually, everyone in the venue stood up, and many people walked towards Summer Redstone and others.

Eric also walked over with Frank Wells and others, and said enthusiastically congratulations.

The subsequent official signing will be held after Paramount confirms the detailed contract and the list of assets of the animation department. Therefore, after a brief press conference, Firefly invited all the guests participating in the auction in another hall of the Hilton Hotel.

They each had champagne for a social event, and Eric and Carsonberg went to a corner with few people.

"The final price is at least $300 million higher than we expected," Katzenberg's expression was still excited: "It seems that the measures to extend the payment period adopted today have really come into effect. Judging from Terry Semer's reaction on the spot, Time Warner's original bid limit should be about 2.2 billion. After 2.2 billion, Terry Semer's expression was obviously not so calm. Although Summer Redstone's reaction has not changed much, I guess his initial reserve price should also be around 2.2 billion."

"I won't mention this," Eric said with a smile on his lips, "How is the preparations for the new Disney animation department on your side? I haven't seen any relevant documents in the past few days?"

Katzenberg replied: "I plan to fund a digital animation production major at the California Institute of Art in Los Angeles and the San Francisco School of Art in San Francisco, which is divided into half-year short-term training classes and two-year standard professional classes. The short-term training classes mainly recruit computer and painting skills and have accumulated work experience for professional software training, so that we can form a new Disney animation department as soon as possible, but this method is invested in a large amount. For long-term considerations, we still have to rely on the training two years ago to continuously provide us with more professional digital animation talents. At present, I am asking the strategic planning department to make relevant budgets, and you will be able to see relevant reports at the end of the month." (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!