Los Angeles Country Club in Beverly Hills.

The time is Sunday, July 3rd.

As soon as Simon got off the car in the parking lot, a young assistant who looked like a white shirt came up to him and said: "Mr. Westeros, Mr. Welch, they are already waiting for you, please come with me."

Following the young man into the largest top golf course in Los Angeles, Simon soon saw three other people talking and laughing on the edge of the course. Noticing Simon's arrival, the three of them walked over together, one of whom was in his fifties.

The balding middle-aged man is Jack Welch, the current chairman and CEO of General Electric.

"Hello, Simon, it's nice to meet you." Several people approached. Jack Welch looked at Simon with a gentle smile, shook hands with him familiarly, and introduced the other two people: "This is Robert

White, he is now in charge of the NBC television network. This is Larry Coupin, he is the majority shareholder of New World Entertainment, haha, you must know this."

Unexpectedly receiving an invitation from Jack Welch, Simon had some knowledge of the meeting in advance and naturally got to know the other two people.

Robert White was originally the head of the financial services group of General Electric System and is currently the CEO and president of the NBC television network. To be fair, Simon feels that Jack Welch’s appointment can only be described as bad, a typical layman leading an expert.

Of course, this is GE's internal matter, and Simon is not going to comment on it.

Larry Copping is the major shareholder of New World Entertainment. He and another partner Harry Sloan jointly hold more than 40% of the shares of New World Entertainment.

Simon greeted the three of them separately, and everyone entered the stadium together.

Everyone knew the purpose of this meeting very well, and none of them was in a hurry to get to the point. They just casually chatted about some recent current events while playing ball. It is an election year, and the upcoming presidential election is naturally a very hot topic of conversation.

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"The New York Times article about 'Who Will Be a Millionaire' was very interesting, and I really thought it would be a good idea to have Bush and Dukakis on the show," said Jack Weir inside the stadium.

Qi changed a club from the caddy, walked back, looked at Simon, and asked casually: "Speaking of which, Simon, Bush or Dukakis, which one do you support?"

The candidates of the two parties in the United States were finalized in May this year, namely current Vice President George Bush and Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis.

Simon noticed that Robert White and Larry Coupin were looking at him intentionally or unintentionally, but he just shrugged casually and said: "As a Californian, of course I support Dukakis."

Jack Welch swung a shot and pushed the ball into the hole. He nodded with satisfaction, turned to Simon again and said, "What if Bush wins?"

Simon watched Larry Copping, who was divided into his own group, walk over with his clubs, stepped aside, and said: "If you have extra funds, buy as many military industry and oil shares as possible."

After Simon said these words, the expressions of Robert White and Larry Copping obviously changed.

This young man earned himself a net worth of US$2 billion in just two years. Although he sounded casual at this time, Robert White and Larry Copping immediately remembered these words.

In my mind, I made up my mind and studied it carefully afterwards.

Jack Welch concealed his inner fluctuations, watched Larry Copping miss the ball without any surprise, and asked: "Simon, what do you mean?"

Simon looked at Larry Coupin's shot with a somewhat regretful expression and said: "It's very simple. When Bush comes to power, there will probably be a war. War is the fastest factor that drives up oil prices."

Robert White interjected at this time: "Simon, if you make these words public, it will definitely cause strong controversy."

"So, I definitely wouldn't say that in public."

Jack Welch and others chuckled in agreement.

The four of them played a few more holes. Jack Welch, who had been waiting for Simon to take the initiative to speak, found that the young man seemed to be more patient than the three middle-aged people, so he had to take the initiative to change the subject: "Simon, about the new world."

Entertainment, I still hope you can consider my suggestion some time ago."

The two stood between the greens watching Robert White and Larry Coupin hit the ball. Simon glanced at Jack Welch and said: "Now? Jack, aren't you going to adjust your offer?"

Just the newly popular "Who Will Be a Millionaire" is expected to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in profits to Daenerys Pictures. If Daenerys Pictures is a listed company, even if it is based on 10 times

Based on the price-to-earnings ratio, the market value of this company can exceed US$1 billion.

Jack Welch proposed to use New World Entertainment's shares as a bargaining chip to participate in Daenerys Pictures during several calls with Simon, but his valuation of Daenerys Pictures was far less than US$1 billion.

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"I have to say, your money-making ability is really amazing," Jack Welch said: "However, Simon, I heard that Daenerys Pictures and ABC have not reached an agreement on the distribution of profits. You still have

Amid the stalemate, the project’s future is not so certain.”

"The profit share I set aside for ABC exceeds the profit level of all their television programs in recent years."

Jack Welch said: "However, Daenerys Pictures seems to be asking for more. Aren't you worried that ABC will really abandon this project? As far as I know, according to the contract, Daenerys Pictures has no longer

We may transfer this project to other TV networks."

Simon shook his head and said: "If ABC just feels that Daenerys Pictures has received too much and feels unbalanced and abandons this project, then I can only let them continue to be unbalanced. Of course I will feel a little regretful, but giving up this project

program, the impact on Daenerys Pictures is not as great as imagined. On the contrary, this is actually beneficial, because in the next bargaining process, Daenerys Pictures’ competitors will realize that if I

If you don’t want to make compromises, you won’t make compromises.”

Jack Welch said: "But you really want to get New World Entertainment, don't you? Simon, if you want to get what you want but are unwilling to pay enough, this will definitely not work."

"If I don't bid, Jack, the most likely result for New World Entertainment is bankruptcy liquidation. At that time, the settlement priority of creditors will be very low. Your $220 million loan may only be recovered in half. Now.

, I can guarantee that GE will get all its money back, and that’s the price I paid.”

"Simon, you seem to be very resistant to cooperating with others, which is not good. Even at General Electric, we often establish joint ventures with other companies."

Simon saw Larry Copping and Robert White walking off the green after playing a hole and asked, "Jack, why are you working with other companies?"

"This can make full use of the resources of both parties to achieve a win-win goal."

"That's right," Simon nodded and said, "Then, if I agree to GE's participation in Daenerys Pictures, what kind of help can you give me?"

"We own the NBC television network, which can help distribute TV programs produced by Daenerys Films. We also have strong capital strength to support the rapid expansion of Daenerys Films."

Simon nodded again, but with a smile on his face, he said: "Jack, but the fact is that the TV shows produced by Daenerys Pictures do not lack buyers. On the contrary, if it were not for the several TV shows in the hands of Daenerys Pictures,

, maybe we won’t appear here today, this is a seller’s market. Therefore, the NBC platform is not so attractive to me. Secondly, maybe most companies in Hollywood are always short of funds, but

, but this is not the case for Daenerys Pictures. My personal assets are enough to support the expansion of my business, and Daenerys Pictures’ profitability is also very strong, which is enough for it to easily obtain the money it wants from major banks.

The loan. GE’s financial strength also doesn’t appeal to me much.”

Jack Welch shook his head and said: "Simon, you are still young, and many things are not as simple as you think."

"Only people with weak strength will complicate simple things," Simon waved the club in the air with one hand and said: "But I prefer simplicity and directness, Jack. I don't mind cooperating with others, provided that, as

What you just said is that both parties must be able to achieve a win-win goal, rather than me selling my rapidly growing company at a low price just to exchange for resources that I don’t need.”

"In this case, Simon, GE can only try its best to fight for its own interests." Jack Welch gestured to Larry Copping and said: "We have reached an agreement with Larry that GE will use debt

We will exchange for 90% of the shares of New World Entertainment in the form of stock conversion, and the relevant contract will be signed next week. Now, if Daenerys Pictures wants our shares, General Electric’s offer is US$300 million. In addition, NBC also

I hope to get the two reality shows "Survivor" and "Big Brother" that are being developed by Daenerys Pictures."

"I very much hope to get New World Entertainment, and I don't hide this," Simon stopped and said to Jack Welch: "But, in the final analysis, this company is not as attractive to me as you think.

Big. What I am more interested in is Marvel Entertainment, a subsidiary of this company, because I want to own a comic company. As for the other assets of New World Entertainment, Jack, these are very helpful to the development of Daenerys Films.

But for General Electric, it is completely dispensable. If you hold this company in your hands, the final result will only be that it will slowly rot. Therefore, I will not accept such an offer, $250 million, this is

The limit I can give includes all shares of New World Entertainment, not just the 90% in your hands."

It is obviously impossible for Jack Welch to know Simon's mentality that Marvel is bound to win. Simon's words are completely consistent with his views on New World Entertainment.

Although this entertainment company is not comparable in size to the Big Seven, it can be said that it has all the internal organs. In addition to the comics department of Marvel, it also includes New World Pictures, New World Television, New World Video, New World International, and several other companies that have previously merged.

production and distribution company.

However, with last year's stock market crash and the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike causing New World Entertainment's operations to be in trouble, except for Marvel Entertainment, a relatively independent subsidiary that has not been greatly affected and can barely maintain profitability, New World Entertainment's

Other departments are losing money.

If Simon refuses, GE will have no choice but to lay off employees and provide as few resources as possible to maintain these departments.

The most direct result of this is that the value of New World Entertainment will depreciate even more rapidly.

In fact, if Simon were not interested in New World Entertainment, GE management would have been more inclined to liquidate New World Entertainment in order to recover as much losses as possible.

Jack Welch also stopped with Simon and was silent for a moment before he said: "Simon, where are the two reality shows that NBC needs?"

What Simon just said is indeed true. If the success of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" hadn't attracted the attention of General Electric in the other three reality show projects in the hands of Daenerys Pictures, there would indeed be no TV show in a short time.

this meeting.

It's already July, and the fall season is coming soon.

Although NBC's situation in the past few years was better than that of ABC and CBS, in this generally bleak autumn schedule after the strike, if other companies got a movie like "Who Will Be a Millionaire" from Daenerys Pictures?

NBC is indifferent to such reality shows. So, the result is likely to cause NBC's ratings ranking to quickly fall below the other two television networks after experiencing this autumn season.

As for the Fox TV network, it has not yet been regarded as a threat by the three major television networks.

Simon felt the change in Jack Welch's attitude, and smiled slightly, saying: "Jack, if we reach an agreement with New World Entertainment, you can get a reality show. I prefer "Survivor", but

, I won’t make too many concessions in terms of profit distribution.”

Jack Welch asked: "Simon, do you think Survivor can reach the ratings of Who Will Be a Millionaire?"

"I can't guarantee it, but you have already missed an opportunity. If you miss it again, I can only say regret. However, among the remaining three reality shows, the one I am most optimistic about is "Survivor"."

Jack Welch held the club and was silent for a moment, then looked at Larry Copping.

Larry Copping knew that he did not have much say here, so he just nodded slightly. Once New World Entertainment goes bankrupt, as a shareholder, he will actually suffer the biggest loss, because New World Entertainment's shares will become worthless.

He and several partners only spent more than ten million US dollars to acquire New World Pictures. In the following years, they basically used other people's money for capital operations. Now in this situation, they can still recover some of the funds.

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Chapter completed!