Chapter 954 An Insignificant Person

December 29, 2003, 7:00 p.m. ET.

In the ordinary suite of a four-star hotel in Atlanta, USA.

Glenshire, the executive president of Columbia Pictures, was standing in front of the huge half-pane glass window, looking at the bright lights dotted outside.

On his face reflected on the glass window, his brows were tightly wrinkled, and his lips were slightly pursed.

He took over the post of executive president of Columbia Pictures in August 2002. official rank. Since ten years ago, he has been hailed as the most promising professional manager in Hollywood. Ten years later, at the age of 43, he took over Columbia and became the youngest among the heads of the seven major Hollywood film companies. That one was also watched by the whole of Hollywood.

The reason why Coca-Cola, the original owner, chose to recruit him to take the helm of Columbia was naturally optimistic about his ability, and hoped that after taking over Columbia, he could use his extraordinary financial management ability and super production ability , and the contacts in Hollywood and the American business community accumulated over the years, brought Colombia, a sinking ship, out of the mud.

At the beginning of his tenure, Glenshire did boldly carry out large-scale reforms and adjustments to Colombia's top and bottom.

However, this big ship has been sinking for a long time, and it has only been one year since he took office. No matter how capable Glenshire is, even if he has started drastic reforms, the inertia of a company's operation is huge.

Therefore, in the first full fiscal year after taking over, that is, in 2003, which is about to pass, Columbia will still be at a loss-most of the films released and released by the company in 2003 were produced before he took office. Some of them lose money while others make money. After all, there is still a small profit.

The sales of movie peripherals, which Glenshire has repeatedly emphasized after taking office, have also made great progress in more than a year. In the past 2003, this aspect has begun to generate income for the company, which makes Columbia seem to have begun to Keep up with the direction of the operation of the whole Hollywood.

However, the huge burden of administrative personnel on the company's body, the huge debt of more than one billion US dollars, and the interest generated by them are like a bloodsucking bug attached to Columbia, not only sucking up the profits created by the company this year. , At the same time, it will also cause a huge loss of about 80 million to 100 million US dollars to the company.

If there is no sudden entry of Minghu Culture, according to Glenshire's "Columbia Transformation Plan", several films he personally participated in and led the production of in 2003 will be released in succession in 2004 and 2005. By then, He is confident that at least several of these films will bring strong cash flow to the company. At that time, once the box office of the film is profitable, and the peripheral sales of the film will become better and better. After two years of accumulation , he will be very confident to carry out a small round of deepening reforms within the company - repay a batch of loans that are about to expire, and no longer continue to loan, at the same time, lay off 10% of the workforce!

Moreover, because of the profit, he will have the confidence to lay off staff without being completely swallowed by the huge backlash—continuing to sit in this seat is the only way to talk about the next step.

In short, even if there are two or three more years, he can initially bring Colombia into a normal and healthy development track.

Even not long ago, when he met a Chinese company that came to the United States to seek distribution cooperation, he did not hesitate to push aside the arrogance of Hollywood filmmakers, and signed a contract with the partner, China Minghu Culture Company. A fully reciprocal five-film distribution cooperation agreement.

In this way, in a growing market like China, Colombia will have a strong distribution partner--movie box office is still a small matter, the problem is, once the two parties start cooperation on distribution, once Colombian producers The movie won a better distribution opportunity in China, and when the time comes, the peripheral sales of the movie that I have always highly respected can completely follow up immediately!

Think about it, before the other six film companies in Hollywood have reached out, Columbia has already begun to spread its film peripheral sales capabilities to the huge giant with a population of more than one billion and an annual box office of more than three billion US dollars. The market is gone!

He has every reason to believe that once his plan is fully implemented, it will bring the company a net profit of more than 100 million U.S. dollars every year, including the movie box office share and movie peripheral sales——then But damn pure profit! The pure profit that Colombia lacks most!

New market, pure profit!

By that time, maybe his plan to reduce Colombia's burden and slim down by layoffs and loan cuts could have been planned and implemented in the second half of 2005.

However……

I thought it was a friendly partner, a Chinese company that would strive for a good cooperation in the next few years, so that the other party can develop the Chinese film market for itself, so as to continue to provide blood for Colombia, which is suffering from a serious illness. A giant crocodile that has opened its mouth wide open.

What's worse, the CEO of Colombia didn't receive the news until the news broke out on Wall Street. He learned from those damn journalists that the company he was in charge of was about to be acquired! This is simply ridiculous and sad! ——It is said that as early as a few days before the Christmas holiday, Morgan Stanley had submitted an acquisition application and quotation to Coca-Cola in Atlanta.

Therefore, in fact, the attitude of Coca-Cola has been consistent for many years-as long as someone is willing to buy it and the price is similar, then I will sell it!

They have never really considered revitalizing Colombia at all!

Never had!

No, that's not true. Perhaps when they first bought Columbia, they once thought they were buying the bottom line. As long as they find a suitable helm, they can completely revitalize this large asset.

It's just that they miscalculated.

Since the company bought Columbia at an astonishing price of US$3.9 billion in 1987, the glorious era of this company has gone forever—and what's more, in the sixteen or seventeen years of holding history, they have successively sold Columbia's problem has launched as many as six acquisition negotiations with other companies!

And in the history of these sixteen or seventeen years, except for the first executive president appointed after they took over, which won a four-year term, the longest tenure of all other executive presidents did not exceed three years—— In sixteen years, Columbia has changed seven helmsmen!

As a result, Colombia has been going all the way in such continuous turmoil, and its valuation is getting lower and lower!

A bunch of bloody businessmen!

…………

The hands in the trouser pockets were tightly clenched into fists, and Glenshire gritted his teeth tightly, with bruised veins on his face, looking extremely angry.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door outside.

Grenshall took a deep breath. At this time, his assistant had already gone to open the door.

Glenshire turned around, walked over with a serious face, and stretched out his hand from a long distance, "Hey, Walter!"

Walter Foster came over, shook hands with him, and said with a smile, "I hope you didn't wait for me to have dinner together. You know, we met with Morgan's negotiators this afternoon. When we had dinner together, Wilson and I Said, you have come over, he said he will not treat you to dinner."

Grenshall pursed his lips, barely revealing a smile, but quickly put it away, frowned slightly, squeezed Walter's hand, and said: "Walter, you know, there are two more years, only two years In a year, I can bring Columbia to profitability! I promise!"

Walter looked a little helpless, but Glenshire didn't wait for him to say anything, and said directly: "It can only be sold at a price far lower than its own value and assets. Believe me, even if you want to sell it , at least until two years, preferably three to five years later!"

Walter spread his hands, nodded at Glenshire's assistant who was walking over, and said with a smile: "A cup of coffee, thank you!" After the other party nodded and walked away, he said to Glenshire: "OK, buddy , don't get excited, let's sit down first, can we talk after sitting down?"

So Grenshall had to let go of his hand, and the two turned around and sat down on the sofa in the living room of the suite.

Walter smiled and said, "I understand what you mean, Glenn, and I also believe in your ability. I, Wilson, and the company's board of directors all believe that you are a good manager. We all believe that you can To turn Columbia into a profit, you know, I insisted on hiring you as CEO!"

"However, Glenn, you have to know that Columbia has been losing money for 20 years. We believe in your ability, but everything has risks, let alone resuscitating a company that has been losing money for 20 years? Now, we have a Opportunity, sell it, turn this non-performing asset, which is losing money every year, into cash, so that we can use it to invest in other better industries, why do we refuse?"

Glenshire heard the words: "But you only need to give me another two or three years. After two or three years, since they want to buy, they will still be willing to buy at that time, but by that time, they will definitely not buy it." It will be the current price. In Colombia, the other party only offers 2.4 billion dollars, but after two years, his price will be 4 billion dollars. Believe me, Walter, I have the ability!"

Walter shrugged and laughed, "It's 2.44 billion, Glenn!"

This joke made Grenshire really unable to laugh.

Although it was just a few simple words, he had already fully understood what Walter Foster meant—and Walter Foster was his biggest supporter within Coca-Cola.

Even his approval of the sale of Columbia has already shown in fact that there should have been a meeting within Coca-Cola to unify opinions!

So, he bowed his head in silence for a moment, spread his hands, and said a little maniacally: "It was agreed at the beginning that the company will support me to carry out a transformation of Columbia for a period of six to eight years. Now I don't want the company to fully implement this promise. But, is it okay to give me two more years? In two years, the negotiations can be delayed. Questions about asset audits, back and forth on quotations, etc., can be delayed for two years. By that time, it can be sold for an extra billion dollars, or even more? Isn’t it a good thing?”

Walter pursed his lips and looked at him seriously.

After he finished speaking and looked over, he nodded and said in a deep voice: "But, Glenn, two years is enough to drain the interest of the other party, and that will lead to the complete breakdown of this negotiation! Besides this company from Outside of Chinese companies, you know, we haven’t had a suitable takeover that can come up with enough cash for many years.”

Grenshall pursed his lips tightly, and said after a while: "But now Columbia is still losing money, its assets, its brand, its influence, etc. will all be seriously underestimated, and It is seriously below the normal value! For this, Coca-Cola will lose up to two billion dollars!"

Walter shrugged and laughed: "But if we don't sell now, we may lose $2.1 billion next year!"

Glenshire hesitated upon hearing that.

He knew that the other party was saying that Colombia lost another 100 million this year!

But he still couldn't help but argue, "But it's only been a year since I took office, and the company won't really be on my track until next year and the year after that, and will execute according to my requirements. By that time..."

This time, before he could finish speaking, Walter waved his hand and interrupted him, "Glenn, man, I know your ideal, I know your goal, we all know, we all appreciate you, but, man , no one can guarantee that Colombia will be able to stand up in two years! You can't, and neither can I!"

Grenshall's face turned pale when he heard this.

At this time, Walter spread his hands and said: "This afternoon, on behalf of Coca-Cola, I have made preliminary contact with the people from Morgan Stanley. In the next negotiation, I will represent Coca-Cola to propose Retention of the company's existing management! I will suggest that the other party continue to give you opportunities, even if it is only for two years! After all, they are outsiders, and if they want to gain a foothold in Hollywood, they need someone like you, and even To take over, they also need a period of time to act as a buffer! This period of time, as short as a year, as long as two or three years, is enough for you to do a lot of things!"

Glenshire suddenly laughed when he heard this.

Walter Foster looked at him, but frowned slightly.

"Your suggestion? It can only be... a suggestion!"

Walter pursed his lips slightly, with obvious displeasure on his face, "Hey, Glenn, this is something that has been established within the company, something that Wilson is pushing, and neither you nor I can change it! As an old friend, I've been trying my best to buy you some more time!"

Glenshire shook his head slightly, and smiled miserably: "If it was you, after completing the acquisition, would you let someone you don't know and trust continue to exercise all the power? Once the acquisition is completed, Can I decide to invest in a movie? Or can I decide to lay off 10% of the company's workforce?"

Walter pursed his lips and stopped talking.

Yes, everyone knows that once the company is acquired, even if the original management temporarily stays, it is impossible to exercise the greatest power. At that time, the retention of the management is only a buffer for the new boss to select new management Layers are set aside for a while only.

And there is no doubt that this is the fate that Glenshire will face next after taking office for just over a year.

"Glenn..." Walter tried to persuade something.

But Grenshall suddenly shook his head and said, "I want to see Wilson."

Walter frowned tightly when he heard this, and shook his head, "No, you won't see him!"

Glenshire said a little excitedly: "I only need twenty minutes. Believe me, I can convince him? Walter, please help me fight for it, I..."

Walter Foster shook his head directly, "Impossible!"

After a pause, he stood up, with a calm face, and said lightly: "Next, I will be in charge of negotiating with Minghu Culture from China and Morgan Stanley from Wall Street. Both Wilson and I feel that at this time, you should Sitting in the company, stabilizing people's hearts."

After finishing speaking, he turned to leave, stopped again, and turned around, "Ah, I almost forgot. Glenn, greet your wife and daughter for me!"

After finishing speaking, he smiled, nodded, and turned towards the door.

Behind him, Glenshire suddenly said: "If I can't see Wilson, the Columbia management will make an announcement tomorrow, and we will boycott this acquisition!"

Walter Foster stopped and turned to look at Glenshire.

Glenshire seemed to have begun to calm down.

The two looked at each other, and he said slowly, "If this doesn't make Coca-Cola and Mr. Wilson change their minds, next, I will lead the current management of Columbia to resign collectively!"

Walter Foster pursed his lips tightly and nodded slowly when he heard the words, as if he was thinking carefully. But after a while, he suddenly asked seriously: "Glenn, do you think this can threaten us? Or...uh, do you really think that your control over Columbia is that strong?"

Glenshire was stunned when he heard this.

After a pause, Walter Foster smiled, nodded slowly, and said, "Good night! Get a good night's sleep and fly back tomorrow!"

However, when he reached the door, he stopped suddenly, turned around and looked around, and suddenly smiled and said: "What a good manager! A financial manager can not only formulate a perfect financial control plan, but also can always set an example , is really commendable! But... Glenn, from now until you are fired, you can live in the presidential suite of a five-star hotel."

"If you want, this can be regarded as my apology to you!"

"Good night!"

***

Continue to ask for monthly tickets!