America's Road to Wealth

Chapter 230 Pixar Animation Acquired

Robert arranged for Jobs to meet at this place in Emeryville.

At the same time, Robert himself is the CEO of MGM.

He also brought Abel, the owner of MGM, over.

Without both of them opening their mouths, Jobs naturally knew the main purpose of Abel and Robert.

In the case of Abel not opening his mouth.

The dialogue between Robert Iger and Jobs is much more relaxed.

"Steve," said Robert Iger:
"Obviously, you are the real soul of Apple. Without you, a missing apple would just rot. You are the only one who can fill that gap."

"You have done a great job at Apple for the past few years. Before you came back, everyone thought that Apple was going to go bankrupt. But I don't think so, because you have different feelings for Apple. I believe You will definitely go back and save Apple."

"It turned out to be exactly as I thought. You returned to Apple, and you pulled Apple out of the abyss."

"You are the soul of Apple, and Apple cannot live without you."

Robert Iger was a serial sycophant when he opened his mouth.

At the same time, tightly connect Jobs with Apple.

Robert is also indirectly reminding Jobs that Apple is the most important job for you Jobs now.

That being the case, it might as well sell Pixar.

In this way, you, Jobs, can better focus on saving Apple.

A smart person like Jobs, of course, can hear it all at once.

How could the savage Jobs stand such words.

Before that, Jobs always felt that he could take care of Pixar and Apple well.

Fortunately, Robert Iger spoke very skillfully, and his tone made Jobs very useful.

Moreover, the relationship between Robert Iger and Jobs is also good.

If it were someone else who said this.

Joe the Lever would be less polite.

Jobs said: "I know what you mean when you say this. Robert, Apple is really very important to me. But this is not why I have to sell Pixar."

"Pixar has established itself, and its position in the industry is very strong."

"Even if I stop paying attention to Pixar, as long as Ed and John are still at Pixar, they can still guarantee Pixar's position in the industry."

John and Ed in the mouth of Jobs.

Refers to current Pixar CEO Ed Catmull, and Pixar Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter.

These two people, together with Jobs, are the three engines that Pixar animation has risen in the past ten years.

Jobs is the big boss and chairman, responsible for leading the development of technology.

Ed Catmull was the executive of the company, and the producer of those huge hit animated films.

John Lasseter is an animation director, responsible for concretizing those ideas and techniques into classic animations.

Jobs was right.

Parallel Time and Space After Jobs sold Pixar.

To Pixar on the Disney side.Under the leadership of John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, they also produced many blockbuster classics.

In the face of Jobs' evasive words.

If the negotiator is Abel.He guessed that he was either playing tricks or spending money directly.

Fortunately, the person in charge of negotiating with Jobs today.

It is Robert Iger, a former Disney executive who is very familiar with Pixar and Disney.

I saw Robert Iger smiled and said:
"It's true, Ed and John are both very good, and they can develop Pixar very well."

"But Steven, have you ever thought about it. Michael doesn't actually value Pixar that much. In Michael's eyes, Pixar is just one of Disney's many animation outsourcing companies."

What Robert Iger said silenced Jobs for a moment.

Because what Robert said is indeed true.

During Michael Eisner's tenure as chairman.

Disney believes in "you can't put all your eggs in one cage."

From Disney's own point of view, there is nothing wrong with it.

But in the eyes of Pixar and Jobs, this means that they are a little full and put down their dishes and look for other dishes.

Robert Iger repeated his efforts:
"You should have heard that Disney and Pioneer Animation are already cooperating on two [-]D animations at the same time. The names of these two projects are "Wild Nature" and "Flying Pigeon". In addition, Disney's own animation department , and is also making the [-]D animation "Cow Story."

Robert Iger had a slightly mocking expression on his face, and former Disney executives were mocking Disney——

"Look, Cow Story, even the name is a parody of Pixar's work."

"Steven. If these all fail, it's okay. If Disney's works are successful, do you think Pixar will be so important with Disney?"

"Huh" Jobs couldn't help but took a deep breath, he looked at Robert Iger:
"You should say these things to John and Ed. They should consider this matter."

"But you are the real boss of Pixar." Robert Iger said:
"If the value of Pixar goes down. You're the one who loses the most."

Jobs fell silent again.

Ten seconds later, when Robert Iger wanted to speak again.

The godfather of technology spoke up.

"I'll admit, I do hate Michael Eisner. I don't like what Disney is doing either."

Jobs said:

"So Robert, what do you and this Mr. Smith want Pixar to do?"

"It's very simple." Robert Iger smiled and said: "Acquisition, MGM acquired Pixar."

Seeing that he finished speaking, Jobs straightened up again, showing a great reaction.

Robert Iger said before the barman could speak:
"Listen to me first, Steven! Listen to me before it's your turn."

The gentle Mr. Mickey Mouse is rarely strong.

Some surprised Jobs gave him this face.

Robert Iger was able to continue:
"We all know it. Even all Americans know it. Steven, your main energy and time in the past few years have been devoted to Apple. Pixar is no longer as important to you as before."

"Then at this time. Give Pixar a better future, give John and Ed a better future. Bring yourself dozens of times more income than your investment, and then concentrate on making Apple great again."

"Don't you think it's a very good choice for you, for Pixar, and for John and the two of them?"

After listening to Robert Iger's set, it is extremely seductive.

The tone is even more gentle and firm, like a speech.

Forget Jobs.

Even Abel, who was watching, felt that what Robert Iger said seemed quite reasonable.

This made Abel feel that he spent so much money at the time.

Let the headhunters, it's really worth it to bring Robert Iger to MGM.

No wonder Disney is in an alternate time and space.

After Robert Iger took office, he began to develop by leaps and bounds.

It only took Robert Iger about ten years to let Disney almost dominate the entire Hollywood and become the second largest media group in the world.

Then Disney again after Robert Iger retired.

When the new CEO came to power, it didn't take long for him to fall into the strange pool of LGBT.

With one trick after another, he directly lost the Tianchao Market, which had just become the world's largest film market at that time.

Abel felt it today.This gentleman, who looks elegant and gentle, looks like Mr. Bean and Mickey Mouse, is really capable.

Jobs was silent for a few minutes after Robert Iger's words.

After a long time, the technology madman said:

"Robert, I didn't expect you to have such eloquence. But I have to say, to a certain extent, I was convinced by you."

Then Jobs put his gaze on Abel who was watching the whole process.

"So." Jobs looked at Abel:

"Mr. Smith of Wall Street, what price would you offer Pixar?"

Abel didn't answer the question right away. He first looked at Robert Iger.

The latter nodded to him gently, and Abel knew that it was Robert who asked him to quote directly.

That being the case, Abel also made an offer to Jobs.

"Pixar's current market capitalization is $28.95 billion."

"MGM could buy Pixar for a $30 billion premium," Abel said.

Hearing the quotation from Abel, Jobs quickly calculated it.

Jobs found that if according to this price.His own stake in Pixar can bring him a fortune of close to $20 billion.

Compared to Jox's $1000 million+5400 million on Pixar, a total of $400 million has been invested.

A return of $20 billion, a return on profit of more than thirty times.

Jobs was quite satisfied with an average annual profit return rate close to double.

What Abel said later made Jobs really excited.

For Abel said:
"Mr. Jobs, you will be able to get at least 20 billion U.S. dollars in cash. With this cash, if you buy Apple's stock at the current price. This money can make you immediately become the number one in Apple. shareholder."

Now in 2001, Apple has not released the first IPOD.

At this time, Apple's stock price, like Qualcomm, was negative.

Qualcomm is more than -3 dollars.

Apple is even more exaggerated, it is more than -6 dollars.
The Nasdaq bubble burst, and they are high-tech companies that have something to do with the Internet.

All of them were also implicated, and with the economic downturn, the stock prices all fell miserably.

At this time, Qualcomm's market value was more than 20 billion, and Apple was not much better, with a market value of only more than 40 billion US dollars.

If Jobs can really exchange $20 billion for Apple shares.

That Jobs that Abel said became the largest shareholder of Apple is completely fine.

Even if Apple's shares are very spread out.

You must know that it is 2001, not 2007.

In parallel time and space in 2007, after Apple launched the first iPhone, the market value exceeded 1000 billion US dollars for the first time.

After that, Apple's shares became the real meat and potatoes.

Before that, if someone is willing to pay a premium for a wholly-owned acquisition.

In this era that even the IPOD has not yet come out.

It is really possible to privatize Apple and turn this company into its own.

But if he did that, it is estimated that Jobs would never stay in that kind of Apple.

Jobs, who was kicked out by Apple once, played the role of savior this time.

If he is not allowed to act as the savior, Jobs will never be willing to be a pure wage earner again.

Could the iPhone exist without Steve Jobs?
Maybe, but that should delay it by a few years.

It will wait until the industrial chain is mature enough to appear by itself.

But it will never be like in parallel time and space, because of the existence of Jobs, the industrial chain has been matured a few years in advance, laying the foundation for the subsequent mobile Internet era.

This is also the reason why Abel is not interested in Apple shares at this time.

Abel's talent tells Abel that Apple will have a negative stock price for at least four or five years.
When the stock price was at its lowest, the market value was once as low as more than 30 billion US dollars, and the lowest stock price was -7 US dollars
After passing through the most difficult time period, it will be reborn from nirvana.

Until then, Abel doesn't care about it.

Just let Jobs toss in there.

"call"

Jobs took a deep breath and exhaled a second time, this time he thought about it for a long time.

After exhaling this breath, Jobs opened his mouth and said:

"I could consider selling Pixar. Not wrong, like you said, Robert. Pixar deserves a better future. Ed and John deserve a better future, too."

"But." Jobs looked at Robert Iger, then at Abel.

"I don't want all cash. I want half cash and half discounted into MGM shares."

Jobs gave his own final answer.

This answer lifted Robert Iger's spirit immediately.

The CEO of MGM seems to have seen Pixar animation beckoning to him.

But what Abel said later made Robert Iger fall back to reality.

The CEO of MGM almost thought that Pixar animation was going to stay away from him.

"MGM's stock is no good." Robert heard the boss say:
"It's a private company now, it's delisted. Mr. Jobs, I'm concerned that we're valuing it differently, and that's going to get in the way of this deal."

"What do you mean?" Jobs frowned.

Abel spoke frankly:
"I think the current MGM is worth at least 200 billion U.S. dollars. If Pixar Animation is merged, it is worth 300 billion U.S. dollars in my mind. One billion U.S. dollars can only let you get 3% of MGM shares .”

Jobs laughed angrily.

Before Jobs came, he had calculated the approximate market value of MGM.

Before MGM was acquired by Abel, its market value was around US$35-38, and it was heavily indebted.

Subsequently, Abel acquired MGM, and annexed Marvel and DreamWorks.

At this time, the total value of MGM is about 60 billion to 65 billion US dollars.

Abel has invested more than one billion US dollars in multiple injections.

Coupled with the superposition of those IPs, the current valuation of MGM in the market has reached about 100 billion US dollars.

According to Jobs's idea, the valuation of 100 billion US dollars is the limit of MGM.

Abel's opening is 200 billion U.S. dollars, and after adding Pixar, it will go straight to 300 billion U.S. dollars.

Jobs certainly disagreed.

Fortunately, Jobs, the master of the game, is about to speak again.

Abe came up with another thing that interested Jobs.

"I own about 5% of the shares of News Corporation. If Mr. Jobs is interested in media companies, I can transfer the shares of News Corporation to you."

Abel said:
"The current market value of News Corporation is about 450 billion US dollars. I can give you 2% of the shares, worth 9 million US dollars, and use the rest in cash, how about it?"

3% of Abel's News Corporation shares came from the transaction with Walid, the Middle East stock god at that time.

2% came from Wall Street investment banks.

For this part of the shares, he spent almost 20 billion US dollars at the time.

At that time, News Corp. had a market value of around $400 billion.

Murdoch has made frequent big moves this year, and has repeatedly stated in the media that he wants to list News Corporation.

This made Wall Street's valuation of News Corp. rise to $450 billion.

Abel's 20% stake, originally worth $5 billion, has also risen with the tide.

Jobs now expressed his interest in the media company, and Abel simply offered this part of the shares in exchange.

Anyway, Abel knew that it was impossible for him to join News Corporation no matter what.

The Murdoch family's control over News Corporation is stronger than any other media giant.

This part of the shares, apart from allowing Abel to have two board seats on the News Corporation side, it can be said that it has little effect.

That being the case, it is better to use it as a resource now and exchange it with Jobs.

Abel's proposal obviously moved Jobs very much.

Mainly in the first two years of the 21st century.

News Corporation has stole the limelight in the American media circles.

Its crazy expansion speed makes people see the spiciness of Australians.

This also makes many investors very optimistic about News Corporation.

That is, until now, only one Fox movie has been released, and it is not a complete Fox movie.

This disappointed investors.

For the parent company of Fox Films, which is News Corporation.

Investors are more interested in it.

But shareholders who hold shares in News Corporation also know that News Corporation has a bright future.

They will not casually sell the News Corporation shares they hold.

As a result, there are very few News Corporation shares available on the market.

Jobs may not be familiar with the media, but this technology madman also knows that the shares of News Corporation are very valuable.

more valuable in the future.

Compared with MGM, which is still uncertain, it is clear that News Corporation's stake will be more valuable.

Jobs agreed to Abel's terms of the acquisition.

But Jobs asked for more shares in News Corporation.

"I want 3%, and the price is $12 billion." Jobs said: "Pixar is worth the price."

Robert Eger suddenly looked at the boss with some concern.

In the mind of the CEO of MGM, he also felt that News Corporation's shares were more valuable.

At least much higher than the value of MGM.

Unexpectedly, Abel agreed directly.

"3% is 3%." Abel smiled, stood up and stretched out his hand to Jobs:

"I hope we have a happy cooperation. I also wish Apple, under your leadership, Mr. Jobs, great again."

"That's for sure." Jobs stood up and shook hands with him, saying firmly.

Robert Iger, next to him, finally realized at this time that Pixar is really about to become a part of MGM!
The complete MGM in the CEO's fantasy has finally come true.

After confirming the transaction intention.

Robert Iger stayed with Jobs to do some of the later negotiations.

Abel is not interested in staying here to watch the confrontation between Jobs and Robert Iger.

He returned to Los Angeles in the evening.

At this time, the sun was setting, and the sunset was spreading all over Beverly Hills.

All the way to enjoy the sunset of Beverly Hills, one of the most famous wealthy areas in the world.

Abel is back at 812 North Bedford Road in Beverly Hills.

In this love nest of him and Annie.

Abel meets a girl who takes him by surprise.

Not Annie, she hasn't come back yet.

The girl who surprised him was Laura Shrub Lauren.

Little Laura came to Los Angeles.

(End of this chapter)