hollywood billionaire

Chapter 185
"You should really see his expression when he heard your words."

Jordan Bromley, who spends all day moving between various 3A-level office buildings, pays special attention to the interaction with the natural environment.Not only does he find time to climb the Hollywood Hills every week, he also chooses local popular outdoor resorts for hiking every time he travels to a city. Even on the short drive home from LAX, he has to open the car window to let the The fresh and dry night wind poured into the car.

Los Angeles on July 2016, 7 was far from the most annoying heat season. In fact, the climate in Southern California at this time was even more pleasant than most southern cities in the United States.Even at noon, it was only 3 degrees Fahrenheit.

At 31:27 in the evening, 64 minutes after Han Yi and Jordan Bromley landed in California by private plane, the characteristics of the Mediterranean climate caused the temperature to drop to [-] degrees Fahrenheit in the light of night.In such weather, turning on the air conditioner is indeed not as cool and refreshing as opening the windows.

"Simply priceless."

Jordan completely sank his tired body into the comfortable leather seat of the Bentley Bentayga. He didn't know whether he was continuing the previous sentence or praising the comfort of the rear seat of Han Yi's luxury car.

"Who are you talking about, and what did you hear?"

Han Yi, who was resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes slightly, and glanced at his legal adviser with a smile.

"If there is a subject and some detailed descriptions, it should help me understand what you mean faster."

"I'm talking about what you said to The Rock this afternoon, 'You too can be the next Vince'."

Recalling the scene a few hours ago, Jordan Bromley couldn't help laughing twice.

"Looking at his reaction at the time, you should have...helped him find another goal in life."

"It's not that exaggerated."

Although he said this on his lips, Han Yi knew very well in his heart that when he mentioned WWE, he could indeed observe Dashi Johnson's unbelievable surprise, and then tried to suppress the ups and downs of his mood.

However, there are many things that can't be seen just by the appearance.Han Yi didn't know what WWE meant to Dwayne Johnson, and whether taking control of this organization would really become Dwyane's next important goal besides his acting career.All he knew was that the world's largest professional wrestling company would play a key role in his future strategic layout.

To be more specific-United Artists Management, which he plans to gradually increase its shareholding in, needs to catch up with WME in live entertainment.

After being attached to Silver Lake Capital, the world's No. [-] performing arts brokerage company can deploy more and more financial resources, and the speed of structural expansion is getting faster and faster. In order to obtain the highest possible valuation on the New York Stock Exchange Going public allows the betting institutions to cash out in the secondary market and earn a lot of money in sprint acquisitions, and the total amount of transactions involved is becoming more and more exaggerated.

In 2013, Silver Lake Capital took WME to acquire IMG as a whole at a sky-high price of US$23 billion.This price is thirteen times IMG's EBITDA.The market valuation of performing arts brokerage companies, especially the valuation and EBITDA of Bili, should be much lower than this figure, as Han Yi and Parkway Capital learned when they acquired UTA.

In other words, WME bought a Mercedes-Benz S350 at the price of a Rolls-Royce.

Definitely a nice car, but definitely not worth that much money.

But WME doesn't care, and Silver Lake Capital doesn't care, because their goal is not to make this acquisition profitable, but to expand the scale of WME in the shortest possible time, so that they can ring the bell Before, it became the undisputed champion company in this industry, and won the favor of the secondary market as "the world's first performing arts broker".

In order to repel KKR, which also made an acquisition proposal to IMG at the time, the premium of several hundred million dollars was an acceptable price that had to be paid to save time and cost for Silver Lake Capital, whose assets under management amounted to $920 billion. .

Because, going forward, they still have many, many pieces of the puzzle that need to be connected to the already bloated body of WME.

For example, on January 2015, 1, GEM, an e-sports artist management company, was bought.

For example, in April 2015, it acquired all the shares of the professional bull riding competition.

For example, on September 2015, 9, it purchased the Miss Universe organization and all its brand assets from Trump.

For example, Endeavor China was co-founded with Sequoia Capital, Tencent and Fountain Capital in Huaguo last month.

E-sports, rodeos, beauty pageants, overseas branches.

Looking at the series of business operations after the WME-IMG merger, it is not difficult to find that Silver Lake Capital and the entertainment giant it firmly controls have no clear-cut strategy at all.Of course, WME, which is the leader in many fields such as film and television, music, advertising, and sports, actually no longer needs to improve its core business. , Buy everything, whether you can eat it or not, put it in your mouth first.

It weighs 100 catties, but if it looks like it is 150 catties on the scale, this pig can be sold at a good price.

The acquisition of UFC by WME-IMG, which will be announced to the world a week later, is the most eye-catching highlight of this carnival that puts weight on pigs.

There is no eternal enemy in the capital circle. This time, Silver Lake Capital, together with KKR, which they tried so hard to drive away three years ago, and Michael Dell’s family office MSD Capital, emptied WME-IMG’s cash account and collected 40 billion U.S. dollars, the world's largest MMA event brand Ultimate Fighting Championship, namely UFC, into the bag.

40 billion dollars.

This is the most expensive acquisition in the history of the entertainment agency industry.

At the same time, it also marks that the arms race of the four major Hollywood performing arts agencies has entered a new stage.

Winning the best acting contracts for signed artists is no longer the top priority of WME-IMG, CAA, UTA and ICM.

How to build a good relationship with Wall Street, do everything possible to get ten-figure financing, and then take all the relevant brands within your fingertips into your arms.

On Wall Street, there are large capitals who are interested, capable, well-connected, and have the perseverance to invest in performing arts brokerage companies, and you can count them with two hands.

This means that at the critical moment when the four countries are fighting for hegemony, if anyone takes a nap and wanders off for a while, the few capital partners may be divided up by the other three parties in an instant.

In particular, the two smaller institutions, UTA and ICM, had to work hard and search for financing solutions day and night.

There is already a WME-IMG that has risen with the wind. If the other two rush to get a long-term cooperation big sponsor, the only thing waiting for the last place is the tragic fate of being eliminated by the times.

You know, the most stable structure is not a quadrilateral, but a triangle.

In the previous life where the continuity of time and space was not disturbed, the "Battle of the Five Armies" in the entertainment management industry was developing in this direction.IMG, which has a shallow foundation in Hollywood but is the leader in the fashion and sports industries, was directly annexed by WME. In 2021, I realized that the gap between myself and WME-IMG is gradually increasing, and a shocking transaction must come. CAA, which is catching up, after the major shareholder TPG Capital transferred part of its rights and interests to a group of Wall Street investment banks and private equity groups , bought ICM for $7.5 million.

No.4, who was the weakest and hopeless due to the impact of the black swan incident, just threw out the white handkerchief.

At that time, it would be a desperate gamble with almost zero possibility for the third-ranked UTA to try to overtake in a curve.

After all, the slightly valuable chips in this market are already in the hands of WME and CAA.Two players don't need all-in at all, even if they only put one on the table at a time, they can still play UTA to death.

By that time, UTA finally figured out a sad reality: Although the triangular structure is the most stable, in a modern society where industry trusts are illegal, a dual market segment can allow capital to minimize the impact of competition. Consumption, in order to jointly grab the greatest and most complete benefits.

There are two choices of Coca-Cola and Pepsi, which is enough.

The double championship system is the deepest sorrow of the third runner-up.

Fortunately, in this life, UTA's irreversible final outcome will not happen again.

Because they welcomed Han Yi, a shareholder who surpassed money itself.

Han Yi, who witnessed UTA losing once with his own eyes, made a catch-up plan for the United Artists Agency that required extremely strict timing and capital.

First of all, UTA's current agent team is urged to do its best to ensure the integrity of the client list of the film and television sector. UTA originally started as a film and television brokerage business, and the gap with WME and CAA in this respect is the smallest.Of course, it is also the most difficult to catch up.

Acting agents play a much more important role in film and television projects than they do in the music sector. It is logical that they have a much closer cooperative relationship with film and television clients.

In other words, the time, energy and resources required to pry the other three major corners in the film and TV field far exceed other categories of customer development.

For Han Yi, using seven years of vision as a traveler to help UTA get the crown that has been only one step away since its establishment, but has never really touched it, is not a round that can be counted slowly over decades. Instead of a lengthy gambling game of cards, it is a thrilling [-]-meter trapeze race.

WME and CAA, through the fuel blessing of Wall Street capital, have grabbed the starting advantage.

Now, with the help of Wall Street capital + advanced information + reward mechanism that cannot be stopped by any manpower, Han Yide makes UTA ​​strike late.

In this extreme speed competition, there are two ways for the lagging side to take the lead.

First, on your own track, run a little faster.

In order to achieve this, Han Yi chose to spend a lot of cash, and quickly became the number one in the sub-categories in the two markets of electronic music and hip-hop music. , hoping that UTA can develop synchronously with Han Music Group, and become the No. [-] music category among the four before the black swan soars its wings.

With competitive products, you have the right to speak.

Second, there are no referees in the vast majority of cases, and even if there are referees, they can find a way to buy them off, and everyone is trying to find a way to be a referee and a player at the same time. While affecting your own speed, you can stretch out your hand and tug at the corner of the leading player's clothes, so that their advantage in the dominant field will not be so great that it is hopeless.

WWE is Han Yi's hand reaching out to the corner of WME-IMG's clothes.

In any case, they cannot be allowed to form a monopoly in the tens of billions of dollars in live fighting industry.

In April 2023, seven years after WME-IMG bought UFC for US$4 billion, WME, which has landed on the New York Stock Exchange as an "Endeavour Group", announced that it has reached an agreement with WWE's McMahon family to jointly establish a company that includes A joint venture between the two aces of UFC and WWE.Endeavor Group holds 40% of the shares, and WWE holds 51% of the shares.

The total value of the joint venture reached 214 billion US dollars.

A plate is worth 200 billion.

This is the power of economies of scale.

Therefore, the reason why Han Yi wants to buy WWE or at least hold a part of it is to cut off the future Endeavor Group's desire to dominate the field of live entertainment.

Moreover, Han Yi also believes that after the news that Ali Emanuel's company spent 7 billion in cash on UFC on July 11, Vince Mack sitting at the headquarters of World Wrestling Entertainment in Stamford, Connecticut Ma Hong, will definitely be touched.

He doesn't necessarily want to sell it, but he will definitely let go and let the capital market, which is also keen on it, submit several acquisition offers.

In the next one or two years, it will undoubtedly be up to Vince whether he can turn the race brand he bought from his father for US$100 million into sufficient funds for the McMahon family to truly rank among the top families. Tempting thoughts that linger in your mind.

This is the best time for Han Yi to start negotiations.

Don't wait until the future WWE is valued at 93 billion before regretting it.

While UFC is still worth only $40 billion, let's lower the price and collect it first.

No matter how low-key the multi-billion dollar transaction is, it will definitely trigger heated discussions around the world.That's why Han Yi invited Dwayne Johnson to be his "poster child" to provide the media and the public with a legendary story that they can talk about for a long time.

The greatest wrestler in WWE has made a comeback after leaving the arena for several years, leading a group of Wall Street giants back to the office, vowing to show some color to his former boss.

Boy, is there a story more in line with the spirit of WWE than this?

After the acquisition is completed, do you want Dwayne Johnson to give Vince McMahon a hug directly in the boxing ring?

"Who doesn't want to buy the old club that they fought for after becoming famous? Even if it's a peaceful breakup, even if there are no conflicts when leaving, this kind of glory and sense of accomplishment of becoming a master, I believe no one will not do it Be fascinated."

Looking at the mountains getting higher and higher outside the window, and the night panorama of Los Angeles brightly lit at the far end as the obstacles disappeared, Han Yi shook his head and said.

"However, Jushi is clear, and I am also clear. If we want to count from our first sentence to the final signing of the agreement on the matter of WWE, it will take at least two years. What I am looking forward to now is actually Another agreement we reached."

"The production company?"

"Yeah, specializing in the content supply of streaming video platforms, taking a track that few people are wholeheartedly walking on."

"There's nothing wrong with the track...just hope Kevin and The Rock dig up plenty of interesting projects."

"Cooperating with these two people is for this... It's better to use their network resources to find content that Netflix is ​​willing to spend money on, with reputable stars in the industry, than we start from scratch."

No. 864 Stella Della Road, this Bel-Air mansion, which Han Yi, who has traveled too frequently recently, can hardly remember the house number, is not too far from the I-405 highway.Enter the city road from the exit of Sunset Boulevard, drive for about 5 minutes, then go uphill on the two-lane Bellagio Road, pass through Bel Air Country Club, and within 5 minutes' drive, you can see the modern style. Creamy white flat top.

"Gentlemen."

Kean Griffin pressed the sensor at his hand, glanced at the slowly opening door, turned his head and said to the two.

"We're home."

Feamu Dervish, who followed Han Yi and traveled halfway to Western Europe, was enjoying a hard-earned vacation, and the person who picked him up at LAX was naturally replaced by Kean.

"Are you sure you don't want to go home directly, Jordan? I can ask Kian to take you home now." Han Yi patted Jordan Bromley on the shoulder and asked with concern, "You have worked very hard today."

"I like to rest after finishing everything at hand." Jordan waved his hand, "Don't worry, boss. Besides, it won't take long, I just need you to sign a few transaction documents, and tomorrow I will let you They send it back to New York...so you can get the keys to One57 sooner."

"Okay...Thank you very much, Jordan, I must try Felix's ramen later. They are to die for."

Kean Griffin, who is skilled in driving, flicked his tail, didn't feel any acceleration of the car, and stopped firmly in front of the porch.Less than a second after Han Yi and Jordan Bromley got out of the car, Kian stepped on the accelerator again, circled a beautiful circle in the front yard, and plunged into the garage.

luggage?Of course there is no need to take luggage down the front door.Bobby Lewis and Johanna Jansen are waiting on the first floor, and when Kean stops Tim Yue, the two men will split into two groups. Bobby will carry the owner's box to the master bedroom, and Kean will Take Jordan Bromley's backpack to the first floor.As for Johanna Jansen, the red-haired Dutch girl is responsible for sorting the things that Han Yi took out for a whole month, throwing the things that should be cleaned into the washing machine, and waiting for the dry cleaners to pick them up tomorrow if they are too expensive. The clean things are put back into the locker in order and category.

Han Yi, who came to the bed, would never find any signs of haste returning late at night after a business trip.

Money can solve many troubles in life, and this is one of the small ones.

While the three housekeepers were busy, the mansion manager, Corey McIntosh, had already waited in front of the driveway at the right time, opened the door for Han Yi, greeted Jordan Bromley, and led the two into the room .

"It's always nice to see you, Corey." Han Yi put his hand on Corey McIntosh's back, and said half-jokingly, "Even if I hear your name now, I can bring you back to me in an instant." To feel at home. I think you're the only one who can do that."

"Oh, it's a pleasure to bring you that feeling, Mr. Han. But I'm not sure I'm... the only one."

Having said that, Corey McIntosh, with a perfect smile, subconsciously glanced towards the front porch.

Following the line of sight of the mansion housekeeper, Han Yi found a person who overthrew all the joke he just said.

The lights on the front porch were bright and scorching, and the night view of Los Angeles at the end of the glass curtain wall was even more dazzling. Looking into the house from the dark night, Han Yi couldn't see clearly the face illuminated by countless rays of light for a while.

But that small, thin figure, and for some unknown reason, a slightly dry and hoarse soft voice, are unique signs in his mind that absolutely no one can pretend to or replace.

"Easy..."

"Are you back?"

(End of this chapter)