Top of the big era

In the field of professional managers, there is a trend of Indians gradually rising to the top around the world, and they have become the targets of major companies.

So does SoftBank.

As Son is getting older, he is also looking for and training successors, and he is interested in Indians.

He successively recruited three Indian-origin management elites, namely SoftBank Group COO Nix Arora, whom he regarded as his first successor, SoftBank Group CFO Alok Sama, and SoftBank Vice President and Vision Fund CEO Rajiv Misra.

But something unexpected happened.

It’s from this Rajiv Mishra.

He came from Wall Street and was a "vulture" in the subprime mortgage crisis. Unlike most Indian managers, this man was fierce, tough and scheming.

He is not the first successor. Seeing that Son Zhengyi is getting older and has to take over and retreat to the second line, a scene of high-level infighting has occurred that has shocked the world.

With a "black public relations" move, the first successor, Nick Arora, was first driven away.

With a "honey trap", Chief Financial Officer Alok Sama was driven away again.

He became the only candidate.

Fortunately, Sun Zhengyi discovered this kid's conspiracy in time and was frightened. How could he dare to use such a person? So he postponed his retirement plan and fired the kid.

It's still early, Son can't predict what's going to happen in the future, and Rajiv Misra is at a critical stage where he's like a fish in water.

He was able to join SoftBank because the two had a pleasant experience working together.

At that time, SoftBank wanted to acquire Vodafone Japan, an operator that could not survive in Japan, and reorganize it into its own operator business. The investment bank representative who was in charge of this transaction was Rajiv Misra.

This year, Masayoshi Son wanted to acquire the operator Sprint in the United States again. The case was larger and more complicated, so he hired Rajiv Misra and planned to let him run the project.

Unexpectedly, Sun Zhengyi changed his mind and set his sights on the entertainment industry and started working on the "Purple Star Global" project.

The decision-making power lies in the hands of Sun Zhengyi and Zhou Buqi, but at the execution level, Rajiv Misra is the first person in charge, and he must be used to acquire MGM, Marvel, Universal Pictures and other companies.

Therefore, Rajiv Misra has great power and often has disagreements with Zhou Buqi.

Zhou Buqi has become accustomed to it. Not only does he not object, but he feels that discord is the right thing to do. Only by arguing and discussing and checking for omissions can we come up with a better and more correct plan.

But something is wrong now.

Rajiv Mishra’s words have crossed the line!

He satirized Zhou Buqi for wanting to acquire the copyright of "Spider-Man" for personal gain!

This is too disrespectful!

Not to mention that Zhou Buqi didn't have such thoughts, even if he did, he wouldn't be able to say it to his face as a professional manager. Behind this is most likely the instigation from Masayoshi Son, which is a subtle warning.

Seeing that Zhou Buqi was angry, Sun Zhengyi felt a little guilty and said quickly: "This is impossible. Who is Boss Zhou? It's just the copyright of 'Spider-Man'. How much benefit can it bring? Don't make baseless accusations."

Zhou Buqi was ungrateful and sneered: "Boss Sun, please stop giving me a wink. What's wrong, I'm going to borrow your yacht for a few days and you're going to play this trick with me?"

Son Zhengyi said: "No, absolutely not that. I have already ordered a new yacht. You can use that yacht. I will give it to you."

Zhou Buqi said coldly: "Forget it, I will return it to you when we get to Los Angeles!"

"Don't, don't! It won't happen!"

Sun Zhengyi also had a headache. He didn't expect that his subordinate's style was so hard-line. He was trying to light a dynamite pack.

Fortunately, Rajiv Mishra was very smart. He also saw that the situation was not right, so he quickly went back to make amends and said apologetically: "Mr. Zhou, I'm sorry. I was just impulsive and said some disrespectful words. I I have said it many times that I have full respect for your charisma and I am willing to exchange half of my life for half of your wisdom."

Zhou Buqi is very tough, "The copyright of 'Spider-Man' must be taken back!"

"Why!"

Son Zhengyi gave a long sigh.

Rajiv Misra also looked helpless and said bitterly: "Mr. Zhou, this thing really doesn't work, either... or just give up. Marvel has thousands of comic characters, so why care about Spider-Man?" Where's Xia'?"

Seeing that the other party's attitude had softened, Zhou Buqi didn't show off his face anymore and said without any doubt: "Let me say it for the last time, you must buy the copyright of 'Spider-Man'! This is the future business development of Marvel and even Ziweixing Global" An important part of! It’s a catalyst and a propeller!”

Rajiv was frantic, "Mr. Zhou, this matter is too difficult!"

"Disaster?"

Zhou Buqi raised his eyebrows.

Rajiv sighed: "Mr. Zhou, I respect your strategic decision very much. Since you proposed to take back the copyright of 'Spider-Man' at the end of May, I have been in contact with Sony Entertainment many times, but their stance is too strong. They just don’t want to do the business.”

Zhou Buqi was very relaxed, "Don't want to do business? It's just that the price is not right."

"Yes, that's right."

"What?"

"I have had many meetings with the three-level management of Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures, and Sony Entertainment. They all attach great importance to the copyright of 'Spider-Man'. From 2002 to 2007, they launched "Spider-Man" "Spider-Man" trilogy has been welcomed all over the world. In the past few years, it is said that these three movies have created a total profit of US$1 billion for Sony Entertainment in various channels. This is a cash cow!"

Rajiv Misra's tone was very soft, and he looked like he was pleading, just like a boneless slave.

As expected of Wall Street.

Zhou Buqi understood that he was complaining about the expensive copyright of "Spider-Man" and couldn't help but asked funnyly: "How much are they asking for?"

Rajiv held out four fingers.

Zhou Buqi was stunned, "How much?"

Son was also helpless, "Yes, it's 4 billion U.S. dollars. I specifically asked Sony's honorary president Mr. Norihiro He, and he directly told Sony Entertainment that it could be done at a reasonable price. Sell ​​related copyright assets.”

"Well……"

Zhou Buqi twitched the corner of his mouth and looked at Sun Zhengyi with some sympathy.

Depend on!

Old Sun, Old Sun, is this your face in Japan?

After begging grandpa and grandma for a long time, Sony finally made a compromise and was willing to sell the copyright of "Spider-Man" to MSI at a low price of US$4 billion?

This face is like a shoe cushion!

Rajiv said sadly: "They insisted on US$4 billion, and there was no room for bargaining. I have also contacted Marvel. According to preliminary assessment, our offer is US$3.8 billion to US$4 billion, and we may be able to buy Marvel." The copyright of 'Spider-Man' is actually more expensive than the entire Marvel universe?!"

Zhou Buqi nodded, "Indeed, it's very unreasonable."

Rajiv's eyes shone and he looked at him expectantly, "Mr. Zhou, you...then we give up this plan?"

"No!"

Zhou Buqi refused firmly.

Rajiv was going crazy and said in a serious tone, "That's 4 billion US dollars!"

Masayoshi Son is a big business man, he can handle investment projects worth billions and tens of billions of dollars with ease, and he has seen big scenes. Even so, his heart is broken now.

Want to spend $4 billion to buy the film and television adaptation rights of the "Spider-Man" comics?

Depend on!

This is not the way to do business if you have money!

If this deal is done, SoftBank's investors will go crazy, or they will think that Masayoshi Son himself is crazy, and they may withdraw their capital frantically and stop playing.

Over the past few years, Sun Zhengyi has watched Zhou Buqi step by step, starting from a small school network, and then turning it into Ziweixing Group, becoming the largest Internet company in China, and then began to develop global business and play The world's leading industrial Internet...

He has never seen such an outstanding entrepreneur.

He almost recognized Zhou Buqi's every choice and every suggestion, even to the point of obeying his words. His trust in Zhou Buqi has reached a blind level.

But the copyright issue of "Spider-Man" shook his trust.

Is this really right?

No one does this kind of business, that’s not allowed!

Zhou Buqi looked at the two people across from him with a wretched expression, especially the forced smile on Sun Zhengyi's face, which was really uglier than crying.

It feels so good!

He wanted to laugh.

Zhou Buqi suppressed his smile and said seriously: "The price for the copyright of 'Spider-Man' is less than US$1 billion, which is reasonable."

Rajiv said with a gloomy face: "Don't say 1 billion US dollars, even if it is 2 billion US dollars, I will definitely handle this matter for you! But those people from Sony Entertainment insisted on 4 billion US dollars, and they have no intention of selling the copyright. Sincerity.”

"That's not necessarily the case."

Zhou Buqi raised the corner of his mouth, half-smiling but not smiling.

"Um?"

Rajiv was stunned for a moment.

Sun Zhengyi perked up and said, "Zhou, you...do you have any idea?"

Zhou Buqi chuckled, "We can't use 2 billion U.S. dollars, maybe even 1 billion U.S. dollars."

"impossible!"

Rajiv thought he was talking nonsense.

Son Zhengyi frowned and looked at him deeply, "Don't be joking."

Zhou Buqi was leisurely and relaxed, "Don't believe it?"

Sun Zhengyi knew him very well, and his face suddenly turned rosy, like the sun rising, full of hope, "You have a way, you must have a way!"

Zhou Buqi sighed: "I do have a way to do it, but I have to pay too many favors and resources, which have nothing to do with Ziweixing Global."

Son Zhengyi joked: "If we can really keep the price within 1 billion US dollars, I can give you a commission!"

Zhou Buqi said: "I am the established chairman and CEO of Ziweixing Global. I deserve whatever I pay for this company. I don't need commission. But...well, your yacht is really good, I like very much."

"I told you, I gave it to you!"

Son is very proud.

Zhou Buqi blinked and said, "I think your plane is also new, right? Is it your personal plane, or does it belong to SoftBank Group? Is it a Bombardier Challenger 300? I think it's pretty good."

This aircraft is very famous. When domestic leaders make international goodwill visits, they fly the Boeing 747. But this is a big plane that can fly long distances. When I flew short distances for research in various parts of the country, I flew in a Bombardier Challenger.

Economic crises are opportunities for top capitalists to accumulate wealth, and the same is true for Son.

He bought a new yacht and a new airplane.

Unexpectedly, they were all targeted by this bastard Zhou Buqi!

"Depend on!"

Son Zhengyi wants to curse people, but he doesn’t do it like this!