Chapter 187 Marvel Changes Owners
In fact, it relies on Amazon, and it can also engage in mobile payment in the future.
However, in the North American environment, mobile payment will face many practical difficulties, making this a bit unrealistic. The financial business of North American banks is quite strong. If you touch their cake, it will really kill people.
At most, it can only achieve online payment. Online shopping users can use their Amazon wallet balance to pay, and other aspects are covered.
Gilbert Jr. has currently invested in three rounds of angel rounds and AB rounds in Amazon. He holds 18.3% of Amazon's shares and is the second largest shareholder of Amazon after Jeff Bezos.
Amazon is currently expanding its business. Jeff Bezos learned that Gilbert was filming in Philadelphia and made a special trip to Philadelphia to meet with Gilbert.
After watching the performances of Bruce Willis and Haley on the set, Jeff Bezos praised: "This is the first time I have seen actors perform live. It is different from what I saw in the cinema. It is really good.
What's that little actor's name? "
"Haley, he's eight years old," little Gilbert replied.
"Eight years old?" Jeff Bezos was surprised: "You have such acting skills at the age of eight? My God, this is simply a talent given by God!"
There seems to be nothing to explain this kind of acting genius other than blaming it on God.
After the scene ended, the crew moved to the next place, where Jeff Bezos and Little Gilbert were riding in a trailer together, and the two had something to talk about.
“Currently, our online book website business is developing very smoothly. It can be said that no bookstore or library has as rich a variety as our website.
The company's performance is getting better and better. I plan to take Amazon public after the C round of financing. ” Jeff Bezos chatted with Gilbert Jr. about his plans.
Little Gilbert immediately said: "Jeff, I support it, but..."
"But what?"
Little Gilbert pondered for a while and then said: "Have you ever thought about the future of Amazon?"
Jeff Bezos was startled, and then replied: "Of course I have thought about it. What I want to do is not only an online library, but also an online mall and supermarket."
"That's right," little Gilbert said, snapping his fingers: "As the Internet becomes more and more developed, people's demand for convenience is increasing.
What would it be like if you could buy everything without leaving your home?
Clothes, shoes, socks, bags, food, electronic products, etc. can all be purchased on Amazon.com. "
Jeff Bezos was attracted by the prospects described by little Gilbert and couldn't help but start to imagine.
However, due to personality reasons, Jeff Bezos still said: "Although the prospects you describe are very attractive, I think the measures should not be too radical and must be taken step by step."
"I don't understand the business of the company." Little Gilbert said: "I'm just giving you some suggestions and ideas. It's up to you how to do it.
Jeff, all I care about is my investment, the stock price of the company. "
"Don't worry, little Gilbert." Jeff Bezos promised: "With Amazon, we will all become tens of billions."
A billionaire? Little Gilbert looked toward Silicon Valley, and he was soon there.
After communicating with Gilbert Jr., Jeff Bezos quickly returned to Amazon to prepare for its listing after Series C financing.
Gilbert Jr.’s other business activity mainly comes from Marvel.
Because a toy company joined the acquisition war, Marvel boss Perelman felt that his shares were still valuable, so he sold them at a price.
But neither the toy company nor Little Gilbert wanted to be taken advantage of, so they were still in a stalemate, waiting for the other party to give in.
Gilbert Jr.'s investor David told Gilbert Jr. that Perelman could no longer hold on any longer because his Wall Street foundation's capital chain was on the verge of breaking.
Without a lifeline, Perelman would soon be bankrupt.
In order to avoid falling into bankruptcy, he will definitely contact the toy company and Little Gilbert again in the near future.
Sure enough, a few days after David and Gilbert Jr. talked on the phone, Perelman finally couldn't help it and contacted David.
For this reason, little Gilbert deliberately put aside his work on the set, flew to New York, and talked with Perelman.
"To be honest, Mr. Perelman, Marvel is a tool in your hands to create wealth for yourself in the financial industry.
But in my hands, it's different. Marvel can do a lot in the film industry. "Little Gilbert said bluntly.
Perelman was still unwilling to give in: "I can also do it myself and find other film companies to cooperate."
"Cooperation?" Little Gilbert chuckled: "Mr. Perelman, you may be somewhat famous on Wall Street, but in Hollywood, you are nothing.
If you want to find a film company to work with, you have to have acquaintances.
As long as I say that I am not optimistic about Marvel's projects, how many companies will be willing to take the risk to invest in your movies? "
"this?"
Before Perelman could react, Little Gilbert continued: "If you want to do this yourself, a superhero movie would require an investment of at least US$100 million based on the current technical conditions.
Can you get it? Or do you expect someone to give you a $100 million investment? "
"this……"
Perelman was speechless. The toy company might be able to get it, but a toy company is just a toy company, not a movie company.
Other toy companies also have to accept commissions from movie companies, manufacture some peripheral products for sale, and collect processing fees to make profits.
Moreover, toy manufacturing and movies are two different things. A movie is not as simple as shooting. There are also various complex links such as publicity, film printing, transportation, warehousing, and communication with theaters.
If non-professionals do this rashly, they will only get into trouble.
What Little Gilbert said makes sense. If Marvel is placed in his hands, it will be a negative asset, which will drag him down.
So Perelman said: "Two thousand dollars, you take all the shares in my hand."
David took over the negotiation: "Mr. Perelman, that was the previous price. Now Marvel is worthless. The most we can offer is fifty million US dollars." "Fifty million US dollars? You are insulting." Perelman Absolutely not agree to that.
So the two sides started a tug-of-war, which lasted for a long time, and finally reached an agreement of US$80 million. Gilbert Jr. got all the Marvel shares in Perelman's hands and became Marvel's largest shareholder.
After the contract was signed, Perelman shook hands with little Gilbert: "I hope Marvel can shine in your hands. This is my hard work. You can't let it down!"
What hard work? It's not a tool for making money.
Little Gilbert was cursing in his heart, but he still said on his face: "Of course, I will run Marvel well."
The deal was being done internally at Marvel, and an artist in the comics creation department asked Stan Lee, "Will we survive this time?"
"I hope!" Stan Lee sighed: "As a well-known Hollywood director, Gilbert Jr. should realize the value of the company and will not be the same as Perelman."
Stan Lee had long been dissatisfied with Perelman. In 1991, there was a wave of departures from Marvel, and many creators and cartoonists left Marvel.
At that time, some people encouraged Stan Lee to leave, but Stan Lee was reluctant to let go of his children, and he still stuck to Marvel with his hard work.
Finally, today is the day, is Marvel’s day coming?
Perelman walked out of the conference room, took his trusted assistants with him, and left Marvel Company without saying a word.
The onlookers looked at each other, is this done? Still not done?
However, it didn't take long for everyone to speculate. David came out quickly, glanced at everyone, and then said: "Everyone with the position of team leader and above will go to the large conference room for a meeting. There is something to be announced."
After saying that, David entered the conference room again.
Everyone looked at each other, then dispersed and returned to their jobs. Employees with positions above team leaders should prepare their own materials and may need to report by themselves later.
The same goes for Stan Lee. He prepared his own materials and guessed that the company should change its boss, but he didn't know what the new boss's temper was like.
In the large conference room, assistants and secretaries are preparing coffee. Because there are so many participants, there are not enough chairs, and many more chairs need to be arranged.
Employees participating in the meeting came in one after another, each found a seat to sit down, and communicated directly with each other. They guessed what the purpose of this meeting was. Was it to announce a change of boss?
After the arrangements were completed, the door of the conference room opened, and little Gilbert walked in accompanied by David and another person. Everyone in the conference room was quiet, and everyone looked at little Gilbert.
There was expectation, doubt, and indifference in these eyes.
But little Gilbert didn't care. He signaled to David that he could start.
David cleared his throat and then said: "Just this morning, we formally reached an agreement with Mr. Perelman to acquire Marvel.
This means that Mr. Landrini has become the actual controlling shareholder of the company.
You may be wondering, after all, Marvel is a listed company with a board of directors. What does it mean to hold a staff meeting instead of holding a board of directors first..."
Yeah, what do you mean?
Everyone participating in the meeting looked at David curiously to see what he would say.
David paused and then said: "Because Marvel has no other shareholders except the toy company and a few shareholders.
Soon, we will launch a delisting campaign to withdraw from the stock market.
In addition, we also plan to acquire the remaining shares from the toy company to achieve a 100% holding company. "
As soon as these words came out, everyone realized that all the shareholders had fled, and all the shares had been taken by little Gilbert.
Except for a few two or three, and the shares held by slightly larger toy companies, the rest is not important.
"Now, I would like to introduce the company's new chairman, Mr. Gilbert Landrini." After the introduction, David took the lead in applauding, and there was thunderous applause in the conference room.
Little Gilbert stood up in greeting and put his hands down.
After the applause stopped, he said: "I won't introduce myself. As long as you watch the movie, no one will recognize me."
Everyone smiled softly, and some nodded.
Little Gilbert continued: "My acquisition of Marvel came from a child of mine. She was very young. Maybe you know her, a little girl named Scarlett Johansson.
She told me that she loved comics, especially Marvel comics. After reading Superman and Batman, she wanted to see how Marvel's superheroes would perform on the big screen.
So, I bought Marvel. "
The big guy was stunned, good guy, are you buying Marvel just to make the little girl happy?
Of course not, little Gilbert continued: "I am optimistic about the future of superhero movies, so I have to take a long-term view and not act too hastily.
Let me introduce to you, this is the manager I brought here, George Rowan. "
A middle-aged white man stood up and waved to everyone.
Gilbert Jr. continued: "George will serve as the CEO of Marvel and complete the reform of Marvel. There will be some big changes in the company next, so you should pay attention.
That’s it for now. Let’s go back and inform the employees! "
After the meeting ended, everyone left the conference room talking in twos and threes.
Little Gilbert, David and George were still in the conference room. Little Gilbert said to George: "George, if you encounter any problems with Marvel's reform process, please communicate with me in a timely manner."
George nodded and assured: "Don't worry, we have done a complete research in advance to ensure that there will be no problems with Marvel's reform."
"That's good," little Gilbert turned to praise David: "David, you did a good job on this."
"This is what I should do, boss." David was not very proud: "After all, I also got a lot of bonus."
Taking money to do things is a very basic business principle.
It is basically impossible to expect people to work hard for you without giving you any money. If there is, it can only be said to be a miracle.
Things at Marvel have come to an end for the time being, and little Gilbert has returned to Philadelphia to continue filming.
(End of chapter)