classifiedscript Chapter 127 Marvel
Chapter 127 Marvel
Chapter 127 Marvel
If you were to look for something in America whose price contradicts the high cost of living, golf would undoubtedly be the most striking answer.
This sport, considered an aristocratic activity in most parts of the world, presents a completely different picture in this land. It is as readily available as an everyday item on a supermarket shelf, becoming a vibrant part of life.
Americans love playing golf, and this passion permeates every aspect of their social life.
Whether it's for corporate executives' leisure time or ordinary families' weekend getaways, golf courses are a frequently chosen option.
Especially in the business world, golf has become an indispensable social medium, with more than half of the annual team-building activities of major companies choosing golf courses as the venue.
This supply and demand relationship makes golf courses in the United States very cheap.
Ernst lives in California, a state plagued by water shortages. Driving along the state's highways, withered grass can be seen everywhere along the roadside.
Even so, there are still many golf courses that are irrigated with water, and they are very cheap.
A round of 18-hole golf usually costs only a dozen to two thousand US dollars, a price that is well within the reach of ordinary families.
Even at Pebble Beach Golf Links, America's most prestigious golf course, the fee for a round of golf is only a little over four hundred dollars.
Ernst recalled that in his previous life in 2024, he accompanied a client to play at Pebble Beach Golf Links, where the price had risen to $650.
However, similar-level golf courses in China at the same time charge annual fees of around 1000 million RMB.
On April 15, at a golf club in the suburbs of New York, the spring sun shone softly through the sparse clouds onto the neatly trimmed lawn.
The air is filled with the fresh scent of grass and earth, and the fairways in the distance meander through the undulating terrain, creating a tranquil and elegant scene.
Ernst had just stepped off the shuttle bus and straightened his off-white golf shirt when he saw John Reed and his secretary coming to greet him.
Ernst is no longer the inexperienced newcomer he once was. With the successful completion of Google's second round of financing, the continued expansion of Leap Games, and the steady development of MGM, some media outlets have estimated his net worth to be over $30 billion.
If we refer to last year's Forbes rich list, he has already firmly entered the ranks of the top 100 richest people in the United States, the kind that are publicly known.
Therefore, even someone as influential as John Reid on Wall Street had to be given sufficient respect.
"I don't think I'm late, am I?" Ernst asked with a gentle smile, extending his hand.
The two embraced warmly, their natural and familiar gestures showing no sign of an unpleasant past between them.
John Reed raised his wrist with a serious expression, glanced at his expensive Patek Philippe watch, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips. "Oh, you're a minute late. According to our rules, you'll probably have to treat us to dinner today, as a small punishment for your tardiness."
"No problem," Ernst readily agreed, and the two then walked together toward the teeing ground.
"What do you think about the balanced budget and tax cut bill?" John Reed asked, seemingly casually looking for a topic to discuss.
The United States has recently been rife with high-profile events.
On March 13, thousands of people witnessed several points of light arranged in a V-shape slowly flying through the night sky over Phoenix, Arizona.
Since the authorities have never come forward to provide a reasonable explanation, rumors about UFOs have spread like wildfire and are still being hotly discussed in the streets and alleys, with various speculations and versions emerging one after another.
On March 26, the San Diego Police Department received a call reporting the discovery of 39 bodies in a luxury villa in the suburbs.
After a thorough investigation, it was confirmed that this was a mass suicide incident by a cult called Heaven's Gate.
Members of this cult firmly believe that after death, the soul can board a spaceship in outer space and be reborn in the form of extraterrestrial life.
This is America. You could accept seeing God, but you'd even believe in alien spaceships.
Then came Google's funding round, which also became a hot topic in the United States recently, with major financial media outlets vying to report on and analyze the business logic and market impact behind the funding.
However, for those in the elite and wealthy circles, what they care about most is the balanced budget bill and the tax cut bill.
The tax cut bill, in particular, is undoubtedly a huge boon for the wealthy.
Because the tax cuts explicitly target capital gains tax and estate tax, two taxes that directly affect their core interests.
Ernst understood that John Reid wasn't asking about the content of the bill itself, but rather testing his attitude towards both parties.
This bill is bound to pass. Whether it's a donkey or an elephant, they are both direct beneficiaries of the bill, and no one will truly hinder its progress.
Ernst shrugged, his tone calm but with a hint of mockery, "As a Californian, I find the question you asked rather insulting."
Both California and New York are traditionally blue states, where elephants have virtually no market, and public support for donkeys has always been overwhelmingly dominant.
Upon hearing this, John Reed burst into laughter, his laughter echoing across the empty stadium.
"So what are your thoughts on the next general election?"
Although it is only 1997 now, and there are still three years until the 2000 presidential election, the battle for the election has already begun.
Potential candidates have begun intensively raising campaign funds and preparing for the party primaries, followed by tireless speeches and rallies across the country to build popularity and support.
"I don't have any particular opinion," Ernst said casually, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.
"If the donkey wins, everyone's happy. If the elephant wins, then we should definitely buy shares in the military and oil industries."
He glanced at John Reid and said, "For you Wall Street people, you can profit no matter what the outcome; it's just a matter of how much you make."
John Reed's eyes flickered slightly, a hint of surprise and approval flashing across them, but he quickly regained his composure.
He secretly marveled at how this young man had built such a massive business empire in less than a year; it was no accident.
As Ernst said, Wall Street will be the temporary winner no matter which side wins the election.
If the Donkey continues to govern, the financial industry will undoubtedly see more favorable policies and new development opportunities.
Once the giants take the stage, they will inevitably try every means to drive up oil prices, which is a major boon for the oil industry, and the military industry will also benefit from it.
The United States advocates for free markets, but if an ordinary person tries to touch financial stocks, oil stocks, or military stocks, the FBI will be knocking on their door the next day.
This is an exclusive stock for Wall Street's major financial giants and aristocratic elites, so when the big players come to power, Wall Street gets a piece of the pie.
John Reed, concealing his inner turmoil, continued calmly, "To what extent do you think this impact will reach?"
Ernst wore an indifferent expression and casually uttered two words: "war."
He paused, then explained further, "There are many factions and cliques on the Donkey's side, so it's hard to say who will be nominated as the candidate in the end."
"But things are much clearer on the elephant's side; the little cowboy is almost 100% confirmed to be a candidate."
"As an oil family with the backing of the entire Texas oil and military industry, war was undoubtedly the most direct and effective way for these two sectors to rise rapidly."
As they were talking, the two arrived at the service area, and the conversation ended just as a matter of time, as if the previous conversation had never happened.
John Reed was the first to pick up his club, get into position, and swing hard. The white golf ball streaked across the sky like a shooting star, drawing a beautiful arc in the air before landing steadily on the fairway in the distance.
The two leisurely swung and putted, chatting about ordinary topics like sports and entertainment, enjoying this moment of leisure.
More than half an hour passed before they slowly got to the main topic of their trip.
"Ernst, regarding the acquisition of Marvel, Citigroup actually has a very high opinion of this company, which is a cultural icon of the United States." John Reed first praised Marvel's importance without reservation, then changed the subject, "However, you have always been an important partner of Citigroup. If you are interested in acquiring Marvel, Citigroup is willing to part with it, even if it means a painful decision."
He paused, observing Ernst's reaction, and then said, "But I think there's still room for negotiation on the acquisition method, such as adopting a win-win cooperation model."
Ernst paused slightly as he swung his club, then hit a beautiful long shot. He turned to John Reed and bluntly asked, "You want to do it by swapping shares?"
“That’s right.” John Reed nodded and gave his prepared reason: “Although MGM has improved significantly since you took over, the company’s financial situation remains rather tight.”
"Citigroup helps you acquire Marvel, and then MGM acquires Marvel through a stock purchase. This is the most advantageous solution for both MGM and Citigroup."
"MGM doesn't need to issue bonds to raise funds, and it also has Citigroup as a strong partner, and Citigroup is very willing to become one of MGM's major shareholders," John Reed said eloquently, trying to persuade Ernst with these seemingly promising prospects.
The secretary, standing to the side, listened to their conversation and felt a strange, inexplicable feeling well up inside her.
Just over two months ago, in an effort to improve its relationship with Ernst, Citigroup proactively transferred its MGM shares to him.
But just over two months later, Citigroup was so humble and humble in its negotiations with Ernst in order to regain MGM's shares. This change was truly dramatic.
Ernst rejected the offer without hesitation, saying, "You're probably overestimating Marvel's appeal to me."
"I did intend to acquire Marvel to see if there was any possibility of adapting Marvel's comic book characters into movies. But in my mind, Marvel and MGM are simply incomparable."
Ernst is determined to acquire Marvel. However, he doesn't want to give up MGM's shares, at least not through a share acquisition offered by the other party.
However, John Reed is not easily fooled. If it were just a trial run with a movie adaptation, and he didn't have a very high opinion of Marvel, how could he possibly acquire it? He could have easily collaborated with Marvel.
"You may not know this, but Citigroup holds more than $400 million in Marvel debt. That means Citigroup now controls 70% of Marvel's equity." John Reed threw out his bargaining chip, his tone carrying a subtle but palpable pressure.
Ernst looked up at John Reed and thought to himself that the old man was quick and had a keen sense of smell.
However, he was not in a hurry.
No one understands Marvel's immense potential value better than Marvel itself.
Citigroup's acquisition of so much Marvel debt was certainly a bargaining chip in negotiations, but it was also a burden.
As long as Ernst chooses to stall for time, and as long as Marvel's business situation does not improve, John Reed will face increasing pressure.
Of course, Ernst also understood that he couldn't keep dragging this on indefinitely.
If the other party is truly driven to desperation and sells Marvel to ToyBiz, he will definitely regret it.
Moreover, John Reed will definitely not sell Marvel to MGM; he will definitely sell it to another company through a series of operations and various additional terms.
If Ernst is truly committed to Marvel, these moves and additional clauses could allow Citigroup to benefit a second time.
For example, Citigroup could retain a certain percentage of the debt-to-equity conversion rights, or receive a substantial commission when the new buyer sells Marvel in the future.
These tactics are commonplace on Wall Street and are full of capitalist calculations.
There are also time and money costs. Even if ToyBiz acquires Marvel, it won't change Marvel's fate, but external factors cannot be ignored.
Marvel will continue to sell its rights, and MGM will have to pay a price to acquire them.
Most importantly, there's Blade from 20th Century Fox. Once that movie is released, Marvel's prices will be much higher than they are now.
Right now, it's a tug-of-war between the two sides, just waiting to see who breaks down first.
Until both parties parted ways, they had not reached any consensus on the acquisition of Marvel.
However, Ernst has already achieved his goal: at least for the time being, Marvel's acquisition negotiations will be put on hold, and that's enough.
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