Chapter 878 Communication with Lao Ba (Two in One)

Shirley Lansing reported to Lin Baicheng on the company's affairs since his departure.

None of them are very important matters, but if they involve major matters, they have already been reported to Lin Baicheng through the secretariat.

For example, regarding the acquisition of United Artists Pictures, the progress of the acquisition will be reported to Lin Baicheng every time. After all, this is an acquisition involving more than 100 million US dollars, which is not a small amount.

Although it was not a major matter, Lin Baicheng still listened very carefully and asked questions while listening.

Morningstar Pictures is a film company. For the company, the most important business is film production and distribution.

In the film production business, in addition to the scripts left by Lin Baicheng, the company management headed by Shirley Lansing is also looking for projects independently. So far, they have done well. Although some projects have failed, there are more successful projects, which means they are successful.

In terms of distribution business, because we were willing to invest from the beginning, distribution channels were established early, and now overseas distribution channels are gradually improving.

Whether a film company can do well in its hair care channel actually depends on whether the movies it distributes sell well and whether it can make its partner's cinemas make money.

As long as the cooperative cinemas can make money, then the distribution channel is easy to establish, and it will get better and better. On the contrary, even established channels will be slowly abandoned by partners. After all, everyone wants to make money. If you don't make money, who will cooperate with you?

So far, Lin Baicheng is satisfied with the development of Morning Star Pictures. He is full of expectations for the subsequent development of Morning Star Pictures and hopes that Shirley Lansing and others can achieve better results.

Lin Baicheng suddenly said: "President Lansing, do you think our Morning Star Pictures can develop into the new Big Eight in Hollywood?"

"Chairman, this is difficult."

Lin Baicheng's sudden question surprised Shirley Lansing, but she still gave a truthful answer.

"I also know it's not easy."

Nodding slightly, Lin Baicheng smiled and said: "But if the company can acquire United Artists Pictures, I think the hope will be greater, don't you think?"

"Yes, Chairman."

Shirley Lansing nodded in affirmation and then said: "But Chairman, after the company acquires United Artists Pictures, it will become the top second-tier film company among the seven major Hollywood companies. Hollywood has changed from the eighth major to the second-tier film company. Big Seven, I think Big Seven definitely doesn’t want one more player to share the cake. The company will definitely be suppressed and it will be difficult to develop and grow.”

Lin Baicheng smiled and said: "It's not easy, but we can't stop developing just because it's not easy, don't you think? If we are afraid, then we don't need to acquire United Artists Pictures, and then we don't have to worry about Seven Big suppression.”

"That's what you said."

Shirley Lansing said with high spirits: "Even if the Seven Hollywood Congress suppresses the company, I am still confident to stabilize the situation and slowly develop the company, making the company the new Hollywood Eight."

However, despite saying this, Shirley Lansing did not reveal the biggest worry in her heart, which was the identity of the boss, Lin Baicheng, the company's major shareholder.

Lin Baicheng is a foreigner. Once Morning Star Pictures under his name becomes the new top eight in Hollywood, this will definitely be attacked under the smear campaign from competitors, causing setbacks in the company's development.

"I'll wait and see."

Lin Baicheng certainly knew that his status as boss would have a negative impact on the development of Morningstar Pictures, but now that Reagan of the Elephant Party has become the president, his biggest supporter will definitely be rewarded.

Furthermore, Morning Star Pictures will also be listed in the future. At that time, he will hide some shares and reduce some shares, so that the shares he holds on the surface will not appear to be that many, and then the impact will not be too great. Big.

"Chairman, I will never let you down!"

As the president of Morningstar Pictures, Shirley Lansing certainly hopes that Morningstar Pictures can become one of the top eight companies in Hollywood. In that case, she who is in charge of Morningstar Pictures will become one of the most powerful people in Hollywood and go directly to the pinnacle of professional managers.

Even Shirley Lansing has a little bit of ambition, that is, she will bring Morningstar Pictures to the top eight in Hollywood, let Lin Baicheng see her ability, give her a larger platform, and let her become the manager of more companies. .

Looking at Shirley Lansing, Lin Baicheng couldn't help but smile. It is not a bad thing for the people under his command to be ambitious. As long as this ambition does not betray him, then their ambition will make the company under his name develop better and help him make more money, which is a good thing for him.

…

In the afternoon, Lin Baicheng went to Blockbuster.

When he arrived at Blockbuster, Lin Baicheng discovered that Buffett was also there.

After saying hello, Lin Baicheng learned from the chat that Buffett came to Blockbuster for research.

Since Buffett invested in Blockbuster, and even invested US$6.2 million in one lump sum last year, it is impossible for him to be indifferent to Blockbuster. He is well aware of Blockbuster's development this year.

This time, Blockbuster was raising money again, and he happened to be in Los Angeles, so he simply conducted a personal investigation on Blockbuster to see if there were any hidden dangers in Blockbuster that he had not known about before.

Since Buffett came to investigate, Lin Baicheng was also here. As the boss of Blockbuster's parent company, of course he was accompanying him personally.

During Buffett's investigation, Lin Baicheng told Buffett one thing, that is, he planned to separate Blockbuster from Morningstar Pictures and let Blockbuster operate completely independently.

"This is a good thing."

Buffett listened and said: "For Blockbuster, without the constraints of the parent company, it can focus more on expansion and management. I believe that Blockbuster will have better development after becoming independent. And Blockbuster If Da wants to go public, it is necessary to become independent. It’s better to become independent now, just think of it as preparing for a future listing.”

"I think so."

Lin Baicheng said: "The purpose of making Blockbuster independent is to allow Blockbuster to develop better and give more returns to shareholders."

"Mr. Allen is still thoughtful."

Buffett praised it, and then said: "I am very optimistic about Blockbuster's business model. Even if Blockbuster goes public, I will not sell my shares immediately, but will hold them for a long time. In my opinion, as long as Blockbuster is listed, Star’s business model has not changed and the market has not changed, so its shares are worth holding for the long term, and I am prepared to hold them for at least five years.”

Buffett's investment philosophy is to hold a promising company for a long time in order to bring him the greatest return.

"Thank you Mr. Buffett for your support. I believe Blockbuster will not let Mr. Buffett down."

Lin Baicheng knows very well that Buffett's investment may not bring him several or dozens of times of return in the short term, but over time, his return on investment will be very objective, far better than those that can earn just a few times at a time. Funds with multiples of several dozen times will have higher returns.

For example, those quantitative funds may encounter a good opportunity and suddenly earn several times or more than ten times the profit. It seems that the rate of return is very high, much better than Buffett.

But this kind of fund is very unstable. It may make several times this year, but it may be cut in half next year, or it may not open for three years, and suddenly encounter a good opportunity and make a lot of money.

This kind of fund will not return several times every year, and there will be profits and losses. If you extend the time, you will find that long-term investors like Buffett are really powerful, and they will make very stable profits every year. , after compound interest, more than ten or twenty years later, the return on investment is very impressive.

"I also believe that Blockbuster will grow and develop into a well-known large company under Mr. Allen's leadership."

Buffett's words are not entirely complimentary. As far as he knows, no business under Lin Baicheng's name has failed so far.

Buffett's investigation did not last long. After the investigation, he invited Lin Baicheng to have a cup of coffee together.

Lin Baicheng said that he would have to be busy with work later, but if Buffett didn't mind, the two of them could have a cup of coffee at Blockbuster and chat together.

Buffett would naturally not object.

At Blockbuster, although Lin Baicheng does not have his own chairman's office, it is a very simple matter for Errol Kilman to make a place to drink coffee.

"Mr. Allen, can I ask you something?"

"Mr. Buffett, please speak."

"That's right. I would like to ask, does Morningstar Pictures now have the idea of ​​​​transferring shares in Blockbuster to raise capital? Or, after Blockbuster goes public, does Morningstar Pictures plan to reduce its holdings of shares?"

"Mr. Buffett asked this, but he wants to buy shares of Blockbuster?"

Lin Baicheng was a little curious when he heard this. Apart from the fact that Buffett wanted to increase his stake in the company, he could not think of any other reason for Buffett to ask this.

"Yes."

Buffett nodded directly and admitted: "As I have always said to Mr. Allen, I am very optimistic about Blockbuster's business model, so I want to increase my holdings of some Blockbuster shares. If not for this financing of Blockbuster, In order to gain the support of Hollywood, I would be happy to continue to lead the investment in Blockbuster so that I would not have to increase my holdings.”

"It seems that Mr. Buffett is very optimistic about the development of Blockbuster. Blockbuster is lucky to have a long-term investor like Mr. Buffett."

After sighing, Lin Baicheng said: "In the short term, Morningstar Pictures will not reduce its stake in Blockbuster. Blockbuster is not only a commercial investment for Morningstar Pictures, but also related to the business layout of Morningstar Pictures. . Once Blockbuster goes public, Morningstar Pictures' shares in Blockbuster will be diluted again, so in order to firmly control Blockbuster, Morningstar Pictures will not easily reduce its holdings in Blockbuster. "

"Is that so? That's a shame."

Buffett was a little disappointed when he heard this, but since Morningstar Pictures or Lin Baicheng did not sell shares, he had no choice but to give up with regret.

As for buying from the secondary market after Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and other companies go public, of course you can, but it will definitely not be as convenient and preferential as large-scale transactions.

Lin Baicheng smiled and said: "If one day Morningstar Pictures has the idea of ​​reducing its shareholding, I will have someone notify Mr. Buffett as soon as possible."

"Then I'll trouble Mr. Allen."

Buffett expressed his thanks.

"You're welcome. After all, I am also a minority shareholder of Berkshire."

Smiling, Lin Baicheng changed the subject: "By the way, I wonder how much Mr. Buffett knows about Morningstar Pictures?"

"Morningstar Pictures is the parent company of Blockbuster. I still know something about it."

Although he was confused as to why Lin Baicheng asked this, Buffett still said: "Mr. Allen, the company you founded in 1979 made a large-scale acquisition of three small companies at the beginning of its establishment and merged them into the current Morningstar Pictures. After that, Ai Mr. Lun, the movie "Home Alone" that you directed was a hit, making Morningstar Pictures a lot of money and making you famous in Hollywood."

"With the great success of the second part of "Home Alone" and the box office success of other films, Morningstar Pictures has developed better and better and has become more and more famous."

"As far as I know, Morningstar Pictures seems to be competing with MGM to acquire United Artists. Although United Artists has declined, once Morningstar Pictures successfully acquires United Artists, it will inevitably become the top company under the seven major Hollywood companies."

"As long as Morningstar Pictures develops well, it is not impossible to become one of the eight major Hollywood companies."

Buffett doesn't know much about the internal affairs of Morningstar Pictures, but he knows more about the surface.

"So Mr. Buffett, are you interested in Morningstar Pictures? Do you have any ideas for investment?"

Morningstar Pictures must raise funds and go public. Although the company has no idea of ​​raising funds and going public yet, it is okay to ask potential investors first.

"Invest in Morningstar Pictures?"

Buffett pondered and thought after hearing this. He had never thought about this matter before. When Lin Baicheng suddenly asked him this, he really couldn't answer.

Seeing this, Lin Baicheng did not interrupt and let Buffett think.

After a while, Buffett asked: "Mr. Allen, does Morningstar Pictures have a plan to raise funds now? Is it because the company is going to acquire United Artists, so it is short of funds?"

"In order to allow Morningstar Pictures to successfully acquire United Artists, I personally lent Morningstar Pictures $100 million, and at the same time let Morningstar Pictures borrow $100 million from Goldman Sachs and Citibank, so Morningstar Pictures is not short of money for the time being."

"Therefore, Morningstar Pictures has no idea of ​​raising funds for the time being, but the company will raise funds sooner or later. I want to hear Mr. Buffett's thoughts and see if Mr. Buffett is interested."

Lin Baicheng explained, mainly to tell Buffett that Morningstar Pictures has no problems now, and there is no possibility of being robbed.

"Mr. Allen is indeed well-funded."

After hearing this, Buffett couldn't help but sigh, a billion dollars was taken out casually, it was really impressive.

"I'm quite interested in Morningstar Pictures. If Morningstar Pictures is ready to raise funds one day, remember to notify me, Mr. Allen."

No matter whether you want to participate in the financing at that time, just accept it now. Hold the opportunity first, and then refuse it if you feel that investing in Morningstar Pictures is not suitable.

"Okay, I will."

Lin Baicheng nodded and agreed.

After the two chatted for a while, Buffett stood up and said goodbye, saying that he would not disturb Lin Baicheng's work, and Lin Baicheng sent him out.