Chapter 17: Acquisition and Mergers

Sunny had to build his core team of people who can help him solve various things in the future. Even though his production house has barely started, things will snowball from here, and he cannot do everything on his own.

"Hello Matthews, it's nice to meet you again!" In the Merrill Lynch office, Sunny met Matthews again in mid-November.

After the money started getting credited to Vision studio's account, Sunny had been keeping a close eye on the recent news in the movie industry.

"It's great to meet you again, Sunny. Tell me, for a guy who just became a multi-millionaire, what services do you require from my side?" Matthews was still polite as before.

"Three companies - Orion Pictures, Celebrity Home Entertainment and RKO pictures- have filed for Bankruptcy or prepared to file one. Carloco pictures are also in heavy debt and won't be able to sustain its own business. In this year alone, there are more than 10 such names in our Industry.

I need help in finding a perfect Acquisition team to cut some meat from these companies. I don't have enough funds to simply buy them but I think I can get a part of their business. Distribution chain, VHS or home video rights to the film libraries and finally movie production crew and senior executives.

I need all and I need everything but my price can't be too high. So, I need Merrill Lynch's help in this business."

Sunny told him his idea and then explained the main focus. Orion pictures have a huge library but Sunny is not interested in that. He simply can't buy it.

So from Orion Pictures, Sunny wanted to poach talented executives and, if possible, a few projects that are waiting for funds.

Celebrity Home Entertainment is the key goal for getting distribution channels in the VHS market and TV channels. They also had a small anime library from Japan.

RKO pictures and Carloco have a big distribution network, production network and even TV broadcasting rights and Sunny desperately needed to cut a big piece of meat to make sure he can release low-budget movies independently in the North American and Canadian market.

"No problem. I will inform the senior management about this. However, I must remind you that our charges won't be cheap. Merrill Lynch will use its power and that power can even shake the political circle in the US.

So, my dear friend, tell me are you sure you want to use our services? Just based on your description, this acquisition and merger will cost you somewhere around 2-3 Million and 5%-8% commission of the total budget involved."

Matthews agreed to this job very easily as buying and poaching people from already defunct studios was hardly troublesome for their agency.

"No issue. But I hope you can move a little faster before the big crocodiles make a jump. A small fish like me needs this meat to grow bigger but the crocodiles might simply want to just use this as a snack."

Sunny said the parting words and left the office.

-------------------------------------

"Sir, there is a guy at reception who wants to have a meeting with you. He is a senior production manager from Orion Pictures. Should I invite him in or fix a meeting for a later date?"

A call from front-desk woke sunny from his thoughts. After having meeting with Matthews, Sunny had been patiently waiting for some news.

It seems Merrill Lynch's approach finally bore some fruit.

"Sure. Please send him in and also bring two cups of coffee." Sunny said and just fixed his clothes before sitting on his chair.

A tall well built, in mid 30s and with white glasses knocked on the door before entering in.

"Hello, Mr. Sunny Rover, right?"

"Yes, Please come in. I am Sunny, Sunny Rover."

" Hello, I am Ricky Bryan, Orion Pictures." John introduced himself before Sunny invited him to take his seat.

You are reading story The First Trillionaire In World at novel35.com

"Well, Mr. Ricky, what brings you here?" Sunny asked while keeping his smile.

"Well, Sunny, I can call you sunny right? ( Sunny nods) My half brother, John Bryan is currently the president of Orion Domestic TV Distribution and Movie Distribution. However, people under him, people like me, are in a...how to say....conflicted relationship.

There is a large group of people who have decided to jump the boat and take away key resources that can be helpful for some other agency and I was hoping that agency can be yours.

I represent a team of 32 men who have good networks across many states of USA. All we ask is a 20% raise from our current salary and similar contracts that we have as of now."

Listening to Ricky, Sunny's face twitched several times. Half-brother of President of Orion's Distribution Network, in a conflicted relationship and ready to leave Orion with 32 executives.

'Is this family feud or corporate struggle or mixed in both? Seriously, this is a movie script.' Sunny kept thinking and noted down some key points:-

1.    He has no idea who is this, John Bryan. Never met him or heard about him.

2.    Inviting this guy might bring excess emotional baggage and future problems.

3.    He needs a professional opinion.

Sunny noted down these points in mind while Coffee arrived and both guys then talked around some other matters before John took his leaving.

Sunny hurriedly called Sofia to find someone who has knowledge about Orion and Bryan family feud. Few days later, the truth came out and it was pretty much bland.

Two half-brothers, one more successful and pompous while another hard-working but low-key.  Management loves John, workers loves Ricky. Without wasting more time, Sunny called Matthews and told him about everything and then let Merrill Lynch take over this matter.

Similarly, the negotiations between Orion pictures, Celebrity Home Entertainment and RKO pictures with Merrill Lynch's acquisition team continued in a hushed manner and many small deals kept finalising.

From transfer of some old copyrights, to studio office and then some studio properties including studio cars, overseas office etc. were signed one by one by Sunny.

On one hand Sunny received a total of 27.63 Million dollars from RKO after his filmed was pulled down from theatre chains and then 17.34 Million from the sale of Peripherals and VHS copyrights and 12.86 Million from overseas copyrights.

Vision pictures bank account had a total of 57.83 Million and this money kept on decreasing at an alarming rate until most of the deal closed.

After spending almost 30 Million in the whole month long operations, he acquired most of Celebrity Home Entertainment and RKO pictures distribution teams. Some film copyrights, senior executives from Orion Pictures and a complete mini-studio from Carloco pictures along with few copyrights of old movies and TV series.

The deals were done in a fast paced manner without too much negotiation and it was already a big price but Sunny wanted to keep the news under wraps as much as possible.

By the mid-December, Sunny closed this acquisition and merger operation and caught the attention of many Hollywood studios and this was even published in many leading papers.

"Hello, Sofia. Yes. Sunny this side. I am calling to invite you to my new office inauguration. Yes... a proper office.

I will send you the address. Yes, yes... invite anyone you want and bring as many people as you can. I welcome all.

I will wait for you.....Yes, take care."

Putting down the phone Sunny had a beaming smile.

You can find story with these keywords: The First Trillionaire In World, Read The First Trillionaire In World, The First Trillionaire In World novel, The First Trillionaire In World book, The First Trillionaire In World story, The First Trillionaire In World full, The First Trillionaire In World Latest Chapter