Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 335 Universal Films
On the last day of February 1995, Panasonic and Sugon announced in Japan and the United States respectively that Sugon would acquire MCA for $72 billion, through a combination of cash and stock!

Sugon paid Panasonic $58 billion in cash, plus a 10% stake in New Sugon, to acquire MCA Global.

Los Angeles, Universal City Plaza, Hollywood, Universal Headquarters.

Aaron Anderson and Yoichi Morishita have officially signed the acquisition agreement!
"Congratulations, Aaron. With the acquisition of MCA, Dawn will definitely reach new heights."

Yoichi Morishita shook hands with Aaron, his tone revealing helplessness. The losses that Panasonic had incurred during the years it operated MCA all pointed to the failure of Panasonic's acquisition of MCA.

Aaron nodded, ignoring the cameras in the hands of the reporters around him, and smiled, "At least, Panasonic hasn't completely withdrawn from Hollywood. It can still get a share of the entertainment industry in the future!"

However, even though Panasonic owns a 10% stake in New Dawn, Aaron's ambitions don't stop there. There will be many more acquisitions in the future, and Panasonic's stake will inevitably be diluted.

With Dawn's formal acquisition of MCA, the new Dawn Group has become a top global entertainment group with a valuation of over $150 billion;

Franklin Templeton Investments, Blackstone, Fidelity Investments, Vanguard, Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and other funds and banks jointly contributed $58 billion.

Burbank, Dawn Headquarters.

“Congratulations, Aaron,” Peter Peterson said, shaking hands with Aaron.

"Yes, thanks to you all!"

After discussion, Aaron currently still owns 62% of New Dawn's shares, with the remainder, excluding those in the equity pool, owned by Panasonic and other banks and funds;
Investors, led by Charles Johnson, head of the Franklin Templeton Fund, also became formal shareholders of Dawn.

Peter Peterson smiled. "Of course!"

The following day, Aaron, along with the top executives of Dawn, arrived at Universal City Hollywood, the headquarters of Universal Pictures.

Met with Sidney Sheinberg, president of MCA, and Lou Wasserman, CEO, and Tom Pollock, president of production at Universal Pictures!
"I can't believe it, you actually acquired MCA?"

Lou Wasserman sighed, "Is the next step to reorganize the MCA?"

Aaron nodded. "A complete reorganization, a complete reintegration!"

A new emperor brings a new court; Lou Wasserman, Sidney Heinberger, and Tom Pollock are not the people Aaron needs.

Lou Wasserman smiled. "Sidney invited me to start an independent production company, but I refused. I'm too old; I've dedicated everything to MCA."

"Now it's up to you."

Aaron remained expressionless. "MCA will be split up and reorganized to form Universal Pictures and Universal Music Group."

"Dawn Pictures merges into Universal Pictures!"

“Universal Music Group?” Lou Wasserman’s body trembled. “What about MCA?”

"Let's become a label under Universal Music Group!"

This means that MCA's mission is complete, and the future belongs to Universal Music.

When Panasonic acquired MCA, it gave Lou Wasserman a lifetime contract with MCA. Now, Aaron has directly reorganized Universal Music, reducing MCA to a record label.

The meaning is clear: the new Dawn Group no longer needs Lou Wasserman; if he wants to, he can only manage a record company! Burbank, Disney headquarters.

Michael Eisner sat in his office watching the news on TV: Aaron Anderson had acquired MCA Global, and Dawn Group was riding high.
It has become the fourth largest entertainment group after Time Warner, Viacom, and Disney, and its size has even surpassed News Corporation!
"Well, have you thought about it?"

Michael Eisner turned off the TV and asked Michael Ovitz across the room.

With Scramble's failed acquisition of MCA, Michael Ovitz's dream has also fallen through, and joining Disney may be his last resort.

Michael Ovitz sighed. "Let me finish dealing with the tail end of CAA!"

Soon after acquiring the MCA Group, Dawn began to split and reorganize it, with MCA Music being reorganized into Universal Music Group.
Dawn Pictures merged into Universal Pictures, MCA Home Entertainment was reorganized into Universal Home Entertainment, and MCA Television merged into Dawn Television Group;

At the same time, Universal withdrew from its partnership with Paramount in United International Pictures (UIP) and formed Universal Pictures International (UPI)...

Sidney Heinberger and Tom Pollock left Universal, and Lou Wasserman became an advisor to Universal Music Group, completely marginalized;

Dawning has begun a layoff plan, and more than 800 employees will lose their jobs!
Better a short, sharp pain than a long, drawn-out one. Aaron used forceful and ruthless methods to integrate the MCA Universal Group, sending chills down the spines of the entire Hollywood.

Dawn Steele serves as president of Universal Pictures, overseeing production operations, while Tom Rothman serves as co-president, responsible for the restructuring and reorganization of Universal Home Entertainment and Universal International.

Brad Gray is in charge of distribution for the new Universal Pictures!
Furthermore, due to Aaron's extreme dissatisfaction with Universal Pictures' projects, all of Universal's projects in preparation have been suspended, awaiting Aaron's reassessment.

In late March, the 67th Academy Awards were held at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Los Angeles!

However, due to the major move by the Shuguang Group, the staff outside Global City who were about to be laid off held a grand protest.

In Steven Spielberg's luxurious office in Universal City, Jeffrey Katzenberg stood by the window looking at the crowd below. "Sigh, young people are so impatient!"

Steven Spielberg shook his head and sighed, "Thousands of people will lose their jobs."

"Not only that, Aaron also ordered all projects that Universal was preparing to be suspended. Who knows how many more projects will disappear!"

Jeffrey Katzenberg turned his head and said, "Aaron's move is too big. It will probably take a year to fully integrate Universal."

“Yes, but Aaron’s confidence comes from Dawn’s projects, which can fully support it,” Spielberg was not too worried. Of course, many of the projects that Universal was undertaking could not compare with Dawn’s projects.
With a glimmer of hope, the global chaos is only temporary.

"Isn't Aaron in Global City?"

Jeffrey Katzenberg asked.

Steven Spielberg shook his head. "He's not at Dawn headquarters in Burbank either. I heard he's been in New York for a while now!"

Jeffrey Katzenberg chuckled. "Not attending the Oscars tonight either?"

Steven Spielberg shrugged. "Is there any suspense tonight? Forrest Gump has too much of an advantage."

"Besides, would he even care about an Oscars ceremony?"

(End of this chapter)