America: My Time

Chapter 938 Universal Studios Project
Chapter 908 Universal Studios Project
Even if Morgan was dissatisfied with normal business practices, he couldn't break the rules. Moreover, he suspected Rockefeller's involvement, and the cooperation offered by Rockefeller might be a scheme aimed at Morgan. The apparent benefits might be considerable, but what lay behind them could be calculation and conspiracy.

If the acquisition of Fox Studios was questionable, and there was the shadow of OPEC Capital behind it, with Morgan choosing to help the other side for his own benefit, then if others found out, it would be a huge problem. If it reached John's ears, it would be considered betrayal, and given John's petty nature, he would naturally be dissatisfied with Morgan. If the problem were to arise after Morgan had already taken the company public, then he would be unable to clear his name no matter what. However, this was merely Morgan's speculation, without any evidence, and such matters couldn't be spoken aloud, otherwise it would only make those people resent Morgan.

Morgan never believed that Oil Capital would give up on the media. He was aware of the underhanded operations of some people, but he simply did not stop them. So now that this situation has arisen, Morgan is naturally on guard. Moreover, the timing of John's departure is also questionable. In short, there are some problems behind everything.

Jimmy was aware of the current situation, but he didn't believe those guys' schemes would succeed. He didn't think John was unaware of the underlying issues, and John's willingness to leave the United States at this time meant he must have been prepared.

“Boss, things aren’t that serious, are they? John shouldn’t be completely unprepared. And even if those guys do make a move and exert some influence, it’s impossible for it to shake our cooperation with John.”

"It's true that it's impossible to directly shake our cooperation with John, but if the foundation is shaken, problems will gradually emerge. Over time, even the best cooperative relationship will collapse. It's never wrong to be careful. And don't you think this is also a test from John for us? We must not be careless in any way, otherwise we will only suffer losses ourselves."

Morgan was well aware of John's recent moves and investments outside the US. His renewed forays into mining and steel were all putting pressure on Morgan. With Trump unlikely to be re-elected and tensions between him and John, John would certainly not invest further in the US, or even expand further. Europe, hampered by the automotive industry, also lacked significant growth potential. Only Asia remained a concern for Morgan, given John's formidable presence there.

Two private jets landed one after the other at the airport in Beijing. The Chinese side was naturally aware of John's family's arrival. Although it was said to be a vacation, many people did not think so. After all, John's previous investments in Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan were obvious to all. Moreover, John would make a lot of investments every time he came to China. So someone came out to pick them up at the airport!
During this period, China placed greater emphasis on investment, and naturally, people like John were given extra attention. However, since John used the excuse of vacation, no one discussed investment matters at the outset; instead, John and his companions were given time to rest and relax.

In just a few days, John had arranged things for his grandparents. However, he was still short-handed because time was tight. Even though John wanted to make arrangements, he couldn't do everything perfectly. What surprised him most was that his grandparents chose to live in Nanluoguxiang, which ruined all his original plans.

John had hoped his parents could stay longer, but something came up in the US that forced them to return. Although John had made some preparations, their arrival was still a bit rushed. After seeing his parents off, John couldn't help but think about how to take good care of them. Although there were plenty of staff available to help, John was still worried. However, for now, he had to leave it at that; after all, this wasn't something that could be resolved in a day or two.

John originally planned to deal with the issues in Japan and South Korea first before returning to discuss the investment, but the enthusiasm in Beijing forced him to abandon his previous plans and focus on the investment here first.

Over the years, John has made numerous investments here, especially in Beijing, primarily in real estate. Back then, due to the low prices of properties, John arranged for the acquisition of many real estate properties. Every year, a significant portion of his profits in China was invested in the acquisition of real estate in those cities. It can be said that this single investment strategy alone has brought John huge profits, and the appreciation of these properties is absolutely astonishing!

"Mr. John, I've heard that Universal Studios intends to continue expanding. I wonder if we have any opportunities to cooperate?"

With the success of Universal Studios Hong Kong, John naturally didn't want to bring overseas profits back to the United States in order to further consume Legendary Entertainment's huge profits. It should be noted that Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Group are no longer what they used to be. After several years of development, they have gradually begun to generate huge profits.

Phoenix Group is relatively easy to deal with; they can continue to expand their cinema network and accelerate their control over cinemas. However, Legendary Entertainment is a completely different story. This made John think of Universal Studios. He intends to take advantage of the fact that land prices in China have not yet skyrocketed and wants to build Universal Studios in China, and not just one, but two, one in the north and one in the south!
"We do have that idea, but we're still looking for a suitable city. It would be a lie to say we're not interested in Beijing, but this isn't a decision I can make alone. It requires detailed comparison. Universal Studios requires a lot of land, and I'm worried that Beijing might not be able to provide us with that kind of support!"

Land is the biggest issue, and it's something Universal Studios absolutely needs. After all, it will require future expansion, and it will be a huge project. If we're going to do it, we need to do it the best. John's plan is to do it all at once; otherwise, without enough land, future development will inevitably be affected. "We can discuss this. It's not a problem. As long as there's demand, we can make a reasonable plan."

John was taken aback upon hearing this; it was something he hadn't expected. "May I ask why you all made this decision? You see, our goal isn't something like Hong Kong; it's something much larger, with a much higher investment. And this isn't just a Universal Studios; it also includes resorts and other investments!"

“We know that we have actually consulted with the Mandarin Oriental Group and understand the vision of Universal Pictures and the Mandarin Oriental Group. This is not a problem for us.”

John underestimated China's thirst for investment during this period. Hundreds of millions of dollars was no small sum, and this was just the beginning. The Mandarin Oriental Group had many more expansion plans. It could be said that when the Mandarin Oriental Group turned its attention to China, it was not an ordinary investment, but a massive investment of staggering amounts.

The Universal Studios project is just one part of the Mandarin Oriental Group's investment. Larger investments are yet to come. With the annual growth of revenue in Hong Kong and the profitability of its overseas assets, the Mandarin Oriental Group has a considerable amount of capital at its disposal. What is most enticing is the accompanying promotional plan from the two major media groups.

After the investment in Japan was successful, the cooperation between Mandarin Oriental Group and Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Group has been increasing. Now the plan in Taiwan has already begun. You should know that such publicity is not something you can have just because you want it.

Although John's plan has not yet been implemented in China, some rumors have already emerged. Those who are interested are aware of the changes within the Mandarin Oriental Group and how much investment they will make next.

"Are you sure? If you can meet Universal Studios' needs, I have no problem. But there's one thing I need to make clear: there aren't just one Universal Studios, there are two. Originally, there was one in the north and one in the south, but because of the existence of Universal Studios Hong Kong, we will invest in one in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang area."

Upon hearing John's words, the representative from Beijing was shocked. Although he had long known that the Mandarin Oriental Group, Legendary Entertainment, and Phoenix Group would have amazing investments in partnership, he had not expected that investments like Universal Studios would come in pairs.

The investment in just two Universal Studios alone is by no means a small sum, not to mention the Mandarin Oriental Group's commercial real estate investments and other ventures. One can only imagine how staggering the funds these three conglomerates will pour in together. And this is just in real estate; there will be enormous investments in other areas as well. After all, John is not only a real estate tycoon and a media mogul, but also a pharmaceutical tycoon and a technology tycoon.

Such a massive investment would naturally attract the attention of many cities. Although the Mandarin Oriental Group has not yet announced their plans, their personnel have already begun conducting site visits in major cities across China, and this will take a considerable amount of time. Despite the relatively short time the Mandarin Oriental Group has been in China, their investments have been substantial. The new investment plan has naturally appealed to many cities, including Beijing.

The people in Beijing first consulted with John, which was just the beginning and a small test to find out the scale of John's plan and provide some useful information for their superiors. After all, when the Mandarin Oriental Group starts investing, they need to know the scale of the other party's investment. As for the funding issue, no one doubted the strength of the three major groups, since each group has amazing profits. The Chinese side had already done its research on this.

(End of this chapter)