Global Best Actor: Starting with Picking Up Attributes in America

Chapter 434 Getting Fat in One Go

"Don't rush!"

Chen Xun grabbed him.

"There's one more thing I need you to do."

"What's up?"

Rob still had excitement on his face, as if he could already imagine the scene of StarSeeker Entertainment acquiring Fox.

"Contact China Film Group and Alibaba Pictures to finalize the cooperation. This will ensure we have sufficient funds and prevent others from snatching the deal away!"

"clear!"

Rob nodded vigorously, grabbed his briefcase, and ran out. He turned back at the door, took a swig of coffee from the table, and said, "Wait for my good news. This time, I'll definitely get it done!"

The next morning, before Chen Xun even got out of bed, he heard a noise outside.

When he got up, he saw Robert standing in the living room, followed by Lee So-yeon, who was yawning and carrying a cup of coffee.

"Good news!"

Upon seeing Chen Xun for the first time, Robert shouted excitedly.

"What good news is so good that you rushed over here so early in the morning to report it?"

Chen Xun yawned, took the coffee from Li Suyan, and took a sip.

"China Film Group and Alibaba have already made contact. As soon as they heard about our idea, they immediately expressed their willingness to fund it. They also have an even bolder idea!"

"What are your thoughts?"

"They want to buy the entire Fox!"

puff~

Chen Xun spat out the coffee he had just drunk.

"!!!"

"What did you say?"

Chen Xun thought he had misheard: "Including 20th Century Fox film company, Fox television network, FX cable television, and their entire IP library?"

"right!"

Rob nodded vigorously: "I originally told them that we needed $25 billion, plus our own $13 billion, to make a total of $38 billion."

They planned to acquire searchlights, copyright libraries, and European distribution channels for hundreds of millions. As a result, Wang, the chairman of China Film Group, and Zhang, the general manager of Alibaba, exchanged a glance and decided to go for something big.

He mimicked Chairman Wang's tone on the phone, slamming his fist on the table and saying, "Didn't Disney offer 713 billion? We'll offer 800 billion to hijack Disney's bid and buy Fox entirely! Then the three of us will jointly establish a new company called China Dragon Pictures, headquartered in Los Angeles, to directly challenge the Hollywood Big Five!"

Lee So-yeon's eyes widened, speechless for a long time: "They're insane—they're really insane—800 billion US dollars, that's equivalent to three years' worth of total box office revenue for the entire Chinese film market!"

"They said money wasn't an issue."

Rob shrugged: "Alibaba said they can contribute 40 billion, China Film Group will contribute 30 billion, and we, StarSeeking Entertainment, will only contribute personnel and status, not money. Moreover, you will serve as the global CEO of China Dragon Film, fully responsible for all business operations."

Chen Xun was both amused and exasperated.

He had known for a long time that domestic capital was wealthy, but he hadn't expected them to be this rich and so audacious.

Previously, Hollywood capital would come to China to make money and acquire Chinese film companies. Now, however, domestic giants want to buy out Fox, one of the six major Hollywood studios.

This isn't just bottom-fishing; it's an attempt to take over Hollywood's headquarters.

"They also said that if 800 billion is not enough, they would offer 900 billion, or even 1000 billion."

Rob continued, "Anyway, we're going to take over Fox and show the world that Chinese capital can also dominate Hollywood. After enduring Hollywood for so many years, it's finally our turn to hold our heads high."

Chen Xun sighed and shook his head: "This is not about money at all. Let alone 800 billion, even if you offered 1000 billion, it would be impossible to buy the entire Fox."

Why?

Rob and Lee So-yeon asked simultaneously, "Can't you buy it if you have money?"

"Of course you can't buy it!"

Chen Xun counted on his fingers, explaining to them point by point: "First, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) will absolutely not approve it. The media and cultural industries are core and sensitive areas for the United States. They would never allow Chinese capital to control a top Hollywood studio, let alone allow Fox's television network and news business to fall into Chinese hands."

"Back then, Wanda only acquired Legendary Pictures, but it was investigated by CFIUS for a whole year and was eventually forced to sell most of its shares. Acquiring the entire Fox? Don't even think about it, it would be vetoed outright."

"Secondly, Disney has already signed an exclusivity agreement with the Murdoch family, and there is also a $15 billion breakup fee. If we try to forcibly take over, we will not only have to pay an exorbitant breakup fee, but also face legal action from Disney."

"Who is Disney? The world's largest entertainment empire, they have plenty of time and money to waste on us."

"Third, the five major Hollywood studios will definitely unite to boycott us."

"If Chinese capital really buys Fox, they will have a hard time in the future. They will unite with all the theater chains to stop showing our movies and unite all the actors and directors to stop cooperating with us. Even if we buy Fox, it will be an empty shell and will not be able to operate at all."

"The Murdoch family wouldn't be willing to sell to us either. They are Jewish, have deep-rooted ties with Disney, and look down on Chinese capital, thinking we don't understand Hollywood and that buying Fox would only lead to disaster."

"They'd rather sell to Disney at a low price than sell to us at a high price."

Chen Xun's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Robert and Li Suyan's heads.

Rob, who had been so excited just moments before, immediately deflated: "What should we do? The decision has already been made back home, and they've even come up with a company name."

"What else can we do but try to persuade them?"

Chen Xun picked up his phone and dialed Chairman Wang's number directly.

As soon as the call connected, Chairman Wang's hearty laughter came through the other end: "Chen Xun! How about it? Isn't our plan powerful enough? Once we take over Fox, we'll be the world's second-largest entertainment company, and we won't have to be beholden to Disney anymore!"

"Chairman Wang, your style is domineering, but it won't work at all."

Chen Xun didn't beat around the bush and directly repeated his analysis from the beginning.

The laughter on the other end of the phone stopped abruptly.

After a full half minute of silence, Chairman Wang finally spoke, his tone tinged with resentment: "Is there really no chance at all?"

We can spend more money, or we can find a US proxy company to hold shares, thus circumventing CFIUS scrutiny.

"it's useless."

Chen Xun shook his head: "CFIUS isn't stupid. They won't be fooled by tricks like nominee shareholding. And even if we manage to pass the review by chance, the subsequent boycott will leave us with nothing. Haven't we learned our lesson from Wanda? We can't gamble hundreds of billions of dollars on an almost impossible outcome."

Chairman Wang's tone noticeably somber: "Are we just going to stand by and watch Disney swallow Fox up? We've finally gotten this opportunity."

"Opportunities certainly exist, but you can't become an expert overnight."

Chen Xun smiled and said his idea: "We will not buy the entire Fox, but only the non-core assets that they have spun off."

"

"Disney doesn't care about these assets, CFIUS won't interfere, and the five major Hollywood studios won't pay attention to them, but they are invaluable to us. With Searchlight Pictures, an independent film copyright library, and a European distribution network, SearchStar Entertainment can truly join the ranks of top-tier studios. Once we've established ourselves, we'll have plenty of opportunities to slowly erode their market share."

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, we can sign a long-term cooperation agreement with Fox, and in the future, their films will be distributed in China and Southeast Asia by Seeking Star Entertainment. This way, we can get a share of the pie without spending a lot of money to acquire them."