Hillary Clinton personally lobbied to no avail, and the Hearst family finally responded to Simon's $1 offer on May 19.
The Hearst Group is willing to transfer 20% of its shares in the ESPN television network to Simon at a price of 1 US dollar. In exchange, the Westeros system must lift the ban on the Hearst Group and stop the litigation bombing. The 6 The Hearst family also offered a total settlement of $120 million.
ESPN's shares can be said to be the biggest source of conflict between the two parties.
Three years ago, the troubled Reynolds Nabisco sold its shares in ESPN. The Hearst family used its influence in the media industry to half-coax and half-threat to force Simon to give up the bid, and finally paid $180 million. acquired 20% of the shares of this TV network at a low price, and the transaction price was significantly lower than the valuation of US$200 to US$300 million generally given by the industry.
Three years later, ESPN's shares have further increased with the development of the television network. Currently, the value of the 20% shares held by the Hearst family is no less than US$300 million. This is actually the US$1 that Simon spent. fundamental purpose.
At its peak in memory, as part of Disney, ESPN, which monopolized major sports events in North America, was valued at US$50 billion, more valuable than the ABC television network.
The initial investment of less than US$200 million by the Hearst Group to buy 20% of the ESPN television network has increased in value dozens of times. Not only that, with the decline of the print media industry, only one-fifth of ESPN's shares have brought in revenue and profits. It accounted for more than half of the entire Hearst Group's revenue and profits many years later. As a result, the Hearst family was able to maintain its status and did not decline like the old print media families such as the Graham family behind the "Washington Post".
The most direct target of Simon's $1 was indeed ESPN's shares, which completely blocked the possibility of the Hearst Group transforming from a simple print media destined to decline to a comprehensive media group.
However, the price offered by the Hearst family did not meet Simon's expectations.
Inside a mountain house in Woodside, San Francisco Bay Area.
The time is the afternoon of May 19th.
For Hearst family lawyer Andre Carney, who came from the East Coast to try to negotiate with Simon, Simon just asked Lady A to deal with him.
At this time, in the living room of the villa, Girl A was sitting on the sofa and said without much emotion in her voice: "Mr. Carney, regarding ESPN's shares, the boss is basically satisfied. However, the compensation for six lawsuits, the boss said, one point. Nothing less.”
Simon Westeros said that the Hearst family only had one chance to make an offer. Andre Carney was initially worried that if Westeros was not satisfied with the offer, he might be rejected. The Hearst family It will also continue to be stuck in the quagmire.
Now, as long as it can be discussed, it is a good result.
Andre Carney would not be stupid enough to take the initiative to care about Westeros' words that he only had one chance to make an offer.
Although it was obvious that the girl in front of him was not in a good mood, Andre Carney still said: "Miss Knowles, the compensation amount of 370 million US dollars is too high. You should know that the current Hearst Group has no I can’t get the money.”
Girl A said: "This is a matter for the Hearst Group. You have no room for bargaining."
As one of the most famous lawyers in New York, Andre Carney actually understands that Westeros insists on full compensation of US$370 million and still hopes that the Hearst Group will continue to hemorrhage. Now Hearst Group, if it wants to raise US$370 million in the short term, has only one way to go, selling its media assets.
And it must be sold at a serious discount.
Now any investor interested in purchasing the media assets of Hearst Group will not let go of the opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
After thinking about it for a moment, Andre Carney said: "Miss Knowles, insisting on full compensation for the six lawsuits will not benefit Mr. Westeros at all. Apart from attorney fees, I don't believe that Mr. Westeros will get anything else from him." We take a share of the compensation, so why can’t we take a step back?”
Girl A just shook her head and said: "This is the boss's wish, and it is the final decision."
Andre Carney tried: "Well, can I talk to Mr. Westeros personally?"
"cannot."
"Okay, I will pass this on to Mr. Hearst," Andre Carney was actually just a messenger. After saying this, he added: "Also, regarding the Westeros system that must be contacted after the reconciliation between the two parties. Miss Knowles, what does Mr. Westeros mean by blocking the Hearst family?"
Girl A said: "The boss said that the ban can be lifted, but the Westeros system still won't have any cooperation with the Hearst Group?"
Andre Carney couldn't help but asked: "Is this any different from not lifting the ban?"
Girl A nodded: "By then, the Westeros system will no longer prevent other companies from cooperating with the Hearst Group."
Andre Carney thought for a while and said: "At least, Westeros Company should publish a statement in the newspaper."
Girl A shook her head: "The boss will not agree to this statement, Mr. Carney. The boss's greatest kindness to his enemies is to ignore them. Don't expect him to do more."
Andre Carney questioned: "Miss Knowles, are you making decisions for your boss now?"
"Yes."
"I don't think you have the right to make such a decision. Perhaps it would be best for you to discuss it with Mr. Westeros."
"I know my boss and what decisions he will make."
Andre Carney said: "But now that we have reconciled, we should no longer be enemies."
"Mr. Carney, the so-called 'reconciliation' is just your wishful thinking. For the boss, this is not 'reconciliation', just 'let go'. Do you understand?"
Andre Carney couldn't help but feel some pity for his employer, but on the surface he still insisted: "If this is the case, then the transaction between us has no meaning. Mr. Westeros wants my client to agree. Under those conditions, a certain response must be made, even a symbolic response, such as a simple advertising cooperation.”
Girl A said: "ESPN's equity transfer and the settlement of six lawsuits are the response of the Westeros system. By then, the public should understand what happened and there is no need for any additional symbolic response."
Andre Carney felt a little bitter in his heart.
This is true, but not the truth.
As Girl A just said, if the Westeros system does not give a public response, then, in the eyes of outsiders, this is indeed not a 'reconciliation', but just a 'let go'. This is definitely not what the Hearst family wants to see after paying a huge price.
After continuing to bargain with the girl in front of him for a while, but failing to get any change, Andre Carney had to say goodbye and leave. On the way back to the hotel, he hurriedly informed the Hearst family members who were anxiously waiting in New York about the results of the meeting. core.
In the villa, after sending away the Hearst family's lawyer, Girl A went to an office on the first floor of the villa, called someone to deliver a women's suit according to a certain size, then turned on the computer and began to silently process some work emails.
So it was until 5 o'clock in the afternoon, after get off work time, there was a knock on the door outside the office, and the Indian girl Aaliya opened the door and came in, saying: "A, the boss is going out."
Alison nodded, stood up, picked up several organized documents and left the office.
In a living room next to the living room, the baby-faced Zoe Parks was helping Simon tie his tie, and Isabel Dunn held a coat on her chest and stood obediently next to the man.
Seeing Girl A coming in, Simon smiled and asked, "How was the talk?"
Girl A handed several documents in her hand to Aaliya next to her, stepped forward to take over Zoe's work, felt the man's breath at close range, and said softly: "The Hearst family should not agree too easily, but, They have no choice."
Simon just hummed.
Alison helped Simon tie his tie, then took the suit jacket from Isabel and helped the man put it on, but she kept her eyebrows down the whole time, like a wronged little daughter-in-law.
Simon waited for Alison to help him fasten the buttons, then smiled and grabbed the girl's chin and raised it towards him: "Are you jealous again?"
Girl A looked at the man and didn't answer. She just couldn't help but blink a few times.
Simon lowered his head and kissed her and said, "Don't do this."
The man's eyes were firm, but his tone was gentle. Girl A felt that a small knot in her heart melted away quickly, and in the blink of an eye, she felt that she should not be the one.
Well, I need to be punished.
The man seemed to have read through her thoughts. He came over and whispered a few words, then let her go and said, "Okay, be good."
After saying this, Simon didn't wait for Girl A to remind her again, and took the initiative to take the documents from Aaliyah that he wanted to read in the car. Finally, he said goodbye to the girls and turned around to leave the villa.
In the afternoon, some work arrangements were canceled due to certain things, but there were two schedules in the evening, an evening dinner with Cisco CEO John Chambers, and a cocktail party hosted by Tim Berners-Lee's family.
After sending her boss out, Girl A immediately took back her little daughter attitude and asked Zoe: "I ordered a set of clothes this afternoon, have they been delivered?"
Zoe nodded, and then took the initiative: “I’ll get it.”
The master bedroom on the second floor of the villa.
Alison came in carrying a dark blue women's suit, put the clothes in the small living room outside, knocked on another door, got a response, opened the door and went in, but she went directly to another connected bathroom. After a while, she came out of the bathroom carrying a small tray and walked to the big bed.
On the big bed, a woman lay lazily on her side holding a pillow.
But it was Simon's personal military assistant, Celia Miller.
Noticing the stinky expression on Allison's face, Celia didn't care at all, and with a bit of a smile, she gestured towards the tray in Girl A's hand: "A, what is this?"
Alison put the tray on the bedside table, picked up the water glass, picked up a pill on the small saucer, handed it over together, and said bluntly: "Contraceptive pills."
Celia was stunned, shook her head and said, "It's not necessary, I'm on a safe day today."
Alison insisted: "This is the boss's order, Ms. Miller, and I have to watch you take it yourself."
Hearing this, Celia met Alison's eyes for a moment, then quickly smiled again and said: "Simon wouldn't do that, but, okay, I won't embarrass you."
The woman said, sat up and took the water glass and pills, quickly drank them, and opened her mouth with a bit of teasing to let Girl A check it, then lay down again and said: "A, can you prepare some bath water for me?" Yeah, so tired."
Celia didn't hide it when she just stood up. Girl A noticed the woman's figure and remembered something her boss occasionally said. Some women are beautiful only when they are wearing clothes, and only a small part of them are beautiful regardless of the clothes. Looks great with or without clothes on.
Celia Miller falls into the latter category.
Seeing that Alison didn't move, the woman on the bed said again: "By the way, A, Simon said you would help me prepare clothes?"
Alison came back to her senses and nodded: "Outside. Also, Ms. Miller, do you need me to help you prepare the car?"
"Haha, no need, I don't plan to leave tonight."
Girl A said: "The boss may bring other women back."
"It's okay, I don't mind coming together."
Bichi!
Alison thought a little in her mind, and had to get up and bring in the clothes outside. When she heard Celia mentioned the bath water again, she wanted to refuse. After thinking about it, she walked back to the bathroom depressedly, making up her mind that if this woman If she asks for dinner again, prepare a plate of salt for her.
As a result, after preparing the bath water, Celia Miller mentioned dinner again and planned to do some maintenance after dinner, asking Alison to help arrange it.
In the bathroom of the master bedroom, Celia Miller watched the young girl leave almost madly. Celia Miller leaned comfortably in the large bathtub, recalling all the events during this period, she felt a little sad.
She just flew back from France today.
In just half a month, she has already circled the earth and visited countries such as Australia, Rwanda, Ukraine and France. During the whole process, she also felt more and more that a certain little man was playing a big game of chess.
Australia, Africa, Europe.
And then count North America.
Through private military companies and other arrangements, once it is finally successfully formed, it will be a huge private military network. In comparison, the private mercenaries owned by the Rockefeller family during their heyday were nothing more than childish.
As long as this big network is formed, the Westeros system will become a powerful economy with its own independent military strength.
The more she understands this, the easier it is for Celia Miller to hold on to a little man. She hopes that like other strong women in the Westeros system, she can have her own life in such a powerful economy. A place that cannot be underestimated.
Therefore, during this period, she entered the state 100% and without reservation, running around the world entirely for the benefit of the Westeros system.
I came to San Francisco today to report to the little man the success of my work during this period, and I have successfully taken another step forward.
Of course she knew that there were so many women around the little man and there were all kinds of disparities between them, so it was impossible for anything like love to happen. However, she understands better that if she wants to gain the little man's complete trust, she must have no reservations.
Men often feel that they can trust a woman only after they get a woman, and then they will give her enough trust.
Although this was not true, Celia knew that this method was definitely very effective, so she did not hesitate. From the very beginning when she first saw the little man, she did not hesitate much.
He happened to be hit by Janet Westeros at that time.
Somewhat embarrassing.
But, hum.
It’s not like you’ve allowed yourself to succeed.
At this moment, leaning in the large bathtub, Celia Miller had a smile on her face. Suddenly, she thought of Sophia Fessey and Girl A who was so depressed that she wanted to go crazy.
When Sofia Fesi asked her to go to Girl B to ask for the 'benefits' she deserved, Celia didn't think she meant well from the beginning. This was indeed the case. Fesi, who had been staying in Europe for a long time, knew that she couldn't keep an eye on her. He was worried about himself, so he used this little trick to arouse the vigilance of the ABCD circle closest to his boss.
However, if she is just a vase who only entertains people with sex, Sophia's little tricks may succeed.
Unfortunately she wasn't.
It just so happens that a certain little man obviously prefers a woman with outstanding abilities to a vase. During this time, she had fully proven this to him. With the approval of the little man, the little tricks used by other girls to repel the vase are useless.
Now, after taking a step further, her position beside him will only become stronger.