Chapter 266: Investment Company
Chapter 266: Investment Company
"Chris, do you know Cisco?" Eric asked excitedly. In his memory, Cisco was probably not yet listed, so his current wealth would surely allow him to make a significant share. Eric didn't even ask for too much, even if he only got 10%, after ten years, the value of this share alone could make him taste the taste of being the world's richest man.
Chris thought for a moment and asked, "You mean the router company invested by Sequoia Capital?"
"Yeah, you know Cisco too?" Eric asked nervously. It seemed like it was not a good news that Chris knew this company, could it be...
Eric didn't notice the unease on Erik's face and said with an inexplicable smile, "Of course I know, because the company that operates Cisco's IPO is also ours, but it's not the same group, his name is George Kelly. He spent several months persuading Cisco's main shareholders to agree to the IPO plan, and now he's lobbying around, hoping that some investment institutions will take over Cisco's stock when it goes public in February next year."
So that means it hasn't gone public yet.
Eric immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Just now he heard that Chris was very familiar with Cisco and thought that the company had already gone public, or that the company was being targeted by big investment banks like Morgan Stanley. Then it would not be easy for him to snatch it.
"Chris, can you do me a favor?" Eric thought for a moment and then looked at Chris seriously, "Help me buy as many shares of Cisco as possible."
Chris was confused: "Eric, a lot of investment firms are avoiding George Kelly now and many people don't have faith in the company."
Jeffrey, who had been quietly listening all the time, also advised: "Eric, if you want to invest, let Chris help you find some more valuable companies. This one you mentioned... what was it called, Cisco? Maybe you should just forget about it."
Eric shook his head firmly and kept looking at Chris, "Chris, can you do me this favor?"
Chris seemed to be infected by Eric's gaze. He subconsciously nodded and then said, "Eric. If you are interested in this company, I can help you get some more detailed information from George Kelly, and you should look at it before making your decision."
"No need, I have already decided."
Chris and Jeffrey exchanged glances, and Jeffrey said softly, "Eric, did you just... drink a bit too much?"
"Listen, Jeffrey, and you too, Chris. I am completely sober right now, neither tipsy nor drunk. Okay, the truth is... I have seen some data about Cisco, and I feel like it could become an industry giant like Microsoft, Oracle, or Apple. So Chris, give me some good advice, okay?"
Chris looked at his father; he knew Jeffrey was most familiar with Eric. Jeffrey thought about Eric's character before, and it seemed he never succeeded in dissuading him from doing anything he decided to do. So Jeffrey nodded at his son.
With his father's approval, Chris said, "So, Erik. If you decide to, it would be best to set up an investment company first or have an investment company act as an agent for you. Morgan Stanley has a dedicated private wealth management department that would certainly provide you with top-notch service, of course, at a hefty commission. So I recommend the former option. Then it's quite simple. Use this investment company to acquire Cisco stocks, and then find a professional manager to join their board of directors to help you take care of the post-acquisition matters. Of course, you can do this yourself, but I don't think you have the time, nor do I suggest you do these more specialized tasks yourself."
Erik thought for a moment, studying Chris across from him, before suddenly speaking up, "Chris, what if you come to help me manage this investment company?"
"Me?" Chris pointed to himself.
Eric nodded: "Yes, rest assured, this company won't be a small fry, I guarantee that the company's funds won't be less than one hundred million dollars."
Chris knew that Eric wouldn't joke around and was immediately conflicted.
He was already a senior manager at Morgan Stanley, and it took many people at least seven or eight years to reach this level, but he had only taken four years, and he was likely to get another promotion in another year.
Now, suddenly, another opportunity had appeared before him, and if it had been someone other than Eric who spoke to him, he might have agreed immediately. But Eric was too young, which made him hesitate and fear that Eric was just having a whim.
I know what you're worried about, Chris, but trust me, it's not a decision I made on a whim. I assure you of that. If you don't believe me," Eric looked at Jeffrey beside him and said, "Jeffrey can be a witness."
Jeffrey touched his nose and chuckled, "What should I guarantee?"
"Guarantee that I'm not making a decision on a whim--you should know my character by now."
"But from what I remember, you have done quite a few things on a whim," Jeffrey said with a smile, then added, "But it turned out right in the end. Chris, I think you should give it a try."
Chris hesitated for a moment and said, "Eric, I need to think about this, and I will get back to you soon".
"No problem," Eric nodded without pressing him.
It was not until 10 o'clock in the evening that Eric took the two girls away from Jeffrey's house.
The Thanksgiving Day full of hustle and bustle passed quickly, and none of the three people had a chance to eat the turkey because of the quarrel. The two girls joked about pardoning the two turkeys they bought, one by one, surpassing the US President. After the festival, Aniston started to work and left the villa, and Eric also breathed a sigh of relief. While paying attention to the box office of three movies related to fireflies, the casting of "X-Files" also began. After two months of busy work, the "X-Files" script team had basically completed the first season of the script.
Assistant knocked on the door of Disney's headquarters and opened it, saying to the busy Michael Eisner: "Mr. Eisner, Mr. Robin has arrived."
"Let him in," Michael Eisner put down the pen in his hand.
Bruce Joel Rubin soon entered the office. These days, he had a very glamorous life, because the script of "Harlem Night Club" was seen by Eric and spread throughout Hollywood. The senior executives of the seven major companies almost met him once. The small film companies that came together to cooperate were innumerable, and the people who wanted to get the script were also getting higher and higher prices, but they never reached his expectations.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Robin," Michael Eisner walked around the desk and smiled, shaking hands with Bruce Joel Rubin.
Bruce was no longer felt intimidated like he had when meeting with the seven senior executives not long ago. After shaking hands with Michael Eisner in an unhurried manner, the two of them sat on the sofa together.
Michael Eisner did not make any comments on the script for "Harlem Night Club." He said: "Mr. Robin, I have read the script, and today I invited you here to ask you something."
"Mr. Eisner, please feel free to say anything." Bruce picked up the coffee brought by the assistant and took a sip.
Michael Eisner patiently watched Bruce's show and asked after Bruce put his cup down, "I just want to know one thing, what did Eric Williams say when you guys talked before? If your answer satisfies me, I will give you a very suitable price."
Bruce Joel Rubin furrowed his brows, feeling uncomfortable with Michael Eisner's commanding tone: "Mr. Eisner, Mr. Williams said he was very interested in this script and wants to buy it to direct it himself."
Michael Eisner shook his head: "No, I'm very familiar with the little guy, he definitely wouldn't say something like this, I need you to restore the scene when you met him as it is. If you keep lying or don't want to say, then you can leave now. If you tell me the situation of that time completely and the result makes me satisfied, I will give you an extremely generous script contract. I know that Paramount is currently the highest bidder, they gave you 600,000 US dollars in price and 2% of the profits. Believe me, my offer is absolutely higher than theirs, it all depends on whether your answer can make me satisfied or not. "
Bruce felt a bit annoyed in his heart and almost wanted to leave, but he couldn't pass up the money either, so he endured it and roughly described the scene when he met Eric.
Michael Eisner listened patiently, knowing full well that Bruce couldn't possibly tell the truth without embellishing it. So, he was trying to decide how much of what Bruce said was true.
When Bruce had finished, Michael Eisner leaned back on the sofa and pondered for a full ten minutes.
The whole thing began with a celebratory party for the huge box office success of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, hosted by Disney, with the most Disney people in attendance. So, Michael Eisner had already heard a complete account of the incident from many people.
Eric can currently determine that Eric was not actively approaching that group of people at the party, but was passing by and was accidentally surrounded by that group of guests, and accidentally heard about the script, and only had a few conversations. Among the group was a general manager from Disney's distribution department. According to the other party, Eric did not show anything strange at the time. So when Eric first heard a few people talking about this script, he was very optimistic about this possibility.