Chapter 581: Chapter 555 Reformation
After all, since the policy was introduced, a large number of Aiyi Group’s films cannot be broadcast due to copyright issues, causing a cliff-like drop in traffic. To maintain it, they must purchase film and television copyrights, which requires at least tens of billions in investment. Where would he get so much funding?
Right now, Aiyi Group’s only advantage is its installed base.
At its peak, Aiyi Group was the top video platform in Hua Country, with its installation ranking among the top three in Hua Country’s video sector.
This is also the main reason Ye Chen took a fancy to Aiyi.
Li Hong said, "Our bottom line is that we can sell forty percent of the equity, but retain sixty percent in our control."
Ye Chen shook his head, "Chairman Li, do you think I’m stupid, spending so much money and the company control still isn’t mine?"
"We’ve already given you a very low price, and we believe purchasing at such a price, you surely won’t lose out," Li Ying added on the side.
Ye Chen replied, "Price isn’t the issue, but if we don’t have control over the company, there’s no point in continuing this business talk."
"You should be well aware of Aiyi Group’s current state, if it continues like this, the brand will surely perish. I must have actual control to reform the company and rejuvenate it, after all, I’m not here to acquire it to lose money."
Li Ying furrowed her brows upon hearing this.
Ye Chen’s meaning was clear.
Your capability simply isn’t enough to revitalize Aiyi Group.
Li Ying also graduated from a prestigious international finance university and is quite capable.
Originally, she was full of confidence when taking over Aiyi Group.
However, due to the overall funding environment, she indeed felt a sense of powerlessness.
Li Hong took a deep breath, "How about this, I’m fine with you acquiring all the shares, but it must be at double the price."
Double, for a company already making losses, is definitely being greedy.
If it were the previous Aiyi, it might still be worth that price.
But now, Aiyi can be said to have depreciated.
In such a situation, Li Hong proposing to sell at double to Ye Chen can be said to be greedy.
Ye Chen finally understood why several other companies failed in their acquisition attempts.
Nobody would agree to Li Hong’s offered price.
No one would be willing to pay double for a loss-making company.
Ye Chen pondered for a moment and then suddenly said, "Okay, I agree."
A dead silence fell over the scene.
Nobody expected Ye Chen to really be willing to be the fool.
Lin Wanrou, standing by his side, was also stunned and softly reminded, "Sir, Aiyi Group isn’t worth that price."
Ye Chen softly replied, "I know what I’m doing."
Li Hong looked at Ye Chen in surprise, "You really agree?"
Ye Chen nodded, "That’s right, I agree to acquire Aiyi Group at double the price."
Hearing Ye Chen agree, Li Hong was ecstatic.
In fact, for Li Hong, Aiyi Group was like a hot potato.
Now that a fool was willing to buy it at double the price, he naturally was willing to sell.
Many of the negotiators were stunned at this point.
Does this guy have a screw loose?
Originally, this company was only worth ten billion.
Double the price is twenty billion.
The two sides shook hands, signed the deal, and Ye Chen finally successfully acquired Aiyi Group.
Ye Chen temporarily handed over the management of the company to Lin Wanrou.
Ye Chen drove home with Lin Wanrou.
At the door, Lin Wanrou smiled and habitually gave a Five-Star Review.
"Ding, congratulations to the host for receiving a Five-Star Review, activating the third praise star, and obtaining a system reward of Awakening Tea."
Ye Chen saw a hundred bags of Awakening Tea in the inventory.
Looking at the description, Ye Chen’s eyes lit up.
Awakening Tea, refreshing and mind-clearing, can relieve fatigue and keep one’s mind sharp.
This is something Ye Chen desperately needs right now.
Ye Chen, having acquired Aiyi Group, became busy.
Because he needed to write songs and scripts.
For Aiyi Group to quickly develop, it must have impressive offerings to attract viewers.
As for artists, Ye Chen didn’t lack any; what he lacked were works.
The first script Ye Chen thought of writing was "Palace Locking Heart Jade."
Late at night, Ye Chen was still typing away.
Behind him, Lin Wanrou, at some unknown time, came to Ye Chen’s side with a cup of hot milk.
"Sir, it’s late, you should rest soon."
Ye Chen gave a faint smile, "It’s okay, I’m not tired."
Having drunk the Awakening Tea, even though it was already past two in the morning, Ye Chen didn’t feel the least bit sleepy.
In fact, Ye Chen felt a surge of energy.
In one night, Ye Chen completed the script for "Palace Locking Heart Jade."
The next day, a piece of news once again became the headline.
Star Media acquired Aiyi Group for twenty billion, with Ye Chen becoming the actual controlling shareholder of Aiyi.
Basically, all the money Ye Chen made from filming "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was sunk into it.
Many people couldn’t understand Ye Chen’s move.
Is this guy out of his mind?
After all, online video is currently on a downturn.
Some smaller video sites have even shuttered.
Yet Ye Chen spent an enormous amount, paying double to acquire a company destined to close.
In many people’s eyes, this was pure folly.
Does this guy just have too much money with nowhere to spend it?
Although Aiyi Group was popular in Hua Country, everyone knew it was on a decline.
Aiyi Group had even lost a billion this year.
Everyone knew Aiyi Group was looking for someone to take over.
Ye Chen spending double to acquire Aiyi Group was outright brainless.
No one had high hopes for Ye Chen’s investment.
However, Aiyi Group’s fans went crazy.
After all, Aiyi Group had accompanied them through many cherished times.
Later, due to video copyrights, countless videos were taken down, causing a pang in these fans’ hearts.
Now, with the more powerful Ye Chen purchasing Aiyi Group at double the price, they held new hope for Aiyi Video.
As for the online doubts, Ye Chen didn’t make any comments or responses.
Others said he’s foolish, called him stupid, but Ye Chen felt he had profited.
Actually, Aiyi Group had very strong fundamentals, a powerful fanbase, and download numbers, which is what Ye Chen valued most.
What Aiyi lacked now was content, and once it had content, it would be easy for the app to reignite in popularity.
Ye Chen decided to use the drama "Palace Locking Heart Jade" to draw traffic to Aiyi.
In Ye Chen’s mind, there were many films.
The "Hua Qian Gu," "The Legend of Zhen Huan," and "Tomb Raider" series, these network dramas that were big hits in the previous life could all be placed on the Aiyi app.
Ye Chen acquired Aiyi just for the platform.
These shows, which drove young people crazy in the past, Ye Chen was confident, could help Aiyi rise again.
After the acquisition, Ye Chen arrived at Aiyi Group.
In the past few days, with Lin Wanrou’s cooperation, Ye Chen had also conducted drastic reforms in the company.
A new Aiyi Group was set to soar on this day, becoming a legend in Hua Country’s history.
And this day was destined to be a nightmare for television stations.