Word: eisner
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Their features have the strong, distinct contours of cartoon characters: Michael Eisner, with a smooth oval face and a personality as big and buoyant as a Macy's parade float; Jeffrey Katzenberg, his relentless energy packed into the trim lines of a bantam rooster. Some animation wizard--at Eisner's Disney or Katzenberg's DreamWorks--could build a clever scenario around the adventures of these two critters. But don't expect to see a cartoon version of Katzenberg's lawsuit against Disney anytime soon. A film about that trial, which had Hollywood adrool over a public brawl between...
Each side can be grateful it's over. Disney gets a public relations ogre off its back at a time when its fortunes are lagging. Also, it is spared the final phase of the trial, in which Eisner would have had to counter Katzenberg's estimate of future revenue by poor-mouthing the company's prospects. And Katzenberg gets a nice bundle--if not the $580 million he wanted. No dollar figure was disclosed, but the educated guess was around $250 million, including the $117 million Katzenberg has already received. The sum is to be paid within a year, giving...
...seen as a win or a loss. Katzenberg, paraphrasing Geffen's definition of a fair settlement, told TIME, "I'm disappointed that I didn't get what I thought I should, and they must be disappointed they paid more than they thought they should." Eisner accentuated the positive: "I'm satisfied this is behind us. Jeffrey deserved something because he was very much a part of the Disney renaissance. And in the end he's probably getting less profit participation than some of today's stars and directors...
...lastly, there is CEO Michael Eisner's ongoing battle with former studio boss Jeffrey Katzenberg. Hearings on exactly how much Disney owes Katzenberg continued last week. The decision could eventually cost several hundred million dollars. Says analyst David Londoner of Schroder & Co.: "It's a great company, but they're going through a soft period, and it's not obvious when they're going to come out of it." Better launch that stock soon...
...merchandise). The company's stock is down too, losing 25% of its value in the past bull-market year. Costs have zoomed: a billion here for the Animal Kingdom theme park, $700 million there for a couple of cruise ships--eventually it adds up. And for months CEO Michael Eisner has been on the defensive in a suit brought by Jeffrey Katzenberg, who ran the film studio until he was pushed out in 1994, for a share of the company's profits. That could cost $500 million. After a palmy decade, Walt's successors are finding it's a jungle...