Chapter 564： Can talk

The sky slipped down the narrow rain lines, and a black Cadillac drove through the Santa Monica Valley, gradually approaching the waterfront area, and then stopped in front of a business club.

James Nathan pushed the door and got out of the car, propped up a **** umbrella to hide his dark face, and quickly walked into the clubhouse.

"Hello, Mr. Nathan." Someone greeted him: "I am Djokov from Relativity Entertainment. We met in Century City last time."

The two had an appointment. James Nathan naturally remembered who he was, shook hands with Djokov, and said, "Good morning."

With a few polite words, Djokov stretched out his hand and motioned: "Please, please."

James Nathan followed Djokov into a sea view reception room, and someone immediately brought coffee and snacks.

It was not the first time that Djokov met with James Nathan and asked directly: "Mr. Nathan, how did you think about my last proposal?"

James Nathan is a shareholder of Artisan Pictures, with nearly 9% of the shares in his hands. He is an investor in Artisan Pictures' period of financing and stock expansion in the 1990s, not an entrepreneurial shareholder.

Such people invest for profit.

"Although the income of Artisan Pictures is not high, it has a relatively stable income every year." James Nathan did not directly answer: "I have always been very satisfied with Artisan Pictures' investment."

Even if you want to sell shares, you can't say it directly.

Djokaf is responsible for contacting James Nathan, and of course he has carefully studied his situation with Artisan Films: "As far as I know, the shareholders of Artisan Films in the past two years are not very satisfied with the company's development."

James Nathan laughed and said naturally: "Shareholders will never be satisfied with the company's earnings."

This is simply the truth. Djokov can’t refute, nor will he refute, saying: “Since 1997, the annual revenue of Artisan Pictures has been very stable, with almost no growth. What does this mean? Mr. Nathan, You are a veteran investor and you should be able to see that Artisan Pictures has no development potential."

James Nathan still laughed: "Stability means that the risk is also small."

Djokaf also laughed: "For seven consecutive years, revenue has basically not increased. From the perspective of investment and currency, it is not an exaggeration to say that the company is going downhill. Most companies and enterprise development will always follow a rule and wait for growth. After the stagnation enters a period of flattening, it means that the decline is in sight."

He stepped hard: "Given the current situation in Hollywood and the operating standards of Artisan Films, can this company regain its vitality? Taking a step back, Artisan Films can maintain its current status in the next four to five years. The assets in hand will not increase in any way, but this is an asset worth tens of millions of dollars. Is there any difference between standing still and losing?"

James Nathan naturally understands these words, and he also knows that if Artisan Films can no longer develop, the shares in his hands will actually be depreciated. There is no idea of ​​cashing out, otherwise he will not see Djokaf again. Face up.

But the shares in the hands of course have to be sold at an ideal price.

James Nathan didn’t take Djokaf’s words, but instead asked: "You represent the Relativity Entertainment Group? The Relativity Entertainment Group that shot and released "Pirates of the Caribbean"?"

Djokaf could not deny it, saying: "Hollywood is now a Relativity Entertainment Group."

James Nathan suddenly picked up the coffee cup and tasted it slowly. Djokova didn't worry and waited patiently.

After half a cup of coffee, James Nathan said slowly: "Since you said that Artisan Films is in a bad situation, why does Relativity Entertainment want to buy it."

Djokaf smiled, confident in his smile: "The company is different from the company."

James Nathan was silent again for a short time, and then said without warning: "I personally agree with this transaction. Instead of waiting for asset devaluation, it is better to optimize it reasonably."

"This is a wise decision." Djokaf said with a smile.

But James Nathan, as an investor, is not a vegetarian: "I can sell the shares in Artisan Pictures to Relativity Entertainment, but well... I don't accept cash transactions."

Djokaf's eyes condensed, knowing that things are not that simple, and immediately asked: "What does Mr. Nathan want?"

James Nathan is not quick to speak, but what he says is shocking: "I traded in the form of share swaps. I replaced the shares of Artisan Pictures with the shares of Relativity Entertainment."

He slowly stretched out two fingers: "The replacement ratio is not high. I used nearly 9% of Artisan Pictures to replace 2% of Relativity Entertainment."

Djokov's face sank slightly, and the muscles on his face couldn't help but jump a few times. What a joke, Artisan Pictures' 10% shares are not worth the 2% of Relativity Entertainment.

Besides, Robert Iger, his immediate boss, said that share swaps are never considered for trading.

Don't say he has no power in this way of trading, even if he has power, it is impossible to agree.

Djokaf shook his head: "Mr. Nathan is joking." He didn't wait for James Nathan to react, and then said: "The shares in your hand, Relativity Entertainment is willing to offer $25 million, please consider it."

Hearing this number, James Nathan's heart moved, which more than doubled the investment that year.

Although he refused his request, this relativity entertainment seemed very sincere.

James Nathan nodded slightly and said, "I will seriously consider your company's offer. Let's stop here today and we will keep in touch."

Djokov stood up and shook his hand: "Mr. Nathan can contact me at any time."

The two left the business club one after another, and Djokaf hurried back to Relativity Entertainment for the first time and reported in detail the specific situation of the meeting.

Ronan has returned to Los Angeles from Baja California, and listened roughly. According to Robert Iger, with the scale and strength of Artisan Pictures and the actual operating conditions, there are not many tricks for the acquisition. His own hard power talent Is the key.

Although Artisan Films has the intention to sell from shareholders to management, Artisan Films is not a loss-making company after all.

According to the multi-dimensional valuation of Relativity Entertainment, the actual value of Artisan Pictures is about 300 million US dollars today. Its most valuable business is film library on the one hand, and film production and distribution on the other.

If you want to win Artisan Films, a premium purchase is inevitable.

The value of the artisan film industry in the past must be higher than it is now. The appearance of Ronan has had an impact on the artisan film industry, such as "Blair the Witch", which was purchased and released by the artisan film industry at that time.

This film not only caused Artisan Films’ performance to skyrocket that year, but also brought huge cash flow, which provided financial guarantee for Artisan Films to support other businesses.

In addition, Artisan Pictures still has some copyrights that have not been adapted, such as Marvel's Punisher and so on.

Then there is the huge script library of Yijiang Pictures. It is said that there are hundreds of scripts with copyright.

Of course, the operating value is hard to say.

These scripts are basically copyrights purchased at a very low price, and then pressed in the script library of Artisan Pictures, waiting for the day when they will see the light again.

Most of them can only wait for the dust.

Ronan also wanted to see the script library of Artisan Pictures. Who knows what stocks are in the script libraries of these established companies? Maybe you can find something valuable.

But that has to wait until Artisan Films gets it.

Robert Iger’s main job recently is to work on the acquisition of Artisan Pictures. After several months of preparation, the two parties have entered the stage of substantial contact. Some of his team members are like Djokov. In that way, preliminary contacts were made with some shareholders of Artisan Pictures.

The status quo of Artisan Films is not bad, of course not too good. As long as the price is right, most shareholders will not refuse to sell.

As early as when he first entered the relativity entertainment, Robert Iger focused on Artisan Films and chose to start at this time because Artisan Films did indeed intend to sell himself.

Hollywood film companies, even the six major companies have been ups and downs. Although all the companies have survived and still occupy an absolute dominant position in the industry, the owners behind the scenes have also changed one after another.

The rise, development, bankruptcy or acquisition of medium-sized film companies seem to be the eternal theme.

Hollywood's newly developed movies seem to be acquired or bankrupt.

Emile Marin, chairman of the board of directors of Artisan Pictures, was in the company's reception room, looking at Robert Iger, who was much younger than himself, considering whether Relativity Entertainment would eventually follow the same path as Artisan Pictures?

"Mr. Marin." Robert Iger directly stated his intention: "I heard that Artisan Pictures has plans to sell?"

Relativity Entertainment has contacted many shareholders of Artisan Pictures. Even if it is a private transaction in accordance with laws and regulations, it must notify Artisan Pictures of the change in equity, which is impossible to hide.

Emile Marin did not need to deny: "Bob You are very well informed. We just discussed it internally, but the news would reach your ears."

Not all the faces from Shang are polished, and Robert Iger is also not embarrassed, showing a kind smile: "The Relativity Entertainment family is not the only one who gets the news."

Emile Marin couldn't care about this kind of problem, and deliberately asked: "Relativity Entertainment is very interested in Artisan Films?"

Robert Iger said simply: "Artisan Pictures has been the hard work of Mr. Marin for many years. If you leave it to others, can you rest assured? Relativity Entertainment is one of the fastest growing companies in the industry. Mr. Ronan Anderson attaches great importance to it. Artisan Films, Artisan Films can join the Relativity Entertainment Group, and it will not fail Mr. Ma Lin's many years of hard work."

As an entrepreneur of the company and a person who has grown up first-hand, it must be fake to say that Emile Marin has no feelings for Artisan Films.

But he is old, his ambitions are no longer the same as he was, and he has insufficient equity in his hands to suppress the rebound of other shareholders.

"We can talk." Emile Marin made it clear.