In the DreamWorks reception room, Spielberg looked at Ronan quietly, his face full of thought.

He knows a little bit about Artisan Pictures, but these bad things that DreamWorks has encountered recently make him have no time to care about it.

On top of that, DreamWorks also doesn't have the funds and strength to eat up Artisan Pictures.

Ronan said again: "Relativity Entertainment is only interested in Artisan Pictures' library, and all other businesses can be left to DreamWorks, including Artisan's global distribution business. ”

DreamWorks is not doing well lately, and Spielberg has to consider the actual situation, asking, "If we jointly fund the acquisition, how will the proportion of funds be divided?"

Ronan said slowly: "Seven to three, DreamWorks seven." ”

Spielberg's face immediately turned cold: "What is the biggest background of a film company? Film library resources! We all know this very well, a company like Artisan Pictures, the value of the film library can account for fifty percent!"

Ronan didn't refute, just said, "Distribution channel." ”

Spielberg's next half of the words were instantly blocked, what is DreamWorks lacking the most? But he thought about it for a moment and said: "Artisan Pictures' distribution ability is average, not even Newline Pictures and Miramax, and besides, Artisan Pictures has some businesses that are useless to DreamWorks except for the film library." ”

"It's true that Artisan Pictures' distribution capabilities are not very strong. Ronan's tone was calm, but his words were piercing: "Steven, can DreamWorks win a more suitable distribution channel than Artisan Pictures?"

If there were, DreamWorks wouldn't be what it is now.

"There's no better choice, and there's only six major companies and their subsidiaries that have a better distribution channel than Artisan Pictures," Ronan said. ”

Spielberg suddenly interjected: "And your relativity entertainment." ”

Ronan shrugged: "Relativity Entertainment's distribution business is not for sale. ”

Spielberg knows what Ronan said, looking at the whole of Hollywood, and indeed the world film industry, how difficult is it to buy a distribution company?

Ronan said calmly: "Relativity Entertainment is an open commercial company, it can cooperate with DreamWorks or any company, even if it dives the film library, it is not difficult to sell other assets with the distribution business of Artisan Pictures as the core. Steven, we've known each other for many years, you know Relativity Entertainment, and I know your DreamWorks, and one of the core issues of DreamWorks is distribution, and with a distribution channel, you have the capital to negotiate with any shareholder. ”

Spielberg was not reconciled, saying, "DreamWorks can buy Artisan Pictures alone. ”

"Really?" Ronan looked very calm: "Can DreamWorks really withdraw more than $300 million without affecting normal operations?Steven, if you have such an attitude, there is no need for us to talk about it, Relativity Entertainment can complete the acquisition alone, and the reason why I came here today is because we have common enemies, but enemies will also become friends." You know better than I do how long DreamWorks can hold out without distribution channels. ”

At this, Ronan stood up, looking like he had broken down.

Spielberg hurriedly retained: "Ronan!" He sighed in his heart: "I need to know all about Artisan Pictures, give me a few days." In addition, the seven-to-three ratio is unacceptable to me, and DreamWorks can't come up with that much money. ”

Ronan looked at Spielberg, and Spielberg said, "Six to four." ”

"Six-five-to-three-five. Ronan also took a step back: "Steven, you should first learn about the distribution business of Artisan Pictures." ”

Spielberg secretly calculated that DreamWorks had just raised $140 million in India, and it would be able to squeeze out a little bit of liquidity, and then borrow some of it from the animation studio, and then mortgage the copyrights of some films in his hand, and it would be a bit difficult to make up $100 million, and it was not impossible to get it.

In this way, DreamWorks will be very tight on funding for the next few years, but this is the coveted distribution channel!

Artisan Pictures' North American distribution channels complement DreamWorks' North American distribution capabilities, and DreamWorks uses Artisan Pictures' overseas distribution channels as a framework to build key overseas distribution businesses.

At that time, Embassy Pictures obtained PolyGram's overseas distribution channels were far inferior to Artisan Pictures, and since Ronan Anderson and Relativity Entertainment could do it, with his and DreamWorks' capabilities, they would definitely be able to do it.

Thinking about Shirley Lansing's face, facing Paramount Pictures' step-by-step pressing, and a decade of uninterrupted efforts to pursue his dream, Spielberg did not want to and could not miss this opportunity.

If you miss it, you may never have such a good opportunity again.

Ronan didn't speak again, just quietly waited for Spielberg to consider the pros and cons.

Since he found DreamWorks, he naturally made all kinds of filings, and DreamWorks is just one of the plans, just like the original plan was just to swallow Artisan Pictures alone, and the other businesses after Articraft Pictures divested the film library will not be smashed in the hands of Relativity Entertainment.

The distribution business will never worry about a home in Hollywood.

DreamWorks was preferred because Relativity Entertainment needed DreamWorks to continue to be at the top as a buffer against the traditional Big Six Hollywood.

Spielberg didn't think about it for too long, and said: "I agree in principle, but Ronan you have to wait for me for a few days, I need to have a general understanding of the situation at Artisan Pictures, and I also need time to raise funds." ”

Ronan nodded slightly: "No problem." "It can't be too long," he cautioned. Steven, we have competitors. ”

"Also. Ronan knew that his collaboration with DreamWorks was only short-lived, and he couldn't be friends, and he wouldn't be polite: "I've talked to Jareven several times about the North American distribution rights for DreamWorks Animation Studios. ”

Spielberg's face was a little ugly: "I need to think about it." ”

It wasn't until nearly noon that Ronan left the DreamWorks campus and was on his way back to Burbank when he received a call from Robert Iger, and the two quickly exchanged information on their respective sides.

Subsequently, according to Ronan's request, Robert Iger dragged as much as possible with Artisan Pictures, Lionsgate increased the price, and Relativity Entertainment followed suit, but the bid would not be much higher than Lionsgate.

At the end of January, Spielberg signed a partnership agreement with Relativity Entertainment on behalf of DreamWorks in a very low-key manner.

"$360 million! This is Lionsgate's final bid!"

Facing Emile Marin of Artisan Pictures, Frank Gusta almost shouted out this price: "Emile, how much is the actual value of Artisan Pictures, you and I are very clear, premium acquisitions are the norm, but you are too greedy." ”

Emile Marin said with a smile: "Fran, there are not many high-quality assets like Artisan Pictures nowadays, and Artisan Pictures has no shortage of next homes. ”

Frank Gusta sneered: "Relativistic Entertainment? Who is Ronan Anderson, you and I both know very well, do you think he will risk the breaking of the Relaturistic Entertainment funding chain and pay a higher price than $360 million?"

Unmoved, Emile Marin still said: "$400 million, that's my bottom line." ”

Frank Gusta was tempted to scold "shit", but he put up with it and said, "No one is going to give $400 million." ”

Emil Marin certainly knows this, but $360 million is still a bit off his bottom line, saying, "Your bid is too low. ”

$360 million has reached the limit of Lionsgate, and even if the acquisition is successful, Lionsgate will have to be burdened with heavy debt in the future, and Frank Gusta has mobilized almost all the financing channels and connections to raise this fund.

There are limits to any person and company, and there's no way Frank Gusta can smash all his cards on this one acquisition.

Frank Gusta shook his head: "Emir, let's stop here today, you better think about it." ”

Emil Marin saw off Frank Gusta, had a two-hour break for lunch, and once again met Robert Egger, who had a smile on his face all the time.

The COO of Relativity Entertainment, while seemingly unusually kind, is more difficult to deal with than Frank Gusta.

Emil Marin saw the smile on Robert Egger's face and said, "Bob, you have been procrastinating on this negotiation, and I can no longer feel the sincerity of Relativity Entertainment. ”

Robert Iger laughed and said, "Doesn't the $350 million bid prove the sincerity of Relativity Entertainment?"

Emile Marin said seemingly casually, "Lionsgate is much more sincere than you, and they have made a bid of $360 million. ”

Now that DreamWorks has reached an agreement with Relativity Entertainment, Robert Iger doesn't want to drag it out any longer, saying, "Frank Gusta is ready to put it all together." ”

Emile Marin also knows more or less about potential buyers, and knows that Robert Iger is right, and if it weren't for Relativity Entertainment, he might have nodded to Lionsgate before.

Robert Iger said cleanly, "$370 million, and if you agree, I'll inform Mr. Anderson now." ”

Emile Marin frowned, and just as he was about to speak, Robert Iger restrained all his smiles and interrupted him directly: "Emile, this is the last bid of Relativity Entertainment!"

Seeing the seriousness on the face of this guy who was smiling like Mickey Mouse like never before, Emile Marin got a strong hint that this might really be the last bid of Relativity Entertainment.

Robert Iger, who has always been smiling, suddenly put on a dead face, which can only show that this price has reached the limit of relativistic entertainment.

Emil Marin pondered for a moment, and said with unprecedented sincerity: "Bob, I need to think about it seriously. ”

He also needs to synthesize the views of other shareholders.

Robert Iger said no more, and the more detailed terms were followed by the takeover team: "Emile, I hope I get good news. ”

Emile Marin shook hands with Robert Iger and, as soon as he left, informed the secretary to convene a meeting.

Two days later, Robert Iger got the good news that Artisan Pictures had accepted an offer of $370 million!