Chapter 556 Gambling Agreement, Mist Theater Sets Sail

After dealing with him for so long, Xu Guangyi felt that Fang Xing's thoughts were different from those of ordinary people.

Under normal circumstances, when Penguin Group wants to acquire a company at a premium, most companies cannot resist the temptation.

Because, once the acquisition is successful, it means that the company can obtain the resources of Penguin Group.

Especially in the entertainment industry, Penguin Group's business territory has covered every link of the entertainment industry, both upstream and downstream.

Once a film and television company gets on the Penguin Group's ship, it means taking off.

A normal founder of a film and television company will take the initiative to choose a big tree to enjoy the shade after making certain achievements.

Because no one dares to say that the drama they film will never be watched.

The film and television industry produces a large number of film and television dramas every year, especially movies. The number of movies that can actually be released in theaters is less than one-tenth of the number of movies in the whole year.

As you can imagine, the competition in the film and television industry is fierce.

Once a film and television company obtains capital injection from the Penguin Group, it means that it is guaranteed, and its health bar will become thicker in an instant. Even if it invests in one or two film and television dramas, it can still sustain it.

On the contrary, without the support of a large group, a film and television company will face the risk of bankruptcy if it just plays a drama.

If a new project cannot attract investment, there will not even be a chance for a turnaround.

Therefore, most founders of film and television companies will accept capital injections from giant companies and use their resources to develop rapidly.

However, Ark culture is an exception.

When Ark Culture originally produced "Wulin Gaiden" and "The Beginning", the investment industry valued Ark Culture at less than one billion.

Moreover, the investment industry generally believes that if the valuation of Ark Culture reaches 1 billion, it will encounter a bottleneck.

In fact, this is the law of company development. One billion is a bottleneck. If you want to break through this bottleneck, it will be difficult to overcome it without introducing investment, expanding the scale, and seizing the market.

However, Ark Culture followed up by filming "The Pretender", which won the drama title that year and broke through the bottleneck with one drama.

After a company breaks through the 1 billion bottleneck, it will encounter a second bottleneck when it reaches 6 or 7 billion.

Most companies, even if they go public through IPO, may not be able to break through this bottleneck.

However, Ark Culture's series of actions, such as "Kurst", "Nirvana in Fire" and "Dark Glory", coupled with songs that continued to dominate the charts, broke through the second bottleneck, and its valuation reached tens of billions.

A company with a valuation of tens of billions, and it is still a valuation that has not undergone IPO water injection, and its gold content is very high.

This is also the reason why Xu Guangyi dared to offer a 50% premium.

Because even if we buy shares of Ark Culture at a premium of 50% and then take advantage of the trend to IPO, with the asset structure of Ark Culture, the market value after listing will at least triple, or even more.

Therefore, the 50% premium offered by Penguin Group is not arbitrary.

However, the contract won't be that simple.

Although Fang Xing did not see the contract, he could imagine that there would be many restrictions in the contract terms.

If Fang Xing wanted to enjoy the rest of his life, he could actually accept Penguin Group's investment and then use the money to travel around the world.

However, in that case, Ark Culture will become a subsidiary of the Penguin Department.

Ark Culture has now reached a valuation of tens of billions, and there is no need to be a pawn.

Fang Xing can definitely be the person at the helm, so instead of becoming a subsidiary of the Penguin Department, it is better to invest in Pea Video.

"Mr. Xu, I like to be free. I feel more comfortable when I am at the helm." Fang Xing shook his head and rejected the premium proposal proposed by Xu Guangyi.

Xu Guangyi did not give up and continued: "Mr. Fang, don't be too busy refusing. Have you ever thought about taking the helm at Penguin Group?"

Fang Xing frowned and asked in confusion: "What does this mean?"

Xu Guangyi smiled and replied: "The board of directors has initially exchanged opinions. As long as Mr. Fang is willing, after the acquisition of Ark Culture, Ark Culture will still be managed by Mr. Fang, and Mr. Fang can enter the Penguin Group Entertainment Business Group as a senior executive, starting from vice president. At first, he was promoted to president of the entertainment business group based on his performance three years later.”

Fang Xing was a little surprised when he heard this suggestion.

Unexpectedly, the Penguin Group not only wanted Ark Culture, but also wanted to take it away with them.

President-level executives of Penguin Group's various business groups all have stock options. This invitation is actually quite tempting.

If it were anyone else, they would probably agree.

However, Fang Xing finally shook his head.

Fang Xing has no shortage of ways to make money, and he doesn't want to be restricted by the group.

In fact.

Ark Culture has many projects that would be difficult to pass if it were abandoned by other companies.

However, in Ark Culture, as long as Fang Xing proposes a project, no one in the company will object.

However, once you enter the Penguin Group, many things change.

For example, "Hurry Up", given the sensitivity of this drama, is placed in a subsidiary of Penguin Group. Even if it can be finally produced, I am afraid it will take a long time to go through wrangling.

"Thank you for your love. I have no plans to join other companies for the time being." Fang Xing shook his head and was not moved by Xu Guangyi's proposal.

Xu Guangyi was even more surprised. He didn't expect that such a generous offer could not impress Fang Xing.

…

After meeting with the executives of Penguin Group, although no cooperation was reached, it was not without effect.

In fact.

Now the executives of the three major video websites hope to invite Fang Xing to dinner and tea.

Among the three major video websites, the current situation of Xiangyao Video is the least optimistic.

Self-made content cannot keep up, and traffic portals cannot compare with Penguin Video and Wandou Video.

If among the three major video websites, which one is most likely to fall behind, then Xiangtao Video is the most likely.

Of course, Xiangtao Video can develop into one of the three major video websites, which is not that bad, but relatively speaking, it faces more pressure.

Therefore, the president of Xiangtao Video also wanted to cooperate with Ark Culture, and even offered more favorable conditions than Wandou Video.

Now, the news that Ark Culture wants to invest in the video website has become something that everyone in the industry knows.

All parties extended olive branches.

This also made Gong Jianbin feel threatened.

If the cooperation between Ark Culture and Wandou Video does not go smoothly, Fang Xing is likely to turn around and invest in Xiangtao Video.

By then, Xiangyao Video has solved the weakness of self-made content and will no longer be the weakest among the three major video websites.

Therefore, Gong Jianbin was very active in promoting the merger and acquisition, and even went to the board of directors to offer more favorable conditions to Ark Culture despite all opinions.

After all, it's a buyer's market now.

Fang Xing had too many choices, including Penguin Video, Pea Video, and Xiangtao Video.

On the night of his meeting with Penguin Group executives, Gong Jianbin called Fang Xing to find out the truth and make an appointment for the next discussion.

Three days later.

The merger and acquisition negotiations between Ark Culture and Wandou Video are underway again at the Ark Culture Headquarters Park in Ningyun Cultural Industrial Park.

The headquarters building was completed and put into use one after another.

This merger and acquisition negotiation is considered the first important negotiation after the completion of the headquarters building.

The negotiation went smoothly.

He Hongtian, director of the investment department of Ark Culture, calculated the data and found that the final share exchange ratio is 1:1.07, which is very beneficial to Ark Culture.

Originally, Ark Culture was valued at only 10 billion, while Wandou Video was valued at 12 billion.

This share exchange ratio means that Ark Culture’s valuation premium has reached 12.8 billion.

The reason for this premium is that Penguin Video directly gave a premium of 15 billion.

When there are many competitors, premium prices become inevitable.

Of course, Wandou Video was willing to agree to such a high premium, but it was not done blindly.

One of the reasons why Ark Culture’s valuation is only 10 billion is that Nebula Special Effects is still in the money-burning stage, and future investment will be huge. From the perspective of the investment industry, Nebula Special Effects even has negative equity.

However, for Wandou Video, Wandou Video can have many special effects for film and television dramas, and leave them to Nebula Special Effects.

As long as Nebula Special Effects can develop, it will not be a negative equity, and it can definitely be valued at another 1 billion.

After both parties have negotiated the contract amount, only the final signature remains.

before signing.

Fang Xing and Gong Jianbin left the conference room together and came to the office to talk alone.

"Mr. Gong, this cooperation has basically been negotiated, but there are still some things that I hope can be agreed upon with Mr. Gong." Fang Xing did not hide anything and went straight to the point.

Gong Jianbin was very calm and made a gesture of invitation: "Mr. Fang, please speak."

Fang Xing organized his words and replied: "I admire Mr. Gong's talent very much. I am relieved that Wandou Video is in Mr. Gong's hands. But if one day... I mean if, if Mr. Gong wants to leave Wandou Video, I hope that the shares in your hands will not be transferred to other shareholders, but can only be transferred to me, at least part of it, to ensure that I will become the largest shareholder."

When Gong Jianbin heard this, his expression did not change, but he was happy in his heart.

Because this request means that Fang Xing really wants to develop Wandou Video.

In fact, this is not only Fang Xing's worry, but also Gong Jianbin's worry.

After Ark Culture acquires a stake in Wandou Video, Gong Jianbin’s shares will be diluted from 32% to 26%.

As the founder, chairman, and CEO, although his shares have been reduced to 26% and he already has a controlling stake in Pea Video, he is already on the verge of danger.

If Fang Xing reaches a cooperation with other major shareholders, it is possible that he will be sidelined.

Gong Jianbin smiled and replied: "If this is the case, I hope Mr. Fang can agree to the same request."

"Can."

Fang Xing agreed without any hesitation.

If one day, Ark Culture wants to withdraw from Wandou Video, then it doesn’t matter who the shares are transferred to, then naturally it can be transferred to Gong Jianbin.

Both parties are asking for the same thing, which is fair enough.

"Since Mr. Gong also has the same request, why don't we implement it into a written agreement." Fang Xing suggested.

"Okay." Gong Jianbin agreed.

"Since President Gong agrees, I will ask the legal department to draft an agreement. We will find a time to sign it, and then we can officially sign the betting contract." Fang Xing said.

Gong Jianbin stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Welcome Mr. Fang to join Wandou Video."

Fang Xing shook hands with him and sent him out.

…

the next day.

The legal department drafted the agreement, and Gong Jianbin also asked the legal department to review it, made some detailed modifications, and added two guarantee clauses, and then both parties met to sign.

The third day.

The gambling agreement on the merger and acquisition between Ark Culture and Wandou Video was officially signed, and a press conference was also held.

At the press conference, Fang Xing also announced Ark Culture’s new drama plan, as well as a TV drama theater grandly launched by Pea Video.

The news announced at the press conference caused a sensation in the industry.

Of course, the details of the gambling contract will not be announced to the public.

But companies in the industry basically know that Ark Culture and Wandou Video signed a gambling agreement.

After the signing of this agreement, it has become inevitable for Ark Culture to invest in Wandou Video.

The outcome of the bet only affects the method of investing shares and the distribution ratio of shares.

At the press conference, Fang Xing announced that the TV drama theater of Wandou Video is the "Mist Theater".

In addition, Ark Culture will specially customize a suspenseful criminal investigation drama as the opening drama of the "Mist Theater".

Since the contract has been signed, although Ark Culture has not officially obtained the shares of Wandou Video, it is inevitable that Ark Culture will become the second largest shareholder of Wandou Video after the agreement takes effect.

Therefore, as the second largest shareholder of Wandou Video, Fang Xing proposed the "Mist Theater" project, which was unanimously approved by Wandou Video executives.

In the second half of the press conference, it was time for reporters to ask questions.

The first few questions were still about the cooperation between Ark Culture and Wandou Video, but as I kept asking, the questions focused on Ark Culture’s new drama.

After all, Fang Xing hasn't filmed a drama for more than half a year.

Reporter: "Fang Xing, would you like to ask whether Ark Culture's new drama will be directed by you or Zhang Yigao?"

Fang Xingxing paused and asked, "What's the difference?"

Reporter: "Of course. If Zhang Yigao were to be the director, I'm afraid the results would not be very good."

Fang Xing stared and asked, "Did the results of "The Elegance of the Tang Dynasty" not be good?"

Strictly speaking, the performance of "The Elegance of the Tang Dynasty" is very good. With A-level investment, it has obtained the S-level entry-level playback volume. This is not considered a good performance, so what does it mean?

Of course, it cannot be compared with the six hit dramas directed by Fang Xing.

Reporter: "The results of "The Elegance of the Tang Dynasty" are not as good as those of the TV series directed by you, not even "The Beginning"."

Among the TV series directed by Fang Xing, the worst one in terms of playback volume is actually "The Beginning".

Hearing the reporter's words, Fang Xing blinked: "What do you mean it's not as good as "The Beginning". "The Beginning" has a trophy for Best Supporting Actress. In the current TV drama industry, if you don't win awards or have more than 5 billion views, it doesn't count. Your grades aren’t good, are they?”

The reporter was also helpless.

There is no way, among the TV series produced by Ark Culture, the worst one is "The Elegance of the Tang Dynasty", but this is also a small hit drama.

The reporter could only quickly focus on the key issue: "Fang Xing, then who is the director of the new drama?"

Fang Xing changed the subject and replied: "Well, I will direct and act in the new drama. And there is some exciting news."

The reporters at the scene were actually intrigued by these words.

The reporter holding the microphone could only ask: "What breaking news is this?"

Fang Xing smiled mysteriously and replied: "I will play two roles."

Wow!

As soon as the news came out, the reporters present could already foresee that this news was going to top the trending searches.