Chapter 398: The Idea of Acquisition

While Link was at the art exhibition, Ms. Mandy was having coffee with Steven Bix, the CEO of Lionsgate, at their headquarters on 12th Street in Santa Monica, discussing the casting of "The Hunger Games."

Yesterday, she spoke with Nina Jacobson, the producer of "The Hunger Games," and director Gary Ross, both of whom supported continuing to use Jennifer Lawrence as the female lead.

However, Lionsgate disagreed and pressured the crew.

If Palm Bay Agency could not change the opinion of Lionsgate's top management, the crew would have to replace Jennifer.

"Apologize?"

Ms. Mandy looked at President Steve Bix across from her and sneered, "Mr. Bix, did I hear you correctly? You want Link to apologize to Harvey Weinstein?"

"Ms. Gomez, don't misunderstand, this is the board's intention. Several shareholders have been lobbied and object to our decision to use artists from Palm Bay Agency. I need to be accountable to the board."

President Bix explained.

"President Bix, I have talked to Ms. Nina Jacobson and Director Gary Ross, and they firmly believe that Jennifer is the perfect choice to play Katniss. With her, this movie will definitely be successful. Others playing Katniss would be far less effective than Jennifer. This is what Director Gary Ross said.

President Bix, I heard that Lionsgate's development in the past two years has not been very good. 'The Hunger Games' is Lionsgate's key annual project with a production cost of over 100 million. If there is a loss, Lionsgate's development will definitely be hit hard, and it may even go bankrupt.

It can be said that 'The Hunger Games' is extremely important to Lionsgate, so I hope you can carefully consider it before you decide to change the cast."

Ms. Mandy said with a serious expression.

When President Bix heard her words, the muscles at the corner of his eyes twitched involuntarily.

Lionsgate's development this year was indeed not as good as in the previous two years, but it was not so serious that it was on the verge of bankruptcy.

But in the mouth of this President Mandy Gomez, without Jennifer Lawrence, "The Hunger Games" would lose 100%, and if "The Hunger Games" lost money, Lionsgate would go bankrupt 100%.

It seemed that Jennifer Lawrence had become Lionsgate's savior.

He sighed inwardly, the rumors that Link Baker's former agent was a difficult character seemed to be true.

"Does Mr. Bix think I'm alarmist?"

Ms. Mandy glanced at him and a disdainful smile appeared on her round face. "I don't think my words are exaggerated. I am also the president of a company. As the helm of the company, I think the most important thing is to have independent management rights and not allow anyone to dictate the company's decisions.

Even if it is the board's decision, we have the right to argue when there is a mistake, instead of accepting it without reason, because we are the CEO, and our responsibility is to find ways to make the company profitable and satisfy investors.

If the attitude of any outsider can affect the company's decision-making, I think this kind of company is not far from bankruptcy, isn't it?

President Bix is a senior and has more experience in this area than me. I believe President Bix can understand what I mean."

President Steven Bix frowned. He naturally understood what Ms. Mandy meant, and he was also very unhappy that the board was interfering in the company's specific projects.

But he, as the president, was also a senior employee who needed to be accountable to the board of directors. In order to get the support of the board in his work, he could not turn a blind eye to the proposals of the board members.

In addition, the reason why he did not refute the board on this matter was also very simple.

This was Hollywood, there were many actors, and no one was indispensable or irreplaceable. Except for a few veteran actors and top movie stars, ordinary actors had to rely on movies to achieve success before becoming famous, not actors to achieve movies.

Because Jennifer Lawrence was an insignificant role, compared to the attitude of the board members, he thought the latter was more important, so he supported the board on this matter.

"Ms. Gomez, I think the key to this matter lies with Mr. Link Baker. Now many producers and film companies have announced that they will not cooperate with him. We are doing this to avoid risks."

President Steven Bix explained.

"Risk? Can Harvey Weinstein be called a risk?"

Ms. Mandy smiled disdainfully, got up and said, "I am very disappointed with your decision at Lionsgate. As a listed company, Lionsgate has more influence in Hollywood than Weinstein Films.

President Bix is the helm of Lionsgate, and his influence in the entertainment industry is not much less than that of Harvey Weinstein, but in the face of Weinstein, he is timid and cowardly, without any independent autonomy, which is really disappointing."

When President Bix heard her words, his face became extremely ugly. Mandy said that he was timid and cowardly in the face of Harvey, which was tantamount to pointing at his nose and scolding him for being useless and a coward.

If he was scolded by a man, he could scold him back, but now it was a lady with a good image and temperament who said such things, which made him even more ashamed and annoyed.

"Also, President Bix, I don't know who you are speaking for, asking Link to apologize to Harvey Weinstein. Now please pass on my words.

It's absolutely impossible for Link to apologize.

Who is Link? He is an Olympic champion, a world boxing champion, a top singer in the world music scene, an idol of the times, the American dream, a billionaire, and the number one philanthropist in the entertainment industry for two consecutive years. You want such a heroic figure to apologize to a scum who was accused of rape?

Oh, this is ridiculous, Mr. Bix. I bet if you have children, you tell them about this, and they will be ashamed of what you are doing now.

Goodbye!"

Ms. Mandy nodded politely, picked up her small bag, and left with her secretary.

"This woman..."

President Steven Bix pointed at Ms. Mandy's back, his face turned dark. He just came over to pass on a message for someone, but he was scolded and had no chance to talk back. This woman was too strong.

"Mr. Bix, are you okay?"

The assistant hurried over to help him and asked.

President Bix took a few deep breaths and leaned back in his chair to think for a moment.

He took out his mobile phone and called Jon Feltheimer, the chairman of Lionsgate and the company's largest shareholder.

He expressed his support for the decision of the "Hunger Games" production team, believing that Jennifer Lawrence was more suitable for the female lead. If other actors were used, it was likely to cause certain losses to the project. If the board was willing to bear the losses, he had nothing to say.

Chairman Feltheimer pondered for a moment and said that he would continue to discuss with several shareholders and asked him to keep an eye on the "Hunger Games" crew. This project was very important to the company and try to avoid mistakes.

After hanging up the phone, the words of President Mandy Gomez still echoed in Steven Bix's ears. He cursed inwardly that this woman's mouth was too poisonous and hoped that he would never see this woman again.

He told his assistant that if someone from Palm Bay Agency came again, he was not there.

---

"Hey, Link, are you busy?"

After Ms. Mandy left Lionsgate, she called Link and asked him where he was. Link said that he was watching the exhibition at the Getty Center. Ms. Mandy couldn't help but roll her eyes. Her aunt was running around for the company's affairs, and he was still in the mood to see the exhibition at this time.

Well, he was the big boss.

"Mandy, how are your negotiations with Lionsgate?"

Link asked on the phone.

"Not very successful. I just said a lot of nice things to President Bix, but they refused to budge and asked you to apologize to Harvey Weinstein. I said it was impossible, and then the negotiation broke down. Jennifer needs to find another role."

Ms. Mandy leaned back in her seat and looked at the Lionsgate company logo slowly receding outside the car window.

"Is that so? Mandy, don't worry, I'm going to buy Lionsgate, this is not over yet."

"What?"

Ms. Mandy originally wanted to lie down on the seat and rest for a while, but when she heard his words, she immediately sat up straight. "Link, are you kidding me? You are buying a film company for a movie role? Even if you like Jennifer again, you don't need to do this, right? It will cost hundreds of millions to acquire Lionsgate, and if the decision is wrong, you will lose everything. Think again, don't be impulsive."

Link smiled on the phone. "I've thought about it. Lionsgate's current share price is only $8.9, and its total market value is less than $700 million, including debt. The acquisition of Lionsgate is not too stressful for me.

In addition, this company focuses on thriller movies. In the past few years, it has successively acquired two distribution companies, Trimark Holdings Entertainment and Artisan Entertainment, as well as the Debmar-Mercury TV program production company. The acquisition of this company can also improve the publicity and distribution capabilities of Palm Beach Pictures."

"Is that so? Can the acquisition be successful?"

Ms. Mandy asked.

"We are negotiating with Lionsgate's third-largest shareholder, and there is no problem."

Link said confidently.

"Okay, I don't know if I should advise you, but be careful anyway."

Ms. Mandy exhorted a few words, hung up the phone, looked back at the Lionsgate logo, and wondered if Link would succeed.

(End of Chapter)