Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 312 Bernard's IPO, with a share
Wang Changtian left, and Yu Dong came.

As for Yu Dong, this senior from Beijing Film Academy, well...

His character is absolutely terrible; he's a typical "phoenix man" (a man from a poor background who achieves success despite his humble origins).

Especially his attitude towards his ex-wife. Although Chen Shouzhe was also a scumbag, he was good at breaking up amicably. Now that his three women say they want to leave, he will let go immediately.

The problem is that they are unwilling to leave because the cost of leaving is too high.

There were so many women queuing outside. Chen Shou was only thirty years old. How could he lack women? He could even meet the children of certain special groups, which would be of greater help to him. But did he need them?

At least he couldn't bring himself to give up an entire forest for a single tree. Everyone has a love of beauty, so if you like something, just like it openly.

For example, Chen Shou directly approached Yan Danchen, who was ten years older than him, and said they should be together. He believed that as long as the other person had feelings for him, he could have a girlfriend even if he didn't have money.

Yu Dong sat down in front of him with a smile, and Xiao Fang started serving tea and water again.

"Chairman Yu, I really have no interest in Bernard," Chen Shouzhe said, shaking his head.

Yu Dong had called Chen Shouzhe before coming, but Chen Shouzhe refused. Unexpectedly, he came to his door again. After all, he was a big shot in the industry, so he couldn't refuse to see him.

"It's not about the IPO. It's about whether Berna can participate in Operation Red Sea, Director Chen. Of course, Berna will show enough sincerity this time." Yu Dong took out a few A4 sheets of paper from his briefcase and handed them to Chen Shouzhe.

Chen Shou took it and looked through it. He was a little surprised. He didn't expect Yu Dong to be so determined this time. But it was alright. After all, Berna was the first film distribution company in China.

Yu Dong was originally Han Sanping's subordinate, but later left the Beijing Film Studio and founded Berna.

After listing on Nasdaq, there was little activity. Seeing Huayi and Enlight Media break through 90 billion and 60 billion respectively, Yu Dong initiated the process of returning from Nasdaq.

When they returned in 16, they encountered a major bear market. Bernanke's performance was not good, but the IPO went smoothly and attracted a lot of venture capital, such as Alibaba, Tencent, ICBC and other big brand investment institutions.

Last year, the company raised 1 billion yuan, with Wanda Pictures contributing 300 million yuan. Zhang Hanyu, Huang Xiaoming, Zhang Ziyi, and others who have good relationships with Chen Shou have all joined the Berna family.

They will continue to launch IPOs this year to raise final funds for listing.

The current valuation is 150 billion, which is about the same, but slightly less than Enlight Media.

Yu Dong showed him Berna's prospectus, which had an estimated value of 150 billion yuan. Chen Shouzhe thought it was too high, and some institutions were choosing to take their money and leave. If Chen Shouzhe were to go in, it would be like taking over the shares of some institutions.

When Berna returned to China to raise funds, it only had about 100 billion yuan. Now that it can earn 50% overseas, these institutions have long wanted to exit the market.

In the past, Chen Shouzhe might have wanted Bernard, after all, Bernard's distribution and theater chains were not bad.

Unfortunately, Yu Dong is a heartless and ungrateful person. Chen Shouzhe had previously collaborated with him on "Kung Fu Hustle," but this guy stabbed him in the back, and they never worked together again afterward.

The conditions were indeed good; the IPO price was 150 billion, but the price offered to Chen Shouzhe was lower, at 145 billion.

It's indeed good, but the condition is that the films produced by the studio should include Bernard as much as possible, and Bernard should also be given priority in distribution.

Like Les, Bernard tried to attract celebrity shareholders, but in the end, Les failed to go public, and a group of celebrity investors lost their nerve.

Last July, Lao Jia went to the United States to build cars. I wonder if he will return to China next week.

When Chen Shouzhe went to Hollywood, Lao Jia wanted to come and see him, but he refused.

He had no desire to have anything to do with this guy; now a group of people wanted nothing more than to kill him. This guy had completely swindled him, while he was enjoying himself, taking the money and running away.

"Let's forget it, Chairman Yu. I have several projects underway right now, and I don't have that much money," Chen Shouzhe said, shaking his head.

"Director Chen, don't joke around. The revenue sharing for The Mermaid and The Wandering Earth has just come through, how could you not have money?" Yu Dong's envious tone was undisguised; he was genuinely envious.

Chen Shou is the sole breadwinner; since the company isn't publicly listed, he bears all the losses and profits on his own.

Fundraising is for expansion; it's too difficult to fight your way up.

Going public is a shortcut to scaling up, allowing for rapid capital raising and expansion.

Unlike other film and television companies, Shouzhe Film Industry is like Deyun Society. It doesn't matter who leaves. As long as Guo and Yu are both there, Deyun Society will not fall.

Many people left Shouzhe Film Studio. Tao Le took his people to Huayi Brothers, but Shouzhe Film Studio grew bigger and bigger. As long as Chen Shouzhe is still around, the company will not collapse. On the contrary, Tao Le and his group have now been kicked out.

"I mortgaged two movies to the bank to get that much money; otherwise, where would I have gotten 15.4 billion?" Chen Shou said, his eyes wide open.

Yu Dong had no doubts when he heard this. 154 billion could buy the entire Berna. He was also shocked when Chen Shouzhe took out so much money. If it was a share of the film, that would be understandable. He even suspected that Chen Shouzhe had mortgaged Shouzhe Pictures.

Thinking of this, Yu Dong stopped insisting. If it didn't work out, he would try another company. He believed that someone would still be willing to invest in Bernard.

"Director Chen, do you think there's a chance for Operation Red Sea?" Yu Dong asked.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Yu, everything has already been decided," Chen Shou said, shaking his head.

Yu Dong had no choice but to leave. But not long after he left, someone else came to his door. This time it was Huo Wenxi from Emperor Entertainment Group, and Jiang Wen, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

"Why did you two come together?" Chen Shou asked, somewhat surprised to see the two of them.

“Ms. Huo was just discussing film distribution with me, and when she heard she was coming to see you, she came along too,” Jiang Wen said.

"I see. Is there anything I can help you with, Ms. Huo?" Chen Shou asked Huo Wenxi.

"Let me be frank, Director Chen, is there any quota left for Operation Red Sea?" Huo Wenxi had been dealing with Chen Shou for seven or eight years and knew his character.

Emperor Entertainment Group has always relied on Chan Sau-che to make money, but Yeung Sau-shing has not let Chan Sau-che suffer losses. He has given him premiums where he should, given him red envelopes where he should, spoken out in support of Chan Sau-che in the media, maintained his goodwill with Hong Kong, embraced the mainland market, and given him gifts during holidays. He even gave Guo Yu a gift on his birthday.

This is the kind of partner that's good. Even without projects, they make Chen Shou feel very comfortable.

In a sense of reciprocity, if I help you make money, even if you can't help me make money, you'll still give me a generous gift.

Although Wang Changtian would also give him some small gifts, their significance could never compare to that of the Emperor.

“There’s more,” Chen Shouzhe nodded.

"Can we bid for Emperor Entertainment?" Huo Wenxi suddenly became excited. Having a share meant having an opportunity, while not having a share was tantamount to rejection.

Jiang Wen also looked over, wondering if she could get involved. This was a 'good' project.

(End of this chapter)