Battling for survival in the cutthroat world of business, an ambitious M&A team joins forces to secure the funds needed to rescue their sinking company.
For its opening week, the series unpacks the high-stakes world of dealmaking—where strategy, power, and ambition collide in a battle of wits and influence.
abbyinhallyuland watches The Art of Negotiation on Viu
Opening Week Rating:
The Art of Negotiation Opening Week Story
Sanin Group faces a make-or-break moment, needing to secure $11 billion while keeping its stock price above $100—or risk losing everything. To tackle the crisis, the company calls in Yoon Joono, a top M&A expert, to mastermind the financial rescue.
With the board of directors against him, Joono must prove his worth and assemble a powerhouse team. He brings in two trusted colleagues from his past and unexpectedly adds an intern to the mix.
Their bold strategy? Sell Sanin Construction—a move that clashes with Sanin Group’s CFO – Director Lee, who believes selling other subsidiaries is the key to survival. Joono, once under Director Lee’s leadership, now faces him as a rival in a battle of strategy and influence.
Backing Joono’s appointment is Director Ha, a longtime ally of Chairman Song (Sung Dong-il), whose support tips the scales in his favor. But in a world where power and money dictate success, can Joono pull off the impossible?
“I can’t be any more ruined than I already am.”
Joono’s plan to sell Sanin Construction hits a roadblock when Chairman Song raises the stakes—upping the selling price from 7 billion to 10 billion. Accepting the challenge, Joono and his team must first deal with Sanin Construction’s cunning CEO, who refuses to go quietly.
The CEO plays hardball, demanding a five-year contract extension and daring Joono to prove his worth. Undeterred, the M&A team moves swiftly, engaging with two companies eager to acquire a construction firm for their projects. But before negotiations can proceed, they face a major hurdle—a stalled redevelopment project that Sanin Construction is legally barred from working on, all because of one stubborn signatory refusing to vacate the apartment complex.
With high stakes and intense negotiations ahead, Joono and his team navigate these obstacles to secure the deal. That is even when they know Chairman Song’s impossible requisite.
“If war is fought with weapons, M&A is fought with contracts.”
Bidding for Sanin Construction, the real estate company won and the M&A process began. However, the CEO of Sanin Construction discloses information behind Joo-no’s team’s back so they set a negotiation meeting to discuss the redevelopment project.
Before the meeting, Joono tasked the loyal VP of Sanin Construction to convince the remaining tenant to sign the agreement in exchange for land in her deceased partner’s hometown.
Overturning the discount requested by the company’s CEO buying Sanin Construction, Joono raised the initial bid to over 8.5 billion dollars. Achieving the first step toward his goal, Joono boldly tells Chairman Song that to raise the remaining 2.5 billion funds they need, he will buy a company.
The Art of Negotiation Opening Week Musings
Exploring mergers and acquisitions, The Art of Negotiation is not for impatient watchers. While it may not cater to intolerant viewers, the series is shaping up to be an educational watch for those intrigued by the high-stakes world of corporate deals.
Beyond boardroom battles, it also sheds light on the economic and financial factors that influence M&A negotiations. Focusing on the characters, the dynamics, especially Joono’s M&A team, are looking to carry the energy of the narrative.
The series delves into the contrasting leadership styles in the corporate world, showcasing both sharp-witted and flawed executives. It also explores the clash of generational mindsets on how traditional business models must evolve to thrive in the digital era.
Chairman Song dismisses sustainability as irrelevant in one of his business ventures, while Jin-soo, the youngest in the M&A team, boldly calls out the company’s failure to embrace e-commerce.
True to its theme, The Art of Negotiation mirrors the slow and strategic nature of real-world deal-making—so brace yourself for a deliberately paced, thought-provoking ride.
Joono’s M&A team is on a mission to scrape together the final funds needed to save Sanin Group. Will they succeed in pulling off this high-stakes operation?
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