Deal-making Maverick Mugs

'The trick is to be gentle yet firm in negotiations. I prefer soft money and hard liquor.'

'We make money the old-fashioned way... first we undercut the competition into bankruptcy, and then we jack up the prices!'

"And need I remind you, the 'art of the deal' is the lifeblood of this company."

'When we get there let me do the double talking.'

"That's Paul, he's our head of partnerships..."

'We're making progress. I just got a firm 'maybe'.'

Do you want to win the game or my business?

'At Tesmer holdings, we don't break the rules! We change them!'

'I'm 60-40 in favor of the 60.'

'Excellent job, Fenwick, especially the part where you employ Magic Realism to fudge third-quarter earnings!'

"Anyway, we'd love to have You on board for the Creighton deal."

'First, the Rules of Engagement for this meeting ...'

It's a deal. You give me five analysts, three pundits, seven technicians and a soothsayer. I give you six experts, five professors, four consultants and a prognosticator.

'A hostile takeover just wasn't feasible, so we agreed to a hostile merger.'

'I told you, if the LA branch steals our thunder, there is no more dialogue.'

...and if the Chairman rings, find out who he is.

'No hostile takeover bids beyond this point.'

"Can you believe those guys? We tell them absolutely, positively no further negotiations, and they stop negotiating!"

'This is where we shed all our inhibitions.'

'He's out massaging,manipulating and monopolising.'

"The Oaths of the Venture Capitalists."

"Wow! Boss! I thought she was a silent partner."

'I'd trust you anywhere - I think!'

'Why don't we try a renegotiated buyout offer before we go with the Plague of Rabid Bats thing.'

"I'd prefer a win-win solution – but I'm open to just a win."

"Remember, negotiating is like buying fruit. You don't know what you'll get until you squeeze 'em a bit."

"I came, I saw I takeovered."

'Nobody gets to the point quicker than Ron!'

'Everything is negotiable, including my integrity.'

"Don't anybody move: this is a merger."

"From now on we’ll no longer pay your trucking company for driving for us. We’d like to be paid by you because you’re allowed to transport our great products!"

'It's not a stick-up, it's a merger offer.'

'Whose idea was it that we give our investors full disclosure?'