According to Variety, as with Warner Bros. and DC, the consolidation of giant media continues with The Walt Disney Co. agreeing to buy Marvel Entertainment in a stock and cash deal worth and estimated $4 billion. According to the trade, under the terms of the deal, Marvel shareholders would receive $30 per share in cash plus approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own.
If the deal is approved, Disney will acquire ownership of Marvel including its more than 5,000 Marvel characters and its movie and television assets. As of today, the boards of both companies have approved the agreement but it is now subject to antitrust review and is also pending approval by Marvel shareholders.
“This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories,” said Robert A. Iger, Walt Disney Co. president and CEO.
To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about this deal. On the one hand it could be good for Marvel as Disney seems to know how to run a company pretty well and has a long history of respecting artists, encouraging creativity and savvy and successful marketing. Still, not sure if I want to see Jack Sparrow show up in Iron Man 3 in 3D. Well, that probably won’t happen. . . at least I hope not.
As they say in the news biz, more on this story as it develops.
Subscribe via RSS
Subscribe via iTunes