Disney Buys Marvel!

[Keyser Soze Alpha-Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Keyser Soze]

This came as a surprise!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...ticle&id=22747

Disney Acquires Marvel Entertainment

Official Press Release

Worldwide leader in family entertainment agrees to acquire Marvel and its portfolio of over 5,000 characters

BURBANK, Calif. & NEW YORK, Aug 31, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- --Acquisition highlights Disney's strategic focus on quality branded content, technological innovation and international expansion to build long-term shareholder value

Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (MVL) in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney on August 28, 2009, Marvel shareholders would receive a total of $30 per share in cash plus approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. At closing, the amount of cash and stock will be adjusted if necessary so that the total value of the Disney stock issued as merger consideration based on its trading value at that time is not less than 40% of the total merger consideration.

Based on the closing price of Disney stock on Friday, August 28, the transaction value is $50 per Marvel share or approximately $4 billion.

"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, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. "Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney."

"We believe that adding Marvel to Disney's unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation," Iger said.

"Disney is the perfect home for Marvel's fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses," said Ike Perlmutter, Marvel's Chief Executive Officer. "This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney's tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world."

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Marvel including its more than 5,000 Marvel characters. Mr. Perlmutter will oversee the Marvel properties, and will work directly with Disney's global lines of business to build and further integrate Marvel's properties.

The Boards of Directors of Disney and Marvel have each approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to Disney shares issued in the transaction and other customary closing conditions. The agreement will require the approval of Marvel shareholders. Marvel was advised on the transaction by BofA Merrill Lynch.

[DougG_ATL Senior Corps Member Find all posts View Profile Close DougG_ATL]

Disney Buys Marvel Entertainment

Story at CBR. I'm floored at this. $4 billion dollars for Marvel, outright. I'm afraid it's going to be another portfolio line item for Disney and that the film production and licensing are going to further encroach on publishing's creative freedom. It also means that Disney suits are going to be making bottom line decisions about who depicts a Marvel character onscreen and will probably force a lot of congruency in the comics, rather than vice versa.

Not a fan of this, at all.

[DougG_ATL Senior Corps Member Find all posts View Profile Close DougG_ATL]

Keyser, you beat me to it!

[DougG_ATL Senior Corps Member Find all posts View Profile Close DougG_ATL]

Story at CBR. I'm floored at this. $4 billion dollars for Marvel, outright. I'm afraid it's going to be another portfolio line item for Disney and that the film production and licensing are going to further encroach on publishing's creative freedom. It also means that Disney suits are going to be making bottom line decisions about who depicts a Marvel character onscreen and will probably force a lot of congruency in the comics, rather than vice versa.

Not a fan of this, at all.

[myuserid Lantern Hex Find all posts View Profile Close myuserid]

Whoa.

That came out of left field.

[myuserid Lantern Hex Find all posts View Profile Close myuserid]

This just in.............The role of Pepper Potts in Iron Man 2 will now be played by Hannah Montana.

[DougG_ATL Senior Corps Member Find all posts View Profile Close DougG_ATL]

This just in.............The role of Pepper Potts in Iron Man 2 will now be played by Hannah Montana.

You jest, but I wouldn't put stuff that crazy past them. Disney will fit whatever square peg into whatever round hole they want if there's profit to be had.

[W.West Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close W.West]

You jest, but I wouldn't put stuff that crazy past them. Disney will fit whatever square peg into whatever round hole they want if there's profit to be had.

You must kidding right? You do realize that the Walt Disney company isn't just putting out movies for children don't you? They wouldn't have made this move if they were planning on dramatically changing the formula that Marvel has put into place.


EDIT: Just for laughs...

[Spider-Lantern Corps Honor Guard Find all posts View Profile Close Spider-Lantern]

Disney Buys Marvel?!

CBR News


Disney Acquires Marvel Entertainment



Official Press Release
Worldwide leader in family entertainment agrees to acquire Marvel and its portfolio of over 5,000 characters
BURBANK, Calif. & NEW YORK, Aug 31, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- --Acquisition highlights Disney's strategic focus on quality branded content, technological innovation and international expansion to build long-term shareholder value
Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (MVL) in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today.
Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney on August 28, 2009, Marvel shareholders would receive a total of $30 per share in cash plus approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. At closing, the amount of cash and stock will be adjusted if necessary so that the total value of the Disney stock issued as merger consideration based on its trading value at that time is not less than 40% of the total merger consideration.
Based on the closing price of Disney stock on Friday, August 28, the transaction value is $50 per Marvel share or approximately $4 billion.
"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, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. "Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney."
"We believe that adding Marvel to Disney's unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation," Iger said.
"Disney is the perfect home for Marvel's fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses," said Ike Perlmutter, Marvel's Chief Executive Officer. "This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney's tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world."
Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Marvel including its more than 5,000 Marvel characters. Mr. Perlmutter will oversee the Marvel properties, and will work directly with Disney's global lines of business to build and further integrate Marvel's properties.
The Boards of Directors of Disney and Marvel have each approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to Disney shares issued in the transaction and other customary closing conditions. The agreement will require the approval of Marvel shareholders. Marvel was advised on the transaction by BofA Merrill Lynch.

[DougG_ATL Senior Corps Member Find all posts View Profile Close DougG_ATL]

You must kidding right? You do realize that the Walt Disney company isn't just putting out movies for children don't you? They wouldn't have made this move if they were planning on dramatically changing the formula that Marvel has put into place.

I'm well aware of that, but kids' entertainment remains their bread and butter. Their operation and ownership of other ventures supplement their core business - getting parents to spend money on properties their kids like. Call it what you want, but they are primarily interested in the licensing and film potential of Spider-Man, Wolverine and the Hulk.

Nothing will be allowed to happen in those comics that's not aligned with their overall licensing plans for the characters. Sure, that's not disssimilar to WB/DC, but Marvel had made some real strides in gaining control over presentation of its properties and I see this as detrimental.

[W.West Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close W.West]

Two other threads have already been posted. Check this one.

[W.West Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close W.West]

Then you're a fool. This is exactly like the Disney/Pixar deal. Marvel Comics will remain unharmed, and Marvel Studios will end up being distributed through Disney. Go luck up Disney's film releases. They are not in one fucking lane. Yes they have a monopoly on the younger audience, but they do not not cater every fucking thing they do to that audience. To think that a company like Disney would ruin what works on a 4billion dollar investment is stupidity.

[Spider-Lantern Corps Honor Guard Find all posts View Profile Close Spider-Lantern]

Yeah. I didn't notice untill after I posted this.

I really hope Disney doesn't try screw around with how Marvel does things.

[Guest Close SFH]

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to lay DC comics to rest...

[Superlantern mmmm Beer! Find all posts View Profile Close Superlantern]

I live near disney and universal studios has a big deal with marvel to have their characters in thier park here... looks like there will be a C&d soon.