Disney buys out Marvel

[Dale Cooper]

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.

Source CBR

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22747

This can't end well, it seems weird Marvel would sell up now.

 

[Desert Tiger]

Oh hell no.

WHAT HAPPENS TO DEADPOOL?

 

[notsosavagemessiah]

Jesus.

 

[Pandalisk]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT MARVEL! DAMN YOU DISNEY! DAMN YOU TO HELLL!

actually what will happen to deadpool? he isnt "Childish" enough for disney

 

[Mighty Lighty]

those bastards

 

[Xyphon]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Now my childhood memories are going to be bastardized, just like Disney always does!

Edit: Jesus H. Christ. Are you people too stupid to realize I'M USING THE DAMN EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE? I fucking know he's DC and not Marvel. Stop quoting and Pming me on this. God damn.

 

[Abedeus]

I think this news gave me cancer.

 

[oliveira8]

Meh...never liked Marvel...but can't wait to see The Amazing Hannah Montana.

 

[Dale Cooper]

Marvel Maxx properties like Punisher and and mainstream characters like Deadpool and even Wolverine don't feel very Disney to me.

 

[matsugawa]

Marvel Vs. Disney: Kingdom Fighters Heart Championship, maybe?

 

[Desert Tiger]

As if they didn't rape the Final Fantasy franchise enough with that Kingdom Hearts crap...

What's next? Mickey Mouse in the next Wolverine movie? Goofy in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance? WINNIE THE POOH VS THE PUNISHER?!?

 

[Arkhangelsk]

Nooo! You ruined it! It was Earth all along! Damn you all to Hell!

 

[wrecker77]

Oh hell no.

WHAT HAPPENS TO DEADPOOL?

OHHHH GOD MY LIFE IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DEADPOOOOOL!

Wait, we still have dc! To gotham!!!!!!

 

[Magnatek]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Wrong publisher, but I suppose DC comics is shocked about this. On the plus side, maybe they will have some sort of crossover where Deadpool beats the crap out of Pete.

 

[Xyphon]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Wrong publisher, but I suppose DC comics is shocked about this. On the plus side, maybe they will have some sort of crossover where Deadpool beats the crap out of Pete.

I know he's not Marvel. That picture just had the face I made when I read the OP.

Edit: Had to explain that a little better.

 

[Circus Ascendant]

I checked the date. It's not the first day of the fourth month.

Then I cried.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

Meh...never liked Marvel...but can't wait to see The Amazing Hannah Montana.

You may not have heard it, but I made a puking noise from the back of my throat.

 

[Dale Cooper]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Wrong publisher, but I suppose DC comics is shocked about this. On the plus side, maybe they will have some sort of crossover where Deadpool beats the crap out of Pete.

DC comics won't be shocked, they were bought out by Warner Brothers last year!

 

[wrecker77]

Wait.....Does this mean universal will get rid of the spiderman ride in florida? That was awesome. DAMN YOU DINEY!

 

[Magnatek]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Wrong publisher, but I suppose DC comics is shocked about this. On the plus side, maybe they will have some sort of crossover where Deadpool beats the crap out of Pete.

I wasn't using Batman for the publisher. That picture just had the face I made when I read the OP.

I suppose I can let it slide, then. I'm probably right that Warner Bros. is mildly surprised to hear this news, though.