Disney to buy Marvel Entertainment

[Unspeaked]

A bit of a Apple/Pixar/Steve Jobs connection here...

LINK (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Disney-to-buy-comic-book-apf-730717139.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=)

Disney to buy comic book powerhouse Marvel for $4B

Disney to get Spider-Man, Iron Man and other Marvel characters in $4 billion deal

By Ryan Nakashima, AP Business Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Walt Disney Co. said Monday it is buying Marvel Entertainment Inc. for $4 billion in cash and stock, bringing such characters as Iron Man and Spider-Man into the family of Mickey Mouse and WALL-E.

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of 5,000 Marvel characters. Many of them, including the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, were co-created by the comic book legend Stan Lee.

Analyst David Joyce of Miller Tabak & Co. said the acquisition will help Disney appeal to young men who have flocked to theaters to see Marvel's superhero fare in recent years. That contrasts with Disney's recent successes among young women with such fare as "Hannah Montana" and the Jonas Brothers.

"It helps Disney add exposure to a young male demographic it had sort of lost some balance with," Joyce said, noting the $4 billion offer was at "full price."

Disney said Marvel shareholders will receive $30 per share in cash, plus 0.745 Disney shares for every Marvel share they own. That values each Marvel share at $50 based on Friday's closing stock prices.

Marvel shares jumped $10.17, or 26 percent, to $48.82 shortly after the market opened. Disney shares fell 47 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $26.37.

Disney said the boards of both companies have approved the transaction, but it will require an antitrust review and the approval of Marvel shareholders.

Disney last made a big purchase in 2006 when it acquired Pixar Animation Studios Inc., the creator of the "Toy Story" franchise, for $7.4 billion in stock.

Disney CEO Robert Iger said the latest acquisition combines Marvel's "strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters" with Disney's "unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties" and ability to maximize value across multiple platforms and territories.

Marvel earned a net profit of $206 million last fiscal year, up 47 percent from a year earlier, on revenue of $676 million, as it took movie production in house instead of just cutting licensing deals.

[Sdashiki]

Um, so basically Universal Studios/Adventure Island has to close all of its Marvel rides?

Or now Disney gets a cut of Universal's sales?

Wow. :rolleyes:

[brad.c]

I smell an X-Men Babies animated series coming soon. Or X-Men Princesses.

[jessica.]

Great. There goes Marvel. :rolleyes:

[Unspoken Demise]

If Disney and Google team up were doomed.

[jaw04005]

Um, so basically Universal Studios/Adventure Island has to close all of its Marvel rides?

There's more to this than the Islands of Adventure theme park in Florida, but that was my immediate reaction too.

This is crazy.

[orbital~debris]

Great. There goes Marvel. :rolleyes:

Maybe…
But it is possible that Disney wanted to diversify their entertainment portfolio and own something that appeals to a different demographic than their current offerings. Thus, they could let Marvel carry on doing what they do best in order to have access to a different set of customers.

[PlaceofDis]

Great. There goes Marvel. :rolleyes:

yep. i grew up on their characters and comics. the brand and image will end up ruined.

[Unspeaked]

Maybe…
But it is possible that Disney wanted to diversify their entertainment portfolio and own something that appeals to a different demographic than their current offerings. Thus, they could let Marvel carry on doing what they do best in order to have access to a different set of customers.

Yeah, I think the initial comments from Disney are that Marvel will remain a completely autonomous entity under the Disney umbrella of brands.

[jaw04005]

Disney has been licensing Marvel proprieties for their cable channels for awhile. I noticed X-Men (the old 90's cartoon) was on Jetix/Toon Disney (or whatever it's called now) a few months ago and the Hulk was on ABC Family recently.

[yg17]

So how long until they release Snow White and the Seven Superheros?

[longofest]

Great day to own MVL (http://www.google.com/finance?client=ob&q=NYSE:MVL). I own a handful of shares, and they shot through the roof today: a positive note on an otherwise bad day for the street. Apparently I'll get paid $30 for each of my shares plus get .75 shares of disney for each of my Marvel shares. Awesome deal, especially since DIS (http://www.google.com/finance?client=ob&q=NYSE:DIS) is dividend-bearing and MVL isn't. It's a free upgrade :).

As for Marvel the company itself... I actually don't think it's all doom and gloom. Remember Disney has adult lines, like Pirates of the Carribean. Marvel will help them flesh out that side of their product line.

[jzuena]

There's more to this than the Islands of Adventure theme park in Florida, but that was my immediate reaction too.

This is crazy.

All of the Six Flags theme parks, too. I guess we will have a Disneyland New England now.

[leomac08]

NEXT VICTIM DC COMICS! we are doomed in 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


GOOGLE and Disney would be the end too :D

[Unspeaked]

To the folks complaining about this: I could be wrong but I think Marvel was owned by Revlon in the 80s or 90s. Do you really think Disney would be a worse corporate parent?

[yg17]

All of the Six Flags theme parks, too. I guess we will have a Disneyland New England now.

Six Flags is DC Comics, not Marvel.

Actually, Six Flags is Warner Brothers, which owns DC Comics, hence, the Looney Tunes theme at the parks as well.

[jaw04005]

"Iger and others announcing the deal this morning had little to say about Marvel's current arrangement with Universal Orlando, which has an entire theme-park area, Marvel Super Hero Island, dedicated to Marvel characters. Universal's contracts apparently gives it exclusive U.S. rights east of the Mississippi River for theme-park attractions built around certain of those characters, notably Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, X-Men and Dr. Doom.

'Marvel Super Hero Island at Universal's Islands of Adventure and the Marvel characters are a beloved and important part of the Universal Orlando experience. They will remain so,' said Tom Schroder, a Universal spokesman. 'Our guests are going to get to meet Spider-Man and all our other Marvel characters. We believe our agreement with Marvel stands and that the Disney/Marvel deal will have no impact on our guest experience.'"

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-disney-marvel-entertainment-083109,0,2559631.story

Yeah, right. Universal. I say Disney will give them until the end of their current contract then cut them off.

A Marvel theme park would be a gold mine for Disney, and lord knows they have the space to build it at Walt Disney World in Florida.

[Antares]

There could be some potential cool crossovers. The possibilities are endless!
- Peter Parker dumps Mary Jane for his true love, Hannah Montana.
- The Joans Brothers team up with the Fantastic Four to thwart Dr Doom's vile plan to take over the Band Slam.
- Did somebody say, Superhero Musical?

[leekohler]

Yeah, I think the initial comments from Disney are that Marvel will remain a completely autonomous entity under the Disney umbrella of brands.

That's what they all say at first. Give them a decade and Marvel will be ruined.

[NC MacGuy]

Six Flags is DC Comics, not Marvel.

Actually, Six Flags is Warner Brothers, which owns DC Comics, hence, the Looney Tunes theme at the parks as well.

But what about Universal Studios? They have parks that directly compete w. Disney in Fl & CA.

[Peace]

I see it different.

I see comic books coming to the Apple device.

[jaw04005]

But what about Universal Studios? They have parks that directly compete w. Disney in Fl & CA.

As I posted above, the Marvel deal would only affect one of Universal's parks. Universal thinks they'll be OK as part of their current licensing deal with Marvel. However, Iger and Disney's management side-stepped the Islands of Adventure question when asked this morning.

I see comic books coming to the Apple device.

They already are. Marvel and Apple announced a deal back in February to sell "motion comics" on the iTunes Store. Additionally, many of their original animated series (X-Men: The Animated Series, Spider-Man, etc) are now on iTunes.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/02/marvel-to-sell-motion-comics-via-itunes-store.ars

[Heilage]

There is no way for this to end well. :(

[NC MacGuy]

As I posted above, the Marvel deal would only affect one of Universal's parks. Universal thinks they'll be OK as part of their current licensing deal with Marvel. However, Iger and Disney's management side-stepped the Islands of Adventure question when asked this morning.



They already are. Marvel and Apple announced a deal back in February to sell "motion comics" on the iTunes Store. Additionally, many of their original animated series (X-Men: The Animated Series, Spider-Man, etc) are now on iTunes.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/02/marvel-to-sell-motion-comics-via-itunes-store.ars

You got it right. I had the reply to window open while your post was being posted.:p

Agreed, Universal is screwed. A shame since I like Universal better since they serve beer.;)

[synth3tik]

This leaves a really bad taste in my mouth. :mad:

[Peace]

As I posted above, the Marvel deal would only affect one of Universal's parks. Universal thinks they'll be OK as part of their current licensing deal with Marvel. However, Iger and Disney's management side-stepped the Islands of Adventure question when asked this morning.



They already are. Marvel and Apple announced a deal back in February to sell "motion comics" on the iTunes Store. Additionally, many of their original animated series (X-Men: The Animated Series, Spider-Man, etc) are now on iTunes.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/02/marvel-to-sell-motion-comics-via-itunes-store.ars


I meant real comic books. The kind where you flip through pages.

[synth3tik]

To the folks complaining about this: I could be wrong but I think Marvel was owned by Revlon in the 80s or 90s. Do you really think Disney would be a worse corporate parent?

Disney Corp. Killed free expression in art (At least in the state), so to answer your question, yes they do make a worse corporate parent.

[Abstract]

The first Pixar Spiderman epic. W00t?? :confused:

[Doctor Q]

Is it true that Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland will be changed into the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building? :)

[tabasco70]

I smell an X-Men Babies animated series coming soon. Or X-Men Princesses.

With subliminal messages like the word 'SEX' in the clouds somewhere.

[Abstract]

As long as Venom kills both Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus, I don't care. ;)

[angelneo]

Well, at least we will find out what happen if Spidey takes on Mickey Mouse in the next blockbuster "Spiderman Versus Mickey!"

[mscriv]

I'll reserve judgment at this point, but let's say "I'm nervous". Stan Lee is the man and the driving force behind Marvel. The only way his vision survives is if Disney let's him "pick his successor" in terms of who takes over after he is gone.

[sanPietro98]

I don't get all the Disney bashing.

Disney owns ABC, ESPN, Miramax, and Touchstone Pictures. You don't see any of the following scenarios, do you?

- Minnie Mouse as a co-host on the View?
- Donovan McNabb high-fiving Mickey on the 50-yard line on MNF?
- Donald Duck in the 'Kill Bill' franchise?
- A Fairy Godmother asking that Matt Damon not use the 'f-bomb' in Good Will Hunting?
- Monorail-Spotting instead of Trainspotting?

Disney lets its operating companies do their own thing. Marvel will be no different. Please, go to your happy place and relax!

[leekohler]

I don't get all the Disney bashing.

Disney owns ABC, ESPN, Miramax, and Touchstone Pictures.

So far you're not arguing much for Disney.

[Unspeaked]

I'll reserve judgment at this point, but let's say "I'm nervous". Stan Lee is the man and the driving force behind Marvel. The only way his vision survives is if Disney let's him "pick his successor" in terms of who takes over after he is gone.

Stan Lee hasn't had much to do with Marvel since the 70s, or early 80s at best.

Marvel has either been owned by other large corporations or been its own corporate giant for nearly two decades before the Disney acquisition.

[Intel Inside]

O... M... F... G...

Princess Spider Man Musical and animated series to go with it.

[CaptMurdock]

Only $4 Billion? How insulting.

http://www.geocities.com/kurg100/dr_doom.jpg

"Many demons may rule Doom...but he is not a cheap date!"

[Doctor Q]

Stan Lee hasn't had much to do with Marvel since the 70s, or early 80s at best.
Did he turn to acting instead? He keeps making cameos in Marvel-character-themed movies!

[Unspeaked]

Did he turn to acting instead? He keeps making cameos in Marvel-character-themed movies!

He'll never top his voice-over work for the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends series...

[CaptMurdock]

Did he turn to acting instead? He keeps making cameos in Marvel-character-themed movies!

Not to mention the two seasons of Who Wants to be a SuperHero? Now that's great reality TV!

[techfreak85]

I can see Miely Cyrus in Iron Man 3: Iron Woman-The Ultimate Fashion Accessory.
:rolleyes:

[Gatteau]

So I take it we'll see Pinocchio fighting back-to-back with Captain America in some new, overrated comic.

This sucks. Wtf's Disney's thinking buying Marvel like that..

[joeshell383]

.....and Steve gets even richer!