Disney buys Marvel for $4-billion



RYAN NAKASHIMA

LOS ANGELES — The Associated Press
Last updated on Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 10:02AM EDT


The Walt Disney Co. (DIS-N26.42-0.42-1.56%) said Monday it is buying Marvel Entertainment Inc. (MVL-N48.8610.2126.42%) for $4-billion (U.S.) in cash and stock, bringing characters like 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 theatres 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,” Mr. 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 per cent, to $48.82 shortly after the market opened. Disney shares fell 47 cents, or 1.8 per cent, 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 CEO Robert Iger said the 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.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/glob...article1270467/

Interesting. I wonder what Universal Studios is going to do with their Marvel themes now at the park?

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quote:

Originally posted by Knox Interesting. I wonder what Universal Studios is going to do with their Marvel themes now at the park?

I was literally thinking the exact same thing friend. I can imagine they could keep the Hulk coaster and that power tower thing, but just change the theme. The Spiderman ride (which is frickin' awesome!) will likely have to go though b/c you can't take the Spiderman theme away from that one.

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quote:

Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* I was literally thinking the exact same thing friend. I can imagine they could keep the Hulk coaster and that power tower thing, but just change the theme. The Spiderman ride (which is frickin' awesome!) will likely have to go though b/c you can't take the Spiderman theme away from that one.

That Hulk coaster is SICKKKKKKK, same with the spiderman 3D!!

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quote:

Originally posted by devnull That Hulk coaster is SICKKKKKKK, same with the spiderman 3D!!

LOVE the Hulk...it was the first rollercoaster of it's kind (i.e. the speedy start) that I'd ever been on. Loves it!

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quote:

Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* LOVE the Hulk...it was the first rollercoaster of it's kind (i.e. the speedy start) that I'd ever been on. Loves it!

I wanna go on all these rides....

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Dancing: the vertical expression of a horizontal desire legalized by music. ~George Bernard Shaw

disney is going to pussify comic book heroes.

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quote:

Originally posted by Knox I wanna go on all these rides....

Let's go before they have to change! And by "let's go", I mean...take me to Universal so we can go on all the rides before they change!

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Shut up and DANCE!!
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quote:

Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* Let's go before they have to change! And by "let's go", I mean...take me to Universal so we can go on all the rides before they change!

That could be fun!

But Cedar Point will be just as coolio!

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Dancing: the vertical expression of a horizontal desire legalized by music. ~George Bernard Shaw

quote:

Originally posted by Sly_Guy disney is going to pussify comic book heroes.

I can see it now... Hannah montana marries Spiderman and they have a bunch of country singing spider kids.

quote:

Originally posted by Knox That could be fun! But Cedar Point will be just as coolio!

Fun in a different way. But I'm down with Cedar Point too! lol

___________________
Shut up and DANCE!!
House moves my body, Trance owns my soul, Progressive drives me wild