Disney Buys Marvel; Mickey/Wolvie Crossover Soon!

[modeps]

http://evavhost.com/i/news/marvel.jpg

Looks like Disney has purchased Marvel for the low low price of FOUR BEEELION DOLLARS. This is dumb.

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.”

Full release after the break.

[modeps]

Full 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.

[Ranhert]

That is the sound of Baby Jesus crying. Crying for us all....

[Wyrm]

I'm not certain whether this is bad or good, but I'm pretty sure it's bad.

[Frogleg Special]

One thing for sure that Marvel will have better animated series/movies from now on.

But god help us all if Disney are going to turn Marvel into kid friendly routines.

[OrangeTimer]

Can someone say Kingdom Hearts starring Wolverine???

[RevGored]

This will probably be something quiet, like the Activision/Blizzard merger. Got a feeling there's not going to be alot of crossover between properties in something like this. Disney has enough business smarts to see that something that is working doesn't need interference.











i hope

[grognard66]

Actually, this might not be so bad. Marvel was still suffering from the contingencies of their previous bankruptcy, which limited the amount of inventory they were allowed to hold (which in turn, prevented them from reprinting many old graphic novels). If nothing else, maybe now they can go back and reprint more of their back catalog.

[dbpsadams]

This is just going to suck. Marvel will become PG with everything. No more Punisher type books

[ElfShotTheFood]

Just think of all the Stan Lee cameos!

[bean19]

I don't know if this is bad or not. Pirates of the Carribean shows that they can do more than family programming.

[Phoenix1985]

Aw Snap. My favorite comics company, devoured! ... And I'm not very positive about this. Even the aforementioned Activision/Blizzard merger has shown a lot of negatives so far already, if not in design then in release-choices and various sales ideas.

[Syl]

I actually see this as a good thing. Disney has been working hard to branch itself out of the purely "G" rated series, and they have deep, deep, deep pockets.

The reason this is happening now, i believe, is because marvel has shown that it can make a damn good movie with marvel studios, and i think disney wants a part of that as well.

This gives them a ton of already well known IP to work with, a TON of IP to work with. For marvel this gives them the resources necessary to not shell out to other directors for shitty movies or so. I really wonder what this does to the marvel/EA deal or the videogame space, now that Disney Interactive Studios exists and has already proven itself to be a very competent game developer.

[capisdead]

Honestly, this deal may not be too bad. According to C.B. Cebulski on Bleeding Cool, he said that the comic publishing section of Marvel will not be affected much at all. Instead, this deal will be based more on movies and Disney trying to pump out more hits.

I think this could be cool as long as Disney does not medle too much with the comics and we get a Pixar animated Marvel film, right?

[King Drewsky]

I'd like to hear about how this affects the theme parks here in Orlando. Universal Studios has a Marvel themed area at one of their parks and the Spider-man ride is the best ride in the area. It's one of those 3-D movie / moving cart rides, so it would be virtually impossible to swap Spidey out for another character (as well as the Sinister Six). I can't imagine that Disney would allow one of their properties be the driving force for ticket sales at a competing park. The Hulk coaster is also great, but that could easily be re-branded.

[King Drewsky]

Honestly, this deal may not be too bad. According to C.B. Cebulski on Bleeding Cool, he said that the comic publishing section of Marvel will not be affected much at all. Instead, this deal will be based more on movies and Disney trying to pump out more hits.

I think this could be cool as long as Disney does not medle too much with the comics and we get a Pixar animated Marvel film, right?

Ooh, Pixar animated Runaways please!

[dr_wily]

if anyone thinks disney does kid stuff doesnt know what they are talking about. They have a portfolio so large they cover everything.. including adult (yes that kind of adult).

This will be fine... they will extract and milk at a far greater capacity such that you will be sick of it

i went to the dollar store and they had these kiddie friendly spiderman puzzles where they were all mega man cute, so dont tell me marvel isnt trying kid stuff either.

[gojira]

The old Disney might have been bad. Wasn't there a turn over in top management about the time Pixar was acquired? If I'm remembering correctly, yes, so the executive creative management is a lot smarter than they were in the mid-90's. Crossing my fingers....

[CaptainAssholay]

I'd like to hear about how this affects the theme parks here in Orlando. Universal Studios has a Marvel themed area at one of their parks and the Spider-man ride is the best ride in the area. It's one of those 3-D movie / moving cart rides, so it would be virtually impossible to swap Spidey out for another character (as well as the Sinister Six). I can't imagine that Disney would allow one of their properties be the driving force for ticket sales at a competing park. The Hulk coaster is also great, but that could easily be re-branded.

I was just wondering that myself. That was a big section of their overhaul years ago. If they have to give up all the rights to those characters for the park they are going to suffer considerably.

[Sinistar]

Ok, I will officially go on record and say that this a GREAT deal. Having worked with Marvel over the past 15 years or so, it always amazed me that a company this big was run so poorly and for so long. Disney has a fantastic track record with upping the value of their purchases.

For all you fanboys crying about this, tell me how this differs from the whole WB/DC Comics thing? When IP gets this big it's all about development and distribution. And this is something that Marvel will benefit from greatly!

[Cutter99]

Do you really think Marvel is going to go kid-friendly and PG-rated? Isn't that contrary to the whole point of the aquisition by Disney?

Let me broaden some of your understanding: did you know that Disney owns "Miramax"? Yes, the same studio that did Kill Bill, and Pulp Fiction. Disney is a broad company - and they've made some really good moves lately. This could really be a great thing for Marvel, and for fans of Marvel. Let's wait and see, shall we?

[Venkman]

Perhaps Spiderman will cry less and crack more jokes in his next film.

[vherub]

the worst that can happen already did- a cosmetics company exec purchases the company, kills spiderman with a clone story, and drives the company into bankruptcy.
now, 10 years later, here we are

10 years from now is anyone's guess

[Stryfe01]

Yeah...right now I'm not seeing any positives to this...

[Deunnero]

I can't wait to start seeing reruns of the xmen cartoons on Disney Channel!

[Evil Avatar]

This will probably be something quiet, like the Activision/Blizzard merger. Got a feeling there's not going to be alot of crossover between properties in something like this. Disney has enough business smarts to see that something that is working doesn't need interference.

Except that since the Activision/Blizzard merger Starcraft II has gone from one game with three campaigns to three games (all at full price), Battle.net has gone pay-to-play and will be loaded up with advertising, there is no LAN play in Starcraft II or Diablo III and Activision has dumped any property that they can't release on a yearly basis.

It wasn't a good thing.

Disney owning Marvel is a double edged sword. Marvel was finally making good comic book movies on their own... does that mean that Marvel's sudden movie success will come to an end or does it go the opposite direction and mean that Pixar could be making the next X-Men film???

[bub64882]

Well, Disney aquired Pixar, and then put them in charge of animation. They saw that Pixar was doing everything right, and they were not. Hopefully that clarity is applied to Marvel as well. With the success of Iron Man, and the ambitous Avengers plans in the works, they need to not mess with a good thing.

While initially pessimistic about this, there are some things I'd like to see...

Pixar has already made the best Fantastic Four film ever made, called The Incredibles. I'd like to see them keep doing this with established characters.

Anyone want to see a "Marvel Universe" ride at Disneyland as much as I do?

Who knows could turn out okay...Just let Joe Q keep the comics on track!

[capisdead]

A couple other questions I have deals with tv and videogame properties as well.

Disney is a parent company of ABC and thus owns that network as well as shows like Lost and Flash Forward, besides the easy response of having Lost comics, I wonder if we will start to see tv shows based on Marvel properties or ideas based on Marvel writers.

Also, the videogame situation is tricky as marvel properties are still tied up with Activision even though Disney game studio. My guess is that the Activision partnership will cease and there will be no more Ultuimate Alliance games, but this gives great hope to a Marvel MMO as disney already had some success with Toontown, and hey, we can always have a Warren Spector Marvel game right?:D

[Exodus]

Battle.net has gone pay-to-play and will be loaded up with advertising

Evil i'm gonna have to call you a jack ass for making shit up just to stir discord. That's probably the biggest load of bullshit I've ever seen you post and it really irritates me. I'm not trying to insult you so you'll ban me but that lie is just plain out fucking offensive.

[PopoWRX]

Except that since the Activision/Blizzard merger Starcraft II has gone from one game with three campaigns to three games (all at full price), Battle.net has gone pay-to-play and will be loaded up with advertising, there is no LAN play in Starcraft II or Diablo III and Activision has dumped any property that they can't release on a yearly basis.

It wasn't a good thing.

I'll admit that I'm somewhat a Blizzard fanboy but c'mon EA, alot of the stuff you said is either unverified or not true. Starcraft II, according to them, will have three separate full campaigns for each race. They have also stated that they see the last two games as "expansions" to Wings of Liberty and Blizzard expansions have typically not been full priced.

http://www.starcraft2.com/faq.xml

Battle.net, for the purposes of Starcraft II and Diablo III, will be free-to-play. As for ads, B.net has always had banner ads but maybe there will be more for 2.0? The signing of Massive to do their ads could point to that. Will have to see how intrusive it is before I judge it on that. However, that does not make B.net 2.0 pay-to-play. I'm assuming they might do pay services like World of Warcraft though, except no plans have been expressed by Blizzard in that way except saying they were thinking of ways to "monetize" B.net.

http://starcraft.incgamers.com/blog/comments/no-monthly-payments-for-starcraft-ii/

Last, the name Activision/Blizzard suggests Blizzard has a large say in matters. Look at the delay to Starcraft II, or even the exhaustive iterative process developing Diablo III. They can do all these things because they are a proven company. Look how long these games have been in the cooker, heck, World of Warcraft took around 5 years to make and SCII has been under the hood for 6 years.

I'm sure you were just trolling a bit to get your point across but still, lets see more evidence before we start flinging poo around eh?

[Evil Avatar]

Evil i'm gonna have to call you a jack ass for making shit up just to stir discord. That's probably the biggest load of bullshit I've ever seen you post and it really irritates me. I'm not trying to insult you so you'll ban me but that lie is just plain out fucking offensive.

I guess you didn't get the word... Blizzard posted an interview (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/blizzard-looking-into-all-sorts-of-possibilities-with-battle-net-sams) over the weekend where they stated that Battle.net may be going pay-to-play.

"It's certainly possible that there could be a charging mechanism at some point - we're looking at all possibilities for each of the areas of Battle.net."

I'll take that apology now. :p

[Evil Avatar]

I'll admit that I'm somewhat a Blizzard fanboy but c'mon EA, alot of the stuff you said is either unverified or not true. Starcraft II, according to them, will have three separate full campaigns for each race. They have also stated that they see the last two games as "expansions" to Wings of Liberty and Blizzard expansions have typically not been full priced.

PC expansion packs are typically not full priced. A console expansion pack comes a lot closer to a full-priced product. I looked into the price of several console expansion packs when it was first announced that Starcraft II was going to be broken into three games and I do think that I'm closer to being right on this one than you are -- they might not be $59.99, but I wouldn't look for them to be much less than $39.99 which is really the same as a full priced PC game.

[Exodus]

Monetizing their marketplace has nothing to do with turning battle.net into a subscription service. It means microTransactions or maybe even microsofts gamerPoints crap.

This was talked about before already and some people said 'OMGWTF They are making b.net pay to play' and then pr had to rush out and extinguish the rumour, let's not resurrect that dead horse again.

They will never make battle.net pay to play that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of.

[Evil Avatar]

Monetizing their marketplace has nothing to do with turning battle.net into a subscription service. It means microTransactions or maybe even microsofts gamerPoints crap.

This was talked about before already and some people said 'OMGWTF They are making b.net pay to play' and then pr had to rush out and extinguish the rumour, let's not resurrect that dead horse again.

They will never make battle.net pay to play that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of.

That is where you are wrong, they already announced their map and mod based microtransaction service. This quote goes above and beyond that.

[UttiniDaKilrJawa]

cant wait for Mickey Mouse Zombiez.

[DCJoeDog]

Donald Duck pops his claws and attacks
"snikt snikt"

[Exodus]

That is where you are wrong, they already announced their map and mod based microtransaction service. This quote goes above and beyond that.

No, you're wrong. Read the actual interview. It might help. :rolleyes:

[TeeCakes]

I guess Universal Studios will be removing their "Hulk" and "Spider-Man" rides any day now...

Me personally, I'll be anticipating the PIXAR-developed Maximum Carnage movie that'll come out of this deal.

[PopoWRX]

-- they might not be $59.99, but I wouldn't look for them to be much less than $39.99 which is really the same as a full priced PC game.

In that, I will agree with you. Their WoW expansions have all been $39.99 and I see no reason for the expansions to be any less. I've said before Blizzard doesn't play on the same field as others in the PC space but I don't think $39.99 constitutes a full-priced PC game so our opinion will differ here.

As for the topic at hand, those pictures of Harvey's steampunk Disney game looks fantabulous so I don't see any problems at least in the game department (Not like the Marvel movie licensed games were any good) and what should be good things for the movie market.

[techromage]

Wow. Are they serious? Now Disney owns ABC, Pixar, and Marvel. I guess they'll be looking to acquire EA next.

[Evil Avatar]

I guess Universal Studios will be removing their "Hulk" and "Spider-Man" rides any day now...

Me personally, I'll be anticipating the PIXAR-developed Maximum Carnage movie that'll come out of this deal.

They will have to do that one after the dinosaur movie they are working on. :D

[FreezaSama]

I'm not certain whether this is bad or good, but I'm pretty sure it's bad.

Agreed. I'm sure I'll be dropping a bunch of titles from my pull list after the writing turns to shit. Thanks Disney!

[ferr]

I from time to time see people say "oh my childhood has been raped" and I finally know what they mean:

SPIDER-MAN
DISNEY CHARACTER

WOLVERINE
DISNEY CHARACTER

MAGNETO
DISNEY CHARACTER

fuck my life!

[Exodus]

I from time to time see people say "oh my childhood has been raped" and I finally know what they mean:

SPIDER-MAN
DISNEY CHARACTER

WOLVERINE
DISNEY CHARACTER

MAGNETO
DISNEY CHARACTER

fuck my life!

Let's not jump the gun here, they haven't stamped the disney symbol on it yet......yet...

[net7runner]

Ok, I will officially go on record and say that this a GREAT deal. Having worked with Marvel over the past 15 years or so, it always amazed me that a company this big was run so poorly and for so long. Disney has a fantastic track record with upping the value of their purchases.

For all you fanboys crying about this, tell me how this differs from the whole WB/DC Comics thing? When IP gets this big it's all about development and distribution. And this is something that Marvel will benefit from greatly!

This. Disney is a giant company, guys. It's known for Mickey Mouse, but is very good at selling hardcore products under different names, including the previously mentioned Miramax, Buena Vista, and don't forget ESPN.

Now, they may ruin Marvel through overmanagement, but it won't be through cutie-fication.

[Silverbaine]

we will see.... we will see.

[techromage]

well at least we can all have that Turok vs Wolverine game and movie tie-in we were so desperately waiting for.

[revelation]

Hole-ee shit.

I just got in the office with an email sitting here from my girlfriend. That was completely unexpected...right?

I don't remember hearing anything about Disney potentially buying them.

[Chimpbot]

I from time to time see people say "oh my childhood has been raped" and I finally know what they mean:

SPIDER-MAN
DISNEY CHARACTER

WOLVERINE
DISNEY CHARACTER

MAGNETO
DISNEY CHARACTER

fuck my life!

I'm betting Spider-Man will be about as much of a disney character is the Bride is from Kill Bill; both may technically belong to Disney, but they're not really Disney characters.

[Evil Avatar]

I'm betting Spider-Man will be about as much of a disney character is the Bride is from Kill Bill; both may technically belong to Disney, but they're not really Disney characters.

No, but there could be significant interest by Disney in including Marvel characters in their theme parks or rides.

[Verruckt]

Spider-Man was already kind of Disney in the last 3 movies.

[Rommel]

No, but there could be significant interest by Disney in including Marvel characters in their theme parks or rides.

Maybe they can pick up the entire Islands of Adventure area in Universal and dump it in MGM - and then MGM will have more than one good ride!

[FreezaSama]

No, but there could be significant interest by Disney in including Marvel characters in their theme parks or rides.

Imagine the possibilities for Kingdom Hearts III. ;)