Disney to acquire Marvel - What do you think?

[Lou Mongello]

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

[WDW4Ever]

It kind of sounds like Disney is starting to become a monopoly

[04CP_ Nolan]

It kind of sounds like Disney is starting to become a monopoly

Monopoly is a game, they're just trying to control the world....

[ohiodisneydad]

I read that the current deals Marvel signed with other companies will remain in place. SO if that's true, are we going to see Disney characters at Universal Studios? By that I mean Captain America, Spiderman, etc???

[ADP]

It's hard for me to phathom Mickey Mouse and Spiderman sharing the same address.

A couple things come to mind:
1. About 4 years ago Bob Iger said "no new theme parks in Orlando for the forseeable future. I assume he meant that so no fifth gate marvel theme park.

2. About 2 years ago Meg Crofton said after the renaming of MGM Studios to Hollywood Studios "Hollywood Studios would represent the Hollywood of today instead of the Hollywood of old". This aquisition fits well with her statement.

3. The Backlot Tour is is a very large space inside Hollywood Studios. Just sayin'.

[ohiodisneydad]

It's hard for me to phathom Mickey Mouse and Spiderman sharing the same address.

A couple things come to mind:
1. About 4 years ago Bob Iger said "no new theme parks in Orlando for the forseeable future. I assume he meant that so no fifth gate marvel theme park.

2. About 2 years ago Meg Crofton said after the renaming of MGM Studios to Hollywood Studios "Hollywood Studios would represent the Hollywood of today instead of the Hollywood of old". This aquisition fits well with her statement.

3. The Backlot Tour is is a very large space inside Hollywood Studios. Just sayin'.

All good points and I like your idea. The only hole in your theory is Disney had major plans for a Muppets area at DHS and that has gone nowhere. Maybe Universal will try and get out of the Marvel contract and they can work with DC!

[HauntedGabe]

Marvel stock rose .26 after the announcement

Disney stock fell .86 after the announcement

Kinda shows who was happy and who was not.

[Spodie]

Like others have said, I can't really see Disney and Marvel together yet - It seems like the two companies target different demographics. As I'm not a Marvel fan (yet...), I am really curious to see how they move forward with this.

[hbk1313]

Maybe Universal will try and get out of the Marvel contract and they can work with DC!

DC Comics is a division of Warner Bros; that would be as much of a problem as the now Disney-owned Marvel license.

[hbk1313]

I think this is a response to the success of the Disney Princess marketing. Disney has nothing to compete with that for boys, Marvel gives them that.

[lizardlynn92]

I don't know what to think of this. I'm kind of scared for the theme parks b/c I do not want Disney to turn into universal, but think of the possibilites of new rides and theme lands. I think it would be very wise to add these new characters to Hollywood Studios to give it a new boost of entertainment.

[lizardlynn92]

I think this is a response to the success of the Disney Princess marketing. Disney has nothing to compete with that for boys, Marvel gives them that.

I totally agree with that. All the boys really has was Pirates of the Caribbean, and come on, even the girls loved that too.

[RuddyWDW]

Hmmmmm not sure what to think about this, Marvel will always make me think about Universal.

[ImaMouser]

Recession! What recession?!?!

[Disney05]

I really don't want to see Spider Man, X Men etc walking around the parks. I can't see anything else less Disney than that.