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Disney catches comics giant Marvel in a $4B web
Pow! Disney captures Spider-Man, Iron Man and other Marvel characters in $4 billion deal
By Ryan Nakashima, AP Business Writer
On Monday August 31, 2009, 5:24 pm EDT
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Companies:Walt Disney Co.General Electric Co.Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Walt Disney Co. is punching its way into the universe of superheroes and their male fans with a deal announced Monday to acquire Marvel Entertainment Inc. for $4 billion, bringing characters such as Iron Man and Spider-Man into the family of Mickey Mouse and "Toy Story."

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DIS 26.04 -0.80

GE 13.90 -0.18

MVL 48.37 +9.72

NWSA 10.72 -0.26

TWX 27.91 -0.42


{"s" : "dis,ge,mvl,nwsa,twx,via-b","k" : "c10,l10,p20,t10","o" : "","j" : ""} The surprise cash-and-stock deal sent Spidey senses tingling in the comic book world. It could lead to new rides, movies, action figures and other outlets for Marvel's 5,000 characters, although Marvel already was aggressively licensing its properties for such uses.

The deal won't have benefits right away, and Disney stock sank on the news. Disney expects a short-term profit hit, and Marvel characters from X-Men to Daredevil are locked up in deals with other movie studios and theme parks. But Disney's CEO, Robert Iger, promised an action-packed future.

"`Sparks will fly' is the expression that comes to mind," Iger told analysts.

Stan Lee, the 86-year-old co-creator of "Spider-Man" and many more of Marvel's most famous characters, said he was thrilled to be informed of the marriage Monday morning.

"I love both companies," he said. "From every point of view, this is a great match."

The deal is expected to close by the end of the year and marks Disney's biggest acquisition since it purchased Pixar Animation Studios Inc., the maker of "Up" and "Cars," for $7.4 billion in stock in 2006.

Marvel would follow another storied comic book publisher into the arms of a media conglomerate. DC Comics, the home of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, was bought by Warner Bros. -- now part of Time Warner Inc. -- in 1969.

Buying Marvel is meant to improve Disney's following among men and boys. Disney acknowledges it lost some of its footing with guys as it poured resources into female favorites such as "Hannah Montana" and the Jonas Brothers.

"Disney will have something guys grew up with and can experience with their kids, especially their sons," said Gareb Shamus, whose company Wizard Entertainment Group runs several of the Comic-Con conventions around the nation.

Marvel TV shows already account for 20 hours per week of programming on Disney's recently rebranded, boy-focused cable network, Disney XD, and that looks likely to increase, Iger said. The shows are "right in the wheelhouse for boys," he said.

There will be some lag before Marvel's trove of characters are fully developed at Disney, because of licensing deals Marvel has with other studios.

For example, Sony Corp.'s Columbia Pictures is developing the next three "Spider-Man" sequels, starting with "Spider-Man 4" set for a May 2011 release. News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox has the long-term movie rights to the "X-Men," "Fantastic Four," "Silver Surfer" and "Daredevil" franchises.

Both studios maintain those rights in perpetuity unless they fail to make more movies.

Separately, Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures has a five-picture distribution deal for Marvel-made movies, the first of which will be "Iron Man 2," set for release next May. Paramount said it expects to continue working with Marvel and Disney.

General Electric Co.'s Universal Studios has an attraction called Marvel Super Hero Island in Orlando, Florida, that will stay in existence as long as Universal wants to keep it there and follows the contract terms, Universal said.

Disney said it will honor and re-examine Marvel's licensing deals upon expiration and may extend the profitable ones. Iger noted that when it bought Pixar, that company also had third-party licensing agreements that eventually expired, allowing the companies to move forward together.

Despite beginning to make its own movies, starting with "Iron Man" last year, licensing remained a key driver of Marvel's $206 million and in profit and $676 million in revenue last year. Iger said Disney could give Marvel broader global distribution and better relationships with retailers to sell Marvel products.

However, analyst David Joyce of Miller Tabak & Co. noted that the $4 billion offer was at "full price."

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, a 29 percent premium over Friday's closing stock price. The final ratio of cash and stock will be adjusted to ensure Disney stock makes up at least 40 percent of the final offer.

Marvel shares shot up $9.72, or 25 percent, to close at $48.37 on Monday. Disney shares fell 80 cents, or 3 percent, to $26.04.

Disney investors were probably unhappy that the deal will reduce earnings per share in the short term and might not turn positive until its 2012 fiscal year. Disney's earnings per share will drop partly because the company will issue 59 million new shares, and partly because Marvel plans to release two costly blockbusters, "Thor" and "The First Avenger: Captain America" in 2011. DVD sales of those films likely won't roll in until fiscal 2012.

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

If it works out, Marvel's chief executive, Isaac "Ike" Perlmutter, will pocket a hefty payday. He snatched Marvel assets out of bankruptcy in 1998, outmaneuvering investors Carl Icahn and Ronald Perelman. His 37 percent stake in Marvel is now worth about $1.5 billion.

AP Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle in New York contributed to this report

this is awful. now marvel will be corny and soft kiddy stuff

How could you not see the other thread?

Wow, all Marvel characters owned by Disney - I wonder what will change? More Tv shows and coverage?

BWAHAHAHAHA...eh?! never mind...did that already.

Great...spiderman vs Mickey mouse

http://www.killermovies.com/forums/f95/t515790.html

Seriously.. its the hottest topic on the English speaking side of the internet...

Originally posted by rox
this is awful. now marvel will be corny and soft kiddy stuff Go read the other thread...

Cause seriously.. this pathetic whiney is unfounded.

i still cant picture how they would make things better.

Originally posted by chomperx9
i still cant picture how they would make things better. By providing the financial backup from a media titan when they're legally allowed to?

Originally posted by Creshosk
By providing the financial backup from a media titan when they're legally allowed to? yeah and then them adding a mickymouse media titan along with it

Originally posted by chomperx9
yeah and then them adding a mickymouse media titan along with it Right, because they're going to drastically alter something they just spent 4 billion dollars on.

Remind me never to hire you on to handle my finances. I'd lose so much money because you clearly know how business works.

Originally posted by Creshosk
Right, because they're going to drastically alter something they just spent 4 billion dollars on.

Remind me never to hire you on to handle my finances. I'd lose so much money because you clearly know how business works. so anytime a studio buys out another company it turns out to be a sucess ? for example is guitar hero the same ever since activision bough them out ?

and no way in hell i would work for you anyways. you should hire mindset you 2 would work good together

Originally posted by chomperx9
so anytime a studio buys out another company it turns out to be a sucess ? for example is guitar hero the same ever since activision bough them out ? I didn't say that.. but Disney isn't as retarded as the fans that think they are.

Originally posted by chomperx9
and no way in hell i would work for you anyways. you should hire mindset you 2 would work good together Yeah, cause hiring you would be financial suicide. You're just that bad.

Originally posted by Creshosk
I didn't say that.. but Disney isn't as retarded as the fans that think they are.

Yeah, cause hiring you would be financial suicide. You're just that bad. again kid your missing the point i never said the business would be a failure yeah they would make a fotune with marvel selling items and do new tv series with them and stuff. but would ruin things for the serious comicfans out today as in disney would change some things. but of course you still dont get it you think im just putting down disney saying all they do is produce and release childish stuff. they dont do that 100% of the time but thats what they mostly stick to with there business and they make a fortune doing that. thats what disney is popular for is doing enertainment for kids and family. so theres a big chance they would write the storylines in the comicbook series mostly at kids and family related.

Originally posted by chomperx9
again kid I'm not the one that's ignoring history and economics in favor of a paranoid childish delusion.

Originally posted by chomperx9
your missing the point i never said the business would be a failure yeah they would make a fotune with marvel selling items and do new tv series with them and stuff. but would ruin things for the serious comicfans out today as in disney would change some things. See? I'm sure the same thing happened with Warner bros and DC.. bugs bunny started popping up everywhere didn't he? Blackest night has the tasmanian devil in it.. and elmer fudd is the real saint of killers...


Originally posted by chomperx9
but of course you still dont get it you think im just putting down disney saying all they do is produce and release childish stuff. That's exactly what you're saying it. even if you don't realize it.


Originally posted by chomperx9
they dont do that 100% of the time but thats what they mostly stick to with there business and they make a fortune doing that. But they're not going to this time. despite having bloody violent titles in their history they're going to kiddify marvel... more than what they've already done.

Originally posted by chomperx9
thats what disney is popular for is doing enertainment for kids and family. Which totally ignores the fact that disney releaded kill bill and pulp fiction.


Originally posted by chomperx9
so theres a big chance they would write the storylines in the comicbook series mostly at kids and family related. I don't think so. You have no eividence and further have to ignore history and economics.

They just payed four billion dollars. They're really going to drastically alter that rather than coming up with their own new line... oh wait, thatS Warner bros...

Originally posted by Creshosk
I'm not the one that's ignoring history and economics in favor of a paranoid childish delusion.

See? I'm sure the same thing happened with Warner bros and DC.. bugs bunny started popping up everywhere didn't he? Blackest night has the tasmanian devil in it.. and elmer fudd is the real saint of killers...


That's exactly what you're saying it. even if you don't realize it.


But they're not going to this time. despite having bloody violent titles in their history they're going to kiddify marvel... more than what they've already done.

Which totally ignores the fact that disney releaded kill bill and pulp fiction.


I don't think so. You have no eividence and further have to ignore history and economics.

They just payed four billion dollars. They're really going to drastically alter that rather than coming up with their own new line... oh wait, thatS Warner bros... im not ingoring history and economics. disney has done fine in the past with there business again not saying they are going to fail its just going to dissapoint alot of comic fans. and what evidence do you have that it will be a big sucess in the comic industry disney owning marvel just because they are paying 4 billion ?

Originally posted by chomperx9
and what evidence do you have that it will be a big sucess in the comic industry disney owning marvel just because they are paying 4 billion ? Reading comprehension isn't your strong suit is it?

Originally posted by Creshosk
Reading comprehension isn't your strong suit is it? my reading comprehension is fine all you post is the same thing over and over saying they spent 4 billion on a company and thats what will make it a sucess. its your reading skills and comprehension that needs some help sine you only think people are only looking at the negative side of things when others explain something. and others have to keep explaining the same thing over and over to you cause at your age you just dont understand things verry well yet when someone explains something to you.

Lets have wait and see approach, if Disney does what Warner Bros have been doing with Dc I think everything will be fine. I can see a kid version of spiderman, xmen, hulk etc just for kids, and the hardcore stuff for the adults. Marvel has been doing very well in the market if anything Disney has bolster Marvel ability to get better talent writers and artiest and keeping them for a long time, basically that enhanced Marvel too another level. let's give them a chance!

Originally posted by the Darkone
Lets have wait and see approach, if Disney does what Warner Bros have been doing with Dc I think everything will be fine. I can see a kid version of spiderman, xmen, hulk etc just for kids, and the hardcore stuff for the adults. Marvel has been doing very well in the market if anything Disney has bolster Marvel ability to get better talent writers and artiest and keeping them for a long time, basically that enhanced Marvel too another level. let's give them a chance! i agree to your post. theres a chance they will suceed and theres a chance they will fail.

Originally posted by chomperx9
my reading comprehension is fine all you post is the same thing over and over saying they spent 4 billion on a company and thats what will make it a sucess. its your reading skills and comprehension that needs some help sine you only think people are only looking at the negative side of things Which is what you're doing.


Originally posted by chomperx9
when others explain something. and others have to keep explaining the same thing over and over to you cause at your age you just dont understand things verry well yet when someone explains something to you. How old are you, 12?

I walt Disney, speak from beyond the grave! I am not a nazi!!!!

Originally posted by Walt Disney
I walt Disney, speak from beyond the grave! I am not a nazi!!!! What're ya doin' in the UK?

Originally posted by Creshosk
What're ya doin' in the UK?

visiting Whirly!!

Originally posted by Walt Disney
visiting Whirly!! Thought so, but wanted to be sure. Hope the two of you are both doing well.

The biggest attraction Marvel Comics has for Disney is its media entertainment branch. That's largely it. Disney financed both Narnia films, when they compared how much they made with those two films to what Wolerine: Origins or Iron Man made at the box office, they probably thought "oh shit." With the plethora of films Marvel is currently developing and acquiring financial resources to make those films, it made sense for both parties to come to this arrangement.

I'll be willing to flat-out say that unless the Disney brand appears on the cover a Marvel comic book, they won't be concerned at all with dictating the aesthetics of how Marvel publishes their books. In the end, its all about making money for the boys up-stairs by continuing to make and release comics for the adult hardcores, and why mess up a good thing?

Originally posted by Creshosk
Thought so, but wanted to be sure. Hope the two of you are both doing well.

Yes for a guy who is dead i'm cool and Whirly is in excellent form.

Originally posted by RSSR
The biggest attraction Marvel Comics has for Disney is its media entertainment branch. That's largely it. Disney financed both Narnia films, when they compared how much they made with those two films to what Wolerine: Origins or Iron Man made at the box office, they probably thought "oh shit." With the plethora of films Marvel is currently developing and acquiring financial resources to make those films, it made sense for both parties to come to this arrangement.

I'll be willing to flat-out say that unless the Disney brand appears on the cover a Marvel comic book, they won't be concerned at all with dictating the aesthetics of how Marvel publishes their books. In the end, its all about making money for the boys up-stairs by continuing to make and release comics for the adult hardcores, and why mess up a good thing?

Of course they won't serious chap. Disney already own a number of companies that produce products very different to the Disney brand itself.

Originally posted by Creshosk
Which is what you're doing.


How old are you, 12? same as you but you dont realize it.

12 no that was gonna be my guess for you or was thinking you and mindset are related some how

Originally posted by Walt Disney
Yes for a guy who is dead i'm cool and Whirly is in excellent form. Well this is the comic book section. Makes sense you'd show up kicking eventually. Especially with... *looks At Disney's hand for a black ring* certain events transpiring.

Originally posted by Creshosk
Right, because they're going to drastically alter something they just spent 4 billion dollars on.



For that amount money I would think they can do whatever the hell they want.

Originally posted by chomperx9
same as you but you dont realize it. And I'm going to guess that English isn't your primary language either.

Originally posted by chomperx9
12 no that was gonna be my guess for you or was thinking you and mindset are related some how Yeah, you're 12. I'm 26 by the way.

Originally posted by RSSR
The biggest attraction Marvel Comics has for Disney is its media entertainment branch. That's largely it. Disney financed both Narnia films, when they compared how much they made with those two films to what Wolerine: Origins or Iron Man made at the box office, they probably thought "oh shit." With the plethora of films Marvel is currently developing and acquiring financial resources to make those films, it made sense for both parties to come to this arrangement.

I'll be willing to flat-out say that unless the Disney brand appears on the cover a Marvel comic book, they won't be concerned at all with dictating the aesthetics of how Marvel publishes their books. In the end, its all about making money for the boys up-stairs by continuing to make and release comics for the adult hardcores, and why mess up a good thing? finally someone explains it good

Originally posted by WhoopeeDee
For that amount money I would think they can do whatever the hell they want. Like start profiting from a company that's making a lot of money without the need to change things?

Originally posted by Creshosk
Well this is the comic book section. Makes sense you'd show up kicking eventually. Especially with... *looks At Disney's hand for a black ring* certain events transpiring.


Yes, you've found me out this is all a giant DC conspiracy!! Damn Warner and their resurrection powers.

Originally posted by chomperx9
finally someone explains it good That's what we've been saying, but you've either not been comprehending, or been too lazy to fully read the other thread. Or both more than likely.

Considering you couldn't tell an X-men adventures title that has "Based on the hit television series" on it and the uncanny series apart...

Even with people telling you over an over.

Originally posted by Creshosk
And I'm going to guess that English isn't your primary language either.

Yeah, you're 12. I'm 26 by the way. should start calling you mindset JR. i try to keep it nice and civil but you want to start putting down someone else and make it a fight and can never connect with someone elses post.

Originally posted by Walt Disney
Yes, you've found me out this is all a giant DC conspiracy!! Damn Warner and their resurrection powers. Disney has ressurection powers of their own.

Maleificent is dead.. but she keeps showing up in the house of mouse and was in kingdom hearts. Oogie boogie keeps being killed and then reappearing in other titles..

Originally posted by chomperx9
should start calling you mindset JR. i try to keep it nice and civil but you want to start putting down someone else and make it a fight and can never connect with someone elses post. Your grammar is horrible.

Originally posted by chomperx9
should start calling you mindset JR. i try to keep it nice and civil but you want to start putting down someone else and make it a fight and can never connect with someone elses post.

Cresh is far superior to someone like Mindset. He is more like Cresh ultra lite!

Originally posted by Creshosk
That's what we've been saying, but you've either not been comprehending, or been too lazy to fully read the other thread. Or both more than likely.

Considering you couldn't tell an X-men adventures title that has "Based on the hit television series" on it and the uncanny series apart...

Even with people telling you over an over. man o man i said the television series was based on the uncanny series and the x-men adventures on the tv series.

well maybe some people explain things more maturely and understanding than others ever think of that ?

Originally posted by Creshosk
Your grammar is horrible. i see horrible grammar on here all the time. but im not gonna start whining over someone elses grammar and use it as a put down towards someone. as long as you can read and understand what that other person is saying then there shouldnt be a problem.

Originally posted by chomperx9
man o man i said the television series was based on the uncanny series and the x-men adventures on the tv series. Except you were trying to argue that that particular scan was evidence for gladiator defeating juggernaut. Despite people repeatedly telling you it was non-canon.
Originally posted by chomperx9
well maybe some people explain things more maturely and understanding than others ever think of that ? Explaining things more understanding?

Yeah, English is def. not your primary.

Originally posted by chomperx9
i see horrible grammar on here all the time. but im not gonna start whining over someone elses grammar and use it as a put down towards someone. as long as you can read and understand what that other person is saying then there shouldnt be a problem. It leads me to think English isn't your primary.

Cresh, have you seen the US education system? Even if English was his primary language he would probably still type like that.

Originally posted by Creshosk
Except you were trying to argue that that particular scan was evidence for gladiator defeating juggernaut. Despite people repeatedly telling you it was non-canon.
Explaining things more understanding?

Yeah, English is def. not your primary. some people will always explain things better than others based on the data they have and how they explain things. has nothing to do with someones language being their primary. im sure you understand things better sometimes based on the person whose explaining it.

Originally posted by Creshosk
It leads me to think English isn't your primary. well sorry i type fast and sorry it bothers you i dont always use spell check. i know at 16 you think its supposed to be a perfect world 24/7 but as long as you understand what someone is telling you then there shouldnt ever be any problems.

Originally posted by Blair Wind
Cresh, have you seen the US education system? Even if English was his primary language he would probably still type like that. Ah right. I forgot to factor that in. mmm

Originally posted by chomperx9
some people will always explain things better than others based on the data they have and how they explain things. has nothing to do with someones language being their primary. im sure you understand things better sometimes based on the person whose explaining it. I understand things posted online better when I read them. He didn't say anything that was not said in the other thread.

Originally posted by chomperx9
well sorry i type fast and sorry it bothers you i dont always use spell check. i know at 16 you think its supposed to be a perfect world 24/7 but as long as you understand what someone is telling you then there shouldnt ever be any problems. Either
A) You just said you're 16.
B.) You just proved you can't read by saying I was 16 after I said "I'm 26 by the way."

Originally posted by Creshosk
Ah right. I forgot to factor that in. mmm

I understand things posted online better when I read them. He didn't say anything that was not said in the other thread.

Either
A) You just said you're 16.
B.) You just proved you can't read by saying I was 16 after I said "I'm 26 by the way." i read what you said but does that mean im supposed to believe everything you type ? you believe everything you read online ? if thats a yes then yeah your around 16

Originally posted by chomperx9
i read what you said but does that mean im supposed to believe everything you type ? you believe everything you read online ? if thats a yes then yeah your around 16 So you're saying I'm a liar? I was being charitable and leaving off "3.) You're calling me a liar."

If you are I'll report you for member bashing.

How did this make it to page 3 in a few hours with another thread already here? I thought this was the original and was confused as hell.

Anyway, use the other. Closed.