Pues la respuesta al parecer es que sí lo hará, al igual que Spider-Man se disputará el lugar de honor con los Jonas Brothers y hasta Donald Duck compartirá casa con Magneto de los X-Men, dado que Disney está a punto de comprar a Marvel Comics al coincidir ambas compañías en que la operación será la mejor para ambos corporativos de entretenimiento.
Disney desembolsará cerca de 4 billones de dólares para adquirir el portafolio de más de 5 mil personajes de Marvel, entre los que se encuentran Wolverine, Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk y Captain America. Cada accionista recibirá 30 dólares por acción además de 0.745 acciones de la empresa propietaria de Mickey Mouse.
Todavía falta que la operación sea aprobada por el organismo antimonopolio estadounidense así como el directorio de la empresa de comics, pero al parecer todo va viento en popa para que Wolverine duerma en los brazos de Hanna Montana o de Blanca Nieves.
Esto, claro, ha desatado una serie de críticas por parte de los lectores de los diferentes títulos de Marvel, ya que la empresa se ha destacado por tener historias que no son “tan rosas” como las que maneja Disney, por tener héroes que parecen más antihéroes y por adentrarse en terrenos pedregosos y arriesgados dentro de sus tramas.
Algunos expertos dicen que esta operación le permitirá a Disney recuperar el terreno dentro del mercado de los jóvenes varones, ya que el de las jovencitas está captado con personajes como los Jonas Brothers o Hanna Montana, mientras que en el varonil había descendido mucho su público.
Esperemos que en caso de que se dé esta operación, no vayan a cambiar las características de los personajes sórdidos de Marvel como Punisher, Wolverine, Magneto, Daredevil, entre otros, porque es bien sabido que Disney no es una empresa que realmente se permita acceder a temáticas de conflicto emocional serio, donde la violencia es una de las tantas características de la crudeza en la que se desenvuelven los personajes de Marvel y que tanto agrado han causado entre sus lectores.
Habrá que darle tiempo al tiempo, pero de entrada: Ojalá Wolverine le de sus buenos revolcones a la Miley Cyrius o a la Hanna Montana, que Magneto le de un jalón de orejas a Mickey y que Hulk haga pato al orange con Daisy, jajajaja.
TEXT TAKEN FROM MARVEL .COM
Disney to Acquire Marvel Entertainment
Burbank, CA and New York, NY, August 31, 2009 —Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: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.
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, interactive media and consumer products. Disney is a Dow 30 company with revenues of nearly $38 billion in its most recent fiscal year.
About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a library of over 5,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios and Marvel Animation) and publishing (via Marvel Comics).
Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain statements in this communication may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements relate to a variety of matters, including but not limited to: the operations of the businesses of Disney and Marvel separately and as a combined entity; the timing and consummation of the proposed merger transaction; the expected benefits of the integration of the two companies; the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical fact. These statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Disney and Marvel regarding future events and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Neither Disney nor Marvel undertakes any obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
· legal or regulatory proceedings or other matters that affect the timing or ability to complete the transactions as contemplated;
· the possibility that the expected synergies from the proposed merger will not be realized, or will not be realized within the anticipated time period; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully;
· the possibility of disruption from the merger making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships;
· the possibility that the merger does not close, including but not limited to, due to the failure to satisfy the closing conditions;
· any actions taken by either of the companies, including but not limited to, restructuring or strategic initiatives (including capital investments or asset acquisitions or dispositions);
· developments beyond the companies' control, including but not limited to: changes in domestic or global economic conditions, competitive conditions and consumer preferences; adverse weather conditions or natural disasters; health concerns; international, political or military developments; and technological developments.
Important Merger Information and Additional Information:
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed transaction, Disney and Marvel will file relevant materials with the SEC. Disney will file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that includes a proxy statement of Marvel and which also constitutes a prospectus of Disney. Marvel will mail the proxy statement/prospectus to its stockholders. Investors are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available, because it will contain important information. The proxy statement/prospectus and other documents that will be filed by Disney and Marvel with the SEC will be available free of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, or by directing a request when such a filing is made to The Walt Disney Company, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521-9722, Attention: Shareholder Services or by directing a request when such a filing is made to Marvel Entertainment, Inc., 417 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10016, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
Disney, Marvel, their respective directors and certain of their executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Marvel is set forth in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on March 24, 2009. Information about the directors and executive officers of Disney is set forth in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on January 16, 2009. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such participants by reading the proxy statement/prospectus Disney and Marvel will file with the SEC when it becomes available.
