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.
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"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.
Read more at https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-to-acquire-marvel-entertainment/
They most certainly are.
And Sony might still be kicking themselves, because they could have had all of it for just 25 million, but chose just to take Spidey for 10.
Hindsight is 20/20. Considering Sony's recent efforts to create a shared universe, I'm glad Disney scooped up Marvel first.
Just imagine, they would have made the entire Infinity Saga in a single 90-minute film, or a trilogy in the best case scenario.