$4.3 Billion Merger Between Disney And Marvel Approved

During a special meeting that was held earlier today in New York City, stockholders for Marvel Entertainment decided to approve the company’s business plan to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walt Disney Co., according to The Hollywood Reporter. Marvel revealed that the merger is expected to be completed later today once the market closes and based on the closing price of Walt Disney Co.’s stock on Thursday, the estimated value of the merger is $4.3 billion.

A local Fox affiliate in Los Angeles, California is reporting that Walt Disney Co. will acquire ownership rights of over 500 popular Marvel characters, including the rights to The Fantastic Four, Captain America and Thor, as part of the merger between Walt Disney Co. and Marvel Entertainment. It was announced that the two companies would merge back in August and the actual purchase was made a month later in September.

The merger will not officially be completed until certain conditions contained in the proxy statement/prospectus, which was filed by Disney earlier this month and distributed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, are approved as satisfactory. Speculation has been circulating about the creation of films involving characters from Marvel Entertainment and The Walt Disney Company ever since plans of a merger were announced to the public.