As previously suggested, Disney has made good on their intention to purchase 21st Century Fox assets, including studios, networks, film rights, and stakes in services. The acquisition will not be complete for another 12-18 months, when the regulatory review and closing process have come to an end.
Disney has paid approximately $52.4 billion in stock to purchase fox 21st Century Fox and will assume the $14.7 billion debt of 21st Century Fox. The total cost of the acquisition is around $66.1 billion, however, this figure can change based on the exchange ratio.
Disney’s film studio acquisition includes Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures, and Fox 2000, which is home to Avatar, X-Men, Fantastic Four and Deadpool, as well as The Grand Budapest Hotel, Hidden Figures, Gone Girl, The Shape of Water and The Martian.
As far as TV goes, Disney will gain Twentieth Century Fox Television, FX Productions, and Fox21 which is home to The Americans, This Is Us, Modern Family, The Simpsons and more.
Additionally, Disney will acquire FX Networks, National Geographic Partners, Fox Sports Regional Networks, Fox Networks Group International, Star India and Fox’s interests in Hulu (30%), Sky plc, Tata Sky and Endemol Shine Group.
In light of the acquisition, Disney CEO Robert Iger has signed on to continue his rule until 2021 instead of exiting in 2019, as it was planned. Fox shareholders are expected to end up with about a 25 percent stake in Disney. What is left of Fox will be under the control of James Murdoch.
It’s hoped that Disney will treat Fox assets as they do Touchstone, where they do develop R-rated films.
