Comcast announces a $66 Billion dollar hostile bid for Disney.
This raises several interesting issues:
1) A takeover would resolve the Eisner succession issue — Comcast would immediately start grooming a replacement — unless they already have someone in mind;
2) A new round of negotiations might start with Pixar. I believe the loss of Pixar is devastating to Disney, and needs to be “undone;”
3) The minor premium — less than 10% — shows what happens when management stops paying attention to shareholder value;
4) The size of the bid — $66 Billion dollars! — suggests that all but the largest companies are potential takeover candidates. But for GE, Pfizer, Microsoft, Exxon, Cisco, etc., practically anyone can be scooped up (assuming you have no aversion to debt).
With all these Disney posts lately, I’m thinking about changing the name of the blog to “Typepad’s Magic Kingdom.” I’m sure Disney’s lawyers won’t mind at all . . .
Sources:
Comcast bids $66 bln to buy Disney
(includes debt)
http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B93CBD934%2DD261%2D4B95%2D9551%2DB1D64DD696C9%7D&siteid=mktw
Comcast Wants Disney for $54 Billion
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=568&e=4&u=/nm/20040211/bs_nm/media_disney_dc
