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Disney Completes Marvel Acquisition

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^{Published in Stocks and Investing on Thursday, December 31st 2009 at 13:40 GMT by Market Wire}  

BURBANK, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Advancing its strategy of delivering great branded content to people around the world, Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) announced today that Disney has completed its acquisition of renowned character franchise company, Marvel Entertainment Inc (NYSE:MVL).

"We're thrilled to welcome to the Disney family the talented team at Marvel"

"We're thrilled to welcome to the Disney family the talented team at Marvel," said Iger. "We believe the creative and business potential of this combination is substantial and can help us grow both our top and bottom line, leading to a significant increase in long-term shareholder value."

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney on Thursday, December 31, Marvel shareholders will receive a total of $30 a share in cash plus approximately 0.7452 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own.

Marvel's assets include a library of over 5,000 characters featured in a variety of media over 70 years and businesses, including licensing, movie production and publishing.

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 approximately $36 billion in its most recent fiscal year.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of the current expectations of the Company regarding future events and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by the Company, including restructuring or strategic initiatives (including capital investments or asset acquisitions or dispositions), as well as from developments beyond the Company's control. Detailed factors that may cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended October 3, 2009 under the heading "Item 1A—Risk Factors," and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by the Company.