The precious, multi-million dollar assets of 21st Century Fox may well spawn one of the biggest bidding wars in Hollywood history, according to a new report from Variety.
In light of Comcast’s shock all-cash bid for Fox, Disney is said to be getting its finances in order so that it’s able to offer “significant cash” if needed.
Last year, the two media giants had agreed on a $52.4 billion pact that would see the Mouse House seize control of Fox’s movie studios and cable networks, as well as its stake in European broadcaster Sky. Through time, such a landmark acquisition would allow the likes of X-Men, Deadpool and the Fantastic Four to cross over into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and bolster a franchise which has already been printing money for the past 10 years.
Should that deal go according to plan, Disney’s historic acquisition would augment its Marvel movie properties and bolster its ESPN sports-cable empire. There is one potential hitch, though: Comcast.
As previously mentioned, the all-cast bid for Fox assets would be “at a premium to the value of the current all-share offer from Disney,” so it’s small wonder why the Mouse House is now scrambling to sweeten the deal.
Frankly, it’s their’s to lose, as the media giant had struck an agreement with Fox last year to the tune of $52.4 billion in stock value, but over the past few weeks, Comcast has emerged as something of a dark horse in this historic acquisition. As ABC notes, though, Disney‘s offer is seen to be more favorable as the “assets could be spun off tax-free.” More on this story as it develops.
