The Walt Disney Company confirmed today that it will proceed with a planned deal to acquire Comcast's 33% share of the streaming service Hulu.
Under the deal, Disney will pay Comcast - which owns NBCUniversal - $8.61 billion by December 1. That's the minimum amount that Disney was required to pay given the $27.5 billion guaranteed floor value for Hulu that the companies agreed to back in 2019.
Both Disney and Comcast have retained consultants to appraise a current fair market value for Hulu. If that number comes in higher than $27.5 billion, Disney will be obligated to pay one-third of the difference, to cover Comcast's one-third share of the streamer. If the valuation comes in less than $27.5 billion for any reason, the deal is done, since that was a mutually agreed floor value. Disney gets no refund.
In a statement released today, Disney said that it anticipates the appraisal should be completed during the 2024 calendar year.
For previous coverage, see Why Hulu holds a key to the future of theme parks.
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Robert - you are generally an even handed journalist but you simply cut and pasted the Disney press release. One does not have to be a mathematician to see that $8.61 billion is not even a possible payout to Comcast. The minimum valuation of Hulu is $27.5 billion — so 33% would be $9.16 billion minimum. Both sides have independent valuations ongoing with Comcast saying the total value of Hulu may be closer to $70 billion. There is no way Disney completes this deal under $10 billion.
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I see your use of It's A Small World to illustrate mergers and acquisitions, and I appreciate it.