Report: Disney in Talks to Acquire Pixar
LOS ANGELES - The Walt Disney Co.'s possible acquisition of Pixar Animation Studio could make Pixar CEO Steve Jobs a member of Disney's board and its single largest shareholder, a newspaper reported Thursday.
Shares of both companies rose slightly Thursday after The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources familiar with the plan, reported Disney was in serious talks to buy Pixar.
Both companies declined comment to The Associated Press Thursday.
Pixar has made several hit movies, including "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo." Jobs is its largest shareholder, with more than 60 million shares, or 50.6 percent, according to Pixar's filings with securities regulators last year.
At its current share price, his stake is worth about $3.44 billion.
Jobs also heads Apple Computer Inc., the maker of the hugely successful iPod music and video player.
"Investors may hope that Mr. Jobs' successful track record at Pixar and Apple will rub off more broadly on Disney," Richard Greenfield, an analyst at Pali Research, wrote in a report Thursday.
Greenfield estimated that Jobs could gain a 6 percent stake in Disney as the result of a merger. Disney's largest reported individual shareholder now is former CEO Michael Eisner, who owns 1.8 percent of outstanding shares.
Pixar shares rose $1.61 a share, or 2.81 percent, to close at $58.87 Thursday on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Disney shares gained $1.04, or 4 percent, to $26.24 at the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
Disney CEO Robert Iger has made it clear that technology will be a cornerstone of Disney's success in the future. Having Jobs on Disney's board could strengthen the link between Disney's content and the technology that links TV shows, movies and music to consumers.
"In our view, no company understands both technology and the consumer better than Apple," analyst Kathy Styponias of Prudential Equity Group wrote.
Reports of a possible Disney-Pixar merger first surfaced several weeks ago after shares of Pixar jumped, leading analysts to speculate that Jobs might become Disney's chairman.
Disney and Pixar have been talking for months about a new relationship.
Disney has co-financed and distributed Pixar's animated films for the past 12 years, splitting the profits. But that deal expires in June after Pixar delivers "Cars."
Personally, after what happened before, I'm surprised this is even happening.
But that's me.
I thought there was a squabble earlier. I'm a bit fuzzy on the details though.
So this is the movie equivalent of Square-Enix?
Hmm...
Disney-Pixar doesn't have the same ring. Nor does Pixar-Disney.
But PIX-EY does. It fits like a glove! Tinkerbell could be the new mascot. Mickey needs some time off anyway. 😛
Damn those two are acting like a pair of ex-lovers. Pixar pushes Disney away and Disney are all "I DON'T NEED YOU!" and then they try to make it on their own and end up on the phone crying "baby, I need you" within weeks :3
It's not an unexpected move to be honest, Pixar made their own name with the Disney/Pixar stuff, but it wouldn't suprise me if both companies need their partnership to work, if they end up under the same umbrella we'll likely see more movies like Toy Story and Incredibles, which is not really a bad thing.
Man, I just love market consolidation.
Raise your hand and look like a total idiot if you didn't expect this to happen.
*raises hand like an idiot*
*ends up shot* x.x
Hmmm, in a way, I'm not surprised that those two might end up together again. Not surprised at all.
~Neo
Quote:
It's not an unexpected move to be honest, Pixar made their own name with the Disney/Pixar stuff, but it wouldn't suprise me if both companies need their partnership to work, if they end up under the same umbrella we'll likely see more movies like Toy Story and Incredibles, which is not really a bad thing.
Point... but it's also worth bearing in mind that not everything they made was of that high standard. A Bug's Life, for instance.
I want them to keep that little opening clip with the lamp. Best part of every movie.
They should keep the opening clip...but change it a little...Have the lamp jump on the 'i', but when it flattens it, have the whole thing explode! That would be hilarious! Okay, so it might make some/most kids cry, but who cares about scaring a few kids...
Hm, I'm stupid, I figured Disney already had Pixar. XD
Disney does own a lot as it is, and I doubt they would stop getting more anytime soon. I have known that they own ESPN, used to own two sports teams in Anaheim, CA, and I recently learned they own my classic rock station. o_0
~T2K
Given how Disney seems to like whoring out sequels to every movie they've ever made, expect to see things like Toy Story 5 coming to a theater near you in the next few years.
Well, Disney was planning on making a Toy Story 3 with or without Pixar anyway. Supposedly, it's going to be about Buzz being recalled back to Taiwan after malfunctioning, and Woody and the gang have to go to Taiwan to rescue Buzz from being disassembled. Yeah.
I heard they're already starting on Monster's Inc 2, Finding Nemo 2 and Toy story 4. Go figure. -_-;
