Comcast prepares to outflank Disney’s $52.4 billion bid to 21st Century Fox with a 60 billion all-cash offer for entertainment assets. A true clash of titans.
The acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Walt Disney Company shall not be taken for granted. When the $52.4 billion bid was revealed on December 14, many had judged the deal was to be sealed right away, an operation that would have marked a turning point in media history, two industry giants united in one big family. Still, Comcast’s increasing interest in Fox assets has led them to rival Disney’s offer. The new deal would add up to $60 billion to be paid all in cash, instead of shares.
However, no final decision has been made yet. A countermove from Walt Disney is expected, and further unknown factors must be considered, such as a potential intervention from the competitors’ trustees in the U.S., who could impose the sale of some properties of 21st Century Fox to avoid a misuse of power from the buyers. The game is still on, and although a strong joker card has just been played, has Comcast really secured its victory?
