article link -- More involved with Disney buyout soon?

[Luv2Roam]

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2004/02/23/daily5.html

article:
11:56 AM EST Monday
Merrill Lynch: Is another Disney bidder on the horizon?

The siege of the Magic Kingdom may not be over yet.

Merrill Lynch, the New York brokerage house, has issued a research report suggesting multiple scenarios in which the Walt Disney Co.could be acquired by Comcast Corp., or enter a three-way deal involving Liberty Media and Interactive Corp. -- or do some acquiring of its own, in an effort to become less attractive to unwanted suitors.

That's the strategy employed by Disney in 1984, when Saul Steinberg launched a hostile takeover bid for Disney. Disney subsequently acquired Arvida, the sprawling land and development company.

Disney has rejected the Comcast bid. And Comcast has backed away from offering more than the roughly 9 percent premium its own bid would bring Disney shareholders.

Merrill Lynch suggests that if Comcast continues to stand firm on its bid price, another bid for Disney will be forthcoming. Merrill casts doubt that media giants Time Warner or Viacom would be interested, but says one possible deal could involve Liberty Media, John Malone's high-powered cable concern turned holding company, and Interactive Corp., a media firm in which Liberty has an equity interest.

In yet another scenario, Merrill considers the likelihood that Disney will launch a preemptive strike, buying a company of its own. Among those speculated to be viable candidates: Yahoo!, Pixar and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

© 2004 American City Business Journals Inc.

 

[renknt]

In yet another scenario, Merrill considers the likelihood that Disney will launch a preemptive strike, buying a company of its own. Among those speculated to be viable candidates: Yahoo!, Pixar and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

E$iner going after Pixar I would pay real money to hear his pone call to Steve Jobs.

 

[renknt]

Please quit posting so much.

Scoop,
so sorry I will refrain from postins the rest of the week.

Thanks for getting the name right this time

 

[dcentity2000]

Pixar is owned by Apple Computers and headed in both cases by Steve Jobs, the only person widely seen as being more volatile than Eisner. Only these two men can really save Disney... Roy means well, but will destroy the company.

There are currently very strong rumours that Apple with Pixar will buy Disney. Reasons:
1) Because Jobs can
2) Because Jobs is a bit of a Disney fan
3) Because it would be very equitable from Pixar's point of view
4) Because it would give Apple leverage as far a media is concerned, leaving Windows out in the dark as far as Disney goes
5) Because it is a pet dream of Jobs to create something very like Walt's dream
6) Because Jobs & Eisner don't see eye to eye and in the past that has not boded well for those opposed to Jobs... although in this case there might be quite a battle!
7) Because it would spread the risk of equity loss
8) Because, for the first time in around 15 years, Apple has no debt, loads of spare cash, a hell of a lot of demand and CAN expand as such
9) Pixar are looking for a new studio... if they BOUGHT one with Apple, they'd be minted

PLUS, most views stand that if this were to happen (buy out or merger) it would be the best of all bad scenarios - Disney would be left basically independant but with a lot of help (like Pixar and Apple) and the company would have Jobs at the helm