You probably haven't noticed it, but today, July 28, the world of the media is no longer what you knew until yesterday. In fact, a real revolution arrived a few hours ago which radically and definitively changed the face of one of the key sectors of the world economy: the merger between Wall Disney and 21st Century Fox.
The shareholders of both giants, gathered in two separate extraordinary meetings, gave the green light to the acquisition of Fox by Walt Disney, a transaction worth 71,3 billion dollars, of which 35,7 billion in cash and 343 million shares of Disney stock.
After the December 2017 agreement signed by Fox's number one, Rupert Murdoch, and the CEO of the Mickey Mouse company, Bob Iger and months of heart-pounding negotiations and negotiations, the largest global conglomerate in the media industry was born.
However, there is still a knot to be solved which does not concern money, but "politics". The operation has received the go-ahead from the US Department of Justice and is also about to receive the go-ahead from the Federal Communications Commissions, which many already take for granted. However, the approval of other antitrust authorities is also needed, such as those of the European Union and China. But if the old continent is not considered a "problem" to hinder the road that leads to the creation of the world's largest media group, there could instead be Beijing, currently not in exactly simple relations with Washington given the ongoing trade war.
It should be underlined that the acquisition has accelerated after the step back by Comcast which a few days ago decided to give up the game and to bet everything on another match. the one for the control of Sky, where Murdoch (who already owns 39%) would like to reach 100%.
Last July 12, after the relaunch of Fox, which Tuesday July 11 increased its offer to £24,5 million – 14 pounds per share – Comcast has also decided to up the ante, responding blow for blow. The American giant has put £14,75 per share on the plate, a figure that altogether corresponds to £26 billion (€29,4 billion, $34 billion).
