Disney, Pixar reportedly close to deal

[sa_butta]

http://www.marke ch.com/news/stor...id=google&dist=

LOS ANGELES (Marke ch) - Walt Disney Co. and Pixar are on the cusp of a deal in which Disney would buy the computer-animation specialist for roughly $7 billion in stock, news accounts said Tuesday.

The New York Times and Associated Press both reported a deal could be forged as early as Tuesday. Disney's board of directors reportedly discussed the transaction Sunday and Monday and the Pixar board was set to talk about the deal on Tuesday.



The Times said Tuesday that Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger has the authority to offer $59 a share for Pixar (PIXR: Pixar

<IMG class=pixelTracking style="DISPLAY: none" height=1 width=1 border=0>PIXR57.57, -0.70, -1.2%) . That represents only a slight premium for that company's shares, which were down more than 1% on Tuesday.




The Times said Disney would combine Pixar, which has a perfect record with its six feature-length releases thus far, with the company's own struggling animation unit. Pixar Chief Executive Steve Jobs would get a seat on Disney's board and become its largest shareholder.The Disney-Pixar relationship was in severe doubt two years ago when Jobs announced the company would seek a distribution deal elsewhere. That announcement was one of several events that precipitated the ouster of Michael D. Eisner from his role as Disney chairman.

Eisner was blamed for souring the relationship with Pixar. He eventually retired as the company's chief executive.

Iger's ascendance to the chief executive spot opened the door for Disney and Pixar to renew their successful arrangement.

Meanwhile, Disney is looking to sell its ABC radio stations, perhaps in an effort to pay for the deal.

[T Park]

ALRIGHT

More Toy Story and Monsters INC hopefully.

[Trainwreck2100]

Disney realized that they couldn't just make 3d animation movies. see: chicken little and valiant. Without the excellent storytelling that Pixar brought w/ Toy Story Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo

[Buddy Holly]

And The Incridibles.