Disney in $4-Billion Deal for Lucasfilm

BURBANK: The Walt Disney Company is to acquire Lucasfilm from George Lucas for $4.05 billion in a deal that includes the Star Wars franchise.

Disney will pay about half in cash and issue approximately 40 million shares at closing. The deal encompasses Lucasfilm, the Star Wars franchise, and the company’s operating businesses in live-action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production, including Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound. Kathleen Kennedy, co-chairman of Lucasfilm, will become president of Lucasfilm, reporting to Alan Horn, the chairman of Walt Disney Studios. She will also be the brand manager for Star Wars. Episode 7 is slated for a 2015 release and Disney says more feature films are expected in the hit franchise.

"Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas," said Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. "This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value."

In remarks for analysts, Iger called Lucas a "visionary, an innovator and an epic storyteller," adding, "Disney has had a great relationship with George that goes back a long way—with Star Wars theme attractions in our parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo. This acquisition builds on that foundation and combines two of the strongest family entertainment brands in the world. It makes sense, not just because of our brand compatibility and previous success together, but because Disney respects and understands—better than just about anyone else—the importance of iconic characters and what it takes to protect and leverage them effectively to drive growth and create value. Lucasfilm fits perfectly with Disney’s strategic priorities. It is a sustainable source of branded, high quality creative content with tremendous global appeal that will benefit all of Disney’s business units and is incredibly well suited for new business models, including digital platforms. Adding the Lucasfilm IP to our existing Disney, Pixar and Marvel IP clearly enhances our ability to serve consumers, strengthening our competitive position—and we are confident we can earn a return on invested capital well in excess of our cost of capital."

On the future of the Star Wars brand, Iger noted after Episode 7—"the first feature film under the "Disney-Lucasfilm" brand," there will be Episodes 8 and 9 "and our long term plan is to release a new Star Wars feature film every two to three years."

"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," said George Lucas, chairman and CEO of Lucasfilm. "It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I’ve always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I’m confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney’s reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products."