The current 20th Century Fox logo, used since December 18, 2009. This was the first to be used for the releases of the film Avatar.
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, often called simply 20th Century Fox, is a motion picture studio and distributor located in southern California. The studio was involved in the development of the Ice Age series.
20th Century Fox was not the first choice for a distributor of the film; Fox Animation Studios was the initial choice, but, due to the box office failure of Titan A.E, Fox Animation's final film, the company was disbanded, leaving directors Carlos Saldanha and Chris Wedge to transfer production to Blue Sky Studios, the CGI division of Fox.
History
The company was founded on May 31, 1935, as the result of the merger of Fox Film Corporation, founded by William Fox in 1915, and Twentieth Century Pictures, founded in 1933 by Darryl F. Zanuck, Joseph Schenck, Raymond Griffith and William Goetz.
20th Century Fox is a member of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).
Potential takeover
On December 14, 2017, the Walt Disney Company announced that it is acquiring most of Fox's parent company, 21st Century Fox, including the film studio.[1]
On May 7, 2018, shares of Fox rose 5.1% when a report was released that Comcast was in talks with investment banks and firms in order to obtain bridge-financing for an all-cash bid, reportedly worth $60 billion, that threatened the Disney-Fox deal.[2]
On May 29, it was reported that Disney was looking into making its own all-cash counter-offer for Fox assets in the event that Comcast went through with their offer.[3] The next day, Disney and Fox announced that they have set their shareholder vote meetings for July 10, though both companies have stated that Fox's meeting could be postponed if Comcast came through with their offer.[4]
On June 12, AT&T was given approval by District Judge Richard J. Leon to acquire Time Warner, easing concerns Comcast had regarding whether government regulators would block their bid for Fox. Consequently, the next day, Comcast mounted a bid of $65 billion for the 21st Century Fox assets that were set to be acquired by Disney.[5][6]
On June 14, Bloomberg News reported that the New York Yankees were seeking to invoke a clause in Fox's purchase of stakes in YES Network, allowing them to buy back Fox's stake in the event of a change in ownership (and thus prevent it from being included in the sale).[7]
On June 18, it was reported that Disney will add to its already existing $52 billion claim to contest Comcast's proposed counter-offer for the Fox assets.[8]
On June 19, it was reported that Disney has agreed to acquire Sky News from Sky itself.[9]
On June 20, Disney and Fox announced that they had amended their previous merger agreement, upping Disney’s offer to $71.3 billion (a 10% premium over Comcast's $65 billion offer), while also offering shareholders the option of receiving cash instead of stock.[10][11]
On June 21, Murdoch said in response to Disney's higher offer: "We are extremely proud of the businesses we have built at 21st Century Fox, and firmly believe that this combination with Disney will unlock even more value for shareholders as the new Disney continues to set the pace at a dynamic time for our industry." That still does not prevent other companies from making a bid, as the deal was needed to be voted on by shareholders.[12] Iger explained the reasoning behind the bid: "Direct-to-consumer distribution has actually become an even more compelling proposition in the six months since we announced the deal. There has just been not only a tremendous amount of development in that space, but clearly the consumer is voting—loudly."[13]
On June 27, the United States Department of Justice gave antitrust approval to Disney under the condition of selling Fox's 22 regional sports channels, to which the company has agreed to.[14]
On July 11, 21st Century Fox raised its bid to purchase Sky's assets to $32.5 billion, and $18.57 a share. In response, Comcast increased its bid to $34 billion, and $19.5 a share. At the same time, Fox was given clearance by the British government to purchase Sky. The bidding war for Sky led to some analysts speculating that Comcast could give up bidding for 21st Century Fox in favor of a smaller battle.[15][16][17]
On July 12, the Department of Justice filed a notice of appeal with the D.C. Circuit to reverse the District Court's approval for AT&T acquisition of Time Warner (now WarnerMedia). Although analysts say that the chances of the DOJ win are small, they say it is the "final nail in the coffin for Comcast's Fox chase. This is a clear gift to Disney."[18] On the next day, CEO of AT&T Randall Stephenson gave an interview with CNBC, about Comcast's bid for Fox: "It probably can't help it. You're in a situation where two entities are bidding for an asset, and this kind of action can obviously influence the outcome of those actions."[19]
On July 13, Disney received the support of the Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis, the two most prominent proxy adviser firms in the world. Fox shareholders were recommended by the advisers as means to provide for Disney's future.[20] Also on that same day, British regulators have decided that if Disney purchases Fox's assets before Sky's purchase from either Fox or Comcast, it will be forced to launch a bid for the full ownership of Sky, at a minimum of $18.6 a share.[21]
On July 16, CNBC reported that Comcast is unlikely to continue its bidding war to acquire Fox from Disney in favor of Sky.[22]
On July 18, Bloomberg reported that the Sky board also scheduled July 27, 2018 as the day shareholders vote on selling Sky properties.[23]
On July 19, Comcast officially announced that it was dropping its bid on the Fox assets in order to focus on their bid for Sky. The CEO of Comcast, Brian L. Roberts, said "I'd like to congratulate Bob Iger and the team at Disney and commend the Murdoch family and Fox for creating such a desirable and respected company."[24]
On July 25, TCI Fund Management, the second largest shareholder of 21st Century Fox, voted to approve the Fox-Disney deal.[25]
On July 27, Disney and Fox shareholders approved Disney's purchase of Fox's entertainment assets. The acquisition's completions should be in the first half of 2019.[26] On the same day, Bloomberg News reported that out of all 15 nations yet to approve the deal, China could become the biggest threat to the merger since the trade war with USA resulted in the merger between Qualcomm and NXP not being realized.[27]
On August 7, it was reported that 21st Century Fox has until September 22 to come up with a new bid for Sky plc.[28][29] On August 9, it was reported that Viacom CEO Robert Bakish wants to license its TV ad targeting tech to the entire industry, starting with Fox.[30]
On August 12, 2018, the Competition Commission of India approved the Disney-Fox deal.[31]
See also
References
- ↑ The Walt Disney Company To Acquire Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., After Spinoff Of Certain Businesses, For $52.4 Billion In Stock. The Walt Disney Company (December 14, 2017). Retrieved on December 14, 2017.
- ↑ Smith, Gerry (May 8, 2018). Fox Jumps on Report That Comcast Is Considering Counterbid to Disney. Bloomberg. Retrieved on May 7, 2018.
- ↑ Munson, Ben (May 29, 2018). Disney rounding up cash to fight off Comcast's rival bid for Fox. Fierce Cable. Retrieved on May 29, 2018.
- ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (May 30, 2018). Fox And Disney Set Shareholder Meetings For Vote On Merger. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved on May 30, 2018.
- ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (June 12, 2018). Decisive AT&T Victory Sets Stage for Comcast to Challenge Disney for 21st Century Fox Assets. Variety. Retrieved on June 21, 2018.
- ↑ Welch, Chris (June 13, 2018). Comcast makes $65 billion offer to steal 21st Century Fox away from Disney. The Verge. Retrieved on June 21, 2018.
- ↑ Soshnick, Scott (June 14, 2018). Yankees Consider Buying Back YES If Fox Sells Assets. Bloomberg. Retrieved on June 21, 2018.
- ↑ Faber, David (June 18, 2018). Disney is expected to add cash to its bid for Twenty-First Century Fox assets. CNBC. Retrieved on June 21, 2018.
- ↑ Clarke, Stewart (June 19, 2018). Disney Offers to Take on Sky News for 15 Years; Channel to Get $2 Billion Investment. Variety. Retrieved on June 21, 2018.
- ↑ Turner, Nick (June 20, 2018). Disney Sweetens Offer for Fox to $71 Billion, Outbidding Comcast. Bloomberg. Retrieved on June 21, 2018.
- ↑ The Walt Disney Company Signs Amended Acquisition Agreement To Acquire Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., For $71.3 Billion In Cash And Stock. The Walt Disney Company (June 20, 2018). Retrieved on June 21, 2018.
- ↑ Cheng, Roger (June 20, 2018). Fox agrees to Disney's new $71.3 billion offer, rejecting Comcast. CNET. Retrieved on June 21, 2018.
- ↑ Hayes, Dade (June 20, 2018). Disney's Bob Iger On Need For Fox Deal: "The Consumer Is Voting — Loudly". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved on June 21, 2018.
- ↑ Disney wins US antitrust approval to buy Fox assets. CNBC (June 27, 2018). Retrieved on June 28, 2018.
- ↑ Murdoch's Fox increases Sky bid to £24.5bn in takeover battle. BBC.com (July 11, 2018). Retrieved on July 12, 2018.
- ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (July 11, 2018). Comcast Raises Bid for Sky as Regulatory Decision Accelerates Sale Process. Variety. Retrieved on July 12, 2018.
- ↑ White, Peter (July 12, 2018). 21st Century Fox Given Clearance To Buy Sky By British Government. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved on July 12, 2018.
- ↑ Sherman, Alex (July 13, 2018). The DOJ has a slim chance of blocking the AT&T-Time Warner deal, but even that may be enough for Comcast to throw in the towel on Fox. CNBC. Retrieved on July 13, 2018.
- ↑ Shapiro, Ariel (July 13, 2018). DOJ challenge to AT&T-Time Warner deal could affect Disney and Comcast's bidding war for Fox, says AT&T's Stephenson. CNBC. Retrieved on July 13, 2018.
- ↑ Sakoui, Anousha (July 13, 2018). Disney's $71 Billion Fox Bid Wins Backing From ISS, Glass Lewis. Bloomberg. Retrieved on July 13, 2018.
- ↑ Martin, Ben (July 13, 2018). British regulator sets 14 pound floor under Sky shares. Reuters. Retrieved on July 13, 2018.
- ↑ Moyer, Liz (July 16, 2018). Comcast unlikely to raise Fox bid; focused on Sky: Sources. CNBC. Retrieved on July 16, 2018.
- ↑ Mayes, Joe (July 18, 2018). Sky Hearing on Same Day as Fox Vote Complicates Comcast Bid. Bloomberg. Retrieved on July 19, 2018.
- ↑ Gartenberg, Chaim (July 19, 2018). Comcast gives up on buying 21st Century Fox assets and leaves Disney as the winner. The Verge. Retrieved on July 19, 2018.
- ↑ Ahmed, Nabila (July 25, 2018). TCI Votes in Favor of Disney's Offer for Fox's Assets. Bloomberg. Retrieved on July 25, 2018.
- ↑ Williams, Trey (July 27, 2018). Fox and Disney Shareholders Vote to Approve $71.3 Billion Merger. The Wrap. Retrieved on July 27, 2018.
- ↑ Ahmed, Nabila (July 27, 2018). Disney Investors Worry Beijing Could Be Tricky Fox Deal Hurdle. Bloomberg. Retrieved on July 28, 2018.
- ↑ Chu, Henry (August 7, 2018). Deadline for New Fox Bid for Sky Is Set for September. Variety. Retrieved on August 9, 2018.
- ↑ Fox has until Sept. 22 to top Comcast's bid for Sky. CNBC (August 8, 2018). Retrieved on August 9, 2018.
- ↑ Bakish, Robert (August 9, 2018). Viacom wants to License its TV Ads Targeting Tech to the Entire Industry and its Starting with Fox. Business Insider. Retrieved on August 9, 2018.
- ↑ Malvania, Urvi (August 12, 2018). Fox-Disney deal: CCI approves takeover of Murdoch's company in India. Business Standard. Retrieved on August 12, 2018.