The Walt Disney Company has announced that it will acquire the 33% stake in the streaming service Hulu held by Comcast Corp.’s NBC Universal (NBCU), following Comcast’s November 1 exercise of its right under the put/call arrangement between the two companies.
Under the terms of the put/call arrangement, by December 1 Disney expects it will pay NBCU approximately $8.61 billion, representing NBCU’s percentage of the $27.5 billion guaranteed floor value for Hulu that was set when the companies entered into their agreement in 2019 minus the anticipated outstanding capital call contributions payable by NBCU to Disney.
Under the appraisal process agreed to by Disney and Comcast, Hulu’s equity fair value will be assessed as of September 30, 2023, and if the value is ultimately determined to be greater than the guaranteed floor value, Disney will pay NBCU its percentage of the difference between the equity fair value and the guaranteed floor value.
Disney notes that while the timing of the appraisal process is uncertain, it anticipates it should be completed during the 2024 calendar year.
