- Disney to combine its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo and
become majority owner of the resulting company
- The combined business will operate under the Fubo publicly
traded company name (NYSE: FUBO) led by the existing Fubo
management team; Fubo and Hulu + Live TV will continue to be
available to consumers as separate offerings
- With a combined 6.2 million North American subscribers between
Fubo and Hulu + Live TV, the new vMVPD company is expected to
enhance consumer choice through more flexible programming
offerings
- Fubo to create a new Sports & Broadcasting service,
featuring Disney’s premier sports and broadcast networks
- All litigation between Fubo and Disney has been settled
FuboTV Inc. (NYSE: FUBO) and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS)
today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement
for Disney to combine its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo (the
“Transaction”), forming a combined virtual MVPD company. The
Transaction will enhance consumer choice by making available a
broad set of programming offerings, and is subject to regulatory
approvals, Fubo shareholder approval, and the satisfaction of other
customary closing conditions.
Under the terms of the definitive agreement, at closing, Disney
will own 70% of Fubo. Fubo’s existing management team, led by Fubo
Co-founder and CEO David Gandler, will operate the newly combined
Fubo and Hulu + Live TV businesses.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Disney to create a
consumer-first streaming company that combines the strengths of the
Fubo and Hulu + Live TV brands,” said Gandler. “This combination
enables us to deliver on our promise to provide consumers with
greater choice and flexibility. Additionally, this agreement allows
us to scale effectively, strengthens Fubo’s balance sheet and
positions us for positive cash flow. It’s a win for consumers, our
shareholders, and the entire streaming industry.”
“This combination will allow both Hulu + Live TV and Fubo to
enhance and expand their virtual MVPD offerings and provide
consumers with even more choice and flexibility,” said Justin
Warbrooke, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate
Development, The Walt Disney Company. “We have confidence in the
Fubo management team and their ability to grow the business,
delivering high-quality offerings that serve subscribers with the
content they want and offering great value.”
Combined Business to Provide Enhanced Consumer Choice
Fubo and Hulu + Live TV each provide customers the ability to
stream a broad array of live broadcast and cable networks on their
connected TVs, mobile phones, tablets, and other internet-connected
devices.
Combining the businesses of Fubo and Hulu + Live TV — which
together have over 6.2 million subscribers in North America — will
facilitate an enhanced choice of programming packages and address a
variety of consumer preferences at attractive price points.
In connection with the Transaction, Disney will enter into a new
carriage agreement with Fubo that will allow Fubo to create a new
Sports & Broadcast service, featuring Disney’s premier sports
and broadcast networks including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN,
ACCN, ESPNEWS, as well as ESPN+.
Fubo and Hulu + Live TV will continue to be available to
consumers as separate offerings post-closing. Hulu + Live TV, a
leader in entertainment programming, will continue to be streamed
in the Hulu app and be offered as part of the attractive bundle
with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+. Fubo, which streams more than 55,000
live sporting events annually, will continue to serve its
subscribers in the Fubo app.
The combined company will negotiate carriage agreements with
content providers for both Hulu + Live TV and Fubo services
independently from Disney.
Combined Company will Benefit from Synergies
Following the closing of the Transaction, Fubo will be governed
by a board of directors with the majority appointed by Disney, as
well as independent directors. Gandler will also serve on the board
of directors continuing as Fubo’s CEO. The Transaction will provide
the combined company with the resources and support of Disney, and
the existing Fubo management team will continue to focus on driving
growth and profitability.
The Transaction will also enable Fubo shareholders to benefit
from synergies of the combination. The combined business will
realize synergies through more flexible programming packaging to
cater to all audiences, greater innovation, and sales and marketing
opportunities.
The combined company is projected to be well-capitalized and
cash-flow positive immediately after the closing of the
Transaction.
Transaction Details and Litigation Settlement
In conjunction with the Transaction, Fubo has settled all
litigation with Disney and ESPN related to Venu Sports, the
previously announced sports streaming platform planned by ESPN, FOX
and Warner Bros. Discovery. Fubo has also settled all litigation
with FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery.
In connection therewith, at signing of the Transaction, Disney,
FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery will make an aggregate cash payment
to Fubo of $220 million.
In addition, Disney has committed to provide a $145 million term
loan to Fubo in 2026 as part of the Transaction.
Additionally, a termination fee of $130 million will be payable
to Fubo under certain circumstances, including if the Transaction
fails to close due to the failure to obtain requisite regulatory
approvals on the terms and conditions set forth in the definitive
agreement.
Advisors
Wells Fargo is serving as the lead financial advisor to Fubo and
Evercore is also serving as financial advisor to Fubo. Latham &
Watkins LLP is serving as legal advisor to Fubo in connection with
the Transaction, and Kellogg Hansen LLP represented Fubo in its
antitrust litigation. Centerview Partners LLC is serving as
financial advisor to The Walt Disney Company and Cravath, Swaine
& Moore LLP is serving as legal advisor to The Walt Disney
Company.
Further Information Relating to Fubo
Fubo will file a Form 8-K regarding the Transaction, available
on its investor relations website at https://ir.fubo.tv.
Investor Conference Call
Fubo will conduct an investor conference call at 9:00 a.m. EST /
6:00 a.m. PST today, January 6, 2025. The live webcast will be
available on the Events & Presentations page of Fubo’s investor
relations website. Fubo’s investor deck can be accessed on its
investor relations website at https://ir.fubo.tv.
Important Information About the
Transaction and Where to Find It
The Transaction will be submitted to the shareholders of Fubo
for their consideration and approval at a special meeting. In
connection with the Transaction, Fubo will file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a preliminary proxy statement
for the Fubo shareholder meeting. Once the SEC completes its review
of the preliminary proxy statement, a definitive proxy statement
and a form of proxy will be filed with the SEC and mailed or
otherwise furnished to the shareholders of Fubo. Fubo may also file
other documents with the SEC regarding the Transaction. This press
release is not a substitute for the Fubo proxy statement or any
other document that Fubo may file with the SEC or send to its
shareholders in connection with the Transaction. BEFORE MAKING
ANY VOTING DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF FUBO ARE
URGED TO READ THE FUBO PROXY STATEMENT AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT
DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, IN
CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO THE
PROXY STATEMENT, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE
DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY, WHEN THEY BECOME
AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS.
Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the Fubo
proxy statement (when available) and other documents filed with the
SEC by Fubo through the website maintained by the SEC at
www.sec.gov or by contacting the investor relations department
of:
Fubo https://ir.fubo.tv
Ameet Padte, Fubo ameet@fubo.tv
JCIR, Fubo ir@fubo.tv
Participants in the
Solicitation
Fubo and its respective directors and executive officers may be
deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect
of the Transaction. Information regarding Fubo’s directors and
executive officers, including a description of their direct
interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is available in
Fubo’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2023 and its proxy statement dated April 26, 2024, which are filed
with the SEC. Additional information will be available in the Fubo
proxy statement to be filed in connection with the Transaction.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not
intended to and does not constitute an offer to subscribe for, buy
or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for, buy or
sell, or an invitation to subscribe for, buy or sell any securities
or a solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor
shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any
jurisdiction in which such offer, invitation, sale or solicitation
would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the
securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities
shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the
requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.
Cautionary Notes on Forward Looking
Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In this context,
forward-looking statements often address expected future business
and financial performance and financial condition, and often
contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,”
“believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” “project,” “to
be,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these
words. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters
that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about
the consummation of the Transaction and the anticipated benefits
thereof. These and other forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future results and are subject to risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking
statements. Important risk factors that may cause such a difference
include, but are not limited to: (i) the completion of the
Transaction may not occur on the anticipated terms and timing or at
all, (ii) the required regulatory approvals may not be obtained, or
that in order to obtain such regulatory approvals, conditions may
be imposed that adversely affect the anticipated benefits from the
Transaction or cause the parties to abandon the Transaction, (iii)
the risk that a condition to closing of the Transaction may not be
satisfied, (iv) the risk that the anticipated tax treatment of the
Transaction is not obtained, (v) potential litigation relating to
the Transaction that could be instituted against Fubo, Disney or
their respective directors, (vi) potential adverse reactions or
changes to business relationships may result from the announcement
or completion of the Transaction, (vii) risks associated with third
party contracts containing consent and/or other provisions that may
be triggered by the Transaction, (viii) negative effects may result
from the announcement or the consummation of the Transaction on the
market price of Fubo’s or Disney’s common stock, (ix) the potential
impact of unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures,
revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance,
indebtedness, financial condition and losses on the future
prospects, business and management strategies for the management,
expansion and growth of Fubo’s or Disney’s operations after the
consummation of the Transaction and on the other conditions to the
completion of the Transaction, (x) disruptions from the Transaction
may harm Fubo’s or Disney’s business, including current plans and
operations, (xi) Fubo or Disney may not be able to retain or hire
key personnel, (xii) there may be adverse legal and regulatory
developments or determinations or adverse changes in, or
interpretations of, U.S. or foreign laws, rules or regulations,
including tax laws, rules and regulations, that could delay or
prevent completion of the Transaction or cause the terms of the
Transaction to be modified, and (xiii) there may be risks
associated with management’s response to any of the aforementioned
factors.
These risks, as well as other risks associated with the
Transaction, will be more fully discussed in the Fubo proxy
statement that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the
Transaction. While the list of factors presented here is, and the
list of factors to be presented in the proxy statement are
considered representative, no such list should be considered to be
a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties.
Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to
the realization of forward looking statements. Consequences of
material differences in results as compared with those anticipated
in the forward-looking statements could include, among other
things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss,
legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which
could have a material adverse effect on Fubo’s or Disney’s
consolidated financial condition, results of operations, credit
rating or liquidity. Neither Fubo nor Disney assumes any obligation
to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future
developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as
otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.
The term “Disney” is used in this release to refer collectively
to the parent company and the subsidiaries through which various
businesses are actually conducted.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250106542784/en/
Investor Contacts: Ameet Padte, Fubo ameet@fubo.tv JCIR,
Fubo ir@fubo.tv Carlos Gomez, The Walt Disney Company
carlos.gomez@disney.com Media Contacts: Jennifer L. Press,
Fubo jpress@fubo.tv Bianca Illion, Fubo billion@fubo.tv David
Jefferson, The Walt Disney Company David.J.Jefferson@disney.com
Mike Long, The Walt Disney Company Mike.P.Long@disney.com
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