Disney Makes $52.4 Billion Deal for 21st Century Fox
Disney is buying 21st Century Fox assets for just over $52 Billion dollars in stock. Axios Media Reporter Sara Fischer breaks down what this deal means for the future of media consolidation.
Fischer says Disney has been trying to figure out how it can scale to compete against Netflix in the streaming service space. This deal will give Disney ownership of Fox's 30 percent stake in Hulu. It is worth noting this deal isn't quite complete, as it still awaits regulatory approval from the Department from Justice.
Recently, the DOJ sued to block the merger between AT&T and Time Warner. Fischer says Disney and Fox executive say this deal doesn't pose the same type of anti-competition problems as AT&T and Time Warner because they don't have a broadband service that reaches consumers directly. But Disney's pending stake in Hulu could give the mouse house favorable content access.
Nestlé has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate. The company announced on Monday that the dismissal was effective immediately. An investigation found that Freixe violated Nestlé’s code of conduct. He had been CEO for a year. Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive, will replace him. Chairman Paul Bulcke stated that the decision was necessary to uphold the company’s values and governance. Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 and has held various roles, including CEO of Nestlé's Nespresso division since 2024.
Kraft Heinz is splitting into two companies a decade after they joined in a massive merger that created one of the biggest food companies on the planet. One of the companies will include brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The other will include brands like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. When the company formed in 2015 it wanted to capitalize on its massive scale, but shifting tastes complicated those plans, with households seeking to introduce healthier options at the table. Kraft Heinz's net revenue has fallen every year since 2020.
