Marvel shareholders back Disney merger

Marvel Entertainment's merger with the Walt Disney Company has been finalised, following the approval of the comic book giant's shareholders.

Disney's $4.3 billion (£2.6 billion) acquisition of the firm grants the firm the rights to over 5,000 comic properties, including Spider-Man, Iron Man and X-Men.

The investors' decision was expected, given that CEO and majority shareholder Ike Perlmutter had already approved the deal. Perlmutter will oversee the operation of Marvel following the merger.

Marvel shareholders will receive $30 (£18) per share in cash, plus 0.745 Disney shares for every Marvel share they own. Both firms' shares rose on the stock market as a result of the partnership.

The deal is Disney's most significant purchase since its acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios in 2006.