Entertainment icon Walt Disney has offered $US4 billion ($4.7 billion) to buy Marvel Entertainment, in stock and cash deal.

Disney president and chief executive Robert Iger said that the company believes that adding Marvel to their unique book of brands give significant chances for growth on the long run. Iger added that they were pleased to include this talent and these great characters to Disney.

Marvel chief executive Ike Perlmutter claims that  Disney, given its proven track in the business with content creation and licensing deals, is the ideal home for their great library of Marvel characters.

According to Perlmutter, this is an unique opportunity for Marvel to construct upon its exciting brand and characters by tapping into Disney’s amazing global infrastructure and organisation.

Besides Iron Man, Spider-Man, and the X-Men, Marvel’s boast characters totaling around 5,000,includes the likes of the Fantastic Four, Captain America, and Thor.

With this agreement, Marvel shareholders are set to receive $US30 for every share in cash plus 0.745 of a Disney share for each Marvel share owned.

Mr Perlmutter will remain at the head of Marvel to supervise the Marvel properties, including Marvel Animation, Marvel Studios and Marvel Comics, and will work directly with Disney’s global lines of business to build and further integrate Marvel’s properties.

The boards of directors of the two companies have approved the deal; all is needed now is the green light from Marvel shareholders competition authorities.