NBCUniversal completes purchase of DreamWorks Animation; Katzenberg payday tops $390 million

NBCUniversal has completed its $3.8-billion acquisition of DreamWorks Animation, a blockbuster deal that alters the face of Hollywood and accelerates the pace of consolidation in the media industry.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive of the boutique studio behind such animated hits as “Kung Fu Panda” and “Shrek,” officially segued into a new role as a consultant to Comcast Corp., which is the parent company of NBCUniversal.

Katzenberg exits the Glendale studio he founded with a significant payday. The mogul held 10.2 million shares of DreamWorks stock, which combined was worth roughly $391.6 million, according to a regulatory filing.

Monday was the final day that DreamWorks’ shares traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange, according to another regulatory filing. Read more….