We break down this week's must-know news in mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships. Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Direct contact information is made available through TLL's Licensing Sourcebook Online (subscription required). Loot Crate files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid reports that the company owes over $30 million in trade debt to its business … [Read more...] about M&A & Partnerships: September 2019
Mergers & Acquisitions
Digital Deets: Retail, Social & Gaming Updates
Gen Z is shopping more frequently and spending more on fashion than Millennials are, according to a study from LIM College. Although the two generations tend to align in overall values, Gen Zers tend to appreciate the material things in life, including shopping at malls and physical stores. It's not only Gen Z—this last holiday season, everyone appreciated the convenience of … [Read more...] about Digital Deets: Retail, Social & Gaming Updates
M&A: New Faces, Same Places
Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Penske Media Corp. (PMC) purchases the last remaining 49% stake in Rolling Stone from BandLab Technologies, giving it full ownership over the magazine brand, including all event and licensing rights, as well as the parallel entity Rolling Stone Intl. Other PMC properties available for licensing include Variety, Deadline … [Read more...] about M&A: New Faces, Same Places
M&A: Bandai, Viacom, Bravado & More Expand
Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Viacom strikes a deal to acquire free streaming TV service Pluto TV for $340 million in cash. President & CEO Bob Bakish identified the "significant white space in the ad-supported streaming market" as a growth opportunity for the company. Pluto TV streams over 100 channels and has more than 12 million monthly active … [Read more...] about M&A: Bandai, Viacom, Bravado & More Expand
M&A & CSR
Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Apple nabs the rights to the late Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts brand following a highly competitive bidding process. The deal will see Apple team with DHX, which already has a stake in the Peanuts franchise, to produce upcoming projects, including new specials and animated shorts, exclusively for Apple TV. Under the new … [Read more...] about M&A & CSR
M&A & Legal: Fashion, Trade & Counterfeit
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. VF Corp. names the new independent, publicly traded company that has been spun off from its jeanswear organization as Kontoor Brands. The separation will be completed in the first half of 2019 and the entity will comprise the Wrangler, Lee, and Rock & Republic brands as well as the VF Outlet business. Marquee Brands … [Read more...] about M&A & Legal: Fashion, Trade & Counterfeit
M&A: Fashion, Toys & Other Business
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. As Levi Strauss prepares to open its largest store in the world in the form of a new Times Square flagship, it is also gearing up for an IPO that would value the company at up to $5 billion. The 145 year-old jeans manufacturer had gone public once before, in 1971, and is now privately held by the descendants of the family of … [Read more...] about M&A: Fashion, Toys & Other Business
M&A: Shakedowns in Fashion & Food
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Inspire Brands agrees to acquire Sonic Corp. in a $2.3 billion deal. The restauranteur's portfolio includes 4,700 Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Rusty Taco locations worldwide. This deal boosts Inspire's total to 8,200 locations, making it one of the 10 largest U.S. restaurant companies by that measure. Inspire will continue … [Read more...] about M&A: Shakedowns in Fashion & Food
Roundup: M&A, Experiential & Media
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. TLL rounds up the top news impacting licensing this week. Experiential Procter & Gamble strikes a deal with franchised house cleaning service The Maids for the use of its Mr. Clean brand in promotions, advertising, and sales materials. Omaha, Neb.-based company The Maids has locations in over 40 states and 3 Canadian … [Read more...] about Roundup: M&A, Experiential & Media
Roundup: M&A & Legal
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Spanish soccer league LaLiga and Relevent, a multinational media, sports and entertainment group, craft a 15 year-long, equal joint venture to promote soccer in the U.S. and Canada. LaLiga will bring the first regular season clubs match to the U.S., dubbed LaLiga North America. LaLiga North America is LaLiga's exclusive … [Read more...] about Roundup: M&A & Legal