The Licensing Letter

Authentic Brands Group

ABG Hands Over Sports Illustrated in $45 Million Up-front Deal to Start-up

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com In a $45 million upfront deal, Authentic Brands Group (ABG) hands over operation of newly-acquired sports publication brand Sports Illustrated (SI) from Meredith to media distribution start-up The Maven. According to the terms of the licensing agreement as disclosed in a Maven SEC filing, Maven will operate SI exclusively in … [Read more...] about ABG Hands Over Sports Illustrated in $45 Million Up-front Deal to Start-up

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: 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

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

Who’s News—8/21/2018

Are you hiring—or being promoted, changing jobs, retiring, launching a new company, or otherwise changing your employment? Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com to announce the news in our next issue of Who's News. Mattel shareholders elect Adriana Cisneros, CEO of Cisneros Group of Companies, and Roger Lynch, President & CEO of Pandora Media, to the … [Read more...] about Who’s News—8/21/2018

Fashion Track: Sneakers, Apparel & Fitness

By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. The Jordan Brand makes its first-ever women's collaboration with editorial approval from Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintor. The Air Jordan 1 High Zip “AWOK,” is named after Wintour's signature on approved editorial or creative pages of the magazine, and will be followed by the Air Jordan 3 “AWOK,” to be released the next … [Read more...] about Fashion Track: Sneakers, Apparel & Fitness

M&A Watch: Fashion Forward

Authentic Brands Group makes a successful $340 million bid for Nine West Holdings. Under the terms of the agreement, ABG will control all licensing partnerships and marketing plans for both the Nine West and Bandolino brands. Marc Fisher Footwear will operate the business' operations and Signal Products will oversee the handbag and SLG businesses. Perry Ellis Intl. is going … [Read more...] about M&A Watch: Fashion Forward

M&A & Bankruptcy

Nine West Holdings files for bankruptcy, listing debts of approximately $1.5 million. The apparel, jewelry, and jeanswear company is planning sell its flagship brand, Nine West, to Authentic Brands Group. It will also sell its Bandolino brand and reorganize around other businesses, including the Anne Klein name. MGA Entertainment CEO Isaac Larian makes his move, submitting a … [Read more...] about M&A & Bankruptcy

Roundup: Business & Legal

The parentco of Coach, Kate Spade New York, and Stuart Weitzman will re-brand itself as Tapestry effective Oct. 31, 2017. CEO Victor Luis told WWE that the shift reimagines Coach as a "true house of emotional, desirable brands," that will "extend into new categories and markets" within "the very attractive and growing $80 billion global market for premium handbag and … [Read more...] about Roundup: Business & Legal