Ripley’s Believe It or Not! reenergizes its history with a two-year touring, digital content, and publishing partnership with action sports entertainment brand Nitro Circus. Ripley’s will be featured throughout Nitro Circus’ live shows and the Nitro World Games. As part of the agreement, Ripley Publishing also becomes the exclusive publisher for Nitro Circus, releasing its first title in Spring 2019.
Legendary Entertainment is partnering with Japanese animation studio Sunrise to develop a live-action film based on the Mobile Suit Gundam anime.
Defy Media sells its flagship Screen Junkies brand, a TV, film, and pop culture hub that comprises the Honest Trailers YouTube channel, to Fandom, a wiki hosting service that operates 400,000 communities across the web centered around fan-centric topics like video games, movies, and television shows.
Ecommerce Initiatives
Snapchat enlists Kylie Jenner as its launch partner for its first influencer ecommerce push; a feature in its social media app that allows users to swipe up and buy merchandise likee the Kyshadow eyeshot palette. Snap is not taking a percentage of influencers’ sales, per a spokesperson’s statement to Digiday.
Amazon launches a new package delivery service, helping entrepreneurs build their own companies delivering Amazon packages with start-up costs “as low as $10,000.” Amazon will give them access to its delivery technology, hands-on training, and discounts on various assets and services, including vehicle leases and comprehensive insurance.
Fashion’s M&A Game
A unexpected wrench is tossed into the $437 million transaction to take Perry Ellis private—Randa Accessories makes an unsolicited bid for the company. The George Feldenkreis merger agreement is expected to close in the second half of calendar year 2018, subject to several conditions—including a shareholder vote.
The Rockport Group, known for its comfort-driven walking shoes and Aravon, Rockport, and Dunham brands, completes a court-approved marketing process after which it will sell substantially all of its assets to Charlesbank. The private equity investment company will own Rockport’s global wholesale, independent and e-commerce operations as well as all of its Asia and Europe operations.