Snoopy and Charlie Brown set ’to embrace new opportunities’ to expand IP’s reach

peanuts

Peanuts

Sony Picture Entertainment is to take control of Peanuts after striking a C$630m (£341m) deal with Canadian kids company WildBrain.

The agreement will see SPE acquiring WildBrain’s 41% stake in Peanuts Holdings LLC, adding to the pre-existing 39% stake held by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) to give the Tokyo-based giant an 80% stake overall.

Members of the family of Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, will continue to own the remaining 20%.

The ownership of rights to Peanuts and the management of its business continue to be handled by Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Peanuts Holdings LLC that in turn will become a subsidiary of Sony Group.

SMEJ will take the lead in managing Peanuts Holdings LLC in partnership with SPE.

Sony made its first investment in Peanuts, via SMEJ, in 2018 and has since expanded the brand with deals with Apple TV, among others.

Shunsuke Muramatsu, president and group chif exec at Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), said the deal meant his company would ”be able to further elevate the value of the Peabuts brand by drawing on the Sony Group’s extensive global network and collective expertise.

“We are deeply committed to carrying forward the legacy of Charles Schulz and the Schulz family.

“Together with SPE, and backed by WildBrain’s continued partnership, we will continue to embrace new opportunities to ensure that Peanuts remains a relevant and beloved presence across generations - reaching new audiences and sharing the timeless charm of the Peanuts gang for years ahead.”

Ravi Ahuja, president and chief exec at Sony Pictures Entertainment, added that he would ”look forward to building on their meaningful partnership with WildBrain and the Schulz family”.

Josh Scherba, president and chief exec at WildBrain, added: ”Sony has been an excellent partner on the Peanuts brand for many years, and we’re confident that Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang are in good hands with them.”

Peanuts debuted on 2 October, 1950, in a comic strip that was initially published in seven newspapers.

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