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The
deal adds to Sony's existing 39% stake, bringing its
shareholding to 80%, according to a joint statement. The Schulz
family will continue to own the remaining 20%.
“With this additional ownership stake, we are thrilled to be
able to further elevate the value of the 'Peanuts' brand by
drawing on the Sony Groupʼs extensive global network and
collective expertise,” Sony Music Entertainment President
Shunsuke Muramatsu said.
“Peanuts” made its debut Oct. 2, 1950 in seven newspapers. The
travails of the “little round-headed kid” Charlie Brown and pals
including Linus, Lucy, Peppermint Patty and his pet beagle
Snoopy eventually expanded to more than 2,600 newspapers,
reaching millions of readers in 75 countries.
The strip offers enduring images of kites stuck in trees,
Charlie Brown trying to kick a football, tart-tongued Lucy
handing out advice for a nickel and Snoopy taking the occasional
flight of fancy to the skies. Phrases such as “security
blanket," “good grief” and “happiness is a warm puppy” are a
part of the global vernacular. Schulz died in 2000.
Sony acquired its first stake in Peanuts Holdings LLC in 2018
from Toronto-based WildBrain Ltd. In Friday's transaction,
Sony's music and movie arms signed a “definitive agreement” with
WildBrain to buy its remaining stake for $630 million Canadian
dollars ($457 million).
Rights to the “Peanuts” brand and management of its business are
handled by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Peanuts Holdings.
WildBrain also owns other kids' entertainment franchises
including Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies.
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