UPDATED with deal amount in U.S. dollars: Sony has announced that its Sony Music Entertainment Japan, along with Sony Pictures Entertainment from the U.S., has entered into an agreement to purchase WildBrain’s 41% stake in Peanuts Holdings LLC, the company responsible for the beloved cartoon franchise created by Charles M. Schulz, which features characters like Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and others.
The acquisition is valued at CAN$630 million, equivalent to approximately $457 million in U.S. currency, as reported by WildBrain in their announcement.
Once the transaction is finalized, Sony, which currently owns around 39% of Peanuts Holdings from a 2018 acquisition, will increase its ownership to 80%. The Schulz family will maintain a 20% share.
As part of the deal, Sony stated that Peanuts Worldwide, a fully owned subsidiary of Peanuts Holdings LLC, will continue to manage the rights and business operations of the Peanuts brand. Both Peanuts Holdings and Peanuts Worldwide will be consolidated under the Sony Group, with Sony Music taking the lead in managing Peanuts Holdings alongside SPE.
“Since 2018, SMEJ has been proud to be part of the partnership behind ‘Peanuts’, an iconic global entertainment brand,” stated Shunsuke Muramatsu, President and Group CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. “This new ownership stake enables us to further enhance the ‘Peanuts’ brand while honoring the legacy of Charles Schulz and the Schulz family.”
The Peanuts franchise, created by Schulz and initially introduced as a comic strip on October 2, 1950, has made a significant impact in pop culture through its television specials, consumer products, and various forms of media from traditional comics to digital formats.
WildBrain has held the majority rights to the Peanuts brand since 2017 when it acquired Iconix Brand Group, the rights holder for Peanuts and Strawberry Shortcake, for $345 million. Following the acquisition, WildBrain will continue to serve as the exclusive licensing agent for consumer products in various territories and will manage Peanuts content production through an ongoing partnership with Apple TV, which recently extended its streaming rights through 2030.
