Oyosports Nears Bankruptcy Sale

Investment firm Nine Associates proposes to buy Oyosports for $600,000, in a deal that potentially would enable the sports toy company to emerge from bankruptcy, according to a letter of intent filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Boston. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Elizabeth Katz approved the letter of intent. The purchase of Oyosports, which filed for bankruptcy protection last summer, would be free of liabilities and include inventory, raw materials, works in progress and other items with a minimum value of $400,000, Nine Associates said. The sale would close within 15 days of its receiving final court approval. Nine Associates has made a $60,000 deposit toward the proposed purchase. Oyosports had NFL, MLB, college hockey and other licenses for mini-figures and playsets, all of which would need to be renegotiated under new ownership. Basic Fun, which distributes Oyosports products to mass retailers, also invested in the company last year. That investment ended with the bankruptcy, says Basic Fun President Jay Foreman. Basic Fun has NHL and NBA licenses for construction sets.  Toymaker Import Dragons was the backup bidder for Oyosports.

Contact:

Oyotoys, Thomas Skripps, 978-264-2000

Striker, Blumhouse Productions Reach ‘First Look’ Agreement

Striker Entertainment announces a first-look TV development deal with Blumhouse Productions in a move that will see the agency seek content outside its licensing business, Striker’s Russell Binder tells us.

Striker, which is working with Blumhouse on a “Five Nights at Freddy’s” film for potential release in 2019, also will draw from its existing base of licensing clients for TV.

“Most of the time, it will be content that we find that lives outside our licensing representation, but which we feel could be great television and then translate into much more meaningful and longer lasting consumer products programs,” says Binder.

Blumhouse began its TV division about 18 months ago. Merchandise rights for the films it produces are mostly controlled by Universal Brand Development.

Meanwhile, if Blumhouse retains the rights to TV shows, Striker is positioned to represent them for licensing and merchandising, says Binder.

Blumhouse has been expanding its portfolio in the past year with a TV series based on the life of the late Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes and another for USA Network stemming from its film franchise “The Purge.” It also signed with Hulu in January to produce a new monthly horror series.

Contact:

Striker Entertainment, Russell Binder, Partner,818-225-9355, Russell@strikerent.com

Executives

Changes at DHX Media: Josh Sherba, EVP of Content and Distribution, named President, replacing Steven DeNura, who will transition from his role within the month as part of a succession plan; Aaron Ames, ex-Atlas Cold Storage, returns to DHX as Chief Operating Officer. The move are the most recent as DHX nears the end of a strategic review begun last fall that included the departure of CEO Dana Landry in February… Shawn Dennis, ex-DreamWorks Animation, named President of GoldieBlox as the children’s multimedia company moves to expand its strategic partnerships and consumer products businesses and sharpen focus on licensing. GoldieBlox launched as an interactive toy company in 2012 and went on to produce YouTube series… Scott McCormack, Director of Sales and Marketing at Picnic Time, shifts to Director of Licensing with plans for retiring in 2019 and is replaced as Sales Director by Brandon Vasquez, formerly Director of Business Development.

Agencies

IMG Licensing is representing the Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Chrysler brands globally as part of a multi-year agreement with FCA US. IMG’s offices in North America will manage the program which will take a region-by-region approach to extending the brands in apparel and accessories, gaming, outdoor gear, toys and experiences, IMG said… Pacific Swell Brands is returning the bodybuilding Charles Atlas brand to licensing after several years absence. Charles Atlas Ltd. has had many licensing agreements since its founding in 1929, but its most recent pacts have expired and “we are pressing the reset button,” says Pacific Swell’s Vivian Velasco. Pacific is seeking deals for apparel, publishing, collectibles and nutritional supplements….CPLG will represent UglyDolls in parts of Europe, Asia and the Middle East with plans to bring it into apparel, accessories and gifts. White Space Entertainment is UglyDolls’ master licensing agent.

Contacts:

CPLG, Victoria Whellans, Senior Business Development Mgr., +44 208 563 6400, Victoria.whellans@cplg.com

IMG, Drew Sheinman, VP Brand Development, 212-489-8300, drew.sheinman@img.com

Pacific Swell Brands, Vivian Velasco, connect@pacificswellbrands.com

Bon-Ton Will Liquidate

The Bon-Ton Stores is liquidating after a bankruptcy court approved the bids Wednesday of two liquidation firms. Great American Group and Tiger Capital filed the sole bid for a bankruptcy court auction earlier this week. The 256-store company operated under its own and other names, including Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson’s, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s and Younkers. “While we are disappointed by this outcome and tried very hard to identify bidders interested in operating the business as a going concern, we are committed to working constructively with the winning bidder to ensure an orderly wind-down of operations,” said President and CEO Bill Tracy. The liquidation follows a last-ditch effort by mall owners Namdar Realty Group and Washington Prime Group to buy the chain.  Bon-Ton had been unprofitable since 2011 and revenue fell 7.5% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017.

Endemol Shine Readies Peaky Blinders for Licensing

Endemol Shine Group’s “Peaky Blinders” series will venture into licensing for the first time with a goal of having product by Q4, says an Edemol spokeswoman. Endemol will release a style guide at Licensing Expo in May targeting apparel, accessories, gift-stationery and food, says the spokeswoman. The series is produced in the UK for BBC Two and airs in the U.S. on Netflix. It debuted on the BBC in September 2013.

Contact:

Endemol Shine Group, Tamaya Petteway, SVP Integrations and Partnerships, 310-860-9914, tamaya.petteway@endemolshine.us

Sequential Brings Avia Brand into China

Sequential Brands Group struck a deal with Beiying Sports Technology Co. that will bring the Avia brand into China for the first time. Beiying will start with men’s, women’s and children’s footwear, apparel and accessories later this year and plans to open stores – including a flagship location in Beijing, in 2019, says a company spokeswoman. Sequential acquired Avia in 2014. Sequential, which has been working to expand the Avia brand in international regions, struck a deal last August with SPR Indústria de Confecção to develop Avia footwear and apparel for the Brazil market.

Contact:

Sequential Brands Group, Joe Esses, VP Marketing and Licensing, 212-518-4771, jesses@sbg-nyc.com

Nickelodeon Signs Deal with Stadium Status Group

Nickelodeon moves to extend its fashion and celebrity collaborations via an agreement with Stadium Status Group to expand streetwear and high-end apparel offerings. Nick has worked with Stadium Status in the past, including collaborations involving Ren and Stimpy (Jeremy Scott) and Rugrats (Kith). Stadium Status handles product design and development, marketing and sales. It worked with Nickelodeon previously on an 18-month project to bring SpongeBob into fashion collaborations.

Contact:

Nickelodeon, Pam Kaufman, Chief Marketing Officer, 212-846-4430, pam.kaurfman@nick.com

Stadium Status Group, Doug Cohen, Managing Partner, Stadium Status Group, 917-498-1208, info@stadiumstatusgroup.com