Sony acquires majority stake in Peanuts from WildBrain, expanding ownership
Deal lifts Sony’s Peanuts ownership to 80%, with the Schulz family retaining 20%; separate agreement moves toward full holding of the brand
Sony on Friday announced it has agreed to buy a majority stake in the Peanuts comic from WildBrain, increasing its ownership to 80 percent and leaving the Schulz family with 20 percent. The deal includes a 41 percent stake for 457 million dollars, adding to Sony's existing 39 percent stake and giving the Japanese entertainment conglomerate control of the long-running franchise.
Peanuts first appeared on Oct. 2, 1950, in seven newspapers. The strip, featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and others, grew into a global phenomenon, appearing in more than 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries and shaping popular culture with phrases such as good grief and happiness is a warm puppy.
In a separate agreement, Sony's music and movie arms signed a definitive agreement to buy WildBrain's remaining stake for CAD 630 million, about USD 457 million. The deal keeps the Schulz family as owners of the remaining 20 percent and reinforces Sony's ongoing involvement with the Peanuts brand as a global licensing and content powerhouse.
Rights to the Peanuts brand and management of its business are handled by a wholly owned subsidiary of Peanuts Holdings, with WildBrain continuing to own other kids' entertainment franchises such as Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies.
Sony first entered Peanuts Holdings with a stake in 2018, and the latest move expands that involvement, enabling greater coordination of merchandising, licensing, and media exploitation across Sony's global footprint. Shunsuke Muramatsu, president of Sony Music Entertainment, said the transaction will elevate the value of the Peanuts brand by drawing on the Sony Group's extensive global network and collective expertise.