Sony to Acquire Control of Peanuts in $457 Million Deal
is paying more than a few to get majority ownership of Charles M. Schulz’s beloved Peanuts franchise featuring Snoopy, Charlie Brown and more.
and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) announced that they entered into a definitive agreement with Canadian media company WildBrain to indirectly acquire all of the 41% stake held by WildBrain in Peanuts Holdings LLC.
Sony will pay CAN $630 million to WildBrain for the 41% stake, or roughly $457 million. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
As a result of the transaction, SMEJ and Sony Pictures Entertainment, together with SMEJ’s existing approximately 39% stake, will indirectly own 80% of Peanuts Holdings LLC, while the members of the family of Charles M. Schulz 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, a wholly owned subsidiary of Peanuts Holdings LLC.
With Sony taking an 80% stake, Peanuts Holdings LLC (including Peanuts Worldwide), will become a consolidated subsidiary of the Sony Group. SMEJ will take the lead in managing Peanuts Holdings LLC in partnership with SPE.
“Since 2018, SMEJ has been proud to be part of the partnership behind ‘Peanuts,’ an iconic global entertainment brand with a 75-year legacy of delighting audiences worldwide,” Shunsuke Muramatsu, president and group CEO, Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), said in a statement. “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 Group’s extensive global network and collective expertise.
He continued, “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.”
Since acquiring an interest in Peanuts Holdings in 2018, SMEJ said, it has focused on expanding the “Peanuts” IP business while maintaining and further building a positive relationship with the Schulz family. The company said it aims to continue to use its expertise in the character business — and the extensive network of the Sony Group — to “drive further growth of the Peanuts IP business and enhance the brand’s value.”
Ravi Ahuja, president and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, said, “‘Peanuts’ is enduring and iconic. We value the deep collaboration we have with our SMEJ colleagues and look forward to building on their meaningful partnership with WildBrain and the Schulz family. With our combined strengths, we have the unique capability and extraordinary opportunity to protect and shape the future of these beloved characters for generations to come.”
Josh Scherba, president and CEO of WildBrain, commented, “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. We’d like to thank the Peanuts Worldwide team, as well as the Schulz family, for their incredible collaboration, and we look forward to working with them and Sony going forward to continue driving global success for ‘Peanuts’”
Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the “Peanuts” crew were first introduced to the world by Charles M. Schulz on Oct. 2, 1950, when the comic strip debuted in seven newspapers. The franchise has since become a global hit. In addition to the “Peanuts” shows and specials on Apple TV, the brand encompasses thousands of consumer products, as well as amusement park attractions, cultural events, social events, social media, and comic strips in all formats.
For WildBrain, the deal will eliminate 100% of its debt “and gives us financial flexibility to accelerate the growth of our iconic franchises Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies, while also investing in our premium digital content network across YouTube, FAST and AVOD, and in new technologies to drive innovation,” the company said.
Under the agreement, WildBrain also remains a multiyear partner to Peanuts for key services, including acting as distributor for WildBrain-produced Peanuts content and continued management of the Snoopy YouTube channel. In addition, the company will serve as exclusive licensing agent through its agency WildBrain CPLG for consumer products in all current territories across Europe, the Middle East, China, and Asia Pacific (excluding Japan, Australia and New Zealand).
WildBrain also will operate an exclusive production studio for new Peanuts content — including the previously announced animated feature film — under a partnership with Apple TV, recently renewed through 2030.
