WILD WildBrain Ltd

Global Peanuts annual consumer product sales now exceed US $2.5 billion at retail

Hasbro's Ben Peace joining WildBrain CPLG's executive team to drive APAC strategy from new Singapore office

SHANGHAI and LONDON, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - WildBrain CPLG, one of the world's leading entertainment, sport and brand-licensing agencies, has been appointed by Peanuts Worldwide as the exclusive licensing agent for the Peanuts brand in Asia-Pacific (APAC), bolstering the agency's already growing business in the region.

The deal builds on WildBrain CPLG's long-standing Peanuts licensing relationship across EMEA, and, more recently India, which has seen Snoopy and the gang featured in extensive cross-category programmes for apparel & accessories, promotions, fast moving consumer goods, toys & games, gifting, homewares, stationery, pet accessories, and more. WildBrain CPLG's Peanuts remit for APAC extends across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

The addition of these rights to WildBrain CPLG's roster augments the agency's robust growth plan in the APAC region, following newly launched dedicated offices in Seoul, Taipei and Singapore, as well as an expansion of the existing Shanghai team, announced in April this year. In addition to APAC, WildBrain CPLG represents the Peanuts brand across the UK; France; Spain; Italy; Central & Eastern Europe; Middle East & North Africa; Germany, Austria & Switzerland; Benelux; Greece; Turkey; the Nordics; and India.

The Peanuts characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, a company controlled by WildBrain Ltd., the family of Charles M. Schulz, and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. who also remain the brand's agency for Japan.

Additionally, as part of a series of key hires to continue building leadership and expertise among the local teams, WildBrain CPLG has appointed industry veteran Ben Peace as Vice President, APAC, to spearhead strategy and growth in the region (excluding Greater China). Peace will be based out of WildBrain's Singapore offices.

Peace has over 15 years of experience in the licensing and media industry with a deep knowledge of conceptualizing and implementing commercial strategy in the APAC region. He joins WildBrain CPLG from Hasbro, where he is Senior Licensing Director, Asia. Prior to Hasbro, Peace worked at Universal Pictures, where he launched their merchandising business in Southeast Asia, following roles in global licensing and sales for the Home Entertainment division of the company. He has also held management positions at Aldi and Proctor & Gamble. Peace commences his role at WildBrain CPLG in September 2022 and will be reporting to Maarten Weck, EVP and MD, WildBrain CPLG, who is also responsible for the management of the overall team and business across APAC.

WildBrain China's existing licensing team in Shanghai will be expanded and renamed WildBrain CPLG China, reporting to Jianbo Wei, MD, China, working closely with Weck and Peace. Wei will also continue to oversee WildBrain's content business in China.

Eric Ellenbogen, CEO and Vice Chair of WildBrain, said: "As an owner of the brand and the producer of all-new Peanuts content under our long-term arrangement with Apple TV+, and now as the consumer products agency for Peanuts in more than 50 countries worldwide, our global organization is uniquely positioned to assure the sustained growth of this remarkable IP. Snoopy and the gang are well-known and loved across APAC, and as we continue to roll out our new animated Peanuts content for China and the greater territory, we see unlimited opportunities to increase engagement with the brand and grow revenue considerably, with consumer products a pillar of our 360-degree brand strategy."

Tim Erickson, EVP of Brand at Peanuts Worldwide, said: "We're delighted to partner with WildBrain CPLG in key territories across APAC to deliver exceptional consumer products solutions for our licensees and amazing Peanuts fans. Peanuts continues to drive deep connections with fans of all ages, and we're excited to further establish Charles Schulz's nearly 75-year legacy in this important region. We have a successful partnership with WildBrain CPLG across Europe, and we look forward now to extending these best practices into the high-growth APAC region."

Maarten Weck, EVP and MD, WildBrain CPLG, added: "Peanuts has a strong legacy around the world, and at WildBrain CPLG we have unrivalled knowledge and passion for this iconic brand. In APAC specifically, with Jianbo and his growing team in China, and Ben joining us as one of many new world-class hires planned for the region, we are ideally placed to push ahead with growth for Peanuts, as well as for our expanding representation slate of entertainment, sports and lifestyle brands."

Peanuts is the first new major representation signed by WildBrain CPLG in the territory since the agency announced its expansion into APAC earlier this year. The expansion grows WildBrain CPLG's global footprint to 20 offices and 90 countries, with operations across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific.

In addition to Peanuts, WildBrain CPLG APAC represents and manages WildBrain-owned brands in the region, such as Strawberry Shortcake, In the Night Garden, Inspector Gadget and Teletubbies, as well as select existing third-party IP rights across its Entertainment and Lifestyle portfolios, including SEGA, Sauber, Absolut, Malibu, Parental Advisory, Master Lock, Yale University and the University of Southern California.

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For more information, please contact:

Aimée Norman at The DDA Group
aimee.norman@ddapr.com
+44 (0) 7957 564 050

WildBrain CPLG is one of the world's leading entertainment, sport and brand licensing agencies, with offices in the UK, Benelux, Nordics, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Greece & Turkey, India, the Middle East, and the US. With 50 years of experience in the licensing industry, WildBrain CPLG provides its clients with dedicated licensing and marketing professionals and fully integrated product development, legal and accounting services. WildBrain CPLG believes that collaboration is about clarity, openness and trust, and is widely known for its no-nonsense, straightforward approach. WildBrain CPLG is part of WildBrain Ltd., a global leader in kids' and family entertainment. Please contact us or visit the WildBrain CPLG website for more information: www.cplg.com.

The characters of Peanuts and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, which is 41% owned by WildBrain Ltd., 39% owned by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and 20% owned by the family of Charles M. Schulz, who first introduced the world to Peanuts in 1950, when the comic strip debuted in seven newspapers. Since then, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have made an indelible mark on popular culture. In addition to enjoying beloved Peanuts shows and specials on Apple TV+, fans of all ages celebrate the Peanuts brand worldwide through thousands of consumer products, as well as amusement park attractions, cultural events, social media, and comic strips available in all formats, from traditional to digital. In 2018, Peanuts partnered with NASA on a multi-year Space Act Agreement designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and STEM among the next generation of students.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws with respect to the Company including, without limitation, statements regarding WildBrain CPLG's representation of Peanuts Worldwide in APAC and the business strategies and operational activities of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on information currently available to the Company. Actual results or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, among other things, include epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises, including the current outbreak of COVID-19, the magnitude and length of economic disruption as a result of the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak, market factors, changes in local regulatory requirements, changes in the laws and policies affecting trade, investment and taxes (including laws and policies relating to the repatriation of funds and to withholding taxes), differing degrees of protection for IP, instability of foreign economies and governments, foreign currency and exchange risks, cultural barriers, and the risk factors discussed in materials filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time including matters discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and annual Management Discussion and Analysis. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

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SOURCE WildBrain Ltd.