Sponsored by: Lord & Taylor SoldFederated Department Stores agreed to sell its Lord & Taylor apparel chainto NRDC Equity Partners, LLC, for $1.195 billion in cash. According to NRDCEquity Partners, the firm will continue to operate the cha

April 6, 2018

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Lord & Taylor Sold
Federated Department Stores agreed to sell its Lord & Taylor apparel chainto NRDC Equity Partners, LLC, for $1.195 billion in cash. According to NRDCEquity Partners, the firm will continue to operate the chain as a specialtydepartment store.

"Marvelous" New Deals for Steve & Barry"s
Steve & Barry"s University Sportswear gets in the ring with new partnerWorld Wrestling Entertainment with a direct-to-retail apparel line planned.Product will include polo and button-front shirts, sweatshirts,sweatpants/athletic pants, jerseys, jackets, wind shirts, shorts, hats,underwear, pajamas, sleepwear, loungewear, and footwear for men, women, youth,and infants. WWE product will be available in limited quantities this fall,with a full product line to be launched in spring 2007. The retailer alsointroduced a full line of T-shirts featuring X-Men, Spider-Man, and otherMarvel superheroes in all stores as part of a previously announced deal withMarvel Enterprises.

Del Monte Deal Encourages Healthy Habits
Sesame Workshop took a "can-do" attitude to its Healthy Habits for Lifeinitiative, partnering with Del Monte on a line of vegetables featuring SesameStreet characters on the product packaging. Due on shelves in September, Elmowith Green Beans, Grover with Sweet Peas, and Cookie Monster with Corn will beoffered in specialty four packs of each variety in grocery stores, and eightand 12 packs in select club retailers.

Gemstar-TV Guide Acquires Rights to Website
Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. acquired http://www.jumptheshark.com and relatedassets from Jump the Shark, Inc. The Internet site is where TV viewers debatewhether popular TV programs have reached their peak. Gemstar-TV Guide willdevelop and promote Jump the Shark across its multiple media platforms with JonHein, founder of Jump the Shark, Inc., providing editorial and other relatedservices for Gemstar-TV Guide on a cross-platform basis. The term, "Jump theShark," refers to the episode of Happy Days, where Fonzie jumped over a sharkduring a water-skiing scene, an episode many TV fans believe signaled theshow's demise.

Care Bears Is Focus of Entertainment Deal
AG Properties and Fox Home Entertainment are "bearing" it all, partnering onseveral multiplatform Care Bears entertainment launches. The new line willinclude an updated look, three new direct-to-video titles in 2007 and 2008, anda new CGI theatrical release in summer 2007, followed by a DVD release of thefilm.

Dr. Seuss' Whimsy Comes to New Product Line
Small World Toys will bring a range of products to all channels of distributionas part of a new licensing agreement with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, LP. Due onshelves in 2007, the line will include products such as puzzles, plush,stackers, and a melamine dinnerware set for infants, toddlers, andpreschoolers.

Guinness World Records Expands Program
With the 2007 edition of Guinness World Records hitting shelves this August,the brand seeks partners in the DVD, consumer products, apparel, interactive,Internet, TV, and mobile phone markets. The brand debuts in toys in August asToyQuest introduces the first interactive Guinness World Records-themedelectronic trivia robot. The company will partner with Wendy's on a five-weekQSR promotion in fall and have trading cards in the November issue of NationalGeographic Kids.

HIT Entertainment Teams with TVHead
TVHead inked a deal with HIT Entertainment for the first iTV games based onBarney, Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, and Angelina Ballerina. The newinteractive preschool games launch in the fourth quarter and offer children arange of activities.

Bratz Expands Presence in Licensing
MGA Entertainment showed its passion for Bratz, signing a variety of deals. TheSinging Machine will create a line of karaoke products via a two-year dealincluding a TFT DVD karaoke system, sing-along cassette players, deluxemicrophones, electronic keyboards, and an electronic drum. The girls with apassion for fashion will star in Livin' It Up! With the Bratz, an interactivemovie experience that blends the interactivity of gaming with the entertainmentof a movie due in August. MGA Entertainment, Inc.; Avi Arad Productions; andCrystal Sky Pictures are teaming up on a movie tentatively entitled Bratz withproduction slated for fall 2006. International licensee Parragon Publishingwill create a line of English publishing formats for April 2007 in the U.S., aswell as the UK, Channel Islands, Eire, Isle of Mann, Gibraltar, South Africa,Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean region.

New Agent to Manage Teddy Ruxpin Brand
BackPack Toys, master licensee for Teddy Ruxpin, appointed Nine Oaks Group aslicensing agent for the property in North America. All categories of goods areavailable for licensing, although there will be an early emphasis on appareland accessories, toys and interactive, domestics, publishing, and health andbeauty.

Icon Inspires San Francisco Diner
Betty Boop is the inspiration behind a classic diner that opened in SanFrancisco in the area's Powell Street section. The diner reinforces the themewith patrons eating menu items such as The Boop-Oop-a-Doop Burger andsurrounded by two original giant wall-sized murals commissioned to captureBetty Boop in San Francisco. A small on-site boutique will sell licensedmerchandise and collectibles. Betty Boop's Diner will be managed by the ownersof Sears Fine Food and Lori's Diners.

Mattel on Board for Spider Riders
Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. is weaving together a strategy for its new SpiderRiders series, naming Mattel Inc. master toy licensee and tapping FUNimationEntertainment to manufacture and distribute home video titles and personalvideo player content. The action-adventure series debuted on Kids' WB's! June17 following the series' premiere earlier this year on Teletoon in Canada andTV Tokyo in Japan.

Execs on the Move
Brad Globe officially took over the reigns of Warner Bros. Consumer Products aspresident. Sony Pictures Consumer Products promoted Mark Caplan to vicepresident, hardlines, and Sharie Van Gilder to director of softlines. LeeBlevins was named director of community relations for Cartoon Network. Simon& Schuster named Lucille Rettino director of marketing, SSE and SimonPulse; Elena Mechlin marketing assistant, trade; Lila Haber senior publicist;and promoted Bridget McCabe to associate managing editor.

Upcoming Industry Events
Seoul Character Fair 2006, July 26-30,COEX, Seoul, Korea, http://www.characterfair.org/
 "How To Make a GreatPreschool Series" Workshop, August 12-14,Little Airplane Productions, 86 Franklin Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY,212.965.8999 or e-mail: [email protected]

Submit Licenses Granted & Available Now Online
The LICENSE Finder allows you to submit licenses granted and available nowonline, which will be published on the LICENSE Website (http://www.licensemag.com/) on a weeklybasis once approved by an editor. Go to http://www.finder.licensemag.com/to fill out the verification form and submit your licenses granted or availablenow. Highlights from each month's online submissions will be published inLICENSE magazine. Any questions, contact Alyson Grala at (212) 951-6743 or viae-mail: [email protected].

Cookie Jar Entertainment, Inc.
Cookie Jar Entertainment, Inc., is a leading global independent producer,licensor, and marketer of children's properties. Some of Cookie Jar'sproperties include preschool series Caillou and musical hit show TheDoodlebops, along with Gerald McBoing Boing and Mona the Vampire for theinternational marketplace. Together with the Consumer Products Division, CookieJar Entertainment licenses and markets its properties around the world. Formore information, visit http://www.thecookiejarcompany.com.

For more information on licensing news and features, visit LICENSE magazine'sWebsite, http://www.licensemag.com/

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