CPLG to join forces with Pullman Licensing to expand in Russia, CIS and Baltics
LONDON, Oct. 4, 2018 /CNW/ - CPLG is further extending its international footprint by agreeing to acquire a 49% share in Pullman Licensing LLC ("Pullman"), a leading Russian licensing agency owned by Igor Kuleshov, President and owner of Gulliver Holdings, one of Russia's premier toy and clothing manufacturers and distributors.
CPLG and Pullman are expected to collaborate on the overall management and operations, utilizing CPLG's international industry knowledge and expertise and Pullman's local strength in the market. Pullman will maintain the existing staff in their Moscow office and look to expand the existing portfolio of rights. Pullman's current portfolio includes Nickelodeon, Paramount, ROI Visual and Emoji across Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Baltics.
The venture, to be named CPLG Pullman, will also represent certain of CPLG's portfolio, including Line Friends, one of the fastest growing global character brands, and Archie Comics, with further representation to be announced shortly.
Peter Byrne, CEO of CPLG comments: "CPLG's move into Russia is a logical next step and helps consolidate our expansion plans across EMEA, bringing further scale to our existing operations. We are very excited to be creating this new venture with Pullman, who are a strong established player in the market, to take the business to new heights."
Igor Kuleshov, owner of Pullman Licensing LLC added, "We are sure that this partnership will give us additional opportunities for the business expansion in Russia and internationally. The combination of Pullman's local knowledge and success and CPLG's reputation and experience in this business is a winning combination in the Russian market."
CPLG and Pullman aim to complete the transaction on or about October 30, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions and the execution of certain ancillary agreements.
About CPLG
CPLG (www.cplg.com) 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, Middle East, Greece & Turkey and the US. Owned by DHX Media (TSX: DHX, NASDAQ: DHX Media) a leader in the creation, production and licensing of family entertainment rights, CPLG has more than 40 years of experience in the licensing industry. It provides each of its clients with dedicated licensing and marketing industry professionals and a fully-integrated product development, legal and accounting service. CPLG believe that partnership is about clarity, openness and trust, and is widely known for its no-nonsense, straightforward approach; Expert Common Sense.
About Pullman Licensing
Pullman Licensing LLC is one of the leading agencies in Russia, based in Moscow. It offers full service licensing across all product categories with partners in Russia, CIS countries and Baltics. brand and trade marketing, sales and accounting, finance and legal support, cooperation with customs and patent offices, creative and product development. Pullman Licensing is the exclusive agent and strategic partner of Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products, Paramount Licensing, SEGA, The Emoji Company, Roi Visual, Santoro, Ludorum and KinoAtis, the Russian animation studio.
About Gulliver Holding
Trading as "Gulliver and Co", the company has more than 20 years' experience of toys and kids apparel in Russia and CIS. One of the leaders of Russian kids' products market through kids apparel under the "Gulliver" brand with 200 stores and "Button Blue" (80 stores), and develops products including toys (plush, fashion dolls and educational toys), infant and licensed goods.
About DHX Media
DHX Media Ltd. (TSX: DHX, NASDAQ: DHXM) is a global children's content and brands company, recognized for such high-profile properties as Peanuts, Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Caillou, Inspector Gadget, and the acclaimed Degrassi franchise. One of the world's foremost producers of children's shows, DHX Media owns the world's largest independent library of children's content, at 13,000 half-hours. It licenses its content to broadcasters and streaming services worldwide and generates royalties through its global consumer products program. Through its subsidiary, WildBrain, DHX Media operates one of the largest networks of children's channels on YouTube. Headquartered in Canada, DHX Media has offices worldwide. Visit us at www.dhxmedia.com.
Disclaimer
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws with respect to DHX Media including, without limitation, statements regarding the business strategies and operational activities of DHX Media and its subsidiaries, including The Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Limited the completion of the prospective transactions and expected benefits flowing therefrom. Although DHX Media 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 DHX Media. 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 risk related to the satisfaction of the conditions to closing the transactions, including the mutual agreement to the ancillary commercial agreements together with the shareholder agreement for the limited liability company through which CPLG will hold its 49% interest in CPLG Pullman, the ability of the parties to execute on the transactions, CPLG's ability to effectively operate the business following closing, market factors, contract interpretation, application of accounting policies and principles and other factors discussed in materials filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time including matters discussed under "Risk Factors" in DHX Media's most recent Annual Information Form and annual Management Discussion and Analysis, which also form part of DHX Media's annual report on Form 40-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and DHX Media assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.
SOURCE DHX Media Ltd.
CPLG: Steve Manners, EVP, +44 (0)208 563 6400, [email protected]; Pullman Licensing: Valentina Kursanova, General Director, +7 (495) 902 66 19, [email protected]
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