Sony is set to become the majority owner of the Peanuts brand. Sony Music Entertainment Japan, or SMEJ, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, or SPE, have signed an agreement to acquire WildBrain’s 41% stake in Peanuts Holdings.
As a result of this transaction, Sony’s total stake in the company will rise to 80% when combined with its existing 39% share, officially making Peanuts Holdings a consolidated subsidiary of the Sony Group. The family of creator Charles M. Schulz will retain their 20% interest in the brand, while SMEJ takes the operational lead in partnership with SPE. The deal, which builds on Sony’s initial 2018 investment, is currently awaiting regulatory approval.