Marvel Consolidates Domestics Category Through Expanded Agreement with Jay Franco & Sons Inc.
Thursday May 6, 6:55 am ET
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2004--As part of a continuing effort to consolidate its partners in key licensing categories, Marvel Enterprises Inc., (NYSE: MVL - News) a global character-based entertainment licensing company, announced today that it has expanded its agreement with world-leading domestics manufacturer, Jay Franco & Sons Inc. making the company the sole provider of Marvel-branded products for the important domestics category. The extended relationship furthers Marvel's goal to leverage the growing brand value and demand for Marvel consumer products created by the massive exposure generated from its successful ventures in film and television. The strategy enables Marvel to enhance the caliber and commitment of its licensing partners while expanding marketing and promotional support for their Marvel-licensed product lines, resulting in expected higher returns for all partners.
Pursuant to the expanded agreement, Jay Franco will exclusively introduce domestics products for the home featuring a variety of Marvel classic and movie Super Heroes® including: Spider-Man(TM), X-Men(TM), The Fantastic Four(TM), Hulk(TM), Iron Man(TM) and others. Products will include beach towels, bath towels, sheets, comforters, blankets and many other home furnishing products. The lines will be available in the U.S. and Canada.
"Having a strong partner in the billion-dollar home decor industry is extremely important to our overall licensing program. Jay Franco has been a long-standing, quality Marvel partner, which made expanding the scope of our relationship an easy choice," said Tim Rothwell President Marvel's Worldwide Consumer Media Group. "Our category consolidation efforts are solidifying the market strength of the Marvel brand and creating a more cohesive and powerful presence at retail. We continue to review other license categories which may offer benefits via similar category management actions."
This announcement comes on the heels of Marvel's recent consolidation efforts in the underwear apparel, confection and costume categories through agreements with Hanes, R.M. Palmer and Disguise, respectively.
About Marvel Enterprises
With a library of over 4,700 proprietary characters, Marvel Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused in three areas: entertainment (Marvel Studios) and licensing, comic book publishing and toys (Toy Biz). Marvel facilitates the creation of entertainment projects, including feature films, DVD/home video, video games and television based on its characters and also licenses its characters for use in a wide range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, snack foods and promotions. Marvel's characters and plot lines are created by its comic book division which continues to expand its leadership position in the U.S. and worldwide while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property.
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