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UNIVERSAL STUDIOS CONSUMER PRODUCTS GROUP
SELECTS THE BEANSTALK GROUP TO MANAGE ITS ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING
PROGRAM
New York, May 21, 2007 ? UNIVERSAL CITY,
Calif. — Universal Studios Consumer Products Group
announced today that it has selected The Beanstalk Group, the
world's leading brand licensing consultancy, to further develop
and manage select properties in its consumer products portfolio
in the United States. Universal is responsible for global licensing
and retail strategies as well as building brand recognition for
the extensive catalogue of Universal Studios properties. The Beanstalk
Group will assume licensing management responsibilities for select
Universal properties and categories, including upcoming Universal
Pictures releases, Universal Library retro classics and Universal?s
top-rated animated children?s television series.
Universal properties accounted for $1.5 billion in worldwide retail
sales in 2006. Thousands of properties are under the Universal
umbrella and are potentially licensable including past, present
and future television shows, movie titles and children?s television
series. Universal?s day-to-day operation will remain under the
direction and control of Cindy Chang, Vice President of Worldwide
Business Development and Debbie Luner, Vice President of Worldwide
Marketing and Brand Management.
?For Universal Studios, licensing is not simply a transactional
business. Rather it is a highly strategic and thoughtful process
designed to reinforce or broaden consumer awareness of our properties
in meaningful ways,? said Ms. Chang.
?The Beanstalk Group?s licensing philosophy and approach is consistent
with our own, making them a natural choice with whom to partner
moving forward. Of equal importance was Beanstalk?s entertainment
experience, their vast corporate brand licensing expertise, and
their unparalleled level of service,? said Ms. Luner.
?Everyone at Beanstalk is honored to be working with Universal
Studios Consumer Products Group, an esteemed and successful licensing
organization,? added Michael Stone, CEO and President of The Beanstalk
Group. ?Beanstalk?s philosophy has always been to provide a level
of service to clients that is unsurpassed in the industry. We
regularly challenge ourselves as we seek to articulate and execute
the most sophisticated and comprehensive services available. Working
in partnership with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group,
together we will raise the bar for the industry as a whole.?
To properly service Universal, The Beanstalk Group assembled key
talent from diverse media, entertainment, retail and marketing
backgrounds to provide the full-service expertise necessary to
ensure the success of the Universal Studios licensing program.
Additionally, The Beanstalk Group plans to expand its presence
in Los Angeles in the coming months to better service these properties.
The Beanstalk Group will immediately begin working on a number
of Universal properties, including (by category):
Top-Rated Animated Children?s Television Series
? Curious George: The iconic and lovable monkey, Curious George,
continues to resonate with individuals of all ages,and specifically
with children two to five years of age. Universal Studios has
continually executed a multi-year strategy to build Curious George
into an evergreen franchise. With rave reviews from critics, educators,
parents and kids alike, the Emmy® nominated television series,
Curious George, swings into a second season on PBS KIDS in Fall
2007 with strong support from licensees across all categories
at mass-market retail.
? The Land Before Time: As the No. 1 best-selling
animated feature-length video franchise of all time with more
than 60 million cumulative units sold, totaling more than $1B
in worldwide retail sales, The Land Before Time is THE authentic
dinosaur property. With nearly 20 years of brand equity behind
it, The Land Before Time?s first-ever television series made its
debut on Cartoon Network in March 2007.
Upcoming Universal Pictures Releases
? The Mummy: Tomb of the China Warrior: The captivating adventures
of the O?Connell family return with son Alex unearthing the mummy
of the first Emperor of Qin in The Mummy: Tomb of the China Warrior,
due July 11, 2008.
? Hellboy 2: The Golden Army: With a signature blend
of action, humor and character-based spectacle, the saga of the
world's toughest, kitten-loving hero from Hell continues to unfold
in Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, coming August 1, 2008.
? The Tale of Despereaux: A CGI animated adventure,
based on the Newbery Award-winning book by acclaimed author Kate
DiCamillo, is planned as the Studio?s 2008 holiday tentpole release,
with a star-studded cast, including Dustin Hoffman,Kevin Kline,
Christopher Lloyd, Sigourney Weaver and William H. Macy, among
others.
Universal Library Retro Classics
? Scarface: Considered the ultimate gangster film, Scarface is
the unforgettable story of a ruthless immigrant's rapid rise and
fall as the underworld kingpin of South Florida.
? Universal Studios Monsters: Beginning in 1925
with The Phantom of the Opera and continuing with the horror classics
Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Bride of Frankenstein, The
Wolf Man and The Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Universal
Studios Monsters have stood the test of time, appealing to countless
generations worn into the fabric of popular culture today.
# # #
About Universal Studios Consumer Products
Group
Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is responsible
for global licensing and retail strategies as well as building
brand recognition of the extensive catalogue of NBC Universal
properties. Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is a unit
of NBC Universal, one of the world?s leading media and entertainment
companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment,
news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004
through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment,
NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and
entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant
television production operations, a leading television stations
group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned
by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.
About The Beanstalk Group
The Beanstalk Group is the world?s leading brand licensing consultancy.
Beanstalk extends brands the smart way through careful, strategic,
and creative development of licensed products. The company works
with blue-chip brands and other high-profile clients to leverage
licensing as a strategic tool to enhance brand awareness, increase
consumer touch-points, and generate revenue. Beanstalk also works
with manufacturers to help identify and acquire compelling brands
and properties to help them gain competitive advantage in the
marketplace. Beanstalk is the licensing agency of record for 35
world-class brands including Harley-Davidson, AT&T, Ford Motor
Company, Mary-Kate and Ashley, and The Andy Warhol Foundation.
Beanstalk has developed more than 4,000 brand extensions in every
major product category, resulting in more than $3 billion in retail
sales in 2006 alone. Headquartered in New York and London, Beanstalk?s
global reach includes offices throughout the world. For more information,
please visit www.beanstalk.com.
For more information please contact:
Lindsey Schiffman
The Beanstalk Group
lindsey.schiffman@beanstalk.com
Tel: (212) 303-1142
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