21 Jun, 2023
(edited)Edited by Trotter on 2024-4-22 6:24:52 AM UTC
2023-6-21 5:17:25 PM UTC
Embracer Group, the Swedish gaming conglomerate that snapped up the rights to “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” in a surprise deal last summer, has finally revealed how much it paid — and it seems like they got a bargain.
The Karlstad-headquartered company has confirmed it spent SEK 4.2 billion — $395 million at today’s conversion rates — to acquire Middle-Earth Enterprises from the Saul Zaentz Company last August.
At the time the deal was announced, Embracer and Saul Zaentz declined to say how much the “Lord of the Rings” holding company had sold for. But estimates at the time projected the rights – which include worldwide rights to films, video games, board games, merchandising, theme parks and stage productions — were worth up to $2 billion.
It turns out the reality fell significantly short of that.
https://variety.com/2023/film/global/e ... -rings-rights-1235650495/
21 Jun, 2023
2023-6-21 5:40:35 PM UTC
I feel somewhat vindicated after on a social media platform I was told I knew nothing about Tolkien when I suggested that MEE expectations were way off what the IP was worth. I said at the time I thought it was a quarter of that. So still a hundred mil off.
21 Jun, 2023
2023-6-21 5:59:01 PM UTC
Yes, I think those estimates were thought up with what Disney paid for LucasFilm and Marvel Comics in mind. (Around $4 Billion each)
This sale places the IP more on par with the Harry Potter deal, which I believe Universal paid $225 Million for.
21 Jun, 2023
2023-6-21 7:55:02 PM UTC
Mr. Underhill wrote:
Yes, I think those estimates were thought up with what Disney paid for LucasFilm and Marvel Comics in mind. (Around $4 Billion each)
This sale places the IP more on par with the Harry Potter deal, which I believe Universal paid $225 Million for.
Well it would make sense if you are highly restricted to certain material. In the case of Lucas & Marvel there was absolute freedom to expand on the universe ..
18 Nov, 2023
2023-11-18 7:57:38 PM UTC
15 November
2024-11-15 7:51:17 AM UTC
‘Lord of the Rings’ Owner Embracer Reports 10% Drop in Entertainment Sales, Blames Tolkien IP for ‘Lower Activity’
Embracer has reported disappointing results for the second quarter of 2024, reporting a large drop in net sales of 21% across the gaming group to SEK 8.6 billion ($782 million), with net sales of its entertainment and services also dropping by 10%.
Adjusted operating profit fell by 33% to $109 million between July and September 2024, missing projected forecasts.
In its entertainment and services division, which also includes comic book publisher Dark Horse Media, Embracer reported a 14% drop in organic growth, which it put down to “lower activity and tough comparison figures year on year” within subsidiary Middle-earth Enterprises, the holding company for “Lord of the Rings.”
https://variety.com/2024/biz/global/lo ... -results-2024-1236209919/
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