Panini Explores Sale

[Archimedes]

Apologies if this was already posted and I missed it but thought it was interesting enough to flag for you guys. They're looking for $5.8 billion.

https://www.reuters.com/business/ita...ys-2026-04-02/

[hermanotarjeta]

Would it be illegal for fanatics to buy them out, ie a monopoly?

[Archimedes]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Would it be illegal for fanatics to buy them out, ie a monopoly?

I wouldn't think so, because the licenses are really the only thing that matters in my view. Not the capability or IP. If it's ok for Fanatics to have an exclusive on the licenses, then it should be ok for Fanatics just to buy them.

[BoSoxFan1999]

So possibly Topps could take over all of Panini's inserts (Kabooms/Downtowns etc)?

[Bosoxfan5990]

If I'm reading correctly, they're not just trying to sell Panini America, but the entire parent company?

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

If I'm reading correctly, they're not just trying to sell Panini America, but the entire parent company?

That is correct.

The possibility of expanding sticker product breaks to Europe makes one salivate.

[zworykin]

Fanatics acquired trading card ⁠maker ​Topps in 2022 but the source ruled out ​Panini could consider it among suitors.

In December Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin told The Athletic that he had ​not interest in buying Panini.

Well, that settles it, Fanatics is the lead bidder.

[livfreely]

They are not worth that now. They are trying to sell showing last year’s profits when they had the licenses for everything. Fanatics will wait them out, and I highly doubt any other takers are knocking


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by Archimedes

I wouldn't think so, because the licenses are really the only thing that matters in my view. Not the capability or IP. If it's ok for Fanatics to have an exclusive on the licenses, then it should be ok for Fanatics just to buy them.

Fanatics already has a monopoly with fully-licensed MLB, NBA and NFL cards. Acquiring Panini would further cement their monopoly, as they are the primary competitor for non-MLB-licensed baseball cards.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by BoSoxFan1999

So possibly Topps could take over all of Panini's inserts (Kabooms/Downtowns etc)?

So they can lower their quality and run them into the ground even more?

No thanks.

I prefer that there is a finite number made of them instead of perpetually being made year-after-year. There is a reason PMGs from the mid-to-late 90s hold so much value -- they weren't made for many years to the point of being no longer special.

[jjcan]

What if TCG Pokemon put a bid in and added to the sticker business and brought out Pokemon stickers, and now controlled another printing lane. Pikachu kicking a Fifa soccer ball would destroy old sticker sales numbers.

[boxbuster7]

this was reported months ago