Topps will sell sports card business to Fanatics

By Lauren Hirsch, The New York Times

In a woody definite to reverberate crossed the collectibles industry, Topps is selling its famed sports paper concern for an undisclosed terms to Fanatics, the sports marque steadily creating a licensing empire.

The woody includes Topps’ sports and amusement business. In August, Topps mislaid its licensing statement with Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association to Fanatics. That abrupt nonaccomplishment of a decadeslong narration killed Topps’ plans to spell nationalist and enactment its aboriginal successful doubt.

Topps has been owned by Tornante, the concern steadfast owned by Michael Eisner, the erstwhile Walt Disney Co. CEO, and the backstage equity steadfast Madison Dearborn Partners since 2007, erstwhile the 2 firms acquired it for $385 million.

Eisner said successful a connection that “the beardown affectional transportation betwixt Topps collectibles and consumers of each ages” would marque it “a jewel successful the Fanatics portfolio.”

All of the astir 350 employees moving successful Topps’ sports and amusement section volition determination to Fanatics. Topps sells its products successful much than 100 countries, with carnal operations successful 10 countries.

Topps’ remaining business, which see Bazooka gum and acquisition cards, volition present beryllium called the Bazooka Cos. Those 2 divisions brought successful much than $250 cardinal of income successful 2021.This nonfiction primitively appeared successful The New York Times.