Enesco LLC Announces the Sale of Gund to Spin Master Corp.
Los Angeles / April 2018 – Balmoral Funds is pleased to announce the sale of GUND to Spin Master (TSX:TOY), a leading global children’s entertainment company. GUND was a division of Balmoral’s portfolio company Enesco LLC, and is the oldest soft toy brand in the United States. The transaction closed on April 1, 2018.
Established in 1898, GUND is one of the leading plush toy manufacturers in the world, recognized by the American Brand Council as one of the most trusted toy brands in the U.S. Universally known and loved for its iconic “Gotta Getta GUND” campaign, the brand connects effortlessly with multiple generations of people who have shared special moments of their lives with this affordable luxury.
Headquartered in Toronto, Spin Master is a leading global children’s entertainment company that creates, designs, manufactures, licenses and markets a diversified portfolio of innovative toys, games, products and entertainment properties. Spin Master is best known for award-winning brands including Zoomer®, Bakugan®, Erector® by Meccano®, Hatchimals®, Air Hogs® and PAW Patrol®. Since 2000, Spin Master has received 92 TIA Toy of The Year (TOTY) nominations with 28 wins across a variety of product categories, including 13 TOTY nominations for Innovative Toy of the Year.
Enesco CEO Todd Mavis is pleased that the iconic GUND brand will be in good hands, with the resources to maximize its global consumer appeal. “We’ve really enjoyed working with the entire GUND team and wish them continued success in their new partnership with Spin Master. With the sale of the GUND division we are looking forward to re-doubling our efforts on our core gift business,” said Mavis.
About Enesco
Enesco, LLC is a global leader in the gift, collectible and home décor with a portfolio that includes some of the world’s most recognizable brands and licenses, including Jim Shore Heartwood Creek®, Walt Disney Archives™, Disney Showcase®, Disney by Britto™, Department 56® Village, Designs by Lolita®, and Our Name Is Mud®. Serving more than 40,000 customers worldwide, the company designs, develops and distributes consumer products to a wide variety of specialty card and gift retailers, home décor boutiques, national retail chains and direct-to-consumer retailers.
About Balmoral
Balmoral is a Los Angeles, CA based private equity fund that was founded in 2005. Balmoral currently has more than $250 million of assets under management and focuses on partnering with talented and committed management teams to invest in and revitalize companies. Balmoral typically invests in companies that have revenues between $30 to $300 million and require equity investments of $5 to $30 million.
For more information please contact:
Travis Haynes
Managing Director
(310) 469-5773