PW: Henson Co. Sold to German Group

EM.TV, a media company based in Munich, Germany, signed a definitive agreement last week to acquire the Jim Henson Company for $680 million in cash and stock. The deal with EM.TV, which is expected to be completed later this year, marks the culmination of Henson's strategy to align itself with a strategic partner to help the company expand domestically and internationally. Henson, whose products include the Muppets, has been working with EM.TV for several years, and the German company licenses all of Henson's products in Germany.

Jane Leventhal, v-p and publisher of the Henson book group, told PW she anticipates no changes in the company's publishing program once the deal is sealed. Henson has licensing agreements with approximately a dozen U.S. companies, and Leventhal expects to publish about 90 titles based on Henson characters in 2000.