PHARRELL, NICKELODEON COLLAB ON 'SPONGEBOB' APPAREL

Entertainment One shareholders have voted to approve the sale of the company to Hasbro for $4 billion. The deal passed the shareholder vote by a percentage of 99.9 percent. eOne held the vote during a special stakeholders’ meeting. “We’re pleased that eOne shareholders support this transaction,” says Brian Goldner, chairman and chief executive officer, Hasbro. “Our two companies’ strategies are remarkably complementary, as we both build brands, creativity and storytelling. Together with eOne’s beloved global brands and expertise, we expect to leverage a combined portfolio with appeal to diverse audiences and consumers around the world.” The Hasbro deal for eOne was originally announced earlier this year. At the time, the acquisition still required a stakeholder vote. With the approved sale, Hasbro now owns the rights to eOne properties such as “Peppa Pig,” “PJ Masks” and “Ricky Zoom.” “In our commitment to unlocking the power and value of creativity, the combination of our two businesses makes perfect sense for eOne,” says Darren Throop, chief executive officer, eOne. “eOne has long been anchored by great IP, and we believe that with Hasbro’s world-class portfolio of brands, we will be able to deliver on their brand blueprint with a slate of content that lives globally across a broad spectrum of media. We are very much looking forward to capitalizing on the new opportunities this creates across film, television, music and family brands.”