The Japanese conglomerate bought 41 per cent of Peanuts Holding from Toronto-based entertainment company WildBrain, bringing Sony’s ownership to 80 per cent. The family of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz owns the remaining 20 per cent. (The Logic)

Talking point: The sale wipes out all of WildBrain’s debt, eliminating $50 million in annual interest payments and leaving it with $40 million in surplus cash, the company said in a press release. WildBrain bought 80 per cent of the beloved children’s franchise in 2017, in a $448 million deal that also included 100 per cent of Strawberry Shortcake. A year later, it sold 39 per cent of its Peanuts stake to Sony for $236 million. The full cash-out will give WildBrain money to grow its other franchises, including Teletubbies, Degrassi and Inspector Gadget. Once the deal is finalized, Sony will retain WildBrain under a multi-year agreement to handle Peanuts-related licensing, production and distribution.