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Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MD Licensing), which manages licensing for a number of global and regional brands in Italian-speaking markets, is making its first appearance at BLE on stand B58 in two guises. It is here as a highly successful agency representing major global clients in Italian-speaking markets. However, it is also here as part of a recently announced strategic alliance serving multiple markets across Europe.
Called BMD Licensing Partners, this joint initiative brings together the experience and skills of two major players in the Southern European market, with a physical presence in multiple territories across the region. Maurizio Distefano Licensing is headquartered in Italy, and Biplano Licensing is headquartered in Spain, with offices in Lisbon and Paris. The result will be a single point of reference through which licensors all over Europe will be able to maximize business opportunities for their properties.
Each company will continue to manage its own established portfolio (and this will be reflected in the design of their shared stand at BLE), but the two companies will actively cooperate in building those properties that are jointly managed within Europe through the newly formed company. Until now, Masha and the Bear, for example, has been managed by both companies in different areas.
One of the first joint promotional opportunities for the new alliance is Sony Pictures – including The Emoji Movie, Jumanji, Peter Rabbit and The Barbie Movie. For these properties BMD Licensing Partners’ initial focus will be on MD Licensing and Biplano Licensing’s core markets: France, Portugal, Spain and Italy.
The early response from licensors to this initiative has been overwhelmingly positive, welcoming the extended representation the partnership offers properties across a wider part of Europe under one roof. This is a message the two companies will be promoting to potential clients at BLE as it declares the new alliance open for business.