Panini now looking to sell?

premium1981 · 10-31-2025, 06:47 AM

So apparently Panini is now looking for a buyer? Maybe the Prizm days are not over after all. No way anyone outbids Fanatics, but I think I recall when the last deal fell apart they didn't want to sell out of spite. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

BoSoxFan1999 · 10-31-2025, 06:51 AM

I guess they aren't very confident in their monopoly lawsuit against Topps/Fanatics.

DarcyWinston · 10-31-2025, 07:42 AM

Do you have a link about this?

premium1981 · 10-31-2025, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarcyWinston

Do you have a link about this?

Here is the first one that pops up on google.

https://www.cllct.com/sports-collect...-possible-sale

Tallguy1991 · 11-01-2025, 01:40 AM

I can’t see Topps buying panini, or at least Panini America. Maybe the international business but if fanatics bought the American part of the business they’d be guaranteeing serious Antitrust scrutiny. Perhaps they’d get away with it for a while but the next Lina Khan would go bezerk

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oldgoldy97 · 11-01-2025, 07:44 AM

fabiani12333 · 11-01-2025, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallguy1991

I can’t see Topps buying panini, or at least Panini America. Maybe the international business but if fanatics bought the American part of the business they’d be guaranteeing serious Antitrust scrutiny. Perhaps they’d get away with it for a while but the next Lina Khan would go bezerk

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I'm skeptical the feds would ever care enough about the trading card market to do something about a possible Topps monopoly. Besides, there are still Upper Deck (NHL and DC), Wizards of the Coast (Magic the Gathering) and the Pokemon Company.

I still find it amazing that there ever was a Lina Khan heading the FTC. Credit goes to the Biden administration for appointing her and letting her do her job -- big corp seems to always get away with so much anti-competitive behavior.

The main problem with any federal anticompetitive enforcement is it takes so much time and so many resources to enforce -- cases often drag on for years. Presidential administrations only last 4-to-8 years, and so cases often get handed over to successive administrations who are usually from the other party and have different priorities and interests.

kyle1707 · 11-01-2025, 08:27 AM

Wish fanatics could buy upper deck

fabiani12333 · 11-01-2025, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyle1707

Wish fanatics could buy upper deck

Wait -- what? Aren't you the one always complaining about the high prices of wax? Wouldn't Fanatics owning Upper Deck mean higher prices? Just look at the stupid-high prices of Topps Chrome Marvel.

blackvodka · 11-01-2025, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Wait -- what? Aren't you the one always complaining about the high prices of wax? Wouldn't Fanatics owning Upper Deck mean higher prices? Just look at the stupid-high prices of Topps Chrome Marvel.

I had no idea that Topps Chrome Marvel boxes sold for that much. I honestly couldn't believe it.

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cms11 · 11-01-2025, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

I'm skeptical the feds would ever care enough about the trading card market to do something about a possible Topps monopoly. Besides, there are still Upper Deck (NHL and DC), Wizards of the Coast (Magic the Gathering) and the Pokemon Company.

I still find it amazing that there ever was a Lina Khan heading the FTC. Credit goes to the Biden administration for appointing her and letting her do her job -- big corp seems to always get away with so much anti-competitive behavior.

The main problem with any federal anticompetitive enforcement is it takes so much time and so many resources to enforce -- cases often drag on for years. Presidential administrations only last 4-to-8 years, and so cases often get handed over to successive administrations who are usually from the other party and have different priorities and interests.

Agree. The sports card market would be a stupid thing to go after when there are trillion dollar companies operating as near monopolies.

fabiani12333 · 11-02-2025, 08:59 AM

My guess is Fanatics will wait out Panini, letting their NFL license finish out before engaging them in negotiations to buy them. They want Panini to have as little leverage as possible in negotiations before making an offer. They'll also be incentived to buy them, because they'll want their antitrust lawsuit to go away.

What this all means for consumers is higher prices and fewer options -- god bless.

threepointplay · 11-02-2025, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

My guess is Fanatics will wait out Panini, letting their NFL license finish out before engaging them in negotiations to buy them. They want Panini to have as little leverage as possible in negotiations before making an offer. They'll also be incentived to buy them, because they'll want their antitrust lawsuit to go away.

What this all means for consumers is higher prices and fewer options -- god bless.

It is worth noting that Panini America is a pretty small part of the wider Panini Group. The real value in the group is the international IP & business.

The lawsuits are really just a sideshow at this point and can be closed down at the drop of a hat by the bankers; if Rubin thinks that the Panini international business fits with his plans for Fanatics.

fabiani12333 · 11-03-2025, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threepointplay

It is worth noting that Panini America is a pretty small part of the wider Panini Group. The real value in the group is the international IP & business.

The lawsuits are really just a sideshow at this point and can be closed down at the drop of a hat by the bankers; if Rubin thinks that the Panini international business fits with his plans for Fanatics.

Right -- their sticker business is big outside the US. They have existing international distribution networks and infrastructure. Buying them means expanding globally and acquiring their existing customer base and IPs.

premium1981 · 11-03-2025, 06:13 AM

There are only a few months left for them to make football cards. And negotiations are usually slow, so I don't think it will have much impact. The only question will be if Fanatics wants them or not. If they want to buy, no one will be able to outbid them. I hope they do, because the alternative is no more Prizm, Optic, NT, etc. I would love to get some licensed baseball cards from some of those brands.

cms11 · 11-03-2025, 02:47 PM

The smart thing for Fanatics to do is to buy some of Panini's brands, but not to buy the company so they can avoid antitrust attention.

10-31-2025, 06:47 AM	#1
premium1981 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 11,385	Panini now looking to sell? So apparently Panini is now looking for a buyer? Maybe the Prizm days are not over after all. No way anyone outbids Fanatics, but I think I recall when the last deal fell apart they didn't want to sell out of spite. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

11-01-2025, 07:44 AM	#6
oldgoldy97 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 51,186	__________________ Truly riveting discussion: that’s what your wife/girlfriend/sheep said.

10-31-2025, 06:51 AM	#2
BoSoxFan1999 Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,847 bro19991 Bro19999	I guess they aren't very confident in their monopoly lawsuit against Topps/Fanatics.

10-31-2025, 07:42 AM	#3
DarcyWinston Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Lone star state Posts: 411	Do you have a link about this?

11-01-2025, 01:40 AM	#5
Tallguy1991 Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Boston Posts: 635	I can’t see Topps buying panini, or at least Panini America. Maybe the international business but if fanatics bought the American part of the business they’d be guaranteeing serious Antitrust scrutiny. Perhaps they’d get away with it for a while but the next Lina Khan would go bezerk Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11-01-2025, 08:27 AM	#8
kyle1707 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 20,498	Wish fanatics could buy upper deck

11-02-2025, 08:59 AM	#12
fabiani12333 Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 12,288	My guess is Fanatics will wait out Panini, letting their NFL license finish out before engaging them in negotiations to buy them. They want Panini to have as little leverage as possible in negotiations before making an offer. They'll also be incentived to buy them, because they'll want their antitrust lawsuit to go away. What this all means for consumers is higher prices and fewer options -- god bless.

11-03-2025, 06:13 AM	#15
premium1981 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 11,385	There are only a few months left for them to make football cards. And negotiations are usually slow, so I don't think it will have much impact. The only question will be if Fanatics wants them or not. If they want to buy, no one will be able to outbid them. I hope they do, because the alternative is no more Prizm, Optic, NT, etc. I would love to get some licensed baseball cards from some of those brands.

11-03-2025, 02:47 PM	#16
cms11 Member Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,400	The smart thing for Fanatics to do is to buy some of Panini's brands, but not to buy the company so they can avoid antitrust attention.