Jazwares Acquires Russ Berrie, Applause Brands

Jazwares LLC, a subsidiary of Alleghany Capital Corporation, acquired the Russ Berrie and Applause brands.

The Russ Berrie brand originated in 1963 and has historically included a variety of gift items, such as stuffed animals, mugs, picture frames, figurines, greeting cards, and stationery.  The Applause brand has included stuffed toys and collectible figurines since 1966. These brands were acquired from Larsen & Bowman Holdings Ltd. and Maple Licensing Ltd. through Jazwares’ affiliate, Zag Toys LLC.

“Russ Berrie and Applause are leading brands in their respective markets and we are thrilled to add them to the Jazwares and Zag Toys portfolio. We look forward to leveraging the great history of these brands and growing their business through the introduction of new products and the entrance into new territories worldwide,” says Judd Zebersky, chief executive officer and president of both Jazwares and Zag Toys.