Tag Archives: universal distribution

Diamond Comic Distributors Makes a Statement Regarding Alliance Entertainment Pulling Its Bid

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Diamond Comic Distributors

In a surprise in what has been a wild ride of a bankruptcy, Alliance Entertainment announced revealed in an SEC filing that was not going through with its bid to acquire Diamond Comic Distributors and more.

While there has been no official court announcement it is expected that Diamond will now going with the second highest bid which was a joint bid between Universal Distribution and Ad Populum. The announcement below mentions “bidders,” which makes it likely this is the case.

After Alliance originally won the bid, Diamond made a surprise announcement of its own that it was going to go with Universal Distribution and Ad Populum‘s bid which caused Alliance to threaten a lawsuit to force their bid being accepted. On April 10, Alliance was eventually officially announced as the winning bid.

Early today, Diamond released the following statement from Diamond Chief Restructuring Officer Robert Gorin but does not mention the “who.”

Diamond Comic Distributors has pivoted to alternative, exceptionally well-known purchasers who are excited to partner with us. These companies have strong balance sheets and, importantly, unmatched presence and experience in our core industries. We are finalizing purchase agreements with these third parties and expect to announce the identities of these purchasers and seek court approval very shortly to complete the sale transactions.

(via Business Wire)

Alliance Entertainment Decides to Not Purchase Diamond

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Diamond Comic Distributors

Update: We now know why Alliance has decided to not purchase Diamond after a legal filing claiming fraud by Diamond.

In yet another shocking surprise when it comes to the saga that is the bankruptcy of Diamond Comic Distributors, Alliance Entertainment will not be going through with its purchase of the company after it submitting the winning bid. The company ended its acquisition plans on April 24. The following day, a member of the company’s Board of Directors announced his resignation. It’s unknown if the two events are connected.

No reason was given as to why the decision was made to no longer purchase the company, but the announcement was made in an SEC filing. No court announcement has been made yet. Logic would point fingers at the massive changes in markets recently. Alliance Entertainment has made it clear they really wanted the tabletop game/toy/collectible aspects of the purchase and with recent tariffs, that market has become volatile, unpredictable, and has forced some companies to close already. The reality is, Diamond and its various connected companies aren’t as valuable as they were when the bidding process began.

It is assumed the back-up bidders would now win the process. The back-up winning bid was a joint bid from Universal Distribution and Ad Populum which is the parent company of NECA and WizKids.

We’re awaiting any news coming from the court but the latest filings all have revolved around extending the timeline to object to the deal.

UDON joins Simon & Schuster for Book Market Distribution

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UDON Entertainment

UDON Entertainment has announced that it has entered into a new book market distribution agreement with Simon & Schuster, one of the world’s premier publishers and distributors of books. This deal is effective April 1st, 2025, and marks UDON’s departure from its previous book market distribution arrangement with Diamond Book Distributors.

UDON Entertainment is one of the world’s leading publishers of officially licensed art books, manga, and comic books, specializing in video game and anime materials and classic and unique manga titles.

Retailers and readers can expect a seamless transition, with Simon & Schuster handling new releases and backlist titles for all UDON books for the book trade worldwide (where licenses permit). Retailers can place orders for new titles and backlist items through Simon & Schuster starting today. For comic book specialty retailers, aka the Direct Market, UDON Entertainment titles will also be available through Lunar Distribution, Universal Distribution, and Diamond Comics Distribution. For customers, all pre-orders through your favorite retail outlets should be filled as normal.

Alliance submits a complaint over Diamond’s last minute switch to Universal in its Acquisition

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Diamond Comic Distributors

The maneuvers continue and Alliance Entertainment has submitted a complaint over Diamond Comic Distributors‘ decision on Saturday to reject Alliance Entertainment’s bid as originally announced and instead go with a joint bid by Universal Distribution and Ad Populum.

In the complaint, Alliance Entertainment claims they submitted the “highest and best” bid. It has been stated elsewhere that Universal and Ad Populum’s bid was higher.

It goes on to further state that Diamond has committed an auction that was unfair. In other objections to the initial decision in choosing Alliance, creditor parties said the auction was unfair in choosing Alliance and that there was higher bidders.

Alliance Entertainment still wants to close the sale transaction and court’s approval.

It would seem that Monday’s hearing is going to be an interesting one!

Alliance Entertainment releases its Witness and Exhibit List for its Diamond Bid

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Monday is a big day with a bankruptcy court session focused on the bids and purchase of Diamond Comic Distributors. While many assumed Alliance Entertainment would win the process, a wrench was thrown into things yesterday when Diamond signaled it was going with the highest bid from Universal Distribution and Ad Populum.

Alliance isn’t going down without being heard it seems and has released its list of witnesses and exhibits its bringing to the hearing. You can see all of that below, none of it is really exciting, just a list with no real new details.

It just continues to show that things are up in the air still and this isn’t over until the court approves any deal(s).

Is it a last minute switch? Will Universal Distribution and Ad Populum get Diamond Comic Distributors on Monday?

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Diamond Comic Distributors

We said when the successful bid was announced for Diamond Comic Distributors that there was a long way to go and everything wasn’t settled. And, in a filing today, it seems a last minute monkey wrench is being thrown into things. A filing today seems to indicate that Diamond Comic Distributors might be going with Universal Distribution and Ad Populum‘s joint bid in their chapter 11 bankruptcy hearing on Monday, April 7.

In January 2025, Diamond Comic Distributors declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy creating a shockwave within the comic industry. In the announcement, the distributor listed its liabilities in the $50-$100 million range with assets around the same amount and creditors between 1,000 and 5,000. In March 2025, Alliance Entertainment’s bid was the one initially accepted to acquire Diamond Comic Distributors (U.S.), Alliance Game Distributors, Collectible Grading Authority, and more.

There have been numerous objections to the “winning” bid by Alliance Entertainment with numerous creditors asking why a lower bid was accepted?

It would seem, that Diamond might be agreeing with that.

Here’s the paragraph in the latest filing that stands out with the key part highlighted in bold.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that, following the Debtors’ initial selection of AENT as the successful bidder, the Debtors currently believe, after consultation with the Consultation Parties, that Universal Distribution, LLC, and Ad Populum, LLC, which were initially jointly designed as back-up bidders at the Auction, should be the successful bidders. The Debtors’ proposed order with Universal Distribution, LLC, is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Universal Revised Proposed Order”). A redline of the Universal Revised Proposed Order compared against the proposed order filed with the Sale Motion is attached hereto as Exhibit B. The Debtors revised proposed order with Ad Populum, LLC, is attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “AP Revised Proposed Order”). A redline of the AP Revised Proposed Order compared against the proposed order filed with the Sale Motion is attached hereto as Exhibit D. The Debtors currently intend to seek Court approval of the Universal Revised Proposed Order and the AP Revised Proposed Order at the hearing on the Sale Motion. The Debtors are continuing to discuss the Sale Motion and revised proposed orders with the Consultation Parties.

I am not a lawyer, and definitely not a bankruptcy lawyer, but reading the above, it would seem Diamond is going with Universal and Ad Populum are going to be the winning bid and consulting with an actual lawyer, they agree with my reading of it.

Monday’s hearing is going to be really interesting. Any decision must get final approval by the court. You can read everything below:

Bandai Namco submits an “Objection” to Diamond Comic Distributor’s sale

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Bandai Namco

Early today it was announced that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland has scheduled a hearing for Monday, April 7, to consider Diamond Comic Distributor’s request for the approval of the sale of the company to Alliance Entertainment through the bankruptcy process. Bandai Namco has submitted a “reservation of rights and limited objection” to the approval of the sale.

Bandai is owed $4,292,620.24 according to the filing and “out of abundance of caution” filed a Reservation of Rights pending review of the final sale order and any amendments to the purchase.

They have staked their right to object to the “Sale Motion and the Sale Order on any factual or legal basis,” “to appear
and be heard by the Court with respect to the Sale Motion and Sale Order,” and “grant such other and further relief as may be just and property.”

What seems to be new information from the filing, Universal Distribution might have submitted a higher bid than Alliance Entertainment who was awarded the win. There are questions of how fair the process was in Bandai’s filing. While there were rumors of higher bids, this is the first naming of who that we’ve seen.

Bandai isn’t the first to file an objection. Image Comics and Pokémon Company International both have previously filed their concerns.

You can read the full filing below.

DC and Universal Distribution announce a new distribution agreement

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Universal Distribution

DC and Universal Distribution and announced a global agreement where Universal will become a direct distributor of DC. The deal begins October 2022 so retailers will be able to get releases in January 2023 and beyond.

DC will continue their Direct Market distribution relationship with Lunar Distribution and Diamond UK, as well as Penguin Random House. It’s the latest move in the shift of distributors by publishers as the has seen some shakeups since COVID including an expansion of options and the end of numerous exclusivity deals.

Universal Distribution is a Canadian distributor for comics, tabletop games, CCG’s trade cards, rpgs, accessories, and toys for over 30 years. During the shutdown period at Diamond Comic Distributors due to COVID, Universal was mentioned as an alternative distributor for shops to consider.

Scout Comics Signs a Non-Exclusive Canadian Distribution Deal with Universal Distribution

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Scout Comics & Entertainment Holdings Inc. has announced that they are expanding their comic book, trade paperback, and merchandise programs by signing a non-exclusive Canadian distribution deal with Universal Distribution effective immediately. Scout Comics and all of its subsidiaries (Black Caravan, Scoot!, Outsider Comics, and Tracker Collectibles) will also be available on Universal’s platform beginning in May for July 2021 release.

Scout Comics and Universal Distribution
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