June 12, 2012, LAS VEGAS, NV – The most successful, hottest-selling licensed properties and products of the past year were recognized with the International Licensing Excellence Awards from the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA). This year’s 17 winners, culled from a diverse lineup of 85 nominees and determined by a vote of the LIMA membership, were announced at last night’s LIMA Awards Ceremony during Licensing International Expo 2012. Among the top winners of the industry’s highest honor are Angry Birds from Rovio Entertainment Ltd, which flew away with three awards, including Best Licensed Program and Best Character/Toy Brand Program of the Year; and national retailer Walgreens, a first-time Licensing Excellence Award winner, which scored “big” as Best Retailer of the Year for The Biggest Loser.

“We are excited to celebrate all of our Licensing Excellence Awards winners – an impressive ‘who’s who’ of brands and companies from around the globe that achieved outstanding success in licensing in 2011,” said LIMA President Charles Riotto. “It is particularly gratifying to see classic brands sharing the spotlight with newer favorites. This year’s Awards recipients provide a telling look at what helped drive the sale of licensed properties and products during the past year, while providing insight into some of the properties, players and licensing categories that are poised to drive success in 2012 and beyond.”

The International Licensing Excellence Awards honor the best, most successful licensed properties, products and campaigns in eight distinct categories: Art or Design; Character or Toy; Corporate Brand; Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment; and Sports. This year’s nominees were selected from among a record 270 entries.

The winners of this year’s International Licensing Excellence Awards (listed by category) are:

ART OR DESIGN
Best Art or Design Program of the Year: The Victoria and Albert Museum (by The Victoria and Albert Museum/V&A Enterprises)
Best Art or Design Licensee of the Year: Navigate Ltd. (for Very Hungry Caterpillar/children’s gardening products)

CHARACTER OR TOY BRAND
Best Character or Toy Brand Program of the Year: Angry Birds (by Rovio Entertainment Ltd.)
Best Character or Toy Brand Licensee of the Year – Hard Goods: Commonwealth Toy & Novelty Co. (for Angry Birds toy & novelty products)
Best Character or Toy Brand Licensee of the Year – Soft Goods: SGFootwear (for Pillow Pets/slipper collection)

CORPORATE BRAND
Best Corporate Brand Program of the Year: Jelly Belly (by Jelly Belly Candy Company/The Licensing Company North America, Inc.)
Best Corporate Brand Licensee of the Year – Hard Goods: Thermos L.L.C. (for Under Armour/hydration bottles)
Best Corporate Brand Licensee of the Year – Soft Goods: SGI Apparel (for Harley-Davidson/children’s apparel & accessories)

FILM, TELEVISION, CELEBRITY, OR ENTERTAINMENT
Best Film, Television, Celebrity, or Entertainment Program of the Year: Peppa Pig (by Entertainment One)
Best Film, Television, Celebrity, or Entertainment Licensee of the Year – Hard Goods: Redan Publishing Ltd. (for Peppa Pig/Fun to Learn and Bag-O-Fun magazines
Best Film, Television, Celebrity, or Entertainment Licensee of the Year – Soft Goods: Jay Franco and Sons, Inc. (for Star Wars/home collection)

SPORTS
Best Sports Program of the Year: NBA (by National Basketball Association)
Best Sports Licensee of the Year – Hard Goods: Topps International (for Indian Premier League Cricket Attax/trading card game)
Best Sports Licensee of the Year – Soft Goods: Junk Food Clothing (for NFL/Junk Food Vintage NFL)

PROMOTION
Best Licensed Promotion of the Year (tie): Hello Kitty Beauty at Sephora (by Sanrio, Inc.) -and- M•A•C Wonder Woman Collection (by DC Comics/Warner Bros. Consumer Products)

RETAILER
Best Retailer of the Year: Walgreens (for The Biggest Loser)

OVERALL BEST LICENSED PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Angry Birds (by Rovio Entertainment Ltd.)

Nominations were solicited from the worldwide licensing industry. Online voting took place from April 30 through May 18. For a complete list of the 2012 Awards nominees, please visit the LIMA website, www.licensing.org.

About LIMA
Founded in 1985, the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) is the primary trade organization for the worldwide licensing industry. LIMA’s mission is to bring together all segments of the industry for the advancement of professionalism in licensing through research, national and international seminars, trade events and publications. With members in 35 countries, offices in New York, London, Munich, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and representatives in New Europe, India, Italy, Spain and Australia, members enjoy access to a wide variety of activities, resources and benefits. For more information on LIMA sponsored trade shows, educational programming, networking opportunities and more, please visit www.licensing.org. To learn more about LIMANET, the most complete network of Property Information and Licensing Professionals online, please visit www.limanet.com.