Free Newsletter
Sequential Brands Group is acquiring 100% of the outstanding shares of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia in a deal valued at $353 million. Under the terms of the 
agreement, Stewart will serve as chief creative officer and as a member of the company’s board of directors.
The addition to Sequential’s portfolio of fashion and lifestyle brands, which include Linens N Things, The Franklin Mint, Caribbean Joe and Jessica Simpson, is expected to generate $3.75 billion in annual global retail sales.
Founded by Martha Stewart in 1997, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia was worth $1.8 billion when it went public in 1999.
“This is a transformational merger for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, the company I founded in 1997,” Stewart said. “This merger is positioned to further the growth and expansion of the unique Martha home and lifestyle brand. In 1991, I started a magazine, Martha Stewart Living, which was the first of its kind. Out of our groundbreaking editorial content grew an influential brand which quickly evolved into other media, merchandising and digital platforms and products which have helped consumers, worldwide, live better, more fulfilling lives.
Sequential CEO Yehuda Shmidman said, “Martha Stewart’s impact around the world is staggering, and the empire she founded is unmatched in its industry. In fact, research shows that the Martha Stewart brand has 96% awareness among women in the U.S. and seven out of ten women say that Martha has and does influence the way they think about, organize, and manage their homes. Looking ahead, we believe that we can leverage our global activation platform at Sequential in partnership with Martha and her team to develop the next chapter of growth for the Martha Stewart brand. We are honored to have this opportunity and thrilled to be working together with Martha Stewart.”
The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2015.
