Business
Brightstar Capital Partners Invests in Bendon, a Provider of Screen-Free Children’s Activity Products
NEW YORK & WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 22, 2026--Brightstar Capital Partners ("Brightstar"), a private equity firm focused on partnering with entrepreneurs and management teams, today announced its acquisition of Bendon Publishing International, Inc. ("Bendon" or "the Company"), a designer and distributor of licensed children’s coloring, activity, and educational products. Bendon’s Founder and CEO, Ben Ferguson, will continue to lead the Company, and he and members of his management team will r
About this update from Costco Wholesale Corporation
[{"type":"image","alt":"","displaySize":"","headline":null,"caption":"","credit":null,"className":"","disableSlideshowImg":false,"size":{"original":{"width":480,"height":283,"url":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/business-wire.com/57c843d01a404c6f7cc3a313f58ba4bb"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5soGDGrmZq5.cw11js0_aw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU2Ng--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/business-wire.com/57c843d01a404c6f7cc3a313f58ba4bb","width":480,"height":283}},"lazy":false},{"type":"text","content":"Investment marks first acquisition under Brightstar’s lower middle market strategy","length":82,"tagName":"p","attribs":{}},{"type":"text","content":"NEW YORK & WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 22, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brightstar Capital Partners ("Brightstar"), a private equity firm focused on partnering with entrepreneurs and management teams, today announced its acquisition of Bendon Publishing International, Inc. ("Bendon" or "the Company"), a designer and distributor of licensed children’s coloring, activity, and educational products. Bendon’s Founder and CEO, Ben Ferguson, will continue to lead the Company, and he and members of his management team will retain a meaningful ownership stake in the Company.","length":601,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"The investment represents Brightstar’s first acquisition under its dedicated lower middle market strategy, which focuses on partnering with founder-, family-, and entrepreneur-led businesses to support long-term growth.","length":219,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Ashland, Ohio, Bendon develops and distributes licensed children’s activity products across a broad range of retail channels, including Walmart, Target, Costco, Dollar Tree, and Amazon. The Company maintains long-standing relationships with leading entertainment licensors such as Disney, Nickelodeon, and Universal, and offers a diversified portfolio of products serving value-oriented and mass retail customers.","length":450,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":""Choosing a partner for Bendon’s next chapter was an important decision," said Ben Ferguson, Founder and CEO of Bendon. "Brightstar brings deep experience working with founder-led companies and shares our long-term vision for the business. I’m excited to collaborate as...