Dragon Capital

The Minnesota-based Fallon previously handled all creative matters regarding Purina. However, the company has recently dropped out of the picture. They apparently opted to go another route. The fact that Beneful is no longer represented by Fallon may make it sound like the Beneful brand has fallen onto hard times. Nothing is further from the truth. The Beneful dog food brand itself has been doing well. They report higher gains every year. In fact, Purina is dead determined to focus on their most successful brand no matter what.

Fallon owns the Publicis Groupe agency who represented Beneful. Beneful is the last Purina brand represented by the group. This was not always the case. Previously, Fallon also handled their Purina Dog Chow line. The Dog Chow brand did not die but rather is now handled by Leo Burnett. Puritan is basically doing everything possible to keep its most successful brand alive. They have therefore been on the search for someone to take care of the creative aspect of Purina Beneful dog food. Word has it that they have finally narrowed down the prospects to two choices: Leo Burnett and Publicis & Hal Riney.

Fallon did quality work for the Purina brands for over 30 years. In fact, Purina is Fallon’s oldest client. In addition to those brands already mentioned, Fallon also handled Purina One. Fallon representatives have expressed confidence that parting ways is the right move, but also a sadness and a pride in helping foster the growth of the quality Purina products. Purina might have been fine with other companies taking on the creative handling of these quality products. However, they are taking extra care that Beneful, their most lucrative product, goes with the very best.
This can only be assumed to be the case since Purina has not responded to inquiries about the situation. In any case, the future of the Beneful brand is about to change dramatically.

In the fall of 2014, Bruce Levenson began making plans to sell the Atlanta Hawks. Goldman Sachs and Inner Circle Sports were hired by Bruce Levenson to sell the Atlanta Hawks as well as the operating right to Philips Arena. Last October, the Goldman Sachs’ suggested price was an amazing $1 Billion dollars. The price of $1 billion dollars includes both the Hawks team and the operating rights to the Philips Arena.

Billionaire Tony Ressler of Ares Management LP’s a bid of $730 million dollars for the Hawks. It was thought by many intelligent people that $1 billion dollars was a realistic price for the Atlanta Hawks. Yet, financial experts made other valuations of the Hawks. For example, Andrew Zimbalist, a sports economist from Smith College, considered the price of the team was valued between $700 – $750 million dollars. Zimbalist based this figure on an estimated future earnings of about $180 million annually.

Levenson and his group of investors were making the final arrangements for the sale of the Atlanta Hawks. As of April 22, 2015, the deal has not been sign off. Some people were hesitant to speak about it. A deal is not done until the final papers are signed and the money paid. As of April 23 2015, the deal was announced, and the agreed upon sale price was $850,000 million dollars. This was an enormous profit for Levenson.

Bruce Levenson was an investor in the Atlanta Hawks and the Philips Arena, and since 2004, he served as the Hawks’ Governor on the NBA Board of Governors. Along with Ed Peskowitz and a group of businessmen, Levenson owned Atlanta Hawks LLC. Levenson and Peskowitz were the majority partners. Danny Ferry was hired by Levenson in 2012 to fill the position of general manager and president of basketball operations.

Bruce Levenson was born and raised in the Jewish faith in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He studied at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended law school at night and graduated from American University. During law school, he work as a journalist at the Washington Star. He became a businessman and philanthropist.

His wife’s mother, Irene Boyarsky is a Holocaust survivor. Levenson is a founding donor of the Holocaust Museum. In March 2014, the Hawks team and staff along with Levenson and his wife attended the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.

Levenson has maintained his Jewish identity and is a major contributor to Jewish causes. The Holocaust Museum is one of the major charities that he contributes to. Other Charities include Seeds of Peace, Birthright Israel, the Jewish Federation, and BBYO to name a few.

Bruce Levenson is a savvy businessman with a history of financial investments that have made him a very rich man. He should be praised for his contribution to many charities.