ACD Distribution is a company that gets Wizards of the Coast products to retailers. However, Wizards of the Coast has been making it increasingly clear over the years that the current distribution model wasn’t working for them. Last year, WotC told retailers that using ACD any longer would no longer be an option.
In response, ACD took Wizards to Court noting that they believed cancelling the agreement between the two companies would be a breach of the Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law.
Wizards responded by successfully getting the case moved to a federal court in Washington. During that case, Bob Maher, Jr, the CEO of ACD, revealed that;
…that in 2018, ACD sold $22.4 million worth of WotC product, which was 39% of ACD’s sales and 24% of ACD’s profit. In 2019, ACD sold $18.9 million worth of WotC product, which was 35% of ACD’s sales and 24% of ACD’s profit. In the first half of 2020, ACD sold $11.5 million worth of WotC product, which was 42% of ACD’s sales and 26% of ACD’s profit.
Maher noted that if ACD loses Wizards of the Coast as a customer, then the entire ACD business was at risk of closing.
The federal judge was unmoved who ruled that Wizards could terminate the relationship between the two companies.
ICv2 reports that ACD Distribution will have to pay $254,042.92 in legal fees to Wizards of the Coast.
ACD have filed disputes. The distribution company is appealing the decision to allow Wizards of the Coast to end the relationship and the legal fees.
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