Univ. Of Miami Switches From CLC To Fermata For Athletic Department Licensing

The Univ. of Miami yesterday announced that it has signed Fermata Partners to be its licensing agency. UM had been with IMG-owned Collegiate Licensing Co. The new deal with Atlanta-based Fermata begins immediately and marks the second major college property that Fermata has taken from industry leader CLC. Fermata signed with Kentucky last week to represent the athletic department's licensing. UM AD Blake James in the announcement cited a long history with Fermata’s leadership team as a vital part of the decision to switch away from CLC. Fermata is headed by four co-Founders -- Scott Bouyack, Derek Eiler, Chris Prindiville and Kit Walsh -- each of whom formerly worked at CLC and were instrumental in its business before starting their own company in ‘11. Prindiville, who also spent three years working in the UM athletic department, said, “The U is one of the most recognized and important brands in college.”