Navarre Corporation
Navarre Corporation was a United States-based distributor and publisher of software, home video, music, anime, and other entertainment products.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Navarre Corporation was an American distribution and publishing company founded in 1983 by Eric H. Paulson and headquartered in New Hope, Minnesota. It developed from a computer-products business into a diversified distributor and publisher serving software, home video, music, anime, and other entertainment categories. The company combined manufacturing and publishing activities with distribution services, using acquisitions and commercial partnerships to expand its portfolio. Navarre entered a major ownership transition in 1989, when Lieberman Enterprises, a subsidiary of LIVE Entertainment, announced its acquisition. The transaction was completed in January 1990, with Navarre's computer-products division merged into Lieberman. Paulson later reacquired and separated the company in 1991 after Handleman Company acquired it for $100 million. Navarre subsequently broadened its activities and became publicly traded through an initial public offering in 1993. During the 1990s, the company pursued multimedia and emerging digital-entertainment opportunities. It formed Digital Entertainment with Digital Café in 1994 to develop CD-ROM products, acquired half of Net Radio in 1996, and invested in Velvel Records, the label associated with former CBS Records executive Walter Yetnikoff. These initiatives reflected Navarre's effort to participate in software, interactive media, online radio, and recorded music rather than remain solely a conventional distributor. The company continued to expand through acquisitions in the 2000s. It acquired software publisher Encore in 2002 and agreed in 2003 to purchase BCI Eclipse, formerly Brentwood Communications, a home-video distributor. Navarre also entered into a 2005 distribution agreement with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling to distribute pay-per-view events, compilations, and documentaries in the United States and Canada. Navarre's most prominent entertainment investment was Funimation. In January 2005, it announced the acquisition of Funimation Productions, an anime licensing company, and completed the transaction in May of that year. Funimation was renamed Funimation Entertainment after the acquisition and became one of Navarre's best-known subsidiaries. Navarre sold the business in April 2011 to a group of investors that included co-founder Gen Fukunaga, ending its ownership of the anime company. The company also operated BCI Home Entertainment, also known as BCI Eclipse, which focused on niche films and home-video releases. The division became unprofitable and was affected by the recession. Navarre closed the operation as part of a 2013 restructuring. In the same broad period, Navarre pursued a merger with Dallas-based SpeedFC. Announced in 2008, the transaction closed in 2013, after which the combined company adopted the name Speed Commerce. In 2014, Wynit Distribution acquired most of the assets of Navarre Distribution Services and Encore from Speed Commerce. The Navarre name was subsequently retired. A later relaunch of Navarre Distribution in 2016 was associated with audio and film distribution services for labels and artists, but the original Navarre Corporation no longer operated as an independent company. Its history is therefore primarily that of a publicly traded U.S. entertainment and software distribution group whose business was ultimately absorbed, divested, or renamed through a series of restructurings and asset sales.
History
Navarre Corporation was established in 1983 by Eric H. Paulson in Minnesota. It initially operated in computer products and software, later adding manufacturing, publishing, and distribution capabilities. In November 1989, Lieberman Enterprises, a LIVE Entertainment subsidiary, announced that it would acquire Navarre. The deal closed in January 1990, with Navarre's computer-products division absorbed into Lieberman. Paulson reacquired the business in 1991 and separated it from Lieberman following Handleman Company's acquisition of Navarre for $100 million. Navarre became a public company in 1993 after beginning software manufacturing activities and completing an initial public offering. It experimented with digital and interactive media during the decade, forming Digital Entertainment with Digital Café in 1994 to develop CD-ROM products. In 1996, it purchased a 50 percent interest in Net Radio and invested in Velvel Records, the record label associated with Walter Yetnikoff. The company expanded its software and home-video activities in the early 2000s. It acquired Encore, a computer-software developer and publisher, in 2002. In 2003, it announced the acquisition of BCI Eclipse, formerly Brentwood Communications, for $15 million. BCI supplied niche home-video content through the BCI Home Entertainment division. Navarre also developed entertainment distribution relationships, including a 2005 agreement with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling covering home-video products in the United States and Canada. Navarre acquired Funimation Productions in 2005. The transaction was announced in January and completed in May, after which the anime company became Funimation Entertainment. Funimation gave Navarre a significant position in anime licensing and distribution, but Navarre later sold the business in April 2011 to investors including co-founder Gen Fukunaga. Navarre faced pressure in its home-video operations and undertook restructuring. BCI Eclipse ceased operations in December 2008, while the broader BCI Home Entertainment operation was closed in a 2013 restructuring after two unprofitable years. In 2005, Navarre also disclosed that certain financial statements needed restatement because incentive-based deferred compensation for its chief executive had been assigned to incorrect reporting periods. In 2008, Navarre agreed to merge with SpeedFC, a Dallas-based company, in a transaction described as involving $50 million in cash and stock. The merger closed in 2013, and the resulting company changed its name from Navarre Corporation to Speed Commerce. In July 2014, Wynit Distribution acquired most of the assets of Navarre Distribution Services and Encore from Speed Commerce. The Navarre name was subsequently retired. A Navarre Distribution operation was later relaunched in 2016 for audio and film distribution, but the original corporation was no longer an independent operating company.
- 2014
Navarre and Encore assets are sold
[1]Wynit Distribution acquired most assets of Navarre Distribution Services and Encore from Speed Commerce.
- 2013
Merger with SpeedFC closes
[1]The previously announced SpeedFC merger closed, and the combined company adopted the Speed Commerce name.
- 2011
Funimation is divested
[1]Navarre sold Funimation to investors including co-founder Gen Fukunaga.
- 2005
Funimation acquisition is completed
[1]Navarre completed its acquisition of Funimation Productions, which became Funimation Entertainment.
- 2002
Encore is acquired
[1]Navarre acquired Encore, expanding its computer-software publishing business.
- 1993
Initial public offering
[1]Navarre completed its IPO and became a publicly traded company.
- 1990
Lieberman acquisition is completed
[1]Lieberman Enterprises completed its acquisition of Navarre and merged the company's computer-products division into its operations.
- 1983
Navarre Corporation is founded
[1]Eric H. Paulson founded Navarre Corporation in the United States.
Products and positioning
A diversified business-to-business publisher and distributor connecting software developers, entertainment producers, record labels, anime licensors, and physical-media retailers.
Computer software publishing
Encore software
Encore was a software developer and publisher acquired by Navarre in 2002. Its activities formed part of Navarre's software publishing and distribution portfolio. Most Encore assets were later sold to Wynit Distribution in 2014 after the Speed Commerce merger.
Anime licensing and distribution
Funimation Entertainment
Funimation was an anime licensing and distribution business acquired by Navarre in 2005. It was renamed Funimation Entertainment following the transaction and became Navarre's most prominent entertainment subsidiary. Navarre sold it in 2011 to investors including co-founder Gen Fukunaga.
Niche film and home-video distribution
BCI Home Entertainment
BCI Home Entertainment, also known as BCI Eclipse and formerly Brentwood Communications, distributed niche films and other home-video content. Navarre acquired BCI Eclipse in 2003, but the operation became unprofitable and was ultimately closed during restructuring.
Entertainment distribution
Navarre Entertainment Media
Navarre Entertainment Media represented the company's distribution activities across entertainment categories. Its work included supplying physical media and related products to retailers and distributing licensed content from external partners.
Brand decisions
2013
Closure of BCI Home EntertainmentStrategyBackground
The BCI home-entertainment operation had been unprofitable for two years and faced pressure associated with the recession.
Action taken
Navarre closed the division as part of a restructuring.
Aftermath
Navarre withdrew from this niche-film operation while continuing its broader transition toward distribution and other businesses.
2008
Agreement to merge with SpeedFCM&ABackground
Navarre pursued a combination with SpeedFC as part of its broader business restructuring and distribution strategy.
Action taken
The companies agreed to a merger involving cash and stock. The transaction closed in 2013.
Aftermath
The combined company changed its name to Speed Commerce, ending Navarre's existence as the corporate operating name.
Transaction value. $50 million in cash and stock (Announced September 2008; merger closed in 2013)
2005
Restatement of selected financial statementsOtherBackground
Navarre determined that its 2004 financial statements and its first- and third-quarter 2005 statements had treated incentive-based deferred compensation for the chief executive as belonging to incorrect reporting periods.
Action taken
The company announced that the affected financial statements should be restated.
Aftermath
The disclosure required correction of previously reported financial information. The available reference material does not specify the restated amounts.
2005
Acquisition of FunimationM&ABackground
Navarre sought to expand from software and physical-media distribution into anime licensing and entertainment content.
Action taken
Navarre announced the acquisition of Funimation Productions in January and completed it in May. The subsidiary was renamed Funimation Entertainment.
Aftermath
Funimation became Navarre's best-known entertainment asset before being sold to investors including Gen Fukunaga in 2011.
Recent events
- 2014
Navarre assets are sold to Wynit Distribution[1]
M&A
Wynit Distribution acquired most of the assets of Navarre Distribution Services and Encore from Speed Commerce.
- 2013
Navarre closes BCI home-entertainment division[1]
Other
The BCI Home Entertainment operation was closed during a restructuring after two years of losses and amid recession-related pressure.
- 2011
Navarre sells Funimation[1]
M&A
Navarre sold Funimation to a group of investors that included Funimation co-founder Gen Fukunaga.
- 2008
Navarre agrees to merge with SpeedFC[1]
M&A
SpeedFC agreed to merge with Navarre in a transaction announced at a value of $50 million in cash and stock; the merger closed in 2013.
- 2005
Navarre announces Funimation acquisition[1]
M&A
Navarre announced its agreement to acquire Funimation Productions, an anime licensing company; the transaction was completed later that year.
- 2005
Navarre signs Total Nonstop Action Wrestling distribution agreement[1]
Other
Navarre agreed to distribute TNA home-video products, including monthly pay-per-view events, compilations, and documentaries, in the United States and Canada.
- 2005
Navarre restates selected financial statements[1]
Other
The company determined that its 2004 and first- and third-quarter 2005 financial statements required restatement because incentive-based deferred compensation for its chief executive had been recorded in the wrong reporting periods.
- 1993
Navarre completes initial public offering[1]
Other
Navarre began manufacturing software products and completed its initial public offering, becoming a publicly traded company.
- 1991
Navarre is reacquired and separated from Lieberman[1]
M&A
Eric H. Paulson reacquired Navarre and the company was spun off from Lieberman after Handleman Company acquired it for $100 million.
- 1989
Lieberman Enterprises announces acquisition of Navarre[1]
M&A
Lieberman Enterprises, a subsidiary of LIVE Entertainment, announced an agreement to acquire Navarre for an undisclosed amount.
Sources1 sources
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