In late 2023, the Arena Group lost the rights to publish SI, its best-known brand, after the 5-Hour Energy creator Manoj Bhargava took over Arena and missed a licensing payment to Authentic Brands Group. ABG awarded the publishing license to Minute Media and sued Bhargava for $49 million, accusing him of acting like a "gangster" in their negotiations. Bhargava's lawsuit adds to the morass of legal actions that have formed around the Arena Group. In early April, ABG sued Arena and Bhargava over the missed licensing payment and a $45 million termination fee. Ross Levinsohn, the Arena CEO who was fired in 2023 when Bhargava took over, has also sued Arena, claiming he was retaliated against.

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Persons: —, Manoj Bhargava, ABG, Bhargava, Privately, Steve Janisse, Janisse, we're, Ross Levinsohn, Levinsohn, Media didn't Organizations: Service, Sports, Arena Group, Energy, Arena, Authentic Brands, Media, Business, Group, Capital Partners, BlackRock, Capital, ABG, CVC didn't, Forbes, Arena's, Front Office Locations: ABG