COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

Sony Unit Named Beatles’ Licensing, Merchandising Agent: Sony Signatures, a merchandising and licensing unit of Sony Corp., said it will be the exclusive worldwide licensing and merchandising agent for the Beatles. Under the agreement, the Sony unit will have the rights to all classic images of the Beatles as a group, and it is developing a long-term licensing program. A Sony spokeswoman said Signatures expects to generate retail sales of about $200 million by 1997. She would not comment on specific terms. The agreement comes as the three surviving members of the rock band prepare to release new albums starting next month and appear in a three-night ABC television program.