Nov 21, 2008

Mattel Announces 2008 Annual Dividend

Mattel, Inc. (NYSE:MAT) announced today that the Mattel Board of Directors has approved the company's common stock annual dividend for 2008 of seventy-five cents per share. The dividend is payable on Dec. 18, 2008, to stockholders of record on Dec. 5, 2008

Oct. 20, 2008

Mattel Reports Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results

Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT) today reported 2008 third quarter financial results. For the quarter, the company reported net income of $238.1 million, or $0.66 per share, compared to last year's third quarter net income of $236.8 million, or $0.61 per share. For the quarter, net sales were $1.95 billion, up 6 percent compared to $1.84 billion last year, including favorable changes in currency exchange rates of 2 percentage points. On a regional basis, third quarter gross sales increased 4 percent in the U.S. and increased 7 percent in international markets, including favorable changes in currency exchange rates of 6 percentage points. Operating income for the quarter was $315.3 million, compared to prior year's operating income for the quarter of $310.5 million. The company's debt-to-total-capital ratio was 37 percent. Consistent with the seasonality of the business, during the first nine months, the company's cash and equivalents declined by approximately $454 million. This compares to a decline of $929 million in the first nine months of 2007.

August 26, 2008

Today in federal court, a jury unanimously awarded Mattel $100 million damages from MGA Entertainment and its CEO, Isaac Larian, for copyright infringement and other claims related to Mattel's rightful ownership of Bratz-related works. The jury awarded $90 million for MGA's and Larian's wrongs against Mattel and $10 million for copyright infringement against MGA and Larian. The Court will make the final determination regarding the total of damages that MGA and Larian will pay to Mattel. Additionally, the jury found that MGA fraudulently concealed the basis for Mattel's claims of intentional interference with contract and Mattel's claims of conversion.

Aug 19, 2008

Mattel Named One of the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles

Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT) the world's largest toymaker, today announced it has been named as one of 2008's "Best Places to Work in Los Angeles," ranking 9th among large-sized companies. The complete list will appear in next week's issue of the Los Angeles Business Journal. Mattel moves up the list in 2008 since ranking 13th in 2007.

Aug 18, 2008

Mattel Children's Foundation Continues Signature Partner Collaboration with Total Donation of $2.1 Millon to Six Charities

July 18, 2008

Mattel Reports Second Quarter 2008 Financial Results

Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT) today reported 2008 second quarter financial results. For the quarter, the company reported net income of $11.8 million, or $0.03 per share, compared to last year's second quarter net income of $22.8 million, or $0.06 per share. For the quarter, net sales were $1.11 billion, up 11 percent compared to $1.00 billion last year, including favorable changes in currency exchange rates of 5 percentage points. On a regional basis, second quarter gross sales increased 3 percent in the U.S. and increased 15 percent in international markets, including favorable changes in currency exchange rates of 10 percentage points. Operating income for the quarter was $30.6 million, compared to prior year's operating income for the quarter of $36.8 million. The company's debt-to-total-capital ratio was 30 percent. Consistent with the seasonality of the business, during the quarter the company's cash and equivalents declined by approximately $240 million, essentially flat compared to last year's second quarter decline of about $242 million.

Jul 11, 2008

BarbieGirls.com Launches "Parents' Place," with the First Interactive Tool for Families to Set Rules about Safe Online Play

With 86 percent of kids ages 6-10 using a computer and 75 percent online(1), the Internet and virtual worlds are today's new playground. As kids adopt digital play faster than ever before, parents are looking for ways to establish rules for playing online. To bridge the gap between parents and kids and provide parents with information and controls, BarbieGirls.com - one of the fastest growing virtual worlds for kids with 14 million registered users worldwide - today introduces "Parents' Place."

May 20, 2008

Mattel announced today it will provide more than $125,000 in immediate and long-term disaster relief to support victims of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province of China and the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in southwest Myanmar. Funds will go to the American Red Cross and Save the Children. In response, Mattel is donating $75,000 to our multi-year Signature Partner, Save the Children, to address the needs of children in China and Myanmar. Save the Children is one of the few aid organizations with ongoing operations in both countries, enabling the agency to respond immediately when the disasters hit. Save the Children has worked in Myanmar since 1995 and has a staff of more than 500 employees who have been delivering food, water, purification systems, household supplies and materials for shelters to children and families in the areas hardest hit by the cyclone. In China, Save the Children is working closely with government officials to create safe spaces for children to play and learn, as well as looking at the longer term schooling and education needs of children in the affected region.

Mattel is also donating $50,000 to the relief efforts of the American Red Cross in responding to the recent disasters in China and Myanmar, as well as in the U.S. The American Red Cross is working internationally with its partner Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to help survivors following these devastating disasters and supporting the purchase and distribution of emergency supplies, coordination of relief efforts and deployment of relief workers to the affected areas. A small portion of the funding to the American Red Cross will support domestic tornado relief efforts, which includes providing food, temporary shelter and counseling to individuals and families affected by the recent storms throughout the South and Midwest.

May 12, 2008

American Girl®, a division of Mattel, Inc., today announced plans to open its newest experiential retail store at Natick Collection, the largest mall in New England. The 20,000-square-foot American Girl store is slated to open in the shopping center's new streetscape in November 2008.

April 21, 2008

Mattel Reports First Quarter 2008 Financial Results

Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT) today reported 2008 first quarter financial results. For the quarter, the company reported a net loss of $46.6 million, or $0.13 per share, compared to last year's first quarter net income of $12.0 million, or $0.03 per share. For the quarter, net sales were $919.3 million, down 2 percent compared to $940.3 million last year, including favorable changes in currency exchange rates of 5 percentage points. On a regional basis, first quarter gross sales decreased 11 percent in the U.S. and increased 8 percent in international markets, including favorable changes in currency exchange rates of 11 percentage points. Operating loss for the quarter was $36.5 million, compared to prior year's operating income for the quarter of $20.6 million. The company's debt-to-total-capital ratio was 28 percent. Consistent with the seasonality of the business, during the quarter the company's cash and equivalents declined by approximately $276 million, compared with a decline of approximately $221 million in last year's first quarter.

March 4, 2008

Mattel To Issue $350 Million Of Senior Notes

Mattel, Inc. [NYSE:MAT] announced today that it has agreed to sell $350 million aggregate principal amount of 5.625% senior notes due March 15, 2013, in an underwritten public offering in which Banc of America Securities LLC and RBS Greenwich Capital are acting as representatives of the several underwriters. Mattel intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes. The offering is expected to close on March 7, 2008, subject to customary closing conditions. A prospectus related to the offering of the notes may be obtained by contacting:

March 4, 2008

Fisher-Price® Partners With ToyQuest To Create First-Ever Backyard Play Program

Fisher-Price®, the nation's No. 1 infant and preschool brand, announced today a new licensing collaboration with ToyQuest, an innovative toy developer and manufacturer, to produce a brand new Fisher-Price backyard play program for toddlers and preschoolers. The collection will include pools, backyard play, sand toys and constant air inflatables, featuring colorful designs and a playful animal theme.  ToyQuest will unveil the collection in spring 2008, beginning with the Fisher-Price Hoppy Frog Spray Pool™, Fisher-Price Rainbow Shade Pool™, Fisher-Price Squirt Friend Animal Sprayers™, Fisher-Price Deluxe Sprinkle 'N Splash Play Mat™, Fisher-Price Froggy Fun Sprinkler™, Fisher-Price Brontosaurus Dino Digger™, Fisher-Price Soak 'N Splash Animal Park™, Fisher-Price Squirt 'N Sprinkle Fire Truck™ and the Fisher-Price Mega Bouncer™.

February 14, 2008

Mattel And Fisher-Price  Inspire Imaginations And Wow Kids With Innovative Toys And Games Based On All The Ways Kids Play

Today, kicking off the 2008 American International Toy Fair in New York, Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT) unveiled its exciting 2008 toy lineup of new toys and games that create magic and fun for kids based on all the ways they play.  This year, Mattel and Fisher-Price® continue to be at the forefront of the toy industry's biggest trends, delivering high-tech toys for today's digital generation of kids, brand new innovation and classic play experiences across their brands, and toys with high play value.  Additionally, 2008 marks the year of entertainment for Mattel, touting licenses for three major theatrical releases, the hottest television properties and its own popular entertainment.

February 5, 2008

Mattel Taps Creative Artists Agency For Entertainment Marketing Efforts

Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT, www.mattel.com), the worldwide leader in toys/family products and well-known as the premier marketer to kids, has signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world's leading entertainment and sports agency, to develop entertainment-based marketing programs that build upon the company's legendary toy brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, Masters of the Universe, Max Steel, UNO, and Polly Pocket, among many other popular toy brands.  CAA Marketing will identify and create opportunities across a variety of platforms, from movies, digital media, and music, to video games, television, and beyond, and will help further build brand relevance for Mattel's extensive library of rich intellectual properties.  The partnership is right in line with Mattel's long-term brand extension strategy to further expand its broad portfolio of brands and leverage the success it has already experienced with some of the company's key intellectual properties in the entertainment space. 

January 31, 2008

Mattel Reports 2007 Financial Results

Mattel, Inc. (NYSE:MAT) today reported 2007 fourth quarter and full-year financial results.  For the quarter, the company reported net income of $328.5 million, or $0.89 per share, compared to last year's fourth quarter net income of $286.4 million, or $0.75 per share.  For the year, the company reported net income of $600.0 million, or $1.54 per share, compared to last year's net income of $592.9 million, or $1.53 per share.

For the fourth quarter, operating income of $362.1 million included charges and incremental costs of approximately $42 million related to the company's product recalls during 2007. For the year, operating income of $730.1 million included charges and incremental costs of approximately $110 million related to the company's product recalls during 2007.  Of this annual cost, $68.4 million related to the reserves recorded for reversal of sales associated with recalled products, impairment of the affected inventory and other recall-related costs, and approximately $42 million related to incremental recall related legal, advertising, testing, logistics and administration costs.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2007 was positively impacted by tax benefits related to prior years of $47.3 million as a result of reassessments of tax exposures based on the status of current audits in various jurisdictions around the world, including settlements. For the quarter, net sales were $2.19 billion, a 4 percent increase from $2.11 billion last year, and included a favorable impact from changes in currency exchange rates of 4 percentage points.  On a regional basis, fourth quarter gross sales were down 3 percent in the U.S. and were up 18 percent in international markets, which included a favorable impact from changes in currency exchange rates of 9 percentage points.  Operating income for the quarter was down 7 percent to $362.1 million.

The company's debt-to-total capital ratio of 29.1 percent is in line with the company's capital and investment framework, and its year-end cash balance was $901.1 million.  During 2007, the company repurchased 35.9 million shares of its common stock at a cost of approximately $806 million. Additionally, the Mattel Board of Directors has authorized the company to increase its previously announced share repurchase program by an additional $500 million.  Repurchases will take place from time to time, depending on market conditions.  The share repurchase program is one component of the company's capital and investment framework, which was announced in February 2003. Under this program, Mattel has repurchased 104 million shares of common stock for an aggregate of $2 billion.

January 23, 2008

Mattel Named One Of Fortune's 2008 "100 Best Companies To Work For" List

FORTUNE announced today that Mattel [NYSE: MAT], the world's largest toy company, has been named to the prestigious 11th annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" list, ranking number 70. Mattel is the only toy company to make the 2008 list. Mattel is noted for maintaining a very high level of employee morale and pride, even in the midst of industry-wide product recalls. Leadership, integrity and openness have all been cited by employees as the company's ongoing commitment to do the right thing.

January 1, 2008

American Girl's New "2008 Girl Of The Year" Encourages A Healthy Approach To Competition And Performance

For millions of girls, the success or failure they experience in sports or other competitive activities has as much to do with their mental preparation as their physical abilities. As competitive pressure and expectations increase for young performers, so does the need for developing their mental skills and attitudes to ensure that their experiences are positive and empowering. To celebrate girls passion for performing and to encourage a healthy approach to competition, American Girl is proud to introduce Mia, 2008 Girl of the Year.