Disney Consumer Products, Mattel Announce Licensing Agreement for Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh

Business Wire, Sept 20, 2000

Business/Entertainment Editors & Retail/Film Writers

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BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 20, 2000

Disney Consumer Products (NYSE:DIS) has entered into a worldwide, multi-year agreement with Mattel Inc. (NYSE:MAT) to produce preschool and plush toys, dolls, games and puzzles based on classic Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh and the Disney Princesses, under a new agreement announced today by Andy Mooney, president of Disney Consumer Products Worldwide. The multi-year agreement with Mattel covers all global territories except Japan.

Under terms of the agreement, Mattel's Fisher-Price subsidiary, the leading brand of infant and preschool toys in the world, will produce toys based on Mickey Mouse and the other Disney standard characters (including Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto), Winnie the Pooh, and any new infant and preschool film and television properties created by Disney.

"Fisher-Price is the foremost toy brand for preschool children, and has had remarkable success at creating imaginative, fun toys based on Disney characters," Mooney said. "Mattel has great strength in creating and building world-class brands, such as Barbie and Hot Wheels, and we are very happy that we will be continuing our long-standing relationship with the company."

Neil Friedman, president of Fisher-Price Brands, said: "Mattel is thrilled to be able to continue our licensing relationship with Disney, as Disney has been one of the cornerstones of the preschool line. The imagination and fun that Disney brings to children's entertainment is easily translated into engaging toys for children."

Mattel's Girls division will develop lines of fashion and collector dolls featuring the Disney Princesses (including Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty) across North and South America.

Mattel's Games and Puzzles group will continue to build upon such recent successes as "The Wonderful World of Disney Trivia Game" and "Disney Charades," as well as developing children's games worldwide, and puzzles in North America.

The licensing agreement continues a relationship between Disney and Mattel that started in the 1950s with the "Mickey Mouse Club" television show and continues today with such popular products as "Walk `n' Wag Pluto" and "Bounce Around Tigger." Both were among the best-selling toys of the late 1990s.

Mattel Inc. is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of family products. The company's best-selling brands include the Barbie(R) doll, Hot Wheels(R) and Fisher-Price(R). With headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel has offices and facilities in 36 countries and sells its products in more than 150 nations throughout the world.

Disney Consumer Products is the unit of The Walt Disney Co. that reaches consumers directly through licensed merchandise, retail stores, interactive games, and books and magazines.

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