SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: April 3, 1996
MATTEL, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 001-05647 95-1567322
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File No.) Identification No.)
333 Continental Boulevard, El Segundo, California 90245-5012
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (310) 252-2000
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N/A
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Events
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Mattel, Inc. hereby incorporates by reference herein its
press release dated April 3, 1996, regarding Disney and Mattel
to sign agreement expanding Mattel's production of Disney
characters, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 99.0
attached hereto. Pursuant to a letter of intent described in
the press release, Disney and Mattel will enter into a license
agreement, the terms of which are more fully described in the
press release, and Mattel will issue Disney a warrant to
purchase three million shares of Mattel's common stock, $1.00
par value per share.
Mattel, Inc. hereby incorporates by reference herein its
press release dated March 28, 1996, regarding James Eskridge
resigns position as President-Mattel Worldwide, a copy of
which is included as Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
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(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired: None
(b) Pro forma financial information: None
(c) Exhibits:
99.0 Press release dated April 3, 1996.
99.1 Press release dated March 28, 1996.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
MATTEL, INC.
Registrant
By: /s/ Leland P. Smith
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Leland P. Smith
Assistant Secretary and
Date: April 3, 1996 Assistant General Counsel
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<PAGE>
DISNEY AND MATTEL TO SIGN AGREEMENT EXPANDING
MATTEL'S PRODUCTION OF DISNEY CHARACTERS
LOS ANGELES, April 3, 1996 -- Disney Consumer Products and Mattel,
Inc. today announced that they have signed a letter of intent for a new
expanded strategic alliance, which will guarantee Mattel worldwide toy
rights for all upcoming Disney television and film properties, including
the productions of Walt Disney Pictures, Hollywood Pictures and Touchstone
Pictures.
As part of the planned agreement, Mattel is being granted the toy
rights for Hercules, Disney's major animated release for 1997.
The planned agreement spans three years, with Mattel having the right
for two additional years to manage merchandise from film properties
produced during the third year. It also covers a broad range of categories
that include all dolls, plush, male action figures, vehicles and battery-
powered ride-on toys worldwide and games and puzzles within the U.S.
"Our dream has been to become Disney's main toy licensee, and the only
piece missing over the years was that we could be involved in all of their
major children's film and television properties," said Jill Barad, Mattel's
president and chief operating officer. "With this agreement, our dream is
coming true."
Barton K. Boyd, president, Disney Consumer Products, said "Throughout
our relationship, Mattel has demonstrated outstanding creativity and
excellence in taking our celluloid images and developing them into exciting
three dimensional toys. We are excited to expand our relationship with
Mattel and have its talented staff working with our artists and producers
to develop products based on our upcoming theatrical motion pictures and TV
shows."
The Disney/Mattel relationship began in 1988, when Disney granted
Mattel the licensing rights to produce a line of infant and preschool toys
incorporating standard Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck
and Pluto. The two companies signed a strategic alliance in 1991 that
expanded the toy license to include additional entertainment characters and
toy categories and Mattel participation in attractions at Disneyland, Walt
Disney World and Disneyland Paris.
In 1996, Mattel will market products based on Disney's 34th animated
film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame; the new live action adaptation of 101
Dalmatians to be released in December, and the new animated TV series based
on Disney's successful hockey team, The Mighty Ducks.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Glenn Bozarth
Mattel, Inc.
(310) 252-3521
JAMES ESKRIDGE RESIGNS POSITION
AS PRESIDENT-MATTEL WORLDWIDE
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LOS ANGELES, March 28, 1996 -- Mattel, Inc. today announced that James
A. Eskridge has chosen to resign his position as president-Mattel
Worldwide, but will remain a senior advisor to the company.
"Jim has had other goals he has wanted to pursue, and he developed the
current Mattel Worldwide organization with that in mind," Jill Barad,
Mattel's president and chief operating officer, said. "He established an
excellent global organization run by four very strong executives who will
now report to me. With this team in place, Jim decided that the time was
right to move on to other pursuits.
"We would have preferred to have had Jim continue as a member of our
top management team," Barad said, "but we wish him much success and
happiness, and we thank him for all he has done to help give our company,
and particularly its management structure, the strength it has today."
Eskridge, 53, joined Mattel as the company's executive vice president
and chief financial officer in 1988. He was promoted to president of
Fisher-Price upon completion of the Mattel/Fisher-Price merger in 1993 and
to president-Mattel Worldwide in 1995.
Mattel, Inc. is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and
marketing of children's toys. With headquarters in El Segundo, California,
Mattel has offices and facilities in 36 foreign countries and sells its
products in more than 140 nations throughout the world.
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