MATTEL INC /DE/
8-A12B/A, 1999-11-12
DOLLS & STUFFED TOYS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                           -------------------------

                                   FORM 8-A/A
                                 AMENDMENT NO. 3

              FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                        PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR (G)
                    OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                           -------------------------


                                  MATTEL, INC.
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


                DELAWARE                               95-1567322
      (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                    (IRS EMPLOYER
   OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)             IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
   333 CONTINENTAL BLVD., EL SEGUNDO,                  90245-5012
               CALIFORNIA
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)               (ZIP CODE)

   If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities Section
12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A (c)
please check the following box:
                                                                  [X] Yes [ ] No

   If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is pursuant to General Instruction A (d)
check the following box:
                                                                  [ ] Yes [X] No

        SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:

                                             NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH
TITLE OF EACH CLASS TO BE SO REGISTERED      EACH CLASS IS TO BE REGISTERED
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    PREFERENCE SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS             NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
                                                 PACIFIC STOCK EXCHANGE


        SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:

                                      NONE
                                (TITLE OF CLASS)





<PAGE>


Item 1.  Description of Securities to be Registered.

     Reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Mattel, Inc. (the "Company") on
February 13, 1992, Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company on March 13,
1992 and Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company on May 13, 1999 (together,
the "Form 8-A"). The Form 8-A relates to the preference share purchase rights of
the Company and the Rights Agreement, dated as of February 7, 1992, as amended
as of May 13, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), by and between the Company and
BankBoston N.A., a national banking association, formerly, The First National
Bank of Boston. The Form 8-A is incorporated herein by reference.

     The Company's Board of Directors has approved and adopted Amendment No. 2
to the Rights Agreement, dated as of November 4, 1999 (the "Amendment"), a copy
of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3 and incorporated herein by reference.

     The Amendment reduces the threshold beneficial ownership level of common
stock, including any common stock issuable upon an exchange of exchangeable
shares (the "Exchangeable Shares") of Softkey Software Products Inc., the
Company's Canadian subsidiary, that triggers the distribution of and
exercisability of the rights issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement from 20%
to 15%. The Amendment also provides for a technical correction of the Rights
Agreement to ensure that the Exchangeable Shares shall be taken into account in
determining when a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes
an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and to ensure that the
holder of the Company's Special Voting Preferred Share (which provides voting
rights for holders of the Exchangeable Shares) is excluded from the definition
of Acquiring Person by virtue of its holding of the Special Voting Preferred
Share.

     The Company hereby amends and restates Item 1 to the Form 8-A to read in
its entirety as follows:

     On February 7, 1992, the Board of Directors of Mattel, Inc. (the "Company")
declared a dividend of one preference share purchase right (a "Right") for each
outstanding share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common
Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is payable on February 17, 1992 (the
"Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share
of Series E Junior Participating Preference Stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Preference Shares"), of the Company at a price of $150 per one one-hundredth
of a Preference Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated
as of February 7, 1992, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement,
dated as of May 13, 1999, and Amendment No. 2 to the Rights Agreement, dated as
of November 4, 1999 (collectively, the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company
and BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

     Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public announcement
that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring
Person") have acquired


                                       1
<PAGE>

beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (including
any Common Shares issuable upon the exchange of the exchangeable non-voting
shares (the "Exchangeable Shares") of Softkey Software Products Inc., the
Company's Canadian subsidiary) or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as
may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any
person or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following the
commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or
exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial
ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
(including any Common Shares issuable upon the exchange of the Exchangeable
Shares) (the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the
Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share certificates
outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate with a copy
of the Summary of Rights which is included in the Rights Agreement as Exhibit C
(the "Summary of Rights") attached thereto.

     The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and
only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption
or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued after the
Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares will contain a
notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution
Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for
transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record
Date, even without such notation or a copy of the Summary of Rights being
attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable
following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights
("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares
as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

     The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire on February 17, 2002 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.

     The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preference Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preference Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preference Shares of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preference Shares at a
price, or securities convertible into Preference Shares with a conversion price,
less than the then-current market price of the Preference Shares or (iii) upon
the distribution to holders of the Preference Shares of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of
earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in Preference Shares) or of
subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

     The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preference Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock
dividend on the Common Shares payable in



                                       2
<PAGE>

Common Shares or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common
Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.

     Preference Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preference Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $1 per share but will be entitled to an aggregate
dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of
liquidation, the holders of the Preference Shares will be entitled to a minimum
preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share but will be entitled to an
aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share. Each
Preference Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common Shares.
Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
Common Shares are exchanged, each Preference Share will be entitled to receive
100 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by
customary antidilution provisions.

     Because of the nature of the Preference Shares' dividend, liquidation and
voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a Preference Share
purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one
Common Share.

     In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person,
the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or
50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold, proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than the Acquiring
Person) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at
the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common
stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a
market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. In the event that any
person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person,
proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be void), will
thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares
having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

            At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person
and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares (including any Common Shares issuable upon the
exchange of the Exchangeable Shares), the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will
have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common
Share, or one one-hundredth of a Preference Share (or of a share of a class or
series of the Company's preference stock having equivalent rights, preferences
and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

            With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Preference Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preference
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preference Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.

            At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the
Board of



                                       3
<PAGE>

Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a
price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights
may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as
the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon
any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate
and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption
Price.

     The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, including an amendment
to lower certain thresholds described above to not less than the greater of (i)
the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding Common Shares
then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by any person or group of
affiliated or associated persons (other than (a) the Company, (b) any subsidiary
of the Company, (c) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary
of the Company, (d) any entity holding Common Shares or Exchangeable Shares for
or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or (e) E.M. Warburg, Pincus & Co.,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its affiliates and associates) and (ii) 10%,
except that from and after such time as any person or group of affiliated or
associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely
affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.

     For the purpose of calculating the various percentage ownership thresholds
contained in the Rights Agreement, shares issued in connection with the capital
investment approved by the Company's stockholders at the 1984 Annual Meeting and
still owned by the original owner, or owned by certain qualified transferees,
are excluded from the amount deemed to be beneficially owned by such persons.
However, if such original owner or qualified transferee becomes a member of a
group with certain other persons, such shares will be included in the amount
attributable to, and will be deemed to be beneficially owned by, such other
persons.

     Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.

     The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
on terms not approved by the Company's Board of Directors, except pursuant to an
offer conditioned on a substantial number of Rights being acquired. The Rights
should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by
the Board of Directors since the Rights may be redeemed by the Company at the
Redemption Price prior to the time that a person or group has acquired
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Common Shares.

     The Rights Agreement, dated as of February 7, 1992, between the Company and
The First National Bank of Boston as Rights Agent, specifying the terms of the
Rights and including the form of the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and
Rights setting forth the terms of the Preference Shares as an exhibit thereto,
is attached to the Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by
the Company on March 13, 1992 and is incorporated herein by reference. Amendment
No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated as of May 13, 1999, between the Company and
BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent, including the amended and restated Summary of
Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares as an exhibit thereto, is attached to the
Form 8-






                                       4
<PAGE>


A/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company on
May 13, 1999 and is incorporated herein by reference. Amendment No. 2 to Rights
Agreement, dated as of November 4, 1999, between the Company and BankBoston,
N.A., as Rights Agent, including the amended and restated Summary of Rights to
Purchase Preferred Shares as an exhibit thereto is filed herewith. The foregoing
description of the Rights is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
exhibits.



                                       5
<PAGE>

Item 2.  Exhibits

     The Company hereby amends and restates Item 2 to the Form 8-A to read in
its entirety as follows:

   *4.1. Rights Agreement, dated as of February 7, 1992 between Mattel,
         Inc. and The First National Bank of Boston, as Rights Agent,
         which includes the form of Certificate of Designation,
         Preferences and Rights setting forth the terms of the Series E
         Junior Participating Preference Stock, par value $.01 per
         share, as Exhibit A, the form of Right Certificate as Exhibit
         B and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preference Shares as
         Exhibit C.

 **4.2.  Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated as of May
         13, 1999, between Mattel, Inc. and BankBoston, N.A., as
         Rights Agent, which includes the amended and restated
         Summary of Rights to Purchase Preference Shares as Exhibit C.

  +4.3.  Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement, dated as of November
         4, 1999, between Mattel, Inc. and BankBoston, N.A., as
         Rights Agent, which includes the amended and restated
         Summary of Rights to Purchase Preference Shares as Exhibit C.

- -------------------

*     Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company's Registration
      Statement on Form 8-A filed February 13, 1992.
**    Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company's Registration
      Statement on Form 8-A/A filed May 13, 1999.
 +    Filed herewith.



                                       6
<PAGE>


                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                    MATTEL, INC.

Dated: November 12, 1999            By: /s/ Robert Normile
                                        -----------------------------------
                                        Robert Normile
                                        Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                          and Secretary



                                       7
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBITS

          *4.1.   Rights Agreement, dated as of February 7, 1992, between
                  Mattel, Inc. and The First National Bank of Boston, as
                  Rights Agent, which includes the form of Certificate of
                  Designation, Preferences and Rights setting forth the terms
                  of the Series E Junior Participating Preference Stock, par
                  value $.01 per share, as Exhibit A, the form of Right
                  Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights to
                  Purchase Preference Shares as Exhibit C.

         **4.2.   Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated as of May 13,
                  1999, between Mattel, Inc. and BankBoston, N.A., as Rights
                  Agent, which includes the amended and restated Summary of
                  Rights to Purchase Preference Shares as Exhibit C.

          +4.3.   Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement, dated as of November
                  4, 1999, between Mattel, Inc. and BankBoston, N.A., as
                  Rights Agent, which includes the amended and restated
                  Summary of Rights to Purchase Preference Shares as Exhibit
                  C.

- ------------------

*     Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company's Registration
      Statement on Form 8-A filed February 13, 1992.
**    Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company's Registration
      Statement on Form 8-A/A filed May 13, 1999.
 +    Filed herewith.



                                       8





                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                                 AMENDMENT NO. 2



     This Amendment No. 2, dated as of November 4, 1999 (the "Amendment") amends
the Rights Agreement, dated as of February 7, 1992, as amended by an amendment,
dated as of May 13, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), by and between Mattel, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and BankBoston N.A., a national banking
association, formerly, The First National Bank of Boston (the "Rights Agent").

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that it is in
the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to effect certain
amendments to the Rights Agreement;

     WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 27 of the Rights Agreement the Company may,
subject to certain limitations, amend the Rights Agreement without the approval
of any holders of Rights Certificates to make any provisions with respect to the
Rights which the Company deems necessary or desirable;

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent wish to amend the Rights
Agreement in the manner set forth below.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements
set forth herein, the parties thereto agree that the Rights Agreement is Amended
as follows:

     1.  Amendment.

     (a) All capitalized terms used herein, unless otherwise defined herein,
shall have the meanings given them in the Rights Agreement, and each reference
in the Rights Agreement to "this Agreement," "hereof," "herein," "hereunder" or
"hereby" and each other similar reference shall be deemed to refer to the Rights
Agreement as amended hereby. All references to the Rights Agreement in any other
agreement between or among any of the parties hereto relating to the
transactions contemplated by the Rights Agreement shall be deemed to refer to
the Rights Agreement as amended hereby.

     (b) The definition of "Acquiring Person" in Section 1(a) is hereby amended
by replacing it in its entirety with the following:

          "(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
     hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and
     Associates (as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be
     the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more
     of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding, but shall not include
     (a) the Company, any Subsidiary (as such term is


<PAGE>

     hereinafter defined) of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the
     Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common
     Shares or Softkey Exchangeable Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any
     such plan or (b) the holder of the Mattel Special Voting Preferred Share
     (as such term is hereinafter defined) in its capacity as holder of such
     Mattel Special Voting Preferred Share (but shall include such holder to the
     extent that such holder's beneficial ownership of Common Shares would cause
     such Person to be an Acquiring Person without reference to such Mattel
     Special Voting Share). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall
     become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of Common
     Shares or Softkey Exchangeable Shares by the Company or Softkey
     Exchangeable Shares by Softkey which, by reducing the number of shares
     outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially
     owned by such Person to 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company
     then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the
     Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then
     outstanding by reason of share acquisitions by the Company or by Softkey
     and shall, after such share acquisitions by the Company or Softkey, become
     the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares of the Company, then
     such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person"; and provided
     further that for purposes of this definition any Investing Person (as such
     term is hereinafter defined) shall be deemed not to be the Beneficial Owner
     of any Investment Shares (as such term is hereinafter defined). For
     purposes of the second proviso of the foregoing sentence, "Investment
     Shares" shall mean Common Shares or Softkey Exchangeable Shares
     beneficially owned by any Person (an "Investing Person") (i) who or which
     became the Beneficial Owner of such shares in connection with, or as a
     direct result of, the Capital Investment (as such term is hereinafter
     defined) or (ii) to whom or to which such shares shall have been
     transferred from an Investing Person who at the time of such transfer (A)
     was an Affiliate or Associate of such transferee and (B) was by reason of
     the second proviso of the foregoing sentence deemed not to be the
     Beneficial Owner of such shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
     Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person
     who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person", as defined pursuant to the
     foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has become such inadvertently,
     and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of
     Common Shares or Softkey Exchangeable Shares so that such Person would no
     longer be an Acquiring Person as defined pursuant to the foregoing
     provisions of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to
     be an Acquiring Person for any purposes of this Agreement.

     Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Acquiring Person to the
     contrary, the phrase "then outstanding" when used in this Agreement with
     reference to Common Shares shall mean (x) the number of Common Shares then
     outstanding plus (y) a number of Common Shares equal to (i) the number of
     Softkey Exchangeable Shares then issued and outstanding which are not owned
     by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any person directly or
     indirectly controlled by or under common control of the Company, multiplied
     by (ii) the Merger Exchange Ratio, appropriately adjusted to reflect any
     stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
     hereof."

     (b) The definition of "Beneficial Owner" in Section 1(c) is hereby amended
         by adding


                                       2
<PAGE>

         the following sentence to the end thereof:

            "Any person who owns Softkey Exchangeable Shares shall be deemed to
            beneficially own the maximum number of Common Shares issuable to
            such holder upon the exchange, retraction or redemption of all such
            Softkey Exchangeable Shares at the measurement date."

     (c) Section 3(a) is hereby amended by replacing "20%"with "15%" in the
first sentence thereof and by deleting all three occurrences of the phrase "and
Softkey Exchangeable Shares" in clause (ii) thereof.

     (d) Section 3(d) is hereby amended by replacing the phrase "paragraph (c)"
with "paragraph (d)" in the first sentence thereof.

     (e) Section 24 (a) is hereby amended by deleting all three occurrences of
the phrase "and Softkey Exchangeable Shares" therein.

     (f) Section 27 is hereby amended by replacing the final sentence thereof
with the following:

     "Without limiting the foregoing, the Company may at any time prior to such
time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person amend this Agreement to lower the
thresholds set forth in Sections l(a) and 3(a) to not less than the greater of
(i) the sum of .001% and the percentage obtained by dividing (A) the number of
Common Shares then beneficially owned by the Person (other than (I) the Company,
(II) any Subsidiary of the Company, (III) any employee benefit plan of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (IV) any entity holding Common Shares
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or (V) E.M. Warburg, Pincus & Co.,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its Affiliates and Associates) then known to
the Company to be the beneficial owner of the largest number of Common Shares
(excluding, for purposes of calculating any Person's beneficial ownership under
this clause (A), any Common Shares which such Person would be deemed, pursuant
to the second proviso of the second sentence of Section l(a) hereof, not to be
the Beneficial Owner) by (B) the number of Common Shares then outstanding and
(ii) 10%.

     (g) Exhibit C to the Rights Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its
entirety, effective as of the date of this Agreement, as set forth in Exhibit C
attached hereto.

     2. Miscellaneous.

     (a) Choice of Law. This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made
under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed
and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts
to be made and performed entirely within such State.

     (b) Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.


                                       3
<PAGE>

     (c) Severability. If any term or provision of this Amendment is held by a
court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, the remainder of the terms and provisions of this Amendment shall
in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

     (d) Existing Terms. The existing terms and conditions of the Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect except as such terms and conditions are
specifically amended or conflict with the terms of this Amendment.


                                       4
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed by the respective
authorized officers of the parties hereto, in each case as of the day and year
first above written.


                                        The Company:
                                        MATTEL, INC.
                                        By:


                                       /s/  Robert Normile
                                       -------------------
                                        Name:  Robert Normile
                                        Title: Senior Vice President,
                                               General Counsel and Secretary


                                        Rights Agent:
                                        BANKBOSTON, N.A.


                                        By:

                                        /s/ Katherine Anderson
                                        ----------------------
                                        Name:   Katherine Anderson
                                        Title:  Administration Manager



                                       5
<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit C

                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
                                PREFERENCE SHARES

     On February 7, 1992, the Board of Directors of Mattel, Inc. (the "Company")
declared a dividend of one preference share purchase right (a "Right") for each
outstanding share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common
Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is payable on February 17, 1992 (the
"Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share
of Series E Junior Participating Preference Stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Preference Shares"), of the Company at a price of $150 per one one-hundredth of
a Preference Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as
of February 7, 1992, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement dated
as of May 13, 1999 and Amendment No. 2 to the Rights Agreement dated as of
November 4, 1999 (collectively, the "Rights Agreement") between the
Company and BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

     Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public announcement
that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring
Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding
Common Shares (including any Common Shares that are issuable upon the exchange
of the exchangeable non-voting shares (the "Exchangeable Shares") of Softkey
Software Products Inc., the Company's Canadian subsidiary) or (ii) 10 business
days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of
Directors prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated persons
becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of
an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which
would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares (including any Common Shares that are issuable
upon the exchange of the Exchangeable Shares) (the earlier of such dates being
called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to
any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such
Common Share certificate with a copy of this Summary of Rights attached thereto.

     The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and
only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption
or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued after the
Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares will contain a
notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution
Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for
transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record
Date, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights being
attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable
following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights
("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares
as of the close


                                       6
<PAGE>

of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone
will evidence the Rights.

     The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire on February 17, 2002 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.

     The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preference Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preference Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preference Shares of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preference Shares at a
price, or securities convertible into Preference Shares with a conversion price,
less than the then-current market price of the Preference Shares or (iii) upon
the distribution to holders of the Preference Shares of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of
earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in Preference Shares) or of
subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

     The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preference Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case
prior to the Distribution Date.

     Preference Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preference Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $1 per share but will be entitled to an aggregate
dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of
liquidation, the holders of the Preference Shares will be entitled to a minimum
preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share but will be entitled to an
aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share. Each
Preference Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common Shares.
Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
Common Shares are exchanged, each Preference Share will be entitled to receive
100 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by
customary antidilution provisions.

     Because of the nature of the Preference Shares' dividend, liquidate and
voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a Preference Share
purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one
Common Share.

     In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person,
the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or
50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold, proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the
right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price
of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company
which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the
exercise price of the Right. In the event that any person or group of affiliated
or associated persons


                                       7
<PAGE>

becomes an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each holder
of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which
will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon
exercise that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the
exercise price of the Right.

     At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior
to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding
Common Shares (including any Common Shares that are issuable upon the exchange
of the Exchangeable Shares), the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will have
become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share, or
one one-hundredth of a Preference Share (or of a share of a class or series of
the Company's preference stock having equivalent rights, preferences and
privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

     With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Preference Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preference
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preference Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.

     At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the Board
of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at
a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights
may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as
the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon
any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate
and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption
Price.

     The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, including an amendment
to lower certain thresholds described above to not less than the greater of (i)
the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding Common Shares
(including any Common Shares that are issuable upon the exchange of the
Exchangeable Shares) then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by any
person or group of affiliated or associated persons (other than (a) the Company,
(b) any subsidiary of the Company, (c) any employee benefit plan of the Company
or any subsidiary of the Company, (d) any entity holding Common Shares or
Exchangeable Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or (e) E.M.
Warburg, Pincus & Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its affiliates and
associates) and (ii) 10%, except that from and after such time as any person or
group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person no such
amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.

     For the purpose of calculating the various percentage ownership thresholds
contained in the Rights Agreement, shares issued in connection with the capital
investment approved by the Company's shareholders at the 1984 Annual Meeting and
still owned by the original owner, or owned by certain qualified transferees,
are excluded from the amount deemed to be beneficially owned by such persons.
However, if such original owner or qualified transferee becomes a member of a
group with certain other persons, such shares will be included


                                       8
<PAGE>


in the amount attributable to, and will be deemed to be beneficially owned by,
such other persons.

     Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.

     A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
February 10, 1992. Copies of Amendments No. 1 and No. 2 to the Rights Agreement
have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibits to a
Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A dated May 13, 1999 and November 12, 1999,
respectively. A copy of the Rights Agreement (including Amendments No. 1 and
No.2 to the Rights Agreement) is available free of charge from the Company. This
summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.


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