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: May 17, 2000
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 May 17, 2000 regarding naming of chief executive
officer, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 99.0 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 May 17, 2000
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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/ Robert Normile
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Robert Normile
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and
Secretary
Date: May 17, 2000
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EXHIBIT 99.0
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Glenn Bozarth
May 17, 2000 Mattel, Inc.
(310) 252-3521
MATTEL NAMES ROBERT A. ECKERT CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
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LOS ANGELES, May 17, 2000 - Mattel, Inc. (NYSE:MAT) today
announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously elected
Robert A. Eckert chairman and chief executive officer, effective
immediately. Mr. Eckert was formerly president and chief
executive officer of Kraft Foods, Inc., the largest packaged food
company in North America.
William D. Rollnick, who had been Mattel's chairman, said "Bob
Eckert combines all the attributes that we believe our chairman
and CEO should possess. At Kraft, he clearly demonstrated his
leadership, successfully managing a business with $17.5 billion
in revenues for 1999, while increasing its sales and profits
through leveraging the growth of existing brands and by
introducing and building popular and profitable new products that
have become branded staples."
Mr. Rollnick continued, "Bob Eckert has vast expertise in running
complex operations, and supervising an innovative and
entrepreneurial management team. He has a clear understanding of
what consumers around the world want, and of being able to market
effectively both to children and parents."
Mr. Rollnick concluded, "Mr. Eckert was our first and only choice
for this post. He will give our company a clear vision about the
direction of the business and he is a stickler on execution. He
has shown his ability to drive both top-line growth and
profitability through using power brands, marketing, new product
innovation, and cost compression. The entire Board feels very
confident about Bob's ability and about Mattel's future."
Mr. Eckert said, "I am excited about the opportunity to join
Mattel. I am looking forward to working with Mattel's fine
management to capitalize on this great company's tremendous
brands and products. I am also extremely impressed with the
presidents of our three major business units, Adrienne
Fontanella, president of Barbie and Girls' products, Matt
Bousquette, president of Boys and Entertainment, and Neil
Friedman, president of Infant and Preschool, and will work with
them to build sustainable growth that will benefit our
shareholders."
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2-2-2-2-2
In October 1997, Mr. Eckert was appointed Chief Executive Officer
of Kraft Foods, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Eckert was group vice
president, Kraft Foods, Inc., a position in which he was
responsible for operations; sales and customer service;
technology; marketing services; Oscar Mayer; and foodservice.
Mr. Eckert joined Kraft Foods, Inc. in 1977 and has held numerous
positions at the company, including president, Oscar Mayer,
executive vice president and general manager, Cheese and vice
president, marketing Refrigerated Foods. Prior to joining Kraft,
he received an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg
Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science degree
from the University of Arizona.
Mattel also announced today that with the appointment of a new
chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Rollnick has stepped
down as chairman, and Ron Loeb has stepped down as acting chief
executive officer. "All of the Board want to express our thanks
to Ron Loeb for his great service to Mattel during these past
four months," said Mr. Rollnick.
Mattel, Inc. is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and
marketing of family products. With headquarters in El Segundo,
California, Mattel has offices and facilities in 36 foreign
countries and sells its products in more than 150 nations
throughout the world.
Note:
Forward-looking statements included in this release
with respect to the financial condition, results of operations
and business of the company, which include, but are not limited
to sales levels, restructuring and integration charges, special
charges, other non-recurring charges, cost savings, operating
efficiencies and profitability, are subject to certain risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those set forth in such statements. These
include without limitation: the company's dependence on the
timely development, introduction and customer acceptance
of new products; significant changes in buying patterns of
major customers; possible weaknesses of international markets;
the impact of competition on revenues and margins; the
effect of currency fluctuations on reportable income;
unanticipated negative results of litigation, governmental
proceedings or environmental matters; and other risks and
uncertainties as may be detailed from time to time in the
company's public announcements and SEC filings.
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