- 01.05.2017, 18:46:42
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- OTE0001
Spin Master Announces Acquisition of Marbles and Continued Growth of Games Portfolio
Toronto (ots/PRNewswire) - Spin Master Corp. (TSX: TOY), a leading
global children's entertainment company, today announced the
acquisition of Marbles, a leader in brain-building and high-quality
games, gifts and gadgets for all ages. The acquisition builds upon
Spin Master's increased presence in the Games and Puzzles
supercategory, the #1 growth category globally in 2016 as measured by
the NPD Group.
Marbles started as a kiosk in a Chicago-area mall in 2008, and grew
into a 40-store retailer, e-commerce, catalog and product business
known for its specialized portfolio of games with brain benefits,
including the best-selling game Otrio. The heirloom-quality games,
recognized for their coffee table-worthy style, are as beautiful to
display as they are engaging to play. Each game within the Marbles
portfolio is reviewed by a panel of brain-health experts to ensure
the brand is building products with the brain in mind.
The announcement marks Spin Master's ongoing efforts to build its
games offering, following the 2015 purchase of Cardinal Industries
and subsequent acquisition of Editrice Giochi SRL in 2016. According
to the NPD Group, Spin Master is currently among the top three
manufacturers in the Games and Puzzles supercategory.
"The acquisition of Marbles further demonstrates our commitment to
the Games category, as well as our consistent efforts to support our
key growth strategies to selectively buy assets, such as Marbles,
that will create future value for our shareholders," said Ben
Gadbois, President and COO, Spin Master Corp. "We continue to drive
value through strategic acquisitions and leverage scale
internationally using Spin Master's global sales and distribution
infrastructure."
"As soon as we heard of the Marbles opportunity, we knew we had to
jump on it. We saw immediate potential for global growth with strong,
evergreen titles such as Marbles' marquee games, Otrio and Rock Me
Archimedes," said Anton Rabie, Spin Master's Co-CEO and Co-Founder.
"I'm proud to share these with my friends and family this holiday
season."
"The Marbles mission has always been to build better brains through
play. I am excited that the Spin Master acquisition will help us
continue that mission," said Scott Brown, who co-founded Marbles. "We
look forward to growing with Spin Master and getting our products
into the hands and brains of more people who will love them."
Marbles assets were sold through a bankruptcy court approved sale
process and include all of Marbles' proprietary and licensed games,
warehoused inventory, and the Marbles name and website. The sale did
not include any of the Marbles retail assets. Spin Master submitted
the initial bid for the assets and subsequently emerged as the
successful bidder at the conclusion of the sale process on April 24,
2017. The court overseeing the Marbles bankruptcy case issued an
order approving the sale to Spin Master on April 26, 2017. Spin
Master closed the acquisition of the Marbles assets on April 28,
2017. A transition services agreement is currently in place and
Marbles employees will assist in a seamless transition. Scott Brown,
Marbles co-founder and Chief Merchant, will be joining Spin Master.
Marbles' marquee game, Otrio, was the Finnish Family Game of the Year
and the Swedish Family Game of the Year in 2016. Other games joining
Spin Master's world renowned portfolio of products are Rock Me
Archimedes, Oh Snap!, Newton and The Sherlock.
About Spin Master
Spin Master (TSX:TOY; http://www.spinmaster.com) is a leading global
children's entertainment company that creates, designs, manufactures,
licenses and markets a diversified portfolio of innovative toys,
games, products and entertainment properties. Spin Master is best
known for award-winning brands including Zoomer(TM), Bakugan(TM),
Meccano(TM), and 2017 Toys of the Year, Hatchimals(TM), Air Hogs(TM)
and PAW Patrol(TM). Since 2005, Spin Master has received 82 TIA Toy
of The Year (TOTY) nominations with 21 wins across a variety of
product categories, including 13 TOTY nominations for Innovative Toy
of the Year, more than any of its competitors. To date, Spin Master
has produced six television series, including 2007 success Bakugan
Battle Brawlers and current hit PAW Patrol, which is broadcast in
over 160 countries and territories globally. Spin Master employs over
1,000 people globally with offices in Canada, United States, Mexico,
France, Italy, United Kingdom, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Sweden, the
Netherlands, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements, other than statements of historical fact,
contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of certain securities laws, including
the Securities Act (Ontario), and are based on expectations,
estimates and projections as of the date on which the statements are
made in this press release. Statements of forward-looking information
in this press release include, without limitation, statements with
respect to future growth of Marbles' brands.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon management's
perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected
future developments, as well as a number of specific factors and
assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the
date on which the statements are made in this press release, are
inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive
uncertainties and contingencies which could result in the
forward-looking statements ultimately being incorrect. In addition to
any factors and assumptions set forth above in this press release,
the material factors and assumptions used to develop the
forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the
expanded use of advanced technology, robotics and innovation the
Company applies to its products will have a level of success
consistent with its past experiences; the Company will continue to
successfully secure broader licenses from third parties for major
entertainment properties consistent with past practices; the
expansion of sales and marketing offices in new markets will increase
the sales of products in that territory; the Company will be able to
successfully identify and integrate strategic acquisition
opportunities; the Company will be able to maintain its distribution
capabilities; the Company will be able to leverage its global
platform to grow Marbles' sales; the Company will be able to
recognize and capitalize on opportunities earlier than its
competitors; the Company will be able to continue to build and
maintain strong, collaborative relationships; the Company will
maintain its status as a preferred collaborator; the culture and
business structure of the Company will support its growth; the
current business strategies of the Company will continue to be
desirable on an international platform; the Company will be able to
expand its portfolio of owned branded intellectual property and
successfully license it to third parties; use of advanced technology
and robotics in the Company's products will expand; access of
entertainment content on mobile platforms will expand; fragmentation
of the market will continue to create acquisition opportunities; the
Company will be able to maintain its relationships with its
employees, suppliers and retailers, including those of acquired
companies; the Company will continue to attract qualified personnel
to support its development requirements; and the Company founders
will continue to be involved in the Company and that the risk factors
noted below, collectively, do not have a material impact on the
Company.
By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to inherent
risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which
give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts,
predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be
accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives,
strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. Known and
unknown risk factors, many of which are beyond the control of Spin
Master, could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking information in this press release. These include the
Company's expectations concerning growth of Marbles in North America,
Europe and other international markets; the Company's operating
momentum, financial position, cash flows and financial performance;
the Company's future growth, drivers for such growth, and the
successful execution of its strategies for growth; the likelihood of
avoiding early season out-of-stocks; the seasonality of Gross Product
Sales and forecasted organic Gross Product Sales and Adjusted EBITDA
Margins. These risk factors are not intended to represent a complete
list of the factors that could affect Spin Master and investors are
cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and
potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on
forward-looking statements.
There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove
to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking
statements are provided for the purpose of providing information
about management's expectations and plans relating to the future.
Spin Master disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, or to explain any material
difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking
statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Investors: Mark Segal, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, Spin Master Corp., [email protected]; Media/Other: Tara
Tucker, Vice President, Global Marketing, Communications, Spin Master
Ltd., [email protected]
ORIGINAL APA-OTS TEXT - THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE IS SUBJECT TO THE EXCLUSIVE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ISSUER | PRN






