JAKKS Pacific Inc. Partners With Car and Driver Magazine
10 February 1999
JAKKS Pacific Inc. Partners With Car and Driver Magazine to Develop New Line of Die-Cast Toy and Collectible Vehicles
MALIBU, Calif.--Feb. 9, 1999--JAKKS Pacific Inc. Tuesday announced that it has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Car and Driver magazine to design, manufacture and market a new Car and Driver branded line of die-cast toys and collectibles based on popular vehicles featured in the magazine.
Car and Driver is the world's leading automotive magazine, with more than 7 million readers.
The new Car and Driver line will be manufactured and marketed by JAKKS Pacific's Road Champs(R) division, and will include toy vehicles, role-play accessories and play sets, as well as adult die-cast collectibles. It is anticipated that the first series of the line will be available in retail outlets starting in the spring of 2000.
"We look forward to launching the powerful Car and Driver brand name into the die-cast, play set and accessories categories," said Stephen Berman, president and chief operating officer of JAKKS Pacific Inc. "With the experience of our Road Champs division in manufacturing and marketing die-cast vehicles, coupled with Car and Driver's world-wide popularity and name recognition, we expect to have an exciting and popular new line of toys and collectibles to offer consumers."
"We're delighted to bring Car and Driver's automotive expertise to this new partnership and to touch enthusiasts of all ages who love and enjoy cars," said Susan Alter, vice president, marketing, at Hachette Filipacchi Magazines, which publishes Car and Driver. Hachette Filipacchi Magazines currently publishes 28 consumer titles reaching more than 47 million readers including American Photo, Audio, Best Selling Home Plans, Boating, Car and Driver, Car Stereo Review, Cycle World, Elle, Elle Decor, Family Life, Flying, George, Home, Metropolitan Home, Mirabella, Popular Photography, Premiere, Road & Track, Showboats International, Stereo Review, Travel Holiday, Video and Women's Day, as well as a number of quarterlies and special publications. HFM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hachette Filipacchi Medias, the world's largest magazine publisher, with diverse holdings in printing, newspaper, film production and outdoor advertising.
JAKKS Pacific and its affiliates develop, manufacture and market toys and related products for children, including action figures featuring characters from the World Wrestling Federation(R), die-cast collectible and toy vehicles under the Road Champs and Remco(R) brand names, Child Guidance(R) pre-school toys and a line of fashion dolls and accessories.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of the company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual future results or events may vary materially from those described herein.
