Racing Champions Ertl Changes Name to RC2

    BOLINGBROOK, Ill.--April 10, 2003--Racing Champions Ertl Corporation today announced that it has changed its company name to RC2 Corporation effective yesterday. The Company will also begin trading under a new NASDAQ stock symbol: RCRC , effective today. Additionally, as part of the integration of facilities with recently acquired Learning Curve International, the Company has relocated its corporate office from Glen Ellyn, Illinois to Bolingbrook, Illinois. The Company plans to maintain its office facilities in Chicago, Illinois, Dyersville, Iowa and Charlotte, North Carolina.
    Curt Stoelting, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The name change to RC2 reflects the evolution of the Company's business which today includes a number of very diverse product lines sold to an extensive customer base through multiple channels of distribution. We have evolved from our earlier days when the majority of our business was racing-related. Today racing is still important to us but represents only approximately 15% of our business. Our evolution started with the acquisition of The Ertl Company in 1999 and has continued with the acquisition in March of 2003 of Learning Curve International."
    Peter Henseler, President, added, "Today, the Company has a substantial presence not only in the adult collectors market but in the traditional children's toy market as well. We sell through multiple distribution channels with a major presence in large and small chain retailers, independent toy, hobby, gift stores and OEM dealer networks. We believe that we now have one of the broadest customer bases in the industry and offer a well-diversified series of market-focused brand names, closely linked with highly recognized licensed properties. We believe our new name, RC2, is a broader reflection of what the Company's business currently represents and it provides us with ample opportunity to continue to grow and expand our business."

    RC2 (www.rc2.co.com or www.rcertl.com) is a leading producer and marketer of high quality, innovative collectibles and toys targeted at adult collectors and children. The Company's diverse product offerings include: agricultural, construction and outdoor sports vehicle replicas; automotive, high performance and racing vehicle replicas; traditional children's toys; sports trading cards, racing apparel and souvenirs; and collectible figures. These products are sold under the Company's market-focused brand names, including Racing Champions(R), Ertl(R), Ertl Collectibles(R), Learning Curve(R), American Muscle(TM), AMT(R), W. Britain(R), Press Pass(R), Eden(R), Feltkids(R) and JoyRide Studios(TM). The Company supports its brands and enhances the authenticity of its products by linking them with highly recognized licensed properties from John Deere, Harley-Davidson, Hit Entertainment, Lamaze, Case, Polaris, Honda, Caterpillar, Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler, NASCAR, NHRA, Texaco, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, DIC Entertainment, Nintendo, Sega, Electronic Arts and Microsoft. The Company's products are marketed through multiple channels of distribution, including chain retailers, specialty and hobby wholesalers and retailers, OEM dealers, corporate accounts for promotional purposes and direct to consumers. The Company sells through more than 20,000 retail outlets located in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

    Certain statements contained in this release contain "forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "intend," "may,'' "planned," "potential," "should," "will" and "would." Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Such uncertainties and other operational matters are discussed further in the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's actual results and future developments could differ materially from the results or developments expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.