M&A Deal Summary

Mattel Acquires The Learning Company

On December 14, 1998, Mattel acquired software company The Learning Company for 3.8B USD

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Mattel’s 1st transaction in the Software sector.
  • This is Mattel’s largest (disclosed) transaction.
  • This is Mattel’s 3rd transaction in the United States.
  • This is Mattel’s 1st transaction in Iowa.
Investment Fate
  • The Learning Company was divested to a consortium of buyers in 2000.
  • The Learning Company was sold to a publicly-traded strategic buyer in 2001 for 60M USD.

M&A Deal Summary
Date 1998-12-14
Target The Learning Company
Sector Software
Buyer(s) Mattel
Deal Type Add-on Acquisition
Deal Value 3.8B USD

Target

The Learning Company

Hiawatha, Iowa, United States
The Learning Company (TLC) is an American educational software company, founded in 1980. It produced a grade-based system similar to Knowledge Adventure's JumpStart series. The products for preschoolers through second graders feature Reader Rabbit, and software for more advanced students features The ClueFinders. The company also purchased the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium.

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Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

Mattel

El Segundo, California, United States
Category Company
Founded 1945
Sector Consumer Products
Employees33,000
Revenue 5.4B USD (2023)
DESCRIPTION
Mattel's corporate headquarters in El Segundo, California.
Mattel's corporate headquarters in El Segundo, California.

Mattel designs, manufactures, and markets a broad variety of toy products. Mattel’s portfolio of brands and products include Barbie, Polly Pocket, Little Mommy, Disney Classics, Monster High, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Radica, Battle Force 5, Tyco R/C, Fisher-Price, Power Wheels, and American Girl. Mattel was founded in 1945 and is based in El Segundo, California.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 4 of 10
Sector (Software) 1 of 1
Type (Add-on Acquisition) 3 of 7
State (Iowa) 1 of 1
Country (United States) 3 of 6
Year (1998) 2 of 2
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 8
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
1998-03-31 Bluebird Toys

Swindon, United Kingdom

Bluebird Toys plc is a toy company that produces Polly Pocket and Etch-A-Sketch.

Buy $77M
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2000-09-30 The Learning Company

Hiawatha, Iowa, United States

The Learning Company (TLC) is an American educational software company, founded in 1980. It produced a grade-based system similar to Knowledge Adventure's JumpStart series. The products for preschoolers through second graders feature Reader Rabbit, and software for more advanced students features The ClueFinders. The company also purchased the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium.

Sell -
Mergr

Product

Company

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