Mattel Reports Second Quarter 2009 Financial Results

Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT) today reported 2009 second quarter financial results. For the quarter, the company reported net income of $21.5 million, or $0.06 per share, compared to last year’s second quarter net income of $11.8 million, or $0.03 per share.

"In light of the challenging global economy, the quarter's results met our expectations, with revenues negatively impacted largely by our lack of toys based on summer entertainment properties as well as foreign exchange rates,” said Robert A. Eckert, chairman and chief executive officer of Mattel. "That said, we are pleased with our ability to deliver on what is in our control, including tightly managing expenses, which has resulted in improved margins, profitability and cash flow for the quarter.”

Financial Overview

For the quarter, net sales were $898.2 million, down 19 percent compared to $1.11 billion last year, including unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates of 5 percentage points. On a regional basis, second quarter gross sales decreased 12 percent in the U.S. and decreased 26 percent in international markets, including unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates of 10 percentage points. Operating income for the quarter was $32.5 million, compared to prior year’s operating income for the quarter of $30.6 million.

The company’s debt-to-total-capital ratio was 32.7 percent. Consistent with the seasonality of the business, year-to-date, net cash flow used for operating activities was approximately $350 million, an improvement of $180 million, compared with a use of approximately $530 million in the first half of 2008.

Sales by Business Unit

Mattel Girls and Boys Brands

For the second quarter, worldwide gross sales for the Mattel Girls & Boys Brands business unit were $540.6 million, down 25 percent versus a year ago. Worldwide gross sales for the Barbie® brand were down 15 percent, driven primarily by lower international sales. Barbie® retail sales trends continue to be strong. Worldwide gross sales for Other Girls Brands were down 23 percent, driven by declines in the High School Musical™ and Polly Pocket^® doll lines. Worldwide gross sales for the Wheels category, which includes the Hot Wheels^®, Matchbox^® and Tyco R/C^® brands, were down 28 percent, driven primarily by declines in products related to last year’s Speed Racer^® movie. Worldwide gross sales for the Entertainment business, which includes Radica^® and Games and Puzzles, were down 32 percent for the quarter, driven by the lack of toys based on summer entertainment properties compared to last year.

Fisher-Price Brands

Second quarter worldwide gross sales for the Fisher-Price Brands business unit, which includes the Fisher-Price^® Core, Fisher-Price^® Friends and Power Wheels^® brands, were $369.9 million, or down 14 percent versus the prior year, primarily due to declines in Fisher-Price^® Core.

American Girl Brands

Second quarter gross sales for the American Girl Brands business unit, which offers American Girl^® branded products directly to consumers, were $61.0 million, flat versus last year.

Live Webcast

Mattel will webcast its 2009 second quarter financial results conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time (5:30 a.m. Pacific time) today. The conference call will be webcast on the "Investors & Media" section of the company's corporate Web site, www.mattel.com. To listen to the live call, log on to the Web site at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. An archive of the webcast will be available on the company's Web site for 90 days and may be accessed beginning two hours after the completion of the live call. A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time the morning of the call, until midnight Eastern time on July 21^st and may be accessed by dialing + 1 (719) 457-0820. The passcode is 4864704.

Information required by Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation G, regarding non-GAAP financial measures, as well as other financial and statistical information, will be available at the time of the webcast on the "Investors & Media” section of www.mattel.com, under the sub-headings "Financial Information” – "Earnings Releases.”

About Mattel

Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT) (www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Barbie^®, the most popular fashion doll ever introduced, Hot Wheels^®, Matchbox^®, American Girl^®, Radica^® and Tyco R/C^®, as well as Fisher-Price^® brands, including Little People^®, Power Wheels^® and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In 2009, Mattel is recognized among the "100 Best Corporate Citizens,” as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" and as one of FORTUNE Magazine’s "100 Best Companies to Work For.” With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs approximately 30,000 people in 43 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations. Mattel's vision is to be the world's premier toy brands—today and tomorrow.

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