EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 2, 2004 -- Last night, a major thunderstorm swept through the Dallas-Ft. Worth area causing damage to a Mattel distribution center, which distributes and warehouses finished product for the company. While there was structural and water damage to the building, there were no reports of injuries to Mattel employees.
The distribution center, located in Ft. Worth, is the primary U.S. warehouse for Mattel's girl-branded products and a selected array of games and puzzles. The company is working to assess the amount of product damaged and minimize the impact to the business and its customers.
According to Tom Debrowski, executive vice president of worldwide operations for Mattel, the company expects to have the facility fully operational within the next few days.
The company carries insurance on its inventory. The facility, which Mattel leases, is insured, as well.
About Mattel
Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT) (www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie(R), the most popular fashion doll ever introduced. The Mattel family of toys and games is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels(R), Matchbox(R), American Girl(R), and Fisher-Price(R), which also includes Little People(R), Rescue Heroes(TM), Power Wheels(R), as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 25,000 people in 36 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world's premier toy brands -- today and tomorrow.
