New and classic themes, next generation LEGO® MINDSTORMS® robotics, popular licensed characters continue momentum for world's leading construction toy brand

NEW YORK, TOY WISHES HOLIDAY PREVIEW (October 4, 2006) - The LEGO Group, the world's leading construction toy company, kicks off the holiday shopping season with a showcase of innovative products for dreamers and creators of all ages at the annual Toy Wishes Holiday Preview event in Manhattan. The only high-quality, compatible building system that grows with children, the LEGO® System empowers children to creatively express themselves, bring their imaginations to life and become the builders of tomorrow.

"Consumer demand for LEGO construction toys continues to be higher than ever," said Søren Torp Laursen, president, LEGO Americas. "We have recorded strong sales of LEGO Star Wars, new LEGO SpongeBob and BIONICLE, but have also seen success with our non-licensed, more classic LEGO themes like CITY, Racers and EXO-FORCE. The launch of MINDSTORM® NXT has reinvigorated the slightly older kids, as well as the strong community of adult users. If year-to-date sales are any indicator, there will be a lot of LEGO gift-giving this holiday season."

The LEGO line-up has something to spark imaginations of all ages for the holidays:

Robotics building fun (ages 10+)
Consumer robotics the LEGO way moves into the next generation with LEGO MINDSTORMS® NXT. Smarter, stronger and more intuitive than ever, the MINDSTORMS NXT robotics toolset provides endless opportunities to build and program robots that do what kids want. New technologies, like a 32-bit microprocessor and Bluetooth, combine with four sensors, three motors, LEGO TECHNIC® pieces and completely new PC/Mac compatible programming software, to make it easy and fun to build robots beyond imagination. $249.99 at toy, specialty and online retailers.

LEGO® Themes (ages 5+)
"TIME TO POWER UP!" LEGO EXO-FORCE™ takes imaginations to a Manga-inspired world of renegade robots out to destroy mankind unless a team of young battle machine pilots can stop them. EXO-FORCE combines the building fun of traditional LEGO construction sets with the role-play adventure of action figures to create a futuristic world where kids become heroes by building the machines and settings then create the excitement through play. New light brick "powers up" the machines. $6.99-$89.99 at toy and discount merchandise retailers.

Excitement "builds" in the LEGO CITY as imaginations head "downtown" with classic build-and-play airport, hospital and construction site themes. $3.99-$89.99. And start your engines for speed with LEGO Racers stunt racers, Ferrari playsets, a garage for tuning up collectible Tiny Turbos and build and race RC cars. $3.99-$149.99 at toy and discount merchandise retailers.

BIONICLE® (ages 7+)
Evolving story and innovative product and packaging features drive an entirely new collection of constructible action figures and environments in the red-hot BIONICLE property. A devious gang of Piraka (six to collect) arrive to take the Mask of Life, but a band of Inika (six to collect) heroes will challenge them with the counsel of the Matoran (six to collect) villagers. Piraka feature light-up eyes and glow-in-the-dark teeth, while Inika leverage a new strobe light technology to add role-play excitement. Three larger figures and three new LEGO playsets round out the experience. $3.99-$89.99 at toy and discount merchandisers.

Licensed building fun (ages 6+)
An agreement with Nickelodeon gives LEGO Group master construction toy rights to the entire catalog of Nickelodeon properties as SpongeBob SquarePants' zany world comes to life in brick form with three new building sets! Kids can build and play in Bikini Bottom - SpongeBob's pineapple, Squidward's tiki, The Krusty Krab and more! $19.99-$39.99 at toy and discount merchandise retailers.

In 1999, Star Wars™ was the very first LEGO license, and to date, LEGO Star Wars is one of the most perennially successful lines. Six highly iconic, authentic models join the collection, like the Imperial Star Destroyer and Jabba the Hutt™'s Sail Barge. $6.99-$99.99 at toy and discount merchandise retailers.

Classic LEGO® building (ages 4+)
Open-ended LEGO building takes new shape this year with new classic building kits that offer everything kids need to build houses, buildings and vehicles, while newly branded LEGO Creator kits offer the possibility and instruction to build multiple models from one kit in cool themes like motorbikes, cars, dinosaurs and mythical creatures - anything a child imagines! New "FX" bricks add sound, light and motion for role play fun. $9.99-$59.99 at toy and discount merchandise retailers.

About LEGO Systems

LEGO Systems, Inc. is the North American division of The LEGO Group, a privately-held, family-owned company based in Billund, Denmark, one of the world's leading manufacturers of creatively educational play materials for children. The company is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only the best is good enough." Visit the virtual LEGO world at http://www.LEGO.com.

LEGO, the LEGO logo, MINDSTORMS, EXO-FORCE, BIONICLE, TECHNIC and their respective logos are trademarks of the LEGO Group. � 2006 The LEGO Group.

� 2006 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved.
NICKELODEON SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Created by Stephen Hillenburg.

� 2006 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.