Hatfield, PA - December 20, 2001 -- K'NEX Industries, one of the world's leading construction toy manufacturers, today announced a key initiative as part of its 10th Anniversary activities will be to actively pursue additional product lines and entertainment licenses. The company intends to build on its 10-year track record of establishing and profitably growing the K'NEX construction brand and the revitalization of the Lincoln Logs brand, under a license from Hasbro Inc.
K'NEX is a well-capitalized private company that has experienced phenomenal success and sustained growth in its first ten years in business, including double-digit sales increases in the face of intense competition and a difficult toy market. K'NEX executives are extremely interested in meeting with representatives of existing toy brands, including under-marketed or undercapitalized brands to discuss marketing and distribution opportunities in the USA and Canada. International brands seeking aggressive growth in North America will be a key focus.
"We have been very successful in establishing a firm base for the K'NEX brand and have been extremely successful with Lincoln Logs over the past three years. We have a highly qualified, experienced, and ambitious management team with a strong platform from which to launch or re-launch additional product," said Norman Walker, President and Chief Operating Officer of K'NEX Industries. "We are going to be very selective, as our greatest strength is the focus and intensity we can bring to building a brand. We know that we can do an incredible job growing one or two additional brands. Our team has excellent credentials in every toy category and are prepared to consider any reasonable opportunity provided the product or brand has strong inherent value and long-term potential."
According to Chris Campbell, Vice President of Worldwide Marketing for K'NEX, "Armed with excellent financial resources and a highly skilled team of toy industry veterans, we are in a great position to not only leverage entertainment licenses for our flagship K'NEX construction toy brand -- but also to take on additional brands and infuse the capital and marketing resources needed to jump start their growth."
Founded in 1992, K'NEX Industries was established to manufacture and market what has become one of the world's leading integrated construction systems for children. Winner of over 150 international awards and recognitions, K'NEX seeks to build young minds with its exciting product line and critically acclaimed K'NEX Education program. For more information, consumers can visit www.knex.com or call 1-800-KID-KNEX.
