Zapf Creation's Award-Winning Rock-A-Bye CHOU CHOU Takes the Toy Industry By Storm Life-like Doll that Cries, Snores and Sleeps Proves to be America's Favorite Doll

NEW YORK, February 10, 2002 - Zapf Creation, creator of a variety of best-selling play, function and collector dolls, today featured the award-winning and best-selling Rock-A-Bye CHOU CHOU along with the ethnic CHOU CHOU line of dolls. Since being introduced to the Americas in 2001 in an on-air three minute sell-out on QVC, Rock-A-Bye CHOU CHOU and the CHOU CHOU line have won several toy industry awards, joining the ranks of toy legends like Furby � and Tickle Me Elmo�.

The only doll in the coveted DURACELL � Kids' Choice Toy Survey, Rock-A-Bye CHOU CHOU was the 2001 holiday season's hottest doll. She was also featured on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, the TODAY show and Good Morning America, received both Good Housekeeping's and The National Parenting Center's "Seals of Approval" and was also heralded as a "Top 10 Products of 2001" by Toy Industry Expert, Dr. Toy.

"Rock-A-Bye CHOU CHOU mesmerized children with her real-life look and true-to-life baby sounds this holiday season," said Sandra L. Crawford, President and General Manager of Zapf Creation (U.S.), Inc. "Parents tell us their little one will hold Rock-A-Bye CHOU CHOU and immediately start playing mommy. Rock-A-Bye CHOU CHOU and the CHOU CHOU line of dolls provide children with a fun way to be just like mommy."

Looking and sounding like a real baby, Rock-A-Bye CHOU CHOU is a sophisticated, motion-sensitive doll that responds to interaction with a child. She laughs, snores, cries or babbles - just like a real baby. When Rock-A-Bye CHOU CHOU is given her bottle, she sucks on it ... if you lie her down, she yawns...rock her and she closes her eyes and falls asleep...pick her up and she wakes up laughing or crying.

Rock-A-Bye CHOU CHOU joined sister dolls in the CHOU CHOU line including Sleepy CHOU CHOU and Little CHOU CHOU, in 2001. Since debuting in 1998, the CHOU CHOU line has sold thousands of units in the Americas and is currently one of the best-selling dolls in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. CHOU CHOU was awarded The National Parenting Center's "Seal of Approval" after passing rigorous rounds of testing by industry experts, parents, educators and panelists, for her design, desirability, sturdiness and interactive stimulation.

"CHOU CHOU's stuffing and joints felt very realistic, and made her move very much like a real baby. When hugging or holding her, the distribution of the weight was very impressive. Our younger testers liked the sweet face, the soft pajamas, and the way they felt when they held and cuddled this very cute doll," said David Katzner, President of The National Parenting Center.

CHOU CHOU's design and real-life attributes encourage a mother-child play pattern, helping children learn to nurture and care for each other at an early age. CHOU CHOU's clothing is of the highest quality and follows the latest fashion trends of babies all over the world. Outfits and accessories are available in North America at major retail locations such as Toys `R' Us, Target, K Bee Toys and F.A.O. Schwarz, for the suggested retail price of $9.99 - $39.99.

Rock-A-Bye CHOU CHOU is available for the suggested retail price of $39.99 at FAO Schwarz, Target, Toys R Us, Wal*Mart and online at toysrus.com, kbkids.com, walmart.com, jcpenney.com, target.com and qvc.com.

The Zapf Creation AG is Europe's leading brand manufacturer of play, function and collector dolls and doll accessories. Celebrating its 70th Anniversary in 2002, Zapf Creation is striving to develop its large doll segment to become the leading large doll manufacturer in its key worldwide markets. Today's top selling brands are BABY born� and CHOU CHOU, which are also market leaders in North America, and Baby Annabell, the widely successful brand in Europe that will launch in the United States in 2002. All Zapf Creation brands conform to the highest demands of design, quality, safety and play value. Zapf Creation strengthens its global market leadership in the doll segment with its major subsidiaries in the Czech Republic, Great Britain, France, Spain, Italy, Hong Kong as well as in Australia and the United States. The company with headquarters in Roedental/Germany currently employs 498 employees worldwide and reported sales of EUR193.1 million for the year 2001, a growth of 17 percent in respect to the previous year (preliminary, unaudited figures). The Zapf Creation AG, founded in 1932 by Max Zapf, was acquired in 1992 by TA Triumph-Adler AG and in April 1999 was successfully introduced to the stock market (MDax:ZPF). For further information, please visit www.zapf-creation.com.

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