Things that make you go ....hmmmmm....JL Death Knell???

[<badass73gremlin@xxxx>]

Jerry?Eddie can you guys shed some light on this?whats this mean to collectors of JL toys? i hope this doesn't mean the end of AMC related JL diecast.


Subject: [VintageHoRacing] Things that make you go ....hmmmmm....JL Death
Knell???


Reuters
UPDATE - RC2 paying $156 mln for First Years, Playing Mantis
Monday June 7, 8:23 am ET

NEW YORK, June 7 (Reuters) - RC2 Corp. (NasdaqNM:RCRC - News), a maker of
toys and collectibles, on Monday said it will buy two companies, First Years
Inc. (NasdaqNM:KIDD - News) and Playing Mantis Inc., for a combined $156
million to expand its business and retail presence.

Oak Brook, Illinois-based RC2 said it will pay about $136.8 million in cash
for Avon, Massachusetts-based First Years, which makes products for
newborns, infants and toddlers under its own brand name and various
licenses, including Winnie the Pooh.

The terms value First Years at $18.60 per share, a 9 percent premium over
its $17.01 closing price Friday on Nasdaq. First Years will become a unit of
RC2.

RC2 said it will pay $17 million in cash and issue $2.5 million worth of
shares for Mishawaka, Indiana-based Playing Mantis, which makes vehicle
replicas under the Johnny Lightning and Polar Lights brands and collectible
figures under the Memory Lane brand. It said it may pay $4 million more cash
if sales and margin targets are met. Playing Mantis is privately held.

RC2 said it expects the purchases to boost earnings per share by 8 cents to
10 cents in 2004 and 20 cents to 25 cents in 2005. In a statement, Chief
Executive Curt Stoelting said the purchases will help RC2 broaden its
distribution channels and its retail presence, particularly in chain stores.

The First Years purchase is expected to close in the third quarter, while
the Playing Mantis purchase is an asset purchase agreement dated June 1, RC2
said.

RC2 is filing a shelf registration statement to sell up to $150 million of
equity and debt, and said it plans to offer $60 million to $80 million of
stock.

Robert W. Baird & Co. advised RC2 on the transactions. Goldman Sachs & Co.
advised First Years.

RC2 shares closed Friday on the Nasdaq at $29.31. 
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