The following press release was issued by JAKKS Pacific:
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. Denies Wrongdoing and Expects Vindication in WWE Litigation
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 19, 2004–JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAKK) announced that a civil lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York yesterday afternoon by World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (“WWE”) concerning the video game license between WWE and the joint venture company operated by the Company and THQ, Inc. and the toy license between the Company and WWE. The Company denies any allegations of wrongdoing and believes that it will be completely vindicated in the litigation, and looks forward to having the claims against it dismissed. The Company will continue to devote its full energies and resources to bringing its outstanding products to market during the busy holiday season and beyond.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and leisure products. The product categories include: Action Figures, Arts & Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush, Construction Toys and Dolls. The products are sold under various brand names including Flying Colors(R), Play Along(R), Road Champs(R), Remco(R), Child Guidance(R), Pentech(R), Trendmasters(R), Toymax(R), Funnoodle(R), Go Fly a Kite(R) and ColorWorkshop(TM). The Company also participates in a joint venture with THQ Inc. that has exclusive worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment(TM) video games. For further information, visit www.jakkspacific.com.
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about JAKKS’ business based, in part, on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of JAKKS’ future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, those described above and the following: changes in demand for JAKKS’ products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing and difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and JAKKS does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.
