Mattel 2009 Annual Report Download - page 29

products of traditional manufacturers. Some retail chains that are customers of Mattel sell private-label toys
designed, manufactured and branded by the retailers themselves. These toys may be sold at prices lower than
comparable toys sold by Mattel and may result in lower purchases of Mattel-branded products by these retailers.
In some cases, retailers who sell these private-label toys are larger than Mattel and may have substantially more
resources than Mattel.
Mattel’s failure to successfully market or advertise its products could have an adverse effect on Mattel’s
business, financial condition and results of operations.
Mattel’s products are marketed worldwide through a diverse spectrum of advertising and promotional
programs. Mattel’s ability to sell products is dependent in part upon the success of these programs. If Mattel does
not successfully market its products or if media or other advertising or promotional costs increase, these factors
could have an adverse effect on Mattel’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel depends on key personnel and may not be able to hire, retain and integrate sufficient qualified
personnel to maintain and expand its business.
Mattel’s future success depends partly on the continued contribution of key executives, designers, technical,
sales, marketing, manufacturing, and administrative personnel. The loss of services of any of Mattel’s key
personnel could harm Mattel’s business. Recruiting and retaining skilled personnel is costly and highly
competitive. If Mattel fails to retain, hire, train, and integrate qualified employees and contractors, Mattel may
not be able to maintain and expand its business.
Mattel may engage in acquisitions, mergers or dispositions, which may affect the profit, revenues, profit
margins, debt-to-capital ratio, capital expenditures or other aspects of Mattel’s business. In addition,
Mattel has certain anti-takeover provisions in its by-laws that may make it more difficult for a third party
to acquire Mattel without its consent, which may adversely affect Mattel’s stock price.
Mattel may engage in acquisitions, mergers or dispositions, which may affect the profit, revenues, profit
margins, debt-to-capital ratio, capital expenditures, or other aspects of Mattel’s business. There can be no
assurance that Mattel will be able to identify suitable acquisition targets or merger partners or that, if identified, it
will be able to acquire these targets on acceptable terms or agree to terms with merger partners. There can also be
no assurance that Mattel will be successful in integrating any acquired company into its overall operations, or
that any such acquired company will operate profitably or will not otherwise adversely impact Mattel’s results of
operations. Further, Mattel cannot be certain that key talented individuals at these acquired companies will
continue to work for Mattel after the acquisition or that they will continue to develop popular and profitable
products or services. In addition, Mattel has certain anti-takeover provisions in its bylaws that may make it more
difficult for a third party to acquire Mattel without its consent, which may adversely affect Mattel’s stock price.
The level of returns on pension plan assets and the actuarial assumptions used for valuation purposes
could affect our earnings in future periods. Changes in standards and government regulations could also
affect our pension plan expense and funding requirements.
Assumptions used in determining projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets for our
pension plan are evaluated by us in consultation with outside actuaries. In the event that we determine that
changes are warranted in the assumptions used, such as the discount rate, expected long term rate of return, or
health care costs, our future pension benefit expenses could increase or decrease. Due to changing market
conditions or changes in the participant population, the actuarial assumptions that we use may differ from actual
results, which could have a significant impact on our pension and postretirement liability and related costs.
Funding obligations are determined based on the value of assets and liabilities on a specific date as required
under relevant government regulations for each plan. Future pension funding requirements, and the timing of
funding payments, could be affected by legislation enacted by the relevant governmental authorities.
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