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ROUND 2, LLC ACQUIRES ICONIC MODEL KIT BRANDS
ROUND 2, LLC ACQUIRES ICONIC MODEL KIT BRANDS
Agreement with RC2/TOMY includes AMT®, MPC® and Polar Lights® brands
For Immediate Release
SOUTH BEND, Indiana – 11/30/2011 –Round 2, LLC, announced today that they have acquired all rights to industry leading model kit brands AMT, MPC and Polar Lights from TOMY International, Inc. (formerly RC2 Corporation).
Round 2 acquired the brands from TOMY International after manufacturing branded model kits under a licensing agreement since 2008. “We’ve had a great relationship with TOMY International for a long time and it has been a pleasure working with them as a licensee and now as a buyer,” said Thomas Lowe, President of Round 2 LLC.
“We feel extremely fortunate to be acquiring these brands,” continued Lowe. “These are some of the industry’s most iconic brands and our acquisition represents a significant strategic fit with our initiatives and where we believe the industry is headed, in the near and long term. This deal is a win for Round 2, TOMY and most importantly, the modelers.”
“We are pleased to have been working with Round 2 as a licensee the last 3 years, and now as the buyer,” said Pete Henseler, president of TOMY International. “We wish them continued success in the model kit business and expect their expertise and passion for the hobby model kit business to drive these brands in the years ahead.”
The history of the model kit brands goes back as far as 1948 when AMT, which stands for Aluminum Model Toys, was founded as a promotional toy company. Model Products Corporation, MPC, was started in 1963 and focused on bringing even more automotive subject matter to market in kit form. Founded in 1996, Polar Lights has focused on figural, horror and pop culture genres.
The acquisition gives Round 2 tooling and materials that date back into the 1950s. The tooling and artwork also represent an opportunity to bring back classic model kits in original-styled packaging, increasing the desirability and nostalgia. “I grew up building models. Not in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined I’d someday own the brands I was building as a kid,” said Lowe.
Round 2, LLC, South Bend, IN 46628. All rights reserved.