THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI), World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE)
and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) today announced that they have
reached settlement agreements with respect to the WWE® video game and
toy licenses and the THQ/JAKKS Pacific LLC joint venture.
Under the three-party settlement, all claims are withdrawn and all
litigation ended among the parties without any party admitting any
wrongdoing.
As part of the resolution of these matters, THQ will pay WWE $13.2
million. In addition, THQ has entered into a new eight-year video game
license directly with WWE commencing January 1, 2010, which is three
years longer than the renewal term under the previous arrangement
between WWE and the THQ/JAKKS Pacific LLC joint venture. Information
regarding the new license agreement, announced separately today, may be
accessed at http://investor.thq.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96376&p=irol-news&nyo=0.
In addition to its preferred return payment to JAKKS for the period
ending December 31, 2009, THQ will pay JAKKS Pacific $20 million over
the next four years, with payments of $6 million due June 2010 and June
2011, and payments of $4 million due June 2012 and June 2013, and the
THQ/JAKKS Pacific LLC joint venture will terminate effective December
31, 2009.
About World Wrestling Entertainment,
Inc.
World
Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company (NYSE:
WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in
global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses
that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global
audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly, PG
content across all of its platforms including television
programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing. WWE programming
is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches
more than 500 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in
Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London,
Shanghai, Tokyo, Toronto and Sydney.
Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:
WWE) can be found at corporate.wwe.com.
About THQ Inc.
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher
of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products
for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices.
Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product
through its global network of offices located throughout North America,
Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may
be found at www.thq.com.
THQ and the THQ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ
Inc.
About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a leading designer and marketer of
toys and consumer products, with a wide range of products that feature
some of the most popular children's toy licenses in the world. JAKKS’
diverse portfolio includes Action Figures, Art Activity Kits,
Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports
Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush, Construction Toys,
Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up, Role Play, and Pet Toys and Accessories,
sold under various proprietary brands including JAKKS Pacific®, Play
Along®, Flying Colors®, Creative Designs International™, Road Champs®,
Child Guidance®, Pentech®, Funnoodle®, Go Fly a Kite®, Color Workshop®,
JAKKS Pets®, EyeClops®, Plug It In & Play TV Games™, Girl Gourmet®, Kids
Only®, Tollytots® and Disguise. JAKKS is an award-winning licensee of
several hundred nationally and internationally known trademarks
including Disney®, Nickelodeon®, Warner Bros.®, World Wrestling
Entertainment®, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Graco® and Cabbage
Patch Kids. JAKKS and THQ Inc. participate in a joint venture that has
worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment
video games. For further information, visit www.jakks.com.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements about WWE
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains
forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various
risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the
conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable
television, pay-per-view, Internet, entertainment, professional sports,
and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and
merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation;
risks associated with producing live events both domestically and
internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets;
risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including
television distribution agreements; and other risks and factors set
forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those
currently expected or anticipated. In addition to these risks and
uncertainties, our dividend is based on a number of factors, including
our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan,
our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions
on the payment of dividends and such other factors as our board of
directors may consider relevant.
Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses,
slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, copyrights and logos are the
exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and its
subsidiaries.
All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the
property of their respective owners.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements about THQ
The statements contained in this press release that are not
historical facts may be "forward-looking statements” within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates
and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries
(collectively referred to as "THQ”), including, but not limited to,
expectations and projections related to the settlement agreements
between THQ and WWE and between THQ and JAKKS, and the new video game
license between THQ and WWE, and are based upon management’s current
beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to,
business, competitive, economic, legal, political and technological
factors affecting our industry, operations, markets, products or
pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the
information that could materially affect THQ’s financial results,
described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended
March 31, 2009, and particularly the discussion of risk factors set
forth therein. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any
obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to
revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these
forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date of this press release.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements about JAKKS
This press release may contain forward–looking statements (within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that
are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about JAKKS
Pacific's business based partly on assumptions made by its management.
These statements are not guarantees of 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 statements due to numerous factors, including, but
not limited to, those described above, changes in demand for JAKKS'
products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the
impact of competitive products and pricing, and difficulties with
integrating acquired businesses.
The forward-looking statements
contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and
JAKKS undertakes no obligation to update any of them to reflect events
or circumstances after the date of this release.