| Hong Kong, December 16, 2003
-- VTech Holdings Ltd. (SEHK: 303; London SE: VTH; ADR: VTKHY),
a global leader in cordless telephones and electronic learning
products, today announced the signing of synergistic licensing
agreements with Disney Consumer Products that will revitalise
its Electronic Learning Products (ELP) business. The agreements
enable VTech to feature popular Disney characters such as
Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse, the Lion King, Disney's
Princesses and the Jungle Book on many of its electronic learning
products and the newly developed TV Learning System, V.Smile.
The new line of VTech Disney-licensed products will be unveiled
to the public in the calendar year 2004.
"This is a development of tremendous importance for
VTech," said Mr. Allan Wong, Chairman of VTech Holdings
Ltd. "Through these agreements, VTech will bring some
of children's favourite Disney characters even
more fully into their lives and learning. As we revamp our
product ranges to take advantage of this powerful brand
synergy, they will provide a major impetus to growth in
revenues and profitability for our ELP business and regain
our market share in the US market. In particular, we expect
the use of Disney characters to seal the success of V.Smile,
which is an entirely new product category that has no direct
rival in the current market place."
Disney Consumer Products also expressed enthusiasm for
the synergistic licensing agreements.
"We look forward to the co-operation with VTech. We
are delighted that children will be able to learn while
being entertained with Disney characters such as Winnie
the Pooh through the medium of VTech products," said
Edward Catchpole, Vice President, Toys Europe, Middle East
and Africa, Disney Consumer Products.
"VTech's strong brand heritage and dedication
to introducing quality, fun products forms a natural basis
for introducing Disney branded merchandise into their range,"
said Jessi Dunne, Senior Vice President, Global Toys, Disney
Consumer Products.
The initial terms of the licensing agreements range from
two to three years and the effective dates range between
September 2003 and June 2004. They cover VTech's
key markets in North America and Europe (such as the United
Kingdom, France, Spain and Germany), Eastern Europe, the
Middle East and Africa.
In North America, VTech will be able to use Winnie the
Pooh character in all its electronic learning aids. For
the TV Learning System, V.Smile, VTech will be able to use
additional characters, such as Mickey & Friends, The
Little Mermaid and the Lion King.
In Europe, VTech will launch a range of electronic learning
aids featuring the Winnie the Pooh character. In addition,
VTech will have rights to apply Winnie the Pooh, Mickey
Mouse, Lion King and Disney Princesses in its electronic
book and TV learning System, V.Smile.
These synergistic licensing agreements with Disney Consumer
Products form an integral part of VTech's three-year
strategic plan to revitalise its ELP business by developing
an entirely new range of innovative products. In particular,
the licensing agreements will be a powerful success factor
in its unique TV Learning System, V.Smile, a powerful platform
that will bring incremental revenues from hardware and exchangeable
software cartridges.
The New V.Smile
V.Smile is a product unique to VTech and to the market
that turns "game time" into "brain time".
It uses the medium of television to explore child-directed
play through a TV gaming console that features different
game cartridges offering new entertaining and learning experiences.
Connecting directly to a television, the child manipulates
a hand-held controller with intuitive buttons and a joystick
that allows for both right and left handed use to enter
a world of imagination and creative learning as characters
guide them through various age-appropriate skill levels
and developmental activities.
V.Smile was previewed to the trade in the United States
in October 2003 and retailers are eagerly anticipating the
launch of the new product. With a host of colourful Disney
characters to choose from, V.Smile will be recognised immediately
by parents and children alike, giving it instant appeal.
"I firmly believe that the synergistic licensing agreements
with Disney Consumer Products, coupled with the launch of
our unique new TV-based learn-while-you-play product, V.Smile,
represent a new ¡®hero' product that
will take the ELP industry by storm," said Allan Wong.
"We look forward to a successful roll-out in 2004."
~ End ~
About VTech:
VTech is the one of the world's largest suppliers
of cordless phones as well as a leading supplier of electronic
learning products. It also provides highly sought-after
contract manufacturing services. VTech is a pioneer in the
establishment of China-based manufacturing facilities and
sells its products via a strong brand platform supported
by a well-established distribution network in North America,
Europe and Asia.
This release is issued by VTech Holdings Ltd through Golin/Harris
Forrest. For further information, please contact:
| VTech representative in HK |
|
Grace Pang
VTech Holdings Ltd
(852) 2680 1000 (office)
(852) 2662 7434 (fax) grace_pang@vtech.com
(email) |
John Morgan
Golin/Harris Forrest
(852) 2522 6475 (Office)
(852) 2810 4780 (fax) john.morgan@golinharris.com
(email) |
Julia Fitzgerald
VTech North America, LLC
(1 847) 400 3512 (office)
(1 847) 400 3601 (fax) Julia_fitzgerald@vtechkids.com
(e-mail) |
Beth Pagano
Edelman
(1 312) 297 7512 (office)
(1 312) 240 2903 (fax) beth.pagano@edelman.com
(e-mail) |
VTech representative in the UK
Katy Chan
VTech Electronics Europe Plc
(44) 1235 555 545 (office)
(44) 1235 546 805 (fax) katy_chan@vtech.com
(email)
|
Emma Jowitt
Norton & Company
(44) 1608 812 830 (office)
(44) 1608 812 831 (fax) emma@nortonand.co.uk
(email) |
VTech representative in France
Sylvie Bannelier
VTech Electronics Europe SA
(33) 1 30 09 88 00 (office)
(33) 1 30 09 87 80 (fax)
sylvie_bannelier@vtechfrance.com
(email)
|
|
VTech representative in Germany
Okka Heuckeroth
VTech Electronics Europe GmbH
(49) 711 709 740 (office)
(49) 711 709 7449 (fax)
okka_heuckeroth@vtech.com
(email) |
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