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EL SEGUNDO – 01/26/09 – Toy and game giant Mattel Inc. has acquired France-based Sekkoia SAS, which produces the Blokus family of games.

Blokus, which was launched in September 2000, is now one of the best-selling board games in the world. The game is comprised of a square board containing 400 squares and 84 pieces, Blokus(R) challenges players to think strategically to outsmart their opponent and has several variation games that were also included in the acquisition.

The deal also included the purchase of the popular Whac-A-Mole brand from Bob's Space Racers Inc., which will continue to produce and sell the classic amusement park game under license from Mattel. Mattel currently plans to develop other games based on the Whac-A-Mole(R) brand concept in the future.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, near Los Angeles, Mattel employs more than 30,000 people in 43 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations.

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