The transaction, effective July 1st 2009, is part of a generational transfer by the shareholders of KE Mathiasen, the largest toy wholesale distributor in the Nordic countries.

Upon closing of the intended transaction, KE Mathiasen will continue to operate under the direction of its current senior management team as an independent subsidiary within the Top-Toy Group.

Top-Toy will take over the principal operations of the parent company KE Mathiasen in Brabrand (Denmark) as well as its subsidiaries Leksam AB (Sweden), Norstar AS (Norway) and Norstar OY (Finland), which operate in toys, multimedia and leisure items, including a wide range of licensed products.

Henrik Gjoerup, managing director of Top-Toy, said: “The know-how of both companies complement each other very well. With this acquisition, Top-Toy expands its scale and scope in the Northern European market and will consolidate KE Mathiasen’s group-wide wholesaling and Top-Toy’s impressive portfolio of toy brands, which are rounded out nicely by KE Mathiasen’s own array of toy, media and leisure offerings.”

Steen O. Hansen, managing director of KE Mathiasen, added: “We are very content to join forces with Top-Toy, who share our values and our ambition of further strengthening KE Mathiasen’s leading position as an innovative and growth-oriented distributor focused on delivering tailored programs to its diverse range of customers.

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“We greatly look forward to cooperating with our new owners to offer our customers an enhanced product portfolio focused on high play value, quality, safety and a compelling assortment of licensed character merchandise.”