Mattel Inc 10-K for FY2024
Mattel Inc (MAT)
10-K
2025-02-26
For: 2024-12-31
View Original
Added on
April 10, 2026
About this 10-K
Mattel Inc filed this 10-K on February 26, 2025, covering the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (FY2024).
Headline figures
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Revenue
- $5.38B
- down 1.1% from $5.44B a year earlier
- Net income
- $541.82M
- up 152.8% from net income of $214.35M a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- $1.58
- up 163.3% from $0.60 a year earlier
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________________________________________________
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||||||
For the fiscal year ended | ||||||||
or
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the transition period from to | |||||
Commission File Number 001-05647
______________________________________________________
MATTEL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (310 ) 252-2000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
______________________________________________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
NONE
______________________________________________________
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No ý
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No ý
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| ý | Accelerated filer | ¨ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | ¨ | Smaller reporting company | ||||||||||||||||||
Emerging growth company | ||||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ý
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $5,525,716,222 based upon the closing market price as of the close of business June 30, 2024, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
Number of shares outstanding of registrant's common stock, $1.00 par value, as of February 6, 2025: 330.2 million shares
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Mattel, Inc. 2025 Proxy Statement, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") within 120 days after the closing of the registrant's fiscal year (incorporated into Part III to the extent stated herein).
MATTEL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
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| PART I | ||||||||
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| Item 1B. | ||||||||
| Item 1C. | ||||||||
| Item 2. | ||||||||
| Item 3. | ||||||||
| Item 4. | ||||||||
| PART II | ||||||||
| Item 5. | ||||||||
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| Item 9. | ||||||||
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| PART III | ||||||||
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| Item 13. | ||||||||
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| PART IV | ||||||||
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| Item 16. | ||||||||
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(Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements)
Mattel cautions investors that this Annual Report on Form 10-K includes forward-looking statements, which are statements that relate to the future and are, by their nature, uncertain. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. The use of words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "looks forward," "confident that," "believes," and "targeted," among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on currently available operating, financial, economic, and other information and assumptions, and are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors or combination of factors, many of which are beyond Mattel's control, may cause actual future results or outcomes, or the timing of those results or outcomes, to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Specific factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: (i) Mattel's ability to design, develop, produce, manufacture, source, ship, and distribute products in a timely and cost-effective manner; (ii) sufficient interest in and demand for the products and entertainment Mattel offers by retail customers and consumers to profitably recover Mattel's costs; (iii) downturns in economic conditions affecting Mattel's markets which can negatively impact retail customers and consumers, and which can result in lower employment levels and lower consumer disposable income and spending, including lower spending on purchases of Mattel's products; (iv) other factors which can lower discretionary consumer spending, such as higher costs for fuel and food, drops in the value of homes or other consumer assets, and high levels of consumer debt; (v) potential difficulties or delays Mattel may experience in implementing cost savings and efficiency enhancing initiatives; (vi) other economic and public health conditions or regulatory changes in the markets in which Mattel and its customers and suppliers operate, which could create delays or increase Mattel's costs, such as higher commodity prices, labor costs, or transportation costs, or outbreaks of disease; (vii) the effect of inflation on Mattel's business, including cost inflation in supply chain inputs and increased labor costs, as well as pricing actions taken in an effort to mitigate the effects of inflation; (viii) currency fluctuations, including movements in foreign exchange rates, which can lower Mattel's net revenues and earnings, and significantly impact Mattel's costs; (ix) the concentration of Mattel's customers, potentially increasing the negative impact to Mattel of difficulties experienced by any of Mattel's customers, such as bankruptcies or liquidations or a general lack of success, or changes in their purchasing or selling patterns; (x) the inventory policies of Mattel's retail customers, as well as the concentration of Mattel's revenues in the second half of the year, which coupled with reliance by retailers on quick response inventory management techniques, increases the risk of underproduction, overproduction, and shipping delays; (xi) legal, reputational, and financial risks related to security breaches or cyberattacks; (xii) work disruptions, including as a result of supply chain disruption such as plant or port closures, which may impact Mattel's ability to manufacture or deliver product in a timely and cost-effective manner; (xiii) the impact of competition on revenues, margins, and other aspects of Mattel's business, including the ability to offer products that consumers choose to buy instead of competitive products, the ability to secure, maintain, and renew popular licenses from licensors of entertainment properties, and the ability to attract and retain talented employees and adapt to evolving workplace models; (xiv) the risk of product recalls or product liability suits and costs associated with product safety regulations; (xv) tariffs, trade restrictions, or trade barriers, which depending on the effective date and duration of such measures, changes in the amount, scope, and nature of such measures in the future, any countermeasures that the target countries may take, and any mitigating actions that may become available, could increase Mattel's product costs and other costs of doing business, and other changes in laws or regulations in the United States and/or in other major markets, such as China, in which Mattel operates, including, without limitation, with respect to taxes, trade policies, product safety, or sustainability, which may also increase Mattel's product costs and other costs of doing business, and in each case reduce Mattel's earnings and liquidity; (xvi) business disruptions or other unforeseen impacts due to economic instability, political instability, civil unrest, armed hostilities (including the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war and geopolitical developments in the Middle East) or terrorist activities, natural and man-made disasters, pandemics or other public health crises, or other catastrophic events; (xvii) failure to realize the planned benefits from any investments or acquisitions made by Mattel; (xviii) the impact of other market conditions or third-party actions or approvals, including those that result in any significant failure, inadequacy, or interruption from vendors or outsourcers, which could reduce demand for Mattel's products, delay or increase the cost of implementation of Mattel's programs, or alter Mattel's actions and reduce actual results; (xix) changes in financing markets or the inability of Mattel to obtain financing on attractive terms; (xx) the impact of litigation, arbitration, or regulatory decisions or settlement actions; (xxi) Mattel's ability to navigate regulatory frameworks in connection with new areas of investment, product development, or other business activities, such as artificial intelligence, non-fungible tokens, and cryptocurrency; (xxii) an inability to remediate the material weakness in Mattel's internal control over financial reporting, or additional material weaknesses or other deficiencies in the future or the failure to maintain an effective system of internal control; and (xxiii) other risks and uncertainties detailed in Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors." Mattel does not update forward-looking statements and expressly disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law.
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PART I
Item 1. Business.
Throughout this report "Mattel" refers to Mattel, Inc. and/or one or more of its subsidiaries. Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. Mattel creates innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences, and develop children through play. Mattel is focused on the following strategy to grow its intellectual property ("IP") driven toy business and expand its entertainment offering:
•Grow toy business profitably through scaling Mattel's portfolio, optimizing operations, evolving demand creation, and growing franchise brands; and
•Expand entertainment offering to capture the full value of Mattel's IP outside the toy aisle in highly accretive business verticals, by growing franchise brands and accelerating content, consumer products, and digital and live experiences.
Mattel is the owner of a portfolio of iconic brands and partners with global entertainment companies to license other IP. Mattel's portfolio of owned and licensed brands and products are organized into the following categories:
Dolls—including brands such as Barbie, American Girl, Disney Princess, Disney Frozen, Monster High, and Polly Pocket. Mattel's Dolls portfolio is driven by the flagship Barbie brand and a collection of complementary brands offered globally. Empowering girls since 1959, Barbie has inspired the limitless potential of every girl by showing them that they can be anything. Monster High, a character-driven franchise, engages fans of all ages, encouraging them to be their authentic selves and celebrate what makes them unique. American Girl, with an extensive portfolio of dolls and accessories, content, gaming, and lifestyle products, is best known for imparting valuable life lessons that instill confidence through its inspiring dolls and books, featuring characters from past and present.
Infant, Toddler, and Preschool—including brands such as Fisher-Price (including Little People and Fisher-Price Wood), Imaginext, and Thomas & Friends. As a leader in play and child development, Fisher-Price is dedicated to giving families the best possible start to life by making the most fun, enriching products for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Thomas & Friends is an award-winning preschool train brand franchise that lays the tracks to inspire, entertain, and develop young train fans through toys, content, live events, and other consumer products.
In the first quarter of 2024, Mattel further divided its Infant, Toddler, and Preschool category into three subcategories. The first subcategory is Fisher-Price, the power brand, which includes the core Infant, Little People, and Newborn product lines, as well as the recently launched Fisher-Price Wood product line. The second subcategory is Preschool Entertainment, which includes owned IP such as Thomas & Friends and Barney, Mattel's character based Imaginext line, and partner entertainment brands. The third subcategory is Baby Gear and Power Wheels, in which Mattel is strategically out-licensing or exiting certain product lines.
Vehicles—including brands such as Hot Wheels (including Hot Wheels Monster Trucks and Hot Wheels RC), Matchbox, and Cars (Disney Pixar). In production for over 50 years, Hot Wheels continues to push the limits of performance and design, and ignites and nurtures the challenger spirit of kids, adults, and collectors. From die-cast vehicles to tracks, playsets, and accessories, the Mattel Vehicles portfolio has broad appeal that engages and excites fans of all ages.
Action Figures, Building Sets, Games, and Other—including brands such as Masters of the Universe, MEGA, UNO, Jurassic World (NBCUniversal), Minecraft (Microsoft), WWE, and Star Wars (Disney's Lucasfilm). Mattel's Action Figures portfolio is comprised of product lines associated with licensed entertainment franchises, such as Jurassic World and WWE, as well as product lines from Mattel-owned IP, such as Masters of the Universe. As the challenger brand in Building Sets, MEGA inspires creativity through authentic building experiences for builders of all ages and fans of global franchises. Within Games, UNO is the classic matching card game that is easy to learn and fast fun for everyone. Other includes Plush, which contains products associated with movie releases from licensed entertainment franchises, as well as Mattel-owned IP.
Business Segments
In the first quarter of 2024, Mattel implemented an organizational change integrating the American Girl business into Mattel's North America commercial organization, which resulted in a change to Mattel's operating and reportable segments. Mattel's new reportable segments are: (i) North America and (ii) International. The prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The North America and International segments sell products across Mattel's categories, although some products are developed and adapted for particular international markets, and American Girl products are sold only in North America.
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For additional information on Mattel's worldwide gross billings by brand category, see Part II, Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations."
North America Segment
The North America segment markets and sells toys and consumer products in the United States and Canada across all of Mattel's categories.
Dolls
Barbie continues to deliver innovation, purpose-driven marketing campaigns, and engaging toys connected to a strong system of play. Barbie has broad product offerings, with product lines designed to appeal to children of multiple age groups, complemented by a Barbie Signature line with high-quality dolls that appeal to fans of all ages. In 2025, Barbie will continue to inspire multi-generational fans by delivering new products and captivating experiences through the year-long Limitless Possibilities marketing campaign, which Mattel expects will further amplify the franchise's impact globally.
Mattel is also excited to build upon its strong partnerships with Disney for the Disney Princess and Disney Frozen product lines. Monster High will look to build upon the success of its global re-launch, including planned new content and product offerings.
American Girl is a direct marketer, retailer, and children's publisher dedicated to its mission to help girls grow up with courage, confidence, and strength of character. In 2025, American Girl looks to build on its momentum from 2024 with quality product drops, multiplatform content launches, immersive omnichannel experiences, and new promotional campaigns geared towards kids, shoppers, and adult fans.
Infant, Toddler, and Preschool
In 2025, Fisher-Price will continue its focus on engaging consumers as a trusted partner for families with infants, toddlers and preschoolers, and remain dedicated to giving families the best possible start to life. Consumer-centric innovation will continue to drive new product offerings across the portfolio. Fisher-Price Wood will continue to expand globally, leveraging popular themes and trend-based aesthetics, while Little People will look to build on its strong momentum with the expansion of the Little People Core line and Little People Collector line. Thomas & Friends will be celebrating its 80th anniversary with numerous activations throughout the year and also launch exciting new products with classic characters and train play.
Vehicles
In 2025, industry leader Hot Wheels expects to continue its strong momentum as a multigenerational franchise with consumer interest that remains at historic highs. Hot Wheels product offerings are expected to excite consumers with innovation in both die-cast vehicles and tracks and playsets. These offerings will be supported by the animated children's series on Netflix, Hot Wheels Let's Race, and the new exciting partnership with Formula 1, bringing fans of the sport a full range of Hot Wheels products. Hot Wheels also seeks to further expand die-cast vehicle distribution, targeting fans of all ages.
Die-cast pioneer Matchbox expects to continue to bring exciting new products to market, including new sustainable die-cast products and toys tied to the theatrical release of NBCUniversal's Jurassic World: Rebirth.
Mattel will continue to partner with Disney Pixar for Cars to drive innovation, including fresh new product offerings to support key promotional events in 2025.
Action Figures, Building Sets, Games, and Other
Mattel Action Figures will continue to collaborate with key licensor partners, such as Disney Pixar, Microsoft, NBCUniversal, and WWE to bring innovative products to the global marketplace. Mattel's 2025 Action Figures product lines will include toys tied to theatrical releases for NBCUniversal's Jurassic World: Rebirth and Microsoft's Minecraft (Minecraft the Movie), as well as new releases within Masters of the Universe and WWE.
In Building Sets, MEGA inspires creativity through authentic building experiences for builders of all ages and fans of global franchises. Partnerships with some of the world's top franchises, including Pokémon, invite consumers to try MEGA building sets, while innovative building play, authentic details, compatible quality, and accessible value encourages consumers to stay in the MEGA building set collection. Parents of preschoolers can continue to discover how the MEGA Bloks preschool building system enhances playtime and early childhood development beyond the Big Building Bag.
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Mattel Games consists of some of the most beloved Games IP in the world including UNO, Pictionary, Skip-Bo, Phase-10, Blokus, and many others. Mattel will focus on its expansion of Games into its direct-to-consumer business, collectability, and innovation. Additionally, Mattel expects to introduce new game extensions and partnerships that celebrate pop culture.
International Segment
Products marketed and sold by the International segment are generally the same as those marketed and sold by the North America segment, although some are developed or adapted for particular international markets. Mattel's products are sold directly to retailers and wholesalers in most European, Latin American, and Asian countries, in Australia and New Zealand, and through agents and distributors in those countries where Mattel has no direct presence. No individual country within the International segment exceeded 7% of worldwide consolidated net sales during 2024.
Competition and Industry Background
Mattel is a worldwide leader in the manufacture, marketing, and sale of toys, games, and other products related to play, entertainment, learning, and development. Competition in the toy industry is based primarily on quality, play value, brands, and price. Mattel offers a wide range of products for children, fans of all ages, and families that include, among others, toys for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, toys for school-aged children, dolls, vehicles, action figures, building sets, games, including digital, puzzles, plush, educational toys, technology-related products, media-driven products, and fashion-related items. The North America segment competes with several large toy companies, including Hasbro, Jazwares, LEGO, the Pokémon Company, Spin Master, many smaller toy companies, and manufacturers of digital games and consumer electronics. The North America segment also includes American Girl products which compete with companies that manufacture dolls and accessories, and with children's book publishers and retailers. The International segment competes with global toy companies including Hasbro, Jazwares, LEGO, the Pokémon Company, Spin Master, other national and regional toy companies, and manufacturers of digital games and consumer electronics. Foreign regions may include competitors that are strong in a particular toy line or geographical area but do not compete with Mattel or other international toy companies worldwide.
There is increasing competition among the above companies due to trends towards shorter life cycles for individual toy products, the phenomenon of children outgrowing toys at younger ages, an increasing use of more sophisticated technology in toys, including machine learning and artificial intelligence ("AI"), and an evolving path to purchase for consumers. In addition, Mattel competes with companies that sell non-toy products, such as electronic consumer products, digital games, as well as content and other entertainment companies. Competition continues to be heavily influenced by the fact that a small number of retailers account for a large portion of all toy sales, allocate the shelf space from which toys are viewed, and have direct contact with parents and children through in-store and online purchases. Such retailers can and do promote their own private-label toys, facilitate the sale of competitors' toys, showcase toys online based on proprietary algorithms, and allocate shelf space to one type of toy over another. Online distributors are able to promote a wide variety of toys and represent a wide variety of toy manufacturers.
Seasonality
Mattel's business is highly seasonal, with consumers making a large percentage of all toy purchases during the traditional holiday season. A significant portion of retailer purchasing typically occurs in the third and fourth quarters of the year in anticipation of holiday buying. These seasonal purchasing patterns and requisite production lead times create risk to Mattel's business associated with the underproduction of popular toys and the overproduction of less popular toys that do not match consumer demand. The seasonality of Mattel's business increases the risk that Mattel may not be able to meet demand for certain products at peak demand times or that Mattel's own inventory levels may be adversely impacted by the need to pre-build products before orders are placed. In addition, this seasonality may cause Mattel's sales to vary significantly from period to period.
In anticipation of retail sales during the traditional holiday season, Mattel significantly increases its production in advance of the peak selling period, resulting in a corresponding build-up of inventory levels in the first three quarters of the year. Additionally, seasonal shipping patterns generally result in significant increases in accounts receivable during the third and fourth quarters of the year. The elevated accounts receivable and inventory levels may result in seasonal working capital financing requirements.
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Sales
Mattel's products are sold throughout the world. Products within the North America segment include products sold directly to retailers, including omnichannel retailers, discount and free-standing toy stores, chain stores, department stores, other retail outlets, and, to a limited extent, wholesalers. Mattel also operates small retail outlets at certain corporate offices as a service to its employees and as an outlet for its products. The North America segment also includes American Girl products and its children's publications, which are sold directly to consumers and select retailers in the United States. Mattel has retail space in Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, California; and New York, New York for its flagship American Girl stores, and in four other cities across the United States for its American Girl boutique stores. Products within the International segment are sold directly to retailers and wholesalers in most European, Latin American, and Asian countries, in Australia and New Zealand, and through agents and distributors in those countries where Mattel has no direct presence. Mattel also has retail outlets in Latin America that serve as outlets for its products. Additionally, Mattel sells certain of its products directly to consumers through its e-commerce platform and various third-party e-commerce channels.
During 2024, Mattel's three largest customers (Walmart at $1.17 billion, Target at $0.68 billion, and Amazon at $0.51 billion) accounted for approximately 44% of worldwide consolidated net sales. During 2023, Mattel's three largest customers (Walmart at $1.13 billion, Target at $0.67 billion, and Amazon at $0.60 billion) accounted for approximately 44% of worldwide consolidated net sales. Within countries in the International segment, there is also a concentration of sales to certain large customers that do not operate in the United States, none of which exceeded 10% of worldwide consolidated net sales. The customers and the degree of concentration vary depending upon the region or nation. See Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors" and Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Segment Information."
License Agreements
Mattel has license agreements with third parties that permit Mattel to utilize the trademark, characters, or inventions of the licensor in products that Mattel sells. A number of these licenses relate to product lines that are significant to Mattel's business and operations.
Mattel has entered into agreements to license entertainment properties, including among others, Disney Consumer Products (including Disney Princess and Disney Frozen, Star Wars, Disney Pixar (including Cars and Toy Story) and certain other Disney films and television properties), NBCUniversal (including Jurassic World, Wicked, and Fast and Furious), Warner Bros. (including DC Universe and Harry Potter), Microsoft (including Minecraft and Halo), WWE, Pokémon, and Paramount (relating to its Nickelodeon properties).
Royalty expense for 2024, 2023, and 2022 was $244.1 million, $249.8 million, and $230.8 million, respectively. See Part II, Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Commitments" and Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Commitments and Contingencies."
Mattel licenses a number of its trademarks and other property rights to others for use in connection with the sale of their products.
Trademarks, Copyrights, and Patents
Most of Mattel's products are sold under and are associated with trademarks, trade names, and copyrights, and some of these products incorporate devices or designs for which patent protection has been, or is being, pursued. Trademarks, copyrights, and patents are significant assets of Mattel in that they provide product recognition, acceptance, and exclusive rights to Mattel's innovations around the world.
Mattel customarily seeks trademark, copyright, and/or patent protection covering its products, and it owns or has applications pending or registrations for U.S. and foreign trademarks, copyrights, and patents covering many of its products. Although a number of these trademarks, copyrights, and patents relate to product lines that are significant to Mattel's business and operations, Mattel does not believe it is dependent on a single trademark, copyright, or patent. Mattel believes its rights to these properties are adequately protected, but there can be no assurance that its rights can be successfully asserted in the future or will not be invalidated, circumvented, or challenged.
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Manufacturing and Materials
Mattel manufactures toy products for all segments in both company-owned facilities and through third-party manufacturers. Products are also purchased from unrelated entities that design, develop, and manufacture those products. To provide greater flexibility in the manufacture and delivery of its products, and as part of a continuing effort to reduce manufacturing costs, Mattel has concentrated production of most of its core products in company-owned facilities and generally uses third-party manufacturers for the production of non-core products.
Mattel's principal manufacturing facilities are located in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, and Thailand. In conjunction with Mattel's cost savings programs, Mattel discontinued production at a plant located in China in 2024 and intends to discontinue production at another plant located in China in 2025. To help avoid disruption of its product supply due to political instability, civil unrest, future pandemics or other health crises, economic instability, changes in government policies or regulations, including tariffs, trade restrictions, or trade barriers, natural and manmade disasters, and other risks, Mattel produces its products in various facilities across multiple countries. Mattel believes that the existing production capacity at its owned and third-party manufacturers' facilities is sufficient to handle expected volume for the foreseeable future.
Mattel bases its production schedules for toy products on customer orders and forecasts, taking into account historical trends, results of market research, and current market information. Actual shipments of products ordered and order cancellation rates are affected by consumer acceptance of product lines, strength of competing products, marketing strategies of retailers, changes in buying patterns of both retailers and consumers, and overall economic conditions. Unexpected changes in these factors could result in a lack of product availability or excess inventory in a particular product line.
The majority of Mattel's raw materials are available from numerous suppliers but may be subject to fluctuations in price. See Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors."
Advertising and Promotion
Mattel supports its product lines with extensive advertising and consumer promotions. Advertising takes place at varying levels throughout the year and peaks during the traditional holiday season. Advertising includes television commercials, social media, catalogs, and internet advertisements. Promotions include in-store displays, merchandising materials, major events focusing on products, and tie-ins with various consumer products companies.
During 2024, 2023, and 2022, Mattel incurred advertising and promotion expenses of $507.3 million (9.4% of net sales), $524.8 million (9.6% of net sales), and $534.3 million (9.8% of net sales), respectively.
Financial Instruments
Currency exchange rate fluctuations may impact Mattel's results of operations and cash flows. Mattel seeks to mitigate its exposure to foreign currency exchange risk by monitoring its foreign currency transaction exposure for the year and partially hedging such exposure using foreign currency forward exchange contracts primarily to hedge its purchase and sale of inventory and other intercompany transactions denominated in foreign currencies. These contracts have maturity dates of up to 24 months. In addition, Mattel manages its exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations through the selection of currencies used for international borrowings. Mattel does not trade in financial instruments for speculative purposes.
For additional information regarding foreign currency contracts, see Part II, Item 7A "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" and Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Derivative Instruments."
Government Regulations
Mattel's products sold in the United States are subject to the provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Act, as amended by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, and may also be subject to the requirements of the Flammable Fabrics Act or the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act and the regulations promulgated pursuant to such statutes. These statutes and the related regulations ban from the market consumer products that fail to comply with applicable product safety laws, regulations, and standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission may require the recall, repurchase, replacement, or repair of any such banned products or products that otherwise create a substantial risk of injury and may seek penalties for regulatory noncompliance under certain circumstances. Similar laws exist in some U.S. states. Mattel believes that it is in substantial compliance with these federal and state laws and regulations.
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Mattel's products sold worldwide are subject to the provisions of similar laws and regulations in many jurisdictions, including the European Union ("EU") and Canada. Mattel believes that it is in substantial compliance with these laws and regulations.
Mattel maintains a quality control program to help ensure compliance with applicable product safety requirements. Nonetheless, Mattel has experienced, and may in the future experience, issues in products that result in recalls, withdrawals, or replacements of products. A product recall could have a material adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations, depending on the product affected by the recall and the extent of the recall efforts required. A product recall could also negatively affect Mattel's reputation and the sales of other Mattel products. See Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors."
Mattel's advertising and promotion activities are subject to the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Children's Television Act of 1990 and may also be subject to other rules and regulations promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission, as well as laws of certain countries that regulate advertising, advertising to children, and related activities. In addition, Mattel's web-based products and services and other online and digital communications activity are or may be subject to U.S. and foreign privacy-related regulations, including the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 and the EU General Data Protection Regulation and related national regulations. Privacy-related laws also exist in some U.S. states, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act, and other state laws that are in effect, or are yet to take effect. Mattel believes that it is in substantial compliance with these laws and regulations.
Mattel's worldwide operations are subject to the requirements of various environmental laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where those operations are located. Mattel believes that it is in substantial compliance with these laws and regulations. Mattel's operations are from time to time the subject of investigations, conferences, discussions, and negotiations with various federal, state, and local environmental agencies within and outside the United States with respect to the discharge or cleanup of hazardous waste. Mattel is not aware of any material cleanup liabilities. In addition, Mattel continues to monitor existing and pending environmental laws and regulations within the United States and elsewhere related to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
Mattel is subject to various other federal, state, local, and international laws and regulations applicable to its business. Mattel believes that it is in substantial compliance with these laws and regulations.
Human Capital
As of December 31, 2024, Mattel had approximately 34,000 employees (including temporary and seasonal employees) working in over 37 countries worldwide to create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences, and develop children through play. Approximately 29,600 employees (86% of the total workforce) are located outside the United States, with a significant global manufacturing labor workforce of approximately 25,100 employees. The remaining workforce focuses on design, marketing, sales, finance, and other aspects of Mattel's business.
Mattel believes recruiting, developing, and motivating a talented global workforce are important to its long-term growth and success. Through Mattel's focus on employee engagement, equal employment opportunity, training and development, health and safety, and employee well-being, Mattel endeavors to create a supportive and rewarding environment where employees are encouraged to collaborate, innovate, and grow. Mattel's Board of Directors, Compensation Committee, and Governance and Social Responsibility Committee are involved in the oversight of how the company fosters its culture and receive regular updates on Mattel's workforce management.
Mattel was ranked among Forbes 2024 World's Best Employers; named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2024 and Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2024; recognized by Newsweek as one of the World's Most Trustworthy Companies of 2024; honored by TIME as one of America's Best Mid-Size Companies of 2024; named to Computerworld's 2024 Best Places to Work in IT; and certified as a Great Place to Work in multiple countries.
Workplace Culture
Mattel is committed to fostering a culture where all employees have the opportunity to realize their full potential. Management regularly collects feedback to measure employee engagement and job satisfaction on an ongoing basis through its annual global engagement survey, which is used to help improve the employee experience and strengthen its workplace culture. Mattel values a wide range of ideas and voices that help evolve and broaden its perspectives, with a reach that extends to consumers, customers, business partners, and suppliers.
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Employee Development and Well-Being
Mattel believes continuously developing skills and capabilities for the future is essential to operating as an IP-driven, high-performing toy and family entertainment company. Additionally, offering the opportunity for employees to continuously learn and grow their careers at Mattel is a key driver of its employee engagement strategy. Around the globe, employees at all levels participate in a variety of online classes and instructor-led training, including professional development, management development, and technical training.
Mattel is focused on creating a safe and healthy workplace for all of its employees. This is reflected in a comprehensive set of standards and oversight processes that establish Mattel's expectations for responsible working conditions, environmental protections, social compliance, health, and safety in both its own manufacturing facilities and those of its supply chain partners.
Mattel offers several benefits to promote employee well-being, including paid time off, health and welfare insurance options, retirement plans, and basic and supplemental employee life insurance for eligible individuals.
Available Information
Mattel files its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statements, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
Mattel's internet website address is http://corporate.mattel.com. Mattel makes available on its internet website, free of charge, its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statements, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
If any of the risks, events, and uncertainties described below actually occurs, Mattel's business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected, and such effects could at times be material. The risk factors listed below are not exhaustive. Other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K include additional factors that could materially and adversely impact Mattel's business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, Mattel operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict the impact of all of these factors on Mattel's business, financial condition, or results of operations, or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results or outcomes, or the timing of those results or outcomes, to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. These factors are also currently, and in the future may be, amplified by the global economic or geopolitical climate and additional or unforeseen circumstances, developments, or risks. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not rely on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results or outcomes. Any or all of the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and any other public statement made by Mattel or its representatives may turn out to be wrong. The risk factors below describe factors, events, or contingencies that could have an adverse effect on Mattel and are not intended as an exhaustive discussion of whether any such factors, events, or contingencies have or have not occurred. Mattel expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new developments or otherwise.
Business Operations
Mattel and its license partners are not always able to successfully identify and/or satisfy consumer preferences, which could cause Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations to be adversely affected.
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Mattel's business and operating results depend largely upon the appeal of its products, driven by both innovation and marketing. Consumer preferences are continuously changing and can vary by geographical markets. Product life cycles and consumer preferences continue to be affected by the rapidly increasing use and proliferation of social and digital media by consumers, and the speed with which information is shared. Mattel is not always able to identify trends in consumer preferences or identify and satisfy consumer preferences in a timely manner. Significant, sudden shifts in demand are caused by "hit" toys and trends, which are often unpredictable and can result in short consumer life cycles. Mattel offers a wide range of products for children, fans of all ages, and families that includes, among others, toys for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, toys for school-aged children, dolls, vehicles, action figures, building sets, games, including digital, puzzles, plush, educational toys, technology-related products, media-driven products, and fashion-related items. Mattel competes domestically and internationally with a wide range of large and small manufacturers, marketers, and sellers of such products, consumer electronics, such as tablets and mobile devices, and other play products, as well as retailers, which means that Mattel's market position is always at risk. Mattel's ability to maintain or increase its current product sales, or establish product sales with new, innovative toys, depends on Mattel's ability to satisfy play preferences, enhance existing products, develop and introduce new products, and achieve market acceptance of these products. These challenges are intensifying due to trends towards shorter life cycles for individual toy products, the phenomenon of children outgrowing traditional toys at younger ages, an increasing use of more sophisticated technology in toys, including machine learning and AI, and an evolving path to purchase.
In addition, entertainment media has become increasingly important for consumers to experience Mattel's brands and its license partners' brands. The extent to which Mattel's and its license partners' entertainment offerings are successful can significantly impact the demand for Mattel's products and its financial performance. Consumer acceptance of Mattel's and its license partners' entertainment offerings is impacted by factors beyond its control, including critical reviews, promotions, the popularity of movies and television programs released into the marketplace at or near the same time, the availability of alternative forms of entertainment, general economic conditions, and public preferences generally.
Mattel's failure to successfully meet the challenges outlined above in a timely and cost-effective manner could decrease demand for its products and entertainment offerings and may adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
High levels of competition and low barriers to entry can make it difficult to achieve, maintain, or build upon the success of Mattel's brands, products, and product lines.
Mattel faces competitors who are also constantly monitoring and attempting to anticipate consumer tastes, seeking ideas which will appeal to consumers, and introducing new products that compete with Mattel's products. In addition, competition for access to entertainment properties has lessened, and may in the future continue to lessen, Mattel's ability to secure, maintain, and renew popular licenses to entertainment products developed by other parties and licensed to Mattel on beneficial terms, if at all, or require Mattel to pay licensors higher royalties and higher minimum guaranteed payments to obtain or retain these licenses. As a licensee of entertainment properties, Mattel has no guarantee that a particular property or brand will translate into a successful toy, game, or other product. In addition, the barriers to entry for new participants in the toy industry and entertainment industry are low and the increasing prevalence of digital media has further increased the ability for new participants to enter Mattel's markets, and broadened the array of companies Mattel competes with. New market participants with a popular product idea or entertainment property can become a significant source of competition for Mattel and its products in a very short period of time. Reduced demand for Mattel's brands, products, and product lines as a result of these factors may adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Inaccurately anticipating changes and trends in popular culture, media, fashion, or technology can adversely affect Mattel's sales, financial condition, and results of operations.
Successful movies, television programs, digital games, and characters in children's literature affect play preferences, and many products depend on media-based IP licenses including trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and rights under IP license agreements and other agreements with third parties. Media-based licenses can cause a line of toys or other products to gain immediate success among children, parents, or families. Trends in media, and children's characters change swiftly and contribute to the transience and uncertainty of play preferences. Mattel attempts to respond to such trends and developments by modifying, refreshing, extending, and expanding its product offerings on an annual basis.
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Mattel spends considerable resources in designing and developing toys and other products based on its and its license partners' planned content releases. Mattel also relies heavily on the efforts of third parties, such as studios and other content creators and distributors, with respect to the development of content, marketing support, and release dates, which has an impact on the success of such content and the associated toys and other products. In many cases, Mattel does not fully control when or if any particular project will be greenlit, developed, or released. Third parties may change their plans with respect to projects and release dates, or may decide to cancel development. Other developments, such as labor strikes or theater closures, have at times caused, and could in the future cause, delays in the release of new movies and television programs, and any such delay or cancellation may adversely impact Mattel’s sales of the associated toys and other products.
Mattel expects that children will continue to be interested in product offerings incorporating sophisticated technology, such as digital games, consumer electronics, and social and digital media, at increasingly younger ages. As Mattel introduces more sophisticated technology products, such products tend to have higher design, development, and production costs, follow longer timelines, and require different competencies compared to Mattel's more traditional toys and games. The pace of change in product offerings and consumer tastes for sophisticated technology products is potentially even greater than for Mattel's more traditional products, and consequently the window for consumer interest in such products may be shorter than for traditional toys and games.
The entertainment industry continues to experience frequent change driven by technological development and audience viewing preferences, including developments with respect to the formats through which films, television programming, and other episodic content are delivered to consumers, and the scale and scope of these changes have accelerated in recent years, with consumers continuing to increase their access to television, film, and other episodic content on streaming and digital content networks.
These changes, as well as other trends in the industry, have caused significant disruption to the retail distribution of entertainment offerings and have caused, and could in the future cause, a negative impact on sales of Mattel's products and other forms of monetization of content, especially those that are reliant on box office success. Mattel may lose opportunities to capitalize on changing market dynamics, technological innovations or consumer tastes if it does not adapt to such changes in a timely manner. The overall effect that technological development and new digital distribution platforms have on the revenue and profits Mattel derives from its entertainment content, including from product sales associated with such content, and the additional costs associated with changing markets, media platforms, and technologies, is unpredictable. If Mattel fails to accurately assess and effectively respond to changes in technology and consumer behavior in the entertainment industry, Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Any inability by Mattel to accurately anticipate trends in popular culture, media, fashion, or technology may cause its products not to be accepted by children, parents, fans, or families and may adversely affect its sales, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel's failure to successfully market or advertise its products could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel's products are marketed worldwide through a wide spectrum of advertising, marketing, and promotional programs, including the use of digital and social media to reach consumers. Mattel's ability to sell products is dependent in part upon the success of these programs. As such, Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected by its failure to successfully market its products or by an increase in its advertising, marketing, or promotional costs.
Mattel's business is highly seasonal and otherwise subject to fluctuations in demand, and its operating results depend, in large part, on sales during the relatively brief traditional holiday season. Events that disrupt Mattel's business during its peak demand times can adversely and disproportionately affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel's business is subject to risks associated with the underproduction of popular toys and the overproduction of toys that are less popular with consumers. Sales of toy products at retail are highly seasonal, with a large percentage of all toy purchases occurring during the relatively brief traditional holiday season. As a result, Mattel's operating results depend, in large part, on sales during the holiday season. Retailers attempt to manage their inventories tightly, which requires Mattel to ship products closer to the time the retailers expect to sell the products to consumers. This in turn results in shorter lead times for production. Management believes that the increase in "last minute" shopping during the holiday season and the popularity of gift cards (which often shift purchases to after the holiday season) may negatively impact customer re-orders during the holiday season.
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In addition, as a result of the seasonal nature of Mattel's business, Mattel may be adversely affected, in a manner disproportionate to the impact on a company with sales spread more evenly throughout the year, by unforeseen events, such as pandemics or other public health crises, terrorist attacks, economic shocks, severe weather due to climate change or otherwise, earthquakes or other catastrophic events, that harm the retail environment or consumer buying patterns during its key selling season, or by other events, such as strikes, disruptions in transportation, port delays, regional conflict, tariffs, trade restrictions, or trade barriers, and geopolitical and macro-economic factors, including high inflation and high interest rates, that interfere with the manufacture or shipment of goods during the critical months leading up to the holiday purchasing season.
If Mattel does not correctly anticipate demand for its products, Mattel may not be able to secure sufficient quantities or cost-effective production of its products or it could have costly excess production or inventories.
To ensure adequate inventory supply, Mattel must forecast inventory needs. If Mattel fails to accurately forecast customer demand, it may experience excess inventory levels or a shortage of product to deliver to its customers. Inventory levels in excess of customer demand have in the past resulted in, and may in the future result in, inventory write-downs or write-offs, and the sale of excess inventory at discounted prices or through less preferred distribution channels, which could harm Mattel's profit margins and impair Mattel's brand image. If Mattel underestimates the demand for its products, its manufacturing plants or third-party manufacturers may not be able to produce products to meet customer requirements, which has in the past resulted in, and may in the future result in, delays in the shipment of Mattel products.
Mattel has significant customer concentration, such that economic difficulties or changes in the purchasing policies or patterns of its key customers could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
A small number of customers account for a large share of Mattel's worldwide consolidated net sales. In 2024, Mattel's three largest customers, Walmart, Target, and Amazon, in the aggregate, accounted for approximately 44% of worldwide consolidated net sales (Walmart at $1.17 billion, Target at $0.68 billion, and Amazon at $0.51 billion) and its ten largest customers, in the aggregate, accounted for approximately 51% of net sales. This concentration exposes Mattel to risk of a material adverse effect if one or more of Mattel's large customers were to significantly reduce purchases for any reason, favor competitors or new entrants, redeploy their retail floor space to other product categories, alter the manner in which they promote Mattel's products or the resources they devote to promoting and selling Mattel's products, or increase their direct competition with Mattel by expanding their private-label business. Customers make no binding long-term commitments to Mattel regarding purchase volumes and make all purchases by delivering one-time purchase orders. Any customer reducing its overall purchases of Mattel's products, reducing the number and variety of Mattel's products that it carries, and the shelf space allotted for Mattel's products, or otherwise seeking to materially change the terms of the business relationship at any time could adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Liquidity problems or bankruptcy of Mattel's key customers could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel's sales to customers are typically made on credit without collateral. There is a risk that key customers will not pay, or that payment may be delayed, because of bankruptcy, contraction of credit availability to such customers, weak retail sales, or other factors beyond the control of Mattel, which could increase Mattel's exposure to losses from bad debts. In addition, when key customers cease doing business with Mattel as a result of bankruptcy, or significantly reduce the number of stores operated, it can have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Failure to successfully implement new initiatives or meet product introduction schedules can have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel has in the past announced, and in the future may announce, initiatives to reduce its costs, optimize its manufacturing footprint, increase its efficiency, improve the execution of its core business, globalize and extend Mattel's brands, catch new trends, create new brands, offer new innovative products and improve existing products, enhance product safety, develop people, improve productivity, simplify processes, and maintain customer service levels, as well as initiatives designed to drive sales growth, capitalize on Mattel's scale advantage, and improve its supply chain. These initiatives involve investment of capital and complex decision-making as well as extensive and intensive execution, and the success of these initiatives is not assured. Failure to achieve any of these initiatives could harm Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
From time to time, Mattel anticipates introducing new products, product lines, or brands at a certain time in the future. There is no guarantee that Mattel will be able to manufacture, source, ship, and distribute new or continuing products in a timely manner and on a cost-effective basis. Unforeseen delays or difficulties in the development process or significant
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increases in the planned cost of development for new Mattel products may cause the introduction date for products to be later than anticipated or, in some situations, may cause a product or new product introduction to be discontinued. Failure to successfully implement any of these initiatives or launches, or the failure of any of these initiatives or launches to produce the results anticipated by management, could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel's business depends in large part on the success of its vendors and outsourcers, and Mattel's brands and reputation are subject to harm from actions taken by third parties that are outside Mattel's control. In addition, any significant failure, inadequacy, or interruption from such vendors or outsourcers could harm Mattel's ability to effectively operate its business.
As a part of its efforts to cut costs, achieve better efficiencies, and increase productivity and service quality, Mattel relies significantly on vendor and outsourcing relationships with third parties for services and systems including manufacturing, transportation, logistics, and information technology. Any shortcoming of a Mattel vendor or outsourcer, particularly an issue related to compliance or reputation, or affecting the quality of these services or systems, risks damage to Mattel's reputation and brand value, and potentially adverse effects to Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, problems with transitioning these services and systems to, or operating failures with, these vendors and outsourcers cause delays in product sales and reduce the efficiency of Mattel's operations, and significant capital investments could be required to remediate the problem.
The production and sale of private-label toys by Mattel's retail customers may result in lower purchases of Mattel-branded products by those retail customers.
In recent years, consumer goods companies, including those in the toy business, generally have experienced the phenomenon of retail customers developing their own private-label products that directly compete with the products of traditional manufacturers. Some retail chains and online retailers that are customers of Mattel, including three of its largest retail customers, Walmart, Amazon and Target, sell private-label toys designed, manufactured, and branded by the retailers themselves. These toys may be sold at prices lower than comparable toys sold by Mattel and may result in lower purchases of Mattel-branded products by these retailers and reduce overall consumer demand for Mattel products. In some cases, retailers who sell these private-label toys are larger than Mattel and have substantially more resources than Mattel.
Mattel depends on key personnel and may not be able to hire, retain, and integrate sufficient qualified personnel to maintain and expand its business.
Mattel's future success depends partly on the continued contribution of key executives, designers, and technical, sales, marketing, manufacturing, entertainment, and other personnel. If Mattel fails to retain, hire, train, and integrate key personnel, Mattel's ability to maintain or expand its business could be harmed. Recruiting and retaining qualified personnel is costly and highly competitive. Labor shortages and increased labor costs as a result of increased competition for qualified talent, higher employee turnover rates, increases in employee benefit costs, wage inflation, or other disruptions to Mattel's workforce can negatively impact its business. In addition, changes to Mattel's current and future work environments may not meet the needs or expectations of its employees or be perceived as less favorable compared to other companies' policies, which could negatively impact Mattel's ability to hire and retain qualified personnel.
Market Conditions
The deterioration of global or regional economic conditions could adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel designs, manufactures, and markets a wide variety of products worldwide through sales to retailer customers and directly to consumers. Mattel's performance is impacted by the level of discretionary consumer spending, which remains relatively weak in many countries around the world in which Mattel does business. Consumers' discretionary purchases of toy and entertainment products are often impacted by a number of factors beyond Mattel's control, including, inflation, job losses, foreclosures, bankruptcies, reduced access to credit, interest rates, tax rates, investment losses, lower consumer confidence, and other macro-economic factors that affect consumer spending behavior. These or other factors can reduce the amount that consumers spend on the purchase of Mattel's products. Deterioration of global or regional economic conditions have at times adversely affected Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations. Unfavorable economic conditions can also impair the ability of those with whom Mattel does business to satisfy their obligations to us. Future deterioration of global or regional economic conditions or disruptions in credit markets in the markets in which Mattel operates could potentially have a material adverse effect on Mattel's liquidity and capital resources, including increasing Mattel's cost of capital or its ability to raise additional capital if needed, or otherwise adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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In addition to experiencing potentially lower revenues during times of economic difficulty, in an effort to maintain sales during such times, Mattel may need to increase promotional spending or take other steps to encourage retailer and consumer purchases of its products. Those steps may increase costs and/or decrease profit margins and are not always successful. During periods of increased inflation, such as Mattel is currently facing, Mattel has increased prices of certain products, and may in the future need to increase prices further in order to cover increased costs of goods sold, which may reduce demand for products. There can be no guarantee that Mattel will be able to successfully increase prices in the future or that the price increases Mattel has already taken will offset the entirety of additional costs it has incurred and may incur in the future. The inability to adequately increase prices to offset increased costs and inflationary pressures, or otherwise mitigate the impact of these macro-economic conditions and market disruptions, may also increase costs and/or decrease profit margins.
Significant increases in the price of commodities, transportation, or labor, if not offset by declines in other input costs, or a reduction or interruption in the delivery of raw materials, components, and finished products from Mattel's vendors, could adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Cost increases, whether resulting from rising costs of materials, transportation, services, labor, or compliance with existing or future regulatory requirements, including tariffs, trade restrictions, or trade barriers, impact the profit margins realized by Mattel on the sale of its products. Because of market conditions, timing of pricing decisions, and other factors, there can be no assurance that Mattel will be able to offset any of these increased costs by adjusting the prices of its products. Increases in prices of Mattel's products may not be sustainable and could result in lower sales. Mattel's ability to meet customer demand depends, in part, on its ability to obtain timely and adequate delivery of materials, parts, and components from its suppliers and internal manufacturing capacity. Mattel has experienced shortages in the past, including shortages of raw materials and components. Additionally, as Mattel cannot guarantee the stability of its major suppliers, major suppliers may stop manufacturing components at any time with little or no notice. If Mattel is required to use alternative sources, it may be required to redesign some aspects of the affected products, which may involve delays and additional expense. Reductions or interruptions in supplies or in the delivery of finished products, whether resulting from more stringent regulatory requirements, disruptions in transportation, port delays, labor strikes or disputes, lockouts, loss or impairment of key manufacturing facilities, discontinuity or disruptions in information technology systems, changes in trade policy, including the imposition of tariffs, trade restrictions, or trade barriers, an outbreak of disease or a severe public health crisis, natural disasters, including severe weather due to climate change or otherwise, the occurrence or threat of wars or other conflicts, or a significant increase in the price of one or more supplies (or an inability to procure sufficient supplies), such as fuel or resin (which is an oil-based product used in plastics), or otherwise, have at times adversely affected and could in the future adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Significant changes in currency exchange rates or the ability to transfer capital across borders could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel operates facilities and sells products in numerous countries outside the United States. During 2024, Mattel's International segment net sales were 41% of Mattel's total consolidated net sales. Furthermore, Mattel's net investment in its foreign subsidiaries and its results of operations and cash flows are subject to changes in currency exchange rates and regulations. Significant inflation in economies of certain foreign countries can result in foreign currency devaluation, which negatively impacts Mattel's profitability. Mattel's efforts to mitigate the exposure of its results of operations to fluctuations in currency exchange rates by aligning its prices with the local currency cost of acquiring inventory, distributing earnings in U.S. dollars, and partially hedging this exposure using foreign currency forward exchange contracts may ultimately be unsuccessful. Government action may restrict Mattel's ability to transfer capital across borders, such as currency control regulations in China, and may also impact the fluctuation of currencies in the countries where Mattel conducts business or has invested capital. Significant changes in currency exchange rates, reductions in Mattel's ability to transfer its capital across borders, and changes in government-fixed currency exchange rates, including the Chinese yuan, could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
An increasing portion of Mattel's business may come from new and emerging markets, and growing business in new and emerging markets presents additional challenges.
An increasing portion of Mattel's net revenues may come from new and emerging markets, including China and India. Operating in new and emerging markets, each with its own unique consumer preferences and business climates, presents additional challenges that Mattel must meet. In addition, sales and operations in new and emerging markets are subject to other risks associated with international operations. Such risks include complications in complying with different laws in varying jurisdictions; dealing with changes in governmental policies and the evolution of laws and regulations that impact Mattel's product offerings and related enforcement; difficulties understanding the retail climate, consumer trends, local customs and competitive conditions in foreign markets, which are often quite different from those in the United States; difficulties in moving
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materials and products from one country to another, including port congestion, strikes and other transportation delays and interruptions; potential challenges to Mattel's transfer pricing determinations and other aspects of its cross border transactions; and the impact of tariffs, trade restrictions, trade barriers, quotas, or other protectionist measures.
Failure to properly manage these risks could adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Disruptions due to political instability, civil unrest, the threat or occurrence of war or terrorist activities, pandemics or other public health crises, or earthquakes or other natural disasters out of Mattel's control and actions taken by governments, businesses, and individuals in response to such events could adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel's business and operations could be materially and adversely affected by political instability, civil unrest, the threat or occurrence of war or terrorist activities, pandemics or other public health crises, earthquakes, natural disasters, and other natural or man-made economic, political, or environmental disruptions. Disruptions, and government responses to any disruption, could adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations and may vary based on the length and severity of the disruption. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions taken by governments, businesses, and individuals in response thereto affected how Mattel and its suppliers and partners operated their businesses, caused supply chain disruption and retail store closures, and adversely affected Mattel's operating results.
Mattel owns, operates, and manages manufacturing facilities and utilizes third-party manufacturers and suppliers throughout Asia, primarily in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand, and in Mexico. Risks from political instability, civil unrest, the threat or occurrence of war or terrorist activities, and other geopolitical or macro-economic conditions exist in certain of these countries, which could temporarily or permanently damage the manufacturing operations of Mattel or its third-party manufacturers located there. In addition, Mattel has significant operations near major earthquake faults, including its corporate headquarters in El Segundo, California. A catastrophic event where Mattel has important operations, such as an earthquake, tsunami, flood, typhoon, fire or wildfire, power outage, or other natural or manmade disaster, including as a result of climate change, could disrupt Mattel's operations or those of its business partners and impair production or distribution of its products, damage inventory, interrupt critical functions, or otherwise affect its business negatively.
Any one of these factors, or a combination thereof, could impact Mattel's ability to meet demand for its products or could increase the costs of its products. To the extent any of these disruptions become prolonged or recur, particularly during seasonally high periods of production or distribution, Mattel's ability to meet demand may be materially impacted. Insurance for certain disruptions may not be available, affordable, or adequate. Such disruptions in the markets in which Mattel, its employees, consumers, customers, business partners, licensees, licensors, suppliers, and manufacturers operate, can have, and at times in the past have had, a significant negative impact on Mattel's business, liquidity, financial position, sales, and results of operations. In addition, the contingency plans Mattel has developed to help mitigate the impact of disruptions in its manufacturing operations and supply chain may not prevent its business, financial position, sales, and results of operations from being adversely affected by a significant disruption to its manufacturing operations or suppliers.
The occurrence of war or hostilities between countries or threat of terrorist activities, and the responses to and results of these activities, could adversely impact Mattel, its personnel and facilities, its customers and suppliers, retail and financial markets, and general economic conditions. For example, the global economy has been negatively impacted as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war as well as the conflict in the Middle East, and Mattel's operations in Russia have experienced significant disruption. Mattel has paused all shipments into Russia and expects, for the foreseeable future, decreased revenues compared with those prior to the war from Russia and Ukraine.
Political developments, including trade relations, and/or trade actions could adversely impact Mattel, its personnel and facilities, its customers and suppliers, retail and financial markets, and general economic conditions.
Mattel's business is worldwide in scope, and political instability, civil unrest, the deterioration of the political, economic, or social situation in a country in which Mattel has significant sales or operations, or the breakdown of trade relations between the United States and a foreign country in which Mattel has significant manufacturing facilities or other operations, could adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations. A change in trade status between the United States and a foreign country could result in a substantial increase in the import duty of toys manufactured in that foreign country and imported into the United States. For example, the United States has implemented certain trade actions directed at China, including imposing increased tariffs on certain goods imported into the United States from China, which has resulted in retaliatory tariffs by China. China has also implemented various trade actions directed at the United States. Further trade actions by the United States or China, or trade actions by or directed toward other countries, such as Mexico or Canada, could result in diverting more production to, or sourcing from, countries other than China or Mexico, could raise the cost of Mattel products in those markets, and could cause customers in those markets to seek domestic or non-U.S. sources for products that Mattel sells,
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or to be pressured or incentivized by foreign governments not to purchase goods of U.S. companies, all of which could harm Mattel's future sales in these those markets, adversely affecting Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
In addition, the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, among other jurisdictions, have each imposed export controls, as well as financial and economic sanctions, currency controls, and other trade actions, on certain products, technologies, industry sectors, and parties in Russia and Belarus as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war, which have resulted and could further result in retaliatory measures and actions by Russia. Any increased trade barriers or restrictions on global trade imposed by the United States, whether toward China, Russia, or other countries, or further retaliatory trade measures or currency controls taken by China, Russia, or other countries in response, could further adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Evolving stakeholder expectations, regulatory requirements, and increasing scrutiny relating to sustainability matters including with respect to climate change, could expose Mattel to potential liabilities, increase costs, cause reputational harm, and cause other adverse impacts to Mattel's business.
Mattel's business is susceptible to financial, operational, and reputational risks associated with the effects of global climate change. Mattel's operations may be vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, which are predicted to increase the frequency and severity of weather events and other natural cycles such as wildfires, heatwaves, storms, floods, and droughts. The effects of climate change may cause disruptions to Mattel's operations, including by disrupting its supply chain and the productivity of its third-party manufacturers, increasing Mattel's production costs, imposing capacity restraints, and impacting the types of products that consumers purchase, all of which may cause Mattel to suffer losses and additional costs to maintain or resume operations. Mattel may also be subject to decreased availability or less favorable pricing for certain commodities that are necessary for Mattel's products.
In addition, Mattel expects to incur capital expenditures, compliance costs, and other costs to comply with increasingly stringent sustainability laws, compliance reporting, and enforcement policies, including those related to the environment. Foreign, federal, state, and local governments have and may in the future focus on enacting laws and regulations regarding the management of, or disclosure regarding, sustainability matters, such as, among other topics, climate change and the regulation of greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions, energy use, sustainability claims and labeling requirements, responsible sourcing, and the recyclability or recoverability of packaging and products. For example, in October 2023, California enacted legislation addressing the disclosure of GHG emissions, climate-related risks, certain environmental claims, and the use or sale of voluntary carbon offsets. Federal agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and other U.S. agencies, have at times in the past increased their focus on climate, human capital, or other sustainability-related disclosures, claims, and practices. Global efforts have been made and continue to be made in the international community toward the adoption of international treaties or protocols that would address global sustainability issues. Further, the EU has passed a variety of sustainability-related directives and regulations in recent years as part of its Green Deal, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which will require sustainability reporting across a broad range of sustainability topics for both EU and non-EU companies, and the Corporation Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which will require both EU and non-EU companies to take certain steps to address human rights- and climate-related risks and impacts. Compliance with this evolving legislative and regulatory landscape will require management’s time and resources, impose increased costs, and could result in operational disruptions. Further, Mattel’s failure to comply with sustainability-related laws and regulations could lead to government enforcement actions, penalties, litigation, and/or reputational harm.
A variety of Mattel's stakeholders, including regulators, investors, advisory firms, rating agencies, and customers, are establishing laws, regulations, expectations, and/or assessments reflecting their varied and evolving expectations on corporate practices, including transparency, due diligence, and reporting related to sustainability matters, such as climate change, plastic use, human rights and/or labor standards, responsible sourcing, the recyclability or recoverability of packaging and products, human capital management, product safety and quality, and other sustainability matters. In particular, customers and consumers may continue to put a premium on purchasing products that are sustainably manufactured and packaged, and Mattel may need to incur additional costs in order to effectively source materials that are more sustainable. As Mattel's sustainability practices, stakeholder expectations, and voluntary and regulatory sustainability disclosure standards and policies continue to evolve, Mattel has developed, and may further develop, sustainability-related goals and disclosures in these areas. Current sustainability goals are based on Mattel management's current assumptions related to scientific or technological developments, carbon markets, and other matters that are subject to change in the future and which may be outside of Mattel's control, as well as standards for measuring progress that are still developing and subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties. Mattel's efforts to be responsive to climate change, including to reduce its carbon footprint, and other sustainability matters, cannot provide assurance that Mattel will successfully achieve its sustainability goals, that related costs may not be higher than expected, that proposed regulation or deregulation related to climate change and other sustainability matters will not be more aggressive than Mattel's measures and result in higher costs (or require additional resources), or that any investments Mattel makes in furtherance of achieving such goals will meet expectations for all stakeholders or any applicable binding or non-
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binding standards, any one of which could have an adverse effect on Mattel's financial condition, results of operations, reputation, or stock price. In addition, Mattel's efforts on these topics may harm its reputation or competitive position and negatively impact its ability to retain existing or attract new employees, customers, and business relationships. Further, being associated with activities by business partners or other affiliates that have or are perceived to have individual or cumulative adverse impacts on the climate, human rights, or other sustainability matters could negatively affect Mattel's reputation and impose additional costs.
Climate and other sustainability-related litigation has increased in recent years, such as claims involving the failure of organizations to mitigate their negative impacts on climate change, the failure of organizations to adapt to climate change, the insufficiency or inaccuracy of disclosure around climate or other sustainability-related risks, the failure to meet stated sustainability-related goals, or the failure to adequately meet standards regarding human rights and/or labor conditions. If Mattel's sustainability practices do not or are perceived to not meet or align with investor or other stakeholder expectations and standards (which are continually evolving and may disagree with or emphasize different priorities than the ones Mattel chooses to focus on), or if Mattel fails to achieve, is perceived to have failed to achieve or been delayed in achieving, its sustainability goals, it could negatively affect consumer or customer preference for Mattel's products, as well as expose Mattel to reputational harm or litigation.
Financial and Accounting
To the extent Mattel is unable to realize the anticipated cost savings from its previously announced cost savings programs or incurs additional and/or unexpected costs to realize such cost savings, Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Mattel has implemented and continues to implement a series of cost savings programs as described in Part II, Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Cost Savings Programs."
There can be no assurance that Mattel will be able to realize the cost savings from its previously announced cost savings programs in the anticipated amounts or within the anticipated timeframes or at all, or that the impact of the efforts to achieve such cost savings will not be significantly different than currently anticipated. In addition, any cost savings that Mattel realizes may be offset, in whole or in part, by reductions in net sales or through increases in other expenses. Failure to realize the expected cost savings from these cost savings programs could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The amounts of anticipated cost savings and anticipated expenses related thereto are based on Mattel's current estimates, but they involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those described herein. Assumptions relating to the plans and amounts related thereto involve subjective decisions and judgments with respect to, among other things, the estimated impact of certain operational adjustments, including marketing efficiency, labor management, material input cost fluctuations, plant transition costs, and other cost and savings adjustments, as well as future economic, competitive, industry and market conditions, and future business decisions, all of which are inherently uncertain and may be beyond the control of Mattel's management. Although Mattel's management believes these estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that the assumptions or estimates described herein will prove to be accurate or that the objectives and plans expressed will be achieved. Neither Mattel's independent registered public accounting firm nor any other independent registered public accounting firm, has examined, compiled, or performed any procedures with respect to these amounts, nor have they expressed any opinion, or any other form of assurance, on such information or their achievability.
Mattel has in the past engaged, and may in the future engage, in acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, or other strategic transactions, which can affect Mattel's revenues, profit, profit margins, debt-to-capital ratio, capital expenditures, or other aspects of Mattel's business. In addition, Mattel has certain anti-takeover provisions in its bylaws that may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire Mattel without its consent, which may adversely affect Mattel's stock price.
Mattel regularly considers, and from time to time engages in, discussions and negotiations regarding acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, or other strategic transactions that could affect the profit, revenues, profit margins, debt-to-capital ratio, capital expenditures, or other aspects of Mattel's business. There can be no assurance that Mattel will be able to identify suitable acquisition targets or merger partners or that, if identified, it will be able to complete these transactions on terms acceptable to Mattel and to potential acquisition targets or merger partners. There can also be no assurance that Mattel will be successful in integrating any acquired company into its overall operations, or that any such acquired company will operate profitably or will not otherwise adversely impact Mattel's results of operations. Further, Mattel cannot be certain that key talented individuals at those acquired companies will continue to work for Mattel after the acquisition or that they will continue to develop popular and profitable products or services. In addition, Mattel has certain anti-takeover provisions in its bylaws that may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire Mattel without its consent, which may adversely affect Mattel's stock price.
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The level of returns on pension plan assets and the actuarial assumptions used for valuation purposes could affect Mattel's earnings in future periods. Changes in standards and government regulations could also affect its pension plan expense and funding requirements.
Assumptions used in determining projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets for Mattel's pension plan are evaluated by Mattel in consultation with outside actuaries. In the event that Mattel determines that changes are warranted in the assumptions used, such as the discount rate or expected long term rate of return, its future pension benefit expenses could increase or decrease. Due to changing market conditions or changes in the participant population, the actuarial assumptions that Mattel uses may differ from actual results, which could have an impact on its pension and postretirement liability and related costs. Funding obligations are determined based on the value of assets and liabilities on a specific date as required under relevant government regulations for each plan. Future pension funding requirements, and the timing of funding payments, could be affected by legislation enacted by the relevant governmental authorities.
If Mattel's goodwill becomes impaired, Mattel's results of operations could be adversely affected.
Goodwill accounts for a significant amount of Mattel's assets. Mattel tests its goodwill for impairment annually or more often if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment may have occurred. For purposes of evaluating whether goodwill is impaired, goodwill is allocated to various reporting units. Declines in profitability of Mattel's reporting units may impact the fair value of its reporting units, which could result in an impairment of its goodwill, adversely affecting its results of operations. For more information, see Part II, Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Goodwill" and Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net."
Mattel's stock price has been volatile over the past several years and could decline in the future, resulting in losses for Mattel's investors.
All the factors discussed in this section or any other material announcements or events can affect Mattel's stock price. In addition, quarterly fluctuations in Mattel's operating results, changes in investor and analyst perception of Mattel's business risks and conditions of its business, Mattel's ability to meet earnings estimates and other performance expectations of financial analysts or investors, unfavorable commentary or downgrades of Mattel's stock by research analysts, fluctuations in the stock prices of Mattel's peer companies or in stock markets in general, and general economic or political conditions can also cause the price of Mattel's stock to change. A significant drop in the price of Mattel's stock would expose Mattel to the risk of securities class action lawsuits, which could result in substantial costs and divert management's attention and resources, with the potential to adversely affect Mattel's business. For example, Mattel and certain other defendants have been party to certain class actions and certain derivative actions. For more information, see Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Commitments and Contingencies—Litigation."
Mattel identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting which, if not remediated appropriately or timely, could affect Mattel's ability to record, process, and report financial information accurately, impair its ability to prepare financial statements, negatively affect investor confidence, and cause reputational harm.
Effective internal controls are necessary for Mattel to provide reliable and accurate financial reporting and financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could lead to violations, unintentional or otherwise, of laws and regulations. As disclosed in Part II, Item 9A "Controls and Procedures," Mattel determined that there is a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting and as a result, its disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting are not effective as of December 31, 2024. While Mattel is in the process of implementing its remediation plan to address the material weakness, there can be no assurance that the efforts will fully remediate the material weakness in a timely manner. If Mattel is unable to remediate the material weakness, or is otherwise unable to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or disclosure controls and procedures, Mattel's ability to record, process, and report financial information accurately, and to prepare financial statements within required time periods, could be adversely affected. Litigation, government investigations, or regulatory enforcement actions arising out of any such failure or alleged failure could subject Mattel to civil and criminal penalties that could materially and adversely affect Mattel's reputation, financial condition, and operating results. The material weakness, remediation efforts, and any related litigation, government investigations, or regulatory enforcement actions will require management attention and resources and cause Mattel to incur unanticipated costs, and could negatively affect investor confidence in Mattel's financial statements, cause Mattel reputational harm, and raise other risks to its operations.
Legal and Regulatory
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Mattel relies extensively on information technology in its operations, and any material failure, inadequacy, interruption, or security breach of that technology could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel relies extensively on information technology systems across its operations, including for management of its supply chain, sale and delivery of its products and services, reporting its results of operations, collection and storage of consumer data, personal data of customers, employees and other stakeholders, and various other processes and transactions. If Mattel does not allocate and effectively manage the resources necessary to build, sustain, and protect an appropriate technology infrastructure, it could be subject to transaction errors, processing inefficiencies, loss of customers, business disruptions, shutdowns, or loss of or damage to IP through security breach. Many of these systems are managed by third-party service providers. Mattel relies on such third parties to provide services on a timely and effective basis, but Mattel ultimately does not control their performance. Mattel uses third-party technology and systems for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation, encryption and authentication technology, employee email, content delivery to customers, regulatory compliance, back-office support, and other functions. A small and growing volume of Mattel's consumer products and services are web-based, and some are offered in conjunction with business partners or such third-party service providers. In addition, Mattel's distributors, suppliers, and other external business partners utilize their own information technology systems that are subject to similar risks to Mattel as described above. Their failure to perform as expected or as required by contract, or a cyber-attack on them that disrupts their systems, could result in significant disruptions and costs to Mattel's operations or, in the case of third-party service providers, a penetration of Mattel's systems. Mattel and its business partners and third-party service providers collect, process, store, and transmit consumer data, including personal and payment information, in connection with those products and services. Failure to follow applicable regulations related to those activities, or to prevent or mitigate data loss or other security breaches, including breaches of Mattel's business partners' technology and systems, can expose Mattel or its customers to a risk of loss or misuse of such information, which can adversely affect Mattel's operating results, result in regulatory enforcement, other litigation and potential liability for Mattel, and otherwise harm its business. Mattel's ability to effectively manage its business and coordinate the production, distribution, and sale of its products and services depends significantly on the reliability and capacity of these systems and third-party service providers.
Mattel has exposure to security risks similar to those faced by other large companies that have data stored on their information technology systems, such as security breaches, cyber-attacks, and other hacking activities such as denial of service, malware, and ransomware, and is not always successful in preventing attacks or other cyber incidents. For example, in July 2020, Mattel experienced a ransomware attack. That attack was contained, Mattel restored its operations, and no exfiltration of any sensitive business data or retail customer, supplier, consumer, or employee data was identified; however, there can be no assurance that Mattel will be able to mitigate negative impacts in the same way in the event of future attacks or other cyber incidents.
The systems and processes that Mattel has developed to protect personal information and prevent data loss and other security breaches, including systems and processes designed to prevent, detect, and minimize the impact of a security breach at a third-party provider as well as enhancements to the security of Mattel's systems and processes following the July 2020 ransomware attack, do not provide absolute security, and any failure or inadequacy of such systems or processes could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations. While Mattel carries cyber and business continuity insurance commensurate with its size and the nature of its operations, there can be no guarantee that costs incurred as a result of cyber events will be covered completely. Remote or hybrid work environments (including for Mattel's employees, customers, sellers, suppliers, vendors, and other third parties) may amplify these security risks or introduce additional security vulnerabilities. Additionally, the prevalence and increasing sophistication of AI may increase the frequency or efficacy of cyberattacks against Mattel.
Mattel's information systems require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain, upgrade and enhance existing systems and develop or contract for new systems in order to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, emerging cybersecurity risks and threats, evolving industry, legal and regulatory standards and requirements, and other changes in Mattel's business, among other things. Mattel has made and expects to continue to make significant investments in updating and integrating IT systems; however, those investments could turn out to be insufficient or fail to yield the expected results. If Mattel's or its third-party service providers' systems fail to operate effectively or are damaged, destroyed, or shut down, or there are problems with transitioning to upgraded or replacement systems, or there are future security breaches in these systems, any of which could occur as a result of natural disasters, software or equipment failures, telecommunications failures, loss or theft of equipment, acts of terrorism, circumvention of security systems, or other cyber-attacks, including denial-of-service attacks, Mattel could experience delays or decreases in product sales and reduced efficiency of its operations. Additionally, any of these types of events could lead to violations of privacy laws, loss of customers, or loss, misappropriation or corruption of confidential information, trade secrets, or data, which could expose Mattel to potential litigation, regulatory actions, sanctions, or other statutory penalties, any or all of which could adversely affect its business and cause it to incur significant losses and remediation costs.
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If Mattel fails to comply with applicable U.S. and foreign laws related to privacy, data security, AI, and data protection, it could adversely affect Mattel's operating results and financial condition.
As a global company, Mattel is subject to a variety of continuously evolving and developing laws and regulations in the United States and abroad regarding privacy, data protection, AI, and data security, including those related to the collection, storage, handling, use, disclosure, transfer, and security of personal data. For example, Mattel is or may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations such as the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), EU Artificial Intelligence Act ("EU AI Act"), China's Personal Information Protection Law ("PIPL"), California's Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA"), or the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 ("COPPA") regarding privacy, data protection, AI (including automated decision-making) and data security. These laws and regulations are continuously evolving and developing, creating significant uncertainty as privacy and data protection laws may be interpreted and applied differently from country to country and may create inconsistent or conflicting requirements. For example, the GDPR, which greatly increases the jurisdictional reach of EU law and became effective in May 2018, added a broad array of requirements for handling personal data, including the public disclosure of significant data breaches, and imposes substantial penalties for non-compliance. The EU AI Act, which was adopted in 2024 and will be implemented in phases beginning 2025 through 2030, imposes certain requirements and limitations on developers and deployers of AI systems designated as "high risk," including in some cases AI systems designed for interaction with children. The requirements will apply to companies based outside the EU but operating on the EU market, and will carry the potential for substantial penalties for non-compliance. China's PIPL imposes additional operational requirements relating to processing personal information and provides for penalties and enforcement mechanisms. China has recently enacted complex and highly restrictive cybersecurity, data localization, and cross border data transfer laws. The CCPA requires covered companies to provide additional disclosures and data rights to data subjects. The California Privacy Rights Act ("CPRA"), which became operative on January 1, 2023, established the California Privacy Protection Agency to enforce Californians' privacy rights under the CCPA. Since the CCPA was enacted, several other states have enacted or are in the process of enacting privacy, data protection, and AI-related laws, which may also impose obligations on companies developing and using AI or automated decision-making technologies.
Mattel's ongoing efforts to comply with the GDPR and other privacy and data protection laws, such as the PIPL, CCPA, CPRA, and COPPA, as well as initiatives to comply with new legal regimes relating to privacy, data protection, and AI, impose significant costs and challenges that are likely to increase over time, including as Mattel introduces sophisticated digital and smart technology products, including products that incorporate AI. Given that the scope, interpretation, and application of these laws and regulations are often uncertain and may be in conflict across jurisdictions, it is possible that these obligations may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another and may conflict with other rules or Mattel's practices. Any failure, or perceived failure, by Mattel or third-party service providers to comply with Mattel's privacy or security policies or privacy-related legal obligations, or any compromise of security that results in the unauthorized release or transfer of personal data, may result in governmental enforcement actions, litigation, or negative publicity, and could have an adverse effect on Mattel's operating results and financial condition.
Mattel faces risks related to protecting its proprietary IP and information and is subject to third-party claims that Mattel is infringing on their IP rights, either of which could adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The value of Mattel's business depends on its ability to protect its IP and information, including its trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and rights under IP license agreements and other agreements with third parties, in the United States and around the world, as well as its customer, employee, and consumer data. From time to time, third parties have challenged, and may in the future try to challenge, Mattel's ownership of its IP in the United States and around the world. Responding to any infringement claim, regardless of its validity, may be costly and time-consuming and may divert management and key personnel from business operations. Findings of infringement on the IP rights of any third party by Mattel, its distributors, its licensors, or its manufacturers may require obtaining a license to use those rights, which may not be obtainable on reasonable terms, if at all.
In addition, Mattel's business is subject to the risk of third parties counterfeiting its products or infringing on its IP rights, and the availability of certain AI tools has facilitated the creation of infringing works based on the unauthorized use of Mattel's IP. The legal landscape for some new technologies, including AI (particularly generative AI), remains uncertain, and development of the law in this area could impact Mattel's ability to protect against potentially infringing uses associated with both the development and use of AI. In addition, the availability of copyright protection and other legal protections for IP generated by certain new technologies, such as generative AI, is uncertain. The steps Mattel has taken may not prevent unauthorized use of its IP, particularly in foreign countries where the laws may not protect its IP as fully as in the United States. Mattel at times resorts to litigation to protect its IP rights, which could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources. Mattel's failure to protect its proprietary IP and information, including with respect to any successful challenge to Mattel's
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ownership of its IP or significant infringements of its IP, could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel has acquired, and may in the future acquire, certain IP from third parties. Declines in the profitability of these acquired brands may impact Mattel's ability to recover the carrying value of the related assets and could result in an impairment charge. Reduction in net earnings caused by impairment charges could harm Mattel's results of operations.
Unfavorable resolution of, or adverse developments in, legal proceedings, other investigations, or regulatory matters could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel is, from time to time, involved in litigation or other disputes, investigations, and regulatory matters. An unfavorable resolution of these matters could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations. Regardless of their outcome, these matters may result in substantial costs and expenses, significantly divert the attention of management, or interrupt Mattel's normal business operations. There can be no assurance that Mattel will be able to prevail in, or achieve a favorable settlement of, any of these matters. For more information, see Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Commitments and Contingencies—Litigation."
Mattel is subject to various laws and government policies or regulations in numerous jurisdictions, violation of which could subject it to sanctions. In addition, changes in such laws or policies or regulations may lead to increased costs, changes in Mattel's effective tax rate, or the interruption of normal business operations that could adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel operates in a highly regulated environment in the United States and international markets. U.S. federal, state, and local governmental entities, and foreign governments regulate many aspects of Mattel's business, including its products and the importation and exportation of its products, and these laws and regulations can change frequently. These policies or regulations include accounting standards, taxation requirements (including changes in applicable income tax rates, new tax laws, and revised tax law interpretations), product safety and other safety standards, duties and tariffs (including international trade laws and regulations, export controls, and economic sanctions), trade restrictions, trade barriers, regulations regarding currency and financial matters, anticorruption standards (such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act), labor and employment, environmental matters, advertising directed toward children, product content, AI, and privacy and data protection, as well as other administrative and regulatory restrictions. In addition, as Mattel enters into new areas of investment, product development, or other business activities, it will have to learn to navigate the regulatory framework surrounding those areas, which may be continuing to develop. For example, Mattel has launched several non-fungible token projects, and its own digital collectibles marketplace. Mattel may continue to make investments involving cryptocurrency and may transact in cryptocurrency, and must comply with applicable regulations, which continue to evolve. The steps Mattel takes to comply with these laws, regulations, and policies do not ensure that Mattel will be in compliance in the future. Compliance with these various laws, regulations, and policies imposes significant costs on Mattel's business, and failure to comply could result in monetary liabilities and other penalties and could also lead to negative media attention, reputational damage, and consumer dissatisfaction, which could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
New tax laws and interpretations of tax law are taken into account for financial statement purposes in the quarter or year that they become applicable. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development reached an agreement among various countries to implement a minimum 15% tax rate on certain multinational enterprises, commonly referred to as Pillar Two. Many countries continue to announce changes in their tax laws and regulations based on the Pillar Two rules. Mattel is continuing to evaluate the impact of these proposed and enacted legislative changes as new guidance becomes available. Some of the legislative changes could impact Mattel’s effective tax rate and tax liabilities. When and how these rules are adopted or enacted by various countries in which Mattel does business could increase tax complexity and uncertainty and may adversely affect Mattel’s worldwide effective tax rate, income tax expense, and cash flows. Mattel is subject to regular review and audit by both domestic and foreign tax authorities. Tax authorities are increasingly scrutinizing the tax positions of companies and Mattel has tax audits pending in several jurisdictions. If the U.S. or foreign tax authorities change applicable tax laws or successfully challenge how or where Mattel's profits are currently recognized, Mattel's overall taxes could increase, and Mattel's business, financial condition or results of operations may be adversely impacted.
In addition, increases in import and excise duties and/or sales or value added taxes in the jurisdictions in which Mattel operates could affect the affordability of Mattel's products and, therefore, reduce demand.
From time to time, issues with products lead to product liability, personal injury or property damage claims, recalls, withdrawals, replacements of products, or regulatory or other actions by governmental authorities, which could divert resources, affect business operations, decrease sales, increase costs, and put Mattel at a competitive disadvantage, any of which could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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Mattel has in the past experienced, and may in the future experience, issues with products that lead to product liability, personal injury or property damage claims, recalls, withdrawals, replacements of products, or regulatory actions by governmental authorities. These issues and activities have resulted in increased governmental scrutiny and inquiries, harm to Mattel's reputation, reduced demand by consumers for its products, decreased willingness by retailer customers to purchase or provide marketing support for those products, adverse impacts on Mattel's ability to enter into licensing agreements for products on competitive terms, absence or increased cost of insurance, or additional safety and testing requirements. For example, the insurance terms Mattel negotiated for certain prior periods were less favorable than preceding periods as a result of past claims, product liability incidents, changes in market conditions, and other factors. These issues and activities can divert development and management resources, adversely affect Mattel's business operations, decrease sales, increase legal fees and other costs, and put Mattel at a competitive disadvantage compared to other manufacturers not affected by similar issues with products, any of which could have an adverse effect on Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel's current and future operating procedures and product requirements may increase costs, adversely affect its relationship with vendors, and make it more difficult for Mattel to produce, purchase, and deliver products on a timely basis to meet market demands. Future conditions may require Mattel to adopt further changes that may increase its costs and further affect its relationship with vendors.
Mattel's current operating procedures and product requirements, including testing requirements and standards, have imposed costs on both Mattel and the vendors from which it purchases products. Changes in business conditions, including those resulting from new legislative and regulatory requirements, have in the past caused, and in the future could cause, further revisions of Mattel's operating procedures and product requirements. Changes in Mattel's operating procedures and product requirements can delay delivery of products and increase costs. Mattel's relationships with its existing vendors may be adversely affected as a result of these changes, making Mattel more dependent on a smaller number of vendors. Mattel is not currently dependent on a single supplier or group of suppliers. Some vendors may choose not to continue to do business with Mattel or not to accommodate Mattel's needs to the extent that they have done in the past. In addition, rising production costs, contraction of credit availability, and labor shortages have caused a substantial contraction in the number of toy manufacturers in China and other countries in Asia, decreasing the number of potential vendors to manufacture Mattel's products. Because of the seasonal nature of Mattel's business and the demands of its customers for deliveries with short lead times, Mattel depends upon the cooperation of its vendors to meet market demand for its products in a timely manner. There can be no assurance that existing and future events will not require Mattel to adopt additional requirements and incur additional costs, and impose those requirements and costs on its vendors, which may adversely affect its relationship with those vendors and Mattel's ability to meet market demand in a timely manner.
Indebtedness
Mattel's substantial indebtedness could adversely affect its ability to raise additional capital to fund its operations, limit its ability to react to changes in the economy or its industry, and expose it to interest rate risk to the extent of its variable rate debt.
At December 31, 2024, Mattel had $2.33 billion of indebtedness on a consolidated basis. In addition, Mattel has $1.40 billion of commitments under its revolving credit facility. For more information, see Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Seasonal Financing and Debt."
Subject to the limits contained in the credit agreement that governs Mattel's revolving credit facility, the indentures that govern the notes, and Mattel's other debt instruments, Mattel may incur substantial additional debt from time to time to finance working capital, capital expenditures, investments or acquisitions, or for other purposes. To the extent Mattel does so, the risks related to Mattel's high level of debt would increase. Specifically, Mattel's substantial indebtedness could have important consequences. For example, it could:
•Require Mattel to dedicate a substantial portion of its cash flow from operations to payments on Mattel's indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of Mattel's cash flow to fund acquisitions, working capital, capital expenditures, research and development efforts, and other general corporate purposes;
•Increase Mattel's vulnerability to, and limit Mattel's flexibility in planning for or reacting to, changes in its business and the industries in which it operates;
•Restrict Mattel from making strategic acquisitions or cause Mattel to make non-strategic divestitures;
•Expose Mattel to the risk of increased interest rates as borrowings under its revolving credit facility will be subject to variable rates of interest;
•Expose Mattel to additional risks related to currency exchange rates and repatriation of funds;
•Place Mattel at a competitive disadvantage compared to its competitors that have less debt; and
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•Limit Mattel's ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing for working capital, capital expenditures, business development, debt service requirements, acquisitions, and general corporate or other purposes.
Mattel's credit ratings have fluctuated over time. If Mattel's credit ratings decline, its cost of issuing new debt could increase. Mattel may be hindered from obtaining, or required to incur incremental costs to obtain, additional credit in tight credit markets. Further, Mattel's ability to issue additional debt could be adversely affected by other factors, including market conditions. The interest rate margins, unused line fee, and letter of credit fronting fee under Mattel's revolving credit facility may fluctuate based on Mattel's credit ratings. For example, if Mattel's credit ratings decline, its debt service obligations under its revolving credit facility may increase even if the principal amount borrowed remains the same.
In addition, the indentures governing the notes and the agreements governing Mattel's revolving credit facility contain affirmative and negative covenants that limit Mattel's ability to engage in activities that may be in its long-term best interests. Mattel's failure to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of Mattel's debts.
To service Mattel's indebtedness, Mattel requires a significant amount of cash and Mattel's ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond Mattel's control.
Mattel's ability to make cash payments on and to refinance its indebtedness, and to fund planned capital expenditures, depends on Mattel's ability to generate significant operating cash flow in the future. This, to a significant extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory, and other factors that are beyond Mattel's control.
Mattel's business may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations and future borrowings may not be available under Mattel's revolving credit facility in an amount sufficient to enable Mattel to pay its indebtedness or to fund its other liquidity needs. In such circumstances, Mattel may need to refinance all or a portion of its indebtedness upon or before maturity. Mattel may not be able to refinance any of its indebtedness, including its revolving credit facility and the notes, on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If Mattel cannot service its indebtedness, Mattel may need to take actions such as selling assets, issuing additional equity, reducing or delaying capital expenditures, strategic acquisitions, investments, and alliances. There can be no assurance that such actions, if necessary, will be effected on commercially reasonable terms or at all. The credit agreement governing Mattel's revolving credit facility and the indentures governing the notes will restrict Mattel's ability to sell assets and use the proceeds from such sales.
If Mattel is unable to generate sufficient cash flow or is otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on its indebtedness, or if Mattel otherwise fails to comply with the various covenants in the instruments governing its indebtedness, Mattel could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness will have the right to elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under Mattel's revolving credit facility will have the right to elect to terminate their commitments thereunder, cease making further loans, and institute foreclosure proceedings against Mattel's assets, and Mattel could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. Declines in Mattel's operating performance may require Mattel to obtain waivers in the future from the required lenders under its revolving credit facility to avoid being in default. If Mattel breaches its covenants under its revolving credit facility and seeks a waiver, Mattel may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders. If this occurs, Mattel would be in default under its revolving credit facility, the lenders could exercise their rights, as described above, and Mattel could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.
Mattel's variable rate indebtedness subjects Mattel to interest rate risk, which could cause Mattel's debt service obligations to increase significantly.
Borrowings under Mattel's revolving credit facility will be at variable rates of interest and will expose Mattel to interest rate risk. If interest rates continue to increase, Mattel's debt service obligations on the variable rate indebtedness will increase even though the amount borrowed remains the same, and Mattel's net income and cash flows, including cash available for servicing its indebtedness, will correspondingly decrease. Assuming Mattel's revolving credit facility is fully drawn up to the maximum commitment level and the interest rates are above the interest rate floor set forth in the credit agreement governing Mattel's revolving credit facility, each one-eighth point change in interest rates would result in a $1.75 million change in annual interest expense on Mattel's indebtedness under its revolving credit facility. Any interest rate swaps that Mattel enters into with respect to its variable rate indebtedness may not fully mitigate Mattel's interest rate risk.
Mattel is dependent upon its lenders for financing to execute its business strategy and meet its liquidity needs. If Mattel's lenders are unable to fund borrowings under their credit commitments or Mattel is unable to borrow, it could adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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There is risk that one or more of Mattel's lenders, even those with strong balance sheets and sound lending practices, could fail or refuse to honor their legal commitments and obligations under existing credit commitments, including but not limited to extending credit up to the maximum amount permitted by a credit facility and otherwise accessing capital and/or honoring loan commitments. If Mattel's lenders are unable to fund borrowings under their credit commitments or Mattel is unable to borrow, it could be difficult to replace Mattel's revolving credit facility on similar terms, which could adversely affect Mattel's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Mattel's stock repurchase program could affect the price of its common stock and may be suspended at any time, and there is no guarantee that repurchases under the program, if any, will enhance stockholder value.
Mattel has a $1.00 billion stock repurchase program, under which it is currently authorized to repurchase up to $600 million of its common stock. The stock repurchase program does not obligate Mattel to repurchase any dollar amount or number of shares and may be suspended at any time without prior notice, which could cause the market price of Mattel's common stock to decline. The amount and timing of repurchases under Mattel's share repurchase program, if any, are influenced by many factors and may fluctuate based on Mattel's operating results, cash flows, priorities for the use of cash, the market price of Mattel's common stock, and its possession of potentially material nonpublic information. There is no guarantee as to the exact number of shares to be repurchased by Mattel, if any. Repurchases pursuant to the stock repurchase program could affect Mattel's stock price and increase its volatility. The existence of a stock repurchase program could also cause Mattel's stock price to be higher than it would be in the absence of such a program. Additionally, repurchases under the stock repurchase program utilize Mattel's cash reserves, which could impact its ability to pursue possible future strategic opportunities and acquisitions. There can be no assurance that any stock repurchases will enhance stockholder value because the market price of Mattel's common stock may decline below the levels at which it repurchased shares of common stock.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity.
Risk Management and Strategy
To support incident response preparedness, Mattel has developed a cybersecurity incident response plan and conducts an annual simulated incident exercise. The cybersecurity incident response plan addresses cybersecurity incidents that directly impact Mattel or arise from Mattel's use of third-party technology, information systems, and service providers. Mattel also utilizes business continuity and disaster recovery plans to prepare for potential disruptions in technology that Mattel relies upon. Further, Mattel monitors novel and advanced cybersecurity threats and provides ongoing employee security awareness training.
As part of Mattel's overall risk management program, Mattel's IT organization has a governance, risk, and compliance group that provides oversight regarding IT-related risks, including cybersecurity risks, and monitors Mattel's IT control environment. This group also works with Mattel's Internal Audit team to assess Mattel's cybersecurity processes. In addition, Mattel's IT organization has a steering committee comprised of internal privacy and cybersecurity experts, chaired by Mattel's Chief Information Security Officer ("CISO") , which is responsible for the development and maintenance of Mattel's privacy and information security programs and regularly reports to Mattel's Chief Technology Officer ("CTO").
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Governance
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Audit Committee") oversees Mattel's assessment and management of material cybersecurity risks. The CTO reports to the Audit Committee on Mattel's cybersecurity, including material cybersecurity risks and mitigation, at least annually. The CTO reports and escalates cybersecurity incidents to management and the Audit Committee as appropriate.
Item 2. Properties.
Mattel owns its corporate headquarters in El Segundo, California, consisting of approximately 360,000 square feet, and an adjacent office building consisting of approximately 55,000 square feet. In 2024, Mattel purchased another building in El Segundo that will serve as its Global Design Center, consisting of approximately 168,000 square feet. Mattel also leases buildings in El Segundo consisting of approximately 387,000 square feet. All segments use these facilities. Mattel also owns facilities in East Aurora, New York, consisting of approximately 607,000 square feet, used by the North America segment and for brand and corporate support functions and a distribution facility in DeForest, Wisconsin, consisting of approximately 350,000 square feet, which is used by the North America segment. Mattel also owns its principal manufacturing facilities located in Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, and Thailand.
Mattel maintains leased offices in the United States, in Arkansas, California, and Minnesota, a leased warehouse in Wisconsin, distribution facilities in California, Pennsylvania, Texas, and in Mississauga, Canada, and retail and related office space in Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, California; and New York, New York for its flagship American Girl stores, and in four other cities across the United States for its American Girl boutique stores, all of which are used by the North America segment. Internationally, Mattel has offices and/or warehouse space in over 30 countries. Mattel leases facilities used by the International segment in various foreign jurisdictions, including China, France, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Mattel also leases office space and principal manufacturing facilities in China, which support the North America and International segments.
For all remaining leases that are scheduled to expire within the next twelve months, Mattel may negotiate new lease agreements, renew existing lease agreements, or utilize alternate facilities. See Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Leases." Mattel believes that its owned and leased facilities, in general, are suitable and adequate for its present and currently foreseeable needs.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
See Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Commitments and Contingencies—Litigation."
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information
Mattel's common stock, par value $1.00 per share, is traded under the symbol "MAT" on The Nasdaq Global Select Market.
Holders of Record
As of February 6, 2025, Mattel had approximately 14,000 holders of record of its common stock.
Dividends
See Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements —Stockholders' Equity—Dividends."
Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities
During the fourth quarter of 2024, Mattel did not sell any unregistered equity securities.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
During 2024, Mattel repurchased 21.0 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $400.0 million. During 2023, Mattel repurchased 10.4 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $203.0 million. During 2022, Mattel did not repurchase any shares of its common stock.
The following table provides certain information with respect to Mattel's purchases of its common stock during the fourth quarter of 2024:
| Total Number of Shares Purchased (a) | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (b) (In millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Period: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 1 - 31 | 1,122,377 | $ | 19.66 | 1,119,197 | $ | 709.7 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 1 - 30 | 5,784,466 | 18.98 | 5,780,765 | 600.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| December 1 - 31 | 1,940 | 17.79 | — | 600.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 6,908,783 | $ | 19.09 | 6,899,962 | $ | 600.0 | |||||||||||||||||
(a)The total number of shares purchased includes 8,821 shares withheld from employees to satisfy minimum tax withholding obligations that occur upon settlement of equity awards, which were not purchased as part of a publicly announced repurchase plan or program.
(b)On February 5, 2024, the Board of Directors authorized a $1.00 billion share repurchase program. As of December 31, 2024, Mattel had a remaining authorization of $600.0 million under the program. Repurchases under the share repurchase program will take place from time to time, depending on market conditions. Mattel's share repurchase program has no expiration date.
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Performance Graph
The following graph compares the performance of Mattel's common stock with that of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Consumer Discretionary Index. The Cumulative Total Return listed below assumes an initial investment of $100 on December 31, 2019 and reinvestment of dividends.
| December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cumulative Total Return: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mattel, Inc. | $ | 100.00 | $ | 128.78 | $ | 159.11 | $ | 131.66 | $ | 139.34 | $ | 130.85 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 | $ | 100.00 | $ | 118.39 | $ | 152.34 | $ | 124.73 | $ | 157.48 | $ | 196.85 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 Consumer Discretionary | $ | 100.00 | $ | 133.30 | $ | 165.87 | $ | 104.45 | $ | 148.63 | $ | 193.43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Item 6. Reserved.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes. See Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data." Amounts shown in millions or billions within this Item 7 may not sum due to rounding.
Mattel has omitted discussion of 2022 results where it would be redundant to the discussion previously included in Part II, Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," of Mattel's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The following discussion includes currency exchange rate impact, a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the SEC ("Regulation G"), to supplement the financial results as reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). The currency exchange rate impact reflects the portion (expressed as a percentage) of changes in Mattel's reported results that are attributable to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Mattel uses this non-GAAP financial measure to analyze its continuing operations and to monitor, assess, and identify meaningful trends in its operating and financial performance. Management believes that the disclosure of this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful supplemental information to investors to allow them to better evaluate ongoing business performance and certain components of Mattel's results. This measure is not, and should not be viewed as, a substitute for GAAP financial measures.
The following discussion also includes the use of gross billings, a key performance indicator. Gross billings represent amounts invoiced to customers. It does not include the impact of sales adjustments, such as trade discounts and other allowances. Mattel presents changes in gross billings as a metric for comparing its aggregate, categorical, brand, and geographic results to highlight significant trends in Mattel's business. Changes in gross billings are discussed because, while Mattel records the details of sales adjustments in its financial accounting systems at the time of sale, such sales adjustments are generally recorded by customer and not associated with categories, brands, or individual products.
Overview
Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. Mattel creates innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences, and develop children through play. Mattel is focused on the following strategy to grow its IP-driven toy business and expand its entertainment offering:
•Grow toy business profitably through scaling Mattel's portfolio, optimizing operations, evolving demand creation, and growing franchise brands; and
•Expand entertainment offering to capture the full value of Mattel's IP outside the toy aisle in highly accretive business verticals, by growing franchise brands and accelerating content, consumer products, and digital and live experiences.
Recent Developments
During 2024, Mattel continued to execute its multi-year strategy to grow its IP-driven toy business and expand its entertainment offering, growing profitability, expanding gross margin, and generating strong cash flow.
Mattel's full year net sales declined 1%, which reflects a comparison with the benefits of the Barbie movie in the prior year. Gross margin expanded to 50.8% in 2024 compared to 47.5% in 2023, with benefits from favorable supply chain and other efficiencies, the Optimizing for Profitable Growth program ("OPG program"), lower inventory management costs, cost deflation, and favorable foreign currency exchange and other factors, which more than offset the prior year benefit associated with the Barbie movie. Operating income grew to $694.3 million, an improvement of $132.6 million, and earnings per share in 2024 increased to $1.58, compared to $0.60 in 2023.
Mattel ended the year with a cash balance of $1.39 billion, compared to $1.26 billion in the prior year. Cash increased primarily due to Mattel's cash flows from operations, which were $800.6 million during the year. Cash flows from operations were partially offset by $400.0 million of cash used for share repurchases and capital expenditures, including $58.8 million for the acquisition of a property that will serve as Mattel's new global design center, which will replace a facility that is currently leased.
During 2024, Mattel executed $400.0 million of share repurchases and has a remaining authorization of $600.0 million as of December 31, 2024.
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Additionally, in February 2024, Mattel announced the OPG program, a multi-year cost savings program that follows the Optimizing for Growth program ("OFG program") and is designed to achieve further efficiency and cost savings opportunities, primarily within Mattel's global supply chain, including its manufacturing footprint. The OPG program has targeted annual gross cost savings of $200.0 million between 2024 and 2026. During 2024, Mattel generated approximately $83 million of cost savings under the OPG program.
Mattel is operating in a macro-economic environment that may impact consumer demand. To the extent the macro-economic environment worsens, it may have a material effect on Mattel's results of operations and financial condition. Refer to Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors" for further discussion regarding potential impacts on Mattel's business.
Results of Operations
Consolidated Results
The following table presents Mattel's consolidated results for 2024 and 2023:
| For the Year Ended | Year/Year Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount | % of Net Sales | Amount | % of Net Sales | % | Basis Points of Net Sales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage and basis point information) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 5,379.5 | $ | 5,441.2 | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | 2,645.5 | 49.2 | % | 2,857.5 | 52.5 | % | -7 | % | (330) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 2,734.1 | 50.8 | % | 2,583.7 | 47.5 | % | 6 | % | 330 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Advertising and promotion expenses | 507.3 | 9.4 | % | 524.8 | 9.6 | % | -3 | % | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other selling and administrative expenses | 1,532.5 | 28.5 | % | 1,497.3 | 27.5 | % | 2 | % | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 694.3 | 12.9 | % | 561.7 | 10.3 | % | 24 | % | 260 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 118.8 | 2.2 | % | 123.8 | 2.3 | % | -4 | % | (10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest (income) | (51.5) | -1.0 | % | (25.2) | -0.5 | % | 104 | % | (50) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other non-operating expense (income), net | 4.5 | (2.3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 622.5 | 11.6 | % | 465.4 | 8.6 | % | 34 | % | 300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 105.6 | 269.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Income) from equity method investments | (24.9) | (18.4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 541.8 | 10.1 | % | $ | 214.4 | 3.9 | % | 153 | % | 620 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sales
Net sales in 2024 were $5.38 billion, a decrease of $61.7 million, or 1%, as compared to $5.44 billion in 2023. The decrease in net sales was primarily due to a decrease in gross billings of $68.6 million.
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Gross billings represent amounts invoiced to a customer and do not include the impact of sales adjustments, such as trade discounts and other allowances. Changes in gross billings are discussed below because, while Mattel records the details of sales adjustments in its financial accounting systems at the time of sale, such sales adjustments are generally recorded by customer and are not associated with categories, brands, or individual products. The following tables provide a summary of Mattel's consolidated gross billings by categories, along with supplemental information by brand, for 2024 and 2023:
| For the Year Ended | % Change as Reported | Currency Exchange Rate Impact | |||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage information) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Billings by Categories | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dolls | $ | 2,200.5 | $ | 2,394.2 | -8 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Infant, Toddler, and Preschool | 951.3 | 1,000.8 | -5 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Vehicles | 1,791.2 | 1,641.0 | 9 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Action Figures, Building Sets, Games, and Other | 1,090.4 | 1,065.8 | 2 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Gross Billings | $ | 6,033.3 | $ | 6,101.8 | -1 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Gross Billings Disclosure | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Billings by Top 3 Power Brands | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barbie | $ | 1,350.1 | $ | 1,537.8 | -12 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Hot Wheels | 1,575.0 | 1,432.4 | 10 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Fisher-Price (a) | 700.8 | 681.5 | 3 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | 2,407.4 | 2,450.2 | -2 | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Gross Billings | $ | 6,033.3 | $ | 6,101.8 | -1 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||
(a) Beginning in the first quarter of 2024, the Fisher-Price power brand was revised to exclude Baby Gear and Imaginext products. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
Gross billings were $6.03 billion in 2024, a decrease of $68.6 million, or 1%, as compared to $6.10 billion in 2023, with an unfavorable impact from changes in currency exchange rates of one percentage point. The decrease in gross billings was due to lower billings of Dolls and Infant, Toddler, and Preschool products, partially offset by higher billings of Vehicles and Action Figures, Building Sets, Games, and Other products.
Dolls gross billings decreased 8%, due to lower billings of Barbie, which benefited from the Barbie movie in the prior year.
Infant, Toddler, and Preschool gross billings decreased 5%, primarily due to lower billings of Baby Gear and Power Wheels products of 5%, due to the continued strategic exit from certain product lines in Power Wheels and Baby Gear.
Vehicles gross billings increased 9%, due to higher billings of Hot Wheels products.
Action Figures, Building Sets, Games, and Other gross billings increased 2%, of which 6% was due to higher billings of Games products and 1% was due to higher billings of Action Figures products, partially offset by lower billings of Building Sets products of 2% and lower billings of Other products of 3%.
Sales adjustments generally represent arrangements with Mattel's customers to provide sales incentives, support customer promotions, and provide allowances for returns and defective merchandise. Such programs are based primarily on customer purchases, customer performance of specified promotional activities, and other specified factors such as sales to consumers. Additionally, sales adjustments may include foreign currency transaction gains and losses from the remeasurement of accounts receivable denominated in currencies that are different from the relevant entity's functional currency. Sales adjustments decreased to $653.7 million in 2024, as compared to $660.6 million in 2023. Sales adjustments as a percentage of net sales were relatively consistent at 12.2% in 2024, as compared to 12.1% in 2023.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales decreased by $212.0 million, or 7%, to $2.65 billion in 2024 from $2.86 billion in 2023. Within cost of sales, product and other costs decreased by $203.4 million, or 9%, to $2.08 billion in 2024 from $2.28 billion in 2023. Royalty expense decreased by $5.7 million, or 2%, to $244.1 million in 2024 from $249.8 million in 2023. Freight and logistics expenses decreased by $2.9 million, or 1%, to $324.1 million in 2024 from $327.0 million in 2023.
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Gross Margin
Gross margin increased to 50.8% in 2024 from 47.5% in 2023. The increase in gross margin was primarily due to favorable supply chain and other efficiencies of 130 basis points, incremental realized savings from the OPG program of 90 basis points, lower inventory management costs of 60 basis points, including lower close-out sales and inventory obsolescence, cost deflation of 50 basis points, and favorable foreign currency exchange and other factors of 90 basis points, partially offset by unfavorable mix of 90 basis points primarily related to the prior year benefit from the Barbie movie.
Advertising and Promotion Expenses
Advertising and promotion expenses primarily consist of: (i) media costs, which include the media, planning, and buying fees for television, print, and online advertisements, (ii) non-media costs, which include commercial and website production, merchandising, and promotional costs, (iii) retail advertising costs, which include consumer direct catalogs; and (iv) general advertising costs, which include trade show costs. Advertising and promotion expenses as a percentage of net sales were relatively flat at 9.4% in 2024, compared to 9.6% in 2023.
Other Selling and Administrative Expenses
Other selling and administrative expenses were $1.53 billion, or 28.5% of net sales, in 2024, an increase of $35.2 million, as compared to $1.50 billion, or 27.5% of net sales, in 2023. The increase in other selling and administrative expenses was primarily due to employee compensation increases and higher incentive compensation of $65.6 million, partially offset by realized savings from cost savings programs of $30.8 million.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $118.8 million in 2024, a decrease of $5.0 million as compared to $123.8 million in 2023.
Interest Income
Interest income increased by $26.2 million to $51.5 million in 2024 from $25.2 million in 2023, primarily due to higher average invested cash balances in 2024.
Provision for Income Taxes
Mattel's provision for income taxes was $105.6 million in 2024, as compared to a provision for income taxes of $269.5 million in 2023. The decrease in provision for income taxes was the result of the intra-group transfer of certain IP rights in the prior year, resulting in a net tax expense of $161.4 million related to the write-down of certain foreign deferred tax assets and establishment of certain U.S. deferred tax assets. Additionally, in 2024, Mattel recognized a net income tax benefit of $34.8 million related to tax elections filed to amortize certain intangible assets transferred as part of Mattel’s intra-group IP rights transfer and establishment of certain U.S. deferred tax assets, which was offset by higher income tax expense as a result of an increase in income before income taxes.
Evaluating the need for and the amount of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets often requires significant judgment and extensive analysis of all available evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that these assets will be realizable. Mattel routinely assesses the positive and negative evidence for this realizability, including the evaluation of sustained profitability and three years of cumulative pretax income for each tax jurisdiction. Changes in the valuation allowances in 2023 primarily related to changes in the assessment of the future realizability of certain deferred tax assets, utilization and expiration of tax attributes, and currency fluctuations. As of December 31, 2023, Mattel's valuation allowances on its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets and foreign deferred tax assets were approximately $14 million and $71 million, respectively. Changes in the valuation allowances in 2024 primarily related to changes in assessment of the future realizability of certain deferred tax assets, utilization and expiration of tax attributes. As of December 31, 2024, Mattel's valuation allowances on its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets and foreign deferred tax assets were approximately $12 million and $85 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, Mattel has recorded net deferred tax assets of $252.5 million and $243.1 million, respectively.
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The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development ("OECD") reached an agreement among various countries to implement a minimum 15% tax rate on certain multinational enterprises, commonly referred to as Pillar Two. Many countries continue to announce changes in their tax laws and regulations based on the Pillar Two rules. Mattel is continuing to evaluate the impact of these proposed and enacted legislative changes as new guidance becomes available. Some of the legislative changes could impact Mattel's effective tax rate and tax liabilities. When and how these laws and regulations are adopted or enacted by various countries in which Mattel operates could increase tax complexity and uncertainty and may adversely affect Mattel's worldwide effective tax rate, income tax expense and cash flows. Mattel does not expect the provisions that went into effect in 2024 to have a materially adverse impact on its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.
Segment Results
North America Segment
Beginning in the first quarter of 2024, Mattel's American Girl business was integrated into its North America commercial organization and is reported within the North America operating segment. Prior to the first quarter of 2024, Mattel's American Girl business was a separate reportable operating segment. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
The following tables provide a summary of Mattel's net sales, segment operating income, and gross billings by categories, along with supplemental information by brand, for the North America segment for 2024 and 2023:
| For the Year Ended | % Change as Reported | Currency Exchange Rate Impact | |||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage information) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | 3,168.1 | $ | 3,210.4 | -1 | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||
| Segment Operating Income | 840.0 | 787.7 | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Net sales for the North America segment in 2024 were $3.17 billion, a decrease of $42.4 million, or 1%, as compared to $3.21 billion in 2023. The decrease in net sales was primarily due to a decrease in gross billings of $37.9 million.
| For the Year Ended | % Change as Reported | Currency Exchange Rate Impact | |||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage information) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Billings by Categories | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dolls | $ | 1,280.1 | $ | 1,368.0 | -6 | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||
| Infant, Toddler, and Preschool | 583.3 | 618.6 | -6 | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Vehicles | 860.6 | 812.4 | 6 | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Action Figures, Building Sets, Games, and Other | 670.6 | 633.5 | 6 | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Gross Billings | $ | 3,394.6 | $ | 3,432.5 | -1 | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Gross Billings Disclosure | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Billings by Top 3 Power Brands | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barbie | $ | 734.9 | $ | 840.4 | -13 | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||
| Hot Wheels | 741.3 | 690.8 | 7 | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Fisher-Price (a) | 421.3 | 404.9 | 4 | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | 1,497.0 | 1,496.3 | — | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Gross Billings | $ | 3,394.6 | $ | 3,432.5 | -1 | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||
(a) Beginning in the first quarter of 2024, the Fisher-Price power brand was revised to exclude Baby Gear and Imaginext products. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
Gross billings for the North America segment were $3.39 billion in 2024, a decrease of $37.9 million, or 1%, as compared to $3.43 billion in 2023. The decrease in the North America segment gross billings was primarily due to lower billings of Dolls and Infant, Toddler, and Preschool products, partially offset by higher billings of Vehicles and Action Figures, Building Sets, Games, and Other products.
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Dolls gross billings decreased 6%, due to lower billings of Barbie, which benefited from the Barbie movie in the prior year.
Infant, Toddler, and Preschool gross billings decreased 6%, due to lower billings of Baby Gear and Power Wheels products.
Vehicles gross billings increased 6%, due to higher billings of Hot Wheels products.
Action Figures, Building Sets, Games, and Other gross billings increased 6%, of which 6% was due to higher billings of Action Figures products and 5% was due to higher billings of Games products, partially offset by lower billings of Building Sets products of 2% and lower billings of Other products of 2%.
Sales adjustments increased to $226.5 million in 2024, as compared to $222.1 million in 2023. Sales adjustments as a percentage of net sales were relatively consistent at 7.1% in 2024 as compared to 6.9% in 2023.
Cost of sales decreased by $121.1 million, or 7%, to $1.60 billion in 2024 from $1.72 billion in 2023, primarily due to a decrease in product and other costs of $115.8 million.
Gross margin increased to 49.4% in 2024 from 46.3% in 2023, primarily due to supply chain and other efficiencies of 210 basis points, incremental realized savings from the OPG program of 90 basis points, lower inventory management costs of 60 basis points, including lower inventory obsolescence and close-out sales, and favorable other factors of 40 basis points, partially offset by unfavorable mix of 90 basis points primarily related to the prior year benefit from the Barbie movie.
North America segment operating income was $840.0 million in 2024, as compared to $787.7 million in 2023, due to higher gross profit of $78.7 million, partially offset by higher other selling and administrative expenses of $33.2 million.
International Segment
The following tables provide a summary of Mattel's net sales, segment operating income, and gross billings by categories, along with supplemental information by brand, for the International segment for 2024 and 2023:
| For the Year Ended | % Change as Reported | Currency Exchange Rate Impact | |||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage information) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | 2,211.5 | $ | 2,230.8 | -1 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Segment Operating Income | 389.0 | 299.1 | 30 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Net sales for the International segment in 2024 were $2.21 billion, a decrease of $19.3 million, or 1%, as compared to $2.23 billion in 2023. The decrease in net sales was due to a decrease in gross billings of $30.6 million, partially offset by a decrease in sales adjustments of $11.3 million.
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| For the Year Ended | % Change as Reported | Currency Exchange Rate Impact | |||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage information) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Billings by Categories | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dolls | $ | 920.4 | $ | 1,026.2 | -10 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Infant, Toddler, and Preschool | 368.0 | 382.2 | -4 | % | -2 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Vehicles | 930.5 | 828.6 | 12 | % | -2 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Action Figures, Building Sets, Games, and Other | 419.8 | 432.3 | -3 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Gross Billings | $ | 2,638.7 | $ | 2,669.4 | -1 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Gross Billings Disclosure | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Billings by Top 3 Power Brands | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barbie | $ | 615.2 | $ | 697.4 | -12 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Hot Wheels | 833.7 | 741.6 | 12 | % | -2 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Fisher-Price (a) | 279.5 | 276.5 | 1 | % | -2 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | 910.3 | 953.8 | -5 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Gross Billings | $ | 2,638.7 | $ | 2,669.4 | -1 | % | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||
(a) Beginning in the first quarter of 2024, the Fisher-Price power brand was revised to exclude Baby Gear and Imaginext products. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
Gross billings for the International segment were $2.64 billion in 2024, a decrease of $30.6 million, or 1%, as compared to $2.67 billion in 2023, with an unfavorable impact from changes in currency exchange rates of one percentage point. The decrease in the International segment gross billings was due to lower billings of Dolls, Infant, Toddler, and Preschool, and Action Figures, Building Sets, Games, and Other products, partially offset by higher billings of Vehicles products.
Dolls gross billings decreased 10%, of which 8% was due to lower billings of Barbie primarily due to the benefit of the Barbie movie in the prior year.
Infant, Toddler, and Preschool gross billings decreased 4%, of which 3% was due to lower billings of Baby Gear and Power Wheels products.
Vehicles gross billings increased 12%, of which 11% was due to higher billings of Hot Wheels products.
Action Figures, Building Sets, Games, and Other gross billings decreased 3%, of which 5% was due to lower billings of Action Figures products and 3% was due to lower billings of Other products, partially offset by higher billings of Games products of 6%.
Sales adjustments decreased to $427.2 million in 2024, as compared to $438.6 million in 2023. Sales adjustments as a percentage of net sales were relatively consistent at 19.3% in 2024 as compared to 19.7% in 2023.
Cost of sales decreased by $95.2 million, or 8%, to $1.14 billion in 2024 from $1.23 billion in 2023, primarily due to a decrease of product and other costs of $92.4 million.
Gross margin in 2024 increased to 48.5% from 44.7% in 2023, primarily due to incremental realized savings from the OPG program of 100 basis points, cost deflation of 100 basis points, lower inventory management costs of 70 basis points, including lower close-out sales and inventory obsolescence, favorable supply chain and other efficiencies of 60 basis points, and favorable foreign currency exchange and other factors of 160 basis points, partially offset by unfavorable mix of 110 basis points, primarily related to the prior year benefit from the Barbie movie.
International segment operating income was $389.0 million in 2024, as compared to $299.1 million in 2023, primarily due to higher gross profit of $75.9 million and lower advertising and promotion expenses of $10.8 million.
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Cost Savings Programs
Optimizing for Profitable Growth
On February 7, 2024, Mattel announced the OPG program, a multi-year cost savings program that follows the Optimizing for Growth program (the "OFG program"), which concluded in the fourth quarter of 2023. The OPG program is designed to achieve further efficiency and cost savings opportunities, primarily within Mattel's global supply chain, including its manufacturing footprint. The OPG program includes cost savings actions in connection with discontinuing production at a plant in China, as previously announced in the third quarter of 2023, as well as savings from other previous actions taken in 2023 that were not recognized in the OFG program. Targeted annual gross cost savings from actions associated with the OPG program, which are expected to be completed by 2026, are $200 million. Of the $200 million in targeted annual gross costs savings, approximately 70% is expected to benefit cost of sales and 30% is expected to benefit other selling and administrative expenses. Total expected cash expenditures under the OPG program are expected to be between $130 and $165 million and total non-cash charges are expected to be up to $5 million.
The costs associated with the OPG program are expected to include the following:
| Optimizing for Profitable Growth – Actions | Estimate of Cost | ||||
| Employee severance | $90 to $105 million | ||||
| Other restructuring costs | $10 to $20 million | ||||
| Non-cash charges | up to $5 million | ||||
| Total estimated severance and other restructuring costs | $100 to $130 million | ||||
| Investments | $30 to $40 million | ||||
| Total estimated actions | $130 to $170 million | ||||
In connection with the OPG program, Mattel recorded severance and other restructuring costs in the following cost and expense categories within operating income in the consolidated statements of operations:
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales (a) | $ | 4.3 | $ | — | |||||||||||||
| Other selling and administrative expenses (b) | 44.9 | 25.3 | |||||||||||||||
| $ | 49.2 | $ | 25.3 | ||||||||||||||
(a)Severance and other restructuring costs recorded within cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations are included in segment operating income in "Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Segment Information."
(b)Severance and other restructuring costs recorded within other selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations are included in corporate and other expense in "Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Segment Information."
As of December 31, 2024, Mattel had recorded cumulative severance and other restructuring charges related to the OPG program of approximately $74 million, which included approximately $2 million of non-cash charges. Mattel realized cumulative cost savings (before severance, restructuring costs, and cost inflation) of approximately $83 million, which represents approximately 60% benefit to cost of sales, and 40% benefit to other selling and administrative expenses, as of December 31, 2024, in connection with the OPG Program.
Other Cost Savings Actions
As of December 31, 2023, Mattel concluded the OFG program, a multi-year cost savings program that had integrated and expanded upon the previous Capital Light program. During 2023 and 2022, Mattel recorded severance and other restructuring charges of $32.3 million and $23.6 million, respectively, within other selling and administrative expenses and $(1.3) million and $10.7 million, respectively, within cost of sales in the consolidated statement of operations in connection with the OFG program.
During 2023, Mattel executed actions to further streamline its organizational structure that were not included in the OFG program. In connection with these actions, Mattel recorded severance charges of $3.4 million within other selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations.
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Income Taxes
See Part II, Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations—Provision for Income Taxes."
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Mattel's primary sources of liquidity are its domestic and foreign cash and equivalents balances, short-term borrowing facilities, including its $1.40 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured revolving credit facilities (the "Credit Facility"), which on July 15, 2024 replaced the $1.40 billion prior credit facility, and access to capital markets to fund its operations and obligations. Such obligations may include capital expenditures, debt service, future royalty payments pursuant to licensing agreements, future inventory and service purchases, and required cash contributions and payments related to benefit plans. Of Mattel's $1.39 billion in cash and equivalents at December 31, 2024, $728.1 million was held by foreign subsidiaries, including $48.9 million held in Russia. Mattel's cash held in Russia can be used within the country; however, its movement out of Russia is currently limited. In early 2022, Mattel paused all shipments into Russia.
Cash flows from operating activities could be negatively impacted by decreased demand for Mattel's products, which could result from factors such as, but not limited to, adverse economic conditions and changes in public and consumer preferences, or by increased costs associated with manufacturing and distribution of products or shortages in raw materials or component parts. Additionally, Mattel's ability to issue long-term debt and obtain seasonal financing could be adversely affected by factors such as, but not limited to, global economic crises and tight credit environments, an inability to comply with its debt covenants and its Credit Facility covenants, or deterioration of Mattel's credit ratings. However, based on Mattel's current business plan and factors known to date, it is expected that existing cash and equivalents, cash flows from operations, availability under the Credit Facility, and access to capital markets, will be sufficient to meet working capital and operating expenditure requirements for the next twelve months and in the long-term.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, enacted on December 22, 2017 (the "U.S. Tax Act"), provides Mattel with a reduced cost to access the earnings of its foreign subsidiaries. With the passage of the U.S. Tax Act, repatriations of foreign earnings generally will not be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but may be subject to state income tax and/or foreign withholding tax, in addition to any local country distribution requirements. As such, Mattel has evaluated its intentions related to its indefinite reinvestment assertion and has recorded a $22.1 million deferred tax liability related to approximately $559 million of foreign earnings that will not be indefinitely reinvested.
Current Market Conditions
Mattel is exposed to financial market risk resulting from changes in interest and foreign currency exchange rates.
Mattel intends to utilize its existing cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from operations, and borrowings under the Credit Facility to meet its short-term liquidity needs. At December 31, 2024, Mattel had no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility and approximately $9 million in outstanding letters of credit under the Credit Facility.
Market conditions could affect certain terms of other debt instruments that Mattel enters into from time to time.
Mattel monitors the third-party depository institutions that hold Mattel's cash and equivalents. Mattel's emphasis is primarily on safety and liquidity of principal, and secondarily on maximizing the yield on those funds. Mattel diversifies its cash and equivalents among counterparties and securities to minimize risks.
Mattel is subject to credit risks relating to the ability of its counterparties in hedging transactions to meet their contractual payment obligations. The risks related to creditworthiness and nonperformance have been considered in the fair value measurements of Mattel's foreign currency forward exchange contracts. Mattel closely monitors its counterparties and takes action, as necessary, to manage its counterparty credit risk.
Mattel expects that some of its customers and vendors may experience difficulty in obtaining the liquidity required to buy inventory or raw materials. Mattel monitors its customers' financial condition and their liquidity in order to mitigate accounts receivable collectability risks, and customer terms and credit limits are adjusted, if necessary. Additionally, Mattel uses a variety of financial arrangements to support the collectability of accounts receivable of customers deemed to be a credit risk, including requiring letters of credit, purchasing various forms of credit insurance with unrelated third parties, or requiring cash in advance of shipment.
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Mattel sponsors defined benefit pension plans and postretirement benefit plans for its employees. Actual returns below the expected rate of return, along with changes in interest rates that affect the measurement of the liability, would impact the amount and timing of Mattel's future contributions to these plans. Mattel expects to make cash contributions totaling approximately $21 million to its defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans in 2025, substantially all of which will be for benefit payments for its under-funded plans.
Cash Flow Activities
Cash flows provided by operating activities were $800.6 million in 2024, as compared to $869.8 million in 2023. The decrease in cash flows provided by operating activities was primarily due to an increase in cash used for working capital of $191.1 million, which included $285.8 million of unfavorable changes in inventories, reflecting the prior year impact of reduced inventory levels, and $86.1 million of unfavorable changes in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, partially offset by $219.7 million of favorable changes in accounts receivable. The unfavorable changes to working capital were partially offset by an increase in net income, excluding the impact of non-cash items.
Cash flows used for investing activities were $189.0 million in 2024, as compared to $142.4 million in 2023. The increase was primarily due to a $42.3 million increase in capital expenditures, including the July 2024 purchase of a property that will serve as Mattel's new global design center for $58.8 million.
Cash flows used for financing activities were $449.4 million in 2024, as compared to $226.6 million in 2023. The increase in cash flows used for financing activities was primarily due to $197.0 million of higher share repurchases in 2024 compared to 2023.
During 2024, Mattel repurchased 21.0 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $400.0 million. During 2023, Mattel repurchased 10.4 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $203.0 million. Mattel's share repurchase program was first announced on July 21, 2003. On February 5, 2024, the Board of Directors authorized a new $1.00 billion share repurchase program. As of December 31, 2024, Mattel had a remaining authorization of $600.0 million under the program. Repurchases under the program will take place from time to time, depending on market conditions. Mattel's share repurchase program has no expiration date.
During 2024 and 2023, Mattel did not pay any dividends to holders of its common stock. The payment of dividends on common stock is at the discretion of the Board of Directors and is subject to customary limitations.
Seasonal Financing
See Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Seasonal Financing and Debt."
Credit Ratings
In 2024, Fitch changed Mattel's credit rating from BB+ to BBB- with a stable outlook, Standard & Poor's changed Mattel's credit rating from BBB- to BBB with a stable outlook, and Moody's maintained Mattel's credit rating of Baa3 with a stable outlook.
Financial Position
Mattel's cash and equivalents increased $126.5 million to $1.39 billion at December 31, 2024, as compared to $1.26 billion at December 31, 2023, primarily due to cash flow provided by operating activities of $800.6 million, partially offset by share repurchases of $400.0 million and capital expenditures of $202.6 million.
Accounts receivable decreased $78.6 million to $1.00 billion at December 31, 2024, as compared to $1.08 billion at December 31, 2023, primarily due to the impact of foreign currency translation and the timing of sales and collections.
Inventories decreased $69.9 million to $501.7 million at December 31, 2024, as compared to $571.6 million at December 31, 2023, primarily due to continued inventory management efforts during 2024 and the impact of foreign currency translation.
Prepaid expenses and other current assets increased $26.6 million to $234.1 million at December 31, 2024, as compared to $207.5 million at December 31, 2023, primarily due to an increase in derivative receivables of $16.5 million.
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities decreased $30.9 million to $1.28 billion at December 31, 2024, as compared to $1.31 billion at December 31, 2023, primarily due to a decrease of $43.2 million in accounts payable, partially offset by an increase in accrued advertising expense of $18.1 million.
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A summary of Mattel's capitalization is as follows:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage information) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and equivalents | $ | 1,387.9 | $ | 1,261.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 Senior Notes due October 2040 | 250.0 | 250.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 Senior Notes due November 2041 | 300.0 | 300.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 Senior Notes due December 2027 | 600.0 | 600.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 Senior Notes due April 2026 | 600.0 | 600.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 Senior Notes due April 2029 | 600.0 | 600.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt issuance costs and debt discount | (15.6) | (20.0) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total debt | 2,334.4 | 51 | % | 2,330.0 | 52 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Stockholders' equity | 2,264.1 | 49 | 2,149.2 | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total capitalization (debt plus equity) | $ | 4,598.5 | 100 | % | $ | 4,479.2 | 100 | % | |||||||||||||||
Total debt was $2.33 billion at December 31, 2024, flat as compared to $2.33 billion at December 31, 2023.
Stockholders' equity increased $114.9 million to $2.26 billion at December 31, 2024, as compared to $2.15 billion at December 31, 2023, primarily due to net income in 2024 of $541.8 million and the impact of share-based compensation on additional paid-in capital of $79.4 million, partially offset by share repurchases of $400.0 million and other comprehensive loss of $89.5 million.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Mattel is required to provide standby letters of credit to support certain obligations that arise in the ordinary course of business and may choose to provide letters of credit in place of posting cash collateral. Although the letters of credit are off-balance sheet, the majority of the obligations to which they relate are reflected as liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Outstanding letters of credit totaled approximately $9 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Commitments
In the normal course of business, Mattel enters into contractual arrangements to obtain and protect Mattel's right to create and market certain products, and for future purchases of goods and services, including for the purchase of future inventory to ensure availability of materials. These arrangements include commitments for royalty payments pursuant to licensing agreements, which routinely contain provisions for guarantees or minimum expenditures during the terms of the contracts. Mattel also enters into long-term debt arrangements that include periodic interest and principal payments. Mattel also has defined benefit and postretirement benefit plans, which require future cash contributions and benefit payments. Additionally, Mattel routinely enters into noncancelable lease agreements for premises and equipment used, which contain minimum rental payments.
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The following table summarizes Mattel's contractual commitments and obligations:
| Total | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | Thereafter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | $ | 2,350.0 | $ | — | $ | 600.0 | $ | 600.0 | $ | — | $ | 600.0 | $ | 550.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest on long-term debt | 744.6 | 109.9 | 94.7 | 88.1 | 54.4 | 37.5 | 360.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leases | 438.5 | 93.3 | 83.5 | 52.5 | 39.9 | 35.6 | 133.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum guarantees under licensing and similar agreements | 153.9 | 94.6 | 30.7 | 26.4 | 1.7 | 0.5 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defined benefit and postretirement benefit plans | 351.5 | 38.9 | 36.3 | 35.0 | 35.5 | 35.2 | 170.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchases of inventory, services, and other | 489.5 | 298.7 | 95.8 | 42.2 | 16.5 | 6.7 | 29.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4,528.0 | $ | 635.4 | $ | 941.0 | $ | 844.2 | $ | 148.0 | $ | 715.5 | $ | 1,243.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities for uncertain tax positions for which a cash tax payment is not expected to be made in the next twelve months are classified as other noncurrent liabilities. Due to the uncertainty regarding the periods in which examinations will be completed and limited information related to current audits, Mattel is not able to make reasonably reliable estimates of the periods in which cash settlements will occur with taxing authorities for the noncurrent liabilities.
Litigation
The content of Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Commitments and Contingencies—Litigation" is hereby incorporated by reference in this Item 7.
Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Mattel makes certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. The accounting policies and estimates described below are those Mattel considers most critical in preparing its consolidated financial statements. These accounting policies and estimates include significant judgments made by management using information available at the time the estimates are made. As described below, however, these estimates could change materially if different information or assumptions were used instead.
Accounts Receivable—Allowance for Credit Losses
The allowance for credit losses is based on collection history and management's assessment of the current economic trends, business environment, customers' financial condition, accounts receivable aging, and customer disputes that may impact the level of future credit losses. Management believes the accounting estimate related to the allowance for credit losses is a "critical accounting estimate" because significant judgment is required to evaluate the creditworthiness of its customers when estimating the collectability of its accounts receivable. In addition, the allowance requires a high degree of judgment since it involves estimation of the impact of both current and future economic factors in relation to its customers' ability to pay amounts owed to Mattel. Significant changes in the assumptions used to develop the estimate could materially affect key financial statement line items, including other selling and administrative expenses, and accounts receivable.
Mattel's products are sold throughout the world. Products within the North America segment are sold directly to retailers, including discount and freestanding toy stores, chain stores, department stores, other retail outlets and, to a limited extent, wholesalers, and directly to consumers through Mattel's e-commerce platforms. Products within the International segment are sold directly to retailers and wholesalers in most European, Latin American, and Asian countries, and in Australia and New Zealand, and through agents and distributors in those countries where Mattel has no direct presence.
In recent years, the mass-market retail channel has experienced significant shifts in market share among competitors, causing some large retailers to experience liquidity problems. Mattel's sales to customers are typically made on credit without collateral and are highly concentrated in the third and fourth quarters due to the seasonal nature of toy sales, which results in a substantial portion of trade receivables being collected during the latter half of the year and the first quarter of the following year. There is a risk that customers will not pay, or that payment may be delayed, because of bankruptcy, financial difficulty, or other factors beyond the control of Mattel. This could increase Mattel's exposure to losses from bad debts.
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A small number of customers account for a large share of Mattel's net sales and accounts receivable. In 2024, Mattel's three largest customers, Walmart, Target, and Amazon, in the aggregate, accounted for approximately 44% of net sales, and its ten largest customers, in the aggregate, accounted for approximately 51% of net sales. As of December 31, 2024, Mattel's three largest customers accounted for approximately 41% of net accounts receivable, and its ten largest customers accounted for approximately 51% of net accounts receivable. Should one or more of Mattel's large customers experience bankruptcy or financial difficulty, the allowance for credit losses may not be sufficient to cover such losses.
Mattel has procedures to mitigate its risk of exposure to losses from bad debts. Credit limits and payment terms are established based on the underlying criteria that collectability must be reasonably assured at the levels set for each customer. Extensive evaluations are performed on an ongoing basis throughout the fiscal year of each customer's financial performance, cash generation, financing availability, and liquidity status. Customers are reviewed at least annually, with more frequent reviews being performed, if necessary, based on the customers' financial condition and the level of credit being extended. For customers who are experiencing financial difficulty, management performs additional financial analyses prior to shipping to those customers on credit. Customers' terms and credit limits are adjusted or revoked, if necessary, to reflect the results of the review. Mattel uses a variety of financial arrangements to ensure collectability of accounts receivable of customers, including requiring letters of credit, purchasing various forms of credit insurance with unrelated third parties, or requiring cash in advance of shipment.
The following table summarizes Mattel's allowance for credit losses:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage information) | |||||||||||
| Allowance for credit losses | $ | 8.2 | $ | 8.8 | |||||||
| As a percentage of total accounts receivable | 0.8 | % | 0.8 | % | |||||||
Changes in the allowance for credit losses reflect management's assessment of the factors noted above, including changes in current economic trends, business environment, past due accounts, disputed balances with customers, and the financial condition of customers. The allowance for credit losses is also affected by the time at which uncollectable accounts receivable balances are actually written off.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, Mattel recorded a charge related to its allowance for credit losses of approximately $3 million, which was recognized as other selling and administrative expense. For the year ended December 31, 2023, Mattel recorded a benefit related to its allowance for credit losses of approximately $2 million, which was recognized as other selling and administrative income. In general, Mattel's allowance for credit loss estimates has historically been within its expectations and in line with the reserves established, and although possible, significant variation is not expected in the future. If significant changes in the assumptions used to develop the estimates occur, they could materially affect key financial statement line items, including other selling and administrative expenses and accounts receivable. A hypothetical 1% increase or decrease to the allowance for credit losses as a percentage of accounts receivable would have impacted 2024 and 2023 other selling and administrative expenses by approximately $10 million and $11 million, respectively.
Inventories—Obsolescence Reserve
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory obsolescence reserves are recorded for damaged, obsolete, excess, and slow-moving inventory. Inventory obsolescence expense is charged to cost of sales and establishes a lower cost basis for the inventory. Management believes that the accounting estimate related to the obsolescence reserve is a "critical accounting estimate" because significant judgment is required to evaluate the level of future demand for inventories held by Mattel as well as the prices at which customers are willing to pay for Mattel's inventories. As more fully described below, obsolescence reserves required for Mattel's inventory could be impacted by changes in public and consumer preferences, demand for product, or changes in the buying patterns of both retailers and consumers and inventory management of customers. Significant changes in the assumptions used to develop the estimate could materially affect key financial statement line items, including cost of sales and inventories.
In the toy industry, orders are typically subject to cancellation or change at any time prior to shipment. Actual shipments of products ordered and order cancellation rates are affected by consumer acceptance of product lines, strength of competing products, marketing strategies of retailers, changes in buying patterns of both retailers and consumers, and overall economic conditions. Unexpected changes in these factors could result in excess inventory in a particular product line, which would require management to record a valuation adjustment on such inventory.
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Mattel bases its production schedules for toy products on customer orders and forecasts, taking into account historical trends, results of market research, and current market information. Mattel ships products in accordance with delivery schedules specified by its customers, who usually request delivery within three months. In anticipation of retail sales in the traditional holiday season, Mattel significantly increases its production in advance of the peak selling period, resulting in a corresponding build-up of inventory levels in the first three quarters of the year. These seasonal purchasing patterns and requisite production lead times create risk to Mattel's business associated with the underproduction of popular toys and the overproduction of toys that do not match consumer demand. Retailers are also attempting to manage their inventories more tightly, requiring Mattel to ship products closer to the time the retailers expect to sell the products to consumers. These factors increase inventory valuation risk because Mattel's inventory levels may be adversely impacted by the need to prebuild products before orders are placed.
When conditions in the domestic and global economies become uncertain, it is difficult to estimate the level of growth or contraction for the economy as a whole. It is even more difficult to estimate growth or contraction in various parts of the economy, including the economies in which Mattel participates. Because all components of Mattel's budgeting and forecasting are dependent upon estimates of growth or contraction in the markets it serves and demand for its products, economic uncertainty makes estimates of future demand for products more difficult. Such economic changes may affect the sales of Mattel's products and its corresponding inventory levels, which could potentially impact the valuation of its inventory.
At the end of each quarter, management within each business segment, North America and International, performs a detailed review of its inventory on an item-by-item basis. Management assesses the need for, and the amount of, an obsolescence reserve based on the following factors:
•Customer and/or consumer demand for the item;
•Overall inventory positions of Mattel's customers;
•Strength of competing products in the market;
•Quantity on hand of the item;
•Sales price of the item;
•Mattel's cost for the item; and
•Length of time the item has been in inventory.
The timeframe between when an estimate is made and the time of disposal depends on the above factors and may vary significantly. Generally, slow-moving inventory is liquidated during the next annual selling cycle.
The following table summarizes Mattel's obsolescence reserve:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage information) | |||||||||||
| Obsolescence reserve | $ | 33.0 | $ | 46.7 | |||||||
| As a percentage of gross inventory | 6.2 | % | 7.5 | % | |||||||
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, Mattel recorded a charge related to its inventory obsolescence reserve of approximately $46 million and $64 million, respectively, which was recognized as cost of sales. In general, Mattel's inventory obsolescence estimates have historically been within expectations and in line with the reserves established, and although possible, significant variation is not expected in the future. If significant changes in the assumptions used to develop the estimate occur, they could materially affect key financial statement line items, including cost of sales and inventories. A hypothetical 1% increase or decrease to inventory reserves as a percentage of gross inventory at December 31, 2024 and 2023 would have impacted 2024 and 2023 cost of sales by approximately $5 million and $6 million, respectively.
Goodwill
Mattel tests goodwill for impairment annually or more often if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment may have occurred. Management believes that the accounting estimates related to the fair value estimates of its goodwill are "critical accounting estimates" because assessing goodwill for impairment involves a high degree of judgment due to the prospective assumptions that underlie the fair value assessments, such as projecting future cash flows for Mattel's reporting units and estimating the weighted-average cost of capital that a market participant would use as a discount rate. Significant changes in the assumptions used in the goodwill impairment tests could materially affect key financial statement line items, including other selling and administrative expenses and goodwill.
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Goodwill is allocated to reporting units for purposes of evaluating whether goodwill is impaired. Mattel's reporting units are: (i) North America, (ii) International, and (iii) American Girl. Mattel then assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. This qualitative assessment is used as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test.
When the quantitative goodwill impairment test is necessary, impairment is determined by estimating the fair value of a reporting unit and comparing that value to the reporting unit's carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge is recognized in an amount equal to the excess, limited by the amount of goodwill in that reporting unit.
When performing the quantitative goodwill impairment test, Mattel determines the fair value of its reporting units based upon one or more acceptable valuation approaches. Mattel utilizes the income approach for each of its reporting units and also utilizes the market approach for the North America and International reporting units. The income approach determines the fair value based upon the discounted cash flows that the business can be expected to generate in the future. The market approach determines fair value utilizing earnings multiples of comparable public companies, which are reflective of the market in which each respective reporting unit operates, and recent comparable market transactions. The income approach requires Mattel to make projections of revenue, gross margin, operating costs, and working capital investment for the reporting unit over a multi-year period. Additionally, management must make an estimate of a weighted-average cost of capital that a market participant would use as a discount rate. Changes in these projections or estimates would impact the estimated fair value, which could significantly change the amount of any impairment ultimately recorded.
Mattel performed a quantitative goodwill impairment assessment as of August 1, 2024, and the resulting calculations indicated that the fair values exceeded the carrying amounts of Mattel's reporting units by 4.2 times, 2.2 times, and 1.8 times for the North America, International, and American Girl reporting units, respectively. There were no events or changes in circumstances subsequent to the third quarter assessment that indicate that the carrying amount of a reporting unit may exceed its fair value as of December 31, 2024.
Sales Adjustments
Mattel routinely enters into arrangements with its customers to provide sales incentives, support customer promotions, and provide allowances for returns and defective merchandise. Such programs are based primarily on customer purchases, customer performance of specified promotional activities, and other specified factors such as sales to consumers. Management believes that the accounting estimates related to sales adjustments are "critical accounting estimates" because significant judgment is required to estimate related accruals, such as estimating future customer sales volume to support volume-based sales incentives, estimating volumes of defective products to support reserves for defective merchandise, and estimating future customer performance and consumer preferences that could impact the discretionary sales promotions. Significant changes in the assumptions used to develop the estimates could materially affect key financial statement line items, including net sales and accounts receivable.
The above-described programs primarily involve fixed amounts or percentages of sales to customers. The accruals for such programs, which can either be contractual or discretionary in nature, are based on an assessment of customer purchases, customer performance of specified promotional activities, and other specified factors such as customer sales volume. While certain sales adjustment amounts are readily determinable at year-end and do not require estimates, other sales adjustments, such as discretionary sales adjustments, require significant judgment by management to make these estimates. In making these estimates, management considers all available information, including the overall business environment, historical trends, and information from customers.
Accruals for these programs are recorded as sales adjustments that reduce gross billings in the period the related sale is recognized. Sales adjustments for such programs totaled $653.7 million or 12.2% as a percentage of net sales in 2024 and $660.6 million or 12.1% as a percentage of net sales in 2023. If significant changes in the assumptions used to develop the estimates occur, they could impact Mattel's results of operations or financial condition. A hypothetical 1% increase or decrease in Mattel's sales adjustments as a percentage of net sales during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 would have impacted 2024 and 2023 net sales and accounts receivable by approximately $54 million.
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Income Taxes
Mattel's income tax provision and related income tax assets and liabilities are based on actual and expected future income, U.S. federal and foreign statutory income tax rates, and tax regulations and planning opportunities in the various jurisdictions in which Mattel operates. Management believes that the accounting estimates related to income taxes are "critical accounting estimates" because significant judgment is required in interpreting tax regulations in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions, evaluating Mattel's worldwide uncertain tax positions, and assessing the likelihood of realizing certain tax benefits. Actual results could differ materially from those judgments, and changes in judgments could materially affect Mattel's consolidated financial statements.
Certain income and expense items are accounted for differently for financial reporting and income tax purposes. As a result, the income tax expense reflected in Mattel's consolidated statements of operations is different than that reported in Mattel's tax returns filed with the taxing authorities. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not deductible in Mattel's tax return, and some are temporary differences that reverse over time, such as depreciation expense. These timing differences create deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Deferred income tax assets generally represent items that can be used as a tax deduction or credit in Mattel's tax returns in future years for which Mattel has already recorded a tax benefit in its consolidated statements of operations. Mattel records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred income tax assets if, based on the weight of available evidence, management believes expected future taxable income is not likely to support the use of a deduction or credit in that jurisdiction. Management evaluates the level of Mattel's valuation allowances at least annually, and more frequently if actual operating results differ significantly from forecasted results.
Changes in the valuation allowances in 2023 primarily related to changes in assessment of the future realizability of certain deferred tax assets, utilization and expiration of tax attributes, and currency fluctuations. As of December 31, 2023, Mattel's valuation allowances on its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets and foreign deferred tax assets were approximately $14 million and $71 million, respectively. Changes in the valuation allowances in 2024 primarily related to changes in assessment of the future realizability of certain deferred tax assets, utilization and expiration of tax attributes. As of December 31, 2024, Mattel's valuation allowances on its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets and foreign deferred tax assets were approximately $12 million and $85 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, Mattel has recorded net deferred tax assets of $252.5 million and $243.1 million, respectively.
Mattel records unrecognized tax benefits for U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign tax positions related primarily to transfer pricing, tax credits claimed, tax nexus, and apportionment. For each reporting period, management applies a consistent methodology to measure unrecognized tax benefits and all unrecognized tax benefits are reviewed periodically and adjusted as circumstances warrant. Mattel's measurement of its unrecognized tax benefits is based on management's assessment of all relevant information, including prior audit experience, the status of audits, conclusions of tax audits, lapsing of applicable statutes of limitations, identification of new issues, and any administrative guidance or developments. Mattel recognizes unrecognized tax benefits in the first financial reporting period in which information becomes available indicating that such benefits will more likely than not (a greater than 50 percent likelihood) be realized. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the unrecognized tax benefit balance, inclusive of interest and penalties, and net of U.S. federal tax benefit was $151.7 million and $144.9 million, respectively.
In the normal course of business, Mattel is regularly audited by U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign tax authorities. Many of the judgments made in adjusting uncertain tax positions involve assumptions and estimates regarding audit outcomes and the timing of audit settlements, which are often uncertain and subject to change. The ultimate settlement of any particular issue with the applicable taxing authority could have a material impact on Mattel's consolidated financial statements.
New Accounting Pronouncements
See Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies."
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
To supplement the financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, Mattel presents a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the SEC. The non-GAAP financial measure that Mattel presents is currency exchange rate impact. Mattel uses this measure to analyze its continuing operations and to monitor, assess, and identify meaningful trends in its operating and financial performance. Mattel believes that the disclosure of this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful supplemental information to investors to be able to better evaluate ongoing business performance and certain components of Mattel's results. This measure is not, and should not be viewed as, a substitute for GAAP financial measures and may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures used by other companies.
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Currency Exchange Rate Impact
The currency exchange rate impact reflects the portion (expressed as a percentage) of changes in Mattel's reported results that are attributable to fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
For entities reporting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, Mattel calculates the percentage change of period-over-period results at constant currency exchange rates (established as described below) by translating current period and prior period results using these rates and then determines the currency exchange rate impact percentage by calculating the difference between the percentage change at such constant currency exchange rates and the percentage change at actual exchange rates.
The constant currency exchange rates are determined by Mattel at the beginning of each year and are applied consistently during the year. They are generally different from the actual exchange rates in effect during the current or prior period due to volatility in actual currency exchange rates. Mattel considers whether any changes to the constant currency rates are appropriate at the beginning of each year. The exchange rates used for these constant currency calculations are generally based on prior year actual exchange rates.
Mattel believes that the disclosure of the percentage impact of currency changes is useful supplemental information for investors to be able to gauge Mattel's current business performance and the longer-term strength of its overall business since currency changes could potentially mask underlying sales trends. The disclosure of the percentage impact of currency exchange allows investors to calculate the impact on a constant currency basis and also enhances their ability to compare financial results from one period to another.
Key Performance Indicator
Gross billings represent amounts invoiced to customers. It does not include the impact of sales adjustments, such as trade discounts and other allowances. Mattel presents changes in gross billings as a metric for comparing its aggregate, categorical, brand, and geographic results to highlight significant trends in Mattel's business. Changes in gross billings are discussed because, while Mattel records the details of sales adjustments in its financial accounting systems at the time of sale, such sales adjustments are generally recorded by customer and not associated with categories, brands, or individual products.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
Currency exchange rate fluctuations impact Mattel's results of operations and cash flows. The Euro and Chinese yuan were the primary currencies that caused foreign currency transaction exposure for Mattel in 2024. Mattel seeks to mitigate its foreign currency exchange risk by monitoring its foreign currency transaction exposure for the year and partially hedging such exposure using foreign currency forward exchange contracts primarily to hedge its purchase and sale of inventory and other intercompany transactions denominated in foreign currencies. These contracts generally have maturity dates of up to 24 months. For those intercompany receivables and payables that are not hedged, the transaction gains or losses are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the exchange rate changes as part of operating income or other non-operating expense (income), net based on the nature of the underlying transaction. Transaction gains or losses on hedged intercompany inventory transactions are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the inventory is sold to customers. In addition, Mattel manages its exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations through the selection of currencies used for international borrowings. Mattel does not trade in financial instruments for speculative purposes.
Mattel's financial position is also impacted by currency exchange rate fluctuations on translation of its net investments in subsidiaries with non-U.S. dollar functional currencies. Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries with non-U.S. dollar functional currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates. Income, expense, and cash flow items are translated at weighted-average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The resulting currency translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders' equity. Mattel's primary currency translation adjustments in 2024 were related to its net investments in entities having functional currencies denominated in the Mexican peso, Russian ruble, and Brazilian real.
There are numerous factors impacting the amount by which Mattel's financial results are affected by foreign currency translation and transaction gains and losses resulting from changes in currency exchange rates, including, but not limited to, the level of foreign currency forward exchange contracts in place at a given time and the volume of foreign currency-denominated transactions in a given period. However, assuming that such factors were held constant, Mattel estimates that a one percent change in the U.S. dollar would have impacted Mattel's 2024 net sales by approximately 0.4% and would have less than a $0.01 impact to Mattel's net income per share.
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Mattel's foreign currency forward exchange contracts that were used to hedge firm commitments and anticipated transactions as of December 31, 2024 are shown below. All contracts in the following table are against the U.S. dollar and are maintained by reporting units with a U.S. dollar functional currency.
| Buy | Sell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contract Amount | Weighted-Average Contract Rate | Fair Value | Contract Amount | Weighted-Average Contract Rate | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for rates) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australian dollar (a) | $ | — | — | $ | — | $ | 81,286 | 0.65 | $ | 3,876 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| British pound sterling (a) | 20,939 | 1.27 | (307) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian dollar (a) | — | — | — | 54,643 | 0.73 | 2,179 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Czech koruna | 4,559 | 23.87 | (83) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Euro (a) | — | — | — | 276,626 | 1.10 | 14,397 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hungarian forint | 5,553 | 390.29 | (97) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indonesia rupiah | 56,496 | 16,409.72 | 501 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Japanese yen | — | — | — | 7,747 | 153.06 | 205 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mexican peso | — | — | — | 21,074 | 20.12 | 751 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polish zloty | 24,439 | 4.07 | (356) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South African rand | — | — | — | 1,497 | 18.18 | 61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swiss franc | 3,543 | 0.89 | (58) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 115,529 | $ | (400) | $ | 442,873 | $ | 21,469 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) The weighted-average contract rate for these contracts is quoted in U.S. dollar per local currency.
For the purchase of foreign currencies, fair value reflects the amount, based on dealer quotes, that Mattel would pay at maturity for contracts involving the same notional amounts, currencies, and maturity dates, if they had been entered into as of December 31, 2024. For the sale of foreign currencies, fair value reflects the amount, based on dealer quotes, that Mattel would receive at maturity for contracts involving the same notional amounts, currencies, and maturity dates, if they had been entered into as of December 31, 2024. The differences between the market forward amounts and the contract amounts are expected to be fully offset by currency transaction gains and losses on the underlying hedged transactions.
In addition to the contracts involving the U.S. dollar detailed in the above table, Mattel also had contracts to sell British pound sterling for the purchase of Euro. As of December 31, 2024, these contracts had a contract amount of $69.0 million and a fair value liability of $1.4 million.
Had Mattel not entered into hedges to limit the effect of currency exchange rate fluctuations on its results of operations and cash flows, its earnings before income taxes would have decreased by approximately $30 million in each of 2024 and 2023.
Turkey Operations
Effective April 1, 2022, Mattel has accounted for Turkey as a highly inflationary economy, as the projected three-year cumulative inflation rate exceeded 100%. As such, beginning April 1, 2022, Mattel's Turkey subsidiary has designated the U.S. dollar as its functional currency. Mattel's Turkey subsidiary represented approximately 1% of Mattel's consolidated net sales for the year ended December 31, 2024.
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
MANAGEMENT'S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)). Mattel's management, including Ynon Kreiz, its principal executive officer, and Anthony DiSilvestro, its principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of Mattel's internal control over financial reporting using the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this evaluation, management concluded that Mattel's internal control over financial reporting is not effective as of December 31, 2024, due to a material weakness in Mattel's internal control over financial reporting, as further described below. The effectiveness of Mattel's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report that appears herein.
Material Weakness
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Mattel identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting related to certain of its information technology general controls within certain of the Company's information technology systems. Specifically, Mattel did not design and maintain effective user access and provisioning review controls to prevent or detect inappropriate user and privileged access to, or ensure the appropriate segregation of duties within, those systems.
The control deficiencies described above did not result in a material misstatement to Mattel’s consolidated financial statements; however, those deficiencies raise a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement to the consolidated financial statements would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Therefore, management concluded that the deficiencies represent a material weakness.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Mattel, Inc.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mattel, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income (loss), of stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, including the related notes and schedule of valuation and qualifying accounts and allowances for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024 appearing after Item 16 and the signature and power of attorney pages (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company did not maintain, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO because a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting existed as of that date related to certain of its information technology general controls within certain of the Company's information technology systems, as the Company did not design and maintain effective user access and provisioning review controls to prevent or detect inappropriate user and privileged access to, or ensure the appropriate segregation of duties within, those systems.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weakness referred to above is described in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. We considered this material weakness in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2024 consolidated financial statements, and our opinion regarding the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting does not affect our opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in management's report referred to above. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company's consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
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Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Sales Adjustments Accrual – Discretionary Component
As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company routinely enters into arrangements with its customers to provide sales incentives, support customer promotions, and allowances for returns or defective merchandise. Accruals for these programs are recorded in net sales as sales adjustments that reduce gross billings in the period the related sale is recognized. The accrual for such programs, which can either be contractual or discretionary in nature, is based on an assessment of customer purchases, customer performance of specified promotional activities, and other specified factors such as customer sales volume. As disclosed by management, sales adjustments for such programs totaled $653.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a portion of which is discretionary in nature. While certain sales adjustment amounts are readily determinable at year end and do not require estimates, other sales adjustments, such as discretionary sales adjustments, require significant judgment by management to make these estimates. In making these estimates, management considers all available information, including the overall business environment, historical trends, and information from customers.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the discretionary component of the sales adjustments accrual is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when developing the estimate of the discretionary component of the sales adjustments accrual and (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence relating to management's estimate.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to the estimate of the discretionary component of the sales adjustments accrual. These procedures also included, among others (i) testing management's process for developing the estimate of the discretionary component of the sales adjustments accrual, (ii) evaluating the reasonableness of available information considered by management in developing the estimate, (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the estimate, (iv) evaluating, on a sample basis, the results of a retrospective comparison of sales adjustments accrued in the prior year to settlements in the current year, and (v) testing, on a sample basis, settlements subsequent to year-end.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
February 25, 2025
We have served as the Company's auditor since 1974.
49
MATTEL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands, except share data) | |||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Current Assets | |||||||||||
| Cash and equivalents | $ | $ | |||||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for credit losses of $ | |||||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |||||||||||
| Total current assets | |||||||||||
| Noncurrent Assets | |||||||||||
| Property, plant, and equipment, net | |||||||||||
| Right-of-use assets, net | |||||||||||
| Goodwill | |||||||||||
| Deferred income tax assets | |||||||||||
| Identifiable intangible assets, net | |||||||||||
| Other noncurrent assets | |||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Current Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | |||||||||||
| Income taxes payable | |||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Noncurrent Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Long-term debt | |||||||||||
| Noncurrent lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | |||||||||||
| Total noncurrent liabilities | |||||||||||
Commitments and Contingencies (See Note 13) | |||||||||||
| Stockholders' Equity | |||||||||||
Common stock $ | |||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | |||||||||||
Treasury stock at cost: | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Retained earnings | |||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total stockholders' equity | |||||||||||
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | $ | $ | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
50
MATTEL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | |||||||||||||||||
| Gross Profit | |||||||||||||||||
| Advertising and promotion expenses | |||||||||||||||||
| Other selling and administrative expenses | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating Income | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest (income) | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Other non-operating expense (income), net | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Income Before Income Taxes | |||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | |||||||||||||||||
| (Income) from equity method investments | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income Per Common Share - Basic | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income Per Common Share - Diluted | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of common and potential common shares | |||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
51
MATTEL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income, Net of Tax | |||||||||||||||||
| Currency translation adjustments | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Employee benefit plan adjustments | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Available-for-sale security adjustments | |||||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments: | |||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized holding gains (losses) | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Reclassification adjustments included in net income | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income, Net of Tax | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive Income | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
52
MATTEL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash Flows From Operating Activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangibles | |||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | |||||||||||||||||
| Bad debt expense | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Inventory obsolescence | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Income from equity method investments | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| (Gain) loss on sale of assets, net | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Valuation allowance on foreign deferred tax assets | |||||||||||||||||
| Content asset amortization | |||||||||||||||||
| Loss on liquidation of subsidiary | |||||||||||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Inventories | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and income taxes payable | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Content asset spend | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Other, net | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Net cash flows provided by operating activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash Flows From Investing Activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Purchases of tools, dies, and molds | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Purchases of other property, plant, and equipment | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from (payments for) foreign currency forward exchange contracts, net | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of assets | |||||||||||||||||
| Other, net | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Net cash flows used for investing activities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Cash Flows From Financing Activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Payments of long-term borrowings, net | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Share repurchases | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Tax withholdings for share-based compensation | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from stock option exercises | |||||||||||||||||
| Other, net | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash flows used for financing activities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Effect of Currency Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Equivalents | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Change in Cash and Equivalents | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and Equivalents at Beginning of Period | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and Equivalents at End of Period | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Cash Flow Information: | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash paid during the year for: | |||||||||||||||||
| Income taxes, gross | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Interest | |||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
53
MATTEL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-In Capital | Treasury Stock | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Total Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net of tax | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of treasury stock for stock option exercises | — | ( | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of treasury stock for restricted stock units vesting | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred compensation | — | ( | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjustment of accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings for available-for-sale securities | — | — | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net of tax | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share repurchases | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of treasury stock for stock option exercises | — | ( | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of treasury stock for restricted stock units vesting | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred compensation | — | ( | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net of tax | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share repurchases | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of treasury stock for stock option exercises | — | ( | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of treasury stock for restricted stock units vesting | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred compensation | — | ( | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
54
MATTEL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Preparation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Mattel, Inc. ("Mattel") and its subsidiaries. All wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries are consolidated and included in Mattel's consolidated financial statements. Mattel does not have any minority stock ownership interests in which it has a controlling financial interest that would require consolidation. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
Use of Estimates
Preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could ultimately differ from those estimates.
Cash and Equivalents
Cash and equivalents include short-term investments, which are highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased. Such investments are stated at cost, which approximates market value.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses
Credit is granted to customers on an unsecured basis. Credit limits and payment terms are established based on extensive evaluations made on an ongoing basis throughout the fiscal year of the financial performance, cash generation, financing availability, and liquidity status of each customer. Customers are reviewed at least annually, with more frequent reviews performed as necessary, based on the customers' financial condition and the level of credit being extended. For customers who are experiencing financial difficulties, management performs additional financial analyses before shipping to those customers on credit. Mattel uses a variety of financial arrangements to ensure collectability of accounts receivable of customers, including requiring letters of credit, purchasing various forms of credit insurance with unrelated third parties, or requiring cash in advance of shipment.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Expense associated with inventory obsolescence is recognized in cost of sales and establishes a lower cost basis for the inventory. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out method.
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of 10 to 30 years for buildings and building improvements, 3 to 15 years for machinery and equipment, 3 to 10 years for software, and 10 to 20 years, not to exceed the lease term, for leasehold improvements. Tools, dies, and molds are depreciated using the straight-line method over 3 years. Estimated useful lives are periodically reviewed and, where appropriate, changes are made prospectively. The carrying amount of property, plant, and equipment is reviewed when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Any potential impairment identified is initially assessed by evaluating the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying asset groups. When property, plant and equipment are sold or retired, the cost of the property and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the consolidated balance sheets, and any resulting gain or loss is included in the consolidated statements of operations.
55
Leases
Mattel routinely enters into noncancelable lease agreements primarily for premises and equipment used in the normal course of business. Mattel excludes right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less from the balance sheet, and combines lease and non-lease components for property leases, which primarily relate to ancillary expenses such as common area maintenance charges and management fees.
Mattel determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception by assessing whether it conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Mattel's leases may include one or more options to renew for additional terms of up to 10 years. Renewal and termination options are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that Mattel will exercise the option. Certain of these leases include escalation clauses that adjust rental expense to reflect changes in price indices, as well as renewal and termination options. A portion of Mattel's lease agreements include contingent rental payments based on a percentage of sales.
Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As substantially all of Mattel's leases do not provide an implicit rate, Mattel uses its incremental borrowing rate, based on the information available at the lease commencement date, to determine the present value of lease payments. Operating lease costs are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill is allocated to reporting units for the purpose of evaluating whether goodwill is impaired. Mattel's reporting units are: (i) North America, which consists of the United States and Canada, (ii) International, and (iii) American Girl. In the first quarter of 2024, Mattel announced an organizational change that resulted in the American Girl business being integrated into Mattel's North America commercial organization. Such integration resulted in a change to Mattel's operating and reportable segments. Goodwill related to the American Girl reporting unit is included in the North America operating segment. Mattel's reportable segments are: (i) North America; and (ii) International. Components of the operating segments have been aggregated into a single reporting unit as the components have similar economic characteristics. The similar economic characteristics include the nature of the products, the nature of the production processes, the customers, and the manner in which the products are distributed. Mattel tests its goodwill for impairment annually in the third quarter and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a reporting unit may exceed its fair value.
Mattel also tests its amortizable intangible assets, which are primarily comprised of trademarks and trade names, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset's carrying amount may not be recoverable. Amortization is computed primarily using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the amortizable intangible assets.
Content Assets
Foreign Currency Translation Exposure
56
Foreign Currency Transaction Exposure
Derivative Instruments
Mattel uses foreign currency forward exchange contracts as cash flow hedges primarily to hedge its purchases and sales of inventory denominated in foreign currencies. At the inception of the contracts, Mattel designates these derivatives as cash flow hedges and documents the relationship of the hedge to the underlying transaction. Hedge effectiveness is assessed at inception and throughout the life of the hedge to ensure the hedge qualifies for hedge accounting. Changes in fair value associated with hedge ineffectiveness, if any, are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. Changes in fair value of cash flow hedge derivatives are deferred and recorded as part of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders' equity until the underlying transaction affects earnings. In the event that an anticipated transaction is no longer likely to occur, Mattel recognizes the change in fair value of the derivative in its consolidated statements of operations in the period the determination is made.
Mattel uses foreign currency forward exchange contracts to hedge intercompany loans and advances denominated in foreign currencies. Due to the short-term nature of the contracts involved, Mattel does not use hedge accounting for these contracts, and as such, changes in fair value are recorded in the period of change in the consolidated statements of operations. Mattel utilizes derivative contracts to hedge certain purchases of commodities, which were not material.
Revenue Recognition and Sales Adjustments
Revenue is recognized when control of the goods is transferred to the customer, which is either upon shipment or upon receipt of finished goods by the customer, depending on the contract terms, with payment due typically within 60 days from the invoice date. Mattel routinely enters into arrangements with its customers to provide sales incentives, support customer promotions, and allowances for returns or defective merchandise. Such programs are based primarily on customer purchases, customer performance of specified promotional activities, and other specified factors such as sales to consumers. Accruals for these programs are recorded in net sales as sales adjustments that reduce gross billings in the period the related sale is recognized.
The accrual for such programs, which can either be contractual or discretionary in nature, is based on an assessment of customer purchases, customer performance of specified promotional activities, and other specified factors such as customer sales volume. In making these estimates, management considers all available information, including the overall business environment, historical trends, and information from customers.
Mattel also enters into symbolic and functional licensing arrangements, whereby the licensee pays Mattel royalties based on sales of licensed product, and in certain cases are subject to minimum guaranteed amounts. The timing of revenue recognition for certain of these licensing arrangements with minimum guarantees is based on the determination of whether the license of intellectual property ("IP") is symbolic, which includes the license of Mattel's brands, or functional, which includes the license of Mattel's completed television or streaming content.
Revenues from symbolic licenses of IP are recognized based on actual sales when Mattel expects royalties to exceed the minimum guarantee. For symbolic licensing arrangements in which Mattel does not expect royalties to exceed the minimum guarantee, an estimate of the royalties expected to be recouped is recognized on a straight-line basis over the license term.
Revenues from functional licenses of IP are recognized once the license period has commenced and the licensee has the ability to use the delivered content.
Advertising and Promotion Costs
Advertising production costs are expensed in the period the underlying advertisement is first aired. The costs of other advertising and promotional programs are expensed in the period incurred.
57
Product Recalls and Withdrawals
Mattel establishes a reserve for product recalls and withdrawals on a product-specific basis when circumstances giving rise to the recall or withdrawal become known. Facts and circumstances related to the recall or withdrawal, including where the product affected by the recall or withdrawal is located (e.g., with consumers, in customers' inventory, or in Mattel's inventory), cost estimates for shipping and handling for returns, cost estimates for communicating the recall or withdrawal to consumers and customers, and cost estimates for parts and labor if the recalled or withdrawn product is deemed to be repairable, are considered when establishing a product recall or withdrawal reserve. These factors are updated and reevaluated each period, and the related reserves are adjusted when these factors indicate that the recall or withdrawal reserve is either not sufficient to cover or exceeds the estimated product recall or withdrawal expenses.
Design and Development Costs
Product design and development costs primarily include employee compensation and outside services and are expensed in the period incurred.
Employee Benefit Plans
Mattel and certain of its subsidiaries have retirement and other postretirement benefit plans covering substantially all employees of these entities. Actuarial valuations are used in determining amounts recognized in the financial statements for certain retirement and other postretirement benefit plans (see "Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Employee Benefit Plans").
Share-Based Payments
Mattel recognizes the cost of service-based employee share-based payment awards on a straight-line attribution basis over the requisite employee service period, net of estimated forfeitures.
Determining the fair value of share-based awards at the measurement date requires judgment, including estimating the expected term that stock options will be outstanding prior to exercise, the associated volatility, and the expected dividends. Mattel estimates the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The expected life of stock options used in this calculation is the period of time the options are expected to be outstanding and has been determined based on historical exercise experience. Expected stock price volatility is based on the historical volatility of Mattel's stock for a period approximating the expected life. Expected dividend yield is based on the annual rate of dividends expected to be paid over the expected life. The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues approximating the expected life. Mattel estimates and adjusts forfeiture rates based on a periodic review of recent forfeiture activity and expected future employee turnover.
Mattel determines the fair value of restricted stock units ("RSUs"), excluding performance RSUs, based on the closing market price of Mattel's common stock on the date of grant, adjusted by the present value of the expected dividends for RSUs that are not entitled to a dividend during the vest period.
Income Taxes
Certain income and expense items are accounted for differently for financial reporting and income tax purposes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, applying enacted statutory income tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Mattel evaluates the realization of its deferred tax assets based on all available evidence and establishes a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that they will not be realized.
Mattel recognizes the financial statement effects of a tax position when it is more likely than not that, based on technical merits, the position will be sustained upon examination. The tax benefits of the position recognized in the financial statements are then measured based on the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement with a taxing authority. In addition, Mattel recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the income tax provision.
58
Equity Method Investments
Mattel utilizes the equity method when accounting for investments in which Mattel is able to exercise significant influence, but does not hold a controlling interest. Significant influence is generally presumed to exist when Mattel owns between 20% to 50% of the investee. Under the equity method of accounting, the initial equity investment is recorded at cost. The carrying amount of the investment is subsequently adjusted for Mattel's share of net income (loss) and distributions from the investee.
Mattel owns a 50 % equity interest in Mattel163 Limited, a joint venture with a third party that develops and operates online games. Mattel's portion of the joint venture's earnings and losses is recognized on a three-month lag as the joint venture's financial information is not available in a sufficiently timely manner. The joint venture was not significant for the periods presented.
New Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2022-04, Liabilities—Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations. ASU 2022-04 requires that buyers in a supplier finance program disclose sufficient information about the program to allow a user of the financial statements to understand the program's nature, potential magnitude, obligations outstanding at the end of each period, and an annual rollforward of such obligations. The guidance in ASU 2022-04 was effective for interim and fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The annual rollforward was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. Refer to "Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Supplier Finance Program" for additional information regarding Mattel's supplier finance program, including the annual rollforward. The adoption of this new accounting standard did not have a material impact on Mattel's consolidated financial statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. ASU 2023-07 requires incremental disclosure of significant segment expenses on an annual and interim basis to enable investors to develop more decision-useful financial analyses. The guidance in ASU 2023-07 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Mattel adopted the guidance in ASU 2023-07 effective January 1, 2024 and applied the amendments retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. Refer to "Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Segment Information" for additional information regarding Mattel's Segments. The adoption of this new accounting standard did not have a material impact on Mattel's consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 requires enhanced income tax disclosures on an annual basis for specific categories in the rate reconciliation and disclosure of income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The guidance in ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Mattel is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2023-09 on its consolidated financial statements.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses for public business entities. ASU 2024-03 requires enhanced disclosures of each expense caption in the income statement to improve transparency and provide financial statement users with more detailed information about the nature, amount and timing of expenses impacting financial performance. The guidance in ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Mattel is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2024-03 on its consolidated financial statements.
59
Note 2—Property, Plant, and Equipment, Net
Property, plant, and equipment, net included the following:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Land | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Buildings | |||||||||||
| Machinery and equipment | |||||||||||
| Software | |||||||||||
| Tools, dies, and molds | |||||||||||
| Leasehold improvements | |||||||||||
| Construction in progress | |||||||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation | ( | ( | |||||||||
| $ | $ | ||||||||||
Note 3—Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net
Goodwill
Mattel's reporting units are (i) North America, which consists of the United States and Canada, (ii) International, and (iii) American Girl. In the first quarter of 2024, Mattel implemented an organizational change integrating the American Girl business into Mattel's North America commercial organization. Such integration resulted in a change to Mattel's operating and reportable segments. Goodwill related to the American Girl reporting unit is included in the North America operating segment. Mattel's reportable segments are: (i) North America and (ii) International. The change in the carrying amount of goodwill by reporting unit for 2024 and 2023 is shown below. Brand-specific goodwill held by foreign subsidiaries is allocated to the North America reporting unit selling those brands, thereby causing a foreign currency translation impact.
| December 31, 2022 | Currency Exchange Rate Impact | December 31, 2023 | Currency Exchange Rate Impact | December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North America | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| International | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| American Girl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the third quarter of 2024, Mattel performed its annual goodwill impairment test and determined that goodwill was not impaired. The quantitative goodwill impairment assessment includes the use of certain assumptions and estimates to calculate the estimated fair value of Mattel's reporting units. To the extent assumptions, estimations, or market factors, including seasonality, differ from Mattel's current estimates, the estimated fair value of Mattel's reporting units may be susceptible to significant changes. The reporting unit that is most susceptible to changes in assumptions and estimates, given its smaller size, is American Girl, as excess fair value over carrying value is a lesser dollar and percentage value than the other reporting units. There were no events or changes in circumstances subsequent to the third quarter assessment that indicate that the carrying amount of a reporting unit may exceed its fair value as of December 31, 2024.
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Intangible Assets, Net
Mattel's identifiable intangible assets, net consisted of the following:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Identifiable intangibles | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Less: accumulated amortization | ( | ( | |||||||||
| $ | $ | ||||||||||
The estimated future amortization expense for the next five years is as follows:
| Amortization Expense | |||||
| (In thousands) | |||||
| 2025 | $ | ||||
| 2026 | |||||
| 2027 | |||||
| 2028 | |||||
| 2029 | |||||
Note 4—Employee Benefit Plans
Mattel and certain of its subsidiaries have qualified and nonqualified retirement plans covering substantially all employees of these companies. These plans include defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution retirement plans, postretirement benefit plans, and deferred compensation and excess benefit plans. In addition, Mattel makes contributions to government-mandated retirement plans in countries outside the United States where its employees work.
A summary of retirement plan expense, net is as follows:
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Defined contribution retirement plans | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Defined benefit pension plans | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred compensation and excess benefit plans | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Postretirement benefit plans | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans
Mattel provides defined benefit pension plans for eligible domestic employees, which are intended to comply with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). Some of Mattel's foreign subsidiaries have defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all of their eligible employees. Mattel funds these plans in accordance with the terms of the plans and local statutory requirements, which differ for each of the countries in which the subsidiaries are located. Mattel also has unfunded postretirement health insurance plans covering certain eligible domestic employees.
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A summary of the components of Mattel's net periodic benefit cost/credit and other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive (loss) income for the years ended December 31 is as follows:
| Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Postretirement Benefit Plans | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service cost | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest cost | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected return on plan assets | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of prior service cost (credit) | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recognized actuarial loss (gain) | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlement (gain) loss | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curtailment gain | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit cost (credit) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net actuarial (gain) loss | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prior service cost | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of prior service (cost) credit | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss (a) | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit) and other comprehensive (loss) income | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a)Amounts exclude related tax expense (benefit) of approximately $1 million, $(2 ) million, and $6 million, during 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, which are also included in other comprehensive (loss) income.
Net periodic benefit cost/credit for Mattel's domestic defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans was calculated on January 1 of each year using the following assumptions:
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Defined benefit pension plans: | |||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average rate of future compensation increases | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||
| Long-term rate of return on plan assets | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Postretirement benefit plans: | |||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Annual increase in Medicare Part B premium | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Health care cost trend rate: | |||||||||||||||||
| Pre-65 | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Post-65 | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Ultimate cost trend rate: | |||||||||||||||||
| Pre-65 | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Post-65 | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Year that the rate reaches the ultimate cost trend rate: | |||||||||||||||||
| Pre-65 | 2031 | 2029 | 2028 | ||||||||||||||
| Post-65 | 2031 | 2029 | 2028 | ||||||||||||||
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Discount rates, weighted-average rates of future compensation increases, and long-term rates of return on plan assets for Mattel's foreign defined benefit pension plans differ from the assumptions used for Mattel's domestic defined benefit pension plans due to differences in local economic conditions in the locations where the non-U.S. plans are based. The rates shown in the preceding table are indicative of the weighted-average rates of all of Mattel's defined benefit pension plans given the relative insignificance of the foreign plans to the consolidated total.
Mattel used a measurement date of December 31, 2024 for its defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans. A summary of the changes in benefit obligation and plan assets is as follows:
| Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Postretirement Benefit Plans | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in Benefit Obligation: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit obligation, beginning of year | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Service cost | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest cost | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impact of currency exchange rate changes | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Actuarial (gain) loss | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefits paid | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Plan amendments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curtailments | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlements | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit obligation, end of year | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Change in Plan Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plan assets at fair value, beginning of year | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Actual return (loss) on plan assets | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employer contributions | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impact of currency exchange rate changes | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefits paid | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Settlements | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Plan assets at fair value, end of year | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net Amount Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Funded status, end of year | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Current accrued benefit liability | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Noncurrent accrued benefit liability, net | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net amount recognized | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (a): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net actuarial loss (gain) | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Prior service cost (credit) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||
(a)Amounts exclude related tax benefits of approximately $68 million and $69 million for December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which are also included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.
The accumulated benefit obligation differs from the projected benefit obligation in that it assumes future compensation levels will remain unchanged. Mattel's accumulated benefit obligation for its defined benefit pension plans as of 2024 and 2023 totaled $409.6 million and $445.2 million, respectively.
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The actuarial gain recognized in 2024 for the defined benefit pension plan was driven primarily by the decrease in the discount rate from the prior year that was used to determine the projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2024.
The actuarial loss recognized in 2023 for the defined benefit pension plan was driven primarily by the increase in the discount rate from the prior year that was used to determine the projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2023.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, information for defined benefit pension plans that had aggregate accumulated benefit obligations and projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets is as follows:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Projected benefit obligation | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accumulated benefit obligation | |||||||||||
| Fair value of plan assets | |||||||||||
The assumptions used in determining the projected and accumulated benefit obligations of Mattel's domestic defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans are as follows:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Defined benefit pension plans: | |||||||||||
| Discount rate | % | % | |||||||||
| Cash balance interest crediting rate | % | % | |||||||||
| Weighted-average rate of future compensation increases | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
| Postretirement benefit plans: | |||||||||||
| Discount rate | % | % | |||||||||
| Annual increase in Medicare Part B premium | % | % | |||||||||
| Health care cost trend rate: | |||||||||||
| Pre-65 | % | % | |||||||||
| Post-65 | % | % | |||||||||
| Ultimate cost trend rate: | |||||||||||
| Pre-65 | % | % | |||||||||
| Post-65 | % | % | |||||||||
| Year that the rate reaches the ultimate cost trend rate: | |||||||||||
| Pre-65 | 2031 | 2031 | |||||||||
| Post-65 | 2031 | 2031 | |||||||||
Discount rates, weighted-average rates of future compensation increases, and long-term rates of return on plan assets for Mattel's foreign defined benefit pension plans differ from the assumptions used for Mattel's domestic defined benefit pension plans due to differences in local economic conditions in the locations where the non-U.S. plans are based. The rates shown in the preceding table are indicative of the weighted-average rates of all of Mattel's defined benefit pension plans given the relative insignificance of the foreign plans to the consolidated total.
At the end of each fiscal year, Mattel determines the weighted-average discount rate used to calculate the projected benefit obligation. The discount rate is an estimate of the current interest rate at which the benefit plan liabilities could be effectively settled at the end of the year. The discount rate also impacts the interest cost component of plan income or expense. As of December 31, 2024, Mattel determined the discount rate for its domestic defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans used in determining the projected and accumulated benefit obligations to be 5.3 %, as compared to 4.7 % as of December 31, 2023. In estimating this rate, Mattel reviews rates of return on high-quality corporate bond indices, which approximate the timing and amount of benefit payments.
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The estimated future benefit payments for Mattel's defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans are as follows:
| Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Postretirement Benefit Plans | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| 2025 | $ | $ | |||||||||
| 2026 | |||||||||||
| 2027 | |||||||||||
| 2028 | |||||||||||
| 2029 | |||||||||||
| 2030 - 2034 | |||||||||||
Mattel expects to make cash contributions totaling approximately $21 million to its defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans in 2025, substantially all of which will be for benefit payments for its underfunded plans.
Mattel periodically commissions a study of the plans' assets and liabilities to determine an asset allocation that would best match expected cash flows from the plans' assets to expected benefit payments. Mattel monitors the returns earned by the plans' assets and reallocates investments as needed. Mattel's overall investment strategy is to achieve an adequately diversified asset allocation mix of investments that provides for both near-term benefit payments as well as long-term growth. The assets are invested in a combination of indexed and actively managed funds. The target allocations for Mattel's domestic plan assets, which comprise 79 % of Mattel's total plan assets, are 42 % in U.S. equities, 28 % in non-U.S. equities, 20 % in fixed income securities, and 10 % in real estate securities. The U.S. equities are benchmarked against the S&P 500, and the non-U.S. equities are benchmarked against a combination of developed and emerging markets indices. Fixed income securities are long-duration bonds intended to closely match the duration of the liabilities and include U.S. government treasuries and agencies, corporate bonds from various industries, and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities.
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Mattel's defined benefit pension plan assets are measured and reported in the consolidated financial statements at fair value using inputs, which are more fully described in "Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Fair Value Measurements," as follows:
| December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. government and U.S. government agency securities | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. corporate debt instruments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| International corporate debt instruments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mutual funds (a) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance "buy-in" policy | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Collective trust funds (a): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. equity securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| International equity securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global fixed income | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. government and U.S. government agency securities | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. corporate debt instruments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| International corporate debt instruments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mutual funds (a) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance "buy-in" policy | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Collective trust funds (a): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. equity securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| International equity securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global fixed income | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
(a) These investments primarily consist of privately placed funds that are valued based on net asset value per share. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets and its related disclosures.
The fair value of collective trust funds is determined based on the net asset value per share held at year-end. The fair value of U.S. government securities, U.S. government agency securities, corporate debt instruments, mutual funds, and money market funds are determined based on quoted market prices or are estimated using pricing models with observable inputs or quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics.
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In December 2017, Mattel entered into an insurance buy-in policy contract with a private limited life insurance company to insure a portion of the U.K. pension plan, which initially covered approximately 40 % of the total membership in the plan. In 2022, Mattel entered into an additional insurance buy-in policy contract to insure the remainder of the membership in the plan. The assets and liabilities with respect to insured pensioners are assumed to match for the purposes of Accounting Standards Codification 715, Pension — Retirement Benefits (i.e. the full benefits have been insured). The initial value of the asset associated with this policy was equal to the premium paid to secure the policy, and is adjusted each reporting period for changes in interest rates, discount rates, and benefits paid. As the valuation of this asset is judgmental, and there are no observable inputs associated with the valuation, the buy-in contract is classified as Level 3 on the fair value hierarchy.
The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of insurance buy-in policy contract assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):
| Level 3 | |||||
| (in thousands) | |||||
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | ||||
| Purchases, sales, and settlements | ( | ||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | |||||
| Purchases, sales, and settlements | ( | ||||
| ( | |||||
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | $ | ||||
Mattel's domestic defined benefit pension plan assets are not directly invested in Mattel common stock. Mattel believes that the long-term rate of return on plan assets of 6.2 % as of December 31, 2024 is reasonable based on historical returns.
Defined Contribution Retirement Plans
Domestic employees are eligible to participate in a 401(k) savings plan, the Mattel, Inc. Personal Investment Plan (the "Plan"), sponsored by Mattel, which is a funded defined contribution plan intended to comply with ERISA's requirements. Contributions to the Plan include voluntary contributions by eligible employees and employer automatic and matching contributions by Mattel. The Plan allows employees to allocate both their voluntary contributions and their employer automatic and matching contributions to a variety of investment funds, including a fund that is invested in Mattel common stock (the "Mattel Stock Fund"). Employees are not required to allocate any of their Plan account balance to the Mattel Stock Fund, allowing employees to limit or eliminate their exposure to market changes in Mattel's stock price. Furthermore, the Plan limits the percentage of the employee's total account balance that may be allocated to the Mattel Stock Fund to 25 %. Employees may generally reallocate their account balances on a daily basis. However, pursuant to Mattel's insider trading policy, employees classified as insiders under Mattel's insider trading policy are limited to certain periods in which they may make allocations into or out of the Mattel Stock Fund.
Certain non-U.S. employees participate in other defined contribution retirement plans with varying vesting and contribution provisions.
Deferred Compensation and Excess Benefit Plans
Mattel maintains a deferred compensation and 401(k) excess plan (the "DCP") that permits certain officers and key employees to elect to defer portions of their compensation. The participant DCP deferrals, together with certain contributions made by Mattel, earn various rates of return. The liability for these plans as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $56.9 million and $53.3 million, respectively, and is primarily included in other noncurrent liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the market value of the participant-selected investment options are recorded as retirement plan expense within other selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. Separately, Mattel has purchased group trust-owned life insurance contracts designed to assist in funding these benefits under the DCP. The cash surrender value of these policies, valued at $97.1 million and $87.1 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, are held in an irrevocable guarantor trust, the assets of which are subject to the claims of Mattel's creditors and are included in other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
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Annual Incentive Compensation
Note 5—Supplier Finance Program
Mattel has an agreement with a third-party financial institution that allows certain participating suppliers the opportunity to voluntarily finance payment obligations of Mattel under a supplier finance program. Under this program, participating suppliers may accelerate the timing of collection of their receivables due from Mattel, prior to their scheduled due dates, by selling one or more of their receivables at a discounted price to the third-party financial institution. The range of payment terms Mattel negotiates with suppliers are consistent, regardless of whether the suppliers participate in the supplier finance program and Mattel does not have any economic interest in any suppliers' decision to participate in the supplier finance program. Suppliers participating in the program are able to select which individual Mattel invoices they sell to the third-party financial institution. All Mattel payments of the full amounts due to participating suppliers are paid on the invoice due date based on the terms originally negotiated with the supplier, regardless of whether the individual invoice due to the supplier is sold to the third-party financial institution. Outstanding payment obligations due to suppliers under the supplier finance program were included in Mattel's in the consolidated balance sheets. All payment activities related to the supplier finance program were presented within operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
The following is a rollforward of outstanding payment obligations due under the supplier finance program:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Obligations outstanding at beginning of the year | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Invoices issued during the year | |||||||||||
| Invoices paid during the year | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Obligations outstanding at end of the year | $ | $ | |||||||||
Note 6—Seasonal Financing and Debt
Seasonal Financing
On July 15, 2024, Mattel entered into a revolving credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement"), among Mattel, as the borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders and financial institutions party thereto, providing for $1.40 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured revolving credit facilities (the "Credit Facility"). The Credit Facility matures on July 15, 2029. In connection with the Credit Facility, Mattel terminated the commitments and satisfied all outstanding obligations under Mattel's prior revolving credit agreement, dated as of September 15, 2022 (as amended), among Mattel, as the borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders and financial institutions party thereto, which provided for a senior secured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $1.40 billion.
Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at a floating rate, which for U.S. Dollar-denominated loans can be, at Mattel's option, either (a) Term SOFR (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.875 % to 1.375 % per annum, or (b) Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.000 % to 0.375 % per annum, in each case, such applicable margins to be determined based on Mattel's debt rating.
In addition to paying interest on the outstanding principal under the Credit Facility, Mattel is required to pay (i) an unused line fee per annum of the average daily unused portion of the Credit Facility, (ii) a letter of credit fronting fee based on a percentage of the aggregate face amount of outstanding letters of credit, and (iii) certain other customary fees and expenses of the lenders and agents.
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The Credit Agreement contains customary covenants, including, but not limited to, (a) restrictions on Mattel's and its subsidiaries' ability to merge and consolidate with other companies, dispose of all or substantially all assets, incur indebtedness, or grant liens or other security interests on assets, in each case, subject to certain customary exceptions and (b) the requirement that the obligations of Mattel under the Credit Facility be guaranteed by any existing or future direct or indirect domestic subsidiary of Mattel that guarantees other indebtedness of Mattel in an aggregate principal or committed amount in excess of $50 million, subject to certain customary exceptions. As of December 31, 2024, no subsidiaries of Mattel were required to guarantee the Credit Facility.
The Credit Agreement requires the maintenance of (a) an interest coverage ratio of not less than 2.75 to 1.00 as of the end of each fiscal quarter and (b) a total leverage ratio as of the end of each fiscal quarter, not to exceed (x) 3.75 to 1.00 with respect to fiscal quarters ending on March 31, June 30 and December 31 of each year, and (y) 4.00 to 1.00 with respect to fiscal quarters ending on September 30 of each year. The total leverage ratio financial covenant is subject to a step-up to 4.25 to 1.00, with respect to fiscal quarters in which certain material acquisitions are consummated, and for a period of four fiscal quarters thereafter, and subject to certain customary exceptions.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, Mattel had no 9 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
To finance seasonal working capital requirements of certain foreign subsidiaries, Mattel avails itself of individual short-term credit lines. As of December 31, 2024, foreign credit lines totaled approximately $18 million. Mattel expects to extend the majority of these credit lines throughout 2025.
As of December 31, 2024, Mattel was in compliance with all covenants contained in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement is a material agreement, and failure to comply with its covenants may result in an event of default under the terms of the Credit Facility. If Mattel were to default under the terms of the Credit Facility, its ability to meet its seasonal financing requirements could be adversely affected.
Short-Term Borrowings
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, Mattel had no
During 2024 and 2023, Mattel had no borrowings under the Credit Facility and prior credit facility, and no other short-term borrowings.
Long-Term Debt
| Interest Rate | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2010 Senior Notes due October 2040 | % | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| 2011 Senior Notes due November 2041 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| 2019 Senior Notes due December 2027 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 Senior Notes due April 2026 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 Senior Notes due April 2029 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Debt issuance costs and debt discount | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Less: current portion | |||||||||||||||||
| Total long-term debt | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
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Mattel's 2019 Senior Notes due 2027 were issued pursuant to an indenture dated November 20, 2019, and its 2021 Senior Notes due 2026 and 2021 Senior Notes due 2029 were issued pursuant to an indenture dated March 19, 2021. These indentures contain covenants that limit Mattel's (and some of its subsidiaries') ability to, among other things: (i) incur additional debt or issue certain preferred shares; (ii) pay dividends on or make other distributions in respect of their capital stock or make other restricted payments; (iii) make investments in unrestricted subsidiaries; (iv) create liens; (v) enter into certain sale/leaseback transactions; (vi) merge or consolidate, or sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of substantially all of their assets; and (vii) designate future guarantors. The indentures also provided that certain of these covenants would be suspended if Mattel achieved a debt rating of BBB-, Baa3, and/or BBB- (or higher) from any two of S&P, Moody's, and Fitch, respectively, and no event of default has occurred.
In 2024, Fitch changed Mattel's credit rating from BB+ to BBB- with a stable outlook, S&P changed Mattel's credit rating from BBB- to BBB with a stable outlook, and Moody's maintained Mattel's credit rating of Baa3 with a stable outlook. As a result of the current credit ratings and no events of default, the covenants limiting Mattel's ability to incur additional debt or issue certain preferred shares, pay dividends on or make other distributions in respect of its capital stock or make other restricted payments, and make investments in unrestricted subsidiaries, and certain provisions of the covenant limiting Mattel's ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of substantially all of its assets and designate future guarantors, are suspended. If Mattel ceases to have credit ratings of BBB-, Baa3, and/or BBB- (or higher) from any two of S&P, Moody's, and Fitch, respectively, Mattel will thereafter be subject to the suspended covenants with respect to future events.
On December 30, 2022, Mattel used cash on hand to redeem and retire the $250 million aggregate principal amount of the 2013 Senior Notes due 2023.
The aggregate principal amount of long-term debt maturing in the next five years and thereafter is as follows:
| 2010 Senior Notes | 2011 Senior Notes | 2019 Senior Notes | 2021 Senior Notes | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2027 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2028 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2029 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thereafter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Note 7—Stockholders' Equity
Preference Stock
Mattel is authorized to issue up to 20.0 million shares of $0.01 par value preference stock, of which none is currently outstanding.
Preferred Stock
Mattel is authorized to issue up to 3.0 million shares of $1.00 par value preferred stock, of which none is currently outstanding.
Common Stock Repurchase Program
During 2024, Mattel repurchased 21.0 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $400.0 million. During 2023, Mattel repurchased 10.4 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $203.0 million. During 2022, Mattel did no t repurchase any shares of its common stock. Mattel's share repurchase program was first announced on July 21, 2003. On July 17, 2013, the Board of Directors approved a $500.0 million increase to Mattel's share repurchase authorization, and as of December 31, 2023, such authorization was exhausted. On February 5, 2024, the Board of Directors authorized a new $1.00 billion share repurchase program. As of December 31, 2024, Mattel had a remaining authorization of $600.0 million under the program. Repurchases will take place from time to time, depending on market conditions. Mattel's share repurchase program has no expiration date.
Dividends
During 2024, 2023, and 2022, Mattel did no
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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following tables present changes in the accumulated balances for each component of other comprehensive income (loss), including current period other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative Instruments | Available-for-Sale Security | Employee Benefit Plans | Currency Translation Adjustments | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, as of December 31, 2023 | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net change in other comprehensive income (loss) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, as of December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative Instruments | Available-for-Sale Security | Employee Benefit Plans | Currency Translation Adjustments | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, as of December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net change in other comprehensive income (loss) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, as of December 31, 2023 | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative Instruments | Available-for-Sale Security | Employee Benefit Plans | Currency Translation Adjustments | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, as of December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net change in other comprehensive income (loss) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjustment of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to retained earnings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, as of December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The following table presents the classification and amount of the reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to the consolidated statements of operations:
| For the Year Ended | Consolidated Statements of Operations Classification | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative Instruments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain on foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts | $ | $ | $ | Cost of sales | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tax effect | Provision/benefit for income taxes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | Net Income | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Employee Benefit Plans | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of prior service credit (a) | $ | $ | $ | Other non-operating income/expense, net | |||||||||||||||||||
| Recognized actuarial (loss) (a) | ( | ( | ( | Other non-operating income/expense, net | |||||||||||||||||||
| Curtailment gain (loss) (a) | Other non-operating income/expense, net | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlement gain (loss) (a) | ( | Other non-operating income/expense, net | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Tax effect | Provision/benefit for income taxes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | Net Income | |||||||||||||||||
| Currency Translation Adjustments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Loss) on liquidation of subsidiary | $ | $ | $ | ( | Other non-operating income/expense, net | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tax effect (b) | Provision/benefit for income taxes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
(a)The amortization of prior service credit, recognized actuarial (loss), curtailment gain (loss) and settlement gain (loss) are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. Refer to "Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Employee Benefit Plans" for additional information regarding Mattel's net periodic benefit cost.
During 2022, Mattel adjusted accumulated other comprehensive loss by $6.4 million in relation to previously recorded available-for-sale equity securities. This amount was adjusted in order to account for such securities in a manner consistent with Accounting Standards Codification 321, Investments—Equity Securities. The adjustment included $3.6 million of accumulated other comprehensive loss reclassified to other non-operating expense (income), net in the consolidated statement of operations and $2.8 million reclassified to retained earnings in the consolidated statement of stockholders' equity. The adjustment, including tax effect, was immaterial to the financial statements.
Currency Translation Adjustments
During 2024, currency translation adjustments resulted in a net other comprehensive loss of $110.5 million, primarily due to the weakening of the Mexican peso, Russian ruble, and Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar.
During 2023, currency translation adjustments resulted in a net other comprehensive gain of $37.1 million, primarily due to the strengthening of the Mexican peso and British pound sterling against the U.S. dollar, partially offset by the weakening of the Russian ruble against the U.S. dollar
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During 2022, currency translation adjustments resulted in a net other comprehensive loss of $51.6 million, primarily due to the weakening of the British pound sterling, Euro, and Hong Kong dollar against the U.S. dollar, partially offset by the strengthening of the Mexican peso and Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar. Upon sale or upon complete or substantially complete liquidation of an investment in a foreign entity, the accumulated currency translation adjustment related to the foreign entity is reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings. During the fourth quarter of 2022, the liquidation of Mattel's subsidiary in Argentina was substantially complete and as a result, $45.4 million of accumulated currency translation losses were recognized in other non-operating expense, net within the consolidated statement of operations.
Note 8—Leases
The following table summarizes Mattel's right-of-use assets and liabilities and other information about its leases:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands, except years and percentage information) | |||||||||||
| Right-of-use assets, net | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Noncurrent lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| Total lease liabilities | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Weighted-average remaining lease term | |||||||||||
| Weighted-average discount rate | % | % | |||||||||
Lease costs for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022 were as follows:
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Lease costs (a) (b) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
(a) Includes short-term and variable lease costs of approximately $34 million, $36 million, and $47 million for 2024, 2023, and 2022 respectively. Variable lease costs primarily relate to variable components of third-party logistics rental charges, common area maintenance charges, management fees, and taxes.
Supplemental information related to leases were as follows:
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash payments for leases | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new and modified lease liabilities | |||||||||||||||||
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The following table shows the future maturities of lease liabilities for leases in effect as of December 31, 2024:
| Years Ending December 31, | Lease Liabilities | |||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||
| 2024 | $ | |||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| 2026 | ||||||||
| 2027 | ||||||||
| 2028 | ||||||||
| Thereafter | ||||||||
| Less: imputed interest | ( | |||||||
| $ | ||||||||
Note 9—Share-Based Payments
Mattel Stock Plans
The 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan was initially approved by Mattel's stockholders in May 2010, and most recently amended in May 2024 by Mattel's stockholders (the "Amended 2010 Plan").
Under the Amended 2010 Plan, Mattel has the ability to grant nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, RSUs, performance RSUs ("performance awards"), dividend equivalent rights, and shares of common stock to officers, employees, non-employee directors, and consultants providing services to Mattel. The Amended 2010 Plan also contains provisions regarding grants of equity compensation to the non-employee members of the Board of Directors. The Amended 2010 Plan expires on March 21, 2034, except as to any grants then outstanding.
Nonqualified stock options are granted with an exercise price not less than 100 % of the fair market value of Mattel's common stock on the date of grant, expire no later than 10 years from the date of grant, and vest on a schedule determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, generally over a period of three years from the date of grant. Nonqualified stock options generally vest and become exercisable contingent upon the grantees' continued employment or service with Mattel. In the event of a retirement, or an involuntary termination, of an employee that meets retirement provisions under the Amended 2010 Plan, or the death or disability of an employee, that occurs in each case at least six months after the grant-date, nonqualified stock options become fully vested. In the event of an involuntary termination, an employee has 90 days to exercise vested options.
RSUs granted under the Amended 2010 Plan vest on a schedule determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, generally over a period of three years from the date of grant. In the event of the involuntary termination of an employee that meets retirement provisions under the Amended 2010 Plan, or the death or disability of an employee, that occurs at least six months after the grant-date, RSUs become fully vested.
Performance awards granted under the Amended 2010 Plan vest upon achievement of performance conditions at a settlement date determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which occurs in the first quarter subsequent the performance cycle. In the event of a retirement of an employee that meets retirement provisions under the Amended 2010 Plan, or the death or disability of an employee, that occurs in each case at least six months after the start date of the performance period, performance awards vest at the settlement date. In each case, vested performance awards are determined upon the achievement of performance conditions over the performance period, which is then prorated for the period of employment as a percentage of the performance period.
An employee qualifies for retirement provisions under the Amended 2010 Plan if; aged 55 years or older with 5 or more years of service for grants prior to April 28, 2023, or aged 55 years or older with 10 or more years of service for grants on or after April 28, 2023, which includes Mattel's 2023 annual employee grant.
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The number of shares of common stock available for grant under the Amended 2010 Plan is subject to an aggregate limit as defined therein. At December 31, 2024, there were approximately 27 million shares available for grant under the Amended 2010 Plan if target performance goals are achieved, and approximately 23 million shares available if maximum performance goals are achieved.
Mattel recognized total share-based compensation expense related to stock options, RSUs, and performance awards of $79.4 million, $83.3 million, and $69.1 million during 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, which is included in other selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The income tax benefit related to stock options, RSUs, and performance awards during 2024, 2023, and 2022 was approximately $9 million, $10 million and $9 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2024, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based payments totaled $120.9 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.3 years.
Stock Options
Mattel recognized compensation expense of $3.1 million, $6.7 million, and $13.2 million for stock options during 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, which is included within other selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
The fair values of options granted have been estimated using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The expected life of stock options used in this calculation is the period of time the options are expected to be outstanding and has been determined based on historical exercise experience. Expected stock price volatility is based on the historical volatility of Mattel's stock for a period approximating the expected life. Expected dividend yield is based on the annual rate of dividends expected to be paid over the expected life. The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues approximating the expected life.
The following weighted-average valuation assumptions were used in determining the fair value of options granted:
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Expected life (in years) | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | — | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Volatility factor | — | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Dividend yield | — | % | % | ||||||||||||||
The following is a summary of stock option information and weighted-average exercise prices for Mattel's stock options:
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except weighted-average exercise prices) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding at January 1 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canceled | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercisable at December 31 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the current market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option. The total intrinsic value of options exercised was approximately $2 million, $9 million and $8 million, during 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. At December 31, 2024, options outstanding had an intrinsic value of approximately $18 million with a weighted-average remaining life of 3.5 years. At December 31, 2024, options exercisable had an intrinsic value of approximately $18 million, with a weighted-average remaining life of 3.3 years. Mattel uses treasury shares purchased under its share repurchase program to satisfy stock option exercises. Cash received from stock options exercised, net of taxes during 2024 was approximately $6 million.
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At December 31, 2024, stock options vested and expected to vest totaled approximately 11 million shares, with an intrinsic value of approximately $18 million, weighted-average exercise price of $19.69 , and weighted-average remaining life of 3.5 years. During 2024, approximately 1 million stock options vested. The total grant-date fair value of stock options vested during 2024, 2023, and 2022 was approximately $6 million, $9 million, and $9 million, respectively.
Restricted Stock Units
Compensation expense recognized related to grants of RSUs was $55.2 million, $48.5 million, and $37.7 million in 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, and was included within other selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
RSUs are valued at the market value on the date of grant, adjusted by the present value of the expected dividends for RSUs that are not entitled to a dividend during the vesting period. The expense for RSUs is evenly attributed to the periods in which the restrictions lapse, which is generally three years from the date of grant.
The following is a summary of RSU information and weighted-average grant-date fair values for Mattel's RSUs:
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except weighted-average grant-date fair values) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unvested at January 1 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unvested at December 31 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2024, RSUs expected to vest totaled approximately 5 million shares, with a weighted-average grant-date fair value of $18.98 . The total grant-date fair value of RSUs vested during 2024, 2023, and 2022 was approximately $49 million, $42 million, and $29 million, respectively.
Performance Awards
Compensation expense recognized related to grants of performance awards was $21.2 million, $28.1 million, and $18.2 million during 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. Performance awards were comprised of Mattel's long-term incentive program ("LTIP") and a one-time retention award of performance-based restricted stock units (the "Retention Performance Grant").
Mattel had four LTIP performance cycles in place during 2024, which were established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors: (i) a January 1, 2021—December 31, 2023 ("2021 LTIP"), which was completed in the first quarter of 2024 (ii) a January 1, 2022—December 31, 2024 performance cycle ("2022 LTIP"), (ii) a January 1, 2023—December 31, 2025 performance cycle ("2023 LTIP"), and (iii) a January 1, 2024—December 31, 2026 performance cycle ("2024 LTIP"). Under the LTIP performance cycles in place in 2024, officers and key employees may earn shares of Mattel's common stock based on attaining certain cumulative three-year performance targets, which are subject to approvals of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The ultimate amount of shares earned for these LTIP awards may vary from 0 % to 200 % of the target number of shares, depending on the cumulative results achieved.
On September 30, 2024, the Retention Performance Grant was granted to Ynon Kreiz, Mattel's Chief Executive Officer, in order to incentivize retention and drive significant stock price performance and market outperformance. The Retention Performance Grant has targeted approximately 0.8 million performance-based restricted stock units granted under the Plan, which was determined based on a target value of $15.0 million divided by the closing price of Mattel's common stock on the grant date. The Retention Performance Grant is 100 % performance-based, with 50 % of the Retention Performance Grant subject to vesting based on the achievement of the stock price hurdles during the final three years of the five-year performance measurement period, and the remaining 50 % of the Retention Performance Grant subject to vesting based on Mattel's relative Total Shareholder Return ("TSR") over the five-year performance measurement period.
No portion of the Retention Performance Grant will be earned unless Mattel achieves rigorous performance goals and Mr. Kreiz remains employed through the settlement date following the completion of a five-year vesting period from September 30, 2024 to September 30, 2029, subject to potential acceleration upon certain qualifying terminations of employment. The grant also allows for a maximum potential earnout of 200 % of the targeted number of performance-based restricted stock units.
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Mattel determines the fair value of the performance-related components of its performance awards based on the closing market price of Mattel's common stock on the date of grant and determines the fair value of the market-related components of its performance awards based on the Monte Carlo valuation methodology. The LTIP awards cliff-vest at the end of the requisite service period, which typically occurs in the first quarter subsequent to the end of the performance period. Mattel recognizes compensation expense for its LTIP awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, provided that certain cumulative three-year performance targets and other vesting criteria are met. The Retention Performance Grant has a five-year vesting period from September 30, 2024 to September 30, 2029, which will be recognized straight-line over the service period. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of performance awards granted during 2024, 2023, and 2022 was $21.97 , $19.44 , and $28.39 respectively.
The following weighted-average valuation assumptions were used in determining the fair value of the market-related components of performance awards granted:
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Volatility factor | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Dividend yield | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
The following is a summary of performance award information and weighted-average grant-date fair values for Mattel's performance awards:
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except weighted-average grant-date fair values) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unvested at January 1 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted (a)(b) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unvested at December 31 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a)During 2024, Mattel granted 0.8 million shares as part of the Retention Performance Grant, 1.0 million shares as part of the 2024 LTIP, and issued less than 0.1 million incremental shares under the 2021 LTIP based on the final earnout of the 2021 performance cycle, which are included in the weighted average grant-date fair value. During 2023, Mattel granted 1.2 million shares as part of its 2023 LTIP and issued 0.8 million incremental shares under the 2020 LTIP based on the final earnout of the 2020 performance cycle, which are included in the weighted average grant-date fair value. During 2022, Mattel granted 0.7 million shares as part of its 2022 LTIP and issued 0.8 million incremental shares under the 2019 LTIP based on the final earnout of the 2019 performance cycle, which are included in the weighted average grant-date fair value.
At December 31, 2024, performance awards expected to vest totaled approximately 2 million shares, with a weighted-average grant-date fair value of $21.10 . The total grant-date fair value of performance awards vested during 2024, 2023, and 2022 was approximately $18 million, $26 million, and $27 million, respectively.
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Note 10—Earnings Per Share
The following table reconciles basic and diluted earnings per common share:
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic net income per common share | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares | |||||||||||||||||
| Dilutive share-based awards (a) | |||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of common and potential common shares | |||||||||||||||||
| Diluted net income per common share | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Note 11—Fair Value Measurements
The following tables present information about Mattel's assets and liabilities measured and reported in the financial statements at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such fair value. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
•Level 1 – Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity has the ability to access.
•Level 2 – Valuations based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
•Level 3 – Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable, supported by little or no market activity, and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
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| December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts (a) | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts (a) | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts (a) | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts (a) | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
(a)The fair value of the foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts was based on dealer quotes of market forward rates and reflects the amount that Mattel would receive or pay at their maturity dates for contracts involving the same notional amounts, currencies, and maturity dates.
Other Financial Instruments
Mattel's financial instruments included cash and equivalents, accounts receivable and payable, accrued liabilities, short-term borrowings, and long-term debt. The fair values of these instruments, excluding long-term debt, approximate their carrying amounts because of their short-term nature. Cash and equivalents were classified as Level 1 and all other financial instruments were classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
The estimated fair value of Mattel's long-term debt was $2.27 billion (compared to a carrying amount of $2.35 billion) as of December 31, 2024 and $2.23 billion (compared to a carrying amount of $2.35 billion) as of December 31, 2023. The estimated fair values have been calculated based on broker quotes or rates for the same or similar instruments and were classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
Note 12—Derivative Instruments
Mattel seeks to mitigate its exposure to foreign currency transaction risk by monitoring its foreign currency transaction exposure for the year and partially hedging such exposure using foreign currency forward exchange contracts. Mattel uses foreign currency forward exchange contracts as cash flow hedges primarily to hedge its purchases and sales of inventory denominated in foreign currencies. These contracts have maturity dates of up to 24 months. These derivative instruments have been designated as effective cash flow hedges, whereby the unsettled hedges are reported in Mattel's consolidated balance sheets at fair value, with changes in the fair value of the hedges reflected in other comprehensive income ("OCI"). Realized gains and losses for these contracts are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the inventory is sold to customers. Mattel uses foreign currency forward exchange contracts to hedge intercompany loans and advances denominated in foreign currencies. Due to the short-term nature of the contracts involved, Mattel does not use hedge accounting for these contracts, and as such, changes in fair value are recorded in the period of change in the consolidated statements of operations. Mattel utilizes derivative contracts to hedge certain purchases of commodities, which were not material. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, Mattel held foreign currency forward exchange contracts and other commodity derivative instruments, with notional amounts of approximately $628 million and $609 million, respectively.
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The following tables present Mattel's derivative assets and liabilities:
| Derivative Assets | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance Sheet Classification | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments: | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments: | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Total Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
| Derivative Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance Sheet Classification | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments: | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments: | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts | Accrued liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts | Other noncurrent liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
The following tables present the classification and amount of gains and losses, net of tax, from derivatives reported in the consolidated statements of operations:
| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| For the Year Ended | Statements of Operations Classification | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of gains (losses) recognized in OCI | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of gains reclassified from accumulated OCI to the consolidated statements of operations | Cost of sales | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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The net gains reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to the consolidated statements of operations during 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, were offset by changes in cash flows associated with the underlying hedged transactions.
| Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| For the Year Ended | Statements of Operations Classification | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of Net Gains (Losses) Recognized in the Statements of Operations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forward exchange and other contracts | $ | $ | $ | ( | Other non-operating income/expense, net | ||||||||||||||||||
The net Gains (Losses) recognized in the consolidated statements of operations during 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, were offset by foreign currency transaction gains and losses on the related derivative balances.
Note 13—Commitments and Contingencies
Licensing and Similar Agreements and Other Purchasing Obligations
In the normal course of business, Mattel enters into contractual arrangements to obtain and protect Mattel's right to create and market certain products. These arrangements include royalty payments pursuant to licensing agreements that routinely contain provisions for guarantees or minimum expenditures during the term of the contract. Mattel also enters into contractual arrangements for commitments of future purchases of goods and services to ensure availability and timely delivery. Current and future commitments for guaranteed payments reflect Mattel's focus on expanding its product lines through alliances with businesses in other industries.
Licensing and similar agreements in effect at December 31, 2024 contain provisions for future minimum payments as shown in the following table:
| Licensing and Similar Agreements | |||||
| (In thousands) | |||||
| 2025 | $ | ||||
| 2026 | |||||
| 2027 | |||||
| 2028 | |||||
| 2029 | |||||
| Thereafter | |||||
| $ | |||||
Royalty expense for 2024, 2023, and 2022 was $244.1 million, $249.8 million, and $230.8 million, respectively.
The following table shows the future minimum obligations for purchases of inventory, services, and other items as of December 31, 2024:
| Other Purchase Obligations | |||||
| (In thousands) | |||||
| 2025 | $ | ||||
| 2026 | |||||
| 2027 | |||||
| 2028 | |||||
| 2029 | |||||
| Thereafter | |||||
| $ | |||||
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Insurance
Mattel has a wholly-owned subsidiary, Far West Insurance Company, Ltd. ("Far West"), that was established to insure Mattel's workers' compensation, general, automobile, product liability, and property risks. For the year ended December 31, 2024, Far West insured the first $1.0 million per occurrence for workers' compensation risks, the first $0.5 million per occurrence for general and automobile liability risks, the first $2.0 million per occurrence for product liability losses occurring prior to February 1, 2020, and the first $5.0 million per occurrence for product liability risks thereafter, and up to $1.0 million per occurrence for property risks. Various insurance companies that have an "A" or better AM Best rating at the time the policies are purchased reinsured Mattel's risk in excess of the amounts insured by Far West. Mattel's liability for workers' compensation, general, automobile, product liability, and property claims at December 31, 2024 and 2023 totaled $12.0 million and $12.2 million, respectively, and is primarily included in other noncurrent liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Loss reserves are accrued based on Mattel's estimate of the aggregate liability for claims incurred.
Litigation
Litigation Related to Yellowstone do Brasil Ltda.
In April 1999, Yellowstone do Brasil Ltda. (formerly known as Trebbor Informática Ltda.) filed a lawsuit against Mattel do Brasil before the 15th Civil Court of Curitiba, State of Parana, requesting the annulment of its security bonds and promissory notes given to Mattel do Brasil as well as damages due to an alleged breach of an oral exclusive distribution agreement between the parties relating to the supply and sale of toys in Brazil. Yellowstone's complaints sought alleged loss of profits plus an unspecified amount of damages.
Mattel do Brasil filed its defenses to these claims and simultaneously presented a counterclaim for unpaid accounts receivable for goods supplied to Yellowstone.
In April 2018, Mattel do Brasil entered into a settlement agreement to resolve this matter, but the settlement remains the subject of ongoing appeals.
In October 2018, the Superior Court of Justice issued a final ruling in favor of Yellowstone on the merits of Yellowstone's claims. Previously, the courts had ruled in Mattel's favor on its counterclaim.
In October 2019, Mattel reached an agreement with Yellowstone's former counsel regarding payment of the attorney's fees portion of the judgment. In November 2019, Yellowstone initiated an action to enforce its judgment against Mattel, but did not account for an offset for Mattel's counterclaim. In January 2020, Mattel obtained an injunction, staying Yellowstone's enforcement action pending resolution of Mattel's appeal to enforce the parties' April 2018 settlement. As of December 31, 2024, Mattel assessed its probable loss related to this matter and has accrued an estimated liability, which is not material.
Litigation Related to the Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play Sleeper
A number of putative class action lawsuits filed between April 2019 and October 2019 are pending against Fisher-Price, Inc. and/or Mattel, Inc. asserting claims for false advertising, negligent product design, breach of warranty, fraud, and other claims in connection with the marketing and sale of the Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play Sleeper (the "Sleeper"). In general, the lawsuits allege that the Sleeper should not have been marketed and sold as safe and fit for prolonged and overnight sleep for infants. The putative class action lawsuits propose nationwide and over 10 statewide consumer classes comprised of those who purchased the Sleeper as marketed as safe for prolonged and overnight sleep. The class actions have been consolidated before a single judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York for pre-trial purposes pursuant to the U.S. federal courts' Multi-District Litigation program. In June 2022, the court denied the plaintiffs' motion to certify damages and injunctive relief classes under New York law, but granted plaintiffs' request to certify a New York issue class to resolve two issues on a class-wide basis. In October 2022, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit denied plaintiffs' petition to appeal the denial of certification of the damages and injunctive relief classes. On July 24, 2024, the parties filed a settlement agreement with the court to resolve this litigation. On August 9, 2024, the settlement was preliminarily approved by the court. A final approval hearing is scheduled for February 28, 2025. As of December 31, 2024, Mattel assessed its probable loss related to this matter and has accrued an estimated liability, which is not material.
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In addition, a stockholder has filed a derivative action in the Court of Chancery for the State of Delaware (Kumar v. Bradley, et al., filed July 7, 2020) alleging breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment related to the development, marketing, and sale of the Sleeper. The defendants in the derivative action are certain of Mattel's current and former officers and directors. In August 2021, a second similar derivative action was filed in the Court of Chancery for the State of Delaware (Armon v. Bradley, et al., filed August 30, 2021). The parties have reached a settlement in principle of this litigation, which is subject to approval by the court. As of December 31, 2024, Mattel has determined that a recovery of prior losses in this matter is probable and has accrued for the estimated amount, which is not material.
The lawsuits seek compensatory damages, punitive damages, statutory damages, restitution, disgorgement, attorneys' fees, costs, interest, declaratory relief, and/or injunctive relief. Mattel believes that it has substantial defenses to the allegations in the lawsuits and intends to vigorously defend against them.
Litigation Related to the Fisher-Price Snuga Swings
Purported class action lawsuits against Fisher-Price, Inc. and Mattel, Inc. were filed in United States District Courts for the Western District of New York (Bigelow v. Mattel, Inc., et al., filed October 17, 2024, Wall v. Mattel, Inc., et al., filed October 25, 2024, and Spencer v. Fisher-Price, Inc., et al., filed February 14, 2025), and the Central District of California (Shahbaz v. Fisher-Price, Inc., et al., filed October 24, 2024, and Gates, et al. v. Fisher-Price, Inc., et al. filed November 18, 2024). The two lawsuits filed in the Central District of California have since been transferred to the Western District of New York. The lawsuits assert claims for false advertising, breach of contract, breach of warranty, fraud, negligence, and other claims in connection with the marketing and sale of Fisher-Price Snuga Swings (the "Swings"). In general, the lawsuits allege that the Swings were falsely marketed and sold as safe for infant use, particularly infant sleep, and failed to disclose a risk of suffocation. The lawsuits propose nationwide and several state consumer classes comprised of those who purchased Swings.
Note 14—Segment Information
Mattel designs, manufactures, and markets a broad variety of toy products worldwide, which are sold to its customers and directly to consumers.
Segment Data
In the first quarter of 2024, Mattel implemented an organizational change that resulted in the American Girl business being integrated into Mattel's North America commercial organization. Such integration resulted in a change to Mattel's operating and reportable segments. Mattel's reportable segments are: (i) North America; and (ii) International. The prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The North America and International segments sell products across Mattel's categories, although some products are developed and adapted for particular international markets, and American Girl products are sold only in North America.
Mattel's reportable segments are aligned to the structure used by its Chief Executive Officer, who is also the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM"), to allocate resources and assess performance. Mattel's CODM evaluates segment performance based on each segment’s gross profit and operating income. The CODM also uses these metrics in the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting process to inform decisions about allocating capital and other resources to each segment.
The following tables present information regarding Mattel's statement of operations information by segment. The corporate and other category includes operating costs not allocated to individual segments, including charges related to incentive and share-based compensation, corporate headquarters functions managed on a worldwide basis, the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on intercompany transactions, and certain severance and other restructuring costs. It is impracticable for Mattel to present net sales by categories, brands, or products, as trade discounts and other allowances are generally recorded in the financial accounting systems by customer.
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| For the Year Ended December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North America | International | Total Reportable Segments | Corporate and other | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of Sales (a) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Profit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Advertising and promotion expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other selling and administrative expenses (b) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest (income) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other non-operating expense, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) included severance and other restructuring charges of approximately $4 million recorded to corporate and other.
(b) included severance and other restructuring charges, the impact of inclined sleeper product recall litigation, incentive compensation, and share-based compensation of approximately $44 million, $(4 ) million, $151 million, and $79 million, respectively, which were recorded in corporate and other.
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North America | International | Total Reportable Segments | Corporate and other | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of Sales (a) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Profit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Advertising and promotion expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other selling and administrative expenses (b) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest (income) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other non-operating (income), net | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a)Cost of sales included impact of severance and other restructuring activities of approximately $(1 ) million recorded to corporate and other.
(b)Other selling and administrative expenses included severance and other restructuring charges, inclined sleeper product recall litigation charges, incentive compensation, and share-based compensation of approximately $61 million, $18 million, $138 million, and $83 million respectively, which were recorded in corporate and other.
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| For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North America | International | Total Reportable Segments | Corporate and other | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of Sales (a) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Profit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Advertising and promotion expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other selling and administrative expenses (b) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest (income) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other non-operating expense, net (c) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) included severance and other restructuring charges of approximately $2 million, $1 million, and $8 million allocated to North America, International, and corporate and other, respectively.
(b) included severance and other restructuring charges, the impact of inclined sleeper product recall litigation, and share-based compensation of approximately $26 million, $(1 ) million, and $69 million respectively, which were recorded in corporate and other.
The following tables present information regarding depreciation and amortization by segment, as well as assets by segment.
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization by Segment | |||||||||||||||||
| North America | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| International | |||||||||||||||||
| Corporate and other | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Segment assets were comprised of accounts receivable and inventories, net of applicable reserves and allowances.
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Assets by Segment | |||||||||||||||||
| North America | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| International | |||||||||||||||||
| Corporate and other | |||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable and inventories, net | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
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Geographic Information
The tables below present information by geographic area. Net sales were attributed to countries based on location of customer. Long-lived assets included property, plant, and equipment, net, and right-of-use assets, net.
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Sales by Geographic Area | |||||||||||||||||
| North America Region (a) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| International Region | |||||||||||||||||
| EMEA | |||||||||||||||||
| Latin America | |||||||||||||||||
| Asia Pacific | |||||||||||||||||
| Total International Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Long-Lived Assets | |||||||||||||||||
| North America Region (b) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| International Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated total | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
(a)Net sales for the North America Region included net sales attributable to the United States of $3.02 billion, $3.05 billion, and $3.04 billion for 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
(b)Long-lived assets for the North America Region included long-lived assets attributable to the United States of $399.4 million, $319.3 million, and $309.0 million for 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
Major Customers
In 2024, net sales to Mattel's three largest customers accounted for 44 % of worldwide consolidated net sales. In 2024, net sales to Walmart, Target, and Amazon were $1.17 billion, $0.68 billion, and $0.51 billion, respectively. In 2023, net sales to Mattel's three largest customers accounted for 44 % of worldwide consolidated net sales. In 2023, net sales to Walmart, Target, and Amazon were $1.13 billion, $0.67 billion, and $0.60 billion, respectively. In 2022, net sales to Mattel's three largest customers accounted for 43 % of worldwide consolidated net sales. In 2022, net sales to Walmart, Target, and Amazon were $0.95 billion, $0.76 billion, and $0.64 billion, respectively.
Note 15—Restructuring Charges
Optimizing for Profitable Growth
On February 7, 2024, Mattel announced the Optimizing for Profitable Growth program (the "OPG program"), a multi-year cost savings program that follows the Optimizing for Growth program (the "OFG program"), which concluded in the fourth quarter of 2023. The OPG program is designed to achieve further efficiency and cost savings opportunities, primarily within Mattel's global supply chain, including its manufacturing footprint. The OPG program includes cost savings actions in connection with discontinuing production at a plant in China as previously announced in the third quarter of 2023, as well as savings from other previous actions taken in 2023 that were not recognized in the OFG program.
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In connection with the OPG program, Mattel recorded severance and other restructuring costs in the following cost and expense categories within operating income in the consolidated statements of operations:
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
(a)Severance and other restructuring charges recorded within cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations are included in segment operating income in "Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Segment Information."
(b)Severance and other restructuring charges recorded within other selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations are included in corporate and other expense in "Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Segment Information."
The following tables summarize Mattel's severance and other restructuring charges activity within operating income related to the OPG program:
| Liability at December 31, 2023 | Charges (a) | Payments/Utilization | Liability at December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Severance | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other restructuring charges (a) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Liability at December 31, 2022 | Charges (a) | Payments/Utilization | Liability at December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Severance | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other restructuring charges | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
(a)Other restructuring charges consist primarily of expenses associated with the consolidation of manufacturing facilities.
As of December 31, 2024, in connection with the OPG program, Mattel recorded cumulative severance and other restructuring charges of approximately $74 million, which included approximately $2 million of non-cash charges. Total expected cash expenditures are approximately $130 to $165 million and total non-cash charges are expected to be up to $5 million.
Other Cost Savings Actions
As of December 31, 2023, Mattel concluded the OFG program, a multi-year cost savings program that had integrated and expanded upon the previous Capital Light program. During 2023 and 2022, Mattel recorded severance and other restructuring charges of $32.3 million and $23.6 million, respectively, within and $(1.3 ) million and $10.7 million, respectively, within in the consolidated statement of operations in connection with the OFG program.
During 2023, Mattel executed actions to further streamline its organizational structure that were not included in the OFG program. In connection with these actions, Mattel recorded severance charges of $3.4 million within other selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations.
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Note 16—Income Taxes
Consolidated pre-tax income consists of the following:
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| U.S. operations | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign operations | |||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated pre-tax income excluding equity method investments | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
The provision for current and deferred income taxes consists of the following:
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Current | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| State | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| State | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Foreign | |||||||||||||||||
| ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
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Deferred income taxes are provided principally for tax credit carryforwards, net operating loss carryforwards, interest expense, research and development expenses, employee compensation-related expenses, right-of-use assets, lease liabilities, and certain other reserves that are recognized in different years for financial statement and income tax reporting purposes. Mattel's deferred income tax assets (liabilities) are composed of the following:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Tax credit carryforwards | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Research and development expenses | |||||||||||
| Net operating loss carryforwards | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | |||||||||||
| Allowances and reserves | |||||||||||
| Deferred compensation | |||||||||||
| Postretirement benefits | |||||||||||
| Lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||
| Gross deferred income tax assets | |||||||||||
| Intangible assets | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Right-of-use assets | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Other | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Gross deferred income tax liabilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Deferred income tax asset valuation allowances | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net deferred income tax assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
Net deferred income tax assets are reported in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Deferred income tax assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| $ | $ | ||||||||||
As of December 31, 2024, Mattel had U.S. federal and foreign loss carryforwards totaling $363.1 million and U.S. federal, state, and foreign tax credit carryforwards of $20.1 million, which excludes carryforwards that do not meet the threshold for recognition in the financial statements. Utilization of these loss and tax credit carryforwards is subject to annual limitations. Mattel's loss and tax credit carryforwards expire in the following periods:
| Loss Carryforward | Tax Credit Carryforward | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| 2025–2029 | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Thereafter | |||||||||||
| No expiration date | |||||||||||
| $ | $ | ||||||||||
In 2024, Mattel recognized a net income tax benefit of $34.8 million related to tax elections filed to amortize certain intangible assets transferred as part of Mattel's intra-group IP rights transfer and establishment of certain U.S. deferred tax assets.
In 2023, Mattel completed an intra-group transfer of certain IP rights, resulting in a net tax expense of $161.4 million related to the write-down of certain foreign deferred tax assets and establishment of certain U.S. deferred tax assets, resulting in a reduction in intangible deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities and an increase in research and development deferred tax assets.
90
Evaluating the need for and the amount of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets often requires significant judgment and extensive analysis of all available evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that these assets will be realizable. Mattel routinely assesses the positive and negative evidence for this realizability, including the evaluation of sustained profitability and three years of cumulative pretax income for each tax jurisdiction. Changes in the valuation allowances in 2022 primarily related to utilization and expiration of tax attributes and currency fluctuations. As of December 31, 2022, Mattel's valuation allowances on its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets and foreign deferred tax assets were approximately $16 million and $74 million, respectively. Changes in the valuation allowances in 2023 primarily related to changes in assessment of the future realizability of certain deferred tax assets, utilization and expiration of tax attributes, and currency fluctuations. As of December 31, 2023, Mattel's valuation allowances on its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets and foreign deferred tax assets were approximately $14 million and $71 million, respectively. Changes in the valuation allowances in 2024 primarily related to changes in assessment of the future realizability of certain deferred tax assets, utilization and expiration of tax attributes. As of December 31, 2024, Mattel's valuation allowances on its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets and foreign deferred tax assets were approximately $12 million and $85 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, Mattel has recorded net deferred tax assets of $252.5 million and $243.1 million, respectively.
Differences between the provision for income taxes at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and the provision in the consolidated statements of operations are as follows:
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Provision at U.S. federal statutory rate | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Differences resulting from: | |||||||||||||||||
| Changes in valuation allowances | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign earnings taxed at different rates, including foreign losses without benefit | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Foreign-derived intangible income | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Tax related to pass-through income | |||||||||||||||||
| Non deductible executive compensation | |||||||||||||||||
| State and local taxes, net of U.S. federal benefit | |||||||||||||||||
| Adjustments to previously accrued taxes | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Tax on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development tax credit | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Discrete tax impact related to intra-group IP transfer | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Other | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
In assessing whether uncertain tax positions should be recognized in its financial statements, Mattel first determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. In evaluating whether a tax position has met the more likely than not recognition threshold, Mattel presumes that the position will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority that would have full knowledge of all relevant information. For tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold, Mattel measures the amount of benefit recognized in the financial statements at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Mattel recognizes unrecognized tax benefits in the first financial reporting period in which information becomes available indicating that such benefits will more likely than not be realized.
Mattel records a reserve for unrecognized tax benefits for U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign tax positions related primarily to transfer pricing, tax credits claimed, tax nexus, and apportionment. For each reporting period, management applies a consistent methodology to measure unrecognized tax benefits, and all unrecognized tax benefits are reviewed periodically and adjusted as circumstances warrant. Mattel's measurement of its reserve for unrecognized tax benefits is based on management's assessment of all relevant information, including prior audit experience, the status of audits, conclusions of tax audits, lapsing of applicable statutes of limitations, identification of new issues, and any administrative guidance or developments.
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A reconciliation of the reserve for unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Unrecognized tax benefits at January 1 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Increases for positions taken in current year | |||||||||||||||||
| Increases for positions taken in a prior year | |||||||||||||||||
| Decreases for positions taken in a prior year | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Decreases for settlements with taxing authorities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Decreases for lapses in the applicable statute of limitations | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Unrecognized tax benefits at December 31 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Of the $134.9 million of unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2024, $107.7 million would impact the effective tax rate if recognized, $10.0 million would result in an increase in the valuation allowance, and $17.2 million would result in an offset with a non-current asset account.
Mattel recognized a net increase of interest and penalties of $1.7 million in 2024, a net increase of $1.5 million in 2023, and a net decrease of $5.3 million in 2022, related to unrecognized tax benefits, which are reflected in the provision for income taxes in the consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2024, Mattel accrued $19.0 million in interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, all of which would impact the effective tax rate if recognized. As of December 31, 2023, Mattel accrued $17.3 million in interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, all of which would impact the effective tax rate if recognized. As of December 31, 2022, Mattel accrued $15.9 million in interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, all of which would impact the effective tax rate if recognized.
In the normal course of business, Mattel is regularly audited by U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax authorities. Mattel remains subject to IRS examination for the 2021 through 2024 tax years. Mattel files multiple state and local income tax returns and remains subject to examination in various jurisdictions, including California for the 2019 through 2024 tax years and New York for the 2021 through 2024 tax years. Mattel files multiple foreign income tax returns and remains subject to examination in various foreign jurisdictions including Hong Kong for the 2018 through 2024 tax years, Mexico for the 2019 through 2024 tax years, Netherlands for the 2020 through 2024 tax years, and China for the 2020 through 2024 tax years. Based on the current status of U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign audits, Mattel believes it is reasonably possible that in the next 12 months, the total unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by $15.2 million related to the settlement of tax audits and/or the expiration of statutes of limitations. The ultimate settlement of certain issues with the applicable taxing authority could have a material impact on Mattel's consolidated financial statements.
Mattel has recorded a deferred tax liability of $22.1 million related to undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries of $0.56 billion as of December 31, 2024. During 2024, Mattel reported a distribution of foreign earnings to the United States for which taxes had been previously provided. Taxes have not been provided on approximately $1.16 billion of undistributed foreign U.S. GAAP retained earnings. The determination of any incremental tax liability associated with these earnings is not practicable due to the complexity of local country withholding rules and interactions with tax treaties, foreign exchange considerations, and the diversity of state income tax treatment on actual distribution. Mattel will remit reinvested earnings of its foreign subsidiaries for which a deferred tax liability has been recorded when Mattel determines that it is advantageous for business operations or cash management purposes.
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Note 17—Supplemental Financial Information
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Inventories included the following: | |||||||||||
| Finished goods | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Raw materials and work in process | |||||||||||
| $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Accrued liabilities included the following: | |||||||||||
| Incentive compensation | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Advertising and promotion | |||||||||||
| Royalties | |||||||||||
| Lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Currency transaction gains (losses) included in: | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||
| Other non-operating income/expense, net | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Currency transaction losses, net | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||
| Other selling and administrative expenses included the following: | |||||||||||||||||
| Design and development | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Identifiable intangible asset amortization | |||||||||||||||||
| Bad debt expense, net | ( | ||||||||||||||||
93
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Certifications
Appearing as exhibits to this report are certifications of Mattel's principal executive officer and Mattel's principal financial officer. The certifications are required to be made by Rule 13a-14 or Rule 15d-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). This item contains the information about the evaluation that is referred to in the certifications, and the information set forth below in this Item 9A should be read in conjunction with the certifications for a more complete understanding of the certifications.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of December 31, 2024, Mattel's disclosure controls and procedures were evaluated, with the participation of Mattel's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to assess whether they are effective in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by Mattel in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to provide reasonable assurance that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms. Based on this evaluation, Ynon Kreiz, Mattel's principal executive officer, and Anthony DiSilvestro, Mattel's principal financial officer, concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are not effective as of December 31, 2024 due to a material weakness in Mattel's internal control over financial reporting, as further described in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, which is included in Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this report and incorporated herein by reference.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The report called for by Item 308(a) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, included in Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this report.
Completed Remediation Actions
As previously disclosed in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, management identified that software program change monitoring controls were not effectively designed to detect inappropriate changes to certain information technology systems. During 2024, management designed and implemented new controls to address the identified deficiency. During the quarter ended December 31, 2024, management completed its testing of the operating effectiveness of these controls and concluded that the deficiency had been remediated.
Remaining Remediation Actions
During the quarter ended December 31, 2024, management completed the design of new user access provisioning and review controls for certain systems. Additional time is required to test the operating effectiveness of these controls to demonstrate the effectiveness of the remediation efforts for those systems. Additionally, management recently identified a similar control deficiency involving the execution of user access provisioning and review controls within certain other systems. The material weakness cannot be considered remediated until the applicable controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that the controls are operating effectively.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The report called for by Item 308(b) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, included in Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this report.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Mattel's internal control over financial reporting.
94
Item 9B. Other Information.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
Not applicable.
95
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance.
The information required under this Item is incorporated herein by reference to sections entitled "Corporate Governance at Mattel—Proposal 1—Election of Directors"; "Corporate Governance at Mattel—Board Structure—Board Committees—Audit Committee"; "Compensation at Mattel—Executive Officers"; "Compensation at Mattel—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Important Policies, Governance, and Guidelines—Insider Trading Policy "; and, to the extent applicable, "Stock Ownership and Reporting —Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports" in the Mattel 2025 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2024 (the "Proxy Statement").
Mattel has adopted the Mattel Code of Conduct (the "Code of Conduct"), which satisfies the listing rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") regarding "code of conduct" and satisfies the SEC rules regarding disclosure of a "code of ethics" for the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Controller. The Code of Conduct is publicly available on Mattel's corporate website at http://corporate.mattel.com, and the text of the Code of Conduct will be updated on the website to reflect any amendment. A copy may also be obtained free of charge by mailing a request in writing to: Secretary, Mail Stop TWR15-E, Mattel, Inc., 333 Continental Blvd., El Segundo, California 90245-5012. If Mattel grants any waiver from a provision of the Code of Conduct for any executive officer or director, or makes any substantive amendment to the SEC-mandated "code of ethics" that applies to the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or Controller, Mattel will make disclosures to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations, and stock exchange listing standards on its corporate website or in a Current Report on Form 8-K. Mattel has posted the Board of Directors' corporate governance guidelines and the charters of its Audit, Compensation, and Governance and Social Responsibility Committees of the Board of Directors on its corporate website at http://corporate.mattel.com. Copies of the corporate governance guidelines and committee charters may be obtained free of charge by mailing a request to the address noted above.
Mattel has filed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 302 certifications of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as Exhibit 31.0 and Exhibit 31.1 hereto, respectively.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required under this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled "Compensation at Mattel" in the Proxy Statement.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The information required under this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled "Stock Ownership and Reporting" in the Proxy Statement.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required under this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled "Corporate Governance at Mattel—Board Accountability and Effectiveness—Certain Transactions with Related Parties" and "Corporate Governance at Mattel—Board Structure—Board Independence Determinations" in the Proxy Statement.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
The information required under this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled "Audit Matters—Fees Incurred for Services by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP" in the Proxy Statement.
96
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)The following documents are filed as part of this report:
1.Financial Statements
The following financial statements are filed as part of this report under Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
| Page | |||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID | |||||
2. Financial Statement Schedule for the Years Ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022
Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Allowances
All other financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto. See Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
3. Exhibits (Listed by numbers corresponding to Item 601 of Regulation S-K)
| Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit Description | Form | File No. | Exhibit(s) | Filing Date | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Mattel, Inc. | 8-K | 001-05647 | 99.0 | May 21, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amended and Restated Bylaws of Mattel, Inc. | 8-K | 001-05647 | 3.1 | September 15, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description of Registrant's Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | 10-K | 001-05647 | 4.0 | February 25, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specimen Stock Certificate with respect to Mattel, Inc.'s Common Stock | 10-Q | 001-05647 | 4.0 | August 3, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indenture, dated as of September 23, 2010, between Mattel, Inc. and Union Bank, N.A. relating to Senior Debt Securities | S-3ASR | 333-169539 | 4.1 | September 23, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2019, by and among the Issuer, and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., National Association, as Trustee | 8-K | 001-05647 | 4.1 | November 20, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indenture, dated as of March 19, 2021, by and among the Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, related to Mattel, Inc.'s 3.375% Senior Notes due 2026 | 8-K | 001-05647 | 4.1 | March 19, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
97
| Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit Description | Form | File No. | Exhibit(s) | Filing Date | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indenture, dated as of March 19, 2021, by and among the Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, related to Mattel, Inc.'s 3.750% Senior Notes due 2029 | 8-K | 001-05647 | 4.2 | March 19, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of 6.200% Notes due 2040 | 8-K | 001-05647 | 4.2 | September 28, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of 5.450% Notes due 2041 | 8-K | 001-05647 | 4.2 | November 8, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2027 | 8-K | 001-05647 | 4.2 | November 20, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of 3.375% Senior Notes due 2026 | 8-K | 001-05647 | 4.3 | March 19, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of 3.750% Senior Notes due 2029 | 8-K | 001-05647 | 4.4 | March 19, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2024, among Mattel, Inc., as the borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lenders and financial institutions party thereto | 8-K | 001-05647 | 10.1 | July 16, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10.1+ | Form of Indemnification Agreement | 8-K | 001-05647 | 10.1 | December 21, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letter Agreement between Mattel, Inc. and Ynon Kreiz, dated April 19, 2018, regarding an offer of employment for the position of Chief Executive Officer | 8-K | 001-05647 | 10.1 | April 20, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letter Agreement between Mattel, Inc. and Ynon Kreiz, dated June 12, 2018, regarding change in allocation of Mr. Kreiz's long-term incentive grant value | 10-Q | 001-05647 | 10.8 | July 25, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letter Agreement between Mattel, Inc. and Yoon Hugh, dated April 15, 2019, regarding an offer of employment for the position of Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller | 8-K | 001-05647 | 10.1 | April 19, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letter Agreement between Mattel, Inc. and Roberto Isaias, dated February 1, 2020, regarding relocation from Mexico to Mattel's California headquarters | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.22 | February 25, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letter Agreement between Mattel, Inc. and Anthony DiSilvestro, dated June 19, 2020, regarding an offer of employment for the position of Executive Advisor and Chief Financial Officer | 8-K | 001-05647 | 10.1 | June 23, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letter Agreement between Mattel, Inc. and Jonathan Anschell, dated December 5, 2020, regarding an offer of employment for the position of EVP, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.26 | February 25, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letter Agreement between Mattel, Inc. and Karen Ancira, dated April 18, 2024, regarding an offer of employment for the position of Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer | 10-Q | 001-05647 | 10.1 | July 30, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mattel Incentive Plan | DEF 14A | 001-05647 | Appendix A | April 5, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mattel, Inc. Deferred Compensation and PIP Excess Plan | S-8 | 333-89458 | 4.1 | May 31, 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mattel, Inc. Deferred Compensation and PIP Excess Plan (Post-2004)(the "DCPEP") | 10-Q | 001-05647 | 10.1 | October 24, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amendment No. 1 to the DCPEP | 10-Q | 001-05647 | 10.2 | October 24, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amendment No. 2 to the DCPEP | 10-Q | 001-05647 | 10.3 | October 24, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amendment No. 3 to the DCPEP | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.19 | February 25, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
98
| Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit Description | Form | File No. | Exhibit(s) | Filing Date | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amendment No. 4 to the DCPEP | 10-Q | 001-05647 | 10.5 | August 10, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amendment No. 5 to the DCPEP | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.34 | February 25, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mattel, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (as amended and restated effective January 1, 2009) | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.35 | February 26, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amendment No. 1 to the Mattel, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors | 10-Q | 001-05647 | 10.4 | October 24, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mattel, Inc. Amended and Restated Executive Severance Plan B (the "Executive Severance Plan B") | 8-K | 001-05647 | 10.1 | March 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Participation Letter Agreement under the Mattel, Inc. Amended and Restated Executive Severance Plan B applicable to Ynon Kreiz and Anthony DiSilvestro | 8-K | 001-05647 | 10.2 | March 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Participation Letter Agreement under the Mattel, Inc. Amended and Restated Executive Severance Plan B | 8-K | 001-05647 | 10.3 | March 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mattel, Inc. Amended and Restated 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan (the "2010 Plan") | 8-K | 001-05647 | 10.1 | June 4, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Notice of Grant and Grant Agreement for grants of NQSOs to employees under the 2010 Plan | 10-Q | 001-05647 | 10.1 | October 27, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Grant Agreement for grants of NQSOs to participants in the Executive Severance Plan B under the 2010 Plan | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.50 | February 25, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Grant Agreement for grants of RSUs to participants in the Executive Severance Plan B under the 2010 Plan | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.51 | February 25, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Grant Agreement for grants of RSUs to employees under the 2010 Plan | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.52 | February 25, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Grant Agreement for grants of NQSOs to participants in the Executive Severance Plan B under the 2010 Plan | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.53 | February 25, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Grant Agreement for July 31, 2015 grants of NQSOs to employees under the 2010 Plan | 10-Q | 001-05647 | 10.9 | October 27, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Grant Agreement for August 1, 2017 grants of NQSOs to employees under the 2010 Plan | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.55 | February 25, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Grant Agreement for July 31, 2020 grants of NQSOs to employees under the 2010 Plan | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.56 | February 25, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Grant Agreement for grants of RSUs to Non-Employee Directors under the 2010 Plan | 10-Q | 001-05647 | 10.1 | July 28, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Grant Agreement for grants of Long-Term Incentive Program performance-based restricted stock units ("Performance Units") to senior executives under the 2010 Plan | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.59 | February 25, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
99
| Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit Description | Form | File No. | Exhibit(s) | Filing Date | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Grant Agreement for grants of Performance Units to participants in the Mattel, Inc. Executive Severance Plan B under the 2010 Plan | 10-K | 001-05647 | 10.60 | February 25, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form of Grant Agreement for Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units for Ynon Kreiz under the Mattel, Inc. Amended and Restated 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan | 8-K | 001-05647 | 10.1 | September 13, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mattel, Inc. Insider Trading Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subsidiaries of the Registrant as of December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Power of Attorney (see signature page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Certification of Principal Executive Officer dated February 25, 2025, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Certification of Principal Financial Officer dated February 25, 2025, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer dated February 25, 2025, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
97.0* | Mattel, Inc. Rule 10D-1 Compensation Recovery Policy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101.INS* | Inline XBRL Instance Document | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101.SCH* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101.CAL* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101.DEF* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101.LAB* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101.PRE* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 104* | The cover page from Mattel's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, formatted in Inline XBRL (embedded within the Inline XBRL Document) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
+ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith. This exhibit should not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act.
100
Mattel has not filed certain long-term debt instruments under which the principal amount of securities authorized to be issued does not exceed 10% of its total assets. Copies of such agreements will be provided to the SEC upon request.
(b) Exhibits Required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K
See Item (a)(3) above.
(c) Financial Statement Schedule
See Item (a)(2) above.
Copies of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (including Exhibit 24.0) and Exhibits 21.0, 23.0, 31.0, 31.1, and 32.0 are available to stockholders of Mattel without charge. Written requests should be sent to: Secretary, Mail Stop TWR15-E, Mattel, Inc., 333 Continental Blvd., El Segundo, California 90245-5012.
101
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.
None.
102
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
MATTEL, INC. Registrant | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ ANTHONY DISILVESTRO | ||||||||||
| Anthony DiSilvestro Chief Financial Officer | |||||||||||
Date: February 25, 2025
103
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that we, the undersigned directors and officers of Mattel, Inc., do hereby severally constitute and appoint Jonathan Anschell, Tiffani Magri, and Ynon Kreiz, and each of them, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full powers of substitution, to do any and all acts and things in our name and behalf in our capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable Mattel, Inc. to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us, in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments hereto; and we do each hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitutes, or any one of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /S/ YNON KREIZ | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Ynon Kreiz | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ ANTHONY DISILVESTRO | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Anthony DiSilvestro | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ YOON HUGH | Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Yoon Hugh | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ ADRIANA CISNEROS | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Adriana Cisneros | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ DIANA FERGUSON | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Diana Ferguson | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ JULIUS GENACHOWSKI | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Julius Genachowski | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ PROF. NOREENA HERTZ | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Prof. Noreena Hertz | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ SOREN LAURSEN | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Soren Laursen | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ ROGER LYNCH | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Roger Lynch | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ DOMINIC NG | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Dominic Ng | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ DR. JUDY OLIAN | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Dr. Judy Olian | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ DAWN OSTROFF | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Dawn Ostroff | ||||||||||||||
104
SCHEDULE II
MATTEL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND ALLOWANCES
| Balance at Beginning of Year | (Reductions) Additions Charged to Operations | Net Deductions and Other | Balance at End of Year | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for Credit Losses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ( | (a) | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ( | ( | (a) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2022 | ( | (a) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Income Tax Valuation Allowances: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | (b) | $ | ( | (c) | $ | ||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | (b) | ( | (c) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2022 | (b) | ( | (c) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(a)Includes write-offs, recoveries of previous write-offs, and currency translation adjustments.
(b)For the year ended December 31, 2024, the additions primarily represent the establishment of a valuation allowance of $14.2 million on certain foreign deferred tax assets during the fourth quarter of 2024 related to losses without benefit. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the additions primarily represent the establishment of a valuation allowance of $212.4 million on certain foreign deferred tax assets during the third quarter of 2023 resulting from the intragroup transfer of certain IP rights and increases related to losses and credits without benefit. For the years ended December 31, 2022, the additions represent increases related to losses and credits without benefit. See Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements – Income Taxes" for additional details.
(c)For the year ended December 31, 2024, the deductions primarily related to projected utilization of loss carryforwards and credits and the reversal of the valuation allowances on certain state and foreign deferred tax assets. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the deductions primarily represent the subsequent write-off of the $212.4 million of foreign deferred tax assets that were reserved for in the third quarter of 2023 and projected utilization of loss carryforwards. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the deductions primarily included projected utilization of loss carryforwards and credits. See Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements – Income Taxes" for additional details.
105
Mattel, Inc. Insider Trading Policy
Table of Contents
| Page | |||||
| Policy Statement | 1 | ||||
| Purpose, Background and History | 1 | ||||
| Scope | 2 | ||||
| Definitions | 2 | ||||
| Policy | 3 | ||||
| General Policy | 3 | ||||
| II. Trading Blackout Periods | 7 | ||||
| III. Requirement to Pre-Clear All Transactions | 8 | ||||
| IV. Mattel Transactions | 9 | ||||
| V. Table of Sources | 9 | ||||
| VI. Administration and Enforcement | 9 | ||||
| Appendix A | A-1 | ||||
Policy Statement
This Policy defines the responsibilities of Directors1, Officers (including Section 16 Officers), and other employees with regard to the trading of securities. The philosophy behind this Policy is Mattel’s desire to avoid even the appearance of improper conduct by Insiders and to promote transparency and promptness in the public reporting of transactions in Mattel securities by Section 16 Officers and Directors.2 This Policy also serves to protect the confidentiality of certain information about Mattel and the companies with which Mattel does business.
Purpose, Background and History
The trading of securities, directly or indirectly, while aware of Material Nonpublic Information, or the communication of Material Nonpublic Information to others who then trade in securities (which is commonly referred to as “tipping”), is prohibited by law. The SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., and the Nasdaq Stock Market investigate and are very effective at detecting insider trading. Insider trading violations are pursued vigorously by the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice and are punished severely. The federal securities laws also impose potential liability on companies and other “controlling persons” if they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent insider trading by company personnel.
1 Capitalized terms are defined in the Definitions section of the policy.
2 Section 16 Officers and Directors are the only persons required to publicly disclose their transactions in Mattel securities.
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Mattel has adopted this Policy both to satisfy Mattel’s obligation to prevent insider trading and to help Mattel personnel avoid the severe consequences associated with violations of the insider trading laws. This Policy also is intended to prevent even the appearance of improper conduct. It is your3 obligation to understand and comply with this Policy.
Scope
This Policy applies to all Directors, Officers, and other employees of Mattel, except that Part III of the Policy (Requirement to Pre-Clear All Transactions) applies only to Directors, Section 16 Officers, and Preclearance Officers. This Policy applies to all units of Mattel. If local law in any jurisdiction applies higher standards than this Policy, then you must comply with the provisions of local law. If any provision of this Policy is illegal under local law, then that provision shall have no effect in that jurisdiction. Any employee encountering what appears to be a conflict of this kind should promptly contact the Corporate/Securities Group of Mattel’s Law Department, which will determine whether a conflict exists and whether any modifications to the Policy are needed.
Definitions
•“Board” means the board of directors of Mattel, Inc.
•“Controlled Entities” means entities that you or your Family Members control, such as partnerships, corporations and other business entities, and trusts for which you are the trustee or have a beneficial or pecuniary interest.
•“Director” means a member of the Board.
•“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
•“Family Member” means (a) any family member that resides with you (including any children, children away at college, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, spouse, siblings, and in-laws), (b) any other person who lives in your household (other than household employees), and (c) any family member who does not reside in your household but whose transactions in Mattel securities are directed by you or are subject to your influence or control (such as parents or children who consult with you before they trade in Mattel securities).
•“Insider” means every Director and Officer, and all Restricted Personnel.
•“Material Nonpublic Information” means information that is both “material” and “nonpublic.” See Part I.B for a discussion of what information should be considered “material.” See Part I.C. for a discussion of when information should be considered to have been released publicly and is, therefore, no longer “nonpublic.” Mattel’s Regulation FD Policy has a more detailed discussion of the concept of public disclosure.
•“Mattel” means Mattel, Inc. and its worldwide subsidiaries and business units, as well as any organization owned or controlled by Mattel, Inc. or by its subsidiaries.
•“Officer” means an officer of Mattel, including a Section 16 Officer.
•“Preclearance Officer” means an Officer, as may be designated by the Trading Compliance Officer from time to time, who is subject to the preclearance requirements in Part III.
•“Restricted Personnel” means employees of Mattel identified by or at the direction of the Trading Compliance Officer as employees who, by virtue of their positions with Mattel, regularly or on a case-by-case basis become aware of Material Nonpublic Information about Mattel. Restricted Personnel are notified by the Trading Compliance Officer that they are subject to the “Trading Blackout Periods” set forth in Part II.
•“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
3 All references to “you” or “your” in in this Policy and Appendix A should be read to include your Family Members and Controlled Entities.
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•“Section 16 Officer” means an Officer who is an “officer” for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
•“Trading Blackout Period” is defined in Part II.
•“Trading Compliance Officer” means the Chief Legal Officer of Mattel or his or her designee, and for transactions by the Chief Legal Officer, means the most senior officer of the Corporate/Securities Group in Mattel’s Law Department or her or his designee.
Policy
I.General Policy
Note: Part I applies to all Directors, Officers, and other employees
It is the policy of Mattel that no Director, Officer, or other employee of Mattel who is aware of Material Nonpublic Information relating to Mattel may, directly or indirectly, including through Family Members, Controlled Entities, or other persons or entities, (a) trade securities of Mattel (other than pursuant to a pre-approved trading plan that complies with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, as discussed in Part I.H of this Policy), or engage in any other action to take personal advantage of that information, (b) suggest to anyone that they trade securities of Mattel, regardless of whether such suggestion is based on such Material Nonpublic Information, or (c) communicate that information to (1) any other Mattel personnel unless that person requires the information to perform their Mattel-related duties, or (2) anyone outside Mattel, including Family Members, Controlled Entities, friends, or acquaintances.
In addition, it is the policy of Mattel that no Director, Officer, or other employee of Mattel who, in the course of working for Mattel, learns of Material Nonpublic Information about any other company, including a customer, supplier, or competitor of Mattel, may directly or indirectly, including through Family Members or other persons or entities, (a) trade in that company’s securities, (b) suggest to anyone else that they trade securities of that company, regardless of whether such suggestion is based on such Material Nonpublic Information, or (c) communicate that information to (1) any other Mattel personnel unless that person requires the information to perform their Mattel-related duties, or (2) anyone outside Mattel, including Family Members, Controlled Entities, friends, or acquaintances.
The trading and communication restrictions discussed above apply until the information becomes public (as discussed below) or is no longer material. In addition, the trading prohibitions apply to (a) all sales and purchases of securities of Mattel and other companies such as stock, bonds, debentures, options, puts, and calls, as well as any other derivative transactions, and (b) all transactions in Mattel securities, such as an option exercise, gift, loan, contribution to a trust, or any other transfer.
Except as set forth in Part II.D.2 of this Policy, transactions that may be necessary or justifiable for independent reasons (such as the need to raise money for an emergency expenditure) are not excepted from this Policy. The securities laws do not recognize such mitigating circumstances, and, in any event, even the appearance of an improper transaction must be avoided to preserve Mattel’s reputation for adhering to the highest standards of conduct.
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A.Communication of Information to Others
Mattel has a number of policies that address issues relating to the communication of information. For example, Mattel’s Intellectual Property and Confidential Information Policy prohibits the unauthorized communication of “Confidential Information” (any information relating to Mattel’s business that is of commercial benefit or interest to Mattel and not available to the public). Mattel also has a Regulation FD Policy that requires Directors, Section 16 Officers, and certain other employees to avoid the selective disclosure of Material Nonpublic Information to securities market professionals and investors. This Policy, however, prohibits you from communicating to anyone outside of Mattel, including Family Members, Controlled Entities, friends, or acquaintances, Material Nonpublic Information about Mattel or Mattel’s business partners, except that communication of Material Nonpublic Information to Mattel’s attorneys or advisors, or to other third parties, as part of a Director’s, Officer’s, or other employee’s conduct of Mattel’s business, is not necessarily a violation of this Policy. Prior to communicating to third parties Material Nonpublic Information in the conduct of Mattel’s business, you should either ensure that such communication is covered by a Non-Disclosure Agreement approved by Mattel’s Law Department or consult with the Corporate/Securities Group of Mattel’s Law Department.
B.Material Information
Material information is any information that a reasonable investor would consider important in making a decision to buy, hold, or sell securities. Any information that could be expected to affect Mattel’s stock price, whether it is positive or negative, should be considered material. The following are some examples of types of information that may be material depending on the circumstances:
•Projections of future earnings or losses, changes in such projections, or other financial guidance;
•Actual earnings or losses;
•A pending or proposed merger, acquisition, joint venture, or tender offer;
•A pending or proposed acquisition or disposition of significant assets;
•A change in dividend policy, the declaration of a stock split, or an offering of additional securities;
•The commencement, termination, or change of any stock purchase program, or other pending or proposed material transaction in Mattel securities;
•A change in senior executive management;
•Bank borrowings or other financing transactions out of the ordinary course;
•A change in auditors or notification that the auditor’s reports may no longer be relied upon;
•Development of a new product or process;
•Impending bankruptcy or the existence of liquidity problems;
•The beginning of, or developments in, litigation, investigations, or regulatory actions or proceedings;
•The gain or loss of, or development with respect to, a material contract, or the gain or loss of, or a development with respect to Mattel’s relationship with, a customer, supplier, or licensor;
•Marketing changes;
•Assessments of a data loss or other security breach;
•Product recalls;
•The interruption of production or other aspects of Mattel’s business as a result of an accident, fire, natural disaster, breakdown of labor negotiations, or any major shut-down; or
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•The imposition of a ban on trading in Mattel securities.
When in doubt, you should presume that the information is Material Nonpublic Information and should contact the Corporate/Securities Group of Mattel’s Law Department for further guidance.
C.When Information is “Public”
If you are aware of Material Nonpublic Information, you may not trade until the information has been disclosed broadly to the marketplace (such as by press release or an SEC filing) and the investing public has had time to absorb and evaluate the information. Under most circumstances, the SEC does not view a website posting, by itself, as a sufficient means of public disclosure. To avoid the appearance of impropriety, as a general rule, information should not be considered absorbed by the marketplace until at least one full trading day after the day the information is released. If, for example an announcement was made on a Monday, you would not be able to trade in Mattel’s securities until the market opens on Wednesday, and then only if you do not have any additional Material Nonpublic Information after such announcement.
D.Transactions Scrutinized with Benefit of Hindsight
Remember, anyone scrutinizing your transactions will be doing so after the fact, with the benefit of hindsight. As a practical matter, before engaging in any transaction, you should carefully consider how enforcement authorities and others might view the transaction in hindsight.
E.Transactions by Family Members and Controlled Entities
This Policy also applies to your Family Members, as well as (a) Controlled Entities, and (b) brokerage accounts maintained for the benefit of you or your family members if anyone has discretion over the accounts. You are responsible for the transactions of Family Members, Controlled Entities, and such brokerage accounts and, therefore, should make them aware of the need to confer with you before they trade in Mattel’s securities.
F.Transactions Under Mattel Plans
There are certain situations in which you may trade Mattel’s securities with limited restrictions. Those circumstances are as follows:
(1)Stock Options. This Policy’s trading restrictions apply to any sale of shares in connection with a stock option exercise, for example: (a) as part of a broker-assisted cashless exercise of an option, or (b) any other market sale for the purpose of generating the cash needed to pay the exercise price or tax withholding related to an option, as well as to the sale of the stock underlying the option. However, this Policy’s trading restrictions do not prohibit (i) the exercise of an option if you pay the exercise price and tax withholding in cash and hold the underlying shares until you are not restricted from trading under this Policy, (ii) the exercise of an option if you pay the exercise price in cash, Mattel withholds a portion of the resulting shares to satisfy tax withholding requirements, and you hold the remaining underlying shares until you are not restricted from trading under this Policy or (iii) the receipt or vesting of options.
(2)Restricted Stock Units and Performance Units. While this Policy’s trading restrictions do not apply to the receipt of shares upon the vesting of restricted stock units or performance units or the automatic withholding of shares by Mattel to satisfy tax withholding requirements, the trading restrictions do apply to any market sales of shares underlying the vested restricted stock units or performance units.
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(3)401(k) Plan. This Policy’s trading restrictions apply to the following elections you may make under the 401(k) plan: (a) an initial election to designate a percentage of your periodic contributions that will be allocated to the Mattel stock fund, (b) an election to increase or decrease the percentage of your periodic contributions that will be allocated to the Mattel stock fund, (c) an election to make an intra-plan transfer of an existing account balance into or out of the Mattel stock fund, (d) an election to borrow money against your 401(k) plan account if the loan will result in a liquidation of some or all of your Mattel stock fund balance, and (e) an election to pre-pay a plan loan if the pre-payment will result in allocation of loan proceeds to the Mattel stock fund. However, this Policy’s trading restrictions do not prohibit purchases of Mattel stock in the 401(k) plan resulting from your periodic contribution of money to the plan pursuant to your payroll deduction election that you made when you were not aware of Material Nonpublic Information and not subject to a Trading Blackout Period.
(4)Deferred Compensation Plans. This Policy’s trading restrictions apply to the following elections you may make under the deferred compensation plans: (a) an election to defer amounts into the Mattel stock equivalent fund, (b) an election to increase or decrease the percentage of your deferrals that will be allocated to the Mattel stock equivalent fund, and (c) an election to make an intra-plan transfer of an existing account balance into the Mattel stock equivalent fund. However, this Policy’s trading restrictions do not prohibit an election made when you were not aware of Material Nonpublic Information and not subject to a Trading Blackout Period.
(5)Employee Stock Purchase Plan. In the event Mattel adopts an employee stock purchase plan, this Policy’s trading restrictions apply to any (a) election to participate or cease participation in the plan for any enrollment period, (b) election to increase or decrease the percentage of your periodic contribution to the plan, and (c) sales of Mattel stock purchased pursuant to the plan. However, this Policy does not prohibit purchases of Mattel stock in the employee stock purchase plan resulting from your periodic contribution to the plan pursuant to an election made when you were not aware of Material Nonpublic Information and not subject to a Trading Blackout Period, or to purchases of Mattel stock resulting from lump sum contributions to the plan, provided that you elected to participate by lump-sum payment at the beginning of the applicable enrollment period.
(6)Dividend Reinvestment Plan. This Policy’s trading restrictions apply to any (a) voluntary purchases of Mattel stock resulting from additional contributions you choose to make to the plan, (b) election to participate in or cease participation in the plan, (c) election to increase or decrease your level of participation in the plan, and (d) sale of Mattel stock purchased pursuant to the plan. However, in the event that Mattel issues a dividend, this Policy does not prohibit purchases of Mattel stock under Mattel’s dividend reinvestment plan resulting from reinvestment of dividends paid on Mattel securities pursuant to the elections you made in accordance with the plan when you were not aware of Material Nonpublic Information and not subject to a Trading Blackout Period.
G.Additional Prohibited Transactions
Mattel considers it generally improper and inappropriate for any Director, Officer, or other employee of Mattel, or their Family Members or Controlled Entities, to engage in short-term or speculative transactions in Mattel’s securities. Accordingly, your trading in Mattel securities is subject to the following additional prohibitions:
(1)Short Sales. Short sales of Mattel’s securities, including “short sales against the box” (a sale with delayed delivery), evidence an expectation on the part of the seller that the securities will decline in value and, therefore, may signal to the market that the seller does not have confidence in Mattel or its short-term prospects. In addition, short sales may reduce the seller’s incentive to improve Mattel’s performance. For these reasons, short sales of Mattel’s securities are prohibited by this Policy. In addition, Section 16(c) of the Exchange Act prohibits Directors and Section 16 Officers from engaging in short sales.
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(2)Publicly Traded Options and Other Derivative Securities. A transaction in publicly traded options and other derivative securities is, in effect, a bet on the short-term movement of Mattel’s stock and, therefore, creates the appearance that the Director, Officer, or other employee is trading based on Material Nonpublic Information. Transactions in publicly traded options and other derivative securities also may focus the Director’s, Officer’s, or other employee’s attention on short-term performance at the expense of Mattel’s long-term objectives. Accordingly, transactions in puts, calls, options, and other derivative securities, on an exchange, in any organized market, or in any private transaction, including customized derivative transactions with third parties, are prohibited by this Policy.
(3)Hedging Transactions. Certain forms of hedging or monetization transactions, such as zero-cost collars and forward sale contracts, allow a stockholder to lock in much of the value of his or her stock holdings, often in exchange for all or part of the potential for upside appreciation in the stock. These transactions allow the stockholder to continue to own the covered securities, but without the full risks and rewards of ownership. When that occurs, the stockholder may no longer have the same objectives as Mattel’s other stockholders. Directors, Officers, and other employees are prohibited from engaging in such transactions.
(4)Margin Accounts and Pledges. Directors, Officers, and other employees are prohibited from holding Mattel securities in a margin account or pledging Mattel securities as collateral for a loan.
H.Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans.
Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act provides an affirmative defense from insider trading liability for trading plans that meet certain requirements. Transactions effected pursuant to an approved Rule 10b5-1 trading plan are not subject to the prohibition on trading on the basis of Material Nonpublic Information or to the restrictions set forth below related to Trading Blackout Periods and pre-clearance. Any person who wishes to implement a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act must first pre-clear the plan with the Trading Compliance Officer at least ten business days prior to the entry into the Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
As required by Rule 10b5-1, you may enter into a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan only when you are not aware of Material Nonpublic Information. In addition, you may not enter into a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan during a Trading Blackout Period even if you are not aware of Material Nonpublic Information. Under this Policy, the adoption, amendment, or termination of a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan must meet the requirements set forth in Appendix A, “Guidelines for Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans.”
I.Post-Termination Transactions
If you are aware of Material Nonpublic Information when your employment terminates, you may not trade in Mattel securities until that information has become public or is no longer material. Additionally, the procedures set forth in Part II below will continue to apply to your transactions in Mattel securities until the expiration of any applicable Trading Blackout Period that is in place at the time of your termination of employment or services.
II.Trading Blackout Periods
Note: Part II applies primarily to Insiders, but can also apply to other employees in certain situations.
A.Quarterly Trading Blackout Periods
All Insiders, together with their Family Members and Controlled Entities, may not engage in transactions in Mattel’s securities during a “Trading Blackout Period” beginning at the close of trading on the last trading day of the second month in each fiscal quarter and ending one full trading day after Mattel’s issuance of its quarterly earnings release with respect to such fiscal quarter; provided, however, that with regard to Mattel’s fourth quarter, the Trading Blackout Period will begin at the closing of trading on the last trading day before Thanksgiving Day and will end one full trading day after Mattel’s issuance of its quarterly and annual earnings release.
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B.Event-specific Trading Blackout Periods
From time to time, an event may occur that is material to Mattel and is known by only certain individuals. So long as the event remains material and nonpublic, such persons may not trade in Mattel’s securities. The Trading Compliance Officer may notify appropriate persons of the existence of an event-specific blackout, without disclosing the reason for the blackout. Any person made aware of the existence of an event-specific blackout should not disclose the existence of the blackout to any other person. The failure of the Trading Compliance Officer to inform a person of an event-specific blackout will not relieve that person of the obligation not to trade while aware of Material Nonpublic Information.
C.Additional Trading Blackout Periods Related to 401(k) and Other Retirement Plans
Mattel has established a procedure for a Trading Blackout Period for Directors and Section 16 Officers that prevents them from trading in Mattel’s securities at any time when employees are blacked out from trading in Mattel securities in Mattel’s 401(k) plan or similar retirement plan. You will be advised in advance if such a Trading Blackout Period will occur and the period during which no trades in Mattel’s securities will be permitted. This Trading Blackout Period complies with the requirements of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The extent of the foregoing blackout is intended to conform with any future regulations issued by the SEC or the Department of Labor on this topic. There are limited exceptions to this rule, and Directors and Section 16 Officers should consult with the Trading Compliance Officer prior to attempting a stock transaction during such Trading Blackout Period.
III.Requirement to Pre-Clear All Transactions
Note: Part III applies only to Directors, Section 16 Officers, and Preclearance Officers.
A.General Pre-Clearance Requirement
To help prevent inadvertent violations of the law and to avoid even the appearance of trading on inside information, Directors, Section 16 Officers, and Preclearance Officers, together with those people described in Part I.E, may not engage in any transaction involving Mattel’s securities (including a stock plan transaction such as an option exercise, gift, loan, pledge, hedge, contribution to a trust, or any other transfer) without first obtaining pre-clearance of the transaction from the Trading Compliance Officer. A request for pre-clearance should be submitted to the Trading Compliance Officer at least five business days in advance of the proposed transaction, other than for Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, which must be submitted for review and pre-clearance at least ten business days in advance of entry into the plan. The Trading Compliance Officer is under no obligation to approve a trade submitted for pre-clearance, and may determine not to permit the trade. For the avoidance of doubt, the Trading Compliance Officer may revoke pre-clearance of a trade at any time.
Directors, Section 16 Officers, and Preclearance Officers should seek and obtain pre-clearance from the Trading Compliance Officer prior to discussing a potential trade with brokers or other advisors. If pre-clearance is denied or subsequently revoked, that denial or revocation must be kept confidential by the person requesting pre-clearance. Unless otherwise provided, pre-clearance of a transaction and/or Rule 10b5-1 trading plan is valid for five business days, provided you do not become aware of any Material Nonpublic Information. If the transaction is not executed and/or Rule 10b5-1 trading plan is not entered into within that time, the person requesting pre-clearance must request pre-clearance again.
B.Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans
Note that special requirements and pre-clearance procedures apply to modifications and/or terminations of Rule 10b5-1 trading plans. Please consult Appendix A, “Guidelines for Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans,” to this Policy for details.
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Page 9
Because the SEC rules on trading plans are complex, you should consult with your own legal and financial advisors and be sure you fully understand the limitations and conditions of the rules before you establish a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
IV.Mattel Transactions
From time to time, Mattel may engage in transactions in its own securities. It is Mattel’s policy to comply with all applicable securities and state laws (including appropriate approvals by the Board or appropriate Board committee, if required) when engaging in transactions in Mattel securities.
V.Table of Sources
•Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
•Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
•Rules and Regulations adopted pursuant to the Exchange Act, including but not limited to:
‒Rule 10b-5
‒Rule 10b5-1
‒Rule 10b5-2
‒Regulation FD
VI.Administration and Enforcement
In the event there is a violation of this Insider Trading Policy, the independent Directors, in consultation with counsel, will develop appropriate sanctions.
Anyone who tips information (the “tipper”) to a person (the “tippee”) who then trades may be subject to the same penalties as the tippee, even if the tipper did not trade and did not profit from the tippee’s trading or did not know that the tippee was going to trade on the information.
If you have a question about this Policy or its application to any proposed transaction, you should obtain additional guidance from the Corporate/Securities Group of Mattel’s Law Department. Ultimately, however, the responsibility for adhering to this Policy and avoiding unlawful transactions rests with you. You should consult with your legal and financial advisors, as needed.
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Appendix A
Guidelines for Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans
Rule 10b5-1 (“Rule 10b5-1”) under the Exchange Act provides an affirmative defense from insider trading liability under Rule 10b-5. In order to be eligible to rely on this defense, a person subject to the Policy must enter into a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan for transactions in Mattel securities that meets certain conditions specified in the rule (referred to in this Appendix A as “10b5-1 Trading Plan”).
As such, Mattel permits its Insiders and Preclearance Officers to enter into 10b5-1 Trading Plans and has adopted the following guidelines regarding the adoption, modification, and termination of any such 10b5-1 Trading Plans. All references in these guidelines to “you” or “your” should be read to include your Family Members and Controlled Entities. Capitalized terms used in these guidelines without definition These guidelines are in addition to, and not in lieu of, the requirements and conditions of Rule 10b5-1. The Trading Compliance Officer will interpret and administer these guidelines for compliance with the Policy and the requirements below. No personal legal or financial advice is being provided by the Mattel’s Law Department regarding any 10b5-1 Trading Plan or proposed trades. You remain ultimately responsible for ensuring that your 10b5-1 Trading Plan and contemplated transactions fully comply with applicable securities laws. It is recommended that you consult with your own attorney, Fidelity Investments or any successor thereto, or other advisors about any contemplated 10b5-1 Trading Plan. Note that if you are a Director or Section 16 Officer, Mattel is required to publicly disclose the material terms of your 10b5-1 Trading Plan, other than with respect to price, in its periodic report for the quarter in which the 10b5-1 Trading Plan is adopted, or terminated or modified (as described below).
1.Pre-Clearance Requirement. The 10b5-1 Trading Plan must be reviewed and approved in advance by the Trading Compliance Officer at least ten business days prior to the entry into the plan in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Policy and these guidelines.
2.Time of Adoption. In addition to the pre-clearance requirements described above, a 10b5-1 Trading Plan may only be adopted at a time when:
•You are not aware of any Material Nonpublic Information; and
•No Trading Blackout Period is in effect.
3.Plan Instructions. Any 10b5-1 Trading Plan you adopt must be in writing, signed, and either:
•specify the amount, price, and date of the sales (or purchases) of Mattel securities to be effected; or
•provide a formula, algorithm, or computer program for determining when to sell (or purchase) Mattel securities, the quantity to sell (or purchase), and the price.
For the avoidance of doubt, you may not subsequently influence how, when, or whether to effect purchases or sales with respect to the securities subject to an approved and adopted 10b5-1 Trading Plan.
4.No Hedging. You must not have entered into or altered a corresponding or hedging transaction or position with respect to the securities subject to the 10b5-1 Trading Plan and must agree not to enter into any such transaction while the 10b5-1 Trading Plan is in effect.
5.Good Faith Requirements. You must enter into the 10b5-1 Trading Plan in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1. You must act in good faith with respect to the 10b5-1 Trading Plan for the entirety of its duration.
6.Certifications for Directors and Officers. If you are a Director or Section 16 Officer, the 10b5-1 Trading Plan must include the following certifications required by Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(C):
•You are not aware of any material nonpublic information about Mattel or Mattel securities; and
•You are adopting the 10b5-1 Trading Plan in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act.
A-1
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Appendix A – Guidelines for Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans
Page 2
Appendix A – Guidelines for Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans
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7.Cooling Off Periods. The first trade under the 10b5-1 Trading Plan may not occur until the expiration of a cooling-off period as follows:
•If you are a Director or Section 16 Officer, the later of (a) two business days following the filing of the Form 10-Q or Form 10-K for the completed fiscal quarter in which the 10b5-1 Trading Plan was adopted and (b) 90 calendar days after adoption of the 10b5-1 Trading Plan; provided, however, that the required cooling-off period shall in no event exceed 120 days.
•If you are not a Director or Section 16 Officer, 30 days after adoption of the 10b5-1 Trading Plan.
8.No Overlapping 10b5-1 Trading Plans. No more than one 10b5-1 Trading Plan can be effecting trades at any time.
9.Single Transaction Plans. You may not enter into more than one 10b5-1 Trading Plan designed to effect the open-market purchase or sale of the total amount of securities as a single transaction during any rolling 12-month period. A 10b5-1 Trading Plan is “designed to effect” the purchase or sale of securities as a single transaction when the terms of the plan would, for practical purposes, directly or indirectly require execution in a single transaction.
10.Modifications and Terminations. Modifications/amendments and terminations of an existing 10b5-1 Trading Plan are strongly discouraged due to legal risks, and can affect the validity of trades that have taken place under the plan prior to such modification/amendment or termination. Under Rule 10b5-1 and these guidelines, any modification/amendment to the amount, price, or timing of the purchase or sale of the securities underlying the 10b5-1 Trading Plan will be deemed to be a termination of the current 10b5-1 Trading Plan and creation of a new 10b5-1 Trading Plan. If you are considering administerial changes to your 10b5-1 Trading Plan, such as changing the account information, you should consult with the Trading Compliance Officer to in advance to confirm that any such change does not constitute an effective termination of your plan.
As such, the modification/amendment of an existing 10b5-1 Trading Plan is subject to the review and approval by the Trading Compliance Officer in accordance with the pre-clearance procedures set forth in the Policy and Section 1 of these guidelines, and will be subject to all the other requirements set forth in Sections 2 - 10 of these guidelines regarding the adoption of a new 10b5-1 Trading Plan.
The termination (other than through an amendment or modification) of an existing 10b5-1 Trading Plan subject to the review and approval by the Trading Compliance Officer in accordance with pre-clearance procedures set forth in the Policy and these guidelines. Except in limited circumstances, the termination of a 10b5-1 Trading Plan will not be approved unless:
•You terminate a 10b5-1 Trading Plan at a time when you are not aware of Material Nonpublic Information; and
•No Trading Blackout Period is in effect.
A-2
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EXHIBIT 21.0
SUBSIDIARIES OF MATTEL, INC.
Subsidiaries1 | Jurisdiction in Which Organized | Percentage of Voting Securities Owned Directly or Indirectly By Parent2 | ||||||||||||
| American Girl, LLC | Delaware | 100% | ||||||||||||
| American Girl Brands, LLC | Delaware | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Fisher-Price, Inc. | Delaware | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Mattel Asia Pacific Sourcing Limited | Hong Kong | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Mattel Direct Import, Inc. | Delaware | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Mattel Europa B.V. | The Netherlands | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Mattel Europe Holdings B.V. | The Netherlands | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Mattel Europe Marketing B.V. | The Netherlands | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Mattel International Finance B.V. | The Netherlands | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Mattel International Holdings B.V. | The Netherlands | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Mattel International Licensing, LLC | Delaware | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Mattel Marketing Holdings Pte. Ltd. | Singapore | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Mattel Overseas Operations Ltd. | Bermuda | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Mattel Overseas, LLC | California | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Mattel Sales Corp. | California | 100% | ||||||||||||
| Radica Holdings Bermuda Ltd. | Bermuda | 100% | ||||||||||||
1.All of the subsidiaries listed above are included in the consolidated financial statements. Inactive subsidiaries and subsidiaries that, when considered in the aggregate, do not constitute a significant subsidiary have not been included in the above list.
2.Parent refers to Mattel, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and excludes Directors' qualifying shares.
EXHIBIT 23.0
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-266713, 333-253493, 333-239930, 333-232420, 333-225311, 333-204360, 333-187431, 333-166759, 333-165046, 333-158887, 333-147472, 333-125059, 333-101200, 333-89458, 333-64984, 333-32294, 333-75145 and 333-03385) of Mattel, Inc. of our report dated February 25, 2025 relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedule, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Los Angeles, California
February 25, 2025
EXHIBIT 31.0
CERTIFICATION
I, Ynon Kreiz, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K of Mattel, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
| February 25, 2025 | By: | /s/ YNON KREIZ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ynon Kreiz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Anthony DiSilvestro, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K of Mattel, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
| February 25, 2025 | By: | /s/ ANTHONY DISILVESTRO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anthony DiSilvestro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Principal Financial Officer) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXHIBIT 32.0
CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Mattel, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Anthony DiSilvestro, Chief Financial Officer, of the Company, do each hereby certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. § 1350) that, to his knowledge:
(1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
| February 25, 2025 | By: | /s/ YNON KREIZ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ynon Kreiz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| /s/ ANTHONY DISILVESTRO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Anthony DiSilvestro Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXHIBIT 97.0
As of September 11, 2024
MATTEL, INC.
RULE 10D-1 COMPENSATION RECOVERY Policy
1. Statement of Intent
The Board of Directors (“Board”) of Mattel, Inc. (“Mattel”) believes that it is in the best interest of Mattel and its stockholders to encourage outstanding leadership, accountability, and responsible management that benefits the growth of Mattel and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). Accordingly, the Board has adopted this Compensation Recovery Policy (as amended from time to time, the “Policy”). This Policy applies to compensation Received on or after September 13, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), and is intended to comply with, and as applicable to be administered and interpreted consistent with, and subject to the exceptions set forth in, Listing Rule 5608 adopted by the Nasdaq Stock Market to implement Rule 10D-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively, “Rule 10D-1”).
This Policy shall operate in addition to any other remedies or rights of recovery that may be available to the Company pursuant to the terms of any other policy, an employment agreement, or plan or award terms, and any other legal remedies available to the Company under applicable law.
2. Definitions
For purposes of this Policy, the following definitions shall apply:
“Acknowledgment” is defined in Section 6.
“Board” is defined in Section 1.
“Company” is defined in Section 1.
“Excess Incentive Compensation” is defined in Section 3.
“Executive Officer” means any “executive officer” of the Company as defined under Rule 10D-1.
“Financial Reporting Measure” means a measure that is determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the Company’s financial statements, and any measures that are derived wholly or in part from any such measure. Stock price and total stockholder return are also Financial Reporting Measures. A Financial Reporting Measure need not be presented within the financial statements or included in a filing with the SEC (as defined below in this Section 2).
“Financial Restatement” means any accounting restatement of the Company’s financial statements (including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period) due to material non-compliance with any financial reporting requirement under the U.S. federal securities laws. The Board shall take into consideration any applicable interpretations and clarifications of the SEC in determining whether an accounting restatement qualifies as a Financial Restatement for purposes of this Policy. The date that the Company is required to prepare a Financial Restatement will be determined in accordance with Rule 10D-1.
“Incentive Compensation” is defined in Section 3. Incentive Compensation is deemed to be “Received” in the Company’s fiscal period during which the Financial Reporting Measure specified in the Incentive Compensation award is attained, even if the payment or grant of the Incentive Compensation occurs after the end of that period.
“Mattel” is defined in Section 1.
“Policy” is defined in Section 1.
“Rule 10D-1” is defined in Section 1.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
3. Forfeiture and/or Reimbursement
In the event of a Financial Restatement, the Company will require the forfeiture and/or reimbursement on a reasonably prompt basis of any compensation that:
a.was paid, granted, vested, or earned based wholly or in part upon the achievement of a Financial Reporting Measure (such compensation, “Incentive Compensation”); and
b.was Received during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date that the Company is required to prepare a Financial Restatement; provided that the recipient served as an Executive Officer at any time during the performance period applicable to the Incentive Compensation in question,
which exceeds the amount that otherwise would have been Received had it been determined based upon the Financial Restatement (such amount, the “Excess Incentive Compensation”).
For Incentive Compensation based on stock price or total stockholder return, the Board will determine the amount of Excess Incentive Compensation based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the Financial Restatement on the relevant stock price or total stockholder return and will maintain documentation of the determination of that reasonable estimate and provide such documentation to the Nasdaq Stock Market. For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of Excess Incentive Compensation will be computed without regard to any taxes paid by the recipient.
4. Effectiveness; Exclusions
This Policy applies to all Incentive Compensation Received on or after the Effective Date and any “transition period” as prescribed under Rule 10D-1. Compensation Received prior to the Effective Date shall remain subject to recoupment in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company’s prior Compensation Recovery Policy effective as of August 29, 2013, if applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, the following forms of compensation will not be considered Incentive Compensation for purposes of this Policy:
a.Base salaries;
b.Bonuses/awards paid solely upon the completion of a specified employment period; and
c.Equity awards for which the grant or vesting of the award is not contingent upon achieving any specified Financial Reporting Measure and vesting is contingent solely upon completion of a specified employment period and/or attaining one or more non-Financial Reporting Measures.
5. Other Remedies
To the extent that an employee (or former employee) does not make a required reimbursement to the Company under this Policy within a reasonable time following demand by the Company, or any shares of Mattel common stock subject to recovery under this Policy have been sold by such person, the Company shall have the right to reduce, cancel, or withhold against future cash compensation or outstanding, unvested, vested, or future equity-based compensation, or require a substitute form of reimbursement, all as determined in the discretion of the Board and to the extent permitted under applicable law. The Company shall be able to enforce the recovery, reimbursement, and/or cancellation of obligations described in this Policy by all legal means available. No recovery or reimbursement of Incentive-Based Compensation under this Policy will be an event giving rise to a right to resign for “good reason” or be deemed a “constructive termination” (or any similar term) as such terms are used in any agreement between any Covered Executive and the Company. The Company need not recover Excess Incentive Compensation if and to the extent that the Board determines that such recovery is impracticable and not required under Rule 10D-1, including if the Board determines that the direct expense paid to a third party to assist in enforcing this Policy would exceed the amount to be recovered after making a reasonable attempt to recover such amount (in which case the Company shall document such reasonable attempt(s) to recover, and provide that documentation to the Nasdaq Stock Market).
6. Authority and Interpretation
This Policy generally will be administered and interpreted by the Board. Any determination by the Board with respect to this Policy shall be final, conclusive and binding on all interested parties, subject only to any restrictions under applicable law. The determinations of the Board under this Policy need not be uniform with respect to all employees (or former employees) who are subject to the terms of this Policy. The Board may from time to time delegate any or all of its rights, authority, and obligations under this Policy to a Committee of the Board. In the event of any such delegation, all authority granted under this Policy in the discretion of the Board shall include and be a reference to the discretion of such Committee. The Board shall have the right from time to time to re-assume any such rights, authority, or obligations so delegated. The Board or Compensation Committee of the Board, as the case may be, may amend, modify, or terminate this Policy in whole or in part at any time in its sole discretion, subject to applicable law, and may adopt such rules and procedures that it deems necessary or appropriate to implement this Policy or to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
This Policy is intended to comply with, shall be interpreted to comply with, and shall be deemed automatically amended to the extent necessary to comply with, Section 954 of Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, as it may be amended from time to time, Rule 10D-1, and any related rules or regulations promulgated by the SEC or Nasdaq Stock Market, including any additional or new requirements that become effective after the Effective Date.
To the extent that any provision of this Policy is found to be unenforceable or invalid under any applicable law, such provision will be applied to the maximum extent permitted, if any, and shall automatically be deemed amended in a manner consistent with its objectives to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Policy shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Policy.
The Company shall not (i) indemnify any employee against any liability or loss (including, without limitation, the loss of any Excess Incentive Compensation pursuant to this Policy, any payment or reimbursement for the cost of third-party insurance purchased by such employee to fund potential recovery obligations under this Policy, and/or any judgments, fines, taxes, penalties, or amounts paid in settlement by, or on behalf of, such employee) incurred by such employee in connection with, or as a result of, any action taken by the Company to enforce this Policy (a “Clawback Proceeding”), or (ii) provide any indemnification or advancement of expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such employee in connection with any such Clawback Proceeding.
At the request of the Company, each employee who is subject to the terms of this Policy shall execute an Acknowledgment, Consent, and Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto (an “Acknowledgment”). Any failure by such person to execute an Acknowledgment shall not affect the applicability or enforceability of this Policy against such person or the status of such person under this Policy.
The rights of the Company under this Policy to seek forfeiture and/or reimbursement are not exclusive remedies and do not preclude any other recourse by the Company.
Acknowledgment, consent, and Agreement
I acknowledge that I have received and reviewed a copy of the Mattel, Inc. 10D-1 Compensation Recovery Policy (as may be amended from time to time, the “Policy”) and effective as of [effective date – hire/promotion date into eligible level], agree to be bound by and subject to its terms and conditions, which include the forfeiture and/or reimbursement in certain circumstances of compensation that I received or may receive in the future. I further acknowledge and agree that (i) I will not be entitled to indemnification for any liability, loss or expenses or to any advancement of expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred as a result of any action by or on behalf of Mattel, Inc. pursuant to the Policy, and (ii) I knowingly and intentionally waive and agree not to assert any claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses against the Company or any subsidiary of the Company to which I am now, or may become, entitled notwithstanding any other agreement or provision therefor.
I further hereby acknowledge and agree that this Acknowledgment, Consent, and Agreement constitutes my specific agreement that any compensation that is paid, granted, vested, or earned based on specified Mattel, Inc. financial results shall be subject to the Policy, to the extent applicable.
Signed: ______________________
Print Name: [Executive Name]
Date: ______________________