TOYS"R"US, Inc. Acquires Etoys.Com

By: Toys R Us | 0 Shares 162 Reads

Transaction Includes Acquisition of BabyUniverse.com and ePregnancy.com

Expansion of Online Portfolio Positions Company to Accelerate Market Share Growth in Toy and Baby Products Categories February 13, 2009 // Franchising.com // Wayne, NJ - Toys"R"Us, Inc., the world's leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, today announced it has acquired the highly regarded e-commerce site, eToys.com. The transaction with The Parent Company also includes the acquisition of e-commerce site BabyUniverse.com, and the parenting resource website, ePregnancy.com.

Toys"R"Us, Inc. already operates the world's leading online toy and baby products store, www.Toysrus.com, which includes www.Babiesrus.com. This acquisition provides the company with a unique opportunity to broaden its web-based portfolio through the addition of these three well-established online destinations for parents and families.

"eToys.com is a highly respected brand with a rich heritage of innovation and growth, and we look forward to championing the next phase of its evolution," said Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys"R"Us, Inc. "We believe the acquisition of eToys.com, together with BabyUniverse.com and ePregnancy.com, will advance our leadership in the toy and baby products sectors and position the company for strong market share growth. We are committed to providing loyal customers of these sites with an enhanced online experience, while continuing to offer a differentiated merchandise assortment and the service excellence they have come to expect."

eToys.com and BabyUniverse.com offer a broad assortment of unique toys and juvenile products. Both sites have earned accolades from industry groups and customers alike for their outstanding customer service. ePregnancy.com is an established recognized platform for the delivery of content and new media resources to a national audience of expectant parents.

All three websites will continue to operate under their current domain names. Toys"R"Us, Inc. will assume responsibility for all operations of the sites including merchandising, site management, distribution and marketing.

Toys"R"Us, Inc. launched www.Toysrus.com in 1998 to cater to busy moms, dads and other toy-buying adults who would appreciate access to the world's largest toy store at their fingertips. Today, www.Toysrus.com is one of the most visited sites in the retail category with a vast assortment of toy and baby items, video game titles, exciting toy exclusives, personalized versions of popular toys and baby products and fantastic deals every day..

In December 2008, The Parent Company, a leading commerce, content and new media company for growing families, filed for bankruptcy protection and began to explore strategic alternatives, including a sale of some or all the company's businesses. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Toys"R"Us, Inc.

Toys"R"Us, Inc. is the worldís leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer. Currently it sells merchandise through more than 1,550 stores, including 846 Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores in the U.S., more than 700 international stores in 33 countries, which includes licensed and franchise stores, and through its Internet site at www.Toysrus.com

This press release contains "forward looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. All statements herein that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs or expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including, among others, risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in our reports and documents filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (which reports and documents should be read in conjunction with this press release). We believe that all forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions when made; however, we caution that it is impossible to predict actual results or outcomes or the effects of risks, uncertainties or other factors on anticipated results or outcomes and that, accordingly, one should not place undue reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and we undertake no obligation to update these statements in light of subsequent events or developments. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from anticipated results or outcomes discussed in any forward-looking statement.

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