Toy Manufacturer SIMBA DICKIE GROUP takes over the French SMOBY Group

The decision of the Commercial Court of the French department of Jura has been handed down – a new milestone has been reached in the history of the German company – the way ahead has been opened for the successful future of Smoby, number 3 on the French toy market

Lons-le-Saunier, France / Fürth, Germany – Fürth-based Simba Dickie Group, which encompasses well known brands such as Simba, Dickie, Schuco, BIG, Noris Spiele, Tamiya and Eichhorn, is to take over parts of the French Smoby Group with effect from 3 March 2008. This decision was confirmed on 3 March 2008 by the State Administrators at the Tribunal de Commerce in Lons-le-Saunier, in the French department of Jura.

Employing 2,300 people around the world (1,080 of whom worked in France), the largest French manufacturer of toys slipped into the red 12 months ago. In March 2007, the company, which occupied third position in the French toy market after its takeover of Majorette in 2003 and Berchet in 2005, was initially accorded protection from its creditors, before it was taken into administration on 9 October 2007. At the session of 3 March 2008 in Lons-le-Saunier in the French department of Jura, the administrators decided in favour of the Simba Dickie Group as a strategic investor for parts of the former Smoby-Berchet Group.

The Simba Dickie Group bid was approved thanks to the Group’s wide-ranging experience in the toys and games sector, as well as its global distribution capabilities, through its 20 international subsidiaries. The Simba Dickie Group has already proven over recent years that it is able to implement successful restructuring programmes following takeovers, as seen in the examples of Dickie Toys, Noris Spiele, Schuco and BIG, the manufacturer of the BobbyCar. With the takeover of Smoby, the Simba Dickie Group has reached a new milestone in its 25-year history.

Alongside the company headquarters in Lavans, the production facilities in Arinthod, Moirans, Groissiat and Bellignat will be retained for the manufacture of various products. “The 401 employees we believe are needed for these sites will be retained in accordance with our offer”, explained Managing Director Uwe Weiler.

The Smoby product range compliments the Simba Dickie Group portfolio well, and will also be integrated into the Group’s foreign subsidiaries as quickly as possible. Moreover, Smoby possesses an excellent development team in France, with designers, engineers and product managers, who will continue to provide
positive support to the Simba Dickie Group.