Brandtree

Acquisition closed

Mattel acquires Matchbox (1997)

Mattel completed the acquisition of Matchbox on 22 May 1997 for $755 million.[1]

Mattel acquired Tyco Toys for about $755 million, taking Matchbox with it. That put Matchbox and Hot Wheels, rivals since 1968, under one owner; Mattel has kept both ranges in production rather than merging them.

Deal facts

Announced
Closed
Value
$755 million (equity value)
Buyer
Mattel
Seller
Assets
Matchbox
Regulatory review
None recorded

Ownership changes recorded from this deal

OwnerOwnedRelationshipStakeFromTo
MattelMatchboxowns100%1997-05-22present

Who owns Matchbox today?

Sources (1) & corrections

Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.

  1. [1] Mattel, Inc. Form 10-K - Tyco Toys merger — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 10-K, published 1 March 1998; retrieved 8 September 2026.

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