DIE-CAST JOHN DEERE TRACTOR NAMED A 'TOY OF THE CENTURY' BY THE
TOY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
Glen Ellyn, Ill. (February 5, 2003)-The Die-Cast John Deere
Tractor produced in 1947 by The Ertl Company (now Racing Champions
Ertl-NASDAQ: RACN) has been named to the Toy Industry Association's
"Century of Toys" list of the one hundred top toys produced
in the 20th century.
According to Peter Henseler, President of Racing Champions Ertl,
the honor is particularly gratifying because of the long-term staying
power of the Company's entire John Deere product line. "Without
question, the 'Century of Toys' list includes the most memorable
and creative toys produced in the last hundred years," he said.
"They're truly the best of the best, and our Die-Cast John
Deere Tractor definitely belongs on this list." He added, "We're
especially proud that even after more than fifty years our Die-Cast
John Deere Tractors and related products are still going strong
and remain a leading and successful category in the toy and collectibles
industry worldwide."
Among the criteria used by the judges in selecting toys for the
list were longevity in the market, incorporation of new technologies,
introduction of a new play pattern, consumer demand, creation of
an industry trend, and impact on both the toy industry and the children
who played with these toys.
About Racing Champions Ertl
Racing Champions Ertl (www.rcertl.com) is a leading producer and
marketer of innovative collectibles and toys targeted at males of
all ages. The Company's diverse product offerings include scaled
die-cast replicas of John Deere agricultural equipment and NASCAR
stock cars, other licensed vehicle replicas, pre-teen toys, sports
trading cards, racing apparel and souvenirs, and collectible figures.
These products are sold under the Company's market-focused brand
names, including Racing Champions®, Ertl®, Ertl Collectibles®,
American Muscle™, AMT®, W. Britain®, Press Pass®,
and JoyRide Studios™. The Company reinforces its brands and
enhances the authenticity of its products by linking them with highly
recognized licensed properties including NASCAR, NHRA, John Deere,
Harley-Davidson, Case, Polaris, Honda, Caterpillar, Ford, GM, Chrysler,
Texaco, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Hit Entertainment, Nintendo,
Sega, and Electronic Arts. The Company's products are marketed through
multiple channels of distribution, including mass retailers and
specialty and hobby wholesalers and retailers, OEM dealers, and
to corporate accounts for promotional purposes. The Company sells
through more than 20,000 retail outlets located in North America,
Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Certain statements contained in this release contain "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use
of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate,''
"believe,'' "could,'' "expect,'' "intend,''
"may,'' "planned,'' "potential,'' "should,''
"will'' and "would.'' Such forward-looking statements
are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties.
Such uncertainties and other operational matters are discussed further
in the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. The Company's actual results and future
developments could differ materially from the results or developments
expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. The
Company undertakes no obligation to make any revisions to the forward-looking
statements contained in this release or to update them to reflect
events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.
