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Non-Tech : MAT - Mattel - toysRthem -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Duker who wrote (285)	10/21/1999 4:50:00 PM
From: Charles Tutt	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 706

The way I look at it, every day you're presented with a choice to buy, sell, or hold. It is what it is. Can I assume you sold? If not, why not? JMHO.

To: Duker who wrote (285)	10/21/1999 8:56:00 PM
From: Zakrosian	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 706

Duker - Thanks for the interesting exchange. I guess there are a couple possible ways of looking at it: - The Learning Co's problems are short term, there are some very promising merchandising agreements and new products on the horizon and that selling the company for half of its purchase price would be a big mistake from a long-term perspective. Or - Jill Barad is an egotistical moron who is unable and unwilling to admit to a disastrous mistake. In which case, MAT will be lucky to sell the division for a tenth of what they paid for it. Having followed the Snapple fiasco (what was it - Quaker bought Snapple for about 1.7 billion and then unloaded it for something like 300 million?), my hope would be with the first scenario. But I sure as hell wouldn't bet on it. This is starting to make Snapple look like an intelligent decision. Regardless, the core MAT brands are solid and the company will do fine in the long run - I can't believe how long Barbie has lasted. The only question is how long it'll take.

To: Duker who wrote (285)	10/22/1999 9:31:00 AM
From: Mike 2.0	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 706

Re: What was most troubling to me (aside from the fact that I can not stand to hear her voice) Geez, I've never heard her talk. What does she sound like? Fran Dresner?! Some Guy: If you could sell TLC for $2bn today, would you do it? Jill: NO. Some Guy: Not even for $2bn? Really? Jill: NO. Did Some Guy then ask her why? Or did he drop it? My response is, C'mon Jill play some freaking poker here! She could have said something like "We get business proposals all the time, nothing is off the table" or "We have the benefit of hindsight now...TLC has stumbled badly, no question. But, TLC was and is an important piece of our business strategy. Selling TLC essentially concedes the software game market to our competitors, and that is not acceptable. But, on the other hand, we are not taking anything off the table." Acknowledges mistakes, reiterates business strategy, also indicates willingness to listen to serious offers. Sure beats "Just say no" IMHO. Someone else here suggested this was Barad's ego talking. I absolutely agree. Her humongous ego IMHO may be second in size only to Chainsaw Al Dunlap who of course decimated Sunbeam with his hapless buying binge (First Alert, Coleman, Mr. Coffee)! If Some Guy asked Dunlap, back when it began to emerge that the deals were heading south quickly, would he sell the businesses for a huge sum of cash (essentially unwinding the deal), what do you think he would have said? Exactly what Barad said...IMHO a curt, ego-protecting "NO." IMO Barad's presence is what is holding this stock down. Unfortunately, the board is not going to do anything. The only saving grace is MAT is widely held. The 5%+ external shareholders will have to take the ball now. I had hoped to see some Michael Price-style SEC filings now, spelling out a frank vote of no confidence in Barad and her board, and funds' intentions to nominate new board members and actively solicit proxies for their election. This will be pretty long winded but ultimately successful process. Meantime, with no confidence that Barad will not continue to mismanage the company, I do not think we have seen the bottom...perhaps high 9's on the bid side. JMO...