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

To: Mark Marcellus who wrote (542)	5/2/2000 2:28:00 PM
From: Mike 2.0	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 706

Pleasant's rep is not untainted IMHO either. Read this from the proxy statement...page 25: During 1999, Mattel made payments in the aggregate of $640,936 to White Wings, Inc. for the use of an aircraft by officers of Pleasant Company. Ms. Rowland and her husband, Jerome Frautschi, beneficially own 100% of White Wings, Inc. Additionally, during 1999, Mattel made payments in the aggregate of $732,933 to Webcrafters Inc. for the production of printed materials for Pleasant Company. Ms. Rowland's brother-in-law, John Frautschi, beneficially owns 100% of Webcrafters Inc. <sarcasm> Pretty cool huh? I wonder if the airplane is paid off yet. Pity the poor peasants who fly commercial and fight the crowds at Chicago O'Hare. And I'm glad Ms. Rowland was able to help out her brother-in-law. </sarcasm> Of course, this employee-as-vendor stuff pales in comparison to Jill's haul...I would not be surprised if there is more than meets the eye regarding her platinum, diamond-studded, gold-leafed parachute...

To: Mark Marcellus who wrote (542)	5/3/2000 11:35:00 AM
From: Mike 2.0	Respond to of 706

Pleasant is callin' it quits... Ms. Rowland's career has ended with being party to the most unconscionable exit package ever doled out, perhaps in history. Wednesday May 3, 10:50 am Eastern Time Founder of Pleasant Co. Retiring MIDDLETON, Wis. (AP) -- The founder of the Pleasant Company, which made its name selling American Girl dolls and books, will retire in July. Former educator Pleasant Rowland started the Middleton, Wis.-based company in 1985 with the vision of making dolls that provided an alternative to Barbie and Cabbage Patch Kids. Its American Girl line became a worldwide sensation, selling more than 50 million books and four million dolls mostly through mail order. In 1998, it opened its first and only retail store in Chicago, which has become a popular tourist destination. The company was bought in 1998 for $700 million by Mattel (NYSE:MAT - news), the world's biggest toymaker. It continues to operate as an independent subsidiary based in Wisconsin. Rowland said she will retire on July 7 as president of Pleasant Company and vice chairwoman of Mattel. Rowland has been honored as one of the 12 outstanding entrepreneurs in the nation by the Institute of American Entrepreneurs and was given the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement in June 1999.