Little Tikes sold to another playground equipment company

FARMINGTON -- Little Tikes Commercial Play Systems, a division of Newell Rubbermaid Inc., has been sold to PlayPower Inc., an international company based in St. Louis. The announcement was made public by Newell Rubbermaid on July 1.

PlayPower is a leading manufacturer of commercial playground systems, contained playground environments, municipal waterslides and floating dock systems. Little Tikes' commercial play systems division was also a leading manufacturer of similar contained playgrounds and park service products.

PlayPower brands include Miracle Recreation Equipment Co., Hags, Soft Play, EZ-Dock and Miracle Water Slides.

According to a press release, Miracle Recreation is the oldest manufacturer of steel and plastic commercial playground equipment in the United States. Hags is a leading manufacturer of wood-based outdoor commercial playground equipment and site amenities. Soft Play is a leading manufacturer of contained play systems. EZ-Dock is a leading manufacturer of patented rotationally molded floating dock and drive-on lift systems. Miracle Waterslides is a leading manufacturer of plastic and fiberglass Rainbow Bend tm Waterslides.

PlayPower is headquartered in St. Louis. It has marketing, sales and manufacturing facilities in Advance and Monett in Missouri, and in Iowa, North Carolina, Belgium, Hong Kong, Sweden, England, Germany and Spain.

In 2003, the Little Tikes Commercial Play Systems division in Farmington contributed more than $60 million in sales to Newell Rubbermaid Inc.

In a press released issued by Newell Rubbermaid Inc., CEO Joseph Galli said the company's divestiture plan for 2004 was the reason for selling the division.

Financial terms of the agreement with PlayPower were not disclosed.