Spin Master Acquires Toca Boca & Sago Mini

TORONTO: Spin Master has inked a deal to acquire app makers Toca Boca and Sago Mini from Sweden’s Bonnier Group.

Toca Boca, which has offices in Stockholm, San Francisco and New York, makes digital toys for children aged 3 to 9. The company has released 32 apps that have been downloaded more than 140 million times. Sago Mini creates mobile apps for 2- to 5-year-olds. The Toronto-based company has released 16 apps that have been downloaded over 13 million times. Both Toca Boca and Sago Mini aim to encourage kids’ natural curiosity and self-expression, and have more than 15 million monthly active users around the world.

“The acquisition of Toca Boca and Sago Mini, with their strong brand presence, allows Spin Master to develop a leadership position in the mobile app space for kids and rounds out our ability to entertain kids in both the physical and digital world,” said Ronnen Harary, co-CEO of Spin Master. “Older kids’ content consumption patterns have shifted to mobile devices and we want to be where the kids are. The Toca Boca brand, which is trusted by parents together with its network of millions of users, gives us a strong platform to continue to build on. We look forward to linking these mobile apps, which emphasize fun and creativity, with Spin Master’s global capabilities across our toy and TV show businesses.”

Toca Boca is currently developing a subscription-based TV channel called Toca TV, which offers a curated and safe video experience, exclusive Toca Boca content and interactive features in an engaging, playful and personal SVOD platform for children. A toy line for both Toca Boca and Sago Mini is also in the works. Spin Master plans to continue to build on these initiatives in the future.

“We are very excited to join the Spin Master team and look forward to continue building the mobile app space in conjunction with Spin Master’s deep expertise and leading position in toys and entertainment globally,” noted Björn Jeffrey, the CEO of Toca Boca.

“The acquisition of Toca Boca and Sago Mini brings together talented creative and development resources in Sweden, the U.S. and Canada together with Spin Master Studios’s existing digital team in Los Angeles,” added Ben Gadbois, Spin Master’s president and COO. “These teams will drive further innovation and growth for Spin Master in line with our growth strategies.”

The transaction is scheduled to officially close on May 2. This news comes on the heels of Spin Master’s recent purchase of Cardinal Games, Editrice Giochi, and Etch A Sketch and Doodle Sketch.