Adams Street Partners and H.I.G Capital Help Fuel PlayMonster’s Growth in 2022, Under the Leadership of New CEO Tim Kilpin
BELOIT, Wis. (January 27, 2022) — PlayMonster launches into 2022 with fresh capital from global private markets firms Adams Street Partners and H.I.G Capital, and promotes tenured industry leader Tim Kilpin and former PlayMonster President to the role of CEO. This significant capital investment and leadership change symbolizes PlayMonster’s latest chapter as a top international toy and game company, and sets the foundation for continued growth and innovation in 2022 and beyond.
Bill Sacher, Partner, Adams Street, said: “PlayMonster has gained the trust of countless families with their iconic toys and games, and nearly 40 years of rich company history. We believe in the PlayMonster vision, leadership, and values, and we’re eager to support the company’s growth.”
“It’s an exciting time of strategic development and expansion, charting further success for PlayMonster,” said John Yeager, Managing Director of H.I.G Capital. “Not only is the business strong, but the inherent value in what PlayMonster brings to kids and families in all of its products is something incredibly positive that we are proud to be part of.
Tim Kilpin, CEO at PlayMonster, said: “Our relationship with Adams Street and H.I.G Capital greatly accelerates our goal to become one of the industry’s top global toy companies, and echoes our steadfast dedication to delivering great play experiences for consumers. We’re eager to work with two firms that share our vision and values and have what it takes to create magic in 2022.”
As CEO, Kilpin will focus on expanding and accelerating PlayMonster’s strong retail relationships, product innovation, brand development, licensing and international expansion. PlayMonster is entering an exciting year, as the company prepares to bring Hasbro’s beloved Playskool brands to a new generation of parents. This comes on the heels of several major brand launches in 2021 ‒ including Koosh, Spirograph Animator and THINGS…Schitt’s Creek Edition and the acquisition of award-winning crafting company, Ann Williams Group.
Before joining PlayMonster, Kilpin served as President and CEO of Activision Blizzard’s Consumer Products business, and President and Chief Commercial Officer for Mattel, Inc. In addition to various senior roles at both Mattel and Disney, Kilpin has served on the Boards of Build-A-Bear Workshop, the Make-A-Wish International Foundation, and the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation; he is also a Board and Executive Committee member of the Toy Association.
Former PlayMonster CEO Bob Wann, whose dedicated leadership over the last 13 years was instrumental in shaping the global company that PlayMonster is today, is retiring from the company.
“Bob’s passion for the power of play and delivering innovation to consumers has been transformational for the company, and his overall dedication to the entire toy industry truly inspiring,” says Kilpin. “We offer him our sincerest thanks and best wishes as he moves into a new chapter.”
Adams Street is a global private markets investment manager that manages more than $49 billion in assets. H.I.G Capital is a leading alternative assets investment firm with over $45 billion of equity capital in management. Together, they bring significant scale and services to the PlayMonster brand. Both companies have acquired or invested in hundreds of mid-sized private companies..
For more information about PlayMonster, visit www.playmonster.com.
About PlayMonster
PlayMonster, a leading international toy and game company, believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives and strives to keep play alive for all ages by delivering great play value through designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative and fun toys, games and activities. PlayMonster’s diversified portfolio includes popular brands and products such as “TOTY Game of the Year” Yeti in My Spaghetti®, plus THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Relative Insanity®, Farkle, Five Crowns®, Spirograph®, Colorforms, My Fairy Garden®, Fashion Plates®, Latchkits®, Snap Ships®, Koosh®, and the recently acquired Ann Williams Group including Loopdedoo®, Craft-Tastic®, Craft Crush™ and Sticker & Chill™.
About Adams Street Partners
Adams Street Partners is a global private markets investment manager with investments in more than 30 countries across five continents. The firm is 100% employee-owned and has more than $49 billion in assets under management. Adams Street strives to generate actionable investment insights across market cycles by drawing on nearly 50 years of private markets experience, proprietary intelligence, and trusted relationships. Adams Street has offices in Austin, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, London, Menlo Park, Munich, New York, Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo. Visit www.adamsstreetpartners.com
About H.I.G. Capital
H.I.G. is a leading alternative assets investment firm with over $45 billion of equity capital under management. Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach.
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For More Information, Please Contact:
Lisa Wuennemann
PlayMonster LLC
(800) 524-4263 x275
lisa.wuennemann@playmonster.com
Sierra Percy-Beauregard
ChizComm (on behalf of PlayMonster)
416.659.5807
Spercy-beauregard@chizcomm.com
