TOCA BOCA BOUGHT: Canadian toymaker, Spin Master, has acquired Toca Boca, the Swedish team whose popular suite of children’s apps have enjoyed more than 140 million downloads. As part of the deal, Spin Master also acquired Sago Mini, a developer of apps for preschool children, which Toca bought in 2013.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 1994, Spin Master has produced toys from dozens of brands (including Star Wars) and is a publicly traded company listed on the Toronto exchange. The company, which now employs around 950 people around the world, enjoyed nearly $1 billion in gross product sales in 2015 according to its most recent investor presentation (PDF).
Founded in 2010, Toca Boca has published 32 apps, many of which have climbed their way to the “Top 10” education charts on iOS and Android app stores. Company CEO Björn Jeffrey has stated that his focus has been about building enjoyable experiences for kids—rather than creating “educational” apps or selling to schools.
