Spin Master, a children’s entertainment company, will acquire app makers Toca Boca and Sago Mini in order to “develop a leadership position in the mobile app space for kids”.

It is buying the two from the Bonnier Group of Sweden.

Toca Boca is a US-based company that makes apps for children aged three to nine. It has released 32 apps, such as Toca Life: School and Toca Blocks, which have been downloaded more than 140 million times in 215 countries.

The apps focus on “stimulating kids’ imagination so that they can play and have fun in a safe digital environment with no in-app purchases or external advertising”.

With offices in Stockholm, San Francisco and New York, Toca Boca has more than 80 employees.

Sago Mini, based in Canada, creates apps for kids aged two to five which focus on the pre-school segment. Sago Mini has released 16 apps, such as Mini Boats and Mini Space Explorer, which have been downloaded more than 13 million times.

Toca Boca and Sago Mini both “emphasise children’s natural sense of curiosity, experimentation and self-expression”, said Spin Master.

“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, CEO at Spin Master.

“Older kids content consumption patterns have shifted to mobile devices and we want to be where the kids are. We look forward to linking these mobile apps, which emphasise fun and creativity, with Spin Master’s global capabilities across our toy and TV show businesses,” he added.

The transaction will close on 2 May.

Toca Boca is also in the early stages of developing a subscription-based TV channel which aims to bring together a “curated and safe video experience,” exclusive Toca Boca content, and interactive features in a SVOD (subscription video on demand) platform.