Hasbro/Mattel merger offer possible, according to leak

Dannyalcatraz · Nov 12, 2017

Story is here:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hasbro-offers-buy-mattel-tech-042500812.html

If it goes through, this could be interesting. It opens up properties for Hasbro’s RPG section... Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe? All Mattel, each could be tied into gaming.

But there could be other possibilities as well. A big merger- depending on debts and leveraging- could endanger any subdivisions perceived as underperforming on BOTH sides. That could lead to sell-offs or simple shutdowns.

Only time will tell.

Olgar Shiverstone · Nov 12, 2017

That sounds like the creation of a singularity, a veritable vortex, that will suck in all toys and games as we know them.

One Corp to rule them all, one Corp to find them,
One Corp to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.

Blue · Nov 12, 2017

Dannyalcatraz said:
But there could be other possibilities as well. A big merger- depending on debts and leveraging- could endanger any subdivisions perceived as underperforming on BOTH sides. That could lead to sell-offs or simple shutdowns.

Thanks for the heads up.

IIRC, D&D can a shout out by the CEO in a big shareholder talk earlier this year - I don't think it's an under-performing division to be swept under the rug.

Random Bystander · Nov 12, 2017

...is this not what anti-monopoly laws are for?

trappedslider · Nov 12, 2017

Random Bystander said:
...is this not what anti-monopoly laws are for?

[video=youtube;6ee1CntEVyU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ee1CntEVyU[/video]

Dannyalcatraz · Nov 12, 2017

Random Bystander said:
...is this not what anti-monopoly laws are for?

Yes, and they mention US antitrust laws in the article. As they pointed out, the merger of 2 toy & game makers is unlikely to get the same kind of scrutiny as a big telecom or banking merger.

Dannyalcatraz · Nov 12, 2017

Blue said:
Thanks for the heads up.

IIRC, D&D can a shout out by the CEO in a big shareholder talk earlier this year - I don't think it's an under-performing division to be swept under the rug.

I don’t know that it is. But if it has ever been singled out behind closed doors before, you can bet that it’s status will be revisited again if/when the chopping block comes out, because perception = reality in those circumstances.

trappedslider · Nov 12, 2017

D&D along with Transformers and Nerf brands were part of the HASCON promos for the Magic The Gathering ccg and in fact one of the promos is being printed in an actual set.

Eltab · Nov 13, 2017

A Hasbro/Mattel merger has "anti-trust" written all over it. Or it would, if the logic from the Northern Securities* case still was in use.

* The predecessor railroads to Burlington Northern - Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Chicago Burlington & Quincy, Seattle Portland & Seattle - were all owned by the same investment company (which in turned was owned by the major driving person behind GN). In 1905, the Supreme Court decided the railroads could not be merged because it would limit competition in the northern plains states. In 1970, with trucks the major alternative to move cargo, the railroads merged into BN after all. Later they added the (equally-large) Santa Fe railroad to get BNSF.

Dannyalcatraz · Nov 13, 2017

In all likelihood, the hearings won’t delve too deeply because “it’s just toys.” They probably won’t see the merger as being between two entertainment giants, so wouldn’t perceive the risk of creating a potential monopolist.*

* And the truth is, not all monopolies are bad. The exceptions are rare, though, and are usually limited to things like utility providers.

Hasbro/Mattel merger offer possible, according to leak

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