D&D General Hasbro activist begins proxy fight, urges Dungeons & Dragons spinoff

[Umbran]

Of course not, but shares ought to bring value to shareholders.

Eventually. Working to maximize short-term benefit for shareholders tends to sacrifice long-term returns from the company.

 

[Mannahnin]

Eventually. Working to maximize short-term benefit for shareholders tends to sacrifice long-term returns from the company.

It certainly can. But AF's suggested strategy involves reinvesting in WotC's products so it can grow, rather than using it as a cash cow to support Hasbro.

 

[Umbran]

It certainly can. But AF's suggested strategy involves reinvesting in WotC's products so it can grow, rather than using it as a cash cow to support Hasbro.

So, I think that's not actually an accurate statement.

AF's strategy claims it is about reinvesting in WotC's products so it can grow more quickly than it is currently growing.

I didn't see a claim that WotC is a "cash cow supporting Hasbro". This seems to me a false narrative, a bit of spin, as if the company has two divisions, and if one is doing better than another, one is necessarily "supported by" the other.

My wife and I both have jobs. My wife makes more than I do. That doesn't mean I am a kept man supported by my wife.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Its still a good idea to keep a jaundiced eye on shareholder claims of what they want being virtuous. Their interest is intrinsically transient in most cases, and that means its benefit to the general health of a company is often poor.

 

[Cadence]

Hasbro Says Alta Fox Lacks Understanding Of Business, Finkel Has "No Experience In Leadership Roles At Corporate Companies"

Letter to Hasbro shareholders explains how hedge fund's nominees are unfit for board positions and spinning-off WotC would provide no value.

articles.starcitygames.com

 

[Parmandur]

Good for Hasbro, standing up to this.

"Jon Finkel has absolutely no experience in leadership roles at corporate companies. He is first and foremost a gamer and fan and does not have experience in driving growth and strategic value at digital gaming companies, smartly allocating capital or delivering returns for shareholders. We welcome his passion for our products, but passion for a couple of product lines does not qualify him to sit on our Board."

 

[Myrdin Potter]

Good for Hasbro, standing up to this.

"Jon Finkel has absolutely no experience in leadership roles at corporate companies. He is first and foremost a gamer and fan and does not have experience in driving growth and strategic value at digital gaming companies, smartly allocating capital or delivering returns for shareholders. We welcome his passion for our products, but passion for a couple of product lines does not qualify him to sit on our Board."

Alta Fox has stopped supporting Finkel for the board. They pared down their request to three people, and Finkel is not one of them.

By far, he was the least qualified for a Board seat in their proposed slate.

 

[Parmandur]

Alta Fox has stopped supporting Finkel for the board. They pared down their request to three people, and Finkel is not one of them.

By far, he was the least qualified for a Board seat in their proposed slate.

Yeah, apparently ripped all five tho shreds. Nice.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

Maybe I have read too many "spies novels" but sometimes this sounds as if anybody doesn't like Hasbro had got to an old franchise now is becoming too valious and important, and then they wanted it was changed to other hands.

WotC within Hasbro has got better contacts for partnerships and licencing deals. It is not only my theory, some articles tell Hasbro wants D&D to be a "metaverse" where add elements from internal and external brands. Not only Magic: Beyond Universe but also D&D: Beyond Universe. Do you remember all the crossovers and colabs in Fornite? Then Hasbro wants D&D to be as Fortnite, the king of the crossovers.

 

[GreyLord]

Here is the full letter in case anyone is interested.

Letter to shareholders from Hasbro