Hasbro & Mattel to merge?

Mike T. · **Joined:** Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:19 am

AdrienVeidt wrote:

So, why was the fact they're in discussions made public?

I wonder if Hasbro, by initiating the talks and possibly slipping their existence to the media, isn't pushing Disney to hurry up with their long-rumored buy-out. Hasbro may want to no longer have to pay licensing fees and want the cash infusion. If we assume the execs that would adminstrate the transfer would retire shortly thereafter, they wouldn't have to deal with the constriction of choices in what to make or license in becoming a subsidiary of Disney.

Disney either wants to own it's own toy company so it can retain more of the pie. Or, it wants there to be two major players in the market vying for licenses: pushing Disney's price up. The real question is which is better for Disney in the long or short run.

Joebros · **Joined:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:17 pm **Location:** U.S.A

AdrienVeidt wrote:

So, why was the fact they're in discussions made public?

I wonder if Hasbro, by initiating the talks and possibly slipping their existence to the media, isn't pushing Disney to hurry up with their long-rumored buy-out. Hasbro may want to no longer have to pay licensing fees and want the cash infusion. If we assume the execs that would adminstrate the transfer would retire shortly thereafter, they wouldn't have to deal with the constriction of choices in what to make or license in becoming a subsidiary of Disney.

According to the article in the first post, "Representatives for Hasbro and Mattel declined to comment."
So they haven't even admitted to it yet. This news was leaked by "people familiar with the matter."

Sure it might have been a strategic leak by one of the parties, but who knows. I'm wondering if any progress has been made.....

AdrienVeidt · **Joined:** Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:19 am

The conspiracist in me has to think the leak was deliberate. What does an insider get for leaking that's worth the risk of getting fired? I also don't see what Mattel gets for leaking the news, nor how it could strengthen Hasbro's bargaining power against them; but it could light a fire under Disney's ass to buy them out.

Assuming Hasbro indeed even wants it, which is still just a conjecture. But it's the only scenario I can really see in play.

toy-nutz · **Posted:** Wed Feb 10, 2016 10:36 pm

Disney doesn't want Hasbro, nor does it need it. There was a good article last year on this when the rumor of Disney buying Hasbro first emerged. It talked how Disney is better off without it and they are not even interested in it.

AdrienVeidt · **Joined:** Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:19 am

Link?

GITrekker · **Joined:** Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:19 am

A friend of mine has speculated that Hasbro might've leaked this -- especially given the proximity to Toy Fair -- in order to deflect attention away from Mattel's big news about redesigning Barbie's body (which even landed Barbie on the cover of Time Magazine). I still really hope this ISN'T happening, but I can't say that I've heard much since the initial ruckus.

AdrienVeidt · **Joined:** Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:19 am

But how does that benefit Hasbro?

toy-nutz · **Posted:** Thu Feb 11, 2016 10:08 pm

AdrienVeidt wrote:

Link?

Been looking and I cannot find it now. I thought it was motley fool. But what is really interesting is that the Disney buying Hasbro rumor has been around since 2010. Along with them buying Lego and Mattel!

But the main thing to think about is what value would Hasbro give Disney? It doesn't need any of their IPs. Also most of their movies rights are tied up right now to Paramount. Disney already gets paid by Hasbro, Lego, Mattel, ect. for rights to use their IPs. Disney already makes a lot of their own toys, dolls, ect. On their own for the parks and Disney Store.

Hasbro & Mattel to merge?

Who is online