UPDATE: Updating the story from last week about Hasbro making a play to purchase Mattel, it looks like Mattel has declined Hasbro's initial offer. According to and article this week by
Reuters, Mattel apparently was not impressed with whatever offer Hasbro supposedly made to buy the company. With very few specifics being shared at this time about the negotiations going on between the two companies, it's hard to tell where this leaves things or if negotiations will continue.
This isn't the first time the two companies have talked merger but it's no secret the Mattel has been struggling recently with it's stocks down 47 percent year-to-date as of last week while Hasbro's were up 18 percent.
Our local
CBS affiliate news station even recently ran an article listing Mattel as one of the 5 big brands that may not be around much longer.
So with things looking so dire for the once former toy giant, it's hard to say whether or not Mattel will be able to continue shunning Hasbro's advancements for much longer. Time will tell I guess.
The
WSJ is reporting that Hasbro has made a takeover offer for Mattel. No other details at this time have been revealed.
I know a merger of this type would have far-reaching repercussions in the toy world beyond any one license, but the thing that comes to my mind first is, what would become of the DC Comics toy license? Mattel is currently the master-toy license holder for DC Comic based stuff, but Warner Bros. who owns DC Comics might not like the idea of Hasbro getting it's hands on it, mainly because Hasbro has such close ties to Disney who happens to own Marvel Comics. Could one day we see Marvel Legends and DC based action figures under one umbrella? I know many collectors who would love that if it meant we got DC Based Legends figures.
