The Strategist

Hasbro's offer of purchase raised shares of Mattel



11/13/2017 - 13:43



The largest US toy manufacturer Hasbro made an offer to buy the second-largest producer Mattel, reports Reuters with reference to informed sources. This transaction could support Mattel. The company has been experiencing financial problems in recent years, and in the past year its shares lost 47%. The last major drop by 28% occurred in October due to the publication of a weak quarterly report. However, after the emergence of the first rumors about the potential sale of the company, the shares crawled up. And after the announcement of the offer by Hasbro, Mattel’s shares went up by 24% in electronic trading.



Gage Skidmore
Gage Skidmore
Hasbro’s market cap reaches $ 11 billion, and its shares have grown by 18% since the beginning of the year. The market capitalization of Mattel was about $ 5 billion at the end of last week. It is not known yet whether Hasbro has put forward any conditions for Mattel's purchase and whether negotiations still continue. If the merger takes place, it will form a powerful toy manufacturer, an owner of such big brands as My Little Pony, Monopoly, Nerf, Barbie, Hot Wheels and others.

Earlier the parties already conducted negotiations about merge. The first negotiations took place in 1996, and then another round followed in 2015.

The net profit of the American Hasbro, one of the world's largest toy manufacturers, rose 13.9% to $ 401.905 million in the first nine months of 2017.

The net profit attributable to the parent company increased by 12% to $ 401.905 million. Diluted earnings per share were $ 3.16, compared to $ 2.82 per share for the reporting period a year ago. Net revenue in January-September reached $ 3.613 billion, which is 6.6% more in annual terms.

In the third quarter, Hasbro's net profit increased 3.7% to $ 265.583 million. Net income attributable to the parent company increased by 3% to $ 265.583 million. Diluted earnings per share were $ 2.09 versus $ 2.03 per share for the period a year earlier. Analysts had expected the figure at $ 1.94 per share. Net proceeds by the end of the quarter reached $ 1.791 billion, which is 6.7% more in annual terms.

source: reuters.com