Hasbro and Mattel Talk Possible Merger

Just in case you had ever wanted an Optimus Prime Barbie.

Not the first time this has popped up though last time it was Mattel wanting to buy Hasbro in reality this time Hasbro is the stronger of the two.

I expect they will do what they always do shut down the bits they don't want and keep the bits they do - so Micromachines stays the rest of Galoob gets killed. same here - Hotwheels and Barbie would survive - DC brands would be looped into Hasbro and most of Boys Brands would likewise or simply die off

So things like MOTU would be dead for good.
I can't see Hasbro rebooting Starcom either (which Mattel own and just sit on).

I expect board room egos will stop a merger though - it might even be a scam to boost share price short term.

Hasbro would only buy mattel to get it's hands on the Doll Dept and the Hotwheels brand - the rest they would care about much - though they might decide to monetise MOTU possibly with more enthusiasm than Mattel show via their Movie devision. heck it might even be worth begging Hasbro to make Modern MOTU season 3 if they do buy Mattel out.

I expect things like Ghostbusters toys would taper off once they reach their natrual life and the rest of Mattel than isn't dolls or Hotwheels would be shut - however Hasbro's own girls toy division might suffer job losses as they have always been pretty poor at that - unless it's doing something like distributing Bratz internationally.

it's a toss up either way who is better at plush toys though. or who is better Playskool or Fisher price - that might be the dirtiest fight and it might also be what saves some more of Mattel if Hasbro sees there is Money to be made in Imaginenext still.

As if anyone will be in charge it will be Hasbro as they have more buying power and can get the loans they'd need Mattel wouldn't be able to borrow enough to buy out Hasbro it lacks the collateral to do it.

The new company name could be Hasmat.

My biggest concern here is not so much around transformers as it is the potential for increase toy prices, especially around the 6 inch collectible toys.

Marvel Legends, DC heroes, WWE, Star Wars would all be under one company and we could see even greater price hikes.

*looking at chart*
What happened in '99 that set Hasbro apart from Mattel, and what in '02 nearly pulled them under?
*quickly checks Star Wars prequels release dates*
Episode II wasn't that bad, was it?



But if this merger happens, what toy companies will there even be anymore? This one, Lego, and... ??

probably be like when hasbro bought kenner

So will that make the new company that emerges "Hastel" or "Matbro"?

DeathReviews wrote:So will that make the new company that emerges "Hastel" or "Matbro"?

just hasbro, because everything hasbro acquires gets absorbed like the Borg assimilating worlds

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnot impressed by this.

Amelie wrote:

Nemesis Maximo wrote:This wouldn't necessarily affect those of us mostly interested in Hasbro brands, but Mattel brands (MOTU, lookin atchoo) would probably see this as a God-send.

As a doll collector - I beg to differ. I have this feeling all the clothes will suddenly be cheaply printed one or two piece things without much detail (ala how TF detailing in terms of paint or tampographing has gone)

Hm, good point. But the cloth goods on TFs and MOTU figures never existed. So technically, what I said could still be true. And even in the wake of lacking paint apps, we are seeing some of the best sculpting ever on TF figures. And also look at the 3 3/4 inch G.I. Joe and the 6 Star Wars and Marvel Legends lines: if those kinds of philosophies were applied to MOTU...

Va'al wrote:Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnot impressed by this.

Perhaps thou would liketh to impart a motivation for thine emotional alignment toward this interesting and apparently divisive rumor?

Black Bumblebee wrote:If I remember right, Hot Wheels owns the right to the name "Hot Rod," so buying Mattel might mean that Rodimus can finally get his name back lol

I think Hot Rod's name has the same problem as Bumblebee- it's too generic and can't be trademarked- except Hasbro for whatever reason doesn't care about Bumblebee's name.