Report: Hasbro to Buy Dreamworks

[Steven Bogos]

Report: Hasbro to Buy Dreamworks

Reports are coming in that toy maker Hasbro may purchase movie maker Dreamworks, to become the joint company Dreamworks Hasbro.

Dreamworks, the animation studio behind hits such as Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon, is reportedly in talks with toymaker Hasbro, regarding an acquisition/merger offer. According to sources at Reuters [http://deadline.com/2014/11/dreamworks-animation-hasbro-merger-negotiations-in-works-1201282751/], Dreamworks is "deeply engaged" in two potentially game changing negotiations that could transform the company. The first one is an acquisition offer from Hasbro to forge a family entertainment powerhouse to be called Dreamworks-Hasbro, and the other talks are with Hearst to turn Dreamwork's "AwesomenessTV" into a joint venture.

Deadline claims that the Hasbro deal is still about 60 days away from becoming official, but the two companies are said to have agreed that Jeffrey Katzenberg, Dreamworks current CEO, would chair the combined operation. Dreamworks stock rose 14 percent as a result of these rumors.

Dreamworks, predictably, responded to requests for comfirmation with the bog-standard "As a publicly traded company, we don't comment on rumors and speculation."

Hasbro is the second-largest toymaker in the US, and has recently seen a strong demand for Marvel action figures, which it currently licences from Disney. There are concerns that the deal could hurt Hasbro's relationship with Disney, as Disney's Pixar and Dreamworks are often seen as direct competitors.

Sources: Reuters [http://deadline.com/2014/11/dreamworks-animation-hasbro-merger-negotiations-in-works-1201282751/]

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[The Great JT]

That's...huge. Like, Disney buying Marvel huge.

 

[Something Amyss]

Does this mean we'll have Mike Meyers voicing a farting Optimus Prime?

 

[Mr.Mattress]

Hasbro to buy Dreamworks? Wow... I didn't know a Toy Company in the 21st Century (Even one with a Surprisingly powerful IP as My Little Pony under it's belt) could make enough money to buy one of the biggest powerhouses in Film Animation, but I guess it's possible. Although this is all still rumors, it might not be true.

Funny how Disney buys studios while Dreamworks get's bought by other studios.

 

[rasputin0009]

Does this mean we'll have Mike Meyers voicing a farting Optimus Prime?

I sure hopes so. I'd go see it. It's not like Michael Bay could do much worse.

 

[RicoADF]

Hasbro to buy Dreamworks? Wow... I didn't know a Toy Company in the 21st Century (Even one with a Surprisingly powerful IP as My Little Pony under it's belt) could make enough money to buy one of the biggest powerhouses in Film Animation, but I guess it's possible. Although this is all still rumors, it might not be true.

Funny how Disney buys studios while Dreamworks get's bought by other studios.

Actually if you read the article it sounds more lik Dreamworks is buying Hasbro, the Dreamworks CEO would take over both companies as they merge.

 

[Rufus Shinra]

Good, good...

 

[Ukomba]

Good, good...

My god, it's full of ponies.

Dreamworks Luna FTW!

 

[Dark Knifer]

So I guess every dreamworks movie will be a commercial for a toy then.

Not honestly that much different from their usual movies.

 

[Ratty]

So we finally get some decent Dungeons & Dragons movies. And all but inevitable Magic the Gathering, "How to Train Your Dragon" crossovers.

 

[Strazdas]

Report.... report..... where is that report? all i see is rumors and the source claiming exclusive.... to rumors. GabeN help us all when rumors are now reports.

 

[Nurb]

More things in the hands of fewer people means bad news for everyone.

 

[Aerosteam]

There are concerns that the deal could hurt Hasbro's relationship with Disney, as Disney's Pixar and Dreamworks are often seen as direct competitors.

"Am I not destroying my enemies by befriending them?"
~ Honest Abe

 

[webkilla]

dreamworks doing future animated Transformers movies? Could work

Dreamworks doing future animated MLP movies? Hell yes

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

Neither one of these companies strike me as needing to buy the other. They both seem to be doing pretty well for themselves financially.

Regardless (that didn't stop Disney from buying Marvel)

The name "Dreamworks-Hasbro" and the Dreamworks CEO taking over, makes me think it's Dreamworks buying Hasbro, not the other way around. Which makes sense I suppose, Dreamworks loves toys for HTTYD, I'm sure Hasbro would love to oblige them. Meanwhile the HUB and MLP get Dreamworks backing.

 

[Evil Smurf]

So we finally get some decent Dungeons & Dragons movies. And all but inevitable Magic the Gathering, "How to Train Your Dragon" crossovers.

For the magic crossovers alone, I love this idea.

 

[Charli]

dreamworks doing future animated Transformers movies? Could work

Dreamworks doing future animated MLP movies? Hell yes

Basically my thought on the issue. MLP in the hands of dreamworks could be magical.

 

[P-89 Scorpion]

Hasbro to buy Dreamworks? Wow... I didn't know a Toy Company in the 21st Century (Even one with a Surprisingly powerful IP as My Little Pony under it's belt) could make enough money to buy one of the biggest powerhouses in Film Animation, but I guess it's possible. Although this is all still rumors, it might not be true.

Funny how Disney buys studios while Dreamworks get's bought by other studios.

The film divisions of the big media company's are actually pretty small parts, take Disney's just ended financial year (28th September 2013 to 27th September 2014)

Profit full year
TV/Cable - $7.3 Billion
Parks - $2.6 Billion
Film - $1.55 Billion
Merchandise - $1.35 billion

Also film has the second worst return on investment after the parks which as you can imagine cost huge amounts to run compared to media and merchandise.

DreamWorks Animation in comparison only makes cartoon films (DreamWorks live action films part is a independent company).

 

[Buizel91]

Hasbro to buy Dreamworks? Wow... I didn't know a Toy Company in the 21st Century (Even one with a Surprisingly powerful IP as My Little Pony under it's belt) could make enough money to buy one of the biggest powerhouses in Film Animation, but I guess it's possible. Although this is all still rumors, it might not be true.

Funny how Disney buys studios while Dreamworks get's bought by other studios.

Actually if you read the article it sounds more lik Dreamworks is buying Hasbro, the Dreamworks CEO would take over both companies as they merge.

On the tv/movie side of things yeh, (Hasbro aren't exactly the most suited to them roles) But Hasbro still control what figures they release etc.

If anything this has happened cause Mr Bay isn't working n the next TF film. Maybe the next film wont be from Paramount.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

SNIP.

Actually if you read the article it sounds more lik Dreamworks is buying Hasbro, the Dreamworks CEO would take over both companies as they merge.

It says in the Article it's an Acquisition deal From Hasbro, not To Hasbro. Even if Jeffrey Katzenberg does become Head of Hasbro and Dreamworks, it'd still be Hasbro owning Dreamworks, not the other way around.

The film divisions of the big media company's are actually pretty small parts, take Disney's just ended financial year (28th September 2013 to 27th September 2014)

Profit full year
TV/Cable - $7.3 Billion
Parks - $2.6 Billion
Film - $1.55 Billion
Merchandise - $1.35 billion

Also film has the second worst return on investment after the parks which as you can imagine cost huge amounts to run compared to media and merchandise.

DreamWorks Animation in comparison only makes cartoon films (DreamWorks live action films part is a independent company).

Well, color me surprised that Film's don't actually make Disney a lot more money then 1.55 Billion dollars. And Merchandise is even lower? I highly doubt that.

Still, I guess it'd make sense why Dreamworks would even take the offer, if Films only make so much money. It'd also explain why Dreamworks also releases 3 to 4 films a year as opposed to Disney Animation releasing only 1 a year.