November 10, 2017, 3:30 PM MST Updated on November 10, 2017, 3:59 PM MST Takeover speculation surged last month after dismal results Bloomberg reported last year that companies had held talks
Mattel Inc. gained as much as 24 percent on a report that Hasbro Inc. has discussed an acquisition, a deal that would unite the two largest U.S. toymakers.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Hasbro made a recent takeover approach, but the terms of a potential deal weren’t clear. The report sent Mattel’s shares as high as $18.10 in late trading. Mattel had been down 47 percent this year through Friday’s close.
Mattel takeover speculation surged last month after an analyst suggested that the company may be better off as an acquisition target. The merger talk followed a surprisingly sharp sales decline at Mattel last quarter. The toy company, which makes Barbie and Fisher-Price, suspended its dividend and escalated a cost-cutting push to cope with the slump.
Mattel, based in El Segundo, California, also blamed the bankruptcy of Toys “R” Us Inc. for hurting sales, especially in North America.
Mattel and Hasbro declined to comment on the possible merger talks.
Bloomberg reported last year that Mattel and Hasbro have held merger discussions. The companies have held on-and-off-again talks about a deal, people familiar with the situation said at the time.
Since then, Mattel’s condition has worsened, making it a cheaper possible target. Mattel had a market valuation of about $5 billion at Friday’s close, compared with more than $11 billion for Pawtucket, Rhode Island-based Hasbro.
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Shares of the toy company shot up 6.6 percent on Thursday amid his comments.Mattel, the maker of Barbie, Fisher Price and other toys, said last month that global sales fell 13 percent in the third quarter, largely because of the bankruptcy of retailer Toys R Us.
Gabelli told CNBC's '
Halftime Report
" panel that he liked Hasbro as well, but doesn't own any. He said he liked Mattel because of the price. The stock has fallen 48 percent this year.
He is also buying small company stocks in entertainment and gaming, naming Golden Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts and RLJ Entertainment. "There are so many interesting companies out there where you could double or triple your money," he said.
Gabelli has said he likes shares of companies that control media content, whether that be movies, television or music. Gabelli funds own shares of AT&T
(NYSE: T)
, Time Warner
(NYSE: TWX)
, Walt Disney Co
(NYSE: DIS)
., and 21st Century Fox
(NASDAQ: FOXA)
, among other companies.
CNBC reported earlier this week that Disney had approached 21 Century Fox about a potential deal to buy its movie and television production assets.AT&T struck a deal to buy Time Warner last year but finalizing the transaction has stalled as the Justice Department continues to review it for anti-trust. On Wednesday, word came that the government might seek a sale of Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting, a unit that includes CNN, or its DirectTV business to get approval for the merger.
Mario Gabelli said his fund company bought Mattel
(NASDAQ: MAT)
, calling it a "work in progress."
Shares of the toy company shot up 6.6 percent on Thursday amid his comments.
Mattel, the maker of Barbie, Fisher Price and other toys, said last month that global sales fell 13 percent in the third quarter, largely because of the bankruptcy of retailer Toys R Us.
Gabelli told CNBC's '
Halftime Report
" panel that he liked Hasbro as well, but doesn't own any. He said he liked Mattel because of the price. The stock has fallen 48 percent this year.
He is also buying small company stocks in entertainment and gaming, naming Golden Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts and RLJ Entertainment. "There are so many interesting companies out there where you could double or triple your money," he said.
Gabelli has said he likes shares of companies that control media content, whether that be movies, television or music. Gabelli funds own shares of AT&T
(NYSE: T)
, Time Warner
(NYSE: TWX)
, Walt Disney Co
(NYSE: DIS)
., and 21st Century Fox
(NASDAQ: FOXA)
, among other companies.
CNBC reported earlier this week that Disney had approached 21 Century Fox about a potential deal to buy its movie and television production assets.
AT&T struck a deal to buy Time Warner last year but finalizing the transaction has stalled as the Justice Department continues to review it for anti-trust. On Wednesday, word came that the government might seek a sale of Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting, a unit that includes CNN, or its DirectTV business to get approval for the merger.
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