Hasbro Said to Make Bid for Toy Rival Mattel<br />Hasbro has made a bid to acquire its chief rival Mattel, according to people briefed on the discussions, a move<br />that would further consolidate the world’s toy industry.<br />The toy world, like the broader retail industry, has been upended by the surge of e-commerce<br />and the intensifying battle to grab the attention of children, who are spending more time playing on tablets and smartphones.<br />It was unclear whether Hasbro had offered any terms for a deal or whether any further discussions<br />had taken place, said the people, who insisted on anonymity because the talks were private.<br />Hasbro made the takeover approach in recent months, these people said, as Mattel has struggled to revive some of its faded brands.<br />For much of this year, there has been talk across the toy industry about a possible tie-up between the two companies.
