Japanese toy companies Takara and Tomy have agreed to merge. Takara had been under stress recently; Konami sold its major share (see 'Konami Sells Takara Stock') and the company had been unable to find a hit to replace its massive success with Beyblade. The combined company will be about 60% the size of U.S. toymaker Hasbro.
Takara owns 51% of U.S. manga publisher Brocolli