Hasbro has made an offer to acquire Mattel, according to the Wall Street Journal.  The offer was made recently, but there’s no news on the elements of the deal, or Mattel’s reaction.  It’s a good time for such a deal from Hasbro’s perspective; its stock is riding high on the basis of successful toy sales (partly at Mattel’s expense; Hasbro took Mattel’s Disney license away recently), growth in games sales, and a growing film and TV business.  Mattel’s stock is at a low, after declines in Barbie and American Girl sales joined declines due to the loss of the Disney license.

A combination would create a toy behemoth with a substantial share of the U.S. and world toy business, especially in certain categories.  And it would bring Mattel’s games into the fold with Hasbro’s and those of Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast division.