EXHIBIT 99
For Immediate Release CONTACT:
October 19, 2000 David Hargreaves (Investor Relations) 401-727-5300
Wayne S. Charness (News Media) 401-727-5983
HASBRO REPORTS THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
Pawtucket, RI (October 19, 2000) - Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) today
reported third quarter results consistent with the Company's pre-announcement
last week.
Worldwide net revenues in local currencies increased modestly compared
to a year ago. However, the foreign currency translation impact of the
stronger U.S. dollar reduced reported revenues by approximately $33 million,
or 3%, to $1.073 billion compared to $1.098 billion last year. POKEMON and
other trading card games from Wizards of the Coast, acquired in September
1999, more than offset the anticipated decline from last year's exceptionally
strong STAR WARS and FURBY shipments.
Net earnings and diluted earnings per share were $13.8 million and
$0.08, respectively, compared to $85.2 million and $0.43, respectively, a
year ago. Reported earnings in the current quarter include a loss of
approximately $6 million pre-tax ($4 million after-tax), or approximately
$0.02 per share, attributable to GAMES.COM, the Company's Internet games
initiative. The Company also reported third quarter Earnings Before Interest,
Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) of $120.4 million compared to
$200.3 million in the third quarter of 1999.
For the first nine months, worldwide net revenues were $2.624 billion
compared to $2.641 billion last year. Net earnings and diluted earnings per
share were $35.5 million and $0.20, respectively, compared to $131.3 million
and $0.64 a year ago. EBITDA for the nine months was $311.0 million compared
to $394.5 million last year.
"Even with challenging comparisons against last year's record results, I
am not pleased with our third quarter performance," said Alan G. Hassenfeld,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "However, our international business
remains strong, with revenues from international customers up 20% in local
currencies and 11% in U.S. dollars, led primarily by POKEMON products.
Worldwide, core brands that performed well were ACTION MAN, G.I. JOE, TONKA,
PLAY-DOH and traditional board games. At the same time, we have been
impacted, especially on the expense side, by all of the challenges and
external factors we cited in July," Hassenfeld explained.
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POKEMON trading card games continue selling briskly worldwide, while
POKEMON toy demand remains strong internationally but soft in the U.S.
Revenues from STAR WARS are expected to be minimal this year, and some of the
anticipated second-half new product introductions from Tiger Electronics have
been delayed. Also, the interactive games business did not perform to already
reduced expectations; however, the Company is exploring strategic
alternatives for this business. External factors contributing to lower
earnings include continued high oil prices that impact resin and
transportation costs, the continued relative strength of the U.S. dollar,
availability of electronic components, and the overall lackluster retailing
environment. These factors are expected to continue to impact the Company in
the fourth quarter.
Revenues and pre-tax operating results increased in the Games segment,
as POKEMON and other trading card and role-playing games from Wizards of the
Coast more than offset the decline in FURBY. However, in both the U.S. Toys
and International segments, higher POKEMON revenues did not offset the
declines in STAR WARS. This resulted in a pre-tax operating loss in the U.S.
Toys segment, and lower pre-tax operating profits in the International
segment.
`We enter the holiday season with many must-have toys and games,"
Hassenfeld noted. "POO-CHI, Tiger Electronics' interactive electronic puppy,
is on track to be one of the best-selling first-year products in Hasbro's
history. It will be joined by two special breeds, 102 DALMATIANS POO-CHI and
a holiday POO-CHI, plus MEOW-CHI. HIT CLIPS - the new micro-sized chips with
music from today's hottest stars - is off to a great start with artists like
Britney Spears and `N SYNC, and will offer more titles and 8 new artists
including Faith Hill. In games, TOP IT!, the latest extension of Hasbro's
popular BOP IT! hand-held electronic game franchise, has already won several
awards. The third edition of our DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS role-playing game is
selling well, and we look forward to beginning to ship POKEMON Gold and
Silver trading card games. We also look forward to introducing HARRY POTTER'S
BERTIE BOTT'S EVERY FLAVOR BEANS. Plus, TUCKER MY TALKIN' TRUCKBOT, one
example of our success in focusing on our TONKA core brand, is selling well
and is featured on several of the top pick lists for the holidays."
The Company's current outlook for full-year 2000 earnings per share is
in the range of $0.40 to $0.50, prior to the approximately $140 to $170
million of pre-tax restructuring and other charges announced last week to
improve long-term profitability. EBITDA for full-year 2000 is now expected to
be approximately $480 to $505 million, or $2.70 to $2.85 per share, also
before the charges.
"Looking ahead to 2001, we need to evaluate the results of the all-
important fourth quarter before providing guidance on our revenue and
earnings outlook. However, we do expect our increased focus on core brands
and reducing overheads throughout the company to contribute to a significant
improvement in profitability," Hassenfeld concluded.
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Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time and
entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and
marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both
internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, SUPER SOAKER, MILTON
BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, HASBRO INTERACTIVE, MICROPROSE and WIZARDS
OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most
recognizable play experiences in the world.
Certain statements contained in this release contain "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-
looking words or phrases such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "expect",
"intend", "may", "planned", "potential", "should", "will" and "would". Such
forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks
and uncertainties. The Company's actual actions or results may differ
materially from those expected or anticipated in the forward-looking
statements. Specific factors that might cause such a difference include, but
are not limited to, the Company's ability to manufacture, source and ship new
and continuing products on a timely basis and the acceptance of those
products by customers and consumers at prices that will be sufficient to
profitably recover development, manufacturing, marketing, royalty and other
costs of products; economic conditions, including higher fuel prices and
availability of electronic components, currency fluctuations and government
regulation and other actions in the various markets in which the Company
operates throughout the world; the inventory policies of retailers, including
the concentration of the Company's revenues in the second half and fourth
quarter of the year, together with increased reliance by retailers on quick
response inventory management techniques, which increases the risk of
underproduction of popular items, overproduction of less popular items and
failure to achieve tight and compressed shipping schedules; the impact of
competition on revenues, margins and other aspects of the Company's business,
including the ability to secure, maintain and renew popular licenses and the
ability to attract and retain talented employees in a competitive
environment; the assessment by the Company of its 2001 product line and of
the impact of discontinued product lines and product lines with reduced
expectations has not been completed and actual charges, primarily non-cash,
could be more or less than the current estimated range for such charges;
market conditions, third party actions or approvals and the impact of
competition that could delay or increase the cost of implementation of the
Company's Profit Improvement Program or alter the Company's actions and
reduce actual results; the risk that anticipated benefits of acquisitions may
not occur or be delayed or reduced in their realization; and with respect to
the Company's online game site initiative, technical difficulties in adapting
games to online format and establishing the online game site that could delay
or increase the cost of the site becoming operational; the acceptance by
consumers of the games and other products and services to be offered at the
site; competition from other online game sites and other game playing
formats; and the fact online game revenues may not be sufficient to cover the
significant advertising and other expenditures required or the support,
service and product enhancement demands of online users. The Company
undertakes no obligation to make any revisions to the forward-looking
statements contained in this release or to update them to reflect events or
circumstances occurring after the date of this release.
EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)
represents operating profit plus acquired in-process research and
development, restructuring charges, depreciation and all amortization. EBITDA
is not adjusted for all noncash expenses or for working capital, capital
expenditures or other investment requirements and, accordingly, is not
necessarily indicative of amounts that may be available for discretionary
uses. Thus, EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute
for net earnings or cash provided by operating activities, each prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, when measuring
Hasbro's profitability or liquidity as more fully discussed in the Company's
financial statements and securities filings.
# # #
(Tables Attached)
HASBRO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Thousands of Dollars and Shares Except Per Share Data)
Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
------------------- --------------------
Oct. 1, Sep. 26, Oct. 1, Sep. 26,
2000 1999 2000 1999
--------- -------- --------- ---------
Net Revenues $1,072,617 1,098,179 $2,624,471 2,641,151
Cost of Sales 459,535 444,013 1,057,879 1,045,556
--------- ------- --------- ---------
Gross Profit 613,082 654,166 1,566,592 1,595,595
Amortization 33,861 31,130 98,645 88,974
Royalties, Research and
Development 164,912 170,778 426,101 462,496
Advertising 134,631 117,567 281,722 299,925
Selling, Distribution and
Administration 222,743 193,582 626,453 515,231
--------- ------- --------- ---------
Operating Profit 56,935 141,109 133,671 228,969
Interest Expense 30,565 19,190 80,206 44,788
Other (Income) Expense, Net 6,324 (1,515) 2,075 (6,042)
--------- ------- --------- ---------
Earnings Before Income Taxes 20,046 123,434 51,390 190,223
Income Taxes 6,214 38,264 15,931 58,969
--------- ------- --------- ---------
Net Earnings $ 13,832 85,170 $ 35,459 131,254
========= ======= ========= =========
Per Common Share
Net Earnings
Basic $ .08 .44 $ .20 .67
========= ======= ========= =========
Diluted $ .08 .43 $ .20 .64
========= ======= ========= =========
Cash Dividends Declared $ .06 .06 $ .18 .18
========= ======= ========= =========
Weighted Average Number of shares
Basic 171,732 194,612 177,937 195,280
========= ======= ========= =========
Diluted 171,941 200,344 178,638 204,006
========= ======= ========= =========
HASBRO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Thousands of Dollars)
Oct. 1, Sep. 26,
2000 1999
--------- ---------
Assets
Cash and Temporary Investments $ 164,307 $ 108,627
Accounts Receivable, Net 889,090 1,167,660
Inventories 540,307 438,662
Other 442,651 552,274
--------- ---------
Total Current Assets 2,036,355 2,267,223
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net 313,301 303,667
Other Assets 2,020,930 1,622,379
--------- ---------
Total Assets $4,370,586 $4,193,269
========= =========
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Short-term Borrowings $ 539,434 $ 889,405
Payables and Accrued Liabilities 1,080,176 949,704
--------- ---------
Total Current Liabilities 1,619,610 1,839,109
Long-term Debt 1,168,764 407,584
Deferred Liabilities 90,887 82,451
--------- ---------
Total Liabilities 2,879,261 2,329,144
Total Shareholders' Equity 1,491,325 1,864,125
--------- ---------
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $4,370,586 $4,193,269
========= =========
