Hasbro agrees to purchase Saban Brands’ Power Rangers and several other entertainment properties for $522 million, cashing in on an option to buy the properties that was part of a master toy licensing pact signed earlier this year (Inside Licensing Feb. 15).

The price includes $242.5 million in cash and $270 million in Hasbro stock.

The joint announcement say the companies “have signed a definitive agreement for Hasbro to purchase Saban’s  Power Rangers and several other entertainment brands.” A Hasbro spokeswoman later clarified that “The agreement is global excluding Japan and certain Asian markets where Saban has a prior licensing agreement.” That apparently refers to Bandai retaining rights in those markets, as was defined when Hasbro’s assumption of the global master toy rights for Power Rangers was announced in February.

Hasbro sees “significant opportunity” to extend Power Rangers across toys and games, consumer products, digital gaming and entertainment, CEO Brian Goldner said in a statement. Hasbro also will own Saban’s My Pet Monster, Luna Petunia, Popples, Julius Jr. and other brands. The licensing pact for Power Rangers was to take effect in April 2019 as Hasbro succeeded Bandai, which has held the toy license since its 1993 U.S. debut.

Goldner is extremely familiar with Power Rangers, having been CEO of Bandai Namco North America for three years in the late 1990’s. (Haim Saban is said to have played a role in Goldner joining Bandai in the first place.)

The sale of the entertainment properties leaves Saban Brands with only its Lifestyles Brands Group, which was formed separately from the entertainment division in 2014. It includes the Paul Frank, MacBeth Footwear, and the Mambo and Piping Hot surfwear brands.

Contact:

Hasbro, Deborah Thomas, Chief Financial Officer, deborah.thomas@hasbro.com