Hasbro Acquires Wizards of the Coast, Inc

Business Wire, Sept 30, 1999

PAWTUCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 1999--

Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) announced today that it has successfully completed the previously announced acquisition of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., the world's largest publisher of hobby games and a leading publisher of fantasy and science fiction literature.

Privately-held Wizards of the Coast was founded in 1990 by Peter D. Adkison, President and CEO, and is best known for MAGIC: THE GATHERING, the world's all-time best-selling trading card game. Other well-known products include the popular POKEMON trading card game, currently the number-one game in the U.S., and the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS roleplaying games. Peter Adkison and his senior management team will continue to run Wizards of the Coast, which will remain based just outside of Seattle, WA.

Hasbro is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys, games, interactive software, puzzles and infant products. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, KENNER, TONKA, ODDZON, SUPER SOAKER, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, HASBRO INTERACTIVE, and GALOOB products provide children and families with the highest quality and most recognizable toys and games in the world.

Wizards of the Coast, Inc., the worldwide market share leader in the trading card game and tabletop roleplaying game categories, is a leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products as well as the owner and operator of one of the nation's largest specialty game retail chains. The company holds an exclusive patent on the play mechanic of trading card games (TCGs) and produces the world's best-selling POKEMON(1) and MAGIC: THE GATHERING TCGs. Publisher of adventure games such as the classic DUNGEONS & DRAGONS games, family card and board games and electronic media products, Wizards of the Coast is also one of the world's leading fantasy and science fiction book publishers. The company has retail locations that provide game-play areas. Headquartered near Seattle, Washington, Wizards of the Coast has international offices in Antwerp, Paris, Milan, London and Beijing. For more information on Wizards of the Coast, visit the company's website and electronic retail store at www.wizards.com.

(1) (c)1995, 1996 and 1998 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK. Pokemon and Game Boy are trademarks of Nintendo.