Hasbro 2011 Annual Report Download - page 10

From time to time, including in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our annual report to shareholders,
we publish “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These “forward-looking statements” may relate to such matters as our anticipated financial performance or
business prospects in future periods, expected technological and product developments, the expected content of
and timing for new product introductions or our expectations concerning the future acceptance of products by
customers, the content and timing of planned entertainment releases including motion pictures and television;
and marketing and promotional efforts, research and development activities, liquidity, and similar matters.
Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. The Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified
by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,”
“looking forward,” “may,” “planned,” “potential,” “should,” “will” and “would” or any variations of words with
similar meanings. We note that a variety of factors could cause our actual results and experience to differ
materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed or anticipated in our forward-looking
statements. The factors listed below are illustrative and other risks and uncertainties may arise as are or may be
detailed from time to time in our public announcements and our filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such as on Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K. We undertake no obligation to make any revisions to the
forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in our annual report to
shareholders to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of the filing of this report. Unless
otherwise specifically indicated, all dollar or share amounts herein are expressed in thousands of dollars or
shares, except for per share amounts.
PART I
Item 1. Business.
General Development and Description of Business and Business Segments
Except as expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, as used herein, “Hasbro”, the
“Company”, “we”, or “us”, means Hasbro, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation organized on January 8, 1926, and its
subsidiaries. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, all dollar or share amounts herein are expressed in
thousands of dollars or shares, except for per share amounts.
Overview
We are a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time products with a broad portfolio of brands
and entertainment properties. As a branded play, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro applies its brand
blueprint to all of its operations. At the center of its brand blueprint, Hasbro re-imagines, re-invents, and
re-ignites its owned and controlled brands through toy and game innovation, entertainment offerings, including
television programming and motion pictures, and licensed products, ranging from traditional to high-tech and
digital, under well-known brand names such as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, NERF, LITTLEST PET
SHOP, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, CRANIUM and
WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Hasbro also seeks to imagine, invent and ignite new properties offering engaging
branded play experiences. In addition to product offerings under Hasbro-owned brands or brands which if not
entirely owned are broadly controlled by the Company, offerings may include products branded and developed
under licensing arrangements with third parties, such as BEYBLADE, MARVEL, SESAME STREET and STAR
WARS product offerings. The Company’s innovative product offerings encompass a broad variety of toys
including boys’ action figures, vehicles and playsets, girls’ toys, electronic toys, plush products, preschool toys
and infant products, electronic interactive products, creative play and toy-related specialty products. Games
offerings include board, card, electronic, trading card, role-playing and DVD games. In addition, in order to
further expand our brands, we license certain of our trademarks, characters and other property rights to third
parties for use in connection with digital gaming, consumer promotions, and for the sale of non-competing toys
and games and non-toy products. We also seek to expand awareness of our brands through entertainment,
including television and movies. Hasbro Studios, our wholly-owned production studio, produces television
programming primarily based on our brands and distributes such programming globally. Hasbro Studios
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