Thursday July 20, 8:00 am Eastern Time

### Company Press Release

## Hasbro Reports Second Quarter Results

### Cautious Outlook for Second Half

PAWTUCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 20, 2000--Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS - news) today reported second quarter results which were consistent with expectations.

Worldwide net revenues were $778.4 million compared to $874.6 million a year ago. This approximately 11% decrease primarily reflects the anticipated decline from last year's exceptionally strong STAR WARS and FURBY shipments plus foreign currency translation. The stronger U.S. dollar reduced reported revenues by approximately $17 million, or 2%. Net earnings and diluted earnings per share were $6.5 million and $0.04, respectively, compared to $32.3 million and $0.16, respectively, a year ago. Reported earnings include spending of approximately $5 million pre-tax ($3 million after-tax), or a loss of approximately $0.02 per share in this quarter, attributable to GAMES.COM, the Company's Internet games initiative. The Company also reported second quarter Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) of $95.2 million compared to $118.3 million in the second quarter of 1999.

For the first half, worldwide net revenues were $1.552 billion compared to $1.543 billion a year ago. Net earnings and diluted earnings per share in the first half were $21.6 million and $0.12, respectively, compared to $46.1 million and $0.22 last year. First-half EBITDA was $190.6 million compared to $194.1 million last year.

``We feel good about our performance this quarter,'' said Alan G. Hassenfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. ``Our international business is strong, with revenues from international customers up 57% in local currencies and 50% in U.S. dollars. Core brands that performed especially well worldwide this quarter were PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY and family board games. We benefited from significantly higher worldwide shipments of POKEMON toys and games, plus other trading card games. POO-CHI, our interactive electronic puppy, is the number one selling item in the ''What's Hot`` survey of TV-promoted toys and games. However, as expected, these positives were not sufficient to offset the anticipated fall-off in STAR WARS and FURBY,'' Hassenfeld noted.

The Company invested approximately $4 million during the second quarter to repurchase approximately 250,000 Hasbro shares, which brings the total investment this year to approximately $367 million for approximately 21.4 million shares.

Revenues and pre-tax operating results increased in two of the Company's three major business segments. The Games increase is primarily due to POKEMON and other trading card and role-playing games from Wizards of the Coast, acquired in September 1999, plus traditional board games. International segment revenues were unchanged in U.S. dollars but increased in local currencies, driven primarily by POKEMON toys and games, as well as other board games and TWEENIES preschool toys. In the U.S. Toys segment, higher POKEMON revenues did not fully offset lower STAR WARS revenues.

Significant progress was made during the second quarter with GAMES.COM. ``We made several key hires and are leveraging our development efforts with a combination of internal resources and best-in-class partners. We are on track for a soft launch of GAMES.COM in September,'' Hassenfeld explained.

``Although our first-half performance met expectations, we face several challenges which could negatively impact our second half,'' Hassenfeld noted. ``POKEMON is softening in the U.S. However, the release of the second movie this week - with six new GOLD and SILVER characters, plus 40 new television episodes beginning in September, Nintendo's launch of GOLD and SILVER in October, and new products may help rekindle excitement consistent with the product life cycle in Japan. While we do not expect to begin shipping GOLD and SILVER product until late this year, we do plan to ship several other exciting new POKEMON items including ACTION COMBAT FIGURES, the THINK CHIP BATTLE STADIUM and THINK CHIP figures.''

``There are also several external factors which could impact us,'' Hassenfeld continued, ``including a worldwide shortage of electronic components. Since our new product introductions are concentrated in the second half, this shortage could impact our ability to meet customer demand. Other external challenges include continued high oil prices that impact resin and transportation costs, continuing softness in the interactive entertainment business, the relative strength of the U.S. dollar and the overall lackluster retailing environment.''

``We still look forward to introducing many new products, especially in the all-important fourth quarter,'' Hassenfeld added. ``We are excited about the U.S. debut of ACTION MAN, MY REAL BABY, HARRY POTTER'S BERTIE BOTT'S EVERY FLAVORED BEANS, several interactive games, plus new interactive pets and lifestyle products from Tiger Electronics including SUPER POO-CHI, SHELBY, HIT CLIPS and LIGHTNING MAIL,'' Hassenfeld concluded.

The Company will webcast its second quarter earnings conference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time today. Investors and the media are invited to listen at http://www.hasbro.com (select ``Investors & Media'' from the home page, then click on the webcast icon).

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, KENNER, TONKA, ODDZON, SUPER SOAKER, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, HASBRO INTERACTIVE, MICROPROSE, GALOOB 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 in a competitive product environment; economic conditions, 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; 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 Consolidation 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.

    HASBRO, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

                              Quarter Ended            Six Months Ended
                             July 2,    June 27,      July 2,    June 27,
    (Thousands of Dollars      2000        1999         2000        1999
     and Shares Except
     Per Share Data)

    Net Revenues         $  778,373   $ 874,574 $ 1,551,854  $ 1,542,972
    Cost of Sales           298,043     345,026     598,344      601,543

    Gross Profit            480,330     529,548     953,510      941,429
    Amortization             31,928      31,918      64,784       57,844
    Royalties, Research
     and Development        135,150     179,776     261,189      291,718
    Advertising              77,732     101,274     147,091      182,358
    Selling, Distribution
     and Administration     198,974     158,368     403,710      321,649

    Operating Profit         36,546      58,212      76,736       87,860
    Interest Expense         28,198      13,625      49,641       25,598
    Other (Income)
     Expense, Net            (1,073)     (2,209)     (4,249)      (4,527)

    Earnings Before
     Income Taxes             9,421      46,796      31,344       66,789
    Income Taxes              2,921      14,507       9,717       20,705

    Net Earnings         $    6,500   $  32,289  $   21,627  $    46,084

    Per Common Share
     Net Earnings
      Basic              $      .04   $     .17  $      .12  $       .24

      Diluted            $      .04   $     .16  $      .12  $       .22

      Cash Dividends
       Declared          $      .06   $     .06  $      .12  $       .12

    Weighted Average
     Number of Shares
      Basic                 171,621     195,330     180,925      195,614

      Diluted               172,739     207,052     181,872      205,836

    HASBRO, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                      July 2,    June 27,
    (Thousands of Dollars)                              2000        1999

             ASSETS

    Cash and Temporary Investments                $  188,545 $    97,765
    Accounts Receivable, Net                         573,869     843,580
    Inventories                                      508,160     433,460
    Other                                            456,279     586,115

    Total Current Assets                           1,726,853   1,960,920
    Property, Plant and Equipment, Net               320,176     308,420
    Other Assets                                   1,968,187   1,631,797

    Total Assets                                  $4,015,216 $ 3,901,137

             LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Short-term Borrowings                         $  363,375 $   823,202
    Payables and Accrued Liabilities                 881,204     786,176

    Total Current Liabilities                      1,244,579   1,609,378
    Long-term Debt                                 1,168,959     409,937
    Deferred Liabilities                              99,857      77,700

    Total Liabilities                              2,513,395   2,097,015

    Total Shareholders' Equity                     1,501,821   1,804,122

    Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity    $4,015,216 $ 3,901,137

Contact:

         Hasbro, Inc.
         Alfred J. Verrecchia (Investor Relations)
         401-727-5100
             or
         Renita E. O'Connell (Investor Relations)
         401-727-5401
             or
         Wayne S. Charness (News Media)
         401-727-5983

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