Hasbro’s eOne takeover called in

Entertainment One’s Peppa Pig

US toy giant Hasbro’s proposed acquisition of Canadian prodco Entertainment One (eOne) will be investigated by UK regulator the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA).

Hasbro revealed plans to buy Peppa Pig creator eOne in August for US$4bn and now the CMA has said it will examine whether the merger would cause a “substantial lessening of competition” in the UK.

The investigation begins today and will run until December 5. The CMA will reveal on January 21 its decision on whether or not the investigation will be extended into a phase 2 enquiry.

The combined entity will have offices in London, Los Angeles, Toronto, New York, Hong Kong, Melbourne and Shanghai. eOne’s Canadian TV and film operations will also remain as a separate Canadian-controlled subsidiary within the combined business. Included in the deal are eOne’s TV production assets such as Whizz Kid Entertainment, Renegade 83 and Daisybeck Studios.