10-Q 1 maindocument001.htm QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

_________________

FORM 10-Q

______________

(Mark One)

[x] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 1-6682

_______________

HASBRO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Rhode Island | 05-0155090
(State of Incorporation) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1027 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02861
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)
(401) 431-8697
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [x] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [x] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer [x] | Accelerated filer [ ]
Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) [ ] | Smaller reporting Company [ ]

Emerging growth Company [ ]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [x]

The number of shares of Common Stock, par value $.50 per share, outstanding as of October 22, 2018 was 126,507,478.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| HASBRO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
| Consolidated Balance Sheets
| (Thousands of Dollars Except Share Data)
| (Unaudited)
|  |  |  | September 30, |  | October 1, |  | December 31,
|  |  |  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2017
ASSETS |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 907,107 |  |  | 1,244,778 |  |  | 1,581,234
| Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $96,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | $33,900 and $31,400 |  | 1,391,242 |  |  | 1,655,752 |  |  | 1,405,399
| Inventories |  | 610,918 |  |  | 629,120 |  |  | 433,293
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets |  | 283,183 |  |  | 232,590 |  |  | 214,000
|  |  | Total current assets |  | 3,192,450 |  |  | 3,762,240 |  |  | 3,633,926
Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation of $452,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | $417,000 and $422,100 |  | 255,150 |  |  | 263,862 |  |  | 259,710
Other assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Goodwill |  | 572,387 |  |  | 572,762 |  |  | 573,063
| Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $924,700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | $898,300 and $904,900 |  | 732,235 |  |  | 223,695 |  |  | 217,382
| Other |  | 743,107 |  |  | 722,089 |  |  | 605,902
|  | Total other assets |  | 2,047,729 |  |  | 1,518,546 |  |  | 1,396,347
|  | Total assets | $ | 5,495,329 |  |  | 5,544,648 |  |  | 5,289,983
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Short-term borrowings | $ | 20,307 |  |  | 189,012 |  |  | 154,957
| Accounts payable |  | 458,808 |  |  | 525,852 |  |  | 348,476
| Accrued liabilities |  | 842,808 |  |  | 769,893 |  |  | 748,264
|  | Total current liabilities |  | 1,321,923 |  |  | 1,484,757 |  |  | 1,251,697
Long-term debt |  | 1,694,721 |  |  | 1,693,261 |  |  | 1,693,609
Other liabilities |  | 591,404 |  |  | 410,378 |  |  | 514,720
|  | Total liabilities |  | 3,608,048 |  |  | 3,588,396 |  |  | 3,460,026
Shareholders' equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Preference stock of $2.50 par value. Authorized 5,000,000 shares; none |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | issued |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | -
| Common stock of $0.50 par value. Authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | 209,694,630 at September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017, |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | and December 31, 2017 |  | 104,847 |  |  | 104,847 |  |  | 104,847
| Additional paid-in capital |  | 1,282,405 |  |  | 1,043,981 |  |  | 1,050,605
| Retained earnings |  | 4,254,919 |  |  | 4,336,420 |  |  | 4,260,222
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss |  | (296,738) |  |  | (234,792) |  |  | (239,425)
| Treasury stock, at cost; 82,979,119 shares at September 30, 2018; 85,139,302 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | shares at October 1, 2017; and 85,244,923 shares at December 31, 2017 |  | (3,458,152) |  |  | (3,294,204) |  |  | (3,346,292)
|  | Total shareholders' equity |  | 1,887,281 |  |  | 1,956,252 |  |  | 1,829,957
|  | Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 5,495,329 |  |  | 5,544,648 |  |  | 5,289,983
See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

|  | HASBRO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|  | Consolidated Statements of Operations
|  | (Thousands of Dollars Except Per Share Data)
|  | (Unaudited)
|  |  |  | Quarter Ended |  | Nine Months Ended
|  |  |  | September 30, |  | October 1, |  | September 30, |  | October 1,
|  |  |  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Net revenues |  | $ | 1,569,686 |  |  | 1,791,502 |  |  | 3,190,485 |  |  | 3,613,671
Costs and expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cost of sales |  |  | 655,597 |  |  | 730,656 |  |  | 1,249,090 |  |  | 1,404,971
| Royalties |  |  | 105,265 |  |  | 139,222 |  |  | 240,962 |  |  | 282,754
| Product development |  |  | 65,807 |  |  | 67,386 |  |  | 183,050 |  |  | 192,765
| Advertising |  |  | 134,384 |  |  | 168,926 |  |  | 290,001 |  |  | 342,236
| Amortization of intangibles |  |  | 8,841 |  |  | 6,492 |  |  | 19,873 |  |  | 22,254
| Program production cost amortization |  |  | 14,088 |  |  | 5,394 |  |  | 33,419 |  |  | 16,152
| Selling, distribution and administration |  |  | 272,368 |  |  | 312,482 |  |  | 853,585 |  |  | 813,268
|  | Total costs and expenses |  |  | 1,256,350 |  |  | 1,430,558 |  |  | 2,869,980 |  |  | 3,074,400
Operating profit |  |  | 313,336 |  |  | 360,944 |  |  | 320,505 |  |  | 539,271
Non-operating (income) expense: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Interest expense |  |  | 22,779 |  |  | 25,072 |  |  | 68,391 |  |  | 73,752
| Interest income |  |  | (4,671) |  |  | (5,362) |  |  | (17,227) |  |  | (16,042)
| Other income, net |  |  | (566) |  |  | (8,607) |  |  | (6,189) |  |  | (26,003)
|  | Total non-operating expense, net |  |  | 17,542 |  |  | 11,103 |  |  | 44,975 |  |  | 31,707
Earnings before income taxes |  |  | 295,794 |  |  | 349,841 |  |  | 275,530 |  |  | 507,564
Income tax expense |  |  | 31,933 |  |  | 84,258 |  |  | 63,862 |  |  | 105,659
Net earnings |  | $ | 263,861 |  |  | 265,583 |  |  | 211,668 |  |  | 401,905
Net earnings per common share |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Basic |  | $ | 2.08 |  |  | 2.12 |  |  | 1.68 |  |  | 3.21
| Diluted |  | $ | 2.06 |  |  | 2.09 |  |  | 1.67 |  |  | 3.16
Cash dividends declared per common share |  | $ | 0.63 |  |  | 0.57 |  |  | 1.89 |  |  | 1.71
See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

|  | HASBRO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|  | Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings
|  | (Thousands of Dollars)
|  | (Unaudited)
|  |  |  | Quarter Ended |  | Nine Months Ended
|  |  |  | September 30, |  | October 1, |  | September 30, |  | October 1,
|  |  |  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Net earnings |  | $ | 263,861 |  |  | 265,583 |  |  | 211,668 |  |  | 401,905
Other comprehensive earnings (loss): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments |  |  | (6,762) |  |  | 13,142 |  |  | (44,560) |  |  | 41,954
| Unrealized holding losses on available |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | -for-sale securities, net of tax |  |  | (617) |  |  | (784) |  |  | (673) |  |  | (555)
| Net gains (losses) on cash flow hedging activities, |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | net of tax |  |  | 5,323 |  |  | (26,532) |  |  | 23,765 |  |  | (83,729)
|  | Changes in unrecognized pension amounts, net of tax |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | (26,058) |  |  | -
| Reclassifications to earnings, net of tax: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Net (gains) losses on cash flow hedging activities |  |  | (1,672) |  |  | 4,547 |  |  | 5,318 |  |  | (2,237)
|  | Amortization of unrecognized pension and |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | and postretirement amounts |  |  | 2,066 |  |  | 1,448 |  |  | 6,398 |  |  | 4,345
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax |  |  | (1,662) |  |  | (8,179) |  |  | (35,810) |  |  | (40,222)
Comprehensive earnings |  | $ | 262,199 |  |  | 257,404 |  |  | 175,858 |  |  | 361,683
|  | See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

| HASBRO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
| (Thousands of Dollars)
| (Unaudited)
|  |  |  |  | Nine Months Ended
|  |  |  |  | September 30, |  | October 1,
|  |  |  |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |  |  |  |
| Net earnings |  | $ | 211,668 |  |  | 401,905
| Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Depreciation of plant and equipment |  |  | 104,915 |  |  | 107,853
|  | Amortization of intangibles |  |  | 19,873 |  |  | 22,254
|  | Program production cost amortization |  |  | 33,419 |  |  | 16,152
|  | Deferred income taxes |  |  | (7,189) |  |  | 17,797
|  | Stock-based compensation |  |  | 35,823 |  |  | 37,390
|  | Other non-cash items |  |  | (12,124) |  |  | (16,033)
Change in operating assets and liabilities net of acquired balances: |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Increase in accounts receivable |  |  | (9,252) |  |  | (300,693)
|  | Increase in inventories |  |  | (197,253) |  |  | (222,546)
|  | Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets |  |  | (52,005) |  |  | (4,437)
|  | Program production costs |  |  | (95,724) |  |  | (25,309)
|  | Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities |  |  | 124,755 |  |  | 137,518
|  | Changes in net deemed repatriation tax |  |  | 18,074 |  |  | -
|  | Other |  |  | (234) |  |  | 29,945
|  |  | Net cash provided by operating activities |  |  | 174,746 |  |  | 201,796
Cash flows from investing activities: |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Additions to property, plant and equipment |  |  | (104,015) |  |  | (102,512)
|  | Acquisitions |  |  | (155,451) |  |  | -
|  | Other |  |  | 8,587 |  |  | 5,516
|  |  | Net cash utilized by investing activities |  |  | (250,879) |  |  | (96,996)
Cash flows from financing activities: |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Proceeds of borrowings with maturity greater than three months |  |  | - |  |  | 493,878
|  | Repayments of borrowings with maturity greater than three months |  |  | - |  |  | (350,000)
|  | Net (repayments of) proceeds from other short-term borrowings |  |  | (131,629) |  |  | 15,663
|  | Purchases of common stock |  |  | (187,850) |  |  | (112,241)
|  | Stock-based compensation transactions |  |  | 28,827 |  |  | 29,432
|  | Dividends paid |  |  | (229,562) |  |  | (206,012)
|  | Payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation |  |  | (58,336) |  |  | (31,973)
|  |  | Net cash utilized by financing activities |  |  | (578,550) |  |  | (161,253)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |  |  | (19,444) |  |  | 18,946
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents |  |  | (674,127) |  |  | (37,507)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |  |  | 1,581,234 |  |  | 1,282,285
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |  | $ | 907,107 |  |  | 1,244,778
Supplemental information |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cash paid during the period for: |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Interest |  | $ | 69,603 |  |  | 75,567
|  | Income taxes |  | $ | 87,704 |  |  | 86,441
See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements. |  |  |  |  |  |

HASBRO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Thousands of Dollars and Shares Except Per Share Data)

(Unaudited)

(1) Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contain all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position of Hasbro, Inc. and all majority-owned subsidiaries ("Hasbro" or the "Company") as of September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and notes thereto. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The quarters ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017 were each 13-week periods. The nine-month period ended September 30, 2018 was a 39-week period while the nine-month period ended October 1, 2017 was a 40-week period.

The results of operations for the quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year, nor were those of the comparable 2017 periods representative of those actually experienced for the full year 2017. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current period presentation.

These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and disclosures normally included in the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The Company filed audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 in its Annual Report on Form 10-K (“2017 Form 10-K”), which includes all such information and disclosures and, accordingly, should be read in conjunction with the financial information included herein.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

The Company's accounting policies are the same as those described in Note 1 to the Company's consolidated financial statements in its 2017 Form 10-K with the exception of the accounting policies related to revenue recognition, reclassification of disproportionate tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) caused by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost and Business Combinations, Clarifying the Definition of a Business.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606 or the “New Revenue Standard”) using the modified retrospective method. ASC 606 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605 – Revenue Recognition and most industry-specific guidance in U.S. GAAP. The New Revenue Standard provides a five-step model for analyzing contracts and transactions to determine when, how, and if revenue is recognized. Revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The cumulative impact of the adoption of the New Revenue Standard was not material to the Company therefore the Company did not record any adjustments to retained earnings. This was determined by analyzing contracts not completed as of January 1, 2018. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. For further details, see Note 2.

Revenue recognition from the sale of finished product to customers, which is the majority of the Company’s revenues, did not change under the new standard and the Company does not expect material changes in the future as a result of the New Revenue Standard related to the sale of finished product to its customers. Within the Company’s Entertainment and Licensing segment, the timing of revenue recognition for minimum guarantees that the Company receives from licensees is impacted by the New Revenue Standard. Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, for licenses of the Company’s brands that are subject to minimum guaranteed license fees, the Company recognized the difference between the minimum guaranteed amount and the actual royalties earned from licensee merchandise sales (“shortfalls”) at the end of the contract period, which was in the fourth quarter for most of the Company’s licensee arrangements. In periods following January 1, 2018, minimum guaranteed amounts will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the license period. While the impact of this change will not be material to the year, it will impact the timing of revenue recognition within the Company’s Entertainment and Licensing segment such that under ASC 606, less revenues will be recorded in the fourth quarter and more revenues will be recorded within the first, second, and third quarters. No other areas of the Company’s business were materially impacted by the New Revenue Standard.

In January 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-01(“ASU 2017-01”), Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The standard clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of providing guidance when evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. For public companies, this standard was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. For further details, see Note 3.

In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02 (“ASU 2018-02”), Income Statement -Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The standard provides for a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive earnings (“AOCE”) to retained earnings, of disproportionate income tax effects arising from the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. For public companies, this standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2018-02 in the first quarter of 2018. The impact of the adoption resulted in a one-time reclassification in the amount of $21,503 from AOCE with a corresponding credit to retained earnings.

In March 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-07 (ASU 2017-07), Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The standard requires companies to present the service cost component of net benefit cost in the income statement line items where they report compensation cost. Companies will present all other components of net benefit cost outside operating income, if this subtotal is presented. For public companies, this standard was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption was permitted. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2018 and the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s results or consolidated financial statements in the quarter or nine-months ended September 30, 2018.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (ASC 230) – Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice across all industries, in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 was effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted this standard in 2018 and the adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company’s statement of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-16 (ASU 2016-16), Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. For public companies, this standard was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted. The standard requires that the income tax impact of intra-entity sales and transfers of property, except for inventory, be recognized when the transfer occurs requiring any deferred taxes not yet recognized on intra-entity transfers to be recorded to retained earnings. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2018 and the adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s results or consolidated financial statements.

(2) Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods is transferred to the customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for transferring those goods. The Company accounts for a contract when it has approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified, payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance, and collectability of consideration is probable.

Toy and Games

The majority of the Company’s revenues are derived from sales of finished products to customers. Revenues from sales of finished products to customers accounted for 92% and 95% of the Company’s revenues for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017, respectively. When determining whether control of the finished products has transferred to the customer, the Company considers any future performance obligations. Generally, the Company has no post-shipment obligation on sales of finished products to customers and revenues from product sales are recognized upon passing of title to the customer, which is generally at the time of shipment. Any shipping and handling activities that are performed by the Company, whether before or after a customer has obtained control of the products, are considered activities to fulfill our obligation to transfer the products, and are recorded as incurred within selling, distribution, and administration expenses. For the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017 these costs were approximately $55,029 and $57,725, respectively, and for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017, these costs were approximately $138,916 and $131,809, respectively. The Company offers various discounts, rebates, allowances, returns, and markdowns to its customers, (collectively, “allowances”), all of which are considered when determining the transaction price. Certain allowances are fixed and determinable at the time of sale and are recorded at the time of sale as a reduction to revenues. Other allowances can vary depending on future outcomes such as customer sales volume (“variable consideration”). The Company estimates the amount of variable consideration using the expected value method. In estimating the amount of variable consideration using the expected value method, the Company considers various factors including but not limited to: customer terms, historical experience, any expected deviations from historical experience, and existing or expected market conditions. The Company then records an estimate of variable consideration as a reduction to revenues at the time of sale. The Company adjusts its estimate of variable consideration at least quarterly or when facts and circumstances used in the estimation process may change. Historically, adjustments to estimated variable consideration have not been material.

Entertainment and Licensing

Revenues within the Company’s Entertainment and Licensing segment, which accounted for 6% and 5% of the Company’s revenues for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017, respectively, are recorded either over a period of time or at a point in time. The Company enters into contracts to license its intellectual property, which consists of its brands, in various channels including but not limited to: consumer products such as apparel or home goods, within formats such as on-line games, within venues such as theme parks, or within formats such as motion picture films. The licensees pay the Company either a sales-based or usage-based royalty, or a combination of both, for use of the brands, in some cases subject to minimum guaranteed amounts or fixed fees. The license of the Company’s brands provide access to the intellectual property over the term of the license, generally without any other performance obligation of the Company other than keeping the intellectual property active, and is therefore considered a right-to-access license of symbolic intellectual property. The Company records sales-based or usage-based royalty revenues for right-to-access licenses at the occurrence of the licensees’ subsequent sale or usage. When the arrangement includes a minimum guarantee, the Company records the minimum guarantee on a ratable basis over the term of the license period and does not record the sales-based or usage-based royalty revenues until they exceed the minimum guarantee. The Company also produces television or streaming programming for licensing to third parties. The licensees typically pay a fixed fee for the license of the produced content. The content that the Company delivers to its licensees has stand-alone functionality, generally without any other performance obligation of the Company, and is therefore considered a right-to-use license of functional intellectual property. The Company records revenues for right-to-use licenses once the license period has commenced and the licensee has the ability to use the delivered content. In arrangements where the licensee pays the Company a fixed fee for multiple seasons or multiple series of programming, arrangement fees are recorded as revenues based upon their relative fair values. As of September 30, 2018, the Company did not have any material future performance commitments for film streaming or television orders that have not yet been delivered. The Company also develops application based digital games featuring its brands within the games. These games are hosted by third-party platform providers. The Company does not charge a fee to the end users for the download of the games or the ability to play the games. The end users make in-application purchases of digital currencies, via the Company’s platform providers, with such purchased digital currencies to be used in the games. The Company records revenues from in-application purchases based on the usage patterns of the players. For the majority of the Company’s digital games, players use their currencies in the month of purchase, and therefore revenues are recorded at the time of sale. The Company has no additional performance obligations other than delivery of the currency via its platform providers. The Company controls all aspects of the goods delivered to the consumer. The third-party platform providers are providing only the service of hosting and administering receipt from the end users. The Company is the principal in the arrangement and records the gross revenues within Net Revenues in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The fee charged by the third-party platform providers to the Company are recorded within cost of sales.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

A contract asset is defined as an entity's right to consideration for goods or services that the entity has transferred to a customer. A contract liability is defined to occur if the customer's payment of consideration precedes the entity's performance and represents the entity's obligation to transfer goods or services to a customer for which the entity has received consideration. The Company occasionally will require payment from customers for finished product in advance of the customer receiving control of the finished product. In these situations, the Company defers revenue on the advanced payment until the customer has control of the finished product, generally within the next month. Within our Entertainment and Licensing segment, the Company may receive royalty payments from licensees in advance of the licensees’ subsequent sales to their customers, or in advance of the Company’s performance obligation being satisfied. The Company defers revenues on these advanced payments until its performance obligation is satisfied. The aggregate deferred revenues are recorded as liabilities and were $43,653, and $10,261 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and the changes in deferred revenues are not material to the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the nine-months ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017. The Company records contract assets in the case of minimum guarantees that are being recognized ratably over the term of the respective license periods. At September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017, these contract assets were not material to the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company’s accounts receivable on the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 are primarily from contracts with customers. In the nine-months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded a bad debt charge of $59,115 related to a significant customer. In the quarter ended October 1, 2017, the Company recorded a bad debt charge of $18,000 related to a significant customer. The Company had no other material bad debt expense in the nine-month period ended October 1, 2017 or the quarter ended on September 30, 2018.

Disaggregation of revenues

The Company disaggregates its revenues from contracts with customers by segment: US and Canada, International, Entertainment and Licensing, and Global Operations. The Company further disaggregates revenues within its International segment by major geographic region: Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. Finally, the Company disaggregates its revenues by brand portfolio into four brand categories: Franchise brands, Partner brands, Hasbro gaming, and Emerging brands. We believe these collectively depict how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. See Note 11, Segment Reporting, for further information.

(3) Asset Acquisition

On June 12, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Saban Properties’ Power Rangers and other Entertainment Assets. The Company accounted for the acquisition as an asset acquisition based on the guidance in ASU 2017-01, which uses the cost accumulation and allocation method. As such, the Company included acquisition costs in its calculation of the purchase price to be allocated to the assets acquired.

The total purchase price for the assets was $535,850, consisting of the following:

Cash Consideration: |
To seller (1) | $ | 152,000
Held in escrow (2) |  | 25,000
Market value of stock issued to seller (3) |  | 280,397
Deferred purchase price due in January 2019 (4) |  | 75,000
|  | 532,397
Acquisition costs |  | 1,973
Other adjustment |  | 1,480
Total Purchase Price to be allocated | $ | 535,850

1. The Company previously paid Saban Brands $22,250 for the Power Rangers master toy license agreement announced in February 2018 and those amounts were credited to, and included above, in the purchase price.

2. The $25,000 was placed into an escrow account to support customary indemnification obligations of Saban Properties, and is considered restricted cash within cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet with an offsetting liability included in other current liabilities. One-half of the $25,000 in escrow is scheduled to be released on January 3, 2019, and the remaining half to be released on the one-year anniversary of the closing date, less any claim amounts deducted from the escrow prior to those dates.

3. The Company issued 3,074,190 shares of Hasbro common stock to Saban Properties, valued at $280,397.

4. An additional $75,000 will be paid in January 2019 with no contingencies.

The total purchase price was allocated on a relative fair value basis as follows:

• $534,370 was recorded as an intangible asset – Power Rangers IP rights, which will be amortized over a period of 25 years;

• $7,884 as current assets;

• $325 as capitalized production costs; and

• $6,729 as other current liabilities.

(4) Earnings Per Share

Net earnings per share data for the quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017 were computed as follows:

| 2018 |  | 2017
Quarter | Basic |  | Diluted |  | Basic |  | Diluted
Net earnings | $ | 263,861 |  |  | 263,861 |  |  | 265,583 |  |  | 265,583
Average shares outstanding |  | 127,161 |  |  | 127,161 |  |  | 125,170 |  |  | 125,170
Effect of dilutive securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Options and other share-based awards |  | - |  |  | 731 |  |  | - |  |  | 1,980
Equivalent Shares |  | 127,161 |  |  | 127,892 |  |  | 125,170 |  |  | 127,150
Net earnings per common share | $ | 2.08 |  |  | 2.06 |  |  | 2.12 |  |  | 2.09

| 2018 |  | 2017
Nine Months | Basic |  | Diluted |  | Basic |  | Diluted
Net earnings | $ | 211,668 |  |  | 211,668 |  |  | 401,905 |  |  | 401,905
Average shares outstanding |  | 125,982 |  |  | 125,982 |  |  | 125,204 |  |  | 125,204
Effect of dilutive securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Options and other share-based awards |  | - |  |  | 792 |  |  | - |  |  | 2,044
Equivalent Shares |  | 125,982 |  |  | 126,774 |  |  | 125,204 |  |  | 127,248
Net earnings per common share | $ | 1.68 |  |  | 1.67 |  |  | 3.21 |  |  | 3.16

For the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017, options and restricted stock units totaling 949 and 450, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because to include them would have been antidilutive. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017, options and restricted stock units totaling 1,124 and 514, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because to include them would have been antidilutive.

(5) Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss)

Components of other comprehensive earnings (loss) are presented within the consolidated statements of comprehensive earnings (loss). The following table presents the related tax effects on changes in other comprehensive earnings (loss) for the quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

|  | Quarter Ended |  | Nine Months Ended
|  | September 30, |  | October 1, |  | September 30, |  | October 1,
|  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Other comprehensive earnings (loss), tax effect: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax benefit on unrealized holding losses | $ | 179 |  |  | 445 |  |  | 195 |  |  | 315
Tax (expense) benefit on cash flow hedging activities |  | (73) |  |  | 1,700 |  |  | 238 |  |  | 5,936
Tax benefit on changes in unrecognized pension amounts |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | 7,565 |  |  | -
Reclassifications to earnings, tax effect: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Tax expense (benefit) on cash flow hedging activities |  | 1,015 |  |  | (1,875) |  |  | 107 |  |  | (2,884)
| Tax benefit on unrecognized pension and |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| postretirement amounts reclassified to the |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| consolidated statements of operations |  | (600) |  |  | (822) |  |  | (1,857) |  |  | (2,466)
Total tax effect on other comprehensive earnings (loss) | $ | 521 |  |  | (552) |  |  | 6,248 |  |  | 901

Changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017 are as follows:

|  |  |  |  |  |  | Unrealized |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Holding |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Gains |  |  |  |  | Total
|  |  |  | Gains |  | (Losses) on |  | Foreign |  | Accumulated
| Pension and |  | (Losses) on |  | Available- |  | Currency |  | Other
| Postretirement |  | Derivative |  | for-Sale |  | Translation |  | Comprehensive
| Amounts |  | Instruments |  | Securities |  | Adjustments |  | Loss
2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | (110,971) |  |  | (32,827) |  |  | 1,034 |  |  | (96,661) |  |  | (239,425)
Adoption of ASU 2018-02 |  | (18,065) |  |  | (3,660) |  |  | 222 |  |  | - |  |  | (21,503)
Current period other comprehensive earnings (loss) |  | (19,660) |  |  | 29,083 |  |  | (673) |  |  | (44,560) |  |  | (35,810)
Balance at September 30, 2018 | $ | (148,696) |  |  | (7,404) |  |  | 583 |  |  | (141,221) |  |  | (296,738)
2017 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at December 25, 2016 | $ | (118,401) |  |  | 51,085 |  |  | 1,424 |  |  | (128,678) |  |  | (194,570)
Current period other comprehensive earnings (loss) |  | 4,345 |  |  | (85,966) |  |  | (555) |  |  | 41,954 |  |  | (40,222)
Balance at October 1, 2017 | $ | (114,056) |  |  | (34,881) |  |  | 869 |  |  | (86,724) |  |  | (234,792)

At September 30, 2018, the Company had remaining net deferred gains on foreign currency forward contracts, net of tax, of $12,255 in accumulated other comprehensive loss ("AOCE"). These instruments hedge payments related to inventory purchased in the third quarter of 2018 or forecasted to be purchased during the remainder of 2018 and, to a lesser extent, 2019 through 2022, intercompany expenses expected to be paid or received during 2018 and 2019, television and movie production costs paid in 2018 or expected to be paid in 2018 or 2019 and cash receipts for sales made at the end of the third quarter 2018 or forecasted to be made in the remainder of 2018 and, to a lesser extent, 2019 through 2020. These amounts will be reclassified into the consolidated statements of operations upon the sale of the related inventory or recognition of the related sales or expenses.

In addition to foreign currency forward contracts, the Company entered into hedging contracts on future interest payments related to the long-term notes due 2021 and 2044. At the date of debt issuance, these contracts were terminated and the fair value on the date of settlement was deferred in AOCE and is being amortized to interest expense over the life of the related notes using the effective interest rate method. At September 30, 2018, deferred losses, net of tax, of $19,659 related to these instruments remained in AOCE. For the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017, previously deferred losses of $450 were reclassified from AOCE to net earnings, respectively. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017, previously deferred losses of $1,349 and $1,384 were reclassified from AOCE to net earnings, respectively.

Of the amount included in AOCE at September 30, 2018, the Company expects net gains of approximately $10,898 to be reclassified to the consolidated statements of operations within the next 12 months. However, the amount ultimately realized in earnings is dependent on the fair value of the hedging instruments on the settlement dates.

(6) Financial Instruments

The Company's financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, short-term borrowings, accounts payable and certain accrued liabilities. At September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, the carrying cost of these instruments approximated their fair value. The Company's financial instruments at September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 also include certain assets and liabilities measured at fair value (see Notes 8 and 10) as well as long-term borrowings. The carrying costs, which are equal to the outstanding principal amounts, and fair values of the Company's long-term borrowings as of September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 are as follows:

| September 30, 2018 |  | October 1, 2017 |  | December 31, 2017
| Carrying |  | Fair |  | Carrying |  | Fair |  | Carrying |  | Fair
| Cost |  | Value |  | Cost |  | Value |  | Cost |  | Value
6.35% Notes Due 2040 | $ | 500,000 |  |  | 546,450 |  |  | 500,000 |  |  | 613,750 |  |  | 500,000 |  |  | 601,800
3.50% Notes Due 2027 |  | 500,000 |  |  | 466,350 |  |  | 500,000 |  |  | 496,850 |  |  | 500,000 |  |  | 488,300
5.10% Notes Due 2044 |  | 300,000 |  |  | 285,390 |  |  | 300,000 |  |  | 324,300 |  |  | 300,000 |  |  | 313,320
3.15% Notes Due 2021 |  | 300,000 |  |  | 297,720 |  |  | 300,000 |  |  | 306,840 |  |  | 300,000 |  |  | 302,640
6.60% Debentures Due 2028 |  | 109,895 |  |  | 124,698 |  |  | 109,895 |  |  | 132,830 |  |  | 109,895 |  |  | 131,390
Total long-term debt | $ | 1,709,895 |  |  | 1,720,608 |  |  | 1,709,895 |  |  | 1,874,570 |  |  | 1,709,895 |  |  | 1,837,450
Less: Deferred debt expenses |  | 15,174 |  |  | - |  |  | 16,634 |  |  | - |  |  | 16,286 |  |  | -
Long-term debt | $ | 1,694,721 |  |  | 1,720,608 |  |  | 1,693,261 |  |  | 1,874,570 |  |  | 1,693,609 |  |  | 1,837,450

The fair values of the Company's long-term debt are considered Level 3 fair values (see Note 8 for further discussion of the fair value hierarchy) and are measured using the discounted future cash flows method. In addition to the debt terms, the valuation methodology includes an assumption of a discount rate that approximates the current yield on a similar debt security. This assumption is considered an unobservable input in that it reflects the Company's own assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The Company believes that this is the best information available for use in the fair value measurement.

(7) Income Taxes

The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the United States and various state and international jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, the Company is regularly audited by U.S. federal, state and local, and international tax authorities in various tax jurisdictions.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). The Tax Act made broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code which impacted 2017 including, but not limited to, reducing the U.S. federal corporate tax rate and requiring a one-time tax on certain unrepatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries.

On December 22, 2017, Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) established a one-year measurement period to complete the accounting for the ASC 740 income tax effects of the Tax Act. An entity recognizes the impact of those amounts for which the accounting is complete. For matters that have not been completed, provisional amounts are recorded to the extent they can be reasonably estimated. For amounts for which a reasonable estimate cannot be determined, no adjustment is made until such estimate can be completed.

As a result, the Company recorded a one-time tax expense of $47,800 in the first quarter of 2018 which reversed certain discrete benefits recorded in 2017 as well as increased our provisional deemed repatriation tax liability. In the third quarter, the estimate was further revised based on additional guidance and a one-time tax benefit of $17,336 was recorded.

Prior to the enactment of the Tax Act, the Company previously considered the earnings in non-U.S. subsidiaries to be indefinitely reinvested and, accordingly, recorded no deferred income taxes. The Tax Act eliminates the deferral of U.S. income tax on these foreign earnings by imposing a one-time mandatory deemed repatriation tax and as a result, the Company now intends to repatriate substantially all of the accumulated foreign earnings. The Company still has significant cash needs outside the United States and we are currently analyzing our global working capital and cash requirements. However, tax reform gives the Company flexibility to manage cash globally. In 2017, the Company recorded $1,657 of non-US local country withholding taxes as part of the provisional repatriation tax amount, which will be incurred due to certain future cash distributions. In the third quarter, the Company recorded an additional $2,412 of net tax that reflects the state and local impact of proposed dividends from non-US subsidiaries to the parent Company. The Company will continue to record these additional tax effects, if any, in the period that the on-going distribution analysis is completed and is able to make reasonable estimates.

The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations for years before 2013. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. state or local and non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities in its major jurisdictions for years before 2012. The Company is currently under income tax examination in several U.S. state and local and non-U.S. jurisdictions.

(8) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company measures certain financial instruments at fair value. The fair value hierarchy consists of three levels: Level 1 fair values are based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity has the ability to access; Level 2 fair values are those based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; and Level 3 fair values are based on inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Accounting standards permit entities to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value and establish presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for similar assets and liabilities. The Company has elected the fair value option for certain available-for-sale investments. At September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, these investments totaled $24,201, $24,405 and $24,436, respectively, and are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company recorded net (losses) gains of $(10) and $96 on these investments in other (income) expense, net for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, related to the change in fair value of such instruments. For the quarter and nine-month periods ended October 1, 2017, the Company recorded net gains of $446 and $1,461, respectively, in other (income) expense, net, related to the change in fair value of such instruments.

At September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, the Company had the following assets and liabilities measured at fair value in its consolidated balance sheets (excluding assets for which the fair value is measured using net asset value per share):

| Fair Value Measurements Using:
|  |  |  | Quoted |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  | Prices in |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  | Active |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  | Markets |  | Significant |  |  |
|  |  |  | for |  | Other |  | Significant
|  |  |  | Identical |  | Observable |  | Unobservable
| Fair |  | Assets |  | Inputs |  | Inputs
| Value |  | (Level 1) |  | (Level 2) |  | (Level 3)
September 30, 2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale securities | $ | 2,346 |  |  | 2,346 |  |  | - |  |  | -
Derivatives |  | 20,079 |  |  | - |  |  | 20,079 |  |  | -
Total assets | $ | 22,425 |  |  | 2,346 |  |  | 20,079 |  |  | -
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivatives | $ | 2,113 |  |  | - |  |  | 2,113 |  |  | -
Option agreement |  | 23,460 |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | 23,460
Total liabilities | $ | 25,573 |  |  | - |  |  | 2,113 |  |  | 23,460
October 1, 2017 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale securities | $ | 2,866 |  |  | 2,866 |  |  | - |  |  | -
Derivatives |  | 11,975 |  |  | - |  |  | 11,975 |  |  | -
Total assets | $ | 14,841 |  |  | 2,866 |  |  | 11,975 |  |  | -
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivatives | $ | 22,671 |  |  | - |  |  | 22,671 |  |  | -
Option agreement |  | 28,510 |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | 28,510
Total liabilities | $ | 51,181 |  |  | - |  |  | 22,671 |  |  | 28,510
December 31, 2017 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale securities | $ | 3,126 |  |  | 3,126 |  |  | - |  |  | -
Derivatives |  | 12,226 |  |  | - |  |  | 12,226 |  |  | -
Total assets | $ | 15,352 |  |  | 3,126 |  |  | 12,226 |  |  | -
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivatives | $ | 23,051 |  |  | - |  |  | 23,051 |  |  | -
Option agreement |  | 23,980 |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | 23,980
Total Liabilities | $ | 47,031 |  |  | - |  |  | 23,051 |  |  | 23,980

Available-for-sale securities include equity securities of one company quoted on an active public market.

The Company's derivatives consist of foreign currency forward contracts. The Company used current forward rates of the respective foreign currencies to measure the fair value of these contracts. The Company’s option agreement relates to an equity method investment in Discovery Family Channel (“Discovery”). The option agreement is included in other liabilities at September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, and is valued using an option pricing model based on the fair value of the related investment. Inputs used in the option pricing model include the volatility and fair value of the underlying company which are considered unobservable inputs as they reflect the Company's own assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The Company believes that this is the best information available for use in the fair value measurement. There were no changes in these valuation techniques during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018.

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the fair value measurements of the Company's financial instruments which use significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):

| 2018 |  | 2017
Balance at beginning of year | $ | (23,980) |  |  | (28,770)
Gain from change in fair value |  | 520 |  |  | 260
Balance at end of third quarter | $ | (23,460) |  |  | (28,510)

In addition to the above, the Company has three investments for which the fair value is measured using net asset value per share. At September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, these investments had fair values of $24,201, $24,405 and $24,436, respectively. Two of the investments have net asset values that are predominantly based on underlying investments which are traded on an active market and are redeemable within 45 days. The third investment invests in hedge funds which are generally redeemable on a quarterly basis with 30 – 90 days’ notice.

(9) Pension and Postretirement Benefits

The components of the net periodic cost of the Company's defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans for the quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017 are as follows:

| Quarter Ended
| Pension |  | Postretirement
| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | September 30, |  | October 1,
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Service cost | $ | 678 |  |  | 925 |  |  | 189 |  |  | 172
Interest cost |  | 3,997 |  |  | 4,443 |  |  | 292 |  |  | 295
Expected return on assets |  | (5,190) |  |  | (5,896) |  |  | - |  |  | -
Net amortization and deferrals |  | 2,971 |  |  | 2,525 |  |  | 42 |  |  | -
Net periodic benefit cost | $ | 2,456 |  |  | 1,997 |  |  | 523 |  |  | 467

| Nine Months Ended
| Pension |  | Postretirement
| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | September 30, |  | October 1,
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Service cost | $ | 2,030 |  |  | 2,798 |  |  | 566 |  |  | 517
Interest cost |  | 11,993 |  |  | 13,598 |  |  | 877 |  |  | 885
Expected return on assets |  | (15,569) |  |  | (18,057) |  |  | - |  |  | -
Net amortization and deferrals |  | 8,913 |  |  | 7,738 |  |  | 127 |  |  | -
Net periodic benefit cost | $ | 7,367 |  |  | 6,077 |  |  | 1,570 |  |  | 1,402

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company made cash contributions of $770 to its defined benefit pension plans. During fiscal 2018, the Company expects to make cash contributions to its defined benefit pension plans of approximately $1,300 in the aggregate.

In February 2018, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approved a resolution to terminate the Company’s U.S. defined benefit pension plan (“Plan”). During the first quarter of 2018 the Company commenced the plan termination process and expects to complete the transfer of the Plan’s assets to a third-party administrator over a period of eighteen months. The decision to terminate the Plan follows the 2015 decision to freeze benefits being accrued covering non-union employees after the sale of the Company’s manufacturing facility in East Longmeadow, MA. Benefits covering non-union employees were frozen in December 2007.

In connection with the decision to terminate the Plan, the Company remeasured the projected benefit obligation based on the expected Plan termination costs. This remeasurement utilized a discount rate of 3.2% compared to the discount rate of 3.7% utilized in the December 31, 2017 measurement and resulted in an increase in the projected benefit obligation of $35,192 with offsetting amounts recorded to accumulated other comprehensive losses and deferred taxes. Upon settlement of the pension liability, the Company will reclassify the related pension losses currently recorded to accumulated other comprehensive loss, to the consolidated statements of operations. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had unrecognized losses related to the Plan of $142,997. The Company will recognize this loss upon termination of the Plan, adjusted for year-end remeasurement, as well as the total required payout to plan participants which will be determined based on employee elections and market conditions present at the time of termination.

(10) Derivative Financial Instruments

Hasbro uses foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate the impact of currency rate fluctuations on firmly committed and projected future foreign currency transactions. These over-the-counter contracts, which hedge future currency requirements related to purchases of inventory, product sales and other cross-border transactions not denominated in the functional currency of the business unit, are primarily denominated in United States and Hong Kong dollars, and Euros. All contracts are entered into with a number of counterparties, all of which are major financial institutions. The Company believes that a default by a single counterparty would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company. Hasbro does not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

Cash Flow Hedges

The Company uses foreign currency forward contracts to reduce the impact of currency rate fluctuations on firmly committed and projected future foreign currency transactions. All of the Company's designated foreign currency forward contracts are considered to be cash flow hedges. These instruments hedge a portion of the Company's currency requirements associated with anticipated inventory purchases, product sales and other cross-border transactions in 2018 through 2022.

At September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, the notional amounts and fair values of the Company's foreign currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedging instruments were as follows:

| September 30, 2018 |  | October 1, 2017 |  | December 31, 2017
| Notional |  | Fair |  | Notional |  | Fair |  | Notional |  | Fair
Hedged transaction | Amount |  | Value |  | Amount |  | Value |  | Amount |  | Value
Inventory purchases | $ | 555,661 |  |  | 6,827 |  |  | 894,529 |  |  | (16,597) |  |  | 756,673 |  |  | (13,695)
Sales |  | 319,421 |  |  | 13,027 |  |  | 579,421 |  |  | 17,215 |  |  | 423,315 |  |  | 16,144
Royalties and Other |  | 117,534 |  |  | (2,420) |  |  | 266,670 |  |  | (12,567) |  |  | 196,889 |  |  | (10,383)
Total | $ | 992,616 |  |  | 17,434 |  |  | 1,740,620 |  |  | (11,949) |  |  | 1,376,877 |  |  | (7,934)

The Company has a master agreement with each of its counterparties that allows for the netting of outstanding forward contracts. The fair values of the Company's foreign currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 as follows:

| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | December 31,
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2017
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized gains | $ | 15,414 |  |  | 10,207 |  |  | 13,666
Unrealized losses |  | (4,079) |  |  | (7,977) |  |  | (10,319)
Net unrealized gains | $ | 11,335 |  |  | 2,230 |  |  | 3,347
Other assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized gains | $ | 9,591 |  |  | 11,631 |  |  | 11,255
Unrealized losses |  | (1,455) |  |  | (3,139) |  |  | (2,376)
Net unrealized gains | $ | 8,136 |  |  | 8,492 |  |  | 8,879
Accrued liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized gains | $ | 596 |  |  | 5,354 |  |  | 4,215
Unrealized losses |  | (1,182) |  |  | (20,999) |  |  | (15,484)
Net unrealized losses | $ | (586) |  |  | (15,645) |  |  | (11,269)
Other liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized gains | $ | 1,035 |  |  | 8,325 |  |  | 4,546
Unrealized losses |  | (2,486) |  |  | (15,351) |  |  | (13,437)
Net unrealized losses | $ | (1,451) |  |  | (7,026) |  |  | (8,891)

Net gains (losses) on cash flow hedging activities have been reclassified from other comprehensive earnings (loss) to net earnings for the quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017 as follows:

| Quarter Ended |  | Nine Months Ended
| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | September 30, |  | October 1,
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Statements of Operations Classification |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of sales | $ | 3,358 |  |  | (5,971) |  |  | (1,483) |  |  | 6,614
Net revenues |  | 1,328 |  |  | 2,316 |  |  | 2,090 |  |  | 3,332
Other |  | (17) |  |  | (2,311) |  |  | (101) |  |  | (2,716)
Net realized (losses) gains | $ | 4,669 |  |  | (5,966) |  |  | 506 |  |  | 7,230

In addition, losses of $1,532 and $4,368 were reclassified to earnings as a result of hedge ineffectiveness for the quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, respectively. Net losses of $9 and $6,495 were reclassified to earnings as a result of hedge ineffectiveness for the quarter and nine-month periods ended October 1, 2017, respectively.

Undesignated Hedges

The Company also enters into foreign currency forward contracts to minimize the impact of changes in the fair value of intercompany loans due to foreign currency changes. The Company does not use hedge accounting for these contracts as changes in the fair values of these contracts are substantially offset by changes in the fair value of the intercompany loans. As of September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 the total notional amounts of the Company's undesignated derivative instruments were $311,331, $339,227 and $418,471, respectively.

At September 30, 2018, October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, the fair values of the Company's undesignated derivative financial instruments were recorded in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:

| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | December 31,
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2017
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized gains | $ | 2,060 |  |  | 2,606 |  |  | -
Unrealized losses |  | (1,452) |  |  | (1,353) |  |  | -
Net unrealized gains | $ | 608 |  |  | 1,253 |  |  | -
Accrued liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized gains | $ | 12 |  |  | - |  |  | 1,793
Unrealized losses |  | (33) |  |  | - |  |  | (4,684)
Net unrealized losses |  | (21) |  |  | - |  |  | (2,891)
Other Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized gains | $ | 30 |  |  | - |  |  | -
Unrealized losses |  | (85) |  |  | - |  |  | -
Net unrealized losses |  | (55) |  |  | - |  |  | -
Total unrealized gains (losses), net | $ | 532 |  |  | 1,253 |  |  | (2,891)

The Company recorded net gains of $5,030 and $8,781 on these instruments to other (income) expense, net for the quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and net losses of $2,976 and $2,251 on these instruments to other (income) expense, net for the quarter and nine-month periods ended October 1, 2017, respectively, relating to the change in fair value of such derivatives, substantially offsetting gains and losses from the change in fair value of intercompany loans to which the contracts relate.

For additional information related to the Company's derivative financial instruments see Notes 6 and 8.

(11) Segment Reporting

Hasbro is a global play and entertainment company with a broad portfolio of brands and entertainment properties spanning toys, games, licensed products ranging from traditional to high-tech and digital, and film and television entertainment. The Company's segments are (i) U.S. and Canada, (ii) International, (iii) Entertainment and Licensing, and (iv) Global Operations.

The U.S. and Canada segment includes the marketing and selling of action figures, arts and crafts and creative play products, electronic toys and related electronic interactive products, fashion and other dolls, infant products, play sets, preschool toys, plush products, sports action blasters and accessories, vehicles and toy-related specialty products, as well as traditional board games, and trading card and role-playing games primarily within the United States and Canada. Within the International segment, the Company markets and sells both toy and game products in markets outside of the U.S. and Canada, primarily in the European, Asia Pacific, and Latin and South American regions. The Company's Entertainment and Licensing segment includes the Company's consumer products licensing, digital licensing and gaming, and movie and television entertainment operations. The Global Operations segment is responsible for sourcing finished products for the Company's U.S. and Canada and International segments.

Segment performance is measured at the operating profit level. Included in Corporate and Eliminations are certain corporate expenses, including the elimination of intersegment transactions and certain assets benefiting more than one segment. Intersegment sales and transfers are reflected in management reports at amounts approximating cost. Certain shared costs, including global development and marketing expenses and corporate administration, are allocated to segments based upon expenses and foreign exchange rates fixed at the beginning of the year, with adjustments to actual expenses and foreign exchange rates included in Corporate and Eliminations. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those referenced in note 1.

Results shown for the quarter and nine months are not necessarily representative of those which may be expected for the full year 2018, nor were those of the comparable 2017 period representative of those actually experienced for the full year 2017. Similarly, such results are not necessarily those which would be achieved were each segment an unaffiliated business enterprise.

Information by segment and a reconciliation to reported amounts for the quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017 are as follows:

| Quarter Ended
| September 30, 2018 |  | October 1, 2017
Net revenues | External |  | Affiliate |  | External |  | Affiliate
U.S. and Canada | $ | 924,178 |  |  | 2,364 |  |  | 993,833 |  |  | 2,201
International |  | 560,704 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 739,229 |  |  | 198
Entertainment and Licensing |  | 84,804 |  |  | 4,712 |  |  | 58,440 |  |  | 7,714
Global Operations (a) |  | - |  |  | 557,049 |  |  | - |  |  | 665,746
Corporate and Eliminations(b) |  | - |  |  | (564,127) |  |  | - |  |  | (675,859)
| $ | 1,569,686 |  |  | - |  |  | 1,791,502 |  |  | -

| Nine Months Ended
| September 30, 2018 |  | October 1, 2017
Net revenues | External |  | Affiliate |  | External |  | Affiliate
U.S. and Canada | $ | 1,747,807 |  |  | 7,093 |  |  | 1,939,837 |  |  | 7,047
International |  | 1,229,093 |  |  | 290 |  |  | 1,511,074 |  |  | 213
Entertainment and Licensing |  | 213,476 |  |  | 11,378 |  |  | 162,663 |  |  | 14,727
Global Operations (a) |  | 109 |  |  | 1,152,851 |  |  | 97 |  |  | 1,329,516
Corporate and Eliminations(b) |  | - |  |  | (1,171,612) |  |  | - |  |  | (1,351,503)
| $ | 3,190,485 |  |  | - |  |  | 3,613,671 |  |  | -

| Quarter Ended |  | Nine Months Ended
| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | September 30, |  | October 1,
Operating profit (loss) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
U.S. and Canada | $ | 226,516 |  |  | 217,278 |  |  | 279,364 |  |  | 363,589
International |  | 66,274 |  |  | 132,007 |  |  | 10,359 |  |  | 149,435
Entertainment and Licensing |  | 33,658 |  |  | 16,910 |  |  | 66,191 |  |  | 39,580
Global Operations (a) |  | 3,179 |  |  | 11,497 |  |  | (4,623) |  |  | 4,723
Corporate and Eliminations (b) |  | (16,291) |  |  | (16,748) |  |  | (30,786) |  |  | (18,056)
| $ | 313,336 |  |  | 360,944 |  |  | 320,505 |  |  | 539,271

| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | December 31,
Total assets | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2017
U.S. and Canada | $ | 3,053,179 |  |  | 3,423,213 |  |  | 2,749,384
International |  | 2,323,866 |  |  | 2,524,821 |  |  | 2,499,985
Entertainment and Licensing |  | 865,638 |  |  | 884,014 |  |  | 626,193
Global Operations |  | 4,306,291 |  |  | 3,080,573 |  |  | 2,819,768
Corporate and Eliminations (b) |  | (5,053,645) |  |  | (4,367,973) |  |  | (3,405,347)
| $ | 5,495,329 |  |  | 5,544,648 |  |  | 5,289,983

(a) The Global Operations segment derives substantially all of its revenues, and thus its operating results, from intersegment activities.

(b) Certain long-term assets, including property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangibles, which benefit multiple operating segments, are included in Corporate and Eliminations. Allocations of certain expenses related to these assets to the individual operating segments are done at the beginning of the year based on budgeted amounts. Any differences between actual and budgeted amounts are reflected in Corporate and Eliminations because allocations are translated from the U.S. Dollar to local currency at budgeted rates when recorded. Corporate and Eliminations also includes the elimination of inter-company balance sheet amounts.

The following table represents consolidated International segment net revenues by major geographic region for the quarters and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

| Quarter Ended |  | Nine Months Ended
| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | September 30, |  | October 1,
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Europe | $ | 331,353 |  |  | 467,740 |  |  | 686,490 |  |  | 921,467
Latin America |  | 145,703 |  |  | 174,446 |  |  | 308,065 |  |  | 339,071
Asia Pacific |  | 83,648 |  |  | 97,043 |  |  | 234,538 |  |  | 250,536
Net revenues | $ | 560,704 |  |  | 739,229 |  |  | 1,229,093 |  |  | 1,511,074

The following table presents consolidated net revenues by brand portfolio for the quarters and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

| Quarter Ended |  | Nine Months Ended
| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | September 30, |  | October 1,
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Franchise brands | $ | 847,745 |  |  | 892,546 |  |  | 1,715,986 |  |  | 1,894,140
Partner brands |  | 305,827 |  |  | 485,747 |  |  | 714,424 |  |  | 928,724
Hasbro gaming |  | 280,832 |  |  | 280,097 |  |  | 520,334 |  |  | 549,736
Emerging brands |  | 135,282 |  |  | 133,112 |  |  | 239,741 |  |  | 241,071
Net revenues | $ | 1,569,686 |  |  | 1,791,502 |  |  | 3,190,485 |  |  | 3,613,671

For the quarter and nine-months ended October 1, 2017, revenues of $65,264 and $90,396, respectively, were reclassified from Emerging Brands to Franchise Brands to conform to the presentation for the quarter and nine-months ended September 30, 2018.

Hasbro's total gaming category, including all gaming net revenues, most notably MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY, totaled $447,844 and $964,159 for the quarter and nine-months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. For the quarter and nine-months ended October 1, 2017, total gaming net revenues were $424,847 and $951,397, respectively.

(12) Commercial Reorganization

In the first quarter of 2018, the Company recorded a pre-tax severance expense of $17,349 associated with accelerating its commercial organization transformation. The charge was included within selling, distribution and administration costs on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine-months ended September 30, 2018 and reported within Corporate and Eliminations in Note 11. Over the past several years, the Company has invested in developing an omni-channel retail presence, and in 2018 is bringing onboard new skill sets and talent to lead in today’s converged retail environment. The expense represents the total cost of this commercial reorganization for which the Company has a liability of $10,820 remaining on its Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2018.

(13) Subsequent Event

On October 22, 2018, the Company announced that it will incur restructuring charges in the fourth quarter of 2018. As the global consumer landscape, shopping behaviors and the retail environment continue to evolve, the Company continues to transform and reimagine its business to make sure it has the right talent and capabilities to stay competitive. This includes adding new capabilities based on our understanding of the consumer and how our retailers are going to market, while also changing many of the ways we organize across our Brand Blueprint. As part of this process the Company is taking certain actions, which began on October 17, 2018 and will continue through 2019. The actions primarily include headcount reduction aimed at right-sizing the Company’s cost-structure and giving it the ability to add required new talent in the future. Under the plan, the Company expects to incur pre-tax restructuring charges relating to severance and other employee costs of approximately $50,000 to $60,000 in the fourth quarter of 2018. This cash charge is expected to be paid from October 2018 through December 2019.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the following section entitled Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains forward-looking statements expressing management's current expectations, goals, objectives and similar matters. These forward-looking statements may include statements concerning the Company's product and entertainment plans, anticipated product and entertainment performance, business opportunities, plans and strategies, financial goals, cost savings and efficiency enhancing initiatives and expectations for achieving the Company's financial goals and other objectives. See Item 1A, in Part II of this report and Item 1A, in Part I of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 (“2017 Form 10-K”), for a discussion of factors which may cause the Company's actual results or experience to differ materially from that anticipated in these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements in this report after the date of the filing. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, all dollar or share amounts herein are expressed in millions of dollars or shares, except for per share amounts.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Hasbro, Inc. ("Hasbro" or the "Company") is a global play and entertainment company dedicated to Creating the World's Best Play Experiences. The Company strives to do this through deep consumer engagement and the application of consumer insights, the use of immersive storytelling to build brands, product innovation and development of global business reach. Hasbro applies these principles to leverage its beloved owned and controlled brands, including Franchise Brands BABY ALIVE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, MONOPOLY, MY LITTLE PONY, NERF, PLAY-DOH and TRANSFORMERS, as well as Partner Brands. From toys and games, to television, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive consumer products licensing program, Hasbro fulfills the fundamental need for play and connection for children and families around the world. The Company's wholly-owned Hasbro Studios and its film labels, Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation, create entertainment brand-driven storytelling across mediums, including television, film, digital and more.

Each of these principles is executed globally in alignment with Hasbro's strategic plan, its brand blueprint. At the center of this blueprint, Hasbro re-imagines, re-invents and re-ignites its owned and controlled brands and imagines, invents and ignites new brands, through product innovation, immersive entertainment offerings, including television and motion pictures, digital gaming and a broad range of consumer products. Hasbro generates revenue and earns cash by developing, marketing and selling products based on global brands in a broad variety of consumer goods categories and distribution of television programming based on the Company's properties, as well as through the out-licensing of rights for third parties to use its properties in connection with products, including digital media and games and other consumer products. Hasbro also leverages its competencies to develop and market products based on well-known licensed brands including, but not limited to, BEYBLADE, DISNEY PRINCESS and DISNEY FROZEN, DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS, MARVEL, SESAME STREET, STAR WARS, and DREAMWORKS’ TROLLS. MARVEL, STAR WARS, DISNEY PRINCESS, DISNEY FROZEN and DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS are owned by The Walt Disney Company.

The Company's business is separated into three principal business segments: U.S. and Canada, International and Entertainment and Licensing. The U.S. and Canada segment markets and sells both toy and game products primarily in the United States and Canada. The International segment consists of the Company's European, Asia Pacific and Latin and South American toy and game marketing and sales operations. The Company's Entertainment and Licensing segment includes the Company's consumer products licensing, digital licensing and gaming, and movie and television entertainment operations. In addition to these three primary segments, the Company's product sourcing operations are managed through its Global Operations segment.

Third quarter 2018 highlights:

· Third quarter net revenues declined 12% to $1,569.7 million from $1,791.5 million in the third quarter of 2017. The lower revenues reflect lost Toys“R”Us revenues in the U.S., Europe and Asia Pacific. In addition, revenues declined internationally, most notably in Europe, as the Company addresses changing consumer shopping behaviors, a rapidly evolving retail landscape and clearing through retail inventory.

· Net revenues in the U.S. and Canada and International segments declined 7% and 24%, respectively, while the Entertainment and Licensing segment net revenues increased 45%. International segment net revenues were unfavorably impacted by $30.3 million in foreign currency translation.

· Net revenues from Franchise Brands and Partner Brands declined by 5% and 37%, respectively, Emerging Brands revenues increased 2% and Hasbro Gaming revenues increased slightly during the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017.

· Operating profit was $313.3 million, 20.0% of net revenues, in the third quarter of 2018 compared to operating profit of $360.9 million, 20.1% of net revenues, in third quarter of 2017. The decline in net sales was partially offset by lower royalty, advertising and administrative costs. In the third quarter of 2017, the Company recorded $18 million for Toys“R”Us bad debt.

· Net earnings of $263.9 million, or $2.06 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2018 compared to net earnings of $265.6 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2017. In the third quarter of 2018, the Company recognized a $17.3 million, or $0.14 per share tax benefit within income tax expense, from the interpretation of additional guidance released during the quarter related to U.S. tax reform.

First nine months 2018 highlights:

· Net revenues decreased 12% to $3,190.5 million in first nine months of 2018 compared to $3,613.7 million in the first nine months of 2017 driven by the loss of revenues from Toys“R”Us in the U.S., Europe and Asia Pacific, as well as higher retail inventory at year-end, primarily in Europe, which carried into 2018.

· In the first quarter of 2018, Toys“R”Us announced its plan to liquidate its stores in the United States and the United Kingdom.

· Net revenues in the U.S. and Canada and International segments declined 10% and 19%, respectively, while the Entertainment and Licensing segment net revenues increased 31%. International segment net revenues were unfavorably impacted by $8.1 million in foreign currency translation.

· Net revenues declined in Franchise Brands by 9%, Partner Brands by 23%, Hasbro Gaming by 5% and Emerging Brands by 1% during the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017.

· Operating profit was $320.5 million, or 10% of net revenues, in the first nine months of 2018 compared to operating profit of $539.3 million, or 14.9% of net revenues, in the first nine months of 2017.

· Operating profit for the first nine months of 2018 was negatively impacted by pre-tax expenses of $87.7 million related to the Toys“R”Us liquidation and severance associated with the reorganization of the Company’s commercial organization during the first quarter of 2018. See “2018 Events” below for further discussion. In the first nine months of 2017, the Company recorded $18 million for Toys“R”Us bad debt.

· Net earnings of $211.7 million, or $1.67 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2018 compared to net earnings of $401.9 million, or $3.16 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2017.

· In addition to the pre-tax expenses of $87.7 million described above ($77.1 million after-tax), net income for the first nine months of 2018 included a net income tax expense of $30.5 million related to guidance issued on U.S. tax reform in 2018. See “2018 Events” below for further discussion.

The impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates used to translate the consolidated statements of operations is quantified by translating the current period revenues at the prior period exchange rates and comparing this amount to the prior period reported revenues. The Company believes that the presentation of the impact of changes in exchange rates, which are beyond the Company’s control, is helpful to an investor’s understanding of the performance of the underlying business.

2018 Events

Power Rangers Acquisition

During the second quarter of 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Power Rangers and other Entertainment Assets (“Power Rangers Acquisition”) from Saban Properties. The transaction was funded through a combination of cash and stock valued at $535.9 million. See Footnote 3, “Asset Acquisition,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Toys“R”Us

During the first quarter of 2018, Toys“R”Us went into liquidation in the U.S. and the U.K.. As a result, the Company recorded lower revenues in part due to the loss of revenues from Toys“R”Us in the U.S. and Europe, as a result of the related liquidations, as well as uncertainty in the other Toys“R”Us operations. In association with this, the Company recorded pre-tax expenses of $70.4 million ($61.4 million after-tax) consisting of bad debt expense of $59.1 million, accelerated royalty expense of $7 million and other charges of $4.3 million.

Commercial Reorganization

In the first quarter of 2018, the Company recorded pre-tax severance expense of $17.3 million ($15.7 million after-tax) associated with accelerating its commercial organization transformation. Over the past several years, the Company has invested in developing an omni-channel retail presence, and in 2018 is bringing onboard new skill sets and talent to lead in today’s converged retail environment.

U.S. Tax Reform Update

In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company recognized a provisional net charge of $296.5 million from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. In 2018, the Company obtained additional information affecting the provisional amount initially recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017. As a result, the Company recorded a one-time tax expense of $47.8 million during the first quarter of 2018 which reversed certain discrete benefits recorded in 2017 as well as increased our provisional deemed repatriation tax liability. In the third quarter of 2018, as a result of new tax guidance released, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $17.3 million which offset the charge recorded in the first quarter of 2018, totaling $30.5 million of one-time expense for the nine-months ended September 30, 2018.

Amounts Returned to Shareholders

The Company is committed to returning excess cash to its shareholders through quarterly dividends and share repurchases. Hasbro increased the quarterly dividend rate from $0.57 per share to $0.63 per share effective for the dividend paid in May 2018. In addition to the dividend, the Company returns cash through its share repurchase program. As part of this initiative, from 2005 to 2018, the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") adopted nine successive share repurchase authorizations with a cumulative authorized repurchase amount of $4,325 million. The ninth authorization was approved in May 2018 for $500 million. During the first nine months of 2018, Hasbro repurchased approximately 2.0 million shares at a total cost of $192.3 million and at an average price of $93.88 per share. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had $485.7 million remaining under these authorizations. Share repurchases are subject to market conditions, the availability of funds and other uses of funds.

SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

The components of the results of operations, stated as a percent of net revenues, are illustrated below for the quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

| Quarter Ended |  |  | Nine Months Ended |  |
| September 30, |  |  | October 1, |  |  | September 30, |  |  | October 1, |  |
| 2018 |  |  | 2017 |  |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |  |
Net revenues |  | 100.0 | % |  |  | 100.0 | % |  |  | 100.0 | % |  |  | 100.0 | % |
Costs and expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of sales |  | 41.8 |  |  |  | 40.8 |  |  |  | 39.2 |  |  |  | 38.9 |  |
Royalties |  | 6.7 |  |  |  | 7.8 |  |  |  | 7.6 |  |  |  | 7.8 |  |
Product development |  | 4.2 |  |  |  | 3.8 |  |  |  | 5.7 |  |  |  | 5.3 |  |
Advertising |  | 8.6 |  |  |  | 9.4 |  |  |  | 9.1 |  |  |  | 9.5 |  |
Amortization of intangibles |  | 0.6 |  |  |  | 0.4 |  |  |  | 0.6 |  |  |  | 0.6 |  |
Program production cost amortization |  | 0.9 |  |  |  | 0.3 |  |  |  | 1.0 |  |  |  | 0.4 |  |
Selling, distribution and administration |  | 17.4 |  |  |  | 17.4 |  |  |  | 26.8 |  |  |  | 22.5 |  |
Operating profit |  | 20.0 |  |  |  | 20.1 |  |  |  | 10.0 |  |  |  | 14.9 |  |
Interest expense |  | 1.5 |  |  |  | 1.4 |  |  |  | 2.1 |  |  |  | 2.0 |  |
Interest income |  | (0.3) |  |  |  | (0.3) |  |  |  | (0.5) |  |  |  | (0.4) |  |
Other income, net |  | - |  |  |  | (0.5) |  |  |  | (0.2) |  |  |  | (0.7) |  |
Earnings before income taxes |  | 18.8 |  |  |  | 19.5 |  |  |  | 8.6 |  |  |  | 14.0 |  |
Income tax expense |  | 2.0 |  |  |  | 4.7 |  |  |  | 2.0 |  |  |  | 2.9 |  |
Net earnings |  | 16.8 | % |  |  | 14.8 | % |  |  | 6.6 | % |  |  | 11.1 | % |

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CONSOLIDATED

Third Quarter of 2018

The quarters ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017 were each 13-week periods. Net earnings decreased to $263.9 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to net earnings of $265.6 million for the third quarter of 2017. Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of 2018 was $2.06, down from diluted earnings per share of $2.09 in the third quarter of 2017.

Consolidated net revenues for the third quarter of 2018 decreased 12% compared to the third quarter of 2017 and included the impact of an unfavorable $32.0 million foreign currency translation as a result of weaker currencies in the Latin American, European and to a lesser extent, Asia Pacific and Canada markets in 2018 compared to 2017.

The following table presents net revenues by brand portfolio for the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

| Quarter Ended
| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | %
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | Change
Franchise Brands | $ | 847.7 |  |  | 892.5 |  | -5 | %
Partner Brands |  | 305.8 |  |  | 485.7 |  | -37 | %
Hasbro Gaming |  | 280.8 |  |  | 280.1 |  | 0 | %
Emerging Brands |  | 135.3 |  |  | 133.1 |  | 2 | %
Total | $ | 1,569.7 |  |  | 1,791.5 |  | -12 | %

Franchise and Emerging Brands net revenues for the third quarter of 2017 have been restated to reflect the move of BABY ALIVE from Emerging Brands to Franchise Brands and the move of LITTLEST PET SHOP from Franchise Brands to Emerging Brands.

FRANCHISE BRANDS: Net revenues in the Franchise Brands portfolio decreased 5% in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017 due to net revenues declines from NERF products and declines from MY LITTLE PONY and TRANSFORMERS products as a result of the positive impact in the prior year from the release of MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE, in September 2017 and TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT, in June 2017. These net revenue declines were partially offset by higher net revenue contributions from MONOPOLY, PLAY-DOH, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and BABY ALIVE products during the third quarter of 2018.

PARTNER BRANDS: Net revenues from the Partner Brands portfolio decreased 37% in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017. Partner Brands net revenues are reliant on related entertainment, including television and movie releases. During the third quarter of 2018, net revenue declines from STAR WARS, DISNEY PRINCESS and DREAMWORKS’ TROLLS products, as well as declines from DISNEY FROZEN and DISNEY DESCENDANTS products, were partially offset by net revenue increases from BEYBLADE and to a lesser extent, MARVEL products.

HASBRO GAMING: Net revenues in the Hasbro Gaming portfolio increased slightly in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017. Higher net revenues from DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, CONNECT 4 and JENGA products, as well as new social and preschool games, such as CHOW CROWN, DON’T LOSE YOUR COOL and DON’T STEP IN IT, were offset by declines in PIE FACE, SPEAK OUT, BOP-IT and certain other Hasbro Gaming products in the third quarter of 2018.

Net revenues for Hasbro’s total gaming category, including the Hasbro Gaming portfolio as reported above and all other gaming revenue, most notably MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY, which are included in the Franchise Brands portfolio, totaled $447.8 million for the third quarter of 2018, an increase of 5% as compared to, $424.8 million in the third quarter 2017.

EMERGING BRANDS: Net revenues from the Emerging Brands portfolio increased 2% during the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017. Net revenues from the introduction of LOST KITTIES, LOCK STARS, and YELLIES products in 2018, as well as the addition of licensing revenues under the POWER RANGERS brand, were partially offset by declines in FURREAL FRIENDS and certain other Emerging Brands products during the third quarter of 2018.

Operating p rofit for the third quarter of 2018 was $313.3 million, or 20.0% of net revenues, compared to operating profit of $360.9 million, or 20.1% of net revenues, for the third quarter of 2017. Included in the third quarter of 2017 operating profit was a bad debt charge of $18.0 million relating to Toys “R” Us’ initial bankruptcy filing in September 2017. The decline in operating profit was driven by lower net revenues, as well as higher program production amortization and intangible asset amortization costs during the third quarter of 2018. These declines were partially offset by lower royalty, advertising and marketing and sales costs, as well as lower administrative costs during the third quarter of 2018.

First Nine Months of 2018

The nine-month period ended September 30, 2018 was a 39-week period while the nine-month period ended October 1, 2017 was a 40-week period. Net earnings for the first nine months of 2018 were $211.7 million compared to net earnings of $401.9 million for the first nine months of 2017. Diluted earnings per share was $1.67 in the first nine months of 2018, down from diluted earnings per share of $3.16 in 2017. Net earnings for the first nine months of 2018 includes bad debt expense and other costs, net of tax, of $61.4 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, related to Toys“R”Us, $15.7 million net of tax, or $0.12 per diluted share, of severance costs related to a commercial reorganization, and tax expense of $30.5 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, related to U.S. tax reform and additional guidance issued in 2018. The nine-month period ended October 1, 2017 includes a bad debt expense of $18.0 million related to Toys “R” Us’ initial bankruptcy filing in September 2017.

For the first nine months of 2018, consolidated net revenues decreased 12% compared to the first nine months of 2017 and included an unfavorable variance of $7.9 million as a result of foreign currency translation due to weaker currencies, primarily in the Latin American markets, partially offset by foreign currency translation benefits in the European and Asia Pacific markets during the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017.

The following table presents net revenues by product category for the first nine months of 2018 and 2017.

| Nine Months Ended
| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | %
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | Change
Franchise Brands | $ | 1,716.0 |  |  | 1,894.1 |  | -9 | %
Partner Brands |  | 714.4 |  |  | 928.7 |  | -23 | %
Hasbro Gaming |  | 520.3 |  |  | 549.7 |  | -5 | %
Emerging Brands |  | 239.7 |  |  | 241.1 |  | -1 | %
Total | $ | 3,190.5 |  |  | 3,613.7 |  | -12 | %

FRANCHISE BRANDS: Net revenues in the Franchise Brands portfolio decreased 9% in the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017. Higher net revenues from MONOPOLY and MAGIC: THE GATHERING products were more than offset by lower net revenues from NERF products, as well as TRANSFORMERS and MY LITTLE PONY products as a result of the positive impact in 2017 from the release of MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE, in September 2017 and TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT, in June 2017, and to a lesser extent, declines in PLAY-DOH product net revenues.

PARTNER BRANDS: Net revenues from the Partner Brands portfolio declined 23% during the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017. Partner Brands net revenues are reliant on related entertainment, including television and movie releases. During the first nine months of 2018, the decrease was driven by lower net revenues from STAR WARS, DISNEY PRINCESS and DREAMWORKS’ TROLLS products and to a lesser extent, DISNEY FROZEN, YOKAI WATCH and DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS products. These declines were partially offset by higher net revenues from BEYBLADE and MARVEL products in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.

HASBRO GAMING: Net revenues in the Hasbro Gaming portfolio decreased 5% in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017. Increased net revenues from new social gaming products, as well as higher net sales of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, JENGA and CONNECT 4 products, were more than offset by lower net revenues from PIE FACE, SPEAK OUT, BOP-IT and certain other Hasbro Gaming products.

Net revenues for Hasbro’s total gaming category, including the Hasbro Gaming portfolio as reported above and all other gaming revenue, most notably from MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY products, which are included in the Franchise Brands portfolio, increased to $964.2 million in the first nine months of 2018 versus $951.4 million in the first nine months of 2017.

EMERGING BRANDS: Net revenues from the Emerging Brands portfolio remained relatively flat for the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017. Net revenues from the introduction of new Emerging Brands, including LOST KITTIES and LOCK STARS products, as well as the addition of entertainment and licensing revenues under the POWER RANGERS and STRETCH ARMSTRONG brands, were wholly offset by lower net revenues from FURREAL FRIENDS, core PLAYSKOOL and FURBY products.

Operating profit for the first nine months of 2018 decreased to $320.5 million, or 10.0% of net revenues, from $539.3 million, or 14.9% of net revenues, for the first nine months of 2017. Operating profit was negatively impacted by the loss of revenues and incremental bad debt expense associated with the Toys“R”Us liquidations in the U.S. and U.K. and uncertainty related to other Toys“R”Us operations, as well as severance costs associated with the reorganization of the Company’s commercial organization during the first quarter of 2018.

SEGMENT RESULTS

Most of the Company's net revenues and operating profit are derived from its three principal business segments: the U.S. and Canada segment, the International segment and the Entertainment and Licensing segment. The results of these operations are discussed in detail below.

The Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC-606), on January 1, 2018. Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, for licenses of the Company’s brands that are subject to minimum guaranteed license fees, the Company recognized the difference between the minimum guaranteed amount and the actual royalties earned from licensee merchandise sales (“shortfalls”) at the end of the contract period, which was in the fourth quarter for most of the Company’s licensee arrangements. In periods following January 1, 2018, minimum guaranteed amounts will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the license period. While the impact of this change will not be material to the year, it will impact the timing of revenue recognition within the Company’s Entertainment and Licensing segment such that under ASC 606, less revenues will be recorded in the fourth quarter and more revenues will be recorded within the first, second, and third quarters.

Third Quarter of 2018

The following table presents net revenues and operating profit data for the Company's three principal segments for the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

| Quarter Ended
| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | %
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | Change
Net Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. and Canada segment | $ | 924.2 |  | $ | 993.8 |  | -7 | %
International segment |  | 560.7 |  |  | 739.2 |  | -24 | %
Entertainment and Licensing segment |  | 84.8 |  |  | 58.4 |  | 45 | %
Operating Profit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. and Canada segment | $ | 226.5 |  | $ | 217.3 |  | 4 | %
International segment |  | 66.3 |  |  | 132.0 |  | -50 | %
Entertainment and Licensing segment |  | 33.7 |  |  | 16.9 |  | 99 | %

U.S. and Canada Segment

The U.S. and Canada segment net revenues for the third quarter of 2018 decreased 7% compared to the third quarter of 2017. Foreign currency translation did not have a significant impact on this segment's net revenues. Net revenues declined in the Partner Brands portfolio and to a lesser extent, the Emerging Brands portfolio, which were partially offset by net revenue increases in the Hasbro Gaming portfolio and a slight increase in Franchise Brands portfolio during the third quarter of 2018.

In the Franchise Brands portfolio, increases in net revenues from PLAY-DOH, TRANSFORMERS, MONOPOLY, and to a lesser extent, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and BABY ALIVE products were mostly offset by lower net revenues from MY LITTLE PONY and NERF products. In the Partner Brands portfolio, higher net revenues from BEYBLADE and MARVEL products were more than offset by lower net revenues from STAR WARS, DISNEY PRINCESS, DREAMWORKS’ TROLLS and DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS products as well as DISNEY FROZEN, and SESAME STREET products. In the Hasbro Gaming portfolio, higher net revenues from new social games as well DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, CONNECT 4 and certain other Hasbro Gaming products were partially offset by decreased net revenues from PIE FACE products. In the Emerging Brands portfolio, net revenue increases from the introduction of the Company’s line of LOST KITTIES, LOCK STARS and YELLIES products as well higher net revenues from EASY-BAKE products and certain other Emerging Brands products were more than offset by lower net revenues from FURREAL FRIENDS, core PLAYSKOOL and LITTLEST PET SHOP products.

U.S. and Canada segment operating profit for the third quarter of 2018 was $226.5 million, compared to segment operating profit of $217.3 million, for the third quarter of 2017. The increase in operating profit was due to favorable product mix, as well as lower royalty, advertising and administrative expenses during the third quarter of 2018. In the third quarter of 2017, the Company recognized $18 million of bad debt expense related to Toys“R”Us.

International Segment

International segment net revenues declined 24% to $560.7 million in the third quarter of 2018 from $739.2 million in the third quarter of 2017. The following table presents net revenues by geographic region for the Company's International segment for the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

| Quarter Ended
| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | %
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | Change
Europe | $ | 331.4 |  |  | 467.7 |  | -29 | %
Latin America |  | 145.7 |  |  | 174.5 |  | -16 | %
Asia Pacific |  | 83.6 |  |  | 97.0 |  | -14 | %
Net revenues | $ | 560.7 |  |  | 739.2 |  | -24 | %

The variance in International segment net revenues during the third quarter of 2018 includes an unfavorable foreign currency translation of $30.3 million related to the Company’s European, Latin American and to a lesser extent, Asia Pacific regions. The declines in net revenues in the International segment were driven by a challenging retail environment including the loss of Toys“R”Us revenues in several European and Asia Pacific markets during the quarter combined with the Company’s efforts to clear excess retail inventory, primarily in Europe, during the third quarter of 2018. In the International segment, net revenues declined in the Franchise Brands, Partner Brands and Hasbro Gaming portfolios while net revenues from the Emerging Brands portfolio remained essentially flat during the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017. In the Franchise Brands portfolio, lower net revenues from MY LITTLE PONY, NERF and TRANSFORMERS products were partially offset by higher net revenues from MAGIC: THE GATHERING products. The primary drivers of the net revenue declines from the Partner Brands portfolio include lower sales of STAR WARS and DISNEY PRINCESS products and to a lesser extent, DREAMWORKS’ TROLLS, MARVEL, DISNEY FROZEN and BEYBLADE products. In the Hasbro Gaming portfolio, lower net revenues from PIE FACE and other Hasbro Gaming products were partially offset by contributions from new social games. In the Emerging Brands portfolio, contributions from new brands such as LOST KITTIES and LOCK STARS products, were mostly offset by net revenue declines from FURREAL FRIENDS and core PLAYSKOOL products in the third quarter of 2018.

International segment operating profit was $66.3 million for the third quarter of 2018, down from operating profit of $132.0 million for the third quarter of 2017. The operating profit decrease in the third quarter of 2018 was driven by lower net revenues, as well as higher obsolescence charges partially offset by lower royalty, advertising and marketing and sales costs.

Entertainment and Licensing Segment

Entertainment and Licensing segment net revenues increased 45% for the third quarter of 2018 to $84.8 million compared to $58.4 million for the third quarter of 2017. During the third quarter of 2018, Hasbro entered into a multi-year agreement for digital distribution of Hasbro television programming, which contributed to the revenue growth. In addition, higher revenues from consumer products and digital game licensing, primarily due to the timing of revenue recognition under ASC 606 as discussed above, as well as movie revenues from MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE, contributed to the increase in the third quarter of 2018.

Entertainment and Licensing segment operating profit increased to $33.7 million, or 39.7% of segment net revenues for the third quarter of 2018, from $16.9 million, or 28.9% of segment net revenues, for the third quarter of 2017. Overall, the increase in Entertainment and Licensing segment operating profit was primarily due to increased revenues noted above, partially offset by higher programing amortization costs related to MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE in the third quarter of 2018.

Global Operations

The Global Operations segment operating profit of $3.2 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to an operating profit of $11.5 million for the third quarter of 2017. The decrease in operating profit is primarily attributable to lower sourcing volume in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017.

Corporate and Eliminations

The operating loss in Corporate and eliminations totaled $16.3 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to an operating loss of $16.7 million for the third quarter of 2017.

First Nine Months of 2018

The following table presents net revenues and operating profit for the Company's three principal segments for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

| Nine Months Ended
| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | %
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | Change
Net Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. and Canada segment | $ | 1,747.8 |  |  | 1,939.8 |  | -10 | %
International segment |  | 1,229.1 |  |  | 1,511.1 |  | -19 | %
Entertainment and Licensing segment |  | 213.5 |  |  | 162.7 |  | 31 | %
Operating Profit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. and Canada segment | $ | 279.4 |  |  | 363.6 |  | -23 | %
International segment |  | 10.4 |  |  | 149.4 |  | -93 | %
Entertainment and Licensing segment |  | 66.2 |  |  | 39.6 |  | 67 | %

U.S. and Canada Segment

The U.S. and Canada segment net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 decreased 10% compared to 2017. Foreign currency translation did not have a significant impact on this segment’s net revenues. In the first nine months of 2018, net revenue declines in the Franchise Brands, Partner Brands and Emerging Brands portfolios were partially off-set by higher net revenues in the Hasbro Gaming portfolio.

In the Franchise Brands portfolio, increases in net revenues from MONOPOLY and MAGIC: THE GATHERING products were more than offset by lower net revenues from NERF, MY LITTLE PONY and TRANSFORMERS products. In the Partner Brands portfolio, higher net revenues from BEYBLADE and MARVEL products were more than offset by lower net revenues from STAR WARS, DISNEY PRINCESS and DREAMWORKS’ TROLLS products, as well as declines from DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS and DISNEY FROZEN products. In the Hasbro Gaming portfolio, higher net revenues from DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, CONNECT 4 and JENGA products and higher net revenues from new social and preschool games, were partially offset by lower net revenues from PIE FACE, SPEAK OUT and certain other Hasbro Gaming products. In the Emerging Brands portfolio, decreased net revenues from FURREAL FRIENDS, core PLAYSKOOL and LITTLEST PET SHOP products and certain other Emerging Brands were partially offset by net revenues from the introduction of the Company’s line of LOST KITTIES and YELLIES products.

U.S. and Canada segment operating profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 decreased to $279.4 million, or 16.0% of segment net revenues, compared to $363.6 million, or 18.7% of segment net revenues, for the nine months ended October 1, 2017. The operating profit in the first nine months of 2017 included expenses of $52.3 million related to the Toys“R”Us liquidation in the U.S. The operating profit in the first nine months of 2017 included bad debt expense of $18.0 million related the Toys “R” Us initial bankruptcy filing in September 2017. The remaining decline in operating profit was due to lower sales and unfavorable product mix, as well as higher freight costs in the U.S., partially offset by lower royalty expenses due to lower revenues from Partner Brands products in 2018, as well as lower product development and advertising costs in 2018.

International Segment

International segment net revenues decreased 19% to $1,229.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 from $1,511.1 million for the nine months ended October 1, 2017. The following table presents net revenues by geographic region for the Company's International segment for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

| Nine Months Ended
| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | %
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | Change
Europe | $ | 686.5 |  |  | 921.5 |  | -26 | %
Latin America |  | 308.1 |  |  | 339.1 |  | -9 | %
Asia Pacific |  | 234.5 |  |  | 250.5 |  | -6 | %
Net revenues | $ | 1,229.1 |  |  | 1,511.1 |  | -19 | %

International segment net revenues were negatively impacted by foreign currency translation of approximately $8.1 million relating to the Company’s Latin American region, offset by foreign currency translation benefits from the European region, and to lesser extent, the Asia Pacific region. The declines in net revenues in the International segment were driven by decreases in the European and Asia Pacific regions due to lost Toys“R”Us revenues, and a challenging retail environment combined with excess retail inventory, primarily in Europe, during the first nine months of 2018. Net revenues declined in the Franchise Brands, Partner Brands and Hasbro Gaming portfolios during the first nine months of 2018, while net revenues from the Emerging Brands portfolio grew compared to the same period in 2017. In the Franchise Brands category, growth in MAGIC: THE GATHERING and BABY ALIVE products, were more than offset by net revenue decreases from TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, NERF, and PLAY-DOH products. Partner Brand portfolio net revenues decreased due to lower net revenues from STAR WARS, DISNEY PRINCESS, YOKAI WATCH, DREAMWORKS’ TROLLS and DISNEY FROZEN products, partially offset by higher net revenues from BEYBLADE and MARVEL products. In the Hasbro Gaming portfolio, lower net revenues from PIE FACE and certain other Hasbro Gaming products were partially offset by higher net revenues from social gaming products such as DON’T STEP IN IT and CHOW CROWN, as well as higher net revenues from JENGA products. In the Emerging Brands portfolio, contributions from new brands such as LOST KITTIES, LOCK STARS and CHOMP SQUAD products, as well as net revenue increases from LITTLEST PET SHOP products, were partially offset by declines from FURREAL FRIENDS, core PLAYSKOOL and FURBY products in the first nine months of 2018.

International segment operating profit was $10.4 million for the first nine months of 2018, compared to operating profit of $149.4 million for the first nine months of 2017. Operating profit for the first nine months of 2018 includes $11.2 million of expenses related to the Toys“R”Us liquidation in the United Kingdom and impacts to other European countries. The remaining decline in operating profit was driven by the lower net revenues and increased obsolescence expense partially offset by lower royalty and product development expenses.

Entertainment and Licensing Segment

Entertainment and Licensing segment net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased 31% to $213.5 million from $162.7 million for the nine months ended October 1, 2017. Increased television programming and movie revenues, primarily recognized for content delivered under the multi-year digital streaming deal signed in the third quarter of 2018, as well as higher revenues from consumer products and digital game licensing, primarily due to the adoption of ASC 606 as discussed above, drove the increase in the first nine months of 2018.

Entertainment and Licensing segment operating profit increased to $66.2 million, or 31.0% of net revenues, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 from $39.6 million, or 24.3% of segment net revenues, for the nine months ended October 1, 2017. Overall, the increase in Entertainment and Licensing segment operating profit and operating profit margin reflects the higher revenues noted above, as well as lower advertising and marketing and sales costs, partially offset by higher programing amortization costs related to MY LITTLE PONY:THE MOVIE.

Global Operations

The Global Operations segment operating losses of $4.6 million for the first nine months of 2018 compares to operating profit of $4.7 million for the first nine months of 2017. The loss in 2018 was the result of lower sourcing volume and, to a lesser extent, increased operating expenses in 2018.

Corporate and Eliminations

Operating loss in Corporate and Eliminations for the first nine months of 2018 was $30.8 million, compared to a loss of $18.1 million for the first nine months of 2017. Included in the Corporate and eliminations operating loss in the first nine months of 2018 was $7 million of expenses associated with the Toys“R”Us liquidation and $17.3 million of severance for the reorganization of the Company’s commercial organization.

OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES

Third Quarter 2018

The Company's costs and expenses, stated as percentages of net revenues, are illustrated below for the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

| Quarter Ended |
| September 30, |  |  | October 1, |
| 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Cost of sales | 41.8 | % |  | 40.8 | %
Royalties | 6.7 |  |  | 7.8 |
Product development | 4.2 |  |  | 3.8 |
Advertising | 8.6 |  |  | 9.4 |
Amortization of intangibles | 0.6 |  |  | 0.4 |
Program production cost amortization | 0.9 |  |  | 0.3 |
Selling, distribution and administration | 17.4 |  |  | 17.4 |

Cost of sales decreased 10% from $730.7 million, or 40.8% of net revenues, for the third quarter of 2017 to $655.6 million, or 41.8% of net revenues for the third quarter of 2018. Costs of sales decreased in dollars primarily due to lower sales volumes compared to the third quarter of 2017. As a percent of net revenues, the cost of sales increase was driven by a shift in product mix in the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 as well as higher costs associated with clearing excess retail inventories.

Royalty expense for the third quarter of 2018 was $105.3 million, or 6.7% of net revenues, compared to $139.2 million, or 7.8% of net revenues, for the third quarter of 2017. Fluctuations in royalty expense are generally related to the volume of entertainment-driven products sold in a given period, especially if there is a major motion picture release. In the third quarter of 2018, the decrease in royalty expense both in dollars and as a percentage of revenues was driven primarily by declines in partner brand net revenues, and to a lesser extent, declines in TRANSFORMERS products related to the 2017 theatrical release TRANSFORMERS:THE LAST KNIGHT.

Product development expense for the third quarter of 2018 was $65.8 million, or 4.2% of net revenues, compared to $67.4 million, or 3.8% of net revenues, for the third quarter of 2017. The decline in dollars was driven by the capitalization of certain costs of the digital version of MAGIC: THE GATHERING in 2018 as it has reached the later stages of its development and has been launched in open beta format, as compared to costs that were expensed in 2017 based on the fact that the game was in its earlier stages of development. The increase as a percentage of sales reflects the lower revenue base in the third quarter of 2018.

Advertising expense for the third quarter of 2018 was $134.4 million, or 8.6% of net revenues, compared to $168.9 million, or 9.4% of net revenues, for the third quarter of 2017. The lower spend in advertising expense was primarily due to lower revenues in the third quarter of 2018.

Amortization of intangibles was $8.8 million, or 0.6% of net revenues for the third quarter of 2018 compared to $6.5 million, or 0.4% of net revenues, for the third quarter of 2017. The increase reflects amortization related to the POWER RANGERS acquisition partially offset by the full amortization of property rights related to Backflip and other intangible assets during 2017.

Program production cost amortization increased to $14.1 million or 0.9% of net revenues, for the third quarter of 2018 from $5.4 million, or 0.3% of net revenues, for the third quarter of 2017. Program production costs are capitalized as incurred and amortized using the individual-film-forecast method. The increase in dollars, and as a percent of net revenues, reflects amortization of production expense related to MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE and higher television programming amortization in the third quarter of 2018.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the Company's selling, distribution and administration expenses decreased to $272.4 million, or 17.4% of net revenues, from $312.5 million, also 17.4% of net revenues, for the quarter ended October 1, 2017. The decrease in dollars was driven by $18.0 million of bad debt expense recorded in the third quarter of 2017 related to Toys“R”Us, as well as lower marketing and sales costs in line with the reduction in sales volume.

First Nine Months of 2018

The Company's costs and expenses, stated as percentages of net revenues, are illustrated below for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

| Nine Months Ended |
| September 30, |  |  | October 1, |
| 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Cost of sales | 39.2 | % |  | 38.9 | %
Royalties | 7.6 |  |  | 7.8 |
Product development | 5.7 |  |  | 5.3 |
Advertising | 9.1 |  |  | 9.5 |
Amortization of intangibles | 0.6 |  |  | 0.6 |
Program production cost amortization | 1.0 |  |  | 0.4 |
Selling, distribution and administration | 26.8 |  |  | 22.5 |

Cost of sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 decreased to $1,249.1 million, or 39.2% of net revenues, from $1,405.0 million, or 38.9% of net revenues, for the nine months ended October 1, 2017. Costs of sales decreased in dollars primarily due to lower sales volumes compared to the third quarter of 2017. As a percent of net revenues, the cost of sales was slightly higher due to the mix of products sold in 2018 as well as higher costs related to excess inventories in 2018.

Royalty expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $241.0 million, or 7.6% of net revenues, compared to $282.8 million, or 7.8% of net revenues, for the nine months ended October 1, 2017. Fluctuations in royalty expense are generally related to the volume of entertainment-driven products sold in a given period, especially if there is a major motion picture release. In the first nine months of 2018, the decrease in royalty expense was driven primarily by overall declines in partner brand net revenues as well as decreases in revenues from movie-related TRANSFORMERS products, partially offset by accelerated royalty charges incurred as a result of the loss of Toys“R”Us product sales.

Product development expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 decreased to $183.1 million, or 5.7% of net revenues, from $192.8 million, or 5.3% of net revenues for the nine months ended October 1, 2017. Product development expenditures reflect the Company’s continued investment in innovation across our brand portfolio. The decline was partially the result of the capitalization of certain costs of the digital version of MAGIC: THE GATHERING in 2018 as it has been launched in open beta format, as compared to costs that were expensed in 2017 based on the fact that the game was in its earlier stages of development. The increase as a percentage of revenue reflects the lower revenue base in 2018.

Advertising expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $290.0 million, or 9.1% of net revenues, compared to $342.2 million, or 9.5% of net revenues, for the nine months ended October 1, 2017. The decrease in advertising expense was primarily due to lower revenues in the first nine months of 2018. Advertising expense was relatively consistent as a percent of net revenues.

Amortization of intangibles was $19.9 million, or 0.6% of net revenues, in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $22.3 million, or 0.6% of net revenues, in the first nine months of 2017. The decrease reflects the full amortization of property rights related to Backflip and other intangible assets during 2017, partially offset by the addition of amortization related to the acquisition of the Power Rangers brand in June 2018.

Program production cost amortization increased in the first nine months of 2018 to $33.4 million, or 1.0% of net revenues, from $16.2 million, or 0.4% of net revenues, in the first nine months of 2017. Program production costs are capitalized as incurred and amortized using the individual-film-forecast method. The increase in dollars and as a percent of net revenues reflects amortization of production expenses related to MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE and higher television programming amortization during the first nine months of 2018.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company's selling, distribution and administration expenses increased to $853.6 million or 26.8% of net revenues from $813.3 million or 22.5% of net revenues for the nine months ended October 1, 2017. The higher costs in 2018 were primarily driven by $60.3 million of bad debt and other expenses related to Toys“R”Us, as well as $17.3 million of severance costs related to the reorganization of the Company’s commercial organization. Administration expense in the nine months ended October 1, 2017 included an $18.0 million bad debt expense related to Toys “R” Us initial bankruptcy filing in September 2017. In addition to these expenses, the increase was also due to higher bad debt expense in the International segment and higher freight and warehousing expenses.

NON-OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSE

Interest expense for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 totaled $22.8 million and $68.4 million, respectively, compared to $25.1 million and $73.8 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively. In the third quarter of 2017, the Company refinanced $350 million of 6.3% notes that matured in September 2017 by issuing $500 million of 3.5% notes. The decrease in interest expense for the quarter and nine months primarily reflects the impact of the above refinancing and, to a lesser extent, lower short-term borrowings in 2018.

Interest income was $4.7 million and $17.2 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to $5.4 million and $16.0 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively. The decrease in the third quarter of 2018 reflects lower invested cash balances compared to 2017. The increase during the first nine months of 2018 reflects higher levels of invested cash and higher average interest rates in 2018 compared to 2017.

Other income, net of $0.6 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared to other income, net, of $8.6 million for the third quarter of 2017. Other income, net, of $6.2 million for the first nine months of 2018, compared to other income, net, of $26.0 million for same period in 2017. The decrease in other income, net in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 was primarily driven by foreign currency exchange losses in 2018 compared to foreign currency exchange gains in 2017. In addition, the adoption of a new pension accounting standard in 2018 resulted in pension expense recorded to other expense in 2018, that was previously reflected as administrative expense in 2017 and prior.

INCOME TAXES

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). The Tax Act made broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code which impacted 2017 including, but not limited to, reducing the U.S. federal corporate tax rate and requiring a one-time tax on certain unrepatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries.

On December 22, 2017, Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) established a one-year measurement period to complete the accounting for the income tax effects of the Tax Act according to standards provided by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (ASC 740). An entity recognizes the impact of those amounts for which the accounting is complete. For matters that have not been completed, provisional amounts are recorded to the extent they can be reasonably estimated. For amounts for which a reasonable estimate cannot be determined, no adjustment is made until such estimate can be completed.

Income tax expense totaled $31.9 million on pre-tax earnings of $295.8 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to income tax expense of $84.3 million on pre-tax earnings of $349.8 million in the third quarter of 2017. For the nine-month period, income tax expense totaled $63.9 million on pre-tax earnings of $275.5 million in 2018 compared to income tax expense of $105.7 million on pre-tax earnings of $507.6 million in 2017. Both periods, as well as the full year 2017, were impacted by discrete tax events including the accrual of potential interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions. During the first nine months of 2018, unfavorable discrete tax adjustments were a net expense of $10.6 million compared to a net benefit of $15.6 million in the first nine months of 2017. The unfavorable discrete tax adjustments for the first nine months of 2018 primarily relate to changes in guidance on U.S. tax reform, which resulted in the reversal of a tax benefit recorded in 2017 and additional repatriation tax liability, partially offset by excess tax benefits on share-based payments and audit settlements. Absent discrete items, the underlying tax rates for the first nine months of 2018 and 2017 were 17.6% and 23.9%, respectively. The decrease in the underlying tax rate of 17.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is primarily due to the tax impact of the lower U.S. corporate tax rate.

Prior to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Company previously considered the earnings in non-U.S. subsidiaries to be indefinitely reinvested and, accordingly, recorded no deferred income taxes. The Tax Act eliminates the deferral of U.S. income tax on these foreign earnings by imposing a transition tax which is a one-time mandatory deemed repatriation tax. As a result, the Company now intends to repatriate substantially all of the accumulated foreign earnings. The Company still has significant cash needs outside the United States and we are currently analyzing our global working capital and cash requirements. However, tax reform gives the Company flexibility to manage cash globally. In 2017, the Company recorded $1,657 of non-US local country withholding taxes as part of the provisional repatriation tax amount, which will be incurred due to certain future cash distributions. In the third quarter, the Company recorded an additional $2,412 of net tax that reflects the state and local impact of proposed dividends from non-US subsidiaries to the parent Company. The Company will continue to record these additional tax effects, if any, in the period that the on-going distribution analysis is completed and is able to make reasonable estimates.

OTHER INFORMATION

Business Seasonality and Shipments

Historically, the Company's revenue pattern has shown the second half of the year to be more significant to its overall business than the first half. The Company expects that this concentration will continue, particularly as more of its business has shifted to larger customers with order patterns concentrated in the second half of the year around the holiday season. The concentration of sales in the second half of the year increases the risk of (a) underproduction of popular items, (b) overproduction of less popular items, and (c) failure to achieve compressed shipping schedules.

The toy and game business is characterized by customer order patterns which vary from year to year largely because of differences each year in the degree of consumer acceptance of product lines, product availability, marketing strategies and inventory policies of retailers, the dates of theatrical releases of major motion pictures for which the Company sells products, and changes in overall economic conditions. As a result, comparisons of the Company's unshipped orders on any date with those at the same date in a prior year are not necessarily indicative of the Company's expected sales for the year. Moreover, quick response inventory management practices result in fewer orders being placed significantly in advance of shipment and more orders being placed for immediate delivery. Although the Company may receive orders from customers in advance, it is a general industry practice that these orders are subject to amendment or cancellation by customers prior to shipment and, as such, the Company does not believe that these unshipped orders, at any given date, are indicative of future sales.

Accounting Pronouncement Updates

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606 or the New Revenue Standard) using the modified retrospective method. ASC 606 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605 – Revenue Recognition and most industry-specific guidance in U.S. GAAP. The New Revenue Standard provides a five-step model for analyzing contracts and transactions to determine when, how, and if revenue is recognized. Revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The cumulative impact of the adoption of the New Revenue Standard was not material to the Company therefore the Company did not record any adjustments to retained earnings. This was determined by analyzing contracts not completed as of January 1, 2018. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods.

Revenue recognition from the sale of finished product to customers, which is the majority of the Company’s revenues, did not change under the new standard and the Company does not expect material changes in the future as a result of the New Revenue Standard related to the sale of finished product to its customers. Within the Company’s Entertainment and Licensing segment, the timing of revenue recognition for minimum guarantees that the Company receives from licensees is impacted by the New Revenue Standard. Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, for licenses of the Company’s brands that are subject to minimum guaranteed license fees, the Company recognized the difference between the minimum guaranteed amount and the actual royalties earned from licensee merchandise sales (“shortfalls”) at the end of the contract period, which was in the fourth quarter for most of the Company’s licensee arrangements. In periods following January 1, 2018, minimum guaranteed amounts will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the license period. While the impact of this change will not be material to the year, it will impact the timing of revenue recognition within the Company’s Entertainment and Licensing segment such that under ASC 606, less revenues will be recorded in the fourth quarter and more revenues will be recorded within the first, second, and third quarters. No other areas of the Company’s business were materially impacted by the New Revenue Standard. Refer to Notes 1 and 2 of our Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (ASU 2016-02), which will require lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for virtually all leases. The liability will be based on the present value of lease payments and the asset will be based on the liability. For income statement purposes, a dual model was retained requiring leases to be either classified as operating or finance. Operating leases will result in straight-line expense while finance leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern. Additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures will be required. ASU 2016-02 is required for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. ASU 2016-02 as originally issued required modified retrospective adoption. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, which provides an alternative transition method in addition to the existing method by allowing entities to apply ASU 2016-02 as of the adoption date and recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company has evaluated the requirements of ASU 2016-02, including updates issued to the standard in 2018, and is continuing to assess its potential impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company expects to adopt the new standard on its effective date at the start of fiscal year 2019. The Company has a significant number of leases globally, primarily for property and office equipment, and is in the process of identifying and evaluating these leases as well as designing systems and processes to properly record these leases in relation to the requirements of ASU 2016-02. For each of these leases, the term will be evaluated, including extension and renewal options as well as the lease payments associated with the leases. The standard also includes certain practical expedients that may be used in the adoption of the standard. These practical expedients which the Company expects to use in the adoption include the election not to reassess: (i) whether expired or existing contracts contain a lease under the new definition of a lease under the standard; (ii) lease classification for expired or existing leases; and (iii) whether previously capitalized initial direct costs would qualify for capitalization under the standard. The Company is in the process of evaluating which of the other practical expedients it will use when adopting the standard. The Company does not expect that its results of operations will be materially impacted by this standard. Currently under provisions of an operating lease, neither an obligation nor an asset is recorded and lease payments are expensed when incurred. The Company expects to record right-of-use assets and liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets upon the adoption of this standard, which may be material. The adoption of this standard will not have an impact on the Company’s cash flows.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (ASC 230) – Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice across all industries, in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 was effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted this standard in 2018 and the adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company’s statement of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-16 (ASU 2016-16), Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. For public companies, this standard was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted. The standard requires that the income tax impact of intra-entity sales and transfers of property, except for inventory, be recognized when the transfer occurs requiring any deferred taxes not yet recognized on intra-entity transfers to be recorded to retained earnings. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2018 and the adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s results or consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-07 (ASU 2017-07), Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The standard requires companies to present the service cost component of net benefit cost in the income statement line items where they report compensation cost. Companies will present all other components of net benefit cost outside operating income, if this subtotal is presented. For public companies, this standard was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption was permitted. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2018 and the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s results or consolidated financial statements in the quarter or nine-month period ended September 30, 2018.

In January 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-01(“ASU 2017-01”), Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The standard clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of providing guidance when evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. For public companies, this standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. For further details, see Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02 (ASU 2018-02), Income Statement -Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The standard provides for a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) to retained earnings, of disproportionate income tax effects (“stranded tax effects”) arising from the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. For public companies, this standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2018-02 in the first quarter of 2018. The impact of the adoption resulted in a decrease to AOCI in the amount of $21.5 million with a corresponding increase to retained earnings.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017- 04 (ASU 2017-04), Intangibles -Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The standard eliminates the requirement to measure the implied fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all assets and liabilities within that unit (“the Step 2 test”) from the goodwill impairment test. Instead, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited by the amount of goodwill in that reporting unit. For public companies, this standard is effective and must be applied to annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the standard, but expects that it will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-12 (ASU 2017-12), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the underlying hedged item in the financial statements. The impact of the standard includes elimination of the requirement to separately measure and recognize hedge ineffectiveness and requires the presentation of fair value adjustments to hedging instruments to be included in the same income statement line as the hedged item. For public companies, this standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the standard but does not expect the standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-13 (ASU 2018-13), Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in this update modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, specifically related to disclosures surrounding Level 3 asset balances, fair value measurement methods, related gains and losses and fair value hierarchy transfers. For public companies, this standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the standard but does not expect the standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-14 (ASU 2018-14) Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Subtopic 715-20)-Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. The amendments in this update modify the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. For public companies, this standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the standard but does not expect the standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Recent Securities and Exchange Commission Rulings

In August 2018, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued a final ruling amending numerous SEC rules covering a diverse group of topics. One noteworthy rule change expands disclosure requirements related to changes in shareholders’ equity by extending to interim periods, the annual requirement of SEC Regulation S-X, Rule 3-04, of presenting changes in stockholders’ equity. An analysis of changes in stockholders’ equity in the form of a reconciliation will be required for the current and comparative year-to-date interim periods effective for all filings submitted on or after November 5, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the ruling and expects to include a statement of stockholders’ equity in its interim reports beginning with the first quarter 2019, similar to the statement included annually in the Company’s 10-k report.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company has historically generated a significant amount of cash from operations. In the first nine months of 2018 and 2017 the Company funded its operations and liquidity needs primarily through cash flows from operations, and, when needed, used borrowings under its available lines of credit and commercial paper program.

The Company believes that the funds available to it, including cash expected to be generated from operations and funds available through its available lines of credit and commercial paper program, are adequate to meet its working capital needs for the remainder of 2018 and through 2019. However, unexpected events or circumstances such as material operating losses or increased capital or other expenditures may reduce or eliminate the availability of external financial resources. In addition, significant disruptions to credit markets may also reduce or eliminate the availability of external financial resources. Although management believes the risk of nonperformance by the counterparties to the Company's financial facilities is not significant, in times of severe economic downturn in the credit markets it is possible that one or more sources of external financing may be unable or unwilling to provide funding to the Company.

In September 2017, the Company issued $500.0 million in principal amount of Notes Due 2027 that bear interest at a rate of 3.50%. Net proceeds of the Notes offering, after deduction of the underwriting discount and debt issuance expenses, totaled approximately $493.9 million. The Company may redeem the Notes at its option at the greater of the principal amount of the Notes or the present value of the remaining scheduled payments using the effective interest rate on applicable U.S. Treasury bills plus 25 basis points. In addition, on or after June 15, 2027, the Company may redeem at its option, any portion of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed. The proceeds from the issuance of the Notes were used, primarily, to repay $350 million aggregate principal amount of the 6.30% Notes Due 2017 upon maturity, including accrued and unpaid interest. The remaining net proceeds were utilized for general corporate and working capital purposes.

As of September 30, 2018, the Company's cash and cash equivalents totaled $907.1 million, the majority of which is currently held outside of the United States. Prior to 2017, deferred income taxes had not been provided on the majority of undistributed earnings of international subsidiaries as such earnings were indefinitely reinvested by the Company. Accordingly, such international cash balances were not available to fund cash requirements in the United States unless the Company was to change its reinvestment policy. The Company has maintained sufficient sources of cash in the United States to fund cash requirements without the need to repatriate any funds. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law which provides significant changes to the U.S. tax system including the elimination of the ability to defer U.S. income tax on unrepatriated earnings by imposing a one-time mandatory deemed repatriation tax on undistributed foreign earnings, estimated to be $299.9 million as of September 30, 2018. As a result, in the future, the related earnings in foreign jurisdictions will be made available with greater investment flexibility. The majority of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents held outside of the United States as of September 30, 2018 is denominated in the U.S. dollar.

Because of the seasonality in the Company's cash flow, management believes that on an interim basis, rather than discussing only its cash flows, a better understanding of its liquidity and capital resources can be obtained through a discussion of the various balance sheet categories as well. Also, as several of the major categories, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventories and short-term borrowings, fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter, due to the seasonality of its business, management believes that a comparison to the comparable period in the prior year is generally more meaningful than a comparison to the prior quarter or prior year-end.

The table below outlines key financial information pertaining to our consolidated balance sheets including the period-over-period changes.

| September 30, |  | October 1, |  | %
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | Change
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 907.1 |  |  | 1,244.8 |  | -27 | %
Accounts receivable, net |  | 1,391.2 |  |  | 1,655.8 |  | -16 | %
Inventories |  | 610.9 |  |  | 629.1 |  | -3 | %
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |  | 283.2 |  |  | 232.6 |  | 22 | %
Other assets |  | 743.1 |  |  | 722.1 |  | 3 | %
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |  | 1,301.6 |  |  | 1,295.7 |  | 0 | %
Other liabilities |  | 591.4 |  |  | 410.4 |  | 44 | %

Accounts receivable decreased 16% to $1,391.2 million at September 30, 2018, compared to $1,655.8 million at October 1, 2017. The decrease reflects the impact of a $48.8 million decline from foreign exchange translation and a decrease resulting from the 12% decrease in net revenues in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the third quarter of 2017. The balance at September 30, 2018 includes a $77.0 million allowance for doubtful accounts related to Toys“R”Us. Days sales outstanding decreased to 81 days at September 30, 2018 from 84 days at October 1, 2017 primarily reflecting improved collections.

Inventories decreased 3% to $610.9 million at September 30, 2018 from $629.1 million at October 1, 2017. The decrease relates primarily to unfavorable foreign currency translation of $23.7 million in 2018. Absent this impact, inventories at September 30, 2018 were consistent with inventories at October 1, 2017.

Prepaid expenses and other current assets increased 22% to $283.2 million at September 30, 2018 from $232.6 million at October 1, 2017. The increase was related to higher accrued royalty income related to the adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC-606) and higher unrealized gains on foreign exchange contracts. These increases were offset by lower prepaid advertising balances as a result of lower advertising spending in 2018.

Other assets increased approximately 3% to $743.1 million at September 30, 2018 from $722.1 million at October 1, 2017. The increase was primarily related to higher capitalized movie and television production costs, net of related production rebates, primarily for the Company’s share of costs related to BUMBLEBEE, the theatrical release to be produced jointly with Paramount Pictures, expected in December of 2018, as well as higher long-term receivable balances related to the long-term portion of a multi-year digital distribution agreement for Hasbro television programming. These increases were partially offset by lower deferred tax asset balances reflecting the decrease in the Company’s U.S. tax rate as a result of tax reform enacted in the fourth quarter of 2017, lower long-term royalty advances and a lower long-term note receivable balance at September 30, 2018 due to scheduled payments.

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities remained flat at $1,301.6 million at September 30, 2018 from $1,295.7 million at October 1, 2017. Contributing to the balance at September 30, 2018 were accrued liabilities related to the remaining amounts due for the Power Rangers acquisition, higher deferred revenue balances related to the launch of the online version of MAGIC: THE GATHERING and the licensing of other digital assets, severance charges accrued during the first quarter of 2018 in addition to higher accrued dividends due to a higher dividend rate in 2018 and higher accrued tax balances related to value added taxes, primarily in Europe. These increases were partially offset by lower accrued advertising reflecting the lower level of expense in 2018, a lower liability for foreign currency forward contracts as the result of a strengthening U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies, and lower accrued employee compensation balances.

Other liabilities increased 44% to $591.4 million at September 30, 2018 from $410.4 million at October 1, 2017. The increase is primarily due to the $249.8 million estimated long-term portion of the repatriation tax liability related to U.S. Tax Reform passed in the fourth quarter of 2017. This increase is partially offset by a decrease in the tax liability owed to Discovery Communications Inc. as the result of re-measurement based on new U.S. tax rates in 2018, as well as a decrease in the Company’s reserves for uncertain tax positions.

Cash Flow

Net cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2018 was $174.7 million compared to $201.8 million in the first nine months of 2017. The reduction in cash flow from operations primarily reflects lower earnings in the first nine months of 2018 as compared to the first nine months of 2017 as well as higher film production costs in 2018 relating to the production of the BUMBLEBEE film, which is scheduled to be released in theaters in December 2018. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, net cash provided by operating activities was $724.4 million.

Net cash utilized by investing activities was $250.9 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $97.0 million in the first nine months of 2017. The increase in cash used reflects cash payments of $155.5 million related to the acquisition of Power Rangers during the second quarter of 2018. The Company has a remaining payment of $75 million related to the acquisition that is due in January 2019 and is scheduled to release the $25 million escrow payment by June 2019. Additions to property, plant and equipment were $104.0 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $102.5 million in the first nine months of 2017.

Net cash utilized by financing activities was $578.6 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $161.3 million in the first nine months of 2017. Financing activities in the first nine months of 2017 reflect the proceeds from the issuance of $500.0 million in principal amount of Notes Due 2027 that bear interest at a rate of 3.50%. Net proceeds of the Notes offering, after deduction of the underwriting discount and debt issuance expenses, totaled approximately $493.9 million. In addition, financing activities in the nine months ended October 1, 2017 include the repayment of $350 million aggregate principal amount of the 6.30% Notes Due 2017 upon maturity. Cash payments related to purchases of the Company's common stock were $187.9 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $112.2 million in the first nine months of 2017. At September 30, 2018, the Company had $485.7 million remaining available under its current share repurchase authorization approved by the Board of Directors. Dividends paid in the first nine months of 2018 totaled $229.6 million compared to $206.0 million in the first nine months of 2017 reflecting a higher dividend rate commencing with the May 2018 dividend payments. Net repayments of short-term borrowings were $131.6 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to net proceeds from short-term borrowings of $15.7 million in the first nine months of 2017 reflecting lower short-term borrowings in 2018. Financing activities in the first nine months of 2018 and 2017 include payments of $58.3 million and $32.0 million, respectively, relating to tax payments made to tax authorities for which shares were withheld from employees’ share-based payment awards.

Sources and Uses of Cash

The Company has an agreement with a group of banks for a commercial paper program (the "Program"). Under the Program, at the request of the Company and subject to market conditions, the banks may either purchase from the Company, or arrange for the sale by the Company, of unsecured commercial paper notes. Under the Program the Company may issue notes from time to time up to an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any given time of $1,000.0 million. The maturities of the notes may vary but may not exceed 397 days. The notes are sold under customary terms in the commercial paper market and are issued at a discount or par, or alternatively, sold at par and bear varying interest rates based on a fixed or floating rate basis. The interest rates vary based on market conditions and the ratings assigned to the notes by the credit rating agencies at the time of issuance. Subject to market conditions, the Company intends to utilize the Program as its primary short-term borrowing facility and does not intend to sell unsecured commercial paper notes in excess of the available amount under the revolving credit agreement discussed below. If, for any reason, the Company is unable to access the commercial paper market, the Company intends to use the revolving credit agreement to meet the Company's short-term liquidity needs. At September 30, 2018, the Company had no outstanding borrowings related to the Program.

The Company has a revolving credit agreement (the "Agreement"), which provides it with a $1,000.0 million committed borrowing facility. The Agreement contains certain financial covenants setting forth leverage and coverage requirements, and certain other limitations typical of an investment grade facility, including with respect to liens, mergers and incurrence of indebtedness. Prior to September 2017, the Agreement provided for a $700.0 million revolving credit facility. During the third quarter of 2017 and pursuant to the Agreement, the Company proposed and the Lenders agreed to increase the committed borrowing facility from $700.0 million to $1,000.0 million. The Company was in compliance with all covenants as of and for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. The Company had no borrowings outstanding under its committed revolving credit facility at September 30, 2018. However, the Company had letters of credit outstanding under this facility as of September 30, 2018 of approximately $1.5 million. Amounts available and unused under the committed line, less outstanding balances under the commercial paper program, as of September 30, 2018 were approximately $998.5 million. The Company also has other uncommitted lines from various banks, of which approximately $59.1 million was utilized at September 30, 2018, including $38.8 million of outstanding letters of credit and $20.3 million of outstanding borrowings.

The Company has principal amounts of long-term debt at September 30, 2018 of $1,709.9 million, due at varying times from 2021 through 2044. The Company also had letters of credit of approximately $40.3 million and purchase commitments of approximately $326.5 million outstanding at September 30, 2018.

Other contractual obligations and commercial commitments, as detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, were impacted by the Power Rangers acquisition. The Company has a remaining payment of $75 million on the acquisition that is due in January 2019 as well as the balance of a $25 million escrow account, subject to adjustment, scheduled to release by June 2019. Outside of these changes, the other contractual obligations and commercial commitments as detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 did not materially change outside of payments made in the normal course of business and as otherwise set forth in this report. The table of contractual obligations and commercial commitments, as detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, does not include certain tax liabilities recorded related to uncertain tax positions. These liabilities were $84.4 million at September 30, 2018, and are included as a component of other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The Company believes that cash from operations, and, if necessary, its committed line of credit and other borrowing facilities, will allow the Company to meet its obligations over the next twelve months.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES

The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. As such, management is required to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that it believes are reasonable based on the information available. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the periods presented. The significant accounting policies which management believes are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating the Company's reported financial results include recoverability of goodwill and income taxes. These critical accounting policies are the same as those detailed in the 2017 Form 10-K.

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The Company is exposed to market risks attributable to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, primarily as the result of sourcing products priced in U.S. dollars, Hong Kong dollars and Euros while marketing those products in more than twenty currencies. Results of operations may be affected primarily by changes in the value of the U.S. dollar, Hong Kong dollar, Euro, British pound sterling, Brazilian real, Russian ruble and Mexican peso and, to a lesser extent, other currencies in Latin American and Asia Pacific countries.

To manage this exposure, the Company has hedged a portion of its forecasted foreign currency transactions for fiscal years 2018 through 2022 using foreign exchange forward contracts. The Company is also exposed to foreign currency risk with respect to its net cash and cash equivalents or short-term borrowing positions in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Company believes, however, that the on-going risk on the net exposure should not be material to its financial condition. In addition, the Company's revenues and costs have been, and will likely continue to be, affected by changes in foreign currency rates. A significant change in foreign exchange rates can materially impact the Company's revenues and earnings due to translation of foreign-denominated revenues and expenses. The Company does not hedge against translation impacts of foreign exchange. From time to time, affiliates of the Company may make or receive intercompany loans in currencies other than their functional currency. The Company manages this exposure at the time the loan is made by using foreign exchange contracts. Other than as set forth above, the Company does not hedge foreign currency exposures.

The Company reflects all forward contracts at their fair value as an asset or liability on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company does not speculate in foreign currency exchange contracts. At September 30, 2018, these contracts had net unrealized gains of $17.9 million, of which $11.9 million of unrealized gains are recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets, $8.1 million of unrealized gains are recorded in other assets, $0.6 million of unrealized losses are recorded in accrued liabilities and $1.5 million of unrealized losses are recorded in other liabilities. Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2018 are deferred gains, net of tax, of $12.3 million, related to these derivatives.

At September 30, 2018, the Company had fixed rate long-term debt of $1,709.9 million. Of this long-term debt, $600 million represents the aggregate issuance of long-term debt in May 2014 which consists of $300 million of 3.15% Notes Due 2021 and $300 million of 5.10% Notes Due 2044. Prior to the May 2014 debt issuance, the Company entered into forward-starting interest rate swap agreements with a total notional value of $500 million to hedge the anticipated underlying U.S. Treasury interest rate. These interest rate swaps were matched with this debt issuance and were designated and effective as hedges of the change in future interest payments. At the date of debt issuance, the Company terminated these interest rate swap agreements and their fair value at the date of issuance was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and is being amortized through the consolidated statements of operations using an effective interest rate method over the life of the related debt. Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2018 are deferred losses, net of tax, of $19.7 million related to these derivatives.

Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The information required by this item is included in Part I Item 2. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4. | Controls and Procedures.

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2018. Based on the evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

There were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. | Legal Proceedings.

On or about September 28, 2018, a putative securities class action complaint was filed against the Company and certain of our officers and/or directors in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, on behalf of all purchasers of Hasbro common stock between April 24, 2017 and October 23, 2017, inclusive. The complaint alleges violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, alleging that Defendants purportedly made materially false and misleading statements in connection with the financial condition of Toys "R" Us, Inc. and its impact on the Company, as well as the financial impact on the Company’s business of economic conditions in the United Kingdom and Brazil. Defendants deny liability and intend to vigorously defend the action.

The Company is currently party to certain other legal proceedings, none of which it believes to be material to its business or financial condition.

Item 1A. | Risk Factors.

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, concerning management's expectations, goals, objectives, and similar matters. These forward-looking statements may include statements concerning the Company's product and entertainment plans, anticipated product and entertainment performance, business opportunities and strategies, financial and business goals, expectations for achieving the Company's goals and objectives, cost savings and efficiency enhancing initiatives and other objectives and anticipated uses of cash and may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "intend," "look forward," "may," "planned," "potential," "should," "will," and "would" or any variations of words with similar meanings. These forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties.

The Company's actual results or experience may differ materially from those expected or anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The Company has included, under Item 1A. of its Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2017 (the "Annual Report"), a discussion of factors which may impact these forward-looking statements. In furtherance, and not in limitation, of the more detailed discussion set forth in the Annual Report, specific factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to:

· the Company’s ability to successfully grow its franchise and key partner brands, which constitute a substantial majority of the Company’s total revenues;

· the Company's ability to successfully re-imagine, re-invent and re-ignite its existing brands, products and product lines, including through the use of immersive entertainment experiences, to keep them fresh and relevant and to maintain and further their success;

· the Company's ability to successfully design, develop, produce, introduce, market and sell innovative new brands, products and product lines which achieve and sustain interest from retailers and consumers and keep pace with changes in consumer preferences and technology;

· the Company's ability to offer products that (i) expand consumer demand for its product offerings and do not significantly compete with the Company's other existing product offerings and (ii) consumers want to purchase and select over competitors' products;

· successful brand and/or product introductions from competitors that capture market share and sales from the Company;

· the Company's ability to source and ship products in a timely and cost-effective manner and customers' and consumers' acceptance and purchase of those products in quantities and at prices that will be sufficient to profitably recover the Company's costs for developing, marketing and selling those products;

· the Company’s ability to successfully evolve and transform its business to address a changing global consumer landscape and retail environment, one in which online shopping and digital first marketing are becoming more and more critical, and difficulties or delays the Company may experience in successfully implementing and developing new capabilities and making the changes to its business that are required to be successful under these changing marketplace conditions;

· recessions, other economic downturns, challenging economic conditions, unfavorable changes in exchange rates or economic uncertainty affecting one or more of the Company's significant markets including, without limitation, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Russia, which can negatively impact the financial health of the Company's customers and consumers, and which can result in lower employment levels, lower consumer disposable income and lower consumer spending, including lower spending on purchases of the Company's products;

· currency fluctuations, including movements in foreign exchange rates, which can lower the Company's net revenues and earnings, and significantly impact the Company's costs;

· other economic and public health conditions or regulatory changes in the markets in which the Company and its customers and suppliers operate, which could create delays or increase the Company's costs, such as higher commodity prices, labor costs or higher transportation costs, or outbreaks of diseases;

· delays, increased costs, lack of consumer acceptance or other difficulties associated with the development and offering of our or our partners' entertainment and media initiatives related to products offered by the Company;

· the risk that the market appeal of the Company's licensed products will be less than expected or that sales revenue generated by these products will be insufficient to cover the minimum guaranteed royalties or other commitments;

· the concentration of the Company's retail customers, potentially increasing the negative impact to the Company of difficulties, including bankruptcies, experienced by any of the Company's retail customers or changes in their purchasing or selling patterns;

· an adverse change in purchasing policies or promotional programs, or the bankruptcy or other economic difficulties or lack of success, of one or more of the Company's significant retailers comprising its relatively concentrated retail customer base, which could negatively impact the Company's revenues or bad debt exposure;

· the impact of the bankruptcy of Toys“R”Us in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and the subsequent liquidation of the Toys“R”Us business in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, as well as the economic difficulty of Toys“R”Us in other markets, or the bankruptcy or lack of success of a smaller retail customer of the Company, such as Sears Holdings Corporation, any of which could negatively impact the Company’s revenues, result in lost sales to customers, create bad debt expense and create other challenges for the Company and its financial performance as the Company attempts to recapture this lost business through other customers or channels, and any inability or delay of the Company in recapturing all of the lost business;

· uncertainty as to the future of the Toys“R”Us business elsewhere in the world, and associated reductions in sales to Toys“R”Us or bad debt expenses;

· the Company's ability to generate sales during the second half of the year, particularly during the relatively brief holiday shopping season, which is the period in which the Company derives a substantial portion of its revenues and earnings;

· the inventory policies of the Company's retail and e-commerce customers, including potential decisions to lower their inventories, even if it results in lost sales, as well as the concentration of the Company's revenues in the second half of the year, which coupled with reliance by retailers on quick response inventory management techniques, increases the risk of underproduction of popular items, overproduction of less popular items and failure to achieve compressed shipping schedules;

· the impact of retail inventory overhang in one or more of our key markets, which can reduce purchases of our products from our customers and lower our revenues and profitability;

· our ability to evolve our business quickly and efficiently to respond to the challenges of today’s converged retail environment;

· work stoppages or disruptions which may impact the Company's ability to manufacture or deliver products in a timely and cost-effective manner;

· concentration of manufacturing of the substantial majority of the Company's products by third party vendors in the People's Republic of China and the associated impact to the Company of social, economic or public health conditions and other factors affecting China, the movement of people and products into and out of China, the cost of producing products in China and the cost of exporting them to the Company's other markets or affecting the exchange rates for the Chinese Renminbi, including, without limitation, the impact of tariffs or other trade restrictions being imposed upon goods manufactured for the Company in China and exported to other markets, which could significantly increase the price of the Company’s products and substantially harm sales if applied to any significant amount of the Company’s products;

· tariffs and other trade restrictions impacting the cost of producing our products and importing them into markets around the world for sale, which could significantly increase the price of the Company’s products and substantially harm sales;

· the ability of the Company to successfully develop, produce and distribute motion pictures under its relationship with Paramount Pictures Corporation, and consumer interest in those motion pictures and related merchandise;

· consumer interest in and acceptance of programming and entertainment created by Hasbro Studios and/or Allspark Pictures, as well as products related to such programming and entertainment, and other factors impacting the financial performance of Hasbro Studios, Allspark Pictures and the Discovery Family Channel;

· the ability to develop and distribute compelling entertainment, including television, motion pictures and digital content, based on our brands, in a timely and financially profitable manner, and the success of that entertainment in driving consumer interest in and engagement with our brands;

· the ability of the Company to hire and retain key officers and employees who are critical to the Company's success;

· the costs of complying with product safety and consumer protection requirements worldwide, including the risk that greater regulation in the future may increase such costs, may require changes in the Company's products and/or may impact the Company's ability to sell some products in particular markets in the absence of making changes to such products;

· the risk that one of the Company's third-party manufacturers will not comply with applicable labor, consumer protection, product safety or other laws or regulations, or with aspects of the Company's Global Business Ethics Principles, and that such noncompliance will not be promptly detected, either of which could cause damage to the Company's reputation, harm sales of its products, result in product recalls and potentially create other liabilities for the Company;

· the risk the Company will lose rights to a significant licensed property or properties, which will harm the Company's revenues and earnings;

· the risk that the Company may face product recalls or product liability suits relating to products it manufactures or distributes which may have significant direct costs to the Company and which may also harm the reputation of the Company and its products, potentially harming future product sales;

· the impact of competition on revenues, margins and other aspects of the Company's business, including the ability to offer Company products which consumers choose to buy instead of competitor’s products, the ability to secure, maintain and renew popular licenses and the ability to attract and retain employees;

· the risk that anticipated benefits of acquisitions or investments may not occur or be delayed or reduced in their realization;

· the risk that any litigation or arbitration disputes or government and regulatory investigations could entail significant resources and expense and result in significant fines or other harm to the Company's business or reputation;

· the Company's ability to maintain or obtain external financing on terms acceptable to it in order to meet working capital needs;

· the risk that one or more of the counterparties to the Company's financing arrangements may experience financial difficulties or otherwise be unable or unwilling to allow the Company to access financing under such arrangements;

· unforeseen circumstances, such as severe softness in or collapse of the retail and/or banking environment that may result in a significant decline in revenues and operating results of the Company, thereby causing the Company to be in non-compliance with its debt covenants and the Company being unable to utilize borrowings under its revolving credit facility, a circumstance likely to occur when operating shortfalls would result in the Company being in the greatest need of such supplementary borrowings;

· market conditions, third party actions or approvals, the impact of competition and other factors that could delay or increase the cost of implementation of the Company's programs, or alter the Company's actions and reduce actual results;

· the risk that the Company may be subject to governmental penalties, fines, sanctions or additional taxes for failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations in any of the markets in which it operates, or that governmental regulations or requirements will require changes in the manner in which the Company does business and/or increase the costs of doing business;

· failure to operate our information systems and implement new technology effectively, as well as maintain the systems and processes designed to protect our electronic data and the data of our customers, consumers and employees, including the damage that could result from a breach of any of that data;

· the risk that the Company's reported goodwill may become impaired, requiring the Company to take a charge against its income;

· changes in foreign exchange rates and other potential regulations, increased costs and/or economic uncertainty associated with the United Kingdom (“UK”) vote to leave the European Union (“EU”), commonly referred to as Brexit, may harm our sales and the profitability of our business in the UK and the EU; or

· other risks and uncertainties as are or may be detailed from time to time in the Company's public announcements and filings with the SEC, such as filings on Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K.

The Company undertakes no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of the filing of this report.

Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Repurchases Made in the Quarter (in whole dollars and number of shares)

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (d)
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Maximum
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Number (or
|  |  |  |  |  |  | (c) Total |  | Approximate
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Number of |  | Dollar
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Shares (or |  | Value) of
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Units) |  | Shares (or
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Purchased |  | Units) that
| (a) Total |  | (b) |  | as Part of |  | May Yet Be
| Number of |  | Average |  | Publicly |  | Purchased
| Shares (or |  | Price Paid |  | Announced |  | Under the
Period | Units) |  | per Share |  | Plans or |  | Plans or
| Purchased |  | (or Unit) |  | Programs |  | Programs
July 2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
7/2/18 – 7/29/18 |  | 397,964 |  | $ | 95.43 |  |  | 397,964 |  | $ | 527,122,037
August 2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
7/30/18 – 9/2/18 |  | 125,754 |  | $ | 99.38 |  |  | 125,754 |  | $ | 514,624,424
September 2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
9/3/18 – 9/30/18 |  | 277,748 |  | $ | 104.29 |  |  | 277,748 |  | $ | 485,659,275
Total |  | 801,466 |  | $ | 99.12 |  |  | 801,466 |  | $ | 485,659,275

In May 2018, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $500 million of common stock. Purchases of the Company's common stock may be made from time to time, subject to market conditions. These shares may be repurchased in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The Company has no obligation to repurchase shares under this authorization, and the timing, actual number, and value of the shares that are repurchased will depend on a number of factors, including the price of the Company's stock and the Company’s generation of, and uses for, cash. The Company may suspend or discontinue the program at any time and there is no expiration date.

Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

Item 5. | Other Information.

None.

Item 6. | Exhibits.

3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 2, 2000, File No. 1-6682.)

3.2 Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, dated June 28, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 2, 2000, File No. 1-6682.)

3.3 Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, dated May 19, 2003. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 29, 2003, File No. 1-6682.)

3.4 Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(d) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, File No. 1-6682.)

3.5 Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 6, 2014, File No. 1-6682.)

3.6 Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 5, 2015, File No. 1-6682.)

3.7 Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 10, 2015, File No. 1-6682.)

3.8 Certificate of Designations of Series C Junior Participating Preference Stock of Hasbro, Inc. dated June 29, 1999. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 2, 2000, File No. 1-6682.)

3.9 Certificate of Vote(s) authorizing a decrease of class or series of any class of shares. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 2, 2000, File No 1-6682.)

4.1 Indenture, dated as of July 17, 1998, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor Trustee to Citibank, N.A. as Trustee. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 14, 1998, File No. 1-6682.)

4.2 Indenture, dated as of March 15, 2000, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor Trustee to the Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company of New York. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(b)(i) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 1999, File No. 1-6682.)

4.3 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 17, 2007, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor Trustee to the Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company of New York. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 17, 2007, File No. 1-6682.)

4.4 Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2009, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor Trustee to the Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company of New York. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 13, 2009, File No. 1-6682.)

4.5 Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 11, 2010, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor Trustee to the Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company of New York. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 11, 2010, File No. 1-6682.)

4.6 Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 13, 2014, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor Trustee to the Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company of New York. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 13, 2014, file No. 1-6682.)

4.7 Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated September 13, 2017, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor Trustee to the Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company of New York. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 13, 2017, file No. 1-6682.)

10.1 August 1, 2018 Amendment to the Employment Agreement, between Mr. Goldner and the Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 1, 2018, File No. 1-6682.)

10.2 Employment Agreement between Mr. Frascotti and the Company, dated August 1, 2018. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 1, 2018, File No. 1-6682.)

31.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

31.2 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

32.1* Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

32.2* Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

101.INS XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document

101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

* Furnished herewith.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

| HASBRO, INC.
| (Registrant)
Date: November 1, 2018 | By: /s/ Deborah Thomas
| Deborah Thomas
| Executive Vice President and
| Chief Financial Officer
| (Duly Authorized Officer and
| Principal Financial Officer)