Hasbro Buys Irish Animation Company Boulder Media

Toy company Hasbro Inc. said Wednesday it has acquired Irish animation company Boulder Media for an undisclosed sum. Boulder has produced series for a range of networks, including Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney and BBC, and will continue to do so while also producing animated products for Hasbro's biggest brands, the company said in a statement. Boulder was founded in 2000 by Robert Cullen and employs about 150 full-time staffers. The company will retain its brand and report to Stephen Davis, head of Hasbro's entertainment and consumer products licensing division. Hasbro shares were down almost 1% Wednesday, but are up 27% in the year so far, while the S&P 500 has gained just 5%.