MANUFACTURING

Mattel Hires Financial Advisor in Hasbro Bid: Despite Hasbro Inc.’s denial that it is interested in a merger, Mattel Inc. has hired CS First Boston Corp. as a financial advisor in its pursuit of the maker of toys such as GI Joe and games such as Monopoly. “We continue to appeal to the Hasbro board to reconsider the proposal,” Mattel spokesman Glenn Bozarth said. He would not say whether any talks between the El Segundo-based maker of Barbie and Pawtucket, R.I.-based Hasbro have occurred since news of Mattel’s $5-billion offer broke last week. Hasbro has rejected Mattel’s advance, saying the combination would be ruled anticompetitive by federal regulators. Mattel has offered to pay Hasbro $100 million if the deal fails to clear antitrust reviews.