When toy-truck maker Tonka bought Kenner Parker Toys in 1987, the company added such venerable products as Monopoly and Play-Doh to its lineup. But Tonka, the third largest U.S. toymaker, also took on a staggering debt from the $674 million sale. The Minnesota-based company's burdens grew worse with the recession, which coincided with a dearth of successful new Tonka products. Last week the toymaker decided to seek help from the big kid on the block. Hasbro (1990 sales: more than $1 billion), the largest U.S. toymaker, will acquire Tonka's stock and debt in a deal worth about $500 million. Hasbro, which...
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