A boy looks at a Hot Wheels display at a store in Beijing on May 15, 2019.Mark Schiefelbein/The Associated Press
Shares in Mattel tumbled more than 10 per cent in Friday morning trading after the toy maker pulled a debt offering upon learning of a letter from an anonymous whistleblower.
The details of the complaint were not revealed, but the company said late Thursday it was made aware of the letter on Tuesday.
Mattel terminated the offering of notes due in 2027 which was scheduled to close Thursday. Mattel said it planned to refinance other senior notes due October, 2020.
The El Segundo, Calif., company has about US$2.86-billion in long-term debt, according to a regulatory filing last month.
Sometimes public companies issue bonds to raise money rather than getting a loan from a bank because the rates are usually lower and terms less restrictive.
Mattel Inc. shares fell to US$12.05 in early trading.