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Media News, Kingsbridge denies any sale Of Marklin

General Discussion
#1

Hi Folks,
Because of several rumors, Kingsbridge officially denied that Marklin will be sold.
Here the Link to the artikle Wallstreet online media center.

http://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachrichten/nachricht/2488562.html

Modellbahnhersteller Märklin widerspricht Verkaufs-Gerüchten
Leser des Artikels: 645

GÖPPINGEN (dpa-AFX) - Der Modellbahnhersteller Märklin hat Spekulationen über einen angeblichen Weiterverkauf des Unternehmens widersprochen. Derartige Gerüchte entbehrten jeder Grundlage, sagte Roland Klein von der Medienberatung CNC, die für den Finanzinvestor Kingsbridge Capital arbeitet, am Dienstag. Kingsbridge stehe voll hinter dem Unternehmen. Klein reagierte damit auf einen Zeitungsbericht, dass der Spielwarenhersteller vor einem erneuten Verkauf stehe und auch eine Ablösung des Geschäftsführers Axel Dietz im Gespräch sei. Zu einem möglichen Chefwechsel wollte sich Klein zunächst Die Märklin-Geschäftsführung hatte Mitte Juli bei einer Mitarbeiterversammlung erklärt, rund fünf Millionen Euro bei den Personalkosten einsparen zu wollen. Heruntergerechnet auf die 600 Mitarbeiter in der Unternehmenszentrale in Göppingen bedeutet dies nach Zeitungsangaben Einbußen von bis zu 20 Prozent des Bruttolohns.

ZU HOHE KOSTEN

Die Kostenbasis des Unternehmens sei nach wie vor zu hoch, um langfristig erfolgreich zu wirtschaften, teilte das Unternehmen damals mit. Deshalb habe die Geschäftsführung Gespräche mit dem Betriebsrat aufgenommen. Dieser will nun die Wirtschaftlichkeit des Unternehmens prüfen lassen. Entlassungen sind jedoch ausgeschlossen, da im Unternehmen ein Beschäftigungssicherungsvertrag gilt, der Kündigungen bis Ende 2009 verhindert.

Anfang Mai 2006 hatte der britische Finanzinvestor Kingsbridge Capital nach langem Tauziehen Märklin übernommen und den Betrieb damit in letzter Sekunde vor der Insolvenz gerettet. Seitdem fuhr der Spielwarenhersteller einen harten Sanierungskurs und schloss unter anderem seine Produktionsstätte im thüringischen Sonneberg mit rund 220 Mitarbeitern.

Im ersten Quartal 2008 hatte Märklin den Umsatz um 26 Prozent auf 22,7 Millionen Euro gesteigert. Auch der Auftragseingang war um zwölf Prozent auf 71 Millionen Euro gestiegen. Nach dem schnellen Wachstum wollte Kingsbridge das Kapital um einen einstelligen Millionenbetrag aufstocken. Europaweit hat Märklin rund 1.000 Mitarbeiter./bs/DP/edh

Autor: dpa-AFX

#2

If ya dont provide a translation ya’ll have to live with the Babblefish Germglish massacre translation:

The model course manufacturer Märklin contradicted speculations over an alleged resale of the enterprise. Such rumors lacked each basis, said Roland small of the medium consultation CNC, which works for the financial investor Kingsbridge Capital, on Tuesday. Kingsbridge stands fully behind the enterprise. Small it reacted with the fact to a newspaper report that the play goods manufacturer before a renewed sale stands and also a replacement of the managing director Axel Dietz is in the discussion. To a possible chief change itself small wanted first the Märklin management in the middle of July at a coworker meeting had explained to want to save approximately five million euro with the personnel expenditure. Heruntergerechnet on the 600 coworkers in the enterprise center in Göppingen means this according to newspaper data losses of up to 20 per cent of the gross wage.

TO HIGH ONES COSTS

The cost basis of the enterprise is still too high, in order successfully to keep house on a long-term basis, communicated the enterprise at that time. Therefore the management took up discussions with the work council. This wants to let the economy of the enterprise examine now. Dismissals are however impossible, since in the enterprise an occupation safety device contract is valid, which prevents notices to at the end of of 2009. At the beginning of of May 2006 had transferred the British financial investor Kingsbridge Capital after long tug-of-war Märklin and the enterprise thereby in last second before the insolvency had saved. Since then the play goods manufacturer drove hard redevelopment politics and closed among other things its manufacturing plant in the Thuringian sun mountain with approximately 220 coworkers. In the first quarter 2008 Märklin had increased the conversion by 26 per cent on 22.7 million euros. Also the incoming orders had risen by twelve per cent to 71 million euros. After fast growth Kingsbridge wanted to supplement the capital around a one-digit amount of millions. European-wide Märklin has approximately 1,000 coworkers. /bs/DP/edh

#3

Vic,

IMHO when a company has to debunk a rumor in the press, if you work for said company, “hold on, it is gona be a rough ride”…

#4

Vic,

IMHO, another translator said they wanted the employees to give up 5000 Euro’s each, so they could save 5,000,000 Euro’s… This was because the law or contract says they can not terminate any body until the end of 2009… Not good IMHO…

#5
Bob Burton said:
Vic,

IMHO, another translator said they wanted the employees to give up 5000 Euro’s each, so they could save 5,000,000 Euro’s… This was because the law or contract says they can not terminate any body until the end of 2009… Not good IMHO…


Kind of logical if you consider that there are 1000 Märklin employees in Europe, at least the math is correct for a change.

BUT you never know, could be that they turf all the “consultants” and save the 5million. Can’t run good production with disgruntled employees and the way Märklin has been trimming, they better not look to the employees, yet again!

#6

Well at least they are trying to cut costs rather than just borrow from banks as a substitute for making difficult decisions. But forget about model trains - pretty much everyone is suffering from increased commodity prices and the resulting increased costs of finished goods - higher inflation - declining purchasing power for discretionary purchases. We are in for a bumpy ride. I look back at the last 2 years of LGB and wonder whether the old regime would be currently doing better than Marklin - I think we all know the answer to that question.
Les

#7

Les,

IMHO that is a threat, let us have the money now & we may give it back to you later, but we could lay you all off after 2009… & for Marklin doing better than LGB, they saved face by selling out before they went broke, remember it was family just like LGB… Again IMHO…

#8
LES DITTRICH said:
Well at least they are trying to cut costs rather than just borrow from banks as a substitute for making difficult decisions. But forget about model trains - pretty much everyone is suffering from increased commodity prices and the resulting increased costs of finished goods - higher inflation - declining purchasing power for discretionary purchases. We are in for a bumpy ride. I look back at the last 2 years of LGB and wonder whether the old regime would be currently doing better than Marklin - I think we all know the answer to that question. Les
Les,

It’s all rhetorical anyway, fact is - came to light a few weeks back - that EPL Patentwerk oHG debts were just shy of 30 million Euro, the last available turnover was 20 million Euro and if memory serves that was before things went really in the tank. Before there was even more competition from BRAWA, KISS and PIKO.

#9

The interesting part of this is:
“Because of several rumors, Kingsbridge officially denied that Marklin will be sold.”

Now, one guess as to where those rumors are coming from, eh?

#10
Curmudgeon said:
The interesting part of this is: "Because of several rumors, Kingsbridge officially denied that Marklin will be sold."

Now, one guess as to where those rumors are coming from, eh?


Nah, it couldn’t be? Actually I have a pretty good idea who wants to settle a few outstanding scores with Märklin, but mum’s the word! At least on the fora!

#11

Guys,

IMHO things are not in good hands in the company if you got a leaker & you have to go public to stop it…
Again IMHO…

#12
Bob Burton said:
Guys,

IMHO things are not in good hands in the company if you got a leaker & you have to go public to stop it…
Again IMHO…


Well Bob,

You know how it is, when people get pi…ed they may take a leak.

Are you familiar with how News gets distributed in Germany? When all the hell-a-balloo was going on after Sept 2006, it was absolutely hilarious reading the different German papers regarding the EPL situation.
It was all a matter of which agency picked up the story from the Nürnberg papers and then one could read it in all the other papers … errrr … that is you could read parts of the original here and other parts there, depending on what was left off and/or rearranged the slant/spin would be a little different. Not unlike the crap we get served on this side of the pond.

Now if I would tell you who starts/feeds these fine rumours, you would first say “Who?” and after I’d explain it in more detail you’d say “Holy Sh.t!”
Some people have more than just one axe to grind. :wink: :slight_smile:

#13

Hans-Joerg,

IMHO, does not make any differance who the leakers are… If you got leakers, you got problems, time will tell…

#14

Bob Burton said:
Hans-Joerg, IMHO, does not make any differance who the leakers are… If you got leakers, you got problems, time will tell…

If you got leaks, shouldnt you call the plumbers?

(http://www.dailyheights.com/images/stooges%20plumbing.jpg)

#15
Bob Burton said:
Hans-Joerg,

IMHO, does not make any differance who the leakers are… If you got leakers, you got problems, time will tell…


Perhaps not the leaker, but certainly the initial broadcaster. :wink: :slight_smile:

#16

I can believe they are NOT for sale. That is up until the time someone approaches them with the right deal. After all it’s business.
LAO

#17
Larry Otis said:
I can believe they are NOT for sale. That is up until the time someone approaches them with the right deal. After all it's business. LAO
Yep, and there will be no bargains!
#18

Is that “De Nile”?

#19

Nobody could ever get a better bargain(?) than Marklin.

#20

What is absolutely hilarious is the steadfast belief that the former owners were right…“We are on track!”, no bankruptcy, no financial issues, and the “faithful” preached that gospel.
Now, when you get another company addressing rumors most likely started by…we get the “Märklin is wrong!”.

You foamers are so bloody transparent it isn’t even funny.