Large Scale Central

Will the real Märklin please stand up!

General Discussion
#1

It appears that investment banks are very good at company creation, not so good at making toys. Recent news indicates a truly complex mess.

Adler Toy, Not bankrupt (parent company of these below)

Märklin Göppingen, bankrupt

Märklin Nürnberg (LGB, Trix) bankrupt

Märklin Gyor Hungary (production facility) Not bankrupt

Märklin China, if it exists, not part of the bankruptcy

The loaning banks claim to hold the trademarks as security. This time around it won’t be “where are the molds?” it will be “who really owns the molds?”

http://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/industrie/dutzende-von-anfragen-fuer-maerklin;2147949

#2

I just wish they’d get to making trains…

#3
C. Nelson said:
I just wish they'd get to making trains....
Amen Brother!
#4

Well, well, well. That is just the “clever structuring” that one would expect in order to “restructure in an unimpeded fashion”! :confused:

BTW there is a German site where one can read the annual financial reports of the different companies, including such as PIKO, Adler Toy etc. etc.

Makes for interesting reading, fluency in German and rudimentary literacy regarding financial statements are an advantage. :wink: :slight_smile:

#5

Now we can add Märklin N.A. to the “not broke list”. Interesting!

From Märklin:

Märklin, Inc. of North America is not affected by the declaration of insolvency and
remains a viable business. Product for the three brands Märklin, Trix, and LGB will be
delivered to Walthers via Märklin, Inc. Spare parts, repair, and warranty service will
continue to be offered for the first two brands and will be offered for the first time in the
near future for LGB.

#6

Well it wouldn’t hurt if you would add the rest of the pressrelease

Märklin Inc said:
Announcement

On February 4, 2009, Märklin of Germany filed in Göppingen, Germany for protection
under German insolvency law. A trustee has been appointed to oversee an orderly
reorganization and a search for a new owner. Märklin will continue its day-to-day
business, continuing to produce and deliver product, and provide spare parts, repair,
and warranty service.
Märklin, Inc. of North America is not affected by the declaration of insolvency and
remains a viable business. Product for the three brands Märklin, Trix, and LGB will be
delivered to Walthers via Märklin, Inc. Spare parts, repair, and warranty service will
continue to be offered for the first two brands and will be offered for the first time in the
near future for LGB.


There, now the picture is a bit more complete. :slight_smile:

#7

(http://img92.exs.cx/img92/4637/calvinhobbes_laughing.jpg)

Oh man, talk about spin…

#8

Actually Marvin, I have a fine record when it comes to quotes, they usually go like this

friend on the phone said:
......

Did you notice, the Ventilators still don’t get it?

…


the … (periods or punctuation marks to literate people) indicate that there were additional statements before and after the quoted statement.

There are those who follow different customs, a bit more on those customs you’ll find here.

#9

Good attempt at deflection chief…
Still sound to me like Kingsbridge and Goldman Sachs screwed the pooch!

Looks like it’s your turn to be the “spinmaster”…

#10

Without adding gloom to the discussion, has anyone taken notice of the history surrounding the Lehmann collapse. It is like the curse of Tutankamen. The Lehmann grave was opened, after 125 years of supposed family ownership and the casualty list grows - Schoentag, LGBoA, G45, Marklin and now the investment capital market has taken a nose dive and no doubt Kingsbridge is feeling the heat. I really can offer nothing but good luck to anyone else silly enough to enter the tomb again.

#11

Tim,

Are you trying to say that LGB is responsible for the current recession and not “W?”

What a concept!

#12
John Joseph Sauer said:
Good attempt at deflection chief...... Still sound to me like Kingsbridge and Goldman Sachs screwed the pooch!

Looks like it’s your turn to be the “spinmaster”…


Marvin, perhaps there will come the day when you understand the difference between sloppy quotes and commenting on what was actually written.

No, I’m not holding my breath;watching you guys twist and turn in response to me quoting the source and then doing the translation was lesson enough. :lol: :stuck_out_tongue: :lol:

BTW on another note: Someone mentioned to me that Durango Dan has taken to referring to “not so to scale” items as “gummy gauge” . Funny Funny Funny!

#13

Aw, c’mon - don’t change the subject… let’s talk about how f’d up Märklin is !

You can quote the source all you want. That doesn’t make it the truth.

#14

Steve,
good try. I do not blame W., personally. His government did allow a situation to develop on his watch. A few cheap home loans to those who could not afford the repayments resulted in a depression, exceeding the infamous 1929 stock market collapse on Wall St. Unfortunately, this time around there were no bankers jumping out of the Empire State building.

#15
Tim Brien said:
Without adding gloom to the discussion, has anyone taken notice of the history surrounding the Lehmann collapse. It is like the curse of Tutankamen. The Lehmann grave was opened, after 125 years of supposed family ownership and the casualty list grows - Schoentag, LGBoA, G45, Marklin and now the investment capital market has taken a nose dive and no doubt Kingsbridge is feeling the heat. I really can offer nothing but good luck to anyone else silly enough to enter the tomb again.
I have to agree it's a dismal situation...things were getting really good in the "Euro G" world and then boom!

I would say if you’re into high-buck small scale MTH is coming out with some really neat stuff. Big-buck Bachmann also has some fine offerings. But the “normal” operator or toy consumer is hurting a bit with all the contraction. Seems my choices are becoming limeted to cheap Lionel plastic (Polar Express) or MTH Triplex’s and not much new between the two.

Time for a change in my direction anyway I guess…USA or Aristo? Hmmm.

#16

John Joseph Sauer said:
Aw, c’mon - don’t change the subject… let’s talk about how f’d up Märklin is ! You can quote the source all you want. That doesn’t make it the truth.

Well, Marvin Märklin today is in slightly less financial trouble than they were in 2006 prior to being acquired by Kingsbridge Capital. Not that you would believe any of it, even if you were to read the Annual Reports (that is if you could make head and tail of them :wink: :slight_smile: ). BTW the Annual Reports need to be filed with the appropriate ministry and need to be signed off by legitimate auditors. Yes, we know that there’s a lot of hanky-panky happening in the good old USA, but Germany isn’t quite that low, yet! BTW did you hear about the Richter sightings at the Nürnberg Toy Fair? :lol: :lol: Today’s smile of the day!

(http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/teufel/devil-smiley-023.gif)

PS with the professional leeches aka consultants gone, things are better still! Which reminds me, how are they doing at ProactivConsult?

#17
Tim Brien said:
Steve, good try. I do not blame W., personally. His government did allow a situation to develop on his watch. A few cheap home loans to those who could not afford the repayments resulted in a depression, exceeding the infamous 1929 stock market collapse on Wall St. Unfortunately, this time around there were no bankers jumping out of the Empire State building.
Tim its not worse then 1929. Not saying it will not get there but not that bad yet.

Whats funny is that before the crash of 29 the bankers tried a bailout and it did not work.
Hummm lets hope history is not going to repete itself.

#18

Hans-Joerg Mueller said:

John Joseph Sauer said:
Aw, c’mon - don’t change the subject… let’s talk about how f’d up Märklin is ! You can quote the source all you want. That doesn’t make it the truth.

Well, Marvin Märklin today is in slightly less financial trouble than they were in 2006 prior to being acquired by Kingsbridge Capital. Not that you would believe any of it, even if you were to read the Annual Reports (that is if you could make head and tail of them :wink: :slight_smile: ). BTW the Annual Reports need to be filed with the appropriate ministry and need to be signed off by legitimate auditors. Yes, we know that there’s a lot of hanky-panky happening in the good old USA, but Germany isn’t quite that low, yet! BTW did you hear about the Richter sightings at the Nürnberg Toy Fair? :lol: :lol: Today’s smile of the day!

(http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/teufel/devil-smiley-023.gif)

PS with the professional leeches aka consultants gone, things are better still! Which reminds me, how are they doing at ProactivConsult?

Slightly less financial trouble when your bankrupt is like being slightly less bald- does it make a difference!?! As far a Richter sightings go I heard that it was at the Märklin booth talking to the Märklin officers- go figure. Maybe there IS more going on than meets the eye, eh? Perhaps your “heroes” are more involved with them than your letting on?

#19
John Joseph Sauer said:
..........

Slightly less financial trouble when your bankrupt is like being slightly less bald- does it make a difference!?!

As far a Richter sightings go I heard that it was at the Märklin booth talking to the Märklin officers- go figure. Maybe there IS more going on than meets the eye, eh? Perhaps your “heroes” are more involved with them than your letting on?


Perhaps you should get yourself up to speed on some of the Chapter11 cases down your way. :slight_smile: There’s the possibility that even your penny will drop, that is if you still have some. :lol: :stuck_out_tongue: :lol: Next you follow the trustee’s press releases (if you can) and notice which way the wind is blowing.

The Richter Boys … they were probably looking for some work for their consultancy praxis. Probably hadn’t heard that all the consultants got the boot, eh? :slight_smile:

#20
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
John Joseph Sauer said:
..........

Slightly less financial trouble when your bankrupt is like being slightly less bald- does it make a difference!?!

As far a Richter sightings go I heard that it was at the Märklin booth talking to the Märklin officers- go figure. Maybe there IS more going on than meets the eye, eh? Perhaps your “heroes” are more involved with them than your letting on?


Perhaps you should get yourself up to speed on some of the Chapter11 cases down your way. :slight_smile: There’s the possibility that even your penny will drop, that is if you still have some. :lol: :stuck_out_tongue: :lol: Next you follow the trustee’s press releases (if you can) and notice which way the wind is blowing.

The Richter Boys … they were probably looking for some work for their consultancy praxis. Probably hadn’t heard that all the consultants got the boot, eh? :slight_smile:


Perhaps Märklin was looking for someone to show them how to use that LGB tooling correctly! ;););):):):):):slight_smile:

Amazing how you take press releases as the pure truth when it suites your purpose.