Jährliche Archive: 2015

Um sich für die zukünftigen Herausforderung im deutschen Markt zu rüsten, stellt sich Hasbro personell neu auf. Die Änderungen treten parallel zum Start der Spielwarenmesse in Nürnberg in Kraft.

Roger Balser gibt nach sechsjähriger Tätigkeit als Vertriebsdirektor und General Manager die Verantwortung für die DACH Region ab und leitet zukünftig als General Manager die strategischen Wachstumsmärkte des Mittleren Ostens, Afrikas sowie alle Distributoren-Märkte. Tomek Micek, bisher verantwortlich für Ost- und Südosteuropa, übernimmt nun zusätzlich als General Manager die DACH Region, sowie den Mittleren Osten und Nord-Afrika. Der bisherige deutsche Vertriebschef René Wörns wechselt in die europäische Organisation und zeichnet als europäischer Vertriebsdirektor zukünftig verantwortlich für Hasbros europäische Strategie im Online- und Discounthandel. Markus Großweischede verantwortet in seiner Funktion als Commercial Director DACH zusätzlich zu seinem bisherigen Verantwortungsbereich als Marketingleiter nun auch den Vertrieb.

Mattel, Inc. today announced that Christopher A. Sinclair has been named the Company’s Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The Company also announced that Bryan G. Stockton has resigned as Mattel’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and resigned from the Board of Directors.

Mr. Sinclair, who has served as a member of Mattel’s Board of Directors since 1996 and as Independent Lead Director since 2011, has extensive experience in leading global, multi-brand, consumer-focused companies. In addition to leadership roles at prominent venture capital and private equity firms, Mr. Sinclair was Chairman and CEO of Caribiner International, Inc. from 1999-2000, President and CEO of Quality Food, Inc. from 1996-1998, and prior to that served in senior roles at PepsiCo, including as Chairman and CEO of Pepsi-Cola Company, and President and CEO of PepsiCo Foods & Beverages International and Pepsi-Cola International. He also served as Chair of Mattel’s Audit Committee.

„Mattel is an exceptional company with a great future but the Board believes that it is the right time for new leadership to maximize its potential,“ said Mr. Sinclair. „We are committed to delivering improved growth and financial performance and remain confident in our ability to leverage our unmatched portfolio of brands, global scale and strong balance sheet as we execute on our strategic plan. I look forward to engaging with the entire Mattel community as we work to deepen our connections with children and parents through expanded product innovation and improved retail execution. We will be working during the coming months to revitalize the business and to identify the right leadership for Mattel as it enters its next phase of growth and value creation.“

Mr. Sinclair continued, „On behalf of the Board and everyone at Mattel, I sincerely thank Bryan for his many valuable contributions over the past 15 years in expanding our business and portfolio of brands and building our executive team.“

Preliminary Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Financial Results

Mattel also announced preliminary fourth quarter and full year 2014 financial results. For the fourth quarter, the Company reported net income of $149.9 million, or $0.44 per share, which includes a negative impact of $0.05 per share from MEGA Brands integration costs1 and a negative tax impact of $0.03 per share, compared to net income of $369.2 million, or $1.07 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2013. Worldwide net sales in the fourth quarter were $1.99 billion, down 6%, including an unfavorable impact from changes in currency exchange rates of 3 percentage points, compared to $2.11 billion last year. Gross margin decreased by 410 basis points of net sales to 50.4%, which was partially due to the acquisition of MEGA Brands. SG&A expenses increased by 390 basis points of net sales, including the impact of the acquisition of MEGA Brands. Operating income for the quarter was $237.0 million compared to $479.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.

For the year, the Company reported net income of $498.9 million, or $1.45 per share, which includes a negative impact of $0.16 per share from MEGA Brands acquisition and integration costs2 and a tax benefit of $0.13 per share, compared to net income of $903.9 million, or $2.58 per share, in 2013, which included a tax benefit of $0.09. Worldwide net sales were $6.02 billion, down 7%, including an unfavorable impact from changes in currency exchange rates of 2 percentage points, compared to $6.48 billion last year. Gross margin decreased by 380 basis points of net sales to 49.8%, which was partially due to the acquisition of MEGA Brands. SG&A expenses increased by 270 basis points of net sales, including the impact of the acquisition of MEGA Brands. Operating income for the year was $653.7 million compared to $1.17 billion in 2013.

For the year, net cash flows from operating activities were approximately $889 million, an increase of $191 million over approximately $698 million in 2013. The increase was primarily driven by reductions in working capital, partially offset by lower net income. The Company ended the year with cash of $971.7 million, which is consistent with our capital and investment framework target of $800 million to $1 billion of year-end cash. The Company’s debt-to-total capital ratio as of December 31, 2014 was 41.6%.

The Company announced today a first quarter cash dividend of $0.38 per share which is flat compared to the first quarter of 2014. The dividend will be payable on March 6, 2015 to stockholders of record on February 19, 2015.

Mattel, Inc., today announced key changes to the company’s Executive Leadership Team, effective immediately. Richard Dickson and Tim Kilpin will assume expanded responsibilities as President, Chief Brands Officer and President, Chief Commercial Officer, respectively. Both Mr. Dickson and Mr. Kilpin will report to Mattel Chairman and CEO, Bryan G. Stockton.

„As we take bold steps to transform Mattel into a more nimble, creative and consumer-centric company, Richard and Tim will play a critical role in ensuring that our global brands and commercial teams are in lockstep, as we focus on bringing the most on-trend and in demand products to market,“ commented Mr. Stockton.

Mr. Dickson will continue to oversee worldwide brand, design, development and marketing strategies for the Mattel and Fisher-Price portfolio of core brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels and Thomas & Friends. Mr. Dickson will assume additional responsibility for the company’s global consumer insights, marketing communications, innovation and digital initiatives groups. Mr. Dickson was appointed Chief Brands Officer in 2014, having previously served as president and CEO of branded businesses at The Jones Group, Inc. Prior to The Jones Group, Mr. Dickson held key leadership positions at Mattel.

Mr. Kilpin will now direct the company’s sales and marketing operations globally. Mr. Kilpin will continue to be responsible for further strengthening Mattel’s presence in developed and emerging markets throughout Europe, Latin America and Asia. In addition, Mr. Kilpin will assume additional responsibility for the North American division, with oversight of all sales and marketing activity in the United States and Canada. Mr. Kilpin was appointed Executive Vice President, International in 2014. He has held a variety of leadership positions with Mattel and The Walt Disney Company over the course of his career, having first joined Mattel in 1984.

„Along with their talented global teams, I am confident that Richard and Tim will continue to drive positive, lasting, transformative change for Mattel,“ Mr. Stockton added.

Zwei Verbundgrößen der Spielwarenbranche gehen künftig erneut wieder gemeinsame Wege und werden damit zu einer führenden Größe im europäischen Spielwarenmarkt: Die Bielefelder Mehrbranchenverbundgruppe EK/servicegroup und Europas stärkste Verbundgruppe für Spiel, Freizeit und Familie – die VEDES Gruppe – haben mit Wirkung zum 1. Februar 2015 eine gemeinsame Gesellschaft gegründet, in der die Einkaufs- und Vertriebsaktivitäten im Bereich Spielwaren koordiniert werden. Sitz der ToyPartner VEDES/EK GmbH, an der beide Verbundgruppen mit jeweils 50 Prozent beteiligt sind, ist Nürnberg. Die Geschäftsführung übernehmen die beiden VEDES Vorstände Wolfgang Groß und Achim Weniger sowie EK-Vorstand Bernd Horenkamp.

„Ziel dieser strategischen Zusammenarbeit ist es, die Leistungsfähigkeit für alle Mitgliedsfirmen beider Verbundgruppen zu verbessern“, so die drei Geschäftsführer der ToyPartner VEDES/EK GmbH. „Wir alle sind uns sicher, damit einen Meilenstein in der Marktentwicklung des inhabergeführten Spielwarenfachhandels zu setzen und mit diesem enormen Potenzial eine deutliche Stärkung für die Händler zu erzielen.“

Alle Mitgliedsfirmen der EK/servicegroup können damit grundsätzlich auf das umfassende Großhandelssortiment der VEDES mit 18.000 Spiel- und Freizeitartikeln zugreifen und umgekehrt alle VEDES und SPIELZEUG-RING Mitglieder auf das EK-Lager, insbesondere im Bereich Baby-Hartwaren und -Textilien sowie PBS (Papier/Büro/Schreibwaren).

Sämtliche Einkaufs- und Vertriebsaktivitäten der EK/servicegroup-Tochtergesellschaft SPIEL & SPASS und der VEDES Gruppe werden zukünftig von der neuen Gesellschaft aus gesteuert und weiter entwickelt. Damit avanciert die ToyPartner VEDES/EK zu einer führenden Größe im europäischen Spielwarenmarkt, die Marktkraft bündelt und den inhabergeführten Spielwarenfachhandel unterstützt.

Für EK-Mehrbranchenhäuser erfolgt die vertriebliche Betreuung weiterhin durch den Vertrieb der EK/servicegroup in enger Abstimmung mit dem VEDES Vertrieb. Die VEDES Mitglieder, die neben Spielwaren auch andere, arrondierende Sortimente führen oder ihr Angebot erweitern möchten, können zukünftig auch auf die vertrieblichen Mehrbranchen-Leistungen der Bielefelder zugreifen. Die Abwicklung der Zentralregulierung wird von der jeweiligen Verbundgruppe unverändert durchgeführt.

Mit diesem Schritt wurden laut der Toypartner „die besten Voraussetzungen geschaffen, das Leistungsangebot für die Mitglieder beider Verbundgruppen zukunftsorientiert, professionell und wirtschaftlich erfolgreich auszubauen. Denn in Zeiten, in denen branchenfremde und preisaggressive Vertriebskanäle an Stärke gewinnen, braucht der Fachhandel strategische Allianzen, um die künftigen Herausforderungen bestmöglich zu meistern.“