Monday 13 March 2017

The Lego Group reports record revenue in 2016 - !!!

Yeah, a PR email, and Lego update. I like writing about Lego, and I know that Ewan Kirk and all the gang at Cantab Capital like it when I write about Lego.

I'm still not sure if it's Lego or LEGO though. 'Does it matter, boss?' Probably not, Voice. Anyway ...

New investments in capacity, digital developments, sustainability initiatives and people lay the foundation to bring LEGO® play to even more children around the world in the future.

Yeah, children ... and fund managers.

The LEGO Group today released its financial results for 2016, reporting the highest revenue in the Group's 85 year history.

2016 highlights:

Revenue for the full year increased by 6.0 percent in DKK to DKK 37.9 billion compared with DKK 35.8 billion for 2015.

Revenue for the full year increased 5.5 percent compared with 2015, excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange.

Operating profit (profit before financial items and tax) for 2016 was DKK 12.4 billion compared with DKK 12.2 billion for 2015, an increase of 1.7 percent year on year.

Net profit for the full year was DKK 9.4 billion compared with DKK 9.2 billion in 2015.

Cash flow from operating activities for the year was DKK 9.1 billion compared with DKK 10.6 billion in 2015.

Tax on profit for the year amounts to DKK 3.0 billion, unchanged from 2015.

Significant investments were made in building capacity and capability to deliver the Group's long-term growth ambition.


Well, that's all right, ain't it? I'm just wondering what Bali Padda has got to say about it all. 'For Christ's sake, Mikey! Who on earth is Bali Padda?! Seriously!' The chief executive, man. 'Oh.'

CEO, Bali Padda said, "We are satisfied with our performance in 2016. We had a strong first half of the year, while consumer sales growth in the second half was at more sustainable levels than previous years. We were encouraged by our performance in mature markets in Europe and continue to see strong potential in China, which represents an attractive growth opportunity. In the US, consumer sales were flat year-on-yes despite a significant increase in marketing spend in the second half year. We will continue to work closely with our retail partners to identify new opportunities to innovate, drive growth and engage children (and guys like Ewan Kirk) in this important market."

Ha! 'Er ... did he really mention, Ewan Kirk, boss?' No. I added that. 'Cheeky!' I couldn't resist, Voice.

Anyway, there's a bit more. I'll do the bit about the new products. 355 of them, apparently.

Revenue growth was driven by performance of core themes including LEGO® City, LEGO® NINJAGO, LEGO Friends, LEGO Technic, and LEGO Creator. During 2016, more than 355 new items were launched, including LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS™, an innovative platform that combines digital and physical play.

And the chief again -

"Innovation is critical to our success and each year around 60 percent of our portfolio is new products. We are constantly challenging ourselves to engage and inspire children with the most relevant, exciting and fun play experiences. This year we have strengthened our efforts around digital engagement, and found new ways to connect with children online and through a range of digital platforms," said Padda.

And fund managers, of course. / And that's enough. We don't want to hear about the plans for this year. 'We'll cover it when it happens.' Yeah, probably.

...

Anything else? I've got a headache, dear reader(s). So keep the noise down, please. However, I've got some music on low. This and that. Bowie, The La's, etc.

My music? I'll be ready to record those two songs this week, if I can shake these headaches off. It's the smart phone that does it. My eyes. Never mind.

Yeah, maybe all four will appear on that other blog after Easter. I want a break first. Away. 'Where, Mikey?!' You know where! / And I'm sticking with the old fourth position song, not the new one. It's not as melodic, the old one, but I like the chord riff, you dig? And the first verse lyric. Probably the coolest verse ever written.

And you know the coolest two lines ever written, by Bowie? It's not the side effects of the cocaine / I'm thinking that it must be love.

Rock and fucking roll, eh?

And the second coolest two lines? Son, I'm thirty / I only went with your mother 'cause she's dirty. Happy Mondays.

But I got a whole verse! [I can't take two lines out though. It doesn't work that way.]

Anyway, laters.