Hornby's financial updates to the Stock Market

[Kelly]

Well that's an interesting development!

[Clearwater]

Wow

 

Be amazed if Oxford and Hornby don’t merge. I wonder if Davies is putting in any cash?

[Ian Hargrave]

One other announcement of note is the "return" of Simon Kohler.Did he really go away ? Good response to some recently posted slightly jaundiced posts. No one has such a wealth of knowledge and experience .He and Graham Hubbard are jointly responsible for elevating UK r-t-r modelling to approach the standards of our Continental and North American colleagues.....something perhaps we should not forget.

 

These moves on the face of it send a positive message.As has just been posted.Whither Oxford Rail ?

[Coryton]

It's not just model railways that Hornby are putting up prices for.

 

Just had an email from an on-line seller I've used in the past warning of significant Scaletrix prices increases next week, so buy now!

 

(Of course just because the trade price for new stock goes up, they don't have to put up their retail prices for stock already in hand...)

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

 

...Hornby Plc, the international models and collectibles group, today announces Lyndon Charles Davies, aged 56, has agreed to join the Group as CEO...

Hornby is exploring the opportunity to invest in LCD...

Implies integration. I feel one major shake out coming on. Will we talk about 'Oxby' or 'Hornford' in future?

[Coryton]

Implies integration. I feel one major shake out coming on. Will we talk about 'Oxby' or 'Hornford' in future?

 

No thanks.

 

It took me years to work out Limby...

[phil gollin]

Wow

 

Be amazed if Oxford and Hornby don’t merge. I wonder if Davies is putting in any cash?

.

 

Looks like there'll be a spare Adams Radial mould on the market shortly - I wonder which one ?

 

.

[adb968008]

Maybe Hornby might have found itself a new factory.

 

I wonder which dean goods and radial will end up in railroad ?

 

I knew this was going to be interesting, but now it’s really interesting.

 

paint, scalectrix and the Oxford rail brand all suddenly look odd ones out if merged.

I reckon corgi may move.

Edited October 3, 2017 by adb968008

[darren01]

It's not just model railways that Hornby are putting up prices for.

 

Just had an email from an on-line seller I've used in the past warning of significant Scaletrix prices increases next week, so buy now!

 

(Of course just because the trade price for new stock goes up, they don't have to put up their retail prices for stock already in hand...)

 

Happened at a shop near me, Hornby put there prices up so did they, on models that had been sitting on the selves for some time.

Funny thing is a lot of it is still there and they will probably do the same again.

[Mike Storey]

Probably the best news we could have expected, especially with the more formal inclusion of Simon back in the fold. The worst would have been some non-modelling, turnaround specialist with an eye only on shareholder value (not that any of the directors should not have that aim) to the exclusion of all else.

 

Gives us cause to be more optimistic about their future, IMHO.

[RJS1977]

Not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing for the hobby. If this just results in Hornby swallowing up a cheaper competitor, I'd say that's not a good thing for the hobby.

 

On the other hand, if it means Hornby introducing more affordable Oxford-style models, I'd say that's probably not a bad thing.

[Gerald Henriksen]

Well, given that the talk of the new CEO is somewhat off-topic given it has its own thread, I thought I would return to the other favorite off-topic thread - that the hobby is dying and needs to be cheap to get younger people involved.

 

A Modelers Life podcast (*) in episode 83 had a discussion with Charlie Getz, the President of the NMRA, and a few interesting tidbits came out:

 

1) he agrees that there are a lot of younger people in the hobby, but they (the NMRA) are finding it difficult trying to get a count of them given the online nature of their participation.

 

2) the hobby is booming in China - there is a Chinese online forum (Hasia I think) with 250,000 members, almost all around 30 or less, and almost all of them are entering the hobby in China - I would think it is safe to assume most if not all of them likely did not get the "traditional" train set as a kid so they are entering the hobby via other means.

 

3) one of the NMRA divisions has members wandering around trains shows wearing very big buttons that say "Ask me about Model Railroading".  They have found it a great way to start discussions with families about how to get into the hobby, as opposed to the more static expecting the families to approach a crowded retailer or booth.

 

* https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/a-modelerslife/id905596672?mt=2

 

[edit]

 

There was also some good news.  A 3rd party actually investigated the data, but apparently model railroaders on average live an additional 5 years compared to the average non-model railroader.

Edited October 4, 2017 by Gerald Henriksen

[Clearwater]

Not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing for the hobby. If this just results in Hornby swallowing up a cheaper competitor, I'd say that's not a good thing for the hobby.

 

On the other hand, if it means Hornby introducing more affordable Oxford-style models, I'd say that's probably not a bad thing.

I’d don’t think this is H swallowing Oxford up. it looks more like a reverse take over.

 

David

[adb968008]

I’d don’t think this is H swallowing Oxford up. it looks more like a reverse take over.

David

That or maybe Oxford might considerably boost its super detailed range of newer Hornby assets (the recent toolings), take corgi, then cut Hornby's brand name from the collectors market and focus it loose back to its traditional roots of Toy trains and racing cars for the retail market perhaps ?

 

7 weeks to Warley, be interesting to see what the 2019 range looks like, might be too soon for visible changes, but a any new delay, or no news, on any announcements would be a sign in itself.

 

The two appointments are business development and product specialist, didn't see anything about financial advisors and strategy.

Edited October 4, 2017 by adb968008

[Gerald Henriksen]

That or maybe Oxford might considerably boost its super detailed range of newer Hornby assets (the recent toolings), take corgi, then cut Hornby's brand name from the collectors market and focus it loose back to its traditional roots of Toy trains and racing cars for the retail market perhaps ?

I think it is very insulting of you to imply the only people interested highly detailed models are collectors.

 

Most of the people on RMweb who are pushing for the detailed, accurate models are doing so because they want them to operate on their layouts, because having a detailed, accurate model means that the time previously spent improving models can be spent elsewhere on the layout.

 

It also ignores that there is a sizeable number of people who collect Hornby period, regardless of whether it is a high end model or the cheapest of the Railroad models.

 

I also highly doubt the existing shareholders of Hornby would stand by and let the new CEO gut the company of the profitable parts of the company, leaving them with the financially challenged parts of the company and further worsening the financial outlook of Hornby.

 

7 weeks to Warley, be interesting to see what the 2019 range looks like, might be too soon for visible changes, but a any new delay, or no news, on any announcements would be a sign in itself.

According to the Engine Shed blog the next announcement(s) are likely Saturday, and any changes to anything else this year would hurt the share price making the shareholder very unhappy.

[The Johnster]

I agree; there may well be collectors to whom scale and detail is important but many are in it for the 'nostalgia' element, and are more interested in an item in original condition and the correct box and packaging which replicates the train set they had when they were a child; it is, I think, more about ownership than operating realism.  

[jjb1970]

All collectors are different and collect things that appeal to them personally and for their own reasons. Some collectors are very nostaligic, others are completists, others just like nice things and lots more.

 

In my case I collect HO brass models because I appreciate the craftsmanship and superb paint finish, and they are finished to a standard of detail and lack of compromise that is still not found in RTR models. So in my case my collecting interests are much more motivated by enjoying models which try to achieve ultimate fidelity to prototype.

[adb968008]

 

Everyone who collects has their own reasons.

Some collect Bulleids, some collect Hornby, some collect Southern, each to their own.

At the end of the day it’s not relevant.

 

Shareholders money is sunk into a company, who’s value is diminishing.

 

Thing is, nothing is finite. Hornbys own range is a mish mash of various manufacturers acquired over the years. This in part may be part of its problem. Every tree eventually tops itself in a storm, it’s life.

 

Yes Hornby has shareholders, but right now it’s largest shareholder is the one that has taken action, it’s not Hornby, it’s direct shareholder intervention into the companies management.

 

In other words in this particular storm it’s not the tree shedding branches, but the guy who owns the tree is the one about to do the shaking.

 

They don’t do that just to scare modellers, collectors, RmWebber’s, preserve Hornbys history or just make the range look nice, there is a plan.. it’ll be related to return of investment for shareholders, by however and whatever means that needs to take.... and unless it’s our money invested then there’s nothing we can do... we’d be a minority anyway, so ordinary shareholders have a choice, join the ride or sell, but the offer to buy just expired.

 

As an aside back in the mid90’s I spent time on one particular model railway company’s factory floor, It was making feeding bowls for pets at the time, that were supplied wholesale to supermarkets... that company made money using its model railway tools for non model railway purposes... business is business... If Hornby decided to drop railways altogether and make bird trays.. then if it makes money good luck to them, as a return for shareholders is what the business is about...

 

FYI I doubt collectors of that company bought feeding bowls to make their ranges complete either !!!

Edited October 17, 2017 by adb968008

[Bernard Lamb]

 

In other words in this particular storm it’s not the tree shedding branches, but the guy who owns the tree is the one about to do the shaking.

 

 

I agree with just about every point you make in your post with the exception of this one.

I would change shaking to pruning.

Bernard

[adb968008]

I agree with just about every point you make in your post with the exception of this one.

I would change shaking to pruning.

Bernard

Yep ! :-)

[Ozexpatriate]

Shareholders money is sunk into a company, who’s value is diminishing.

...

Yes Hornby has shareholders, but right now it’s largest shareholder is the one that has taken action, it’s not Hornby, it’s direct shareholder intervention into the companies management.

...

it’ll be related to return of investment for shareholders, by however and whatever means that needs to take.... and unless it’s our money invested then there’s nothing we can do... we’d be a minority anyway, so ordinary shareholders have a choice, join the ride or sell, but the offer to buy just expired.

There is really now only one shareholder who matters - that is Phoenix Asset Management.

 

A large number of posters here have suggested that the Hornby brand needs someone who understands the modelling community, rather than being a purely 'business' type. The board has clearly done just that in hiring someone with evident knowledge of diecast and railway modelling.

 

Certainly Phoenix needs to see a return on its investment in Hornby plc. That will be the new CEO's job. How they get there will be interesting and their choice might signal where the new CEO will focus. 

Edited October 5, 2017 by Ozexpatriate

[Pacific231G]

Has there been anything on Hornby International's brands (Jouef, Rivarossi,etc).? 

[Gerald Henriksen]

Oh please, i’m Not insulting anyone, this and your last few posts responding my mine, on multiple topics, increasingly seem to be forming a pattern akin to a personal vendetta, and i’m hoping it’s not going to turn something more sinister.

 

I think your misinterpreting it, again, and again, and again.

If I say black please resist the urge to say white. (That’s a game I play with my children not an online forum).

I have been participating on the Internet now for over 26 years, and I have never in that time been accused of pursuing personal vendettas, plotting something sinister, or behaving like a child.

 

Thus it would seem I am no longer welcome here.

[Kiwi]

Has there been anything on Hornby International's brands (Jouef, Rivarossi,etc).?

Contrary to what anyone might imagine after reading this thread, NOTHING has been said about ANY plans. This thread is just fun and guesswork. Nothing meaningful. Though to read it you’d have to wonder why some of the posters weren’t approached for the CEO job!!!!!!

[adb968008]

I have been participating on the Internet now for over 26 years, and I have never in that time been accused of pursuing personal vendettas, plotting something sinister, or behaving like a child.

 

Thus it would seem I am no longer welcome here.

I've sent you an olive branch via pm.