Third quarter results posted

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/~/media/Files/PDF/Investors/Interim%20reports/BO_Q3_2013-14_UK.pdf

 

The stock has fallen 13% after the release of this report.  Some good news in the report, but not enough I would say.  Big drop in Beoplay sales. 

What is Beoplays mission statement?

I like and own several Play products but get confused with their pricing policy with items like the A8 & A9's etc, should these not sit in B&O's standard portfolio and Play be aimed more towards the Bose/similar premium market but playing on their design strengths.

To me Play should be a funkier, cheaper; to a degree, entry point brand to entice people to take the full immersion into the world of B&O.

The report also says that they sold their production facilities in the Czech Republic, meaning that all future products will be labelled "Made In China"..

New product launches include a new high-end wireless speaker (BeoLab 9 replacement) plus a new TV platform (does this mean BeoVision or BeoSystem?).

And finally a sound system for the Audi TT.

Christophe :

The report also says that they sold their production facilities in the Czech Republic, meaning that all future products will be labelled "Made In China".

Original text is:

"The free cash flow was DKK 94 million in the third quarter. It was positively impacted by DKK 79 million from the sale and lease-back of the land and production facilities in the Czech Republic"

Where do you read, that "all future products will be labelled "Made In China""?

MM

you go this route (sale and lease-back) if you need cash and/or want to lighten up your results....

something a lot of companies practice, btw.

Ralf

kallasr:

you go this route (sale and lease-back) if you need cash and/or want to lighten up your results....

 

something a lot of companies practice, btw.

Ralf

You are correct.  It is a leaseback which was summarized in the Wall Street Journal

"Administration costs were positively affected by a non-recurring gain of 
 approximately DKK 11 million relating to a sale and leaseback of the land 
  and production facilities previously owned by Bang & Olufsen s.r.o. in 
  the Czech Republic"

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/36c12dec-c179-11e3-97b2-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2yc43opVB

Mark:

To me Play should be a funkier, cheaper; to a degree, entry point brand to entice people to take the full immersion into the world of B&O.

I agree with this. I don't understand the BeoPlay pricing either. Knowing what other general consumers view as 'luxury', the A9 is above and beyond what 98% of consumers would spend on a speaker. A8 is too expensive, too, for a dock. Nothing else really comes close and I notice that tech mags rarely mention or recommend the A8, whereas they used to recommend the BS8 a couple of years ago (as it was cheaper and there were fewer dock options, so it stood out from the crowd).

There's also little marketing for the BeoPlay products. The only time you'd see an A9 in person is by visiting a B&O store and, ironically, the main reason for the BeoPlay launch was to promote products outside the usual B&O retail stores.

So hate to sound like a broken record, but Tue seems to have betted on the wrong horse, "BRIC"...

Substantial fall in sales. 

 

Only positive region is Europe! (Quarterly)

I'll take my paycheck to the following address... LOL

 

BeoPlay, another demeaning (IMO) product concept is falling. Sadly bringing down the whole brand.