Zapf (toy manufacturer)
| Zapf Creation AG
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| legal form | Corporation |
| ISIN | DE0007806002 |
| founding | 1932 |
| Seat |
Rödental , Germany
|
| management |
|
| Number of employees | 97 |
| sales | 89.0 million euros (2018) |
| Branch | Toys |
| Website | www.zapf-creation.de |
| As of December 31, 2018 | |
The Zapf Creation AG , headquartered in Upper Franconia Rödental is a German manufacturer of toys . The company sees itself as Europe's leading brand manufacturer of play and functional dolls .
history
Zapf was founded in 1932 by Max and Rosa Zapf. Just six years later, until 1946, doll production suffered from the shortage of materials during the Second World War .
In 1958, the founders' children, Brigitte and Willi Zapf, expanded to other European countries. In 1960 the "Max Zapf Puppen- und Spielwarenfabrik GmbH" was founded. Dolls were made of plastic instead of cellulose .
From 1980 production was relocated abroad. A little later, the company also expanded to East Asia . In 1991 the best-known brand Baby Born was designed and the subsidiary "Zapf Creation (HK) Ltd. " was founded in Hong Kong .
In 1992 "Triumph Adler Spiel- und Freizeit Holding GmbH" took over the company. A year later the first sales office was founded in Spain . In 1999 the GmbH was converted into a stock corporation, "Zapf Creation AG", which was listed on April 26, 1999 in the SMAX .
In 2000, subsidiaries were founded in the United Kingdom - "Zapf Creation (UK) Ltd." - and in France - "Zapf Creation (France) SARL". Further subsidiaries in Australia , Italy and the Czech Republic followed in 2001. In December the company was promoted to the MDAX . The Spanish branch also became a subsidiary in 2002. In 2003 another followed in Poland . The subsidiary in Australia was closed in 2004, but Zapf continues to cooperate with the Australian company Funtastic Limited (South Oakleigh).
The USA sales office was closed again in 2006 with high losses. Additional irregularities in the accounting and a slump in profits led to a price drop from almost EUR 40 to below EUR 1. In the course of the financial crisis, Zapf had great difficulties in extending his loans. Ultimately, shareholder loans from the main shareholder, MGA, ensured survival, which were gradually converted into equity in 2008. 66 percent of the shares are now owned by the American toy trust MGA (also sells the Little Tikes brand) or - through foundations - its boss Isaac Larian. The share is listed on the open market on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. At the beginning of 2013 it was announced that Larian had reduced its stake to between 25% and 50%.
After sustained losses, which led to the loss of more than half of the share capital, the company's annual general meeting on July 3, 2013 resolved a capital cut in which the shares were pooled at a ratio of 3: 1. The share capital is then still € 6,431,951. Previously, the value of the share had dropped to that of a penny stick since mid-2011 . Sales, which in 2010 were 79.3 million euros, fell to 55 and 57 million euros in the following two years. In 2010 the number of employees was 159.
In August 2018 it became known that the company had decided to delist from the Baden-Württemberg stock exchange.
Products
Doll adventure worlds and functional dolls, including the brands:
- Baby Born
- Baby annabell
- Chou Chou
- Baby Alive
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Annual Report 2018. (PDF) In: www.zapf-creation.com. Retrieved August 26, 2019 .
- ↑ Zapf Creation AG: The story. (No longer available online.) Formerly in the original ; Retrieved May 8, 2011 . ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )
- ↑ a b media show Faz.net, February 21, 2013
- ↑ Zapf Creation: Reduction of the share capital. (No longer available online.) The toy, July 4, 2013, formerly the original ; Retrieved July 18, 2013 . ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )
- ↑ Zapf Creation with 30 percent less sales. (No longer available online.) New Press Coburg, June 9, 2012, archived from the original on March 8, 2016 ; Retrieved July 18, 2013 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ 4investors.de (mic): Zapf Creation: Slight increase in sales and still in the red. April 19, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013 .
- ↑ Zapf Creation AG decides to delist dgap.de, August 22, 2018
