Should LEGO become publicly-held in 2032?

[Callum Precious]

For nearly 100 years, LEGO remains the best-selling toy company in the world.

But here's my idea for the future ahead: What should happen if LEGO becomes a publicly-held company for the first time to mark 100 years of it? Well here are several conditions:

• Before making LEGO a public company, it needs to ensure that the company remains family-run (in a hybrid mode) despite the transition to the company's role from privately-held to publicly-held.
• LEGO must also ensure that the quality and status of all of its products and franchises, including LEGO Star Wars and LEGO City, will be unaffected by the changes.

I think, to me, it is a good idea for The LEGO Group to finally become a publicly-held company at long last but keeping its Danish roots, despite its evolution as the world's much-loved toy company.

So i think it is up to LEGO to decide its future and went on to become a publicly-held company in 2032, to coincide with the company's 100th birthday.

All those in favour!!

Edited August 22, 2024 by Callum Precious

[SpacePolice89]

I strongly oppose this. It would end with all production moving away from Europe and Lego abandoning its principles. If the wrong sort of people like PE or hedge funds take over it would be the end of Lego. They are currently gradually transferring ownership to the next generation of the Kristiansen family and that is a very good thing.

Edited August 23, 2024 by SpacePolice89

[MAB]

Of course it shouldn't. There is no way it could retain its current structure when new owners / shareholders control it. It could also be that rival franchise owners get a stake in LEGO and change the licenses that they work with.  Plus if companies like Disney own large stakes, it could well be they squeeze even more of their brands in at the expense of unlicensed themes.

[Yoggington]

14 hours ago, Callum Precious said:

For nearly 100 years, LEGO remains the best-selling toy company in the world.

But here's my idea for the future ahead: What should happen if LEGO becomes a publicly-held company for the first time to mark 100 years of it? Well here are several conditions:

• Before making LEGO a public company, it needs to ensure that the company remains family-run (in a hybrid mode) despite the transition to the company's role from privately-held to publicly-held.
• LEGO must also ensure that the quality and status of all of its products and franchises, including LEGO Star Wars and LEGO City, will be unaffected by the changes.

I think, to me, it is a good idea for The LEGO Group to finally become a publicly-held company at long last but keeping its Danish roots, despite its evolution as the world's much-loved toy company.

So i think it is up to LEGO to decide its future and went on to become a publicly-held company in 2032, to coincide with the company's 100th birthday.

All those in favour!!

While you've laid out conditions for such a transition, you haven't actually mentioned any benefit to such a move?

I see this as only downsides for us as customers/fans, and for the current ownership. I don't understand why this would be a good idea for anyone except future shareholders.

[Karalora]

It would be a disaster for LEGO to go public. The company would become beholden to shareholders and shareholders alone, operated solely for the purpose of increasing profits. This would result in a nosedive in quality (because quality costs), product diversity (why experiment when you can just ID the single most profitable product line and focus exclusively on that), customer service, and every other thing we value about LEGO.

[Murdoch17]

Hell no!

[Autumn]

17 hours ago, Callum Precious said:

I think, to me, it is a good idea for The LEGO Group to finally become a publicly-held company at long last but keeping its Danish roots, despite its evolution as the world's much-loved toy company.

As someone else mentioned, you haven't said anything about why you think it's a good thing besides it being a cool thing to do on their centenary.

 

17 hours ago, Callum Precious said:

LEGO must also ensure that the quality and status of all of its products and franchises, including LEGO Star Wars and LEGO City, will be unaffected by the changes.

You can't be publicly owned and act like a privately owned company.

[danth]

God no. That would mean Lego sets would stop being the product, and share price would become the product. That's how you get enshitification.

Edited August 23, 2024 by danth

[Renny The Spaceman]

12 minutes ago, danth said:

God no. That would mean Lego sets would stop being the product, and share price would become the product. That's how you get enshitification.

Yeah, exactly, bo idea why anyone would think otherwise

[LegendaryArticuno]

Everyone has a price, I wouldn't be surprised if the family goes public or even sells the company if given enough billions.

[Murdoch17]

2 hours ago, LegendaryArticuno said:

Everyone has a price, I wouldn't be surprised if the family goes public or even sells the company if given enough billions.

They almost sold to Mattel (or was it Hasbro?) once upon a time in the early 2000's, but G1 Bionicle (with some help from Harry Potter and Star Wars) saved their backsides enough they turned down the serious offer they were considering. That was then, but LEGO is now Number 1 toy manufacturer in the world, and has been for some time - even expanding market share during a downturn in the toy industry during the early 2020's while everyone else was shrinking. Simply put: there isn't enough money in either Hasbro or Mattel's piggybanks to make the owners of TLG sell out.

Also, it's worth noting Mega Bloks sold out to Mattel, K'nex also sold out, while Erector / Rokenbok / Meccano / Tyco / Kre-O are long gone. Lincoln Logs I think are still around, (I don't know how, as nobody plays with those anymore!) but basically everyone LEGO has had major competition with has either folded up, shrunk, or was bought out. It's like LEGO is the last person on the dance floor still without a partner and they are doing just fine alone.

Edited August 23, 2024 by Murdoch17

[Callum Precious]

13 hours ago, SpacePolice89 said:

I strongly oppose this. It would end with all production moving away from Europe and Lego abandoning its principles. If the wrong sort of people like PE or hedge funds take over it would be the end of Lego. They are currently gradually transferring ownership to the next generation of the Kristiansen family and that is a very good thing.

Why? Come on, you must like this idea!! Supporting the idea is essential if under the right circumstances

[Murdoch17]

2 minutes ago, Callum Precious said:

Why? Come on, you must like this idea!! Supporting the idea is essential if under the right circumstances

Have you READ the responses you were given from everyone who's posted so far? Or are you just trolling?

[Callum Precious]

7 hours ago, Karalora said:

It would be a disaster for LEGO to go public. The company would become beholden to shareholders and shareholders alone, operated solely for the purpose of increasing profits. This would result in a nosedive in quality (because quality costs), product diversity (why experiment when you can just ID the single most profitable product line and focus exclusively on that), customer service, and every other thing we value about LEGO.

I have to emphasise you that if LEGO becomes public, it is unlikely it would cause a disaster but instead it would focus on the continuing ownership by the current owners and - if LEGO proposes the idea to become public, it is safe to say that its product quality are unlikely to be affected.

But despite the potential idea to make LEGO public, it would still belong to the Kristiansen family from one to another while going public.

2 minutes ago, Murdoch17 said:

Have you READ the responses you were given from everyone who's posted so far? Or are you just trolling?

But i'm not trolling, although i read their responses. It is just a futuristic idea about LEGO becoming public in 2032, which is just merely a decade away.

[Murdoch17]

13 minutes ago, Callum Precious said:

I have to emphasise you that if LEGO becomes public, it is unlikely it would cause a disaster but instead it would focus on the continuing ownership by the current owners and - if LEGO proposes the idea to become public, it is safe to say that its product quality are unlikely to be affected.

But despite the potential idea to make LEGO public, it would still belong to the Kristiansen family from one to another while going public.

But i'm not trolling, although i read their responses. It is just a futuristic idea about LEGO becoming public in 2032, which is just merely a decade away.

By going public, the family would by definition no longer own it.

Edited August 23, 2024 by Murdoch17
grammar issue fixed

[SpacePolice89]

20 minutes ago, Callum Precious said:

Why? Come on, you must like this idea!! Supporting the idea is essential if under the right circumstances

No chance. I already stated my reasons.

[Callum Precious]

4 minutes ago, Murdoch17 said:

By going public, the family would by definition no longer would own it.

But here's a solution:

The year 2032 marks a significant milestone for LEGO as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. It is within this context that. again, i envision LEGO’s transition to a publicly-held company, not as a departure from its core values, but as a natural evolution that would secure its legacy for the next century. This transition would be guided by a hybrid model that maintains the Kristiansen family’s involvement in the company’s operations and strategic decisions, ensuring that the essence of LEGO remains intact.

A key condition for LEGO’s public offering is the maintenance of family control through a hybrid governance structure. This model would combine public ownership with significant family influence, ensuring that the Kristiansen family retains a pivotal role in decision-making processes. The family could continue to hold a substantial percentage of shares, with a dual-class share structure ensuring that voting power remains concentrated within the family. This approach guarantees that the company's strategic direction would continue to reflect the values and vision that have guided LEGO for the past century.

One of the foremost concerns in the transition to a public company is the potential impact on product quality and brand integrity. To address this, LEGO would establish a Product Integrity Council, an independent body responsible for overseeing the quality and consistency of all LEGO products, including its flagship franchises such as LEGO Star Wars, LEGO City, and others. This council would include representatives from the Kristiansen family, key stakeholders, and independent experts to ensure that all products adhere to the highest standards, regardless of the company’s new public status.

2 minutes ago, SpacePolice89 said:

No chance. I already stated my reasons.

What for?

Edited August 23, 2024 by Callum Precious

[Murdoch17]

1 minute ago, Callum Precious said:

But here's a solution:

The year 2032 marks a significant milestone for LEGO as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. It is within this context that. again, i envision LEGO’s transition to a publicly-held company, not as a departure from its core values, but as a natural evolution that would secure its legacy for the next century. This transition will be guided by a hybrid model that maintains the Kristiansen family’s involvement in the company’s operations and strategic decisions, ensuring that the essence of LEGO remains intact.

A key condition for LEGO’s public offering is the maintenance of family control through a hybrid governance structure. This model would combine public ownership with significant family influence, ensuring that the Kristiansen family retains a pivotal role in decision-making processes. The family could continue to hold a substantial percentage of shares, with a dual-class share structure ensuring that voting power remains concentrated within the family. This approach guarantees that the company's strategic direction would continue to reflect the values and vision that have guided LEGO for the past century.

One of the foremost concerns in the transition to a public company is the potential impact on product quality and brand integrity. To address this, LEGO would establish a Product Integrity Council, an independent body responsible for overseeing the quality and consistency of all LEGO products, including its flagship franchises such as LEGO Star Wars, LEGO City, and others. This council would include representatives from the Kristiansen family, key stakeholders, and independent experts to ensure that all products adhere to the highest standards, regardless of the company’s new public status.

What for?

This is pointless. Unless you are a VERY high-up person within Lego, this thread is meaningless and carries no weight... so why bother discussing something such as this? LEGO doesn't respond to petitions, suggestions, or arguments about what someone thinks they should do. It's a moot argument.

[Callum Precious]

2 minutes ago, Murdoch17 said:

This is pointless. Unless you are a VERY high-up person within Lego, this thread is meaningless and carries no weight... so why bother discussing something such as this? LEGO doesn't respond to petitions, suggestions, or arguments about what someone thinks they should do. It's a moot argument.

That's no pointless, although i am a very high-up person within LEGO. But once again i have to emphasise you that this argument is not intended to be a moot and therefore all views and opinions are my own.

Edited August 23, 2024 by Callum Precious

[Yperio_Bricks]

4 minutes ago, Callum Precious said:

But here's a solution:

The year 2032 marks a significant milestone for LEGO as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. It is within this context that. again, i envision LEGO’s transition to a publicly-held company, not as a departure from its core values, but as a natural evolution that would secure its legacy for the next century. This transition would be guided by a hybrid model that maintains the Kristiansen family’s involvement in the company’s operations and strategic decisions, ensuring that the essence of LEGO remains intact.

A key condition for LEGO’s public offering is the maintenance of family control through a hybrid governance structure. This model would combine public ownership with significant family influence, ensuring that the Kristiansen family retains a pivotal role in decision-making processes. The family could continue to hold a substantial percentage of shares, with a dual-class share structure ensuring that voting power remains concentrated within the family. This approach guarantees that the company's strategic direction would continue to reflect the values and vision that have guided LEGO for the past century.

One of the foremost concerns in the transition to a public company is the potential impact on product quality and brand integrity. To address this, LEGO would establish a Product Integrity Council, an independent body responsible for overseeing the quality and consistency of all LEGO products, including its flagship franchises such as LEGO Star Wars, LEGO City, and others. This council would include representatives from the Kristiansen family, key stakeholders, and independent experts to ensure that all products adhere to the highest standards, regardless of the company’s new public status.

What for?

ChatGPT is it you? lmao

[SpacePolice89]

4 minutes ago, Callum Precious said:

What for?

I see no reason to continue this discussion. I again refer to my first post for my reasons to strongly disagree with this disastrous plan.

[Callum Precious]

Just now, Yperio_Bricks said:

ChatGPT is it you? lmao

I never use ChatGPT. I am a real person from the United Kingdom

Just now, SpacePolice89 said:

I see no reason to continue this discussion. I again refer to my first post for my reasons to strongly disagree with this disastrous plan.

Why would you call it a disastrous plan?

[Murdoch17]

4 minutes ago, Callum Precious said:

I never use ChatGPT. I am a real person from the United Kingdom

Can a MOD shut this thread down please? This is a ridiculous thread.

Edited August 23, 2024 by Murdoch17

[Callum Precious]

2 minutes ago, Murdoch17 said:

You certainly read like it!

If you're not aware about it, i am a human being and i am very intelligent adult.

[Murdoch17]

7 minutes ago, Callum Precious said:

That's no pointless, although i am a very high-up person within LEGO. But once again i have to emphasise you that this argument is not intended to be a moot and therefore all views and opinions are my own.

Calling yourself a high up Lego employee is not a good strategy IMO... unless you can prove it?

Edited August 23, 2024 by Murdoch17