LG Announces Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2016 Financial Results

Seoul:  LG Electronics Inc. (LG) announced a 2016 operating profit of KRW 1.34 trillion (USD 1.16 billion), 12.2 percent increase from 2015 due in large part to strong performance by home appliances, air solutions and home entertainment. For full-year 2016, LG reported revenues of KRW 55.37 trillion (USD 47.92 billion) and net income of KRW 126.3 billion (USD 109.31 million).

Fourth-quarter 2016 sales of KRW 14.78 trillion (USD 12.79 billion) were 11.7 percent higher than the previous quarter and 1.5 percent higher than the fourth quarter the previous year. Both the LG Home Appliance & Air Solutions Company and LG Home Entertainment Company posted their strongest operating profit ever in 2016. However, due to losses from mobile communications and vehicle components, LG reported a fourth-quarter net loss of KRW 258.80 billion (USD 223.98 million).

LG Home Appliance & Air Solutions Company reported revenues of KRW 17.23 trillion (USD 14.92 billion) for full-year 2016 and KRW 4.04 trillion (USD 3.50 billion) in the fourth quarter. This was an increase of 5.6 percent year-over-year, driven in large part by strong sales in the Korean and North American markets where products such as TWINWash washing machines and Door-in-Door refrigerators continued to be popular. Operating income of KRW 1.33 trillion (USD 1.15 billion) in 2016 increased 36 percent over 2015 and was the highest among all LG companies.

LG Home Entertainment Company posted fourth-quarter revenues of KRW 4.79 trillion (USD 4.15 billion), an increase of 15.7 percent quarter-over-quarter as a result of strong sales of premium LG OLED and 4K Ultra HD TVs in North America, Europe and Asia. Full-year operating profit of KRW 1.24 trillion (USD 1.07 billion) was the highest in the history of the Home Entertainment Company and 2016 revenues of KRW 17.43 trillion (USD 15.08 billion) were the highest among all LG business units. The award-winning LG SIGNATURE OLED TV W7 series and broadened line-up of LG OLED TVs unveiled at CES 2017 are expected to strengthen LG’s industry leadership in the premium TV segment, as other companies introduce OLED TV products later this year.

LG Mobile Communications Company reported revenues KRW 2.90 trillion (USD 2.51 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2016, an increase of 15.4 percent quarter-over-quarter due in large part to strong sales of the new V20 flagship smartphone. Profitability was hampered by weak sales of the G5 smartphone and higher marketing investments. Introductions of the next G Series phone and mass-tier devices in the second quarter following Mobile World Congress are expected to help greatly improve the LG Mobile Communications Company’s market position in 2017.

LG Vehicle Components Company ended the year with a solid KRW 2.77 trillion (USD 2.40 billion) in sales, an increase of 51 percent from the previous year. Fourth-quarter revenue of KRW 865.7 billion (USD 749.2 million) was 66.4 percent higher year-over-year, mostly due to strong growth in electric vehicle components and infotainment systems. Sales grew steadily in each quarter of 2016 but R&D investments negatively affected profitability. With production of the Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle, co-developed with LG, under way and with demand growing for integrated electronics related to automotive infotainment and safety systems, the LG Vehicle Components Company expects to further strengthen its product competitiveness in 2017.

By: Afsar Khan On 22:21

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Ufone sheds light on yet another accomplished Pakistani

Lahore: Ufone, one of Pakistan’s leading Telecom operators, has always considered the customer at the center of their experience. This is why they are consistently advocating the ordinary citizen, accomplishing extraordinary things. During the latest event of their promotional campaign, a loyal customer was invited by Ufone to share his life story with the audience.

These individuals live amongst us and have the potential to inspire masses with their stories. Passion does not discriminate based on background, but pursuit of passion does. And once you realise that if these heroic individuals can overcome their share of hurdles to live their passions, then so can anyone else, who is motivated enough. Through a series of activities, Ufone, will be promoting these Ufone customers and their accomplishments to a wider audience. One leg of the campaign is already active where Fazal Mohammad, an emerging footballer is highlighted revealing his quest for the sport.

“Being a responsible company, we aim at highlighting those individuals who might not have a very influential background but have come a long way as a result of their passion and perseverance’, said a spokesperson of Ufone, ‘In the future too, we would like to pick such individuals in the society that can be an inspiration for us all.’

In a recent bloggers meet-up held in Lahore, Ufone invited it’s valued customer and a new brand ambassador, Hayat Achakzai to talk about his experience as a determined sportsman who has made the country proud as a result of his passion of boxing. He shared insight into his sport and passion with the bloggers of the city. 

 

 

 

Achakzai is a boxer from Quetta. He started early at the tender age of 11 and went onto win his first silver medal in All Pakistan under Fourteen. Throughout the years, his training, dedication and hard work paid off as he went onto join the WAPDA team, winning Gold in 2003 and 2006. He even won the gold medal at the National Games in 2004. Soon, the national arena was no longer enough to satiate his desire, as he wanted to make Pakistan proud by representing it in the international showground. And so, at the President Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia, he brought home gold in 2005. He then even went onto play at the Commonwealth Championships.

Hayat Achakzai is now a 33-year-old father of 4, who runs his own small shop. But he still contributes to his favourite sport and society by coaching the same WAPDA team he once played for. He has exemplified the structural balance between providing for your family and living your passion. He aspires to make it to the Al-Fajr Cup in Iran in the near future.

There is much to be learned from their wisdom, for they give us hope. Their struggles represent each one of us and Ufone is proud to promote such inspirational customers its proud of.

By: Afsar Khan On 22:17

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Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning actress #JenniferAniston returns for another adventure in her latest #Emirates product campaign

Hollywood actress, director and producer Jennifer Aniston makes a return to the Emirates A380, and makes a new friend, in a new global digital and TV advertising campaign for the world’s best airline*.

Jennifer Aniston and her young co-star Cooper onboard the A380 in the new Emirates TVC

The ad builds on the success of the first Emirates-Jennifer Aniston ad launched last year, a much talked-about campaign which quickly went viral.

In a similar vein to the first light-hearted TVC, the Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning actress brings her distinctive personality, classic style, and a touch of humour, to showcase the A380. In the ad, Jennifer befriends Cooper, a feisty young boy who she finds playing in her Private Suite in the Emirates First Class cabin, while she was freshening up in the Shower Spa. The two strike up a conversation and build rapport, as they stroll through Emirates’ Business Class cabin and Onboard Lounge. Sitting on the stairs between the lower and upper decks of the aircraft, Cooper tells Jennifer about his aspirations to become a pilot – of ‘this plane’, pointing to his model Emirates A380 aircraft. In Economy Class, Cooper is finally reunited with his surprised parents where Jennifer chooses to remain and enjoy Emirates’ ice inflight entertainment system with Cooper. The ad ends with Cooper’s mother relaxing in Jennifer’s Private Suite, having exchanged places with the Hollywood star.

Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing & Brand explained: “A year ago, when we launched our first ad featuring Jennifer Aniston, we were overwhelmed by what a social phenomenon it became. The humour resonated with audiences around the world, and the ad was viewed by millions of people, generating thousands of conversations. Fans of both Emirates and Jennifer loved her effortless charm and humour, and enjoyed a story that deviated from traditional airline advertising.  

“We were overrun with requests to see Jennifer again. She has an enduring, universal appeal that is at once sophisticated, but also down to earth – a great match for our brand. This new ad perfectly captures the fun, spontaneity and glamour of flying on Emirates, and we are confident audiences will find it as memorable as the first.”

The TVC was directed by industry veteran and Oscar-nominee Bryan Buckley, who is acclaimed for his numerous Super Bowl ads. The script and creative concept was a collaboration between Buckley and Emirates’ in-house advertising team and produced in conjunction with the WPP Group.

The TVC can be viewed on the Emirates website or on the Emirates YouTube channel, Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram. Fans can join the conversation using the tag #JensBack.

By: Afsar Khan On 07:13

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Alcatel appoints United Mobile as its Official Distributor in Pakistan

Karachi: Alcatel continues its expansion in Pakistan through the appointment of United Mobile as its second official distributor of its smartphones. These smartphones will now be available in United Mobile warranty for the ease of local consumers.

Alcatel which serves more than 170 countries sights Pakistan as a strategic growth market that favours avenues of expansion and growth given the technology centric market it is gradually becoming.  United Mobile, the earner of ISO 9001 certification on the other hand, has earned the reputation of being a renowned and trustworthy distributor that enables comprehensive and reliable solutions in terms of distribution, thus making business integration suave and widespread. 

Speaking on the occasion, Nauman Durrani General Manager Middle East, Pakistan and Egypt Alcatel said 

“Alcatel, is an international brand and one of the largest mobile supplier with 23 R&D facilities and 21 factories across the globe. We are super excited to start the operations in Pakistan. We see Pakistan as a high growth market and with 3G and 4G penetration our aim would be to connect the Pakistani’s with the best in class innovative mobile devices at affordable prices. Alcatel Pakistan operations are led by Farhan Khan, Country Manager Pakistan and Afghanistan and his dedicated team covering all major cities in Pakistan. 

Speaking on the occasion Syed Ejaz Hassan, Director United Mobile stated 

“Alcatel as a brand resonates deeply with consumers since its inception in France in 1872 and its long history in the telecommunications industry. We are pleased to officially introduce to our customers their latest innovative smartphones with affordable pricing options.” He further stated “For the last 16 years we have been serving our customers in Pakistan with our distribution network and customer care network. Customer satisfaction and facilitation is our top priority and this partnership has been established with the aim of improving customer services.”

Alcatel’s smartphones resonate with the millennials, thereby catering to a personal and authentic approach. The company delivers customised user experiences with innovative, high-performance mobile devices that allow consumers to explore and magnify the joy in their daily lives as a result of the devices’ feature-rich capabilities.

By: Unknown On 00:27

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LG’s Effort to Recreate Northern Lights on OLED TVs Resonates with Consumers Worldwide

Karachi: LG’s Lights Out, Stars On campaign in Reykjavik, Iceland around its one-of-a-kind TV technology wrapped up in grand style today with an OLED-themed concert by three high-profile Icelandic musicians — Ásgeir, GusGus and Ólafur Arnalds — at the award-winning Harpa Con-cert Hall. Designed to expose Iceland’s northern lights accessible to global consumers utilizing premium LG 4K OLED TVs, the multi-faceted Reykjavik campaign generated over 12 million views and online participation from over 360,000 consumers and fans.

The Lights Out, Stars On Concert began after a short introduction from Icelandic poet and novelist An-dri Magnason and YouTuber Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy. Ásgeir, GusGus and Ólafur Arnalds then took the stage one by one, performing alongside OLED screens depicting the beauty of Iceland’s northern lights. The images and video displayed on 40 OLED TVs (over 330 million pixels) behind the musicians added to the unique ambiance at the Harpa concert hall, creating an unforgettable experi-ence for the 1,000 guests in attendance.

Running until November 20, the OLED Gallery exhibit features LG G6 OLED TVs to showcase brilliant 4K photographs captured by famous Icelandic photographers. Providing ultra-clear OLED images of Ice-land’s northern lights, wildlife, volcanic activity, glaciers, geography and more, the exhibit has proven to be a popular attraction since opening to the public.

This campaign was inspired by an event that took place in Reykjavik a decade ago. During the 2006 Au-rora Borealis viewing season, Icelandic poet and novelist Andri Magnason suggested that the city of Reykjavik come together to make the beauty of the night sky visible within the city for the first time. Magnason wanted the people of Reykjavik to see the northern lights and stars against a completely black backdrop. Just as eliminating light pollution allowed the people of Reykjavik to see the lights in all their glory, the pitch black backdrop of OLED TVs heightens the contrast and delivers richer images. LG OLED TVs feature individually illuminated pixels, eliminating the need for image-distorting LED backlights. Without this backlight, OLED TVs are capable of displaying perfect black images alongside bright, lifelike colors.

“Unique and creative LG events like Lights Out, Stars On in Iceland demonstrate the innovative person-ality of the LG brand as well as its technologies that continue to pique the interest of consumers, espe-cially in the premium market segment whereby LG has continued to increase its market share based on the increase of OLED TV sales worldwide,” 

said Mr. Yong Geun Choi, President, LG Electronics Gulf. 

“We are confident that the premium market in the UAE and the region will also continue to see LG as a forerunner because of its innovation in its newest flagship OLED TV, which delivers OLED technology’s superior picture quality with perfect blacks, unparalleled contrast and more colors on an elegant, stun-ningly slim design.”

In order to make Lights Out, Stars On a truly global event, LG gave away tickets via Facebook as part of an all-expenses paid Reykjavik travel package. A total of 4,000 fans entered the contest from the sev-eral countries such as USA, India, France, Germany, Sweden and UAE from which 8 winners were se-lected. In addition, the campaign’s video has been seen by 12 million viewers as of July 15 and was listed on Advertising Age’s top 10 weekly viral video chart in early July.

“We are excited that our event in Iceland has been so successful, attracting so many visitors and influ-encers,” said Brian Kwon, president of LG Home Entertainment Company. “Our innovation in television technology allowed us to launch the world’s first 55-inch OLED TVs in 2013. Our leadership is helping to pave a new path for OLED, with sales projected to double every year until 2020. We will continue looking for creative ways to improve our technology and to connect with consumers around the globe. Lights Out, Stars On is an excellent example of how unique approaches can help the company reach new audiences and clearly communicate the advantages of OLED.”

By: Unknown On 00:24

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