Two key banks in Japan announced yesterday that they will extend Sharp Corp. an additional line of credit of ¥150 billion ($1.5 billion) over and above all of their other financing. Mizuho Corporate Bank and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ originally had considered a ¥100 billion line, but ultimately decided to up the ante with each bank kicking in ¥75 billion – a real lifeline to the struggling electronics manufacturer.
Kathy Gornik: Why I Sold Thiel…
*Strata-gee.com EXCLUSIVE*
Much has been written on the changes at Lexington, KY-based Thiel Audio Products Company (Thiel) in the wake of its purchase by a group of Tennessee investors that we first reported last November. Shortly after their acquisition, strata-gee.com was invited to speak with Bill Thomas – one of those Tennessee investors and now the new CEO of Thiel Audio. And a couple of months after that, we had the opportunity to speak with new Thiel interim COO and Board member Bob Brown.
But many Thiel-related reps and dealers kept asking us about co-founder and former President Kathy Gornik. Some of this curiosity was related to rumors that Gornik had been forcibly removed from the respected high-end loudspeaker company that she helped found. And some of the interest centered around an unanswered question, not covered by any of the press (including Strata-gee.com) as to why Gornik decided to sell the company.
Now, Gornik has granted Strata-gee.com an exclusive interview…to tell her side of the story… [Read more…] about Kathy Gornik: Why I Sold Thiel…
Though Fiscal 2013 Results are Better Than Expected, Yamaha Replaces President
Last week, Yamaha Corporation released its financial results for Fiscal Year 2013 (the period ending March 31, 2013) giving the stock market and financial analysts a pleasant surprise as final numbers handily beat both their February 6th revised forecast and last year’s results. Thanks to a strong fourth quarter, Yamaha hit sales for the year of ¥366.9 billion ($3.7 billion) or 2.9% more than last year’s ¥356.6 billion. Yamaha also reported increased operating income, ordinary income, and net income.
And yet, surprisingly, the company also announced it would replace its President and Representative Director at the upcoming directors meeting to be held on June 26, 2013. Why?
See more on Yamaha’s performance and the surprising reason they’ll replace their President… [Read more…] about Though Fiscal 2013 Results are Better Than Expected, Yamaha Replaces President
ACTP Launches TiO Home Automation – They Want You to Turn it On
Last month we told you about the [probably final] closing of 3vNet…the third or fourth time it – or more accurately, its predecessor company Colorado vNet – has gone through that process. At the same time CEO Mike Anderson announced that closing, he also announced the launch of a new company called Automated Control Technology Partners – a company that he said would ultimately have a stable of brands under its control.
With this week’s announcement of the launch of Turn it On (TiO) – we have the first of these brands… [Read more…] about ACTP Launches TiO Home Automation – They Want You to Turn it On
Thought for the Week
If you’re going through hell, keep going.
-Winston Churchill
Tributaries Appoints Three New Rep Firms
Gordon J. Gow Technologies, parent company to Tributaries Cable and a high-end line called Clarus, announced this week that it has appointed three new rep firms for both product lines. These new appointments became effective May 1, 2013 and cover the geographic areas of New England, New York, and the Southeast.
See who has joined the Tributaries team… [Read more…] about Tributaries Appoints Three New Rep Firms
NAD – Pulling High Performance Digital Away From the MP3 Muck
Saying they want to move their traditional audiophile customers into the exciting new world of digital music – while at the same time offering higher sound quality solutions to attract the “digital native” computer music lover – NAD Electronics today in a press preview in New York launched three new digital audio products it calls “The New Digital Generation.” Staking out the high ground, NAD hopes to be able to offer affordable access to better quality digital music…while at the same time, offering an upgrade path to the ultimate digital system performance.
See more on this remarkable digital evolution by an upper mid-fi company… [Read more…] about NAD – Pulling High Performance Digital Away From the MP3 Muck
AudioXperts Goes Global
AudioXperts, a new luxury audio brand with a wide range of distinctly unique consumer solutions, announced today a major expansion in its global reach through a series of partnerships with international distributors in key markets around the world. These distributors will open new markets for the brand in a strategy that will offer their unique products to a whole new global audience – and at the same time, help scale the company’s business for greater efficiency.
See more on who these new international partners are… [Read more…] about AudioXperts Goes Global
JVC Kenwood Financial Results Miss the Mark…Again
At the end of last week, JVC Kenwood Corporation released a summary of results for their fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. On the eve of this announcement, the company recast their forecasts for the year to reflect their actual results. In both cases, the news was not good as the company’s results failed to meet both their original…and revised forecasts.
See more on JVC Kenwood’s results…including our analysis of their overall trends… [Read more…] about JVC Kenwood Financial Results Miss the Mark…Again
Strata-gee.com’s Ted Green Featured in Consumer Website Article on Home Automation
MyMove.com, a website and blog dedicated to any and all issues surrounding a homeowner’s moving, this week posted an article on home automation that featured three industry experts – Delia Hansen, Marketing Solutions Manager at Crestron; Michael Braithwaite, Chief Strategy Officer for ClearOne, manufacturer of the NetStream DigiLinx home control system; and Strata-gee.com’s very own Ted Green. Written by Dawn Allcot – principal of Allcot Media, the post was titled Whole-Home Automation: Convenience, Savings and Sustainability.
