“Sharp has fallen on hard times again,” declared an at times shocking report in the Nikkei this week. The statement comes in the wake of the company announcing on Tuesday that, rather than their forecast of a profit for the current fiscal year, the company will in fact book a net loss. And this disappointing news will almost certainly drive the call for a much more drastic restructuring than has been accomplished in the past – with the company reportedly considering pulling out of the television business in North America altogether.
Asian Connection
Toshiba Takes A Hike – Drops TV Biz Everywhere But Japan
Toshiba Corp. announced late yesterday that it has decided to exit the TV business in all export markets, including North America. The move shocked some, but those who follow the trends in the TV business were not surprised at all as Japanese manufacturers have struggled to maintain viability in a low profitability category with declining demand.
See more on Toshiba’s industry reshaping decision… [Read more…] about Toshiba Takes A Hike – Drops TV Biz Everywhere But Japan
Company Warns Media & Investors, Sharp Pain is Coming
Sharp Corp. this week began warning the media and, through them, investors that it is likely to miss its forecasts for revenues and profits for the fiscal year set to end March 31, 2015…and miss big. Just days after the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas where Sharp excitedly showed a large roster of new products, the company is hinting that it may have to take extraordinary steps to stem a newly expected tide of red ink.
See more on this remarkable admission from Sharp… [Read more…] about Company Warns Media & Investors, Sharp Pain is Coming
S. Korean Government Orders LG Display to Halt OLED Production Line; Launches Investigation
BREAKING NEWS
We are just learning that the South Korean Labor Ministry has issued an order to LG Display Co. Inc., to stop all operations at an OLED panel production line following reports of a nitrogen gas leak. While details are sketchy, the news was reported by Reuters out of Seoul, South Korea and is apparently the result of some type of industrial accident that occurred during the process of manufacturing OLED panels.
See more of what we’ve learned about the serious nature of this incident… [Read more…] about S. Korean Government Orders LG Display to Halt OLED Production Line; Launches Investigation
Bullish on 2015, Japan’s Electronics & IT Companies Boost Production Plans
Japanese consumer electronics and information technology companies appear to be quite bullish on 2015 and have put plans in place to boost production levels, according to Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association. The association released the results of an industry-wide survey earlier this week that show the stage is set for another year of growth.
See more on the plans of Japan’s TECH companies… [Read more…] about Bullish on 2015, Japan’s Electronics & IT Companies Boost Production Plans
Apple to Set Up Its First R&D Facility Outside of US
Announcement Met with Mixture of Pride…and Concern
Apple, Inc. has announced that it will open its first research and development facility outside of the United States and it has chosen Japan as the location for the center. The announcement was reported by the Nikkei and has been met with a combination of national pride…and corporate concerns.
See more on Apple’s new plans for their R&D facility in Japan… [Read more…] about Apple to Set Up Its First R&D Facility Outside of US
Economy Falling into Recession, Moody’s Cuts Japan’s Credit Rating
Saying that there is “rising uncertainty” with regards to the country’s debt situation, Moody’s has cut Japan’s credit rating. Yet another indicator of fundamental problems in one of the world’s most powerful economies, Japan’s problems go well beyond its dramatically changing TECH industry.
See more on this surprising downgrade and what it means… [Read more…] about Economy Falling into Recession, Moody’s Cuts Japan’s Credit Rating
Having Dumped Everything Else, Pioneer Makes Plans to Dominate Car Electronics
About the AV biz? Hoping Onkyo Keeps the Pioneer Name…
Pioneer Corporation
In a revealing interview with the Nikkei in Tokyo, Pioneer Corp. President Susumu Kotani said that Pioneer – after spending several months selling off all of its divisions other than automotive – is considering resorting to acquisitions in order to build a dominant position within its chosen market. A radical shift after months of divestiture, he makes clear that the company is preparing to move to offense, in order to build a new – and expanded – future.
See more on the company’s plans – including just what areas Pioneer is considering entering… [Read more…] about Having Dumped Everything Else, Pioneer Makes Plans to Dominate Car Electronics
Despite Revenue Decline, JVC Kenwood Cuts Losses as Restructuring Takes Hold
JVC Kenwood Corp., the troubled consolidation of two struggling Japanese brands, seems to have turned a corner despite reporting fiscal Q2 and first half revenue declines and continuing losses. The company, which in January surprised many by announcing its decision to withdraw from the consumer electronics business to focus on B-to-B business, announced with pride that – although still showing a loss – the company has seen solid improvement in profits with dramatically reduced losses.
See more on this huge company in a big transition… [Read more…] about Despite Revenue Decline, JVC Kenwood Cuts Losses as Restructuring Takes Hold
Yamaha’s Fiscal First Half Results are Mixed
Yamaha Corporation released the results for its fiscal first semester or first half of the fiscal year 2015 (April 1, 2014 – September 30, 2014) with results generally positive, but mixed. Overall consolidated sales increased 4.4% to ¥206.4 billion ($1.9 billion) as compared to ¥197.7 billion ($1.8 billion) in the same period last year. But of some concern is the fact that only one of its four major business segments showed an increase in operating profits – and two of the four lost money during the period.
