When we last left Tivoli, the company created many years ago by Tom DeVesto who is now the CEO of Como Audio, it was 2015 and they had just been sold by one private equity company, with the help of another private equity company, to a third private equity company. Now word comes that the third private equity company, Serruya Private Equity of Toronto, which Strata-gee wrote about in June 2015, has sold Tivoli in a buyout to the company’s management in conjunction with a financial backer.
Brands
Emerald Expositions CEO Resigns, Q3 Results Released
For Owner of CEDIA Expo, There’s Trouble in Emerald City
Emerald Expositions’ stock nose-dived 19% in early afternoon trading last Thursday as the company released its third quarter fiscal results and announced that David Loechner has resigned as the company’s President and CEO. Current CFO Philip Evans takes over as Interim President and CEO.
What’s going on at Emerald Expositions?… [Read more…] about Emerald Expositions CEO Resigns, Q3 Results Released
Thiel Audio Files Bankruptcy in Bitter Coda to a Sad Song
Although owned by an agribusiness tycoon who is rumored to be extremely wealthy, Thiel Audio Products Company last Tuesday declared bankruptcy. The company filed papers with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court saying it had assets of around $900,000 and liabilities of over $1,800,000. The filing was a bitter end to a sad series of developments over the last six years, with new owner David B. Griffin changing management teams at least five times in one five-year period. The result was a constant, if slow, slide down the slippery slope of ruin.
See what is learned from Thiel Audio’s bankruptcy filing… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio Files Bankruptcy in Bitter Coda to a Sad Song
Melrose Talks of Disposing of Nortek
Are Elan, Speakercraft, Niles, Proficient, etc. In Play Again?
Melrose PLC, owner of Nortek, including Nortek Security & Control, is openly talking to U.K. media about the likelihood of selling off Nortek – saying, in essence, their work is done, the turnaround is complete. This being the case, their thinking is that it is time to harvest their crop by selling off the company to reap their reward of profits.
But what does this mean for Nortek and its stable of brands?… [Read more…] about Melrose Talks of Disposing of Nortek
Equity Owner of AVAD Doubles Down, Buys WAVE & Consolidates
Kingswood Capital Management, LLC, a private equity company that describes itself as “an operationally-focused lower-middle market” PE company – and the current owner of AVAD – announced today that it has purchased Houston, TX-based custom integration distributor WAVE Electronics, Inc. and plans to merge it with AVAD to create one total entity. Their announcement says that with this move they “will create the single largest value-added distributor of high-end audio, video, security, and home automation solutions in the consumer electronics industry.”
Many thought they already were the largest distributor.
See more on this surprising news… [Read more…] about Equity Owner of AVAD Doubles Down, Buys WAVE & Consolidates
CEDIA Expo18: Vanco in Major Audio Expansion
Vanco has always seemed to be that reliable supplier in the background providing a steady stream of solutions like cables, connectors, and other accessories – not particularly glitzy or exciting, but steady and there. Well all that is about to change I learned when I spoke with Mark Corbin, Vanco’s recently appointed President at CEDIA Expo18 earlier this month. The company has begun a big initiative to become a major player in a category near and dear to my heart…audio.
See how Vanco is attacking the audio business with gusto… [Read more…] about CEDIA Expo18: Vanco in Major Audio Expansion
CEDIA Expo18: LG is All About Custom Installation
First stop on the press express at CEDIA Expo 2018 was LG – a company that offers what I have often said is my favorite core video technology, OLED. As in past years, LG did not disappoint. But their message at Expo this year was prominent and hard hitting – LG is all about custom installation.
See more on why LG says they are all about custom installation… [Read more…] about CEDIA Expo18: LG is All About Custom Installation
CEDIA Expo 2018: That’s a Wrap!
Cool Things I Saw at CEDIA Expo 2018
San Diego, we hardly knew ye’! CEDIA Expo 2018 wrapped up this past Saturday and after three days of running between meetings and walking the show floor, I emerge relatively unscathed. The bottom line – this first Emerald Exposition-produced show was a bit of a mixed bag with some positive elements and some dropped balls. But overall, most came away satisfied that it was a good show.
I came away enthused at the sight of innovation marching forward… [Read more…] about CEDIA Expo 2018: That’s a Wrap!
Welcome to the First For-Profit & Last San Diego CEDIA Expo
Welcome to San Diego for the first for-profit CEDIA Expo, the first Expo to take place under the full control of professional show producer Emerald Expositions. It is also the last CEDIA to be held in San Diego, at least for the forseeable future. Next Year, the show moves back to Denver, one of the locations that is considered most popular with CEDIA members.
See our initial thoughts on this year’s CEDIA Expo show… [Read more…] about Welcome to the First For-Profit & Last San Diego CEDIA Expo
Parent of Mission & QUAD Signs Deal with DTS
DTS announced this week that is has signed on International Audio Group (IAG), parent company of Mission and QUAD, as a new hardware partner in the DTS Play-Fi whole-home audio ecosystem. IAG joins a growing sphere of major brands supporting the DTS multi-room, wireless music system.
