B. Riley & Co., a full service investment bank, announced the closing of a series of refinancing transactions that have completely restructured the outstanding significant debt of Gibson Brands, Inc. Gibson, as we have reported on regularly, entered the consumer electronics space back in 2012, investing in brands such as Onkyo/Integra, Teac, and buying Philips accessory business. Recently, the company appeared to be running into debt difficulties, perhaps from taking on debt to purchase these companies.
Brands
D+M Group Sold From One PE Company to Another
We learned Wednesday that private equity powerhouse Bain Capital has apparently found a buyer for D+M Group, selling it off to another private equity company – Boston-based Charlesbank Capital Partners. CCP is the owner of DEI Holdings, a division of which is Sound United LLC, parent company of Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and Polk BOOM. It is Sound United that will now also take over D+M Group and its brands Denon, Marantz, HEOS by Denon and Boston Acoustics.
See more on what we know about this deal for D+M… [Read more…] about D+M Group Sold From One PE Company to Another
Control4 & Triad CEOs Explain to Strata-gee Why Their Deal Makes Sense
Control4 Corp. announced Tuesday that it has decided to get into the speaker business – doing so by acquiring Triad Speakers, Inc. – whom it describes as “a leader in advanced audio technology with best-in-class, customizable speaker-solutions.” The lofty language in the announcement in praise of Triad caught us by surprise and, unlike some of their other acquisitions, we did not find this one immediately obvious.
So when given the opportunity to interview both CEOs about this unexpected development, we jumped at the chance to learn more about the “hows” and the “whys” of this unusual partnership.
See what the two CEOs told us about Control4’s acquisition of Triad… [Read more…] about Control4 & Triad CEOs Explain to Strata-gee Why Their Deal Makes Sense
Is CEDIA’s Show For Sale…Again?
Reuters is reporting that Emerald Expositions LLC, the major trade show exposition company that bought the CEDIA show last week, is considering putting itself up for sale. This report became public on Wednesday, January 25th…the day before CEDIA announced it has sold its trademark show to Emerald. All of which leads to the distinct possibility of the show changing hands again, in just a matter of weeks.
See more on this report and how CEDIA members are reacting to the sale… [Read more…] about Is CEDIA’s Show For Sale…Again?
Just Add Power Launches New HDIP Models
Just Add Power announced yesterday that they are launching new 2GΩ Transmitters and Receivers at the upcoming 2017 ISE Show in Amsterdam next week. Celebrating 25 years of design and manufacturing, the company says these new models are consistent with their theory of evolutionary design.
See more on these new models by Just Add Power… [Read more…] about Just Add Power Launches New HDIP Models
New UPS from SnapAV’s WattBox Line with OvrC-Capability
SnapAV announced today that it has launched a new line of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) under its WattBox brand that offers OvrC-capability. Combining the UPS with a WattBox IP power conditioner, you gain cloud based remote management capability with both the OvrC and WattBox interfaces.
See more on this new line from SnapAV… [Read more…] about New UPS from SnapAV’s WattBox Line with OvrC-Capability
Prosecutors Make Their Case to Jail Head of Samsung
Judge Questions Jay Y. Lee in Arrest Warrant Hearing
In a case that has been percolating for weeks but has now come to a boil, special prosecutors in South Korea have gone before a judge to obtain a warrant for the arrest of Samsung Group leader, Jay Y, Lee. Summoned by the court to testify, Lee answered questions in a closed-door session at the court, held today. Lee denied he or his company participated in any wrongdoing.
The judge’s decision is expected very soon.
See more on the legal troubles that Samsung now finds themselves in… [Read more…] about Prosecutors Make Their Case to Jail Head of Samsung
Strata-gee Editor on Latest ResiWeek Podcast
ResiWeek, a podcast from AVNation.tv focused on the residential audio/visual market, once again invited Strata-gee editor Ted Green to participate on this week’s episode, recorded on Monday, January 9 and hosted this week by AVNation founder Tim Albright. The show, which has a strong bias towards the integration community, is known for its at-times vigorous and at-times humorous conversations with a rotating series of guests commenting on the topics of the day.
See what we talked about and view the episode below… [Read more…] about Strata-gee Editor on Latest ResiWeek Podcast
Sharp Hit With Pushback; Hisense Refuses to Rescind Licensing Deal
Hisense is Said to be ‘Defiant’
News sources in Japan are reporting that Hisense has fired back at newly aggressive Sharp negotiating tactics, saying firmly it will not relinquish the licensing rights to the Sharp brand name in North & South America, as the company has recently requested. Hisense paid heavily to obtain those rights, and despite the fact that Sharp has asked to terminate the deal, the company has no intention of doing so no matter the offer – or more recently – no matter the threat from Sharp.
See more on this developing Sharp soap opera… [Read more…] about Sharp Hit With Pushback; Hisense Refuses to Rescind Licensing Deal
Thiel Launches Multiple New Products at CES
Thiel Audio, in a series of press releases on their website, announced multiple new products to be launched at this week’s CES in Las Vegas. Some of these new products are being launched under the Thiel brand name, while others are being offered under the Aurora brand – a brand that was originally created for a 4K music venue at the company’s headquarters in Nashville, TN.
This launch represents what the company hopes will be the next chapter in the troubled brand’s long-running saga.
