In new data coming out of Japan, Sony has reported their 9-month results for the current fiscal year revealing solid profitability that makes it clear that their turnaround efforts are producing serious and durable results. Of a total of 439 companies reporting YTD (3-quarter) results, a report in the Nikkei had “Sony stealing the spotlight” with a “sharp turnaround” in its bottom line.
Financial
Apple Bruised by Worst iPhone Sales Growth Ever
Apple, Inc. is starting to look brown, bruised, and past its prime in wake of the surprising quarterly results that showed growth in sales of their bellwether iPhone product to be the slowest since the company launched the product category in 2007. Not only that, but the company forecast an overall sales decline for the first quarter of 2016 – their first sales decline since 2003. Reaction from Wall Street was swift with the price of Apple stock down more than 6% in mid-afternoon trading.
What’s going on at Apple?… [Read more…] about Apple Bruised by Worst iPhone Sales Growth Ever
Foxconn’s Full Court Press to Win Sharp
CEO Gou Goes All Out – Meets Face-to-Face with Japanese Gov’t Officials
Although the odds appear stacked against Taiwan’s Foxconn in its bid to acquire Sharp Corp., new reports suggest that CEO Terry Gou has intensified his efforts to win the troubled Japanese giant by meeting directly with Japanese government officials and offering new promises. In a report out of Japan by Reuters, sources are saying that Gou will do whatever it takes to win the company, including detailing more of his plans to assuage concerns and eliminate opposition to the deal.
But can Gou pull it off over a competitive bid from a government-backed entity?… [Read more…] about Foxconn’s Full Court Press to Win Sharp
Foxconn Goes All In – Ups Offer to $5.3 Billion to Bag Sharp
But Will They Lose Out to a Bid Only Half as Much?
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the largest Apple, Inc. supplier that is better known as Foxconn, has upped the ante according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, doubling their initial offer to a big $5.3 billion. Yet many in Japan are predicting that the Taiwanese company will lose to another bid rumored to be only half as much. How is that possible?
See the rapidly increasing drama surrounding a once mighty world brand… [Read more…] about Foxconn Goes All In – Ups Offer to $5.3 Billion to Bag Sharp
Toshiba Credit Rating Cut to ‘Junk’ Status by Moody’s
Last week, Moody’s Investors Service announced that it was cutting Toshiba Corp.’s long-term senior bond rating to Ba2, or “junk” status. Considering recent reports from Toshiba, a major industry player that is stumbling in the wake of a scandalous accounting misstep reported earlier this year, the move from the rating service makes sense. But the headline about a brand that was once one of the most admired companies in Japan, and a worldwide industrial and electronics powerhouse for many years, is stunning nonetheless.
There is even more from Moody’s, who changed other ratings as well… [Read more…] about Toshiba Credit Rating Cut to ‘Junk’ Status by Moody’s
Hon Hai Precision Makes Play to Acquire Sharp
BREAKING NEWS
Sharp’s Stock Price Skyrockets on News – Up Over 8% in Trading Yesterday
The media in Japan is reporting that Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., a Taiwanese manufacturer mostly known for its Foxconn OEM division that is Apple Inc.’s largest supplier, has made a $2.5 billion offer acquire Sharp Corp., Japan’s troubled LCD display manufacturer. But Hon Hai’s offer has one very special condition of sale that won’t be popular in Sharp’s Osaka headquarters…
See what Hon Hai is demanding as a condition of the acquisition of Sharp… [Read more…] about Hon Hai Precision Makes Play to Acquire Sharp
Japanese Media Speculates Sharp May Not Survive the Winter
Toshiba, who is on the verge of announcing a record loss and plans another round of layoffs, is far from the only Japanese giant who is stumbling. A new analysis by the Nikkei suggests it’s possible that Sharp Corp. may not have enough cash to survive the winter – despite the fact that multiple potential suitors are swirling around them in a head-spinning series of negotiations that, so far, are unproductive. And the news of these new troubles have surfaced after they successfully concluded negotiations for a ¥200 billion bank bailout in April.
See more on how Sharp’s situation has deteriorated this year… [Read more…] about Japanese Media Speculates Sharp May Not Survive the Winter
Dysfunctional CEDIA Board Cited in Resignation Letter
We reported to you last month that, in an unexpected development best described as surprising, two members of CEDIA’s Board of Directors – Bob Brown and Richard Millson – abruptly resigned their positions within 24-hours of each other. We learned of this through our industry sources, not from CEDIA – which has yet to make any official statement about this unusual event. While we were able to confirm the incident had happened, since none of the parties would speak to us about it, we were unable to report on the reasons behind why this double resignation occurred in the first place. Now…we have more information.
See the surprising news we have learned over the last few weeks… [Read more…] about Dysfunctional CEDIA Board Cited in Resignation Letter
Toshiba Hit with Record Fine; Shareholders Sue
Despite its best efforts to turn the corner after its forced disclosure earlier this year of one of the largest accounting scandals ever to jolt the Japanese financial community, Toshiba Corp. just keeps getting hit with more and more bad news. This bad news includes Japan’s financial regulators assessing the largest fine ever in the history of the country for financial mismanagement – ¥7.37 billion or about $60 million.
And now, the very first wave of shareholder lawsuits against former Toshiba executives are filed…and they are big.
See more on Toshiba’s continuing waves of woes… [Read more…] about Toshiba Hit with Record Fine; Shareholders Sue
Wall Street Reacts to Negative Nortek Q3 Numbers; AVC Sales Drop 36.8%
Company Blames Declines on ‘Negative Impact’ of United Technologies Unsuccessful Acquisition Bid
Nortek, Inc. stock dropped more than 9.3% in early afternoon trading Wednesday in the wake of a report released by the company after the close of business Tuesday showing results for their fiscal third quarter. With sales and profit declines in key business segments – as well as for the company overall – it appears that Wall Street analysts are growing tired of waiting for the promised benefits of the company’s multi-year restructuring program, begun four years ago.
The company reported overall sales for the quarter of $618.5 million or 3.8% below the $642 million booked in the third quarter last year. The profit picture was even bleaker with a net loss of $14.4 million in the quarter this year as compared with a net profit in the quarter last year of $4.6 million.
Surprisingly, the AVC division saw sales drop an astonishing 36.8% to $30.1 million – well off the $47.6 million in the quarter last year – in the wake of the spin-off of TV One and the company’s exit from commercial AV businesses.