Toshiba Corp. has been subjected to almost daily press stories and analyses in the Japanese media on their continued struggles in the wake of a huge accounting scandal at the formerly blue-chip powerhouse company. The scandal was likely large in terms of financial losses, but even larger in terms of decimating the reputation of the company and its management. To turn the situation around, the company must start to build a new reputation for reliability. It isn’t going to be easy…
Financial
Planar Systems Acquired by Chinese Video Wall Maker Leyard Optoelectronic
Planar Systems, Inc. announced today that it has agreed to be acquired by Leyard Optoelectronic Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese provider of fine pitch LED video wall systems. Leyard will purchase all outstanding shares of Planar stock paying $6.58 per share, valuing the deal at $156.8 million. This represents a 42% premium over the value of the stock at closing before the deal was announced.
See more on this Leyard and this deal… [Read more…] about Planar Systems Acquired by Chinese Video Wall Maker Leyard Optoelectronic
Sales Down, Losing Money, Ingram Micro CEO Says ‘Doing a Great Job’
AVAD Parent Ingram Micro Reports Fiscal 2nd Quarter Results
Ingram Micro, Inc. reported results for the second quarter and first half of their current fiscal year and it would be easy to be confused by these results. Why? Well, sales were down 3.2%, operating earnings dropped an astonishing 98%, and last year’s net income plunged into a net loss this year. Yet CEO Alain Monié said in accompanying materials, “Our teams are doing a great job…”
Really?!?! See why Monié feels Ingram Micro’s doing a great job… [Read more…] about Sales Down, Losing Money, Ingram Micro CEO Says ‘Doing a Great Job’
Nortek Management Scrambles in Wake of Troubling Q2 Results
Company Loses Almost 6% of Total Market Value in Just a Few Hours
Nortek, Inc. released the results for its fiscal second quarter after the market’s close on Monday and took the unusual step of issuing optimistic performance guidance for the remainder of the year. The company does not typically release future performance guidance as a matter of policy, but did so in an apparent attempt to calm investor reaction to their troubling report. It didn’t work – investors reacted strongly on Tuesday by driving Nortek’s stock to a close of $75.23 per share, down sharply from the previous close of $79.88. In just a matter of hours, the total market value of Nortek collapsed almost 6%.
Why did investors react so strongly?… [Read more…] about Nortek Management Scrambles in Wake of Troubling Q2 Results
Toshiba’s Top Executive Team Resigns in Wake of Scandal
BREAKING NEWS
See more on this new development… [Read more…] about Toshiba’s Top Executive Team Resigns in Wake of Scandal
Investigators: Toshiba Over-Inflated Profits; Top Execs Knew
BREAKING NEWS
Company Schedules Press Conference Tuesday; President Expected to Resign
The Japan Times is reporting today that investigators looking into potential accounting malfeasance at Toshiba Corp. for the five-year period ending March 31, 2015 have released summary findings that confirms that the company management was directly involved in misreporting profits. The news exploded in Japan, as one of its most venerated companies has lost all credibility.
The company has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday in which it is widely anticipated that Toshiba’s President Hisao Tanaka will resign.
But the damage to the company, doesn’t end with Tanaka…see more… [Read more…] about Investigators: Toshiba Over-Inflated Profits; Top Execs Knew
Stressing the Industry, LCD Panel Prices Collapse 10% in 2015
In a sign of continuing struggles in the TV business, reports out of Japan indicate that LCD panel prices continue to decline. So far in 2015, the average price of LCD panels have dropped 10%…and show no sign of slowing down.
See what’s driving the decline in sales of LCD panels… [Read more…] about Stressing the Industry, LCD Panel Prices Collapse 10% in 2015
Toshiba’s Troubles Hit Tipping Point
BREAKING NEWS
Reports Say CEO is Out; Board of Directors Faces Massive Overhaul
When Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced an initiative to tighten up corporate oversight he couldn’t possibly have known that his administration’s first catch might be his biggest – Toshiba Corp. Toshiba, one of the largest and most respected companies in Japan, is being investigated for what many sources are calling one of Japan’s worst accounting scandals.
See what is coming for this titan of Japanese industry… [Read more…] about Toshiba’s Troubles Hit Tipping Point
Proxy Adviser Tells Japanese Investors to Vote Out CEOs at Sony & Sharp

We live in interesting times! In a news report out of Japan that is, shall we say, unusual – proxy investment advisory firm ISS is recommending that Japanese shareholders vote against the reelection of the top executives at both Sony Corp. and Sharp Corp. at upcoming annual shareholders meeting for the firms. Coming from the land of consensus and support for local brands, this news is quite surprising.
See more on ISS’s recommendation & the reason they suggest these execs must go… [Read more…] about Proxy Adviser Tells Japanese Investors to Vote Out CEOs at Sony & Sharp
D&M Holdings Borrows $25 Million to Build More HEOS
An independent commercial finance company, Siena Lending Group, announced last week that it has worked with North Mill Capital to close on a three-year asset-based revolving credit facility in the amount of $25 million with D&M Holdings, Inc. and D&M Canada, Inc. Siena says that the funds will support D&M’s growth and their “seasonal working capital requirements.” It will also, apparently, help Denon grow their HEOS line. Why do we say that? Read on…