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Audio Research Corp Begins Its Next Chapter as AR Tube Audio Corporation

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Minnesota Judicial Branch logo

The Minnesota District Court for the Fourth Judicial District in the County of Hennepin held a hearing on Tuesday to determine the final disposition of the insolvent Audio Research Corporation which is operating under Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors (ABC) – a form of receivership. The assignee in this case, Patrick Finn of Lighthouse Management Group had executed an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) with Acora Acoustics and was seeking an order from the judge to approve the APA and the transfer of the assets free and clear of any and all liens to Acora Acoustics.

See more on this end of one era of Audio Research…and the beginning of the next

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Likely New Owner of Audio Research Corp Says Company to Stay in Minn

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Valerio Cora and Trent Suggs, new owner and old owner of Audio Research
Valerio Cora & Trent Suggs – new owner & old owner of Audio Research

The day after the Strata-gee story titled, Audio Research Corp is Sold; Or Is It? ran last month, I received an unexpected call from Valerio Cora, CEO of Acora Acoustics, the winning bidder and the likely new owner of Audio Research Corp (Audio Research or ARC). Cora was concerned that Strata-gee’s coverage of Audio Research’s issues had raised some questions – even going so far as to suggest that he felt my coverage was scaring people. He wanted to set the record straight on what is going on with Audio Research.

Learn more of what the Acora Acoustics CEO had to say

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Sonos Cuts Headcount 7%, Looking to Cut Real Estate & Programs

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Exploded view of Sonos speaker

Is Sonos Exploding?

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, Sonos, Inc. [NASDAQ: SONO] said it will institute a “reduction in force” or headcount reduction of approximately 7% of their employees. While the decision to cut jobs is designed to reduce labor expenses, the execution of the plan is estimated to cost the company somewhere between $11 million to $14 million.

But there was even more in the Sonos filing…

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Masimo in Massive Proxy War with Politan; Future of Sound United Hangs in the Balance

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Cover of a Masimo investor presentation
Cover of Masimo investor presentation

These are turbulent times at Masimo Corp. [NASDAQ: MASI] as the company continues its pitched battles against Apple Inc. for patent infringement and against activist investment group Politan Capital Management which seeks two Board seats for new oversight at the company. Mailings to MASI investors began in early May and continue to increase in frequency – and intensity – in the days leading up to the company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 26, 2023.

What’s it all about? Largely, it is about Masimo’s $1 billion acquisition of Sound United (now Masimo Consumer) which caused the company’s market value to drop over $5 billion the day after the acquisition was announced. It appeared to be a clear repudiation of the management strategy by Masimo investors.

Learn more on the proxy war with Politan and what it means for Sound United

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Will Audio Research Corp Actually Be Acquired by Acora Acoustics?

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Audio Research Corp tube amplifier

So much has transpired over the last two weeks in the matter of Audio Research Corp’s status as it operates under Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, a form of receivership. Several more documents have emerged that serve to shed more light on just precisely what is going on.

See all the latest on the status of Audio Research Corp’s journey to a new owner

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VOXX SHOXX Market with Double-Digit Percentage Sales Declines & Deepening Losses

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VOXX International website

VOXX Stock Value Drops Nearly 30%

Yet more evidence of an industrywide downturn emerges, this time from VOXX International’s Fiscal 2023 fourth quarter and full-year results. After claiming that “…we had a lot of positive developments and continued to win new business and expand globally,” Voxx President Pat Lavelle went on to blame “inflation,” “fears of recession,” “the retail environment,” and “supply chain constraints,” for creating “roadblocks” to the company’s performance this year. Roadblocks, indeed…

Learn more on VOXX’s results in Fiscal 2023

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Sonos Stock Drops 25% as Fiscal 2023 2nd Quarter Hit By Slackening Demand

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Sonos fiscal 2023 second quarter results image

After the close of the stock market Wednesday, Sonos, Inc. released its fiscal 2023 second quarter (Q2) financial results. The numbers were pretty rough, but the company had previously adjusted its forward forecast downward. Yet even though the company’s latest Q2 numbers beat analysts’ revenue forecast and were in line with their guidance, the market reacted negatively. How negatively? Sonos’ stock lost more than 25% of its value on the day after the Q2 earnings were announced.

Why such a strong reaction? Read on…

See why investors were spooked after the Sonos earnings report

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Masimo Reports Fiscal ’23 First Quarter Results; Stock Slides on Margin Decline

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How Did Masimo Consumer – aka Sound United – Perform?

Masimo Corporation (NASDAQ: MASI) released the financial results for its first quarter of fiscal 2023 (the quarter that ended on April 1, 2023), and at first glance, the numbers looked pretty good. The company reported revenues grew by an eye-popping 87.5% over the same quarter last year, a number that beat analysts’ estimates. Not only that, but the company delivered adjusted earnings per share of $0.87, which were also well over analysts’ projected adjusted earnings per share of $0.83.

Yet Masimo stock value crashed by more than -5¼% after the announcement. Why?

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Masimo v. Apple – Judge Declares a Mistrial as Jury Hopelessly Deadlocked

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Masimo W1 smartwatch
Masimo W1 smartwatches, note sensors on the back

BREAKING NEWS

In a result likely to be viewed by many as anti-climatic, U.S. District Judge James V. Selna has declared a mistrial in the matter of the $1.8 billion trade secret lawsuit between Masimo Corp. et al vs. Apple Inc. et. al. And while I am sure that both sides are disappointed that they failed to prevail, both can take away some positive elements from this null decision that will most likely inform their approach in a new trial.

See more on Masimo v. Apple

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Audio Research Corporation Files Court Docs to Enter Form of Receivership

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Audio Research Corporation amplifier

Another storied high-end audio brand has seen itself fall into hard times. Audio Research Corporation of Maple Grove, MN has filed paperwork with Minnesota District Court to start a form of the receivership process known as an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors.’

Learn more about receivership for Audio Research Corp

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