Strategy in TECH...
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.
Last week, in a national online Teams conference with dealers, Parasound CEO David Sheriff presented his plans for the company’s future. Tightly scripted, the CEO spoke with a firm resolve in a no-nonsense manner. It was clear that the initiatives he announced that day were not topics for more discussion or debate, but rather what is going to happen. And he made it clear that some dealers viewing the online presentation that day will likely not agree with these plans, and that’s fine.
“Let’s talk about parting ways,” Sheriff said, looking directly into the camera without blinking.
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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…
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…
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.
Denver-based YG Acoustics has announced it will debut the third generation of its Reference line of loudspeakers – called Reference 3 – at the upcoming Munich High End show, running from May 18 to May 21. The Munich event is one of the world’s preeminent high-end audio expositions. As such, it is the perfect venue for the company to launch its latest generation of Reference with many new technological innovations sure to be appreciated by the event’s audiophile attendees.
Minnesota Bank & Trust (MB&T) of Minnetonka, MN has filed documents with the Fourth Judicial District of the Minnesota District Court notifying the court of the existence of a secured agreement with Audio Research Corporation (ARC) and its principal owner, Trent Suggs. This agreement, the bank wants the court to know, has been subject to “Numerous events of default” which “are continuing.”
With this being the case, the bank is asking the court to issue a judgment for the amount owed, plus accrued interest, plus attorneys’ fees, and other collection costs – an amount in excess of $1.5 million.
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.
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.’
