Samsung Electronics has made another major investment in the Internet of Things (IoT) space, becoming an early stage Series A investor in Bayshore Networks. The company made the investment via its Samsung NEXT Venture fund, an investment fund created by the company to find and take positions in companies that are driving businesses that will yield future profits for the company.
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Atlantic Technology Names Mike Miller as National Sales Manager
Atlantic Technology, the specialty loudspeaker manufacturer home theater and architectural audio speakers based in Norwood, MA, announced this week that it has appointed Mike Miller its National Sales Manager. Miller, an experienced industry veteran, joins a company noted for its targeted, strategic products and leads the charge in driving national adoption of its solutions.
See more on this announcement from Atlantic Technology… [Read more…] about Atlantic Technology Names Mike Miller as National Sales Manager
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
Integra Moves Into Distribution, Eliminating a Key Selling Point
This week we learned that Onkyo and Integra products would now be sold through AVAD, a distributor of custom integration products in the U.S. that is in the middle of changing its business model. Interestingly, this announcement came from AVAD, not from Onkyo/Integra, although Onkyo Vice President of Sales and Business Development Joe Petrillo is quoted in the official release.
But this simple announcement is being viewed as a game changer for many in the industry, who note that with the loss of its more “protected” status, Integra may have lost one of its key selling points.
See how some in the market are reacting to this decision by Integra… [Read more…] about Integra Moves Into Distribution, Eliminating a Key Selling Point
Existing Home Sales Hit 10-Year High
In new data released on Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales launched into 2017 with a 3.3% overall gain to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.69 million units in January – their highest level in ten years. The organization says this result “signals resilience among consumers even in a rising interest rate environment.”
See what existing home sales means for the economy… [Read more…] about Existing Home Sales Hit 10-Year High
With Company Leader Incapacitated and Heir-Apparent Arrested: Who’s In Charge at Samsung?
After several years of non-stop success, Samsung has had a bit of a tough run lately. From exploding smartphone batteries to self-destructing washing machines to the arrest of the company’s Vice Chairman and heir-apparant…it’s been a challenging time, to say the least. But with the company Chairman Lee Kun-hee incapacitated due to failing health and his son, the Vice Chairman, now in police custody – the company’s biggest problem is a lack of leadership at the helm.
See how Samsung is addressing their leadership gap as a result of recent police action… [Read more…] about With Company Leader Incapacitated and Heir-Apparent Arrested: Who’s In Charge at Samsung?
On Drive to Grow Commercial, James Hits the Accelerator…Lightly
James Loudspeaker, the specialty speaker manufacturer with a wide range of models mostly serving the high-end market, has intrigued us for some time now. The subject of our intrigue is largely centered around their prodigious custom manufacturing capability, which they use to create a plethora of one-off products designed to order. We told you about a VERY unique pair of speakers they made for one Colorado integrator, who uses James’ customization capabilities as his “competitive advantage.”
Now James is targeting the commercial channel. See what we learned about their plans… [Read more…] about On Drive to Grow Commercial, James Hits the Accelerator…Lightly
GUILTY: Former Industry CEO Manlove Convicted on Multiple Federal Charges
Almost exactly one year ago, we told you that former CEO of Montana specialty retailer Vann’s, George Leslie Manlove, was charged with more than 200 counts of criminal conduct by Federal prosecutors after an investigation by the FBI and the Department of Labor. Manlove, who is married to the daughter of the founder of Vann’s, was accused of a number of crimes including conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, bankruptcy fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements.
Now we learn that after a two-week trial and two days of deliberation, jurors found Manlove guilty on 172 of those charges…and aquitted on the rest.
See more about the surprising downfall of Manlove, a former rising star of tech… [Read more…] about GUILTY: Former Industry CEO Manlove Convicted on Multiple Federal Charges
Massive $6.3 Billion Writedown is Tanking Toshiba, Could It Collapse?
Toshiba Corp. announced yesterday that it will take a $6.3 billion writedown to account for the meltdown of its nuclear division. This amount of writedown is much higher than the markets had anticipated, forcing Toshiba into crisis mode having to secure lending commitments from their banks, reorganize their nuclear division, and sell assets to offset their losses.
