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A Recent Report Says TiO Has ‘Fallen on Some Hard Times’ But Their CEO Disputes It; What’s Going On?

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Photo from TiO website
This image, from TiO’s website, raises the question: Just what are we “turning on”?

This past Saturday, CEPro published a strongly worded report based on anonymous email sources saying Automated Control Technology Partners, Inc., the parent company of Turn it On (TiO), has “fallen on some hard times” and its “office doors were locked” and “employees haven’t been paid for months.” The article also said that the company is “filing for Chapter 11” [bankruptcy] and “that a huge number of employees have been laid off.” CEO Mike Anderson was quoted as disputing many of the points in the article.

We spoke with Anderson who told us – emphatically – that CEPro got it wrong. So what is really going on at TiO?… [Read more…] about A Recent Report Says TiO Has ‘Fallen on Some Hard Times’ But Their CEO Disputes It; What’s Going On?

Aggressive Business Restructure Fails to Prevent JVC Kenwood’s Net Loss

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JVC Kenwood logoJVC Kenwood Corporation released a snapshot of the financial results for its fiscal year that ended March 31, 2014 and – while overall group revenues were slightly better than expected – the profit picture is still quite troubled. Fiscal year total revenues came in at ¥316.343 billion ($3.1 billion)…but the company booked a net loss of ¥6.571 billion ($64.3 million).

See more of the company’s results which suggest benefits from their reorganization are still ahead… [Read more…] about Aggressive Business Restructure Fails to Prevent JVC Kenwood’s Net Loss

Oops! I Did It Again – Gibson Brands Buys Accessory-Maker WOOX from Philips

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WOOX logoOops, they did it again (to quote pop icon Brittney Spears) – Gibson Brands has acquired WOOX Innovations, a Singapore-based brand of accessory products, from owner Royal Philips, N.V., according to an announcement from Philips earlier this week. Another in a line of acquisitions in the consumer electronics space by Gibson, WOOX brings in a complementary line of products and international distribution into its portfolio. This is the second attempt to sell the division by Philips, who had a deal with Funai fall through late last year, resulting in legal action.

See more on this deal, including what it means for both companies… [Read more…] about Oops! I Did It Again – Gibson Brands Buys Accessory-Maker WOOX from Philips

Thiel Audio Communicates with Dealers about Move to Nashville…Finally

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Photo of Thiel 3.7
Thiel CS 3.7

Last week, we told you about the many changes we learned that were taking place at Thiel Audio – some of which we characterized as “troubling.” Thiel, a storied brand whose products were originally based on technology and research from co-founder Jim Thiel, was purchased by a group of investors in 2012. Last week, we learned that these investors were closing up the Thiel factory in Lexington, KY – the company’s base of operations for 38-years – and moving it to their home base of Nashville, TN.

When we first heard this news, we reached out to the company, but they declined to speak with us.

Now, in the wake of our story last week, the company reached out to their dealers… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio Communicates with Dealers about Move to Nashville…Finally

Thiel Audio Story Takes a New and Troubling Turn

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*Strata-gee EXCLUSIVE*

Company Leaving Lexington after 38 Years, Moving to Nashville

Photo of Thiel FactoryThiel Audio Products Company (Thiel), the iconic high-end speaker manufacturer founded in 1976 in Lexington, KY by engineer Jim Thiel and two friends – and purchased by investors in 2012 – is in the throes of major change as we mentioned in our post last month. Now new details are slowly emerging…some of which are troubling.

See what we’ve learned about what’s transpiring…and what the company told Strata-gee… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio Story Takes a New and Troubling Turn

Sony’s Struggling Electronics Division is Hoping for a Spider-Man Rescue

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Photo of Spider-Man 2Like a damsel in distress, Sony’s money-losing electronics businesses are hoping that Spider-Man can save them…and it just might take a superhero to do it. With Sony Pictures’ The Amazing Spider-Man 2 about to launch in Japan this month – and in the U.S. next month – the company’s hardware businesses have teamed up with their entertainment businesses to launch an aggressive cross-promotion.

Can Spider-Man save Sony electronics?… [Read more…] about Sony’s Struggling Electronics Division is Hoping for a Spider-Man Rescue

D+M Group Cuts Licensing Deal for Denon & Marantz Professional Businesses

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D&M Group logoD+M Group (formerly D&M Holdings), continues their program of divesting businesses it determines are “non-core” to the company’s central focus on the consumer-based Denon, Marantz and Boston Acoustics brands. This week, we learned that the company has cut a deal to license the professional products businesses done under both the Denon and the Marantz brand names to inMusic Brands, Inc.. This move closely follows the announcement last month that the company was selling off the Calrec Audio business to Electra Parters.

See more on this new but not particularly surprising development… [Read more…] about D+M Group Cuts Licensing Deal for Denon & Marantz Professional Businesses

Powerful NY Attorney General Enters LG – Palisades Dispute

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Photo of model of LG's new corporate headquarters

The New York Times reported this morning that New York’s powerful attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, has entered the dispute between LG Electronics and various environmentalist groups seeking to force LG to modify construction plans for its new headquarters facility. Schneiderman, siding with the environmentalist groups, has filed an amicus brief with the appellate court asking it to reverse a lower court decision that allowed the construction to proceed.

Bringing the matter to a boil is LG’s insistence on pushing forward with construction despite the increasingly vocal opposition… [Read more…] about Powerful NY Attorney General Enters LG – Palisades Dispute

Deconstructing D&M Holdings; Company Sells Calrec Audio and Explores Other Options

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Former CEO Pacor Comments on Brand Acquisition Strategy

D+M Group logoWe learned last week that D&M Holdings, also known as the D+M Group, sold off its Calrec Audio brand to Electra Partners, a London-based private equity company. D&M received £14 million ($23.1 million) for Calrec, a designer of premium audio products and live-to-air consoles for the broadcast market. The move is part of a plan to divest itself of all non-core businesses, CEO Jim Caudill has said in press reports.

See more on the company’s aggressive strategy to unload non-core businesses… [Read more…] about Deconstructing D&M Holdings; Company Sells Calrec Audio and Explores Other Options

What Happened When the Largest LCD Display Company in Japan Went Public? ‘A Disaster’

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JDI logoJapan Display, Inc., the largest manufacturer of LCD displays for smartphones and tablets in Japan, launched their initial public offering (IPO) on Wednesday this week amid great anticipation. It was a big listing – with a total value of $3.2 billion, it was the biggest IPO since Suntory’s food-and-beverage unit raised $3.9 billion in 2013.

So how did Day 1 of their stock offering go? ‘A disaster, no doubt…” [Read more…] about What Happened When the Largest LCD Display Company in Japan Went Public? ‘A Disaster’