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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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Big AI Backer Google Quietly Warns Its Staff About Chatbots, Even Bard

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Google's Bard screen

Are Your Employees Opening Your Company Up to Liability?

Alphabet, Inc. (Google) seems to find itself caught up in an unusual paradox. On the one hand, it is outwardly and aggressively marketing Bard, its own generative AI chatbot – while on the other hand, it is inwardly…but quietly…warning its own employees about the dangers of AI chatbots. This is according to a report by Reuters based on independent information from four different sources, each in a position to know.

See more on Google’s AI chatbot paradox

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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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May Inflation Rate Raises Hope for ‘Soft Landing’; Fed Keeps Current Interest Rate

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On the face of it, the inflation numbers for May seemed quite positive and an apparent validation of the Federal Reserve Board’s efforts to glide the economy into a “soft landing.” But the overall number, a 4% increase in the broader-based Consumer Price Index turned out to be a bit of an illusion, causing the Fed to leave interest rates at the current level, but forecast two more interest rate increases in 2023.

See more on inflation concerns

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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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Ex-Samsung Exec Indicted for Industrial Espionage in International Incident

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Samsung Semiconductors website

A former high-level Samsung Electronics executive was indicted on Monday for industrial espionage as it is alleged that he stole trade secrets in the form of blueprints and designs for an advanced Samsung chipmaking factory in order to create an identical one in China. South Korean prosecutors say the executive’s actions jeopardized national economic security, according to a report by the Reuters News Agency.

See more on this surprising Samsung news

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Nationwide Marketing Group Opens Up Registration: It’s Time for PrimeTime

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Nationwide Marketing Group's PrimeTime conference will be at Nashville's Music City Convention Center
Nashville’s Music City Convention Center

Nationwide Marketing Group announced this week that it is opening up registration for its upcoming PrimeTime event, scheduled to take place in Nashville, TN from August 13-16. While this is the 61st edition of PrimeTime, and it is the fourth time the event has taken place in Nashville, aka Music City, it is the first time the event will take center stage at the Music City Convention Center in the very heart of a vibrant and active downtown Nashville.

Learn more about the upcoming PrimeTime

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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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Parasound CEO Sheriff Presents His Plan to Dealers; Some Won’t Be Around to Benefit

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Parasound CEO David Sheriff

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.

Learn more about the Parasound dealer conference

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