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Gibson to Emerge from Bankruptcy & Stop Singing the Blues

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With Old Debt Gone, A New Leader & Team Arrives

Logo for Gibson BrandsGibson Brands is on the verge of emerging from bankruptcy a much healthier business in many respects – with less debt, more money in the bank, and a new leader to help the company shed its consumer electronics debacle and reconnect with the musical instrument market. The fifth time, it appears, was a charm as the court has approved the fifth revision of a company submitted turnaround plan that, cuts debt, jettisons former CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, and puts bondholders KKR in the driver’s seat.

See more on Gibson’s dramatic turnaround… [Read more…] about Gibson to Emerge from Bankruptcy & Stop Singing the Blues

Thiel Audio Files Bankruptcy in Bitter Coda to a Sad Song

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Although owned by an agribusiness tycoon who is rumored to be extremely wealthy, Thiel Audio Products Company last Tuesday declared bankruptcy. The company filed papers with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court saying it had assets of around $900,000 and liabilities of over $1,800,000. The filing was a bitter end to a sad series of developments over the last six years, with new owner David B. Griffin changing management teams at least five times in one five-year period. The result was a constant, if slow, slide down the slippery slope of ruin.

See what is learned from Thiel Audio’s bankruptcy filing… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio Files Bankruptcy in Bitter Coda to a Sad Song

Legrand and Lumileds Partner to Drive Adoption of Tunable White LED Lighting

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Legrand logoLegrand and Lumileds announced today that they have signed a partnership agreement that is designed to combine forces and help drive industry adoption of tunable white LED lighting. The two will create and sell what they say is a “simple to integrate” and “easy-to-install plug and play solution” that delivers high quality tunable white LED light. This partnership is another example of the growing interest in this more human-friendly lighting solution.

See more on this tunable white lighting technology partnership… [Read more…] about Legrand and Lumileds Partner to Drive Adoption of Tunable White LED Lighting

NY/NJ Tech Summit – 2nd Verse Same as the 1st

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Photo of entrance to Renaissance Hotel

The NY/NJ Tech Summit rolled in to the Big Apple last week, almost exactly one year after its first iteration, which took place last year in the MetLife Stadium…a really unique venue. This year, I looked forward to it with great anticipation, interested to see if the Summit would begin to gain traction and what changes would take place as a result of the show being acquired by CEDIA.

There were interesting answers to both of these questions. See more below… [Read more…] about NY/NJ Tech Summit – 2nd Verse Same as the 1st

Melrose Talks of Disposing of Nortek

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Are Elan, Speakercraft, Niles, Proficient, etc. In Play Again?

Nortek LogoMelrose PLC, owner of Nortek, including Nortek Security & Control, is openly talking to U.K. media about the likelihood of selling off Nortek – saying, in essence, their work is done, the turnaround is complete. This being the case, their thinking is that it is time to harvest their crop by selling off the company to reap their reward of profits.

But what does this mean for Nortek and its stable of brands?… [Read more…] about Melrose Talks of Disposing of Nortek

Gibson Begins Leadership Makeover w/New CFO

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Gibson's 2019 guitar lineupGibson Brands’ Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings have continued to incessantly march forward, the gritty work of a large scale matter such as this occurring mostly in the background. However, occasionally a major factor emerges to be picked up by the media. One thing the new owners of Gibson made a fundamental part of this initiative, was to change  the organization’s leadership.

This week, we learned that the company will soon emerge from bankruptcy with a new chief financial officer (CFO) – announcing the appointment of Kimberly Mattoon for the role.

See more on this Gibson news… [Read more…] about Gibson Begins Leadership Makeover w/New CFO

Expo18: Savant Launches Microgrid for Macro Impact

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A Significant New Revenue & Profit Opportunity for Integrators

Savant logoAs I mentioned in my CEDIA wrap-up post recently, Savant surprised me with an entirely new category they call microgrid. Created in partnership with sister company Racepoint Energy, a microgrid is sort of your own energy substation for your residential (or commercial) clients – giving them much greater control over their energy systems.

And microgrid brings integrators a new significant revenue and profit opportunity addressing a category well beyond traditional “power protection.”

See more on Savant’s Micro-Grid system… [Read more…] about Expo18: Savant Launches Microgrid for Macro Impact

Onkyo Targets OEM Business to Beef Up Results

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Onkyo logoOnkyo Corporation, parent of the Onkyo, Integra, and Pioneer AV brands, is expanding its OEM business unit to help build its business and offset losses it has experienced over the last five years, according to a report by the Nikkei in Japan. Investors are said to be skeptical of the move, but the company is targeting the automotive segment in India where they expect to see significant growth.

See more on this interesting move by Onkyo… [Read more…] about Onkyo Targets OEM Business to Beef Up Results

CEDIA Expo18: Vanco in Major Audio Expansion

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Vanco logoVanco has always seemed to be that reliable supplier in the background providing a steady stream of solutions like cables, connectors, and other accessories – not particularly glitzy or exciting, but steady and there. Well all that is about to change I learned when I spoke with Mark Corbin, Vanco’s recently appointed President at CEDIA Expo18 earlier this month. The company has begun a big initiative to become a major player in a category near and dear to my heart…audio.

See how Vanco is attacking the audio business with gusto… [Read more…] about CEDIA Expo18: Vanco in Major Audio Expansion

AudioControl’s Expo18 Product Launches Personify Flexibility

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Photo of Alex Camara of AudioControl
Alex Camara, AudioControl CEO

AudioControl, the Seattle, WA-based specialty electronics maker of innovative solutions, announced three new gems at CEDIA Expo 2018 – a new Rialto 400 zone amplifier, the Avalon G3 four-channel amplifier, and a new CM Series 70-volt line of commercial amplifiers. These new products are not only clever solutions to integrators needs, they absolutely personify the concept of flexibility.

See more on AudioControl’s flexible new products… [Read more…] about AudioControl’s Expo18 Product Launches Personify Flexibility