ProSource announced this week the addition of 21 new members, a fairly large freshman class, even for the organization that bills itself as the “largest audio, video and integration buying group in the country.” According to the organization, this freshman class is worth about $43 million in total retail sales.
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Look Out Nortek, Here Come the Lawyers
Acquirer Melrose Offers a Peek at Its Plans
The ink is barely dry on their agreement to be acquired by Britain’s Melrose Industries PLC, and already Nortek Inc. finds themselves the subject of multiple investigations by several major law firms who have publicly notified shareholders this deal may not be a good one for them. It is not clear if these law firms intend to take action yet, but if so, it could be a complicating factor in the transaction.
See who is stepping up to investigate Nortek… [Read more…] about Look Out Nortek, Here Come the Lawyers
Nortek Sold to British Investment Company
BREAKING NEWS
The summer continues to heat up with the second major acquisition announcement in two days. Melrose, PLC, a UK-based investment company that buys underperforming companies, improves their operations, and then resells them, has acquired Nortek, Inc. in a deal that pays Nortek shareholders $86 per share – a 38% premium over yesterday’s closing price. The deal, an all-cash offer, is expected to close by the end of August.
See more on this acquisition… [Read more…] about Nortek Sold to British Investment Company
AVAD Sold to Private Equity Company
BREAKING NEWS
Industry Veteran Tom Jacoby is AVAD’s New CEO
News comes this 4th of July holiday week that Ingram Micro, itself just recently acquired by a Chinese shipping company, has sold off AVAD, LLC and AVAD Canada Ltd., to Kingswood Capital Management, a private equity company. In an announcement from Kingswood, the company says it has brought in a new upper management team – including a new CEO, industry veteran Tom Jacoby.
See more on the sale of AVAD to private equity… [Read more…] about AVAD Sold to Private Equity Company
Nexia Brings Echo-Based Voice Control to Home Automation
Voice Command is ‘One of the Great Technological Breakthroughs’
Nexia, a division of monster company Ingersoll Rand and supplier of smart home products and solutions, announced this week that Nexia-certified products will now be able to be controlled with simple voice commands through Amazon’s Echo. Clearly joining the new wave of companies who believe voice-command is the “next big thing” in home automation, Nexia is moving quickly to embrace voice control.
See more on Nexia’s new initiative in voice control… [Read more…] about Nexia Brings Echo-Based Voice Control to Home Automation
Russound to Get Serious about Commercial at CEDIA
Company Will Premiere a New 70-Volt Line of Commercial Products
They’ve been hinting about it for months, now Russound makes it official, they will launch an all-new line of 70-volt products targeted for the light commercial market at the upcoming CEDIA Expo in Dallas in September. Although the company had no specific model/feature information for the press at this time, the news is noteworthy nonetheless as the company is clearly expanding into more commercial-appropriate products this year.
See more on this announcement from Russound… [Read more…] about Russound to Get Serious about Commercial at CEDIA
LCD Kingpin Sharp, Under New Management, Pursues OLED
Sharp to Cut Another 7,000 Employees
Big changes are coming to Sharp, Corp. in the wake of their acquisition by Hon Hai Precision Industry Co – better known as Foxconn. News out of Japan notes that the deal between Sharp and Foxconn officially closes at the end of this month. According to both parties, the acquisition is proceeding smoothly and is fully expected to close on time.
But Foxconn has big plans for big changes at Sharp… [Read more…] about LCD Kingpin Sharp, Under New Management, Pursues OLED
CEDIA Seeks Participation in 2016 Size & Scope Survey
Participants Get a Chance to Win a $500 Gift Card
The Custom Electronics Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) announced today that its Size and Scope Survey is now open for participation by residential systems installation pros. This survey, one of the largest the trade association conducts every year, collects data from participants to provide market level information that is then made available to members to assist them in planning their business.
See more details on this CEDIA survey and how you can participate… [Read more…] about CEDIA Seeks Participation in 2016 Size & Scope Survey
Samsung’s Head is in the Clouds; Acquires Joyent
With Samsung’s Backing, Joyent is Poised to Become Major ‘Cloud’ Player
Samsung announced late Wednesday that it has acquired Joyent, a relatively new start-up company that offers cloud computing services, according to a report by Recode. The specifics of the deal were not disclosed, but Joyent management has said it will be joining the Samsung management team.
Why has Samsung acquired a services company? See our thoughts below… [Read more…] about Samsung’s Head is in the Clouds; Acquires Joyent
Azione Unlimited Sets Fall Member Conference
Event to be Called ‘Veridic Vistas’
Azione Unlimited announced on Wednesday that it will hold its 2016 Fall Conference at the Monte Carlo Resort in Las Vegas, NV, from October 18-20. The event, called “Veridic Vistas,” will include a full agenda guiding the three-day conference.