Motorola Announces They Will Buy Yaesu
Well, it sounds like the wait is over. Have you been wondering if Motorola was going to just disappear in the Ham Radio world, well they just announced that they will buy Yaesu. The press release goes like this:
Motorola USA has announced its intention to launch a tender offer to acquire a controlling interest in Vertex Standard Co, Ltd. Vertex standard is the parent company of Yaesu. Motorola will own 80 percent of Vertex Standard; Tokogiken, a privately held Japanese company, controlled by current president and CEO of Vertex Standard run Hasegawa, will retain 20 percent, forming a joint venture. The total purchase price for 80 percent of the outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis will be approximately US $108 million.
Of course this doesn’t tell us what is going to happen with the Motorola brand radios but it is an interesting development to say the least. What do you think? Will this change your opinion of Motorola or their radios?
Popularity: 100% [?]
November 10th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
I expect both brands to stay, I expect both development teams to stay also. Both brands are just too valuable (marketing a new brand is very expensive and not always successful).
Icom and Kenwood are teaming up, too (see my blog). It’s unclear if the communication divisions of these companies will merge eventually.
I hope we can keep some diversity regarding brands and designs. Only one or two brands just isn’t enough.
November 15th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Perhaps a more central service facility will become available for amateur radio equipment. It is a bit of a hazzle, to say the least, sending equipment weighing 45-50 lbs. all the way to California from Florida. The round-trip shipping charges and insurance are a real burden!
Also, perhaps (hopefully) the service will be more responsive, friendly, and consistant. Let’s hope so anyway!
Earl C. - N1VP
(Leesberg, FL