[K3PZN-List] Kenwood and JVC

[W3JJH]

Matsushita (aka Panasonic) currently owns controlling interest in JVC. JVC is
losing money, and Matsushita wants out.

Kenwood's corporate plan that they publish for investor guidance says that as
part of Kenwood's restructuring they plan to acquire other companies in the home
electronics field. Apparently, Kenwood's management believe that that they can
turn JVC profitable.

Kenwood is now the second-largest supplier of two-way radios in the world. Their
Communications Division is concentrating its R&D on digital communication
protocols such as P25. Kenwood's stated philosophy is to maintain a steady and
stable presence in "mature markets" such as amateur radio to provide cash flow
to fund R&D. BTW, Kenwood talks about partnering with smaller companies
(including Icom) in their published strategy documents.

Look, folks, Kenwood isn't likely to leave the ham radio market in the
forseeable future. Ham tranceivers are profitable and help to fund their growth.
Yes, it's true that they aren't competing with smaller companies such as Icom
and Yaesu for the boutique end of the market. Honda doesn't try to compete with
BMW, but both Honda and Kenwood have safe, stable markets selling reasonable (if
sometimes quirky) products priced for the mainstream of their marketplaces.

73 de W3JJH
John