As is usually the case in matters like this there are a lot of insane, stupid and just plain wrong comments by the usual cast of uninformed radio hobbyist regarding the Vertex-Motorola announcement. Give an idiot a keyboard and they think they have all the answers - duh huh! So let's see if an old friend, Dennis K7BV, who works at Vertex (Yaesu) can set the record straight (not that any of these conspiracy nuts will listen). Thanks Dennis for clearing the air and glad to see that Yaesu will continue their presence in the amateur marketplace.
From Dennis, K7BV:
Friends,
By now, many of you may have heard that Vertex Standard Co., Ltd, (Vertex Standard USA's parent company) announced that they have agreed to form a collaborative joint venture with Motorola, Inc. I personally believe the most important words in this sentence are "collaborative joint venture" a business relationship that indicates a far different outcome intent than the demise of one of the venture partners.
Since Yaesu is the Amateur Radio Division of Vertex Standard, I am sure you are just as curious as me, a Yaesu employee with a job at stake, to know what this business transaction will mean to all of us in the hobby.
Predictably, I see that the news about the pending new Motorola relationship with Vertex Standard, hence Yaesu, is giving life to all sorts of misinformation and "doomsday" Internet postings by the usual cast of characters who always seem to know so much more about things than the rest of us mere mortals. After studying public announcements and considering the internal information that is made available to me in my role as the leadership individual for North American sales at Yaesu, I would like to offer the following FACTS about this exciting development.
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) will launch a tender offer to acquire a controlling interest in Vertex Standard Co., Ltd. (JASDAQ: 6821). Upon successful completion of the tender offer and subsequent restructuring process, Motorola will own 80% of Vertex Standard and Toko Giken, a privately held Japanese company, controlled by Jun Hasegawa, current president and CEO of Vertex Standard, will retain 20%, forming a joint venture. On 5 November 2007, the Board of Directors of Vertex Standard expressed their support of the tender offer. Yaesu, of course, as one of the Vertex Standard operations, will be included in this exciting development.
I want our Yaesu customers and concerned others to know the following about the proposed merger:
Vertex Standard (meaning Yaesu to us in the Amateur Radio hobby) will remain a separate, global organization with distinct resources governed by the Board of Directors comprised of four Motorola representatives and one Toko Giken representative. Toko Giken is a privately held Japanese company, controlled by the founder's family. It currently holds 29.2% shares of Vertex Standard.
Mr. Jun Hasegawa (my boss), son of Sato Hasegawa JA1MP, the founder of Yaesu will continue to take part in the management of Vertex Standard in his capacity as the Representative Director, President and CEO of Vertex Standard after the Tender Offer. The day-to-day management of the joint venture will be the responsibility of Mr. Hasegawa and his senior leadership team, who are also expected to continue. Count me as one of those who will continue with Yaesu.
Our business will continue to be operated as is, and we will continue to actively develop new products and operate the business as a leading manufacturer of amateur radio, marine, land mobile, and airband radios. The Vertex Standard brand of equipment (Standard brand in Japan) will continue to exist. The current Vertex Standard brand strategies are highly respected by Motorola and will be continued. Since Motorola appreciates our Yaesu brand strategy, there will be no change to it.
There will NOT be a Motorola brand of Amateur Radio equipment replacing or competing with Yaesu. Yaesu customers can expect to see positive benefit from the fact that: Vertex Standard has an experienced engineering team that, combined with Motorola's extensive engineering talent, will develop new innovative products. Personally, I cannot wait to see what this joint engineering effort will bring to Amateur Radio!
Cost synergies will be realized through the use of Motorola's buying power to reduce the joint venture's costs for raw materials. Hams are known to enjoy seeking out the best buy for their hard earned money expect to see Yaesu products remain highly competitive and providing excellent value for your investment.
Because Mr. Hasegawa will continue to manage the day-to-day operations of Vertex Standard, we do not expect to see changes in the existing Yaesu dealership, pricing and rebate philosophies as a result of the joint venture.
These are historic exciting times for Yaesu, our customers, and Amateur Radio. The future is bright and the potential for incredible technological advancements for Amateur Radio are immense. We are glad you will be there with us as the positive affects of the Vertex Standard / Motorola joint venture unfolds.
73,
Dennis Motschenbacher K7BV
k7bv@vxstdusa.com
