Lead Expression ha scritto:
Per quanto riguarda la Meade, spero che la notizia sia incompleta... Onestamente non credo siano gli ultimi respiri di un'azienda (l'istinto di conservazione tenderebbe ad arraffare clienti piuttosto che a farli scappare), potrebbe essere plausibile un "taglio" al vecchio.
Anche se, dai toni della mail, sembra che al Dr Clay sia andato di traverso qualcosa o gli sia andato un peperoncino nel sederino... non pare entusiasta di questa notizia. Manderei per curiosità una mail alla Meade per avere qualche conferma.
Ciao Lead Expression. Quanto scrivi non e' esatto. Meade e' quotata in borsa negli usa e in quanto tale risponde agli investitori dello stato dei suoi conti e deve pubblicare il cosiddetto modello 10-Q che puoi leggere a
http://biz.yahoo.com/e/071015/mead10-q.html (mi pareva lo avesse gia' postato Helio questo link?) e la descrizione ufficiale non e' propriamente di una situazione rosea. Te ne riporto un paio di capoversi
Cita:
In August 2007, the Company completed a private placement of 3.1 million shares of the Company's common stock for gross proceeds of $6.1 million that significantly enhanced the Company's liquidity. However, due to the seasonality of the Company's business, the Company relies on its domestic credit facility to meet much of its liquidity needs. During the quarter ended August 31, 2007, the Company was not in compliance with the EBITDA-based restrictive covenant in the credit facility agreement. On October 11, 2007 the Company obtained a 30-day waiver from its lender related to this covenant and is currently negotiating an amendment to the credit facility related to future covenants. The Company expects that it will reach agreement with its lender within the 30-day timeline. However, if no amendment or extension of the waiver is obtained, the Company may be in default under the provisions of the credit facility and the Company's lender may accelerate repayment. In this event, the Company may need to raise funds to repay its lender and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available.
On October 11, 2007, we announced a restructuring plan that would significantly reduce our cost structure by moving our California-based manufacturing operations to a lower-cost location. In addition, we announced that the Board of Director's has formed a special committee and will engage an investment bank to assist the Company in exploring strategic alternatives. Such alternatives may involve a financial restructuring of the Company's capital structure or potentially the sale of all or a portion of the Company. At this time there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to execute on any strategic alternatives.
Quanto sopra pero' e' abbastanza marginale ai fini della discussione: questo e' un forum di clienti e di astrofili, non di investitori. Invece e' a mio avviso estremamente significativa la lettera che Meade ha inviato ai propri rivenditori in data 22 ottobre in cui si annunciano pesanti cancellazioni, ridimensionamenti, e sospensioni a tempo indeterminato della produzione di svariati modelli di fascia medioalta come potete leggere qui di seguito
Cita:
> 10/22/07
>
> Dear Valued Meade Dealer:
> In our continuing effort to provide high quality products at
> affordable prices to the amateur astronomy community, we have
> initiated a plan to significantly increase our manufacturing
> efficiently by relocating our manufacturing operations from
> our Irvine, California factory to a brand new production
> facility at a lower-cost location. This move allows us to
> implement improved processes and procedures to assure the
> highest quality in our products. During this transition,
> production of some products will be interrupted and a few
> items will be discontinued. We will work to minimize the
> delays and bring the new facility up to speed as fast as possible.
> Meade is continuing its aggressive development of new and
> innovative products that will appear in the market over the
> next few years. This change of manufacturing location will
> have no impact on our schedules for new products.
> Please see the details of the affected models below. Models
> not mentioned below will continue to be available without
> interruption. For specific information concerning existing
> orders for products affected, please contact your dealer
> support representative.
>
> Production of Coronado products will continue with the
> exception of the items listed below and custom filter
> adapters. Please call for details on which adapters will
> be available.
> PSTCaK - Personal Solar Telescope Calcium K - Discontinued
> CaK70T - Ca-K 70mm Telescope with Sol Ranger - Discontinued
> CaK90T - Ca-K 90mm Telescope with Sol Ranger - Discontinued
> SM70T - SolarMax 70 Telescope and Sol Ranger - Discontinued
>
> 0810-90-61 - 8" LX90GPS (f/10) Schmidt-Cassegrain w/UHTC
> No interruption of production is anticipated.
>
> 1010-90-61 - 10" LX90GPS (f/10) Schmidt-Cassegrain w/UHTC
> Existing orders will be filled. Then production is suspended
> until Spring 2008. New orders will be accepted for Spring
> delivery.
>
> 1210-90-61 - 12" LX90GPS (f/10) Schmidt-Cassegrain w/UHTC
> Existing orders will be filled. Then production is suspended
> until Spring 2008. New orders will be accepted for Spring
> delivery.
>
> 0810-60-02 - 8" LX200R (f/10) Advanced RC w/UHTC
> No interruption of production is anticipated.
>
> 1010-60-02 - 10" LX200R (f/10) Advanced RC w/UHTC
> No interruption of production is anticipated.
>
> 1210-60-02 - 12" LX200R (f/10) Advanced RC w/UHTC
> No interruption of production is anticipated.
>
> 1410-60-02 - 14" LX200R (f/10) Advanced RC w/UHTC
> Existing orders will be filled. Then production is
> suspended until the second half of 2008. No new orders
> will be accepted at this time.
>
> 1410-60-00 - 14" LX200R (f/10) OTA w/UHTC
> Production is suspended indefinitely. No new orders will
> be accepted.
>
> 1610-60-02 - 16" LX200R (f/10) Advanced RC w/UHTC
> Existing orders will be filled. A few new orders will be
> accepted for units currently in production. Then Production
> is suspended until the second half of 2008.
>
> 1610-60-02AZ - 16" LX200R (f/10) Advanced RC w/AZ Pier w/UHTC
> Existing orders will be filled. A few new orders will be
> accepted for units currently in production. Then Production
> is suspended until the second half of 2008..
>
> 1610-60-02EQ - 16" LX200R (f/10) Advanced RC w/EQ Pier w/UHTC
> Existing orders will be filled. A few new orders will be
> accepted for units currently in production. Then Production
> is suspended until the second half of 2008.
>
> 1610-60-02N - 16" LX200R (f/10) Advanced RC w/UHTC w/o Tripod
> Existing orders will be filled. A few new orders will be
> accepted for units currently in production. Then Production
> is suspended until the second half of 2008.
>
> RCX400 and MAX Mount
> Production of all RCX and MAX Mount models will be suspended
> indefinitely and no new orders are currently being accepted,
> except where noted below. Limited existing orders that are
> currently in production will be filled and communicated
> individually.
>
> 1008-40-01 - 10" RCX400 (f/8) Advanced RC on Fork Mount
> A few new orders will be accepted for units currently in
> production. Production will be suspended indefinitely in Dec.
>
> 1208-40-01 - 12" RCX400 (f/8) Advanced RC on Fork Mount
> A few new orders will be accepted for units currently in
> production. Production will be suspended indefinitely in Dec.
>
> 1408-40-01 - 14" RCX400 (f/8) Advanced Ritchey-ChrZtien on
> Fork Mount.
> A few new orders will be accepted for units currently in
> production. Production will be suspended indefinitely in Dec.
>
> All product numbers - 16" RCX400 (f/8) Advanced RC on Fork
> Mount.
> A few new orders will be accepted for units currently in
> production. Production will be suspended indefinitely in Dec.
>
> All product numbers - MAX Mount Products
> Limited number of existing orders will be filled starting in
> January, 2008.
>
> As always, thank you for your support and appreciate your
> cooperation during this transition.
>
>
>