Sound & Communications April 2008 issue

NEWSLETTER
Tandberg video solutions are open and interoperable with other standards-based solutions, allowing
enterprises to maximize existing videoconferencing investments. They are tightly integrated with
Nortel’s unified communications platforms and Agile Communication Environment, which means
enterprises can incorporate telepresence into a complete unified communications solution. These
platforms include Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, IBM Lotus Sametime, Nortel Multimedia
Communication Server 5100 and Nortel Communication Server 1000. Nortel’s Agile Communication
Environment leverages Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and web services standards for
development of new communications- and video-enabled applications and business processes.
HITACHI, CANON FORMALIZE LCD PANEL BUSINESS ALLIANCE
Hitachi, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan; www.hitachi.com), and Canon Inc. (Tokyo, Japan; www.canon.com) have
finalized a formal contract related to a comprehensive LCD panel business alliance. This follows the
December 25, 2007, signing of a basic agreement among Hitachi, Canon and Matsushita Electric Industrial
Co., Ltd. (Osaka, Japan; www.panasonic.net), regarding this alliance. Hitachi and Matsushita
announced a formal contract on February 15 concerning the same comprehensive alliance.
Under the terms of this agreement, Canon was scheduled to acquire a 24.9% stake in Hitachi Displays,
Ltd., a wholly owned Hitachi subsidiary that makes small and medium-sized LCD panels, from Hitachi
by March 31, for approximately 43.2 billion yen (roughly $443 million), pending required regulatory
approvals. The acquisition price was agreed upon based on an evaluation of Hitachi Displays’ value,
including a 50% shareholders equity stake in IPS Alpha Technology, Ltd. (Chiba, Japan; www.ips-alpha.
co.jp/en/index.html), owned by Hitachi Displays. As the next step, Canon plans to acquire Hitachi
Displays’ shares owned by Hitachi and Matsushita and to make Hitachi Displays a Canon subsidiary.
Meanwhile, Hitachi will consider the continued holding of up to 10% of Hitachi Displays’ shares.
SONIC FOUNDRY RECEIVES NASDAQ DEFICIENCY NOTICE
On March 10, Sonic Foundry, Inc. (Madison WI; www.sonicfoundry.com), received notice from the
NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Department stating that, for 30 consecutive business days, the bid
price for the company’s common stock has closed below the minimum $1.00 per share requirement
for continued inclusion under Marketplace Rule 4450(a)(5). In accordance with Marketplace Rule
4450(e)(2), the company will be provided 180 calendar days (until September 8) to regain compliance
with the rule. The company may regain compliance if, at any time before September 8, the bid
price of the company’s common stock closes at $1.00 per share or above for a minimum of 10 consecutive
trading days. In that case, Sonic Foundry will have achieved compliance with the rule.
If compliance cannot be demonstrated by the deadline, the company may consider applying to transfer
its securities to The NASDAQ Capital Market, provided that Sonic Foundry meets the initial listing
criteria as set forth in Marketplace Rule 4310(c), except for the bid price requirement. If it elects to
transfer its securities and meets the initial listing criteria, the company will be granted an additional
180-calendar-day compliance period. If the company is not eligible for an additional compliance period
or if it elects not to transfer its securities to The NASDAQ Capital Market, the company’s securities
will be delisted. At that time, Sonic Foundry may appeal the delisting determination.
ELECTROGRAPH ADDS JBL PROFESSIONAL LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEMS
Electrograph Systems, Inc. (Hauppauge NY; www.electrograph.com), a national distributor of display
technology solutions, has added JBL Professional (Northridge CA; www.jblpro.com) loudspeakers.
Electrograph and JBL Professional have completed a distribution agreement by which the Control
Series of speaker systems is available directly through Electrograph. According to Randall
Rosenbaum, senior product manager, Electrograph Systems, “The JBL Professional line gives our
resellers a dependable and profitable add-on audio option.”
COMPILED BY DAN FERRISI AND DAVID A. SILVERMAN
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Sound & Communications
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