#Vital Information
12 messages in this thread
The number of new messages around this forum is making keeping track of new
developments difficult. I propose we establish this thread to contain:-
1. News that has been confirmed from a reliable source.
2. Nothing else.
3. No additional comments.
To kick things off, I spoke with Electronic Design today and confirmed the
information they gave me with other Amiga product distributors in Europe. The
information is first hand from Commodore Germany's Marketing Director, and
Managing Director – I got the same message from several reliable sources.
They all said that according to Commodore Germany, an Asian or Japanese company
is in the throws of finalising arrangements to buy seven companies, including
Commodore/Amiga U.K, Commodore Germany, Italy, and Canada. Commodore Germany
are saying the transaction should be finalised within 10 days.
They were not able to name the company.
Some sources are saying Commodore Asia/Pacific management has suggested staff
look for other work. They are almost completely out of stock, and appear to be
unlikely to ride out the time between now and when any official announcements
are made. Additionally, Compu-Aid, the company responsible for supplying spare
parts and warranty support in Australia have been hurt by the collapse of a
major retail chain in Australia (Brashes) and it is possible they may face
closure. The Amiga situation downunder is poor. Confidence amongst dealers is
fair.
I also rang Commodore Business Machines West Chester number and tried to speak
with Hock Tan. Instead of being transferred to his number, my call was taken by
a security person who said something about another office closing, and that
this office would also be closed within a couple of days. To make matters worse
he said "Commodore is history".
Commodore U.K's M.D. was too busy to accept calls, but a local software
publisher said consumer confidence was excellent (most are not aware what is
now happening) and dealer confidence was still very strong despite their
knowledge of Commodore's problems.
A GVP marketing person I spoke to also sounded optimistic when I spoke to him
directly yesterday.
Regards,
Andrew Farrell
Editor, Australian Amiga Review
Andrew,
You said …
>>an Asian or Japanese company is in the throws of finalising
>>arrangements to buy seven companies, including Commodore/Amiga U.K,
>>Commodore Germany, Italy, and Canada
Well, if true, that's fine … but it means absolutely nothing. From what
you've said, this mystery Asian benefactor is purchasing an in place
marketing and distribution network. The marketing companies do not produce
anything. They buy (bought) product from CIL and sold that product. If
those companies are purchased, what will they sell? The widgets that the
Asian buyer produces.
Sorry, I posted the message at 1.30am my time… and missed out some important
things.
According to Commodore Germany the company has is also purchasing the rights to
the Amiga technology, associated trade marks… etc etc
Yes you're right, but the low down is that they have landed the whole lot, not
just a distribution netwrok.
According to Commodore's last annual report, all of the subsidiaries are
wholly owned by Commodore. Do you have any factual information as to when they
were spun or sold off so as to become independent entities?
Most bankruptcy and liquidation laws have provisions against preferential
transfers.
Unless Commodore's annual report misstated the ownership arrangements of the
subsidiaries, what seems to be described here is a conveyance undertaken to
defraud creditors, a criminal act under many circumstances in the United States
and most of Europe.
According to one report, the mysterious Japanese buyer and Commodore agreed
to liquidate the Bahamaian parent company and Commodore US in order to defeat
the creditors.
I find it very interesting that not a single tear has been shed for the
unsecured creditors of Commodore, many of whom are undoubtedly small businesses
run by people who have bills to meet and families to feed and house.
Somehow it seems that "saving" the Amiga is more important than the
possibility that these people are being defrauded in some grand worldwide
financial scheme.
The whole thing sounds like a fantasy to me, but if it's real than I can only
wonder about the morality of those who cheer for such an apparent fraud on
honest business people who are about to be left holding the bag for millions of
dollars.
Jerry
Okay, here are a couple of *facts*.
First, the credibility part…I work for (among other people) Intelligent
Machines Computer Center, Inc. in Orlando, FL. We are an Amiga retailer. The
company is owned by the same people who own Intelligent Designs, Inc. (AmiBack,
AmiBack Tools & Tapeworm). As a dealer, I have daily contacts with
distributors and developers. As a developer, we also have the same contacts.
1. MicroPace, one of the larger Amiga distributors called yesterday (5/2)
and told me that they had a new shipment, in stock, of Amiga 4000s and
that included A4000LCs. Get this…this prices on maachines actually
went *down* about $100 a unit! They have plenty in stock (as of 5/2).
2. BMD (British Magazine Distributors), another dealer, told me last week
that they had negotiated with CBM and Daewoo to purchase 1000 model 1084SD2
monitors that had been previously manufactured but not paid for. They
said that they didn't want to air freight them 'cause it would cost too
much. The monitors are (get this) on a slow boat from China 🙂 to the
U.S. and are scheduled to be delivered to BMD the on 6/1/94.
3. Creative Equipment (the largest Amiga distributor) is having manufactured
a multisync monitor with specs almost exactly like an A1960. They are
calling it the A1962 and are supposed to be shipping them to dealers this
week. Retail price is right around $599. (It has a Philips tube and doe
sync down to 15 KHz.) Creative also told me that they are negotiating with
Commodore to acquire rights to manufacture machines (or actually have
machines manufactured) as well as purchase machines already manufactured in
the Philipines but not paid for. They are also looking to get rights to
produce AmigaDOS 3.1 chips, manuals and disks.
I was told these items by my normal contacts (the guys I order from) at the
respective distributors.
4. SMG is answering phones and taking orders. They had the parts I needed
this time (CIA & Paula chips). They have already posted their own
statement.
Make of this what you will.
-Chas
Being an Amiga dealer myself, I can confirm that I have received similar
information to yours. At least it's good news for the short term.
I ordered one of the 1962's from CEI last week. It should arrive tomorrow.
It's a true MultiSync (15-40 KHz). It sounds suspiciously like the
ElectroHomes, but I won't know until I see it.
I think the 1962 is one of the old Mitsubishi DiamondScans that CEI got
the liscense for. Good monitors.
Paul
Paul,
I ordered a CEI 1962 monitor yesterday and the official product name
was CEI 1962 Electrohome. They have been on hold for two weeks now due to
the FCC.
Peter M. D'Angelo
Cruising Over NY on AutoPilot
Could you post your impressions of this 1962 monitor once you try it
out and purchasing information? Thanks.
Sure. The new monitor should arrive soon.
Wayne,
My dealer said it is in fact an Electrohome.
Don
More facts:
Danny Daring, an employee of Mr. Horan's Computer Lab, Louisville, Kentucky
(our local Amiga dealer), posted the following on A.S.K. (Amiga Society of
Kentuckiana) BBS (Amiga user group BBS). He says it is the text of a fax they
received from CEI. He is not a good typist (I'm amazed there aren't more
misspellings), so I don't know where the quoted Commodore official statement
ends. ———–quoted fax begins here————– Dear CEI Dealer,
As we have been expecting, Commodore International filed for liquidation in
order to be protected from its creditors Friday, April 29, 1994, at 4:10 PM.
Commodore official statement follows:
"Commodore International Limited announced today that its Board of Directors
has authorized the transfer of its assets to trustees for the benefit of its
creditor and has placed its major subsidiary, Commodore Electronics Limited,
into voluntary liquidation. This is the initial phase of an orderly
liquidation of both companies, which are incorporated in the Bahamas, by the
Bahamas Supreme Court.
This action does not affect the wholly-owned subsidiaries which include
Commodore Business Machines (USA), Commodore Business Machines LTD (Canada),
Commodore/Amiga (UK), Commodore Germany, etc. Operations will continue
normally.
CEI has been working closely with Commodore's management and major investers to
find a resolution to the current financial crisis. Commodore's actions now
clear the way for progress to be made.
In the next few weeks, CEI will be making a number of important announcements.
CEI currently has sufficent Amiga inventory to meet expected demand until
manufacturing can be resumed. All our policies remain intact, full service and
support will continue. If you have any questions or concerns please contact
your CEI representative.
Please assure your customers that this event should be seen in a positive
light. What if . . . better support, better products, better marketing, better
prices, better margins all arose from the ashes. Stay tuned. . .
Sincerely,
Alex Amor, President ———-end of quoted fax—————
And, in case you want to call & ask for yourself: Mr. Horan's Computer Lab
[502] 244-9595 A. S. K. BBS [502] 944-8291