On Wednesday, January 16, Motorola, Inc announced that its subsidiary, MI, Inc, has successfully completed its tender offer to acquire a controlling interest in Vertex Standard, parent company of Yaesu. The tender offer period expired on January 15 with approximately 5.4 million shares tendered and accepted. On November 5, 2007, Motorola launched the tender offer, in cooperation with Tokogiken (a privately held Japanese company controlled by Vertex Standard’s president and CEO Jun Hasegawa) with the intention of forming a joint venture to develop and sell Vertex Standard products and develop select Motorola products. All regulatory clearances required for the completion of the transaction have been obtained.

Starting on January 22, Motorola will have a total ownership stake of approximately 78 percent of Vertex Standard on a fully diluted basis (excluding certain stock acquisition rights that are scheduled to be cancelled), following the settlement of the tender offer for approximately 12 billion Yen (almost $112 million US dollars) in cash. Through a subsequent restructuring process, Motorola will own 80 percent of Vertex Standard, while Tokogiken will retain a 20 percent stake.
“We are extremely pleased to team with Motorola, a global technology leader that has been a leading provider and pioneer in 2-way radio communication solutions,” Hasegawa said. “With Motorola, Vertex Standard will be stronger and better positioned to deliver new and innovative 2-way radio solutions for professionals and consumers.”

Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, Yaesu’s Executive Vice President for Amateur Radio Sales in North America, told the ARRL that he sees the joint venture of Vertex Standard and Motorola as “a very good thing for Amateur Radio in general and Yaesu customers in particular. I hope our loyal customers will readily see this business venture for what it is, an opportunity to make a solid 50-plus year old Yaesu company even stronger and more formidable than is already the case. There is absolutely no reason to have the slightest concern about equipment warranties and the continuation of support for our products. I am really excited to see what the joint engineering capabilities of these two huge communications companies will bring in the way of new technology advancement for the Amateur Radio Service.”

Motschenbacher continued: “There is a unique aspect of business that comes with Amateur Radio. It’s not just about a radio. It’s the relationship between the ham, the radio itself and the company that makes that radio. This relationship in Amateur Radio is far different than it is, say, between a buyer of a HDTV, the TV and the TV manufacturer. The relationship in Amateur Radio is far more personal and ‘bonding,’ per se. I am certain that we will do our utmost to ensure that Motorola understands this delicate bond. Since Motorola is leaving the day-to-day management of Yaesu in the hands of my boss, Jun Hasegawa, President of Vertex Standard, we can expect our longtime relationship with hams to remain intact.”

According to Motorola, “[t]he joint venture is expected to expand and develop a comprehensive suite of products to address the rapidly growing demand for 2-way radio solutions. Vertex Standard’s strength in the amateur, marine and airband (avionics) segments provides Motorola with access to new business opportunities. In addition, Vertex Standard’s solutions are highly complementary with Motorola‘s products and add greater depth and breadth to Motorola‘s Government and Public Safety business. The venture also provides additional engineering talent for Motorola.”

Following the restructuring, which will be implemented after the settlement of the tender offer, Vertex Standard will be de-listed from the JASDAQ. The joint venture company will continue to be called “Vertex Standard Co, Ltd” and will become a subsidiary of Motorola, with headquarters in Tokyo. — Some information provided by Motorola

“Solar physicists have been waiting for the appearance of a reversed-polarity sunspot to signal the start of the next solar cycle. As of Friday, that wait is over. A magnetically reversed, high-latitude sunspot emerged on the surface of the sun. Just a few months ago, an ‘All Quiet Alert‘ had been issued for the sun. This reversed-polarity sunspot marks the beginning of the sun’s return back to Solar Maximum. Solar Cycle 24 has been the subject of much speculation due to competing forecasts on whether it will be a highly active or a quiet low cycle.

The Acadiana Amateur Radio Association is announcing our 48th Annual Hamfest and the 2008 ARRL Louisiana State Convention on March 21st and March 22nd, 2008 in Rayne, Louisiana.

Our Hamfest falls on Good Friday and Saturday this year, so we have adjusted our schedule to accommodate the ham community. The Hamfest will be open to the general public and ham community at 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 21st and again at 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 22nd. Vendors, dealers and flea markets can begin setup from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Friday and 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. Saturday.

We have contacted the vendors/dealers and this new time is very good for them. The new time schedule will allow vendors and flea market participants, 2 extra hours to sell their products and give the ham community more time also to attend and be home with family afterwards.

Please view the attached Hamfest Flyer in PDF format or visit our web site www.w5ddl.org/hamfest/ for more information.

Please note that we will be having our annual Crawfish Boil, but no Fais-Do-Do in observance of Good Friday. Due to the high cost of crawfish at this time of year, we ask that those interested in attending the Crawfish Boil, pre-register no later than by March 1st, so we can lock in the price and quantity of crawfish we must purchase. There is no guarantee that Crawfish Boil tickets will be available on Friday, March 21st. As usual, Gumbo furnished by the Rayne High School Band Scholarship Fund Group will be available.

We look forward to seeing each of you this year and renewing our relationships. Next year, our hamfest will begin to fall on the usual dates of the 2nd weekend in March. So in 2009 our hamfest will be on March 13 & 14, 2009 and 2010 will be on March 12th & 13th, 2010.

Happy New Year

73,

Roland, NA5Q

Hamfest Chairperson