Syntax–Brillian Corporation
| Company type | Public company, (Template:Pinksheets) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
| Founded | April 2004 |
| Headquarters |  Tempe, AZ, USA |
| Products | LCD Televisions |
| Website | http://www.syntaxbrillian.com |
Syntax-Brillian Corporation (Template:Pinksheets) was a corporation formed on November 30, 2005 by the merger of Syntax (seller of widescreen HDTV-ready LCD televisions) with Brillian Corporation (seller of Brillian brand televisions). The company sold HDTVs under the brand name of Ölevia and its stock was previously listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol BRLC. It was based in Tempe, Arizona. In 2009 it resolved a bankruptcy proceeding by selling all its assets to Emerson Radio Corp.
Bankruptcy and delisting
On July 8, 2008, Syntax-Brillian filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.[1][2][3] On July 21, 2008 the company reported that its stock was to be delisted from the Nasdaq Stock Market due to listing violations and its filing for protection under Chapter 11.[4] Syntax-Brillian sees no value for its common stock after Chapter 11.[5][6]
The company entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell all of its assets besides those of its Vivitar unit to newly created Olevia International Group, LLC, which is owned by TCV Group, provider of plastic injection molded parts for the Olevia branded widescreen HDTVs. In exchange for the purchased assets, Olevia International Group agreed to assume $60.0 million of Syntax-Brillian's secured debt. The proposed sale was anticipated to close by August 31, 2008.[2] However, the transaction with TCV Group never closed. Instead, in May 2009, Emerson Radio Corp. purchased the assets of Syntax-Brillian including the Olevia brand name.[7]
Investigations, allegations of fraud, and lawsuits
The bankruptcy court appointed an examiner, James Feltman, who concluded in the fall of 2008 that "Syntax-Brillian was improperly managed to benefit Kolin, not shareholders." A federal bankruptcy fraud task force consisting of the Justice Department, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Postal Inspection Service began probing Syntax-Brillian for alleged fraud in early 2009. Concurrently, Olevia International Group, LLC allegedly defaulted on the agreement to purchase the assets of Syntax-Brillian. Four separate lawsuits were filed in the United States, "alleging that former executives of the company made false financial statements and that they knowingly participated in the fraudulent transfer of money to Taiwan Kolin Co., their Asian parts supplier." [8] One shareholder who participated as a pro se litigant in the bankruptcy proceedings wrote a book about the scandal entitled The Sheep and The Guardians: Diary of a SEC Sanctioned Swindle.[9]
Vivitar
On November 21, 2006 the company acquired for $26 million in stock privately held Vivitar Corporation, a seller of digital cameras and camcorders, which it operated as a wholly owned subsidiary. Subsequent to its bankruptcy filing, the company sold the Vivitar brand name and intellectual property to privately held Sakar International, Inc. The sale did not include Vivitar's equipment, facilities or accounts receivable and terms were not disclosed.[10] The deal to acquire Vivitar was subsequently named "Turnaround Atlas Awards' Special Situations M&A Deal of the Year"[11].
References
- ^ Company form 8K filed July 8, 2008
- ^ a b Syntax-Brillian Announces Asset Purchase Agreement, Files Voluntary Petition for Chapter 11 Reorganization to Facilitate Sale, Company press release, July 8 2008
- ^ Syntax-Brillian files for Chapter 11 amid suits, climbing debt, The Arizona Republic, July 9, 2008
- ^ Syntax-Brillian Corporation Receives Notice of Delisting Company press release, July 21, 2008
- ^ marketwatch.com, July 8, 2008
- ^ Syntax-Brillian Switches Off The Set, Forbes.com, July 8, 2008
- ^ Emerson Radio Corp. Acquires Assets of Consumer Electronics Brand Olevia
- ^ U.S. Authorities Probe Syntax-Brillian for Missing Millions bloomberg.com March 3 2009
- ^ The Sheep and the Guardians: Diary of a SEC Sanctioned Swindle
- ^ Sakar Acquires Vivitar Brand, Expanding Footprint in Camera Business Reuters, August 25 2008
- ^ KPMG Vivitar Deal Named M&A Deal of the Year at Turnaround Atlas Awards