The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-06-24 01:49
"Paris, 23th June 2005 Buffet Crampon, world leader in the clarinet market, is delighted to announce that the Company, created in 1825 in Paris, has regained its independence through an MBO of the company Buffet Crampon by its Managing Director, Paul BARONNAT, accompanied by Argos Soditic’s funds. ..."
http://www.buffet-crampon.com/news.asp?news=130
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Author: Kevin
Date: 2005-06-24 02:04
How reasonable would it be to start speculating whether prices and/or quality will change in the next few years due to this?
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-06-24 02:09
I was just about to ask about prices and quality! lol! Hopefully the quality increases and the prices stay the same or decrease. Thanks for the news Mark!
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-06-24 02:09
Kevin wrote:
> How reasonable would it be to start speculating whether prices
> and/or quality will change in the next few years due to this?
Of course prices & quality will change.
What, you wanted to know which direction?
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2005-06-24 02:12
Wow, I was about to just say "that's great!". Now after reading on I've lost that congratulatory feeling.
Bradley
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-06-24 02:17
"With this fresh impetus, Buffet Crampon wished more than ever to restate its corporate values : respect for and attention to musicians’ requirements, the tradition and the spirit of the Company, the quality of a unique savoir-faire in upper range instruments, the dynamic of a world-wide distribution network, a strong taste for innovation and the awakening of new tones, a permanent engagement in the development of instrumental practice. Buffet Crampon’s renewed state of independence reinforces the influence of a brand which this year celebrates 180 years of existence."
This interests me very much. Will they follow through? Is this whole deal for the best for the average clarinet player?
Post Edited (2005-06-24 02:19)
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-06-24 02:20
Clarinetgirl06 wrote:
> This interests me very much. Will they follow through? Is this
> whoel deal for the best for the average clarinet player?
Right now the change is pretty much irrelevant to the average clarinet player - we don't know (or at least I don't know) the strings that are attached to the buy-out by the financier. There are always strings ...
Only time will tell whether or not it's a successful move.
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2005-06-24 10:48
I guess we'll see what happens. It'll be years before I'm in the market for different clarinets anyways, I'm pretty content with what I have now.
Christopher Nichols
1st Infantry Division Band
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-06-24 12:00
There is no reason to expect anything but business as usual, or perhaps an improvement. The new company includes the Mantes-la-Ville operation, the US distribution company, and the Japanese distribution company. If anything, this should mean much greater attention to our needs as clarinetists with the exclusive focus on Buffet. I hope prices DO go up a little. If the economics improve for the company, perhaps the focus on volume production and the bottom line can be balanced with the integrity of the manufacturing process and improved consistency/quality over all.
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Author: CPW
Date: 2005-06-24 12:19
So is that Paine Webber's view?
(couldnt help but notice the email address on smloss...oops msloss)
Can I buy stocks....assuming I have money to invest?
edited for spelling, not for content.
YMMV
Against the windmills of my mind
The jousting pole splinters
Post Edited (2005-06-24 13:14)
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Author: The Doctor ★2017
Date: 2005-06-24 14:29
At the Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium Francois Kloch expressed great joy and anticipation of good outcomes at Buffet with the new ownership team and their commitment to maintain and improve quality standards and innovation.
L. Omar Henderson
Post Edited (2005-06-24 14:30)
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-06-24 14:32
First of all, let me make it absolutely clear that PW has no point of view on it, and I am not speaking on their behalf or in any capacity related to the firm. This is me speaking as a "civilian", a clarinetist, and the co-owner of a family business that consults on woodwind instruments. Even if you are being funny, I want to be definitive on this point. I logged in through their proxy server, nothing more.
Second of all, the buyout from Rutland was executed by another private equity firm. There is no public stock to buy. If you are an extremely wealthy global investor with several million Euros burning a hole in your pocket, perhaps the private equity fund in France would give you a taste of their portfolio.
MS
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Author: CPW
Date: 2005-06-24 16:02
MS....I was kidding.
Just found it ironic to mention.
PW neednt worry esp if there are no stocks to be had.
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2005-06-24 16:07
Check the Bass Clarinet page. Walter Grabner is now a authorized Buffet Dealer.
Bob A
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-06-24 16:16
I got it, but my compliance department wouldn't see the irony, hence the admonition. Very strict rules in that regard. They are rather humorless individuals these days.
And one more point on this transition -- the leadership at Buffet itself is staying largely in place, which means people who understand the craft are making the decisions, and not guys with green eyeshades and adding machines. They still have to be profitable, but at least mass produced East Asian [your choice of 4-letter word here] will not be the default solution to improve their margins.
Now with the acquisition in the rearview mirror, their futures somewhat assured, glasses of champagne lifted high, they can take the month of August off...
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Author: CPW
Date: 2005-06-24 16:42
[your choice of 4-letter word here]
CASH is a four letter word.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2005-06-24 21:03
junk. the 4 letter word he was referring to is 'junk'
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: SueSmith
Date: 2005-06-24 22:22
pewd wrote:
> junk. the 4 letter word he was referring to is 'junk'
>
Crap or S**t also falls into this category...
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Author: larryb
Date: 2005-06-25 01:49
my hunch is that they're going to move the buffet plant to brazil to take advantage of cheap labor and materials
Argos Soditic is so obviously a pseudonym: "Tosca digs Rio"
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-06-25 06:09
"...the Company, created in 1825 in Paris, has regained its independence through an MBO of the company Buffet Crampon by its Managing Director, Paul BARONNAT, accompanied by Argos Soditic’s funds. ..."
So, let me get this straight - Two brave men (M. Baronnat and M. Soditic) suddenly appear, raise a large amount of cash and save Buffet Crampon.
It sounded almost too good to be true, until I looked into the hidden anagram:
Paul Baronnat/Argos Soditic = Gladiators Uproot Cannabis
Hmmm ...I can hardly wait for their new line of reeds ...GBK
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Author: larryb
Date: 2005-06-25 11:35
GBK- isn't that anagram web site great?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-06-25 13:26
larryb wrote:
> GBK- isn't that anagram web site great?
It's uncanny what it often reveals ...GBK
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Author: kenabbott
Date: 2005-06-25 20:55
My guess is that this won't end well. I've been involved in the buyout business before and MBO's are often riddled with excess hubris and unrealistic expectations. The new company is probably leveraged to the gills. One or two bad years and they'll be sold to the highest bidder for less than was just paid. Who knows? Maybe a Chinese bidder...
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Author: diz
Date: 2005-06-26 22:55
GBK - I'm shattered, I thought your humour and wit were totally spontaneous and now I learn you gain your barbs from an anagram website!! ;-)
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-06-26 23:23
humorless Diz = Oz smiled - rush !
...GBK
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-06-27 00:56
Buffet Crampon contains the words like:
Crap bum
Rob me
Burp me
Ran buff
Tan bum
Trap buff men
hmm.....
Doesn't Yamaha seem more innocent? aha Amy!
Or Leblanc? Call Ben
Nothing against Buffet ya'll, it's just funny!
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Author: pzaur
Date: 2005-06-27 05:21
GBK and Larryb, what is the anagram website?
Not trying to go off on a tangent here. This sounds like too much fun for when I'm really bored!
-pat
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-06-27 05:31
The same company that owned the Rico Corp had owned Buffet at one time.
I sure don't like what I've seen so far with the new Rico setup. Suddenly they are very "penny oriented".
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Author: CPW
Date: 2005-06-27 14:17
It seems that Buffet has been an all-purpose Smorgasbjord for buyouts.
Rumors are circulating that the Tapas Brothers from Spain are eyeing them for a take-over, with the Korean Dim-Sum consortium making a 'frisky'** counterproposal.
Meanwhile, Conn-Selmer has gotten into the furniture biz via aquisitions in the Carolinas, and are due to market a long table with a sideboard. Could Buffet be the next project?
Enough for now. I am hungry....Wendy's* breakfast selection table (aka b-----t) awaits.
* for folks downunder...Wendy's is a fast food restaurant chain.
**Friskies buffet(R) is a cat food
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-06-27 15:09
Wendy's is the logical owner of both since they already have a sideboard and a buffet....
Bob Draznik
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Author: larryb
Date: 2005-06-27 16:04
I wouldn't associate dim sum with Korean cuisine - it's really a chinese, probably mostly Hong Kong, specialty
The closest Korean analogy to dim sum would be mandoo, but I'm not certain that mandoo is served as a morning street food in Seoul
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Author: CPW
Date: 2005-06-27 16:09
<<<<Wendy's is the logical owner of both since they already have a sideboard and a buffet....
Bob Draznik>>>>>
They already have enough dairy items to ensure a cheesey product.
I can see it now......McDonalds then buys Leblanc.
Wendys claims that "Mickey D" clarinets have no heft to their tone.
and in a revival of an oldie but goodie.....Clara asks in a TV commercial......."Where's the Beef?!"
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-06-27 16:11
[ This thread is now closed - GBK ]
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The Clarinet Pages
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