HERTFORDSHIRE, UK – The global home audio category posted second quarter shipment growth of 20% and 10% value growth sequentially, according to Futuresource Consulting.

JASPER, IN – Kimball Electronics reported net sales in the fourth quarter were $286.2 million, down 10.2% year-over-year.

HSINCHU, TAIWAN – SEMI formed a standards committee that aims to develop global standards for flexible hybrid electronics spanning design, materials, manufacturing, packaging and systems and to drive industry growth.

VEJLE, DENMARK – GPV reported first half revenue fell 5% year-over-year, with net profit increasing 23% to a record DKK 108 million (US$17.2 million).

BANGKOK -- Fabrinet announced fourth quarter revenue of $405.1 million, flat with last year.

CHICAGO – M&A activity in the EMS sector stalled in the second quarter, with just three deals closing in the period, according to a new report. The three deals included two consolidations and one vertical/horizontal convergence.

SAN JOSE, CA -- Sanmina chief executive Hartmut Liebel is leaving the company, effective immediately, after just a year on the job, the EMS company said today. Executive chairman and cofounder Jure Sola will take over as chief executive, the firm added.

PATHUMTANI, THAILAND – SVI Public Co. reported second quarter net sales of THB 4.2 billion (US$132.5 million), up 2.5% year-over-year and 30% sequentially.

TAMPA, FL – Sypris Electronics reported revenues of $9.7 million in the second quarter, up 28.3% year-over-year and 11.5% sequentially.

SANTA CLARA, CA – Intel shared a new method for making transistors on semiconductors that could boost processor performance by up to 20%, its chief architect said.

IRVINE, CA – TopLine Corp.’s chief executive has filed for a US patent for a Pb-free solder column used in the manufacture of FPGA devices. The product has been developed in anticipation of RoHS requirements for Pb-free columns.

MILPITAS, CA – Lenthor Engineering reported second quarter revenue of $9.4 million, an increase of 13.3% sequentially.