It’s ham radio. It’s very probable that they were already on the brink of failing considering what they made and where they made it. The manufacturing probably isn’t profitable and like most things ham, it was a labor of love.

They’re shutting down their factories, so they’d have to setup new ones elsewhere. That would have costs too.

Clearly it wasn’t profitable enough anymore, and maybe wouldn’t be after moving overseas or something.

Yeah, the letter didn't say whether they'd tried to sell the business, or find other management for it. That's definitely a question that comes to mind.

(There might not be buyers, the business might not be sustainable, the company space might be built into their home, they might have to sell commercial real estate for medical expenses or to get their estate in order, etc. Or maybe they're preoccupied with personal matters, and not up to investigating alternatives.)

He was trying to sell the company. The scuttlebutt is he declined an offer from DX Engineering, which is a shame because that would've been perhaps the best match.

Indeed. DX Engineering is exactly what I would have thought as well. Half their catalog is MFJ.

As is half of any of the retailers' catalogs.

I'd like to see DXE acquire the Hy-Gain and Ameritron lines if possible.

I've not followed this closely to know if Martin wanted to sell everything as a single unit or had entertained offers for the individual brands he's acquired over the years. Hopefully if it was the former he'll now consider the latter.

There probably was an offer but I bet if you look at the books the price that was wanted was not what it was actually worth.

The other aspect is that the core value of the company might be the intangible goodwill value that the owner-operator himself brought to the table.

Apparently not.

Make an offer.