Jump to content

Akira (brand)

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Akira
Company typePrivate
IndustryConsumer electronics
Home Appliances
Founded1984 (as TT International Limited)
HeadquartersSingapore
Area served
Southeast Asia
Middle East
ProductsMajor appliances
Small appliances
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

Akira (or stylized AKIRA) is a consumer electronics brand originated and headquartered in Singapore.[1] The brand is known for its range of consumer electronics, including televisions, home appliances, and audio-visual equipment. It has a market coverage in over 60 countries in regions such as ASEAN, Africa, the Middle East, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Russia, Eastern Europe and East Asia. [2]

History

[edit]

Akira's parent company, TT International Limited, was founded in Singapore on 1984, coming forth as a consumer electronics distributor and trading company. The company gained track from the surge of consumer demands for products with basic features at affordable prices, and expanded its distribution network.

An example of a microwave oven produced by the electronics brand Akira, found in a Singaporean HDB apartment household.

In the mid-1990s, the brand Akira was launched with twelve products. The trademark "Akira" was officially registered in Singapore in 1994, under Akihabara Electric Corporation Ltd. In the Japanese language, the word also signifies brightness and the morning sunshine.[3] The brand was reorganised under Akira International Pte Ltd. in April 1998, prior to TT International listing on the Singapore Exchange in June 2000.[3][4][5] Akira entered the Russian market through consignment in 2002, with a high local demand over the quality and reliability of the equipment. This fueled the expansion of its dealer network into more than 50 cities across Russia within 2 years. [6]

Akira was listed as one of the fifteen companies recognised for its value at the Singapore Brand Awards in 2004.[7] The brand was first listed one of the Superbrands in the Singapore market on 10 March 2006, and was last listed for the recognition in 2016. [8][9][10] Akira launched its European subsidiary, Akira Europe, in 2008 for expansion into the international market.[11]

Brand Ownership Change

[edit]

Akira has been heavily impacted since its parent company, TT International, followed through significant restructuring that begun in 2010, under a Scheme of Arrangement sanctioned by the High Court of Singapore. This favoured over judiciary management and liquidation of the financially troubled parent firm.[12]

A loan agreement was signed in bid to sustain Akira Corporation Pte Ltd on 9 December 2019, as part of a restructuring scheme was approved by the High Court of Singapore on 28 March 2019.[13][14] This came after the liquidation of the failed Big Box Singapore development in September 2018.[15] 6 April 2023, an agreement was inked for the acquisition of Akira International Pte Ltd, along with its subsidiary Akira Singapore Pte Ltd, to wholesale enterprise MSSS Pte Ltd. [14][16] The acquisition was completed on 6 April 2024. [17] Akira Corporation Pte Ltd remains under the ownership of TT International Pte Ltd. [18]

Products

[edit]
An example of DVD Player produced by the electronics brand Akira in Singapore.

Akira offers a range of audio-visual products and home appliances for both residential and commercial customers. Its audio-visual products include LCD and Plasma TVs, DVD and VCD players, home theatre systems, portable DVD players, and multimedia speakers. In addition, Akira provides a variety of home appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, rice cookers, vacuum cleaners, and various kitchen devices, including microwave ovens, deep fryers, and toasters.

The company also manufactures commercial products, including power generators and lighting systems. Akira has expanded into other categories such as telephones (corded and cordless) and private label bicycles.

In the 2010s, Akira has introduced a premium product range that includes Full HD LCD TVs with motion enhancement features, energy-efficient air conditioners with inverter technology, and home appliances such as rice cookers with advanced heating elements and more efficient juicers.[2] Akira was the first manufacturer to launch 3D Blu-ray equipped LED Smart TV in the Singapore market. [11]

Partnership

[edit]

Akira was a sponsor of the National Day Parade in the 2000s, and was a main supporter of Swift Athletics track and field events since 2004.[9]

See Also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ akira. "About us". AKIRA Pakistan. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Superbrands Singapore Edition 4 Akira" (PDF). AmazonAWS Superbrands. 28 August 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Superbrands Singapore Edition 5 - Akira" (PDF). AmazonAWS Superbrands. 23 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Home". TT International Ltd. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  5. ^ RecordOwl. "AKIRA INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD (199802052K)". RecordOwl. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Akira air conditioners and split systems: reviews, instructions for the control panel". ihousetop.decorexpro.com. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  7. ^ Yumpu.com. "Press Release Superbrands Award 2006 - akira". yumpu.com. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  8. ^ "Superbrands Volume IV". library.superbrands.com. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  9. ^ a b Tan, Bah Bah (28 August 2013). "Winning Trust - Superbrand Akira stays ahead as a local brand by making good products with better features" (PDF). The Straits Times. pp. C11. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  10. ^ "Singapore Volume 7". library.superbrands.com. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  11. ^ a b WCRC, INT+ (11 September 2015). "TT INTERNATIONAL – AKIRA SINGAPORE". WCRCINT. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  12. ^ "[UPDATE] TT International bosses' home at Coronation Road West for sale at $48 mil". www.edgeprop.sg. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  13. ^ "TT International's new restructuring scheme gets High Court nod". The Straits Times. 28 March 2019. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  14. ^ a b Tong, Julia, Jia Pi (31 July 2024). "TT International Limited - Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year 2023 Ended 31 March 2024". SGX Announcement - TT Interntional Full Year N 4th QTR FY2024 Unaudited FS - 310724. Singapore Exchange: 2, 16.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "TT International unit Big Box Singapore starts liquidation proceedings". The Business Times. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  16. ^ MarketScreener (7 April 2023). "TT International to Dispose of 34 Subsidiaries Under Restructuring | MarketScreener". www.marketscreener.com. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  17. ^ MarketScreener (6 April 2024). "MSSS Pte Ltd acquired Akira Singapore Pte Ltd, Ambur International Pte Ltd, Akira International Pte Ltd, Big Box Corporation Pte Ltd, T.T. Corporation Pte Ltd, IT Kauppa OY Finland and Omni Capital Pte Ltd from TT International Limited. | MarketScreener". www.marketscreener.com. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Singapore Business Directory". Singapore Business Directory. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Akira_(brand)&oldid=1294824150"