Bose Corporation acquires the McIntosh Group

It was only in 2022 that the investor group Highlander Partners L. P. took over the McIntosh Group Inc. and with it the Italian loudspeaker specialist Sonus faber S.p.a. in addition to the US High-end HiFi manufacturer McIntosh Laboratory Inc. Now the McIntosh Group Inc. is once again making headlines, as it has now been announced that the Bose Corporation is taking over the McIntosh Group Inc.

Bose Corporation is now the new owner of two of the most renowned High-end HiFi companies in the entire industry.

Bose wants to expand into the High-end and luxury segment

The acquisition will allow Bose Corporation to bring its industry-leading technologies to the designated High-end HiFi and home cinema segment as well as the designated luxury segment in the future, the US company said in a statement about the acquisition of McIntosh Group Inc.

The Bose Corporation literally states that it will offer consumers a wide range of products of the highest quality, from headphones and Bluetooth speakers to luxury audio systems for at home and on the move.

However, it is also stated that the takeover should not change much for the individual brands, meaning that the Bose brand will continue to develop headphones, all-in-one solutions and soundbars and drive forward key technologies for the Group such as noise cancellation, sound amplification and immersive audio.

The McIntosh and Sonus Faber brands, on the other hand, will continue to focus on High-end products, according to Bose Corporation.

“Over the past six decades, we have delivered the best premium audio experiences, and now, with the McIntosh Group in our portfolio, we are opening up even more opportunities to bring music to life at home, on the go and in the car. We look forward to honouring the heritage of these brands, investing in their future and pushing the boundaries of audio innovation to bring customers experiences they’ve never heard before.”

Lila Snyder, CEO of Bose Corporation

Automotive sector as a key factor

Once again, the automotive sector is also likely to have been a key factor in the acquisition. Bose Corporation itself has been active in this sector for years, as have the McIntosh and Sonus Faber brands.

While the Bose brand is mostly found in mid-range vehicles, McIntosh brand solutions can be found in the premium segment, while Sonus Faber brand solutions are clearly only found in the luxury segment.

Bose Corporation is now talking about combining the strengths of Bose and the McIntosh Group to open up new opportunities in the automotive sector.

Bose Corporation cites its own 40 years of experience, but at the same time praises the outstanding performance and unique design of the McIntosh Group’s automotive systems. Together, Bose Corporation says, the Bose, McIntosh and Sonus Faber brands will accelerate their research and realise solutions that set new standards in the automotive sector.

“Bose’s commitment to research and unique focus on audio provides an excellent opportunity to complement and enable our own pursuit of an inimitable, high-quality sound experience. Access to their expertise as a pioneer in automotive audio will also help us accelerate our presence and enable us to deliver solutions that live up to our reputation and performance standards.”

Daniel Pidgeon, CEO of McIntosh Group Inc.

The facts

The acquisition of McIntosh Group Inc. by Bose Corporation from Highlander Partners, L.P., a Dallas-based private investment firm, is believed to be complete, but no information, including the financial and other terms of the transaction, has been disclosed. The partners have agreed to maintain confidentiality in this regard.

Getting to the point

It is really surprising that the Bose Corporation of all companies is now acquiring the McIntosh Group Inc. and thus the companies McIntosh Laboratory Inc. and Sonus Faber S.p.a. It is interesting to note that not much is to change in the traditional areas of the individual brands, according to the Bose Corporation. The Bose brand will continue to focus primarily on headphones, All-in-One systems and soundbars, while McIntosh and Sonus Faber will continue to serve the High-end segment and Luxury HiFi in the tried and tested manner. What is interesting, however, is that the automotive sector in particular is being emphasised and there is talk of joint solutions.