Samsung has a lot of ideas. In 2017, the consumer electronics giant acquired Harman International, an $8 billion gamble. With this acquisition, Samsung became the owner of several major audio brands specializing in headphones and speakers (JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, Mark Levinson, Arcam, and Revel).
Harman expands its brand catalog
Despite this large check, Samsung has remained in the background: the Harman subsidiary has maintained a large degree of autonomy from the parent company. And it is Harman that is maneuvering to pocket Sound United, Masimo's consumer audio business. This name may ring a bell: it's the company that obtained the withdrawal of Apple Watches from sale in the United States in early 2024 due to a patent dispute (the watches have since returned, but without the blood oxygenation function).
Harman is therefore buying this business for $350 million, which will allow it to add new brands to its portfolio: Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, and Definitive Technology. These are rather high-end manufacturers. B&W, for example, is known for its spectacularly designed speakers, such as the Zeppelin and the strange Nautilus. Marantz specializes in high-end amplifiers and receivers. Denon is a pioneer of CD audio.
The transaction is subject to review by regulators. If it passes the ramp (by the end of the year), Harman will strengthen its position in the portable speaker sector - the company already holds 60% - and intends to strengthen its positions in all segments of consumer and automotive audio. Harman intends to push its advantage in vehicles, with brands like B&O and B&W.
Samsung also intends to take advantage of this reinforcement and integrate the audio technologies of these brands into smartphones, wireless earphones, headphones, televisions and even soundbars.
Source: Harman
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