B&W in trouble!

[Deleted member 2457]

Sound United negotiate Bowers & Wilkins acquisition

UPDATED: Bowers & Wilkins and Sound United have begun early talks to explore a mutually beneficial arrangement.

www.avforums.com

 

[bigboss]

It's been in trouble for a number of months.....this is actually good news!

Bowers & Wilkins set to be acquired by Sound United

Bowers & Wilkins and the parent company to Denon, Marantz and Polk Audio are in talks to consolidate their offerings...

www.whathifi.com

 

[michael hoy]

Yes, it would be sad to see such a great speaker company go to the wall.

 

[Sliced Bread]

At least the buyer is a company with a strong portfolio. I do feel for the staff though. Like many of us, I’ve lived through these rollercoasters before and it’s not pleasant at all.
Fingers crossed for a happy ending.

 

[nopiano]

Yes, they deserve better than being jerked around to make stupid wireless clones when they have such a great heritage.
Wish they could return to their roots, but the volume and $$ are in headphones etc!
Glad the new buyers have a hifi pedigree, but I guess the old Rotel partnership is going to bite the dust?

 

[Deleted member 188516]

will the design staff and (some) of the manufacturing stay in the u.k ?

 

[bigboss]

will the design staff and (some) of the manufacturing stay in the u.k ?

Probably. Still early days in the deal which isn't completed yet.

 

[Friesiansam]

Sometimes being taken over by a much larger entity, in the same line of business, is just what a struggling company needs. Look at what Geely has done for Volvo and is doing for Lotus and, Sound United aren't just asset strippers.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

More info here:

Updated: Denon and Marantz parent group Sound United in talks to 'buy' Bowers & Wilkins

Sound United, the parent company of Denon and Marantz – plus Polk Audio, Boston Acoustics, Classe and Definitive Technology – has announced a 'preliminary letter of intent' to acquire audio specialist Bowers & Wilkins. The proposed move remains subject to 'ongoing discussions' and regulatory...

homecinemachoice.com

 

[Deleted member 116933]

As long as there allowed to do there thing then its a good thing, Samsung own B&O and many others and let them get on with it. BUT it allows the brands name to get used on things. Like how Panasonic slap Leica name on things when they really haven't been involved, its a proper money maker for the brand holder.

 

[jjbomber]

B&W owned Classé until 2 years ago and sold it to Sound United. I guess this is just a continuation of a theme.

 

[bigboss]

Samsung own B&O

Samsung owns only Bang & Olufsen's Automotive car audio business via Harman International, not entire B&O.

 

[Deleted member 116933]

Samsung owns only Bang & Olufsen's Automotive car audio business via Harman International, not entire B&O.

Still owns a very big segment of them. Which means they can use the name how they see fit in that space . That’s really what they wanted the brand licence, love them or hate them they have a recognition.

 

[Deleted member 188516]

Yes, they deserve better than being jerked around to make stupid wireless clones when they have such a great heritage.
Wish they could return to their roots, but the volume and $$ are in headphones etc!
Glad the new buyers have a hifi pedigree, but I guess the old Rotel partnership is going to bite the dust?

will the rotel "partnership" be replaced by marantz instead ?

noted b&w are often demonstrated with marantz kit.

 

[Surly Sid]

B&W hasn't been relevant in years! They priced themselves out of the market, and out of dealer showrooms with their upper lines. Too much money for not enough performance will kill any company.

 

[Sliced Bread]

As long as there allowed to do there thing then its a good thing, Samsung own B&O and many others and let them get on with it. BUT it allows the brands name to get used on things. Like how Panasonic slap Leica name on things when they really haven't been involved, its a proper money maker for the brand holder.

I never realised that about Pana / Leica. That’s quite cheeky.

 

[Sliced Bread]

will the rotel "partnership" be replaced by marantz instead ?

noted b&w are often demonstrated with marantz kit.

When they looked into the partnership, I’m sure that must have been a factor.

 

[bigboss]

Still owns a very big segment of them.

That is incorrect. If you check B&O's annual report, they don't mention car audio at all.

 

[Deleted member 116933]

That is incorrect. If you check B&O's annual report, they don't mention car audio at all.

Because they have nothing to do with it. Samsung wholly owns the harman group. And you corrected me because I said B&O as a whole and meant to say the car audio segment.

A nice quick google brings this up

" In May 2015, HARMAN International Industries (which later became a subsidiary of Samsung), announced the completion of its acquisition of Bang & OlufsenAutomotive car audio business."

Samsung "built" the Burj Khalifa but that segment of there business arm isnt know as sumsung and acts as its own entity and has it own annual report.

It's like looking at pioneer for the annual report for the AV amplifiers and blue-ray players, you're not going find it, as the company no longer owns that segment of the business, you're looking in the wrong place.

 

[bigboss]

On one hand you're saying B&O have nothing to do with car audio business, and on the other hand you say Samsung own a very big segment of B&O!

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Fire sale has started:

Last chance! Save 25% on Bowers & Wilkins wireless headphones

The B&W PX7 and PX5 noise-cancelling headphones and PI3 sport earbuds are on sale until Sunday

www.whathifi.com

 

[scene]

I hope B&W are "saved" by being brought into the Sound United stable. Hopefully this will give them the financial security they need. Also could mean future B&W speakers tuned to work with Marantz/Denon kit - which could be a good thing.