{"id":6394,"date":"2012-10-08T13:16:28","date_gmt":"2012-10-08T17:16:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/?p=6394"},"modified":"2014-10-23T14:21:38","modified_gmt":"2014-10-23T14:21:38","slug":"fine-sounds-spa-to-add-mcintosh-laboratory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/en\/?p=6394","title":{"rendered":"Fine Sounds SpA to Add McIntosh Laboratory\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Fine-Sounds-SPA-McIntosh-logo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2026 to<\/strong> its Portfolio of High-End Audio Brands<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acquisition Will Place Group at the Forefront of Global Luxury Audio Industry
\n<\/strong>
\nMILAN, OCTOBER 8, 2012<\/strong> \u2013 Fine Sounds SpA<\/strong> of Milan, Italy, owner of Sonus Faber<\/strong>, Audio Research Corporation<\/strong>, Wadia Digital<\/strong> and Sumiko<\/strong>, has acquired 100% of McIntosh Laboratory<\/strong>, America\u2019s most respected and formidable producer of hi-fi system solutions and a global leader in prestige home entertainment and ultimate-quality audio for over 60 years. Fine Sounds<\/strong> is owned by Quadrivio<\/strong>, an Investment Management Company also based in Milan, Italy. The acquisition of McIntosh<\/strong>, a Binghamton, NY based company which had been previously owned by D+M Group<\/strong>, represents a marquee investment for the group, whose strategic direction is to offer products that are the best in the world in their category.<\/p>\n

McIntosh<\/strong> rose to power in the \u201950s, \u201960s and 70\u2032s as the rock & roll movement emerged as the defining musical genre in America and throughout the world. Beginning with the Beatles<\/strong>\u2019 Shea Stadium<\/strong> performance in 1965, countless rock & roll acts became so popular that only huge stadiums could handle the crowds. It was McIntosh<\/strong> that ultimately pioneered systems capable of delivering clean, high-quality sound that could stand up to these vast arenas of screaming fans. The first was the system assembled for Woodstock in 1969, where the rock festival\u2019s organizers were forced to develop a system capable of reaching to hundreds of thousands of fans. Five years later, the Grateful Dead<\/strong> \u2013 who would become the premier American touring band for a generation \u2013 unveiled its \u201cWall of Sound<\/em>\u201d on March 24, 1974, and set new standards for live performances with arguably the greatest PA system of all times. McIntosh<\/strong> amps drove both of those legendary systems.<\/p>\n

From that time on, McIntosh<\/strong> \u2013 or \u201cMac<\/em><\/strong>\u201d as it is lovingly referred to by enthusiasts \u2013 has been the choice of generations of musicians, recording artists and producers, whether in recording studios or their own homes. In addition to exceptional quality sound, McIntosh<\/strong> is highly recognizable by its black glass front panels, \u201cMcIntosh<\/em><\/strong> Blue<\/em>\u201d amplifier power meters and iconic logo, which give the product its very distinctive, timeless identity.<\/p>\n

Fine Sounds<\/strong> and McIntosh<\/strong> believe the acquisition will deliver important benefits to McIntosh<\/strong>\u2019s customers, sales partners and employees by providing opportunities for building on Fine Sounds Group<\/strong>\u2019s product development capabilities, distribution synergies and financial resources. With Fine Sounds<\/strong>\u2019 support, McIntosh<\/strong> is now poised to elevate its brand to even higher acclaim, expand its distribution as well as its reach into new international markets. \u201cWe are thrilled to welcome McIntosh, one of the industry\u2019s most illustrious brands, into our portfolio<\/em>,\u201d says Mauro Grange<\/strong>, CEO of Fine Sounds Group<\/strong>. \u201cMcIntosh<\/em><\/strong> is dedicated to the highest caliber of high-end audio and is a perfect fit with our own culture and vision. We will treasure and protect the legacy of McIntosh<\/strong> as well as its people and reputation.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis acquisition represents a strategic direction for our company to be a leader in the international luxury audio arena, and to have products that are the best in the world in their category. With the distribution synergies we will have with our other outstanding brands, McIntosh<\/strong> will be positioned for substantially accelerated global growth.\u201d<\/em>
\n
\n\u201cWe are very excited to be joining hands with a partner that has a deep appreciation for our unique brand, history and company culture,\u201d<\/em> says Charles Randall<\/strong>, current President and CEO of McIntosh<\/strong>, who will continue managing the McIntosh<\/strong> brand with the full support of Mauro Grange<\/strong> and the Fine Sounds<\/strong>\u2019 team. \u201cIt\u2019s their appreciation of our legacy, as well as their strong leadership, distribution advantage and marketing expertise that gives us confidence in a bright future.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The acquisition of McIntosh<\/strong> is an important one for Fine Sounds<\/strong>. \u201cMcIntosh<\/em><\/strong> will help strategically strengthen our brand portfolio, allowing us to have a broader product offering, covering more categories, offering customers a complete solution. It does not compete with any of the other brands we hold \u2013 it is positioned quite differently \u2013 and offers opportunities for great synergies which we can leverage<\/em>,\u201d added Grange<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

About Fine Sounds SpA:<\/strong>
\nFine Sounds SpA<\/strong>, is the holding Company controlling Sonus Faber<\/strong>, the Vicenza, Italy based leading manufacturer and marketer of High-End Two-Channel loudspeakers; Audio Research Corporation<\/strong>, the Minneapolis, MN based leading manufacturer and marketer of High-Definition Vacuum-Tube and Solid-State electronic audio components; Wadia Digital<\/strong>, based in Minneapolis, MN, one of the original companies dedicated to high performance digital audio reproduction and has been at the forefront of Apple<\/strong> iPod<\/em> docking technology; and Sumiko<\/strong>, the Berkeley, CA based importer and distributor of the finest audio components in North America [. Annual revenues of the Fine Sounds<\/strong> group proforma for the recent transactions are in excess of US$ 70 million, with 250 employees worldwide. For more information please visit the website at www.sonusfaber.com<\/strong>. <\/a>www.audioresearch.com <\/a>www.sumikoaudio.net <\/a>www.wadia.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

About McIntosh Laboratory:<\/strong>
\nFounded in 1949, McIntosh Laboratory<\/strong> is known for offering distinguished quality audio products, superior customer service and the ultimate experience in music and film. All McIntosh<\/strong> products are handcrafted at the Binghamton, NY factory with a passion for music and the McIntosh<\/strong> heritage. McIntosh<\/strong> continues to define the ultimate home entertainment experience for discriminating consumers around the world, with the iconic \u201cMcIntosh<\/em><\/strong> Blue<\/em>\u201d Watt Meters<\/em> globally recognized as a symbol of quality audio. Since its inception, McIntosh<\/strong> has been powering some of the most important moments in music history and pop culture. From President Lyndon Johnson<\/strong>\u2019s inauguration speech, to Woodstock<\/strong>, to the infamous Grateful Dead<\/strong> \u201cWall of Sound<\/em>,\u201d McIntosh<\/strong> has not only witnessed history, it has shaped it. With McIntosh<\/strong>, customers have the ability to create their own premium audio experience \u2013 and truly live their music. <\/em>For more information please visit the website at www.McIntoshLabs.com<\/a><\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n

About Quadrivio:<\/strong>
\nQuadrivio SGR<\/strong> is a leading Italian Private Equity firm, currently managing a family of funds with a total of equity under management in excess of US$ 300 million. Founded in 2002, Quadrivio<\/strong> is one of the few middle market private equity firms in Italy which is independently managed and owned by its partners. For more information please visit the website at\u00a0www.McIntoshLabs.com<\/a><\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u2026 to its Portfolio of High-End Audio Brands Acquisition Will Place Group at the Forefront of Global Luxury Audio Industry MILAN, OCTOBER 8, 2012 \u2013 Fine Sounds SpA of Milan, Italy, owner of Sonus Faber, Audio Research Corporation, Wadia Digital and Sumiko, has acquired 100% of McIntosh Laboratory, America\u2019s most respected and formidable producer of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9,21,10],"tags":[367,368,369,370,371,372],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/en\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6394"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/en\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/en\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/en\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/en\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6394"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/en\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6394\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/en\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/en\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/en\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}