d&b acquired by Ardian
Published: WORLD
WORLD: Independent private investment company, Ardian, has joined forces with the existing management at d&b audiotechnik to acquire the manufacturer from investment companies Odewald & Compagnie and COBEPA. The parties have agreed not to reveal details of the transaction, and the conclusion of the transaction is still subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities.
As part of the transaction, the existing management team, led by CEO Amnon Harman, Markus Strohmeier (managing director, technology and operations), Frank Bothe (director R&D), Kay Lange (director finance), Hans-Peter Nüdling (director sales and services) and Sabina Berloffa (director marketing) will also take a stake in the company. With the support of Ardian, the company plans to further strengthen its global position.
‘Everything at d&b is about creating the best sound possible. We are therefore in an excellent position to benefit from the increasing expectations of professional audio technology at events, concerts and large shows worldwide,’ stated Mr Harman. ‘Together with our new shareholder Ardian, we particularly want to further develop in the Asia-Pacific, South American and North American markets and further expand our leading position in our European home market. On the product side, we will continue to expand the business with permanently installed systems and the development of new, innovative audio solutions. We would like to thank our former shareholders Odewald & Compagnie and COBEPA for their support – they set the strategic course for our success today and specifically invested in helping us reach our growth potential.’
‘Over the past three decades, d&b has become a premium brand in the professional audio technology sector and has shown outstanding organic growth,’ added Fabian Wagener, director at Ardian. ‘We are convinced of the company’s innovative strength, its results-oriented management team, its dedicated employees and the resulting growth perspectives. Together with management, we will refine the existing product portfolio and provide important impulses for the further international growth of the company.’
‘d&b’s outstanding entrepreneurial performance in recent years, especially in terms of its internationalisation and product development, has made the company the global number one for professional audio systems,’ noted Torsten Krumm, co-head of Odewald & Compagnie. ‘We are delighted with the positive development of the company and are proud to have made a contribution to the success of d&b today. With Ardian, d&b gains an entrepreneurial new partner to further realise its global growth potential.’
The deal for d&b is the 13th investment by Ardian LBO Fund V, which is capitalised at €2.8 billion. Since the manufacturer’s acquisition by Odewald & Compagnie and COBEPA in 2011, sales have more than doubled from €44 million to €94 million in the financial year 2015. The number of employees has also risen sharply from 200 in 2011 to around 350.