GN Hearing, Oticon, Win Gold at 2018 Stevie Awards
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK — The American Business Awards honored the Oticon Opn, GN ReSound Linx 3D and Beltone Trust with Gold Stevie Awards. Since 2002, the Stevie Awards recognize the accomplishments and contributions of companies and business people worldwide and are report to receive more than 10,000 entries annually. According to the announcement,…
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United Healthcare Revealed as Buyer of EPIC Hearing from Sonova
During an investor presentation at this year’s American Academy of Audiology (AAA) conference in Nashville, Sonova said that it had reached an agreement to sell it’s hearing benefits subsidiary company, Epic Hearing, to a “large US insurer”. However, the details of the agreement and name of the company acquiring EPIC were not revealed at that…
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Big Six to Become the Big Five? Sivantos and Widex Announce Merger
In a deal, estimated to be $8.2 billion, Germany’s Sivantos and Denmark’s Widex announced a merger. The newly merged company is expected to be the third largest hearing aid manufacturer in the world, after Sonova and William Demant. Early reports suggest that Swedish private equity firm EQT will own a majority of the merged group…
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Industry Pioneer, Andy Rihs Dies at 75
Andy Rihs, one of the founders of Phonak, died of complications from leukemia on April 18. He was 75 years old. Known for his tremendous foresight, creative spirit, and entrepreneurial passion, Rihs, along with Beda Diethelm and his brother “Jöggi” Rihs, joined AG für Elektroakustik. The three of them developed and shaped the company into…
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Oticon Opens Nominations for 20th Annual Focus on People Awards
SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY — Oticon Inc, announced this week a call for nominations for the 2018 Focus on People Awards. The awards, now in their 20th year, honor students, adults, and hearing loss advocates that demonstrate that “hearing loss doesn’t hinder one’s ability to make a difference in the world”. “Over the past 20…
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Amplifon Eyes Hearing Aid Retail Acquisition Targets Across Europe, Canada; Poised to Enter Chinese Market by Year’s End
MILAN, ITALY — One of the world’s largest hearing aid retailers, Amplifon SpA, is reported to be targeting potential retail acquisitions in Germany, France and Canada and announced plans to enter the Chinese market by the end of 2018. The company, which says it holds approximately 10 percent of the global market, has been focused…
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Untruthful on the Stand? Some of Austin’s Testimony Struck from Record in Starkey Trial
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — The $20 million embezzlement trial involving former Starkey executives took yet another twist this week when U.S. District Court Judge John Tunheim ruled Tuesday that Starkey Laboratories owner Bill Austin perjured himself at least once in his testimony earlier in the trial. The testimony in question, regarding the perjury allegations against Austin,…
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Starkey Cuts Ties with NRA
In the wake of the tragic Stoneman Douglas High School shootings in Parkland, Florida on February 14th, numerous businesses that offered discounts to National Rifle Association (NRA) members have come under scrutiny. After mounting pressure from consumers and advocacy groups, much of it posted on social media, more than a dozen companies have decided to…
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Starkey Owner Takes the Stand
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — The trial of former Starkey president Jerry Ruzicka and three others accused of stealing more than $20 million from Starkey through the illegal transfer of restricted stock resumed during the week of February 5th after a one week Super Bowl break. The resumption of the trial was highlighted by the testimony of…
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Starkey Launches New Muse iQ Rechargeable Hearing Aids
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — Starkey Hearing Technologies announced the release of their new Muse iQ Rechargeable, which the company says is the “smartest, smallest rechargeable hearing aid on the market”. The new devices were announced at the 2018 Hearing Innovation Expo in Las Vegas, but are now available for purchase. The Muse iQ Rechargeable 900sync technology-enabled…
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