Sonova CEO, Lukas Braunschweiler, to Retire; Company Taps Arnd Kaldowski as Successor
STAEFA, SWITZERLAND — Sonova Holding AG, one of the world’s largest hearing aid manufacturers, announced the retirement of CEO Lukas Braunschweiler this week, after serving in the CEO position since 2011. Braunschweiler’s successor, Arnd Kaldowski, will initially join the company as COO on October 1st, before fully transitioning into the CEO role on April 1,…
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Phonak Announces New Audeo B-Direct Hearing Aid, the First to Connect to Android or iPhone
STAEFA, SWITZERLAND — This spring, Sonova confirmed that it would soon be releasing 2.4 GHz direct-to-iPhone hearing aids and cochlear implants. However, in recent weeks there have been rumors that the technology about to be released by the company was going to be “game-changing” for the industry and somehow different than Sonova’s major competitors, like…
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Amplifon: Ready to Make “Major Acquisitions” to Maintain Position as World’s Top Hearing Aid Retailer
MILAN, ITALY — The world’s largest hearing aid retailer Amplifon SpA doesn’t plan to step aside while hearing aid manufacturers continue to acquire retailers across the globe. In a July 28 interview by Reuters, the company’s CEO says that Amplifon is ready to make “major acquisitions” in order to bolster the company’s position as the…
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Sonova Reports Strong Fiscal Year Results; Says 2.4 GHz Technology Coming Soon
STAEFA, SWITZERLAND — Major hearing instrument manufacturer Sonova, reported a 3 percent rise in full-year profit for 2016/17 and also confirmed that it will soon be releasing 2.4 GHz, direct-to-iPhone, capable hearing aids and cochlear implants. Additionally, the significant drop in sales the company had experienced in Germany following the Sonova’s purchase of AudioNova last…
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Sonova to Sell Portugal’s MiniSom Retail Business to Amplifon; In Negotiations Over Sale of AudioNova France
STAEFA, SWITZERLAND — Sonova Holding AG announced yesterday that it has signed an agreement to sell its MiniSom retail hearing care business in Portugal to Amplifon S.p.A. According to the company’s news release, the move is a reflection of the Sonova Group’s strategy to focus on selected key markets. The completion of the sale will…
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William Demant Group Opens New R&D Facility in Poland
WARSAW, POLAND — Danish hearing aid maker, William Demant Group, announced the opening of its new Demant Technology Centre in Poland. The new facility will house the company’s software Research and Development (R&D) division. The location in the new Q22 office building in Warsaw will also house other Demant companies, such as Oticon’s Polish subsidiary, Oticon Polska. The announcement of the new R&D…
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GN CEO Says Company “Not Looking” to Acquire Retail Chains; Announces Sale of Otometrics to Natus (UPDATE)
BALLERUP, DENMARK — According to a September 26 Reuters’ article, GN ReSound CEO Anders Hedegaard was quoted saying that, unlike its competitors, the company is “not looking” to purchase retail businesses. Instead, GN will continue to focus on strengthening partnerships with retail customers. While Sonova and William Demant battle over various global retail acquisitions opportunities, such as recent…
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After Major Acquisitions by Sonova, GN, William Demant Eyes “Defensive” Retail Acquisition Opportunities
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK — After seeing two of its biggest competitors make major acquisitions in recent months, hearing aid maker William Demant is seeking ways to minimize the impact on its global sales. According to a June 8 Reuters article by Ole Mikkelsen, the company (which owns major hearing aid brands Oticon, Bernafon and Sonic Innovations) says it “will not…
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Sonova Acquires European AudioNova in Largest Ever Hearing Aid Retail Deal
Sonova announced on May 4 the acquisition of European behemoth, AudioNova, for € 830 million ($954 million). It is reported to be the largest transaction ever in the hearing aid retail market and makes Sonova-owned retail approximately the same size as retail leader, Amplifon. Following this acquisition, Sonova will have over 3,300 stores worldwide with…
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Amplifon Bidding for AudioNova: Bloomberg Report
MILAN, ITALY — According to an April 1 report in Bloomberg, Amplifon SpA has secured financing for a bid for major European hearing aid retailer AudioNova. Amplifon, which owns major US hearing aid retailer Miracle Ear, as well as the Elite Hearing Network, appears ready to compete directly with likely bids coming from major hearing aid manufacturers William…
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