Highlander Partners, L.P., a Dallas-based private investment firm, has announced the sale of its portfolio company, McIntosh to the Bose Corporation.
The acquisition allows Bose to ‘infuse its industry-leading audio research and technology into the high-performance and luxury space while it continues to build on its premium solutions’.
The combined forces of Bose and McIntosh Group also opens new opportunities in the automotive sector. By leveraging Bose’s 40-plus years of experience in automotive audio, and McIntosh Group’s legacy of performance and design, the brands will work together to expand their research and continue to engineer authentic in-car experiences that redefine automotive sound.
“Over the last six decades we’ve delivered the best premium audio experiences possible; now, with McIntosh Group in our portfolio, we can unlock even more ways to bring music to life in the home, on-the-go and in the car,” said Lila Snyder, CEO of Bose Corporation. “We look forward to honouring the heritage of these brands, investing in their future and pushing the boundaries of audio innovation to bring customers experiences they’ve never heard before.”
“Bose’s dedication to research and singular focus on audio provides a tremendous opportunity to complement and enable our own pursuit of delivering inimitable, ultimate-quality audio experiences,” said Daniel Pidgeon, CEO of McIntosh Group. “Gaining access to their expertise as a pioneer in automotive audio will also help us accelerate our presence and enable us to deliver solutions that are commensurate with our reputation and performance standards.”
Bose will continue to develop products and experiences in categories like headphones, speakers, soundbars, and car audio while advancing critical technologies such as noise cancellation, hearing augmentation, and immersive audio.
McIntosh and Sonus faber will maintain its focus on amplifiers, loudspeakers, turntables, and other high-end products. Together the brands will imagine what’s possible in the future of audio — delivering new products, bespoke offerings and unparalleled listening experiences for music lovers around the globe.
Bose acquired McIntosh Group from Highlander Partners, L.P., a Dallas-based private investment firm. Jones Day acted as Bose’s legal counsel. Additional information, including financial and other terms of the transaction, will remain confidential.
Highlander acquired McIntosh Group in June 2022. McIntosh Group is the parent company of luxury audio brands McIntosh and Sonus faber. McIntosh, headquartered in Binghamton, New York, was founded in 1949, while Sonus faber, founded in 1983, is headquartered in Vicenza, Italy. The transaction was completed on November 15, 2024.
Jeff L. Hull, president and CEO of Highlander Partners, commented: "McIntosh is a legendary American brand, and Sonus faber is the definition of fine art in the audio world. We are honored to have been stewards of these businesses. We are proud of what we accomplished and believe McIntosh and Sonus faber have tremendous growth potential. We are excited to watch these brands reach new heights under Bose's ownership.
"I would like to thank Dan Pidgeon (CEO, McIntosh Group) and Charlie Randall (president, McIntosh), and the entire team for being incredible partners over our ownership period. Their leadership has allowed the Company to continue to flourish and I wish all of them the best in their next phase of success."
Katten acted as Highlander's legal counsel in connection with the transaction and Adacta served as legal and tax advisors in Italy.