Bose Corp in full glory

[Big Dog RJ]

https://www.bose.com/pressroom/bose-acq ... nouncement

So... from now on Bose will tell McIntosh what to do...???
Interesting partnership, reminds me of that cartoon character they used to run on Nickelodeon, called CatDog. One half CAT and the other half Dog. Couldn't tell which one was the head or tail... but confooosed the heck out me! Nonetheless, a funny cartoon.

From the write up, seems like one will continue to offer lifestyle systems, home installations, car solutions and mobile applications... whiles the other one will continue to focus on what they're known for; highend audio gear (amps, playback systems, speakers & TT's) in which case then why merge at all?

Is it another one of those corporate acquisition strategies or corp greed... I don't know. The bigger fella flexes bigger muscles, so the smaller one listens. Wonder if you bought a Bose product, can you take it into a Mac service centre for a fix? And the other way round...? I'm not really sure which way this is going to go.

Have owned several of both these makes in the past, quite nice and did enjoy those special ones (Bose 301 and 901 SVI speakers) suspended from the ceiling with chains. Driven by Carver TFM150 and 250 amps, what a blast!

Then there's the problem child, Sonus Faber. Now she's a spoilt thing... Wonder how the parents are going to deal with SF systems, they cost far and above both Bose & Mac put together.

I think I can see the future here in a luxury mansion: bathroom system comprises of Bose installed into the ceilings and architecture of the bathroom and kitchen areas. The patio / verandah deck will have Bose and Mac installed. The main listening room, dedicated space for the lounge and sipping cocktails after dinner, will comprise of a full Mac system flanked with SF speakers... ah! And my Audi & Merc or Maserati will have Bose and Mac or SF systems as the choice of car audio.
Ok!!!
No worries, I'll wire transfer the deposit of 100grand tonight and the balance 100grand upon installation. Woof!

RJ

[AnotherJohnson]

The analysts say Bose bought it to turbocharge their lagging automotive sound segment.

This is a sneeze for Bose. Frankly Bose looks like a better holding option for The McIntosh Group than the Dallas PE firm that held it before.

[admin]

Interesting news. I don't know if this is good, bad, or neutral. I think we will have to see what kind of influence (if any), Bose will press upon McIntosh. I think that they serve very different customer base. Bose I most often see on airplanes with their noise cancelling headphones. McIntosh equipment sits in living rooms.

I'm almost reminded of the watch world. The Swatch Group owns not just Swatch, but also high end manufactures like Omega and Breguet. They have been relatively hands off allowing their sub-brands to operate independently. What does a $200 quarts Swatch have in common with an $80,000 Breguet Tourbillon, not much other than they both tell time. And the customer that buys one vs the other has little in common as well.

The only real overlap I see with Bose and McIntosh is that they are trying to expand into the luxury auto-market world. But again, that market is very different than what we audiophiles pursue with our "big clunky speakers in large rooms dedicated to listening to music."

[AnotherJohnson]

Bose has annual sales figures of $3,000,000,000.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/119 ... ufacturing.

The McIntosh Group is a trivial part of this. The private equity firm that held TMG saw a chance to make some money (TMG was trivial to them too). This sale is a non issue.

[AnotherJohnson]

I think I can see the future here in a luxury mansion: bathroom system comprises of Bose installed into the ceilings and architecture of the bathroom and kitchen areas. The patio / verandah deck will have Bose and Mac installed. The main listening room, dedicated space for the lounge and sipping cocktails after dinner, will comprise of a full Mac system flanked with SF speakers... ah! And my Audi & Merc or Maserati will have Bose and Mac or SF systems as the choice of car audio.
Ok!!!
No worries, I'll wire transfer the deposit of 100grand tonight and the balance 100grand upon installation. Woof!

RJ

That won’t even cover the Maserati… better plan on some additional installments.

[Big Dog RJ]

Yeah not sure how this one's going to fly... good on Bose! 3Bil in sales annually WOW! Had no idea they were that huge. No wonder...
Ah, those crazy lifestyle folks, getting carried away by slim plastic thingy's of Bose... no thanks. But whom am I? Small insignificant fry to Bose. Personally I don't agree with this acquisition with MAC at all. It's like that CatDog cartoon, it's neither head or tail. Bose taking over another audio firm on similar par to quality... ok. But McIntosh? I thought that was the biggest American audio icon of the century. Say partnered with SF, ARC or VTL... and similar ok. Bose??? Oh well, like you said, it's a sneeze for the big flex.

I don't own or use any of these brands, so it doesn't affect the listening choices / decisions but I did enjoy both at one point in time, so what it's worth, it still raises questions.
All the best to both of them or all three including SF.
RJ

[AnotherJohnson]

Yeah not sure how this one's going to fly... good on Bose! 3Bil in sales annually WOW! Had no idea they were that huge. No wonder...
Ah, those crazy lifestyle folks, getting carried away by slim plastic thingy's of Bose... no thanks. But whom am I? Small insignificant fry to Bose. Personally I don't agree with this acquisition with MAC at all. It's like that CatDog cartoon, it's neither head or tail. Bose taking over another audio firm on similar par to quality... ok. But McIntosh? I thought that was the biggest American audio icon of the century. Say partnered with SF, ARC or VTL... and similar ok. Bose??? Oh well, like you said, it's a sneeze for the big flex.

I don't own or use any of these brands, so it doesn't affect the listening choices / decisions but I did enjoy both at one point in time, so what it's worth, it still raises questions.
All the best to both of them or all three including SF.
RJ

Is it better that the Dallas private equity firm who acquired them just two years ago continue to hold them?

https://www.audioholics.com/news/bose-a ... 0disclosed.

MIT (the university) is the main beneficiary of the new Bose acquisition. They get the lion’s share of profits but are blocked from management decisions by the legal entanglements put in place by the gift.

Seriously, this is a non issue.

[Big Dog RJ]

Mmm... I see. Ok no worries, fair point.

I'm just trying to picture a Bose product with big blue meters... or a SF top line speaker with Direct Reflecting sound by Bose! I'm just woof'n around here.

Anyway, good to learn about these things, especially such acquisitions in the Audio industry. Often happens amongst other corporate entities, interesting when it highlights these two companies. Pretty big in their own right.
Cheers & a mighty WOOF!
RJ

[AnotherJohnson]

Neither Bose nor the Dallas based PE firm showed up to rescue ARC when it was failing. CJ would not be rescued by deep pockets either, although to its credit, CJ’s lack of payroll and minimal commitment to warehouse or manufacturing expenses are important features of their operation.

McIntosh has a legitimate healthy company worth buying.

ARC had an unhealthy small company with issues and was sold for a pittance.

CJ is a guy’s job. There is nothing to sell.

On the bright side, as long as that guy is still kicking, the doors at CJ will remain open.

[Big Dog RJ]

Yes, also looks like Bose wants to spread its tentacles even further... grabbing more market share across all major sectors in audio installations (home, commercial, automotive, lifestyle, sporting arenas, professional etc.) Making turnover figures well over a $Billion, guess they would like to add a few more billion$$$. I think regardless of whether or not Mac & SF were failing companies that needed revival, Bose was just keen on acquiring Mac. After all, on paper both seem to be fairly solid, with a large range of products that can serve various categories. ARC, CJ and the rest of the highend, simply don't have this range, nor the resources to mass produce at high volume orders.

I would have thought that a make like Harmon Kardon or Jamo (also have that range) would have been a better fit for Bose, looks like they wanted to go one gear up!
Interesting times ahead indeed.

[AnotherJohnson]

Harman does not need McIntosh or SF to break into the high end. They’re already there with Revel and others.

This is Bose first taste.

The McIntosh Group was not sold because it was distressed. It was sold because it had real market value. In the luxury high end, McIntosh pricing starts at a feasible “entry level.” McIntosh, Clearaudio, Burmester, Linn … all serious companies with human and physical assets.

[AnotherJohnson]

Here is a story out of Australia that suggests that the acquisition of Denon/Marantz by Massimo has run out of gas.

https://www.channelnews.com.au/former-s ... -director/

It would be sad to see Denon/Marantz (and Bower & Wilkins) fade into “discontinued operations.” Any potential buyer would have to have very deep pockets. Bose is not big enough. Neither was Val Cora. Massimo paid $1.5B to acquire the audio segment, but it looks like it will not be shown such respect at its shedding.

I am reminded of Baldwin and Norlin trying to make a go of Gibson. And also AMF’s attempt to make a go with Harley Davidson.

[admin]

Sad to hear Denon/Marantz not making money. Denon has a pretty big presence in the home theater world. Not sure what is going on there and what the reason for the falling revenues?

[audiobill]

I think AnotherJohnson has this all right. Also, Bose gets the McIntosh name to leverage and McIntosh gets access to endless capital.

In the past year, McIntosh has celebrated their large successes by materially expanding their Binghamton (NY, USA) production facilities, and Charlie Randall continues as President. Don't expect to see anything there change.

Lila Snyder, the Bose CEO, has BS, MS and Phd degrees from MIT.

Bill

[audiobill]

That's Lyla Snyder

[AnotherJohnson]

Here is a story out of Australia that suggests that the acquisition of Denon/Marantz by Massimo has run out of gas.

https://www.channelnews.com.au/former-s ... -director/

It would be sad to see Denon/Marantz (and Bower & Wilkins) fade into “discontinued operations.” Any potential buyer would have to have very deep pockets. Bose is not big enough. Neither was Val Cora. Massimo paid $1.5B to acquire the audio segment, but it looks like it will not be shown such respect at its shedding.

I am reminded of Baldwin and Norlin trying to make a go of Gibson. And also AMF’s attempt to make a go with Harley Davidson.

Follow ups to this story indicate that it was premature, at least as far as discontinuing Denon/Marantz or B&W is concerned.