AVI-SPL today announced the acquisition of VideoLink LLC. VideoLink’s broadcasting and production technologies, including its patented ReadyCam video studio and EnhancedIP transmission network, will enhance AVI-SPL’s broadcasting capabilities and collection of technology solutions. Headquartered outside Boston, VideoLink has provided broadcast quality production solutions to simplify live, on-air appearances for cable and network television organizations worldwide […]
Kramer has announced this week the acquisition of iRule, a cloud-based control and automation software for commercial and residential markets. In 2014, Kramer announced a partnership with iRule to deliver “the ultimate control and automation technology” — Kramer Control. The Kramer Control platform enables integrators to deliver control of lighting, HVAC, communications, A/V and more […]
Worldwide demand for home audio devices continues to gather momentum, with the category outperforming the wider CE market and on track to finish 2016 at 102 million units shipped and close to $11 billion in trade value, according to the latest market report from Futuresource Consulting. “Over the last few years home audio has been […]
Waveguide, one of the AV industry’s top-five design consulting firms headed up by Scott Walker, just announced that on December 1, 2016, Waveguide merged with the Compass Group USA and Flik Hospitality. Compass Group USA is based in Charlotte, N.C., and with $16 billion in revenues in 2016, is the leading American foodservice management and […]
SnapAV announced this week that it has purchased Autonomic, a manufacturer of music streaming and multi-room audio distribution solutions for the custom install market. Autonomic “makes the consumption of digital media easier” for customers by offering a distributed audio system that’s controllable with iOS and Android devices or via a control system. SnapAV distributes audiovisual […]
AVI-SPL today announced the acquisition of Anderson Audio Visual (“Anderson”). Anderson’s market leading regional capabilities will strengthen AVI-SPL’s presence in high growth markets and expand AVI-SPL’s industry leading global support and services platform to current and prospective customers. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Anderson has six locations (four in California, one in Texas, and one […]
Click here to see Gary Kayye’s thoughts about this acquisition. Samsung Electronics and Harman International today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Samsung will acquire HARMAN for $112.00 per share in cash, or total equity value of approximately $8.0 billion. Upon closing, the transaction will immediately give Samsung a significant […]
L-Acoustics announced the acquisition of CAMCO, the manufacturer of amplified controllers, DSP and audio network solutions for the professional audio industry. CAMCO has over 25 years of experience developing amplified controller technology and holds several patents in the trade. Based in Wenden, Germany, CAMCO counts 50 employees and distributes its products in 60 countries around […]
Are you Zoom-ing yet? If not, you will be soon. Zoom just announced 215 percent Y0Y (year-over-year) growth in usage and some major new features for their Zoom Rooms conference room system. So what does “215 percent YoY growth in usage” mean? Rough translation: Zoom is on track to hit 15 billion (that’s billion with […]
The August 15, 2016 announcement by Dayton-headquartered STRATACACHE of its acquisition of Scala, the high-profile digital signage software supplier is good news for end users, providers of the place-based media and the industry at large. STRATACACHE operates over 1.5 million software and appliance installations for more than 425 end user organizations including Wal-Mart, McDonalds, Lowes, […]
CEDIA CEO Vin Bruno recently told a group of residential integrators that his organization wants to help the AV integration community transition away from using the term “integrator” and move towards using the term “technologist.” While I applaud CEDIA for proactively moving towards helping the integration community as a whole — something they clearly haven’t […]
A Chinese company called LeEco (sort of a Netflix of China), just agreed to buy VIZIO for a little over $2 Billion. This is HUGE news as VIZIO is currently the second largest TV manufacturer in the world, behind Samsung, and they are one of the only profitable TV manufacturers in the world. The combined […]
Polycom said today that it plans to end its merger agreement with technology company Mitel and will instead be purchased by private equity company Siris Capital Group for $2 billion. Siris offered $12.50 per share, which is an approximate 14 percent premium over Mitel’s offer, which included both cash and stock. Siris’ offer is a […]
Kingswood Capital Management, an operationally focused middle market private equity investment firm, has announced that its controlled affiliate has acquired AVAD, LLC, as well as its subsidiary, AVAD Canada Ltd. AVAD is a distributor of high-end audio and video solutions focused on the commercial and residential custom installation markets in North America, with more than […]
Stampede announced that its European subsidiary Stampede Europe has acquired all of the assets of Just Lamps, including the affiliated brand Diamond Lamps. “This acquisition should serve as a model for the entire 21st century ProAV industry,” declared Stampede CEO Mark Wilkins. “It brings together two companies that possess market leadership, proven business models, subject […]
Richard Stokes, managing director of the $19 billion private equity investment firm H.I.G Capital says, “AVI-SPL is the established market leader in the AV systems and collaboration solutions market and we look forward to supporting the continued expansion of the company’s service offering and geographic footprint.” Today the EMEA part of AVI-SPL’s geographic footprint includes […]
From rAVe EUROPE and rAVe Pubs staff reports: After nearly three decades in business, one of the UK’s largest and longest-standing AV distributors, Steljes Limited, has been put into administration (for our US readers, this means the company is being taken under the management of a court appointed administrator – who must be a licensed […]
Foxconn, who made AV news last month by buying SHARP, just announced they are acquiring SMART Technologies. The deal is that Foxconn will buy SMART (who is traded on the NASDAQ as SMT) for US$4.50 per share. SMART is currently trading at only at $0.42 per share. The US$4.50 per Common Share purchase price represents […]
A little over a month after announcing it is acquiring certain assets and assuming certain liabilities of International Audio Visual Inc. (IAVI), Almo Professional A/V today reported that the transition has been completed. As a result, Almo Corporation is now the largest privately-held professional audio video distributor in the industry and a $1.2B corporation. It […]
Bowers & Wilkins, the British audio brand founded in Sussex, England, in 1966, has been acquired by Silicon Valley based EVA Automation Inc. Bowers & Wilkins is a maker of high-end audio equipment. EVA Automation will integrate fully with Bowers &Wilkins’ acoustic engineering prowess by offering innovative A/V technologies and product vision that will enable […]
Barco has purchased Florida-based Medialon. Medialon is known as a control system company that’s 100 percent cloud-based. “For us, Barco has the piece we were missing — a sales channel,” Medialon North American Sales Manager, Eric Cantrell, told rAVe today. He continued, “It’s been an interesting several months. We are profitable and this gives Barco […]
Legrand has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Luxul Wireless, an IP networking provider for professionally-installed, custom integration systems for residential and small-to-medium business (SMB) markets. Luxul, along with Pakedge that was acquired by Control4 earlier this year, are one of only two networking companies that specialized in routers and switches specifically for ProAV and […]
My companies have been acquired twice and I have attempted numerous acquisitions. While I don’t have the experience of an investment banker like GE or SilverLake, I have been down many roads that few have the opportunity to travel, and it’s nothing like you think. Yes, there is almost always human impact because maximizing profits […]
Mitel and Polycom announced that the two companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement as talks had recently reached final stages after months of discussions. This has created what has been termed by both a new company with shared vision for seamless communications and collaboration – and according to a statement in a Polycom […]
Foxconn and Sharp have announced a strategic alliance that was approved by each company’s board yesterday. Details of the deal aren’t available to the public yet, but is rumored to be in the range of $3.5 billion, total, that gives Foxconn controlling (2/3) interest in the Japanese manufacturer. The main reason Foxconn is interested in […]
Almo Pro A/V today announced it is acquiring certain assets and assuming certain liabilities of International Audio Visual Inc. (IAVI), a global distributor. This will make Almo Corporation, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, the largest privately-held professional audio video distributor in the industry and a $1.2B corporation. It also makes Almo a global company […]
Milestone AV Technologies today announced that it has acquired Vaddio. Vaddio, based in Minnetonka, Minn., was purchased by Milestone for an undisclosed amount, and will now join the Milestone family of brands including Chief, Da-lite, SANUS and Projecta. Milestone is majority owned by the Pritzker Group, alongside management and The Duchossois Group. “Adding Vaddio to […]
Sensory Technologies just announced the acquisition of AV Solutions, a division of Toshiba America Business Solutions. Together, the companies will consist of over 115 employees with extensive experience in helping clients connect with their customers globally through impactful, virtual meetings, improve their internal communication, accelerate their decision making, and deliver memorable, immersive experiences. “We see […]
Diversified announced today the acquisition of Technical Innovation of Atlanta, Ga. Technical Innovation is a nationally recognized presentation technology, critical space and broadcast solutions. In addition, the geographic footprint and service offering of both organizations are significantly expanded. The expanded company will offer an even broader spectrum of technology and media solutions backed by one […]
Just a day after announcing their 2015 financial results and earnings, Barco CEO Eric Van Zele sat down with me in an exclusive video interview at ISE 2016 in Amsterdam. In addition to discussing the earnings report, he’s very frank about what they plan invest in with the over €250 Million in cash Barco is […]
Barco announced their 2015 financials today and, if you were wondering if the projection market is healthy, if Barco’s an indicator, it must be. In addition to over €1.28 Billion in sales for 2015, Barco booked €1.043 in orders and had a gross profit margin of 35 percent — a profit margin unlikely to be […]
InFocus today announced the acquisition of VIDCO, a systems provider of multimedia room and building solutions headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. This acquisition, following recently announced acquisitions of Avistar and Jupiter Systems, is the latest InFocus investment as it expands to serve its global customers as well as its geographic presence worldwide. The acquisition provides new […]
