A pair of headphones from Bowers & Wilkins, one of the Sound United brands that’s set to become part of Samsung’s Harman International thanks to a newly announced acqusition agreement. Photo Credit: Evgeniy Bezkorovayniy
Irvine-headquartered Masimo, having previously kicked off a strategic review of some non-core operations, confirmed the divestment in a brief release. As mentioned, the 36-year-old business only wrapped its Sound United buyout in April 2022.
(Between then and the review’s start, a multiyear proxy battle culminated with the September 2024 exit of Masimo founder and CEO Joe Kiani, according to medical device trades. Katie Szyman came aboard as CEO this past February.)
Still based in Carlsbad, Sound United markets wearables, speakers, and a variety of different audio products via brands like Bowers & Wilkins, Polk Audio, and (at least in name) Boston Acoustics, to name a few.
Now, these and others are set to begin operating under the Samsung banner. Today’s deal includes a $350 million cash payment “subject to certain adjustments” and, pending regulatory approval, is expected to wrap sometime before 2025’s conclusion.
In more words, Masimo execs described the transaction as a step towards prioritizing across-the-board efficiency and an enhanced focus on the medical side. Meanwhile, Dave Rogers, president of Harman’s lifestyle division, said the purchase “opens new avenues for growth.”
“Sound United’s portfolio of world-class audio brands including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon and Marantz, will join HARMAN’s iconic family of brands, including JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, Mark Levinson, Arcam, and Revel,” proceeded the 15-year Harman higher-up Rogers.
“Built on a shared legacy of innovation and excellence in audio technology, this combined family of brands, together with the talented employees of both companies, will deliver complementary audio products, strengthen our value proposition and offer more choices to consumers,” he concluded.
2024 saw the business open an audio engineering lab in Denmark (“the first and only one of its kind in Europe”) and (eyeing a continued automotive buildout) debut a manufacturing facility in Thailand. Earlier in 2025, Google and Samsung proper touted their newly developed Eclipsa Audio technology.
According to Samsung’s Q1 2025 earnings report, Harman generated ₩3.4 trillion (up 7% YoY and currently $2.4 billion) from sales on the quarter, with a slightly improved operating profit of $215 million/₩300 billion or so.
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Samsung’s Harman Announces $350 Million Sound United Purchase — Including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, and More – Digital Music News
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