Focal & Naim Merge

United by a passion for perfect sound, high-end audio brands Focal and Naim  announced that they are merging to create a new European force-majeur in the audio industry. Focal & Co will own and manage Focal and Naim as independent brands, retaining their unique philosophies and product ranges.

Focal & Co, owned by Jacques Mahul (Founder and Chairman), CM-CIC (long-term

shareholder in Focal) and the management teams of Focal and Naim, will employ 325 people

at its facilities in Saint-Etienne, France and Salisbury, UK and have a combined turnover in

excess of £48 million.

The Research & Development teams of Focal and Naim are central to the success of both

brands. By bringing together these hugely talented individuals, Focal & Co will create an

industry leading R&D capability to propel the Naim and Focal brands to the next level of

innovative, high quality sound classics in the dynamic new world of hi-fi technology.

Jacques Mahul, Founder and Chairman Focal & Co commented: “For future success

the key point is that there is no future for a speaker or electronic company alone. Partnership

and collaboration are the way forward both in terms of investment and R&D. Working together

means you can go more quickly and successfully whilst remaining true to the respective

brands.”

Paul Stephenson, MD, Naim Audio Ltd and now member of the Board of Focal & Co

added: “It is a merger of European minds. In Focal, we have found a partner which shares

our passion for music and will help us take Naim to the next level. We can achieve far more

together than would have been possible alone, yet at the same time we are able to retain

everything that is unique about Naim and everything that our customers love us for. We have

some incredible developments in the pipeline and this alliance will help us get those to market

as quickly as possible.”

Photo caption:

Focal & Co

Left to right: Roy George (Naim), Gérard Chrétien (Focal), Christophe Sicaud (Focal),  Paul Stephenson (Naim), Neil Carden (Naim), Jacques Mahul (Focal), Thierry Guggenheim (Focal)