Cartel suspicion: Sonova and Sennheiser under fire!

Cartel suspicion: Sonova and Sennheiser under fire!

A serious accusation against the heavyweights of audio technology: The Federal Competition Authority (BWB) has applied for fines for “vertical agreements” against the Swiss hearing aid manufacturer Sonova and the German audio expert Sennheiser. These amounted to 534,000 euros for Sonova and 100,000 euros for Sennheiser. This is the result of an extensive investigation that began in 2022 and focused on the trade in Sennheiser headphones. According to the BWB, illegal price fixing took place between May 2015 and September 2022, which significantly influenced the competitive conditions in the consumer electronics sector. The agreements, which were classified as violating antitrust law, included fixed prices for a large number of products.

Strategic acquisition to expand the market

But that's not the only news about Sonova. How Sonova itself announced, the company will further expand its reach through the acquisition of the Sennheiser Consumer Division. The purchase price is 200 million euros and represents a strategic step to meet the growing demand for personal audio devices. The acquisition is also intended to expand the sales network and customer base in order to gain a foothold in the rapidly growing market for true wireless headphones and voice-optimized hearables. CEO Arnd Kaldowski expressed enthusiasm about the synergies between the two companies, while Sennheiser leadership emphasized that Sonova was an ideal partner to further develop the brand.

A permanent license agreement at standard market conditions secures the Sennheiser brand and will significantly expand Sonova's portfolio, which generates annual sales of around 250 million euros. This partnership aims to combine Sennheiser's range, known for its excellent sound experiences, with Sonova's audiological expertise. However, the BWB will continue to review the two companies' antitrust violations while Sonova advances its growth strategy.