Audio Research Acquired by Quadrivio
By Wes Phillips
January 30, 2008 — AudioResearch, one of the companies that created the Silver Age of Americanhigh-end audio 38 years ago, was acquired by Italian private equityfirm Quadrivio SGR on January 25. Quadrivio, which acquired Sonus Faberin 2007, intends to keep Audio Research's current management team inplace.Audio Research founder and President William Z. Johnson willcontinue with the firm as honorary chairman, but will step aside fromday-to-day operations. Terry Dorn will be President, Gerald Oxboroughwill become CFO, Ralph Fetter will continue as managing director ofmanufacturing, David Gordon will serve as managing drector of sales,and Ward Fiebiger will be managing director of engineering, as well assupervisor of product design.
"This is a fabulous fit for us," said Dave Gordon. "Quadrivio has proven with Sonus Faber that they
getwhat high-end audio is all about—and they get Audio Research. Theywanted us because of what we do, so they want us to continue doing it.The only changes you're going to see are new products as we introducethem."
One of the worst-kept secrets in high-end audio over the lastfew years was that Audio Research might be on the block, "to the rightowner and for the right price," which many industry insidersinterpreted as "William Z. Johnson kinda does and kinda doesn't want todo it." Coming off of the two best years in the company's history, itwas obviously the right time—and Quadrivio, by all reports, seems to bethe right buyer.
Along similar lines, TC Group, the Danish parent company of UKspeaker manufacturer Tannoy Group, and Gibson Guitar announced a mergeron January 18. "This merger will revolutionize the music industry formany years to come," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO ofGibson. The merged company will be known as Gibson Guitar Corp and willremain based in Risskov, Denmark. Anders Fauerskov will be ChiefOperating Officer. The deal should be finalized by the end of February2008.
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