Phonak buys Advanced Bionics

faire_jour

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Sonova Announces the Acquisition of Advanced Bionics Corporation Expanding Its Position as the Leading Provider of Hearing Healthcare Solutions | Business Wire

The Associated Press - November 9, 2009
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Sonova to buy Advanced Bionics for $489M



STAEFA, Switzerland — Swiss hearing aid firm Sonova Holding AG said Monday
it is buying cochlear implant maker Advanced Bionics Corp., based in
California, for $489 million in cash.

Sonova expects the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, to
be completed within three months.

"Sonova will offer the most comprehensive and innovative product and service
portfolio covering any customer need for most types of hearing problems,"
Valentin Chapero, Sonova's chief executive, said in a statement.

Privately-held Advanced Bionics was founded in 1993 and is based in
Valencia, Los Angeles County. Its majority shareholder is the biotech
investor Alfred Mann.

The company, which has 660 employees and sales in over 30 countries, has an
18 percent share of the global market in cochlear implants. These electronic
devices are surgically implanted inside the ear to stimulate the auditory
nerves, allowing deaf people to hear sounds.

Sonova spokesman Holger Schimanke said there was little overlap between
Sonova and Advanced Bionics, and consequently there are no plans to
restructure the business.

"Advanced Bionics will continue to operate as an independent unit within the
Sonova Group," Schimanke told The Associated Press. "We aren't talking about
any kind of job cuts, definitely not."

He said Advanced Bionics had developed "a great American technology that
many people consider to be world leading, but it hasn't really taken off."

"We're going to give them the business and sales expertise to do so," said
Schimanke.

Sonova shares rose 2.3 percent to 111.50 Swiss francs ($110.45) on the
Zurich exchange.
 
Thats cheap buy for Advanced Bionics. I wish them well and to succeed in capture bigger market share against Australian CI company, Cochlear. Cochlear have at least 60% market share and they have to make sure they have strong arm tactics to keep their numbers high.

Again, competition is good for consumers

John//
 
I can see why they brought them out. There was news I read that they had alot of recall -- if I am correct, especially the company (it will take me hours to google it to find it) , and I think it kinda ruin their reputation

Sometimes letting another company buy you out help regain that reputation and hopefully do it right.
 
They make Phonak HAs. Anyone here have a good experience with this brand? It seems like there have been some complaints here about the Naida? My brain is not working well at the moment. Anyone one here like their Phonak HAs? I have Oticon and I don't know how to compare the brands.

This acquisition will probably make their marketing easier (and probably has tax benefits).
 
I grew up with Phonak brand. I don't have anything negative to say about it. all those abuses it dealt with, it would still keep working (even if I dropped in the water for a second) I was a very active child/teen.

I know this because I still have all my old hearing aids, and they still work and all of them say phonak.
 
Yes, naida is a Phonak product.

That's good to know, Lighthouse. I can imagine that it's hard to keep a child's hearing aid in good shape. Some of the members here tell stories about throwing their HAs out of the car windows as children.
 
I did the same thing.

My mom told me a story that I did it so often that the audiologist told her that the next time I do it, she'll have to pay out of her pocket (I think she had some funding because of her income level... probably united way or something)
 
I have had Phonak more than one time in my life. It always worked well. Naida is the biggest failure that Phonak has had. PowerMaxx411 does bass boost and doesn't seem to ever have the problems of Naida.
 
Thanks, Bott. Sound like just one bad model.
 
Yes my Phonak superfont has been holding out very well. Sonova was the Phonak holding company and now owns the Unitron as well. Sonova wants to double the sales and increase the profit margin to 20%. To do this I think that Sonova will move the R/D department of Advanced Bionics to Europe as a good possibility.
 
I guess the real question is does this make a person more or less likely (or no change) to have an AB CI?

C1
 
It is hard to say but maybe Phonak is a better match since Advanced Bionics was sold previously to Boston Scientific but the owner did not like the way things ran and brought the company back. If I was already a AB user I would not worry about it. If I was geting a CI at this time I would look at the Phonak track record as a clue and make my opinion.
 
I have had Phonak more than one time in my life. It always worked well. Naida is the biggest failure that Phonak has had. PowerMaxx411 does bass boost and doesn't seem to ever have the problems of Naida.

I'm wondering if the "failure" of the Naida was because it included the Soundrecover feature. I suspect most folks may have had difficulties adapting to it, especially if this would be the first digital aid.

I have no current issues with mine, only wishing I had the option to program them like the AmericaHears aids.....
 
I'm wondering if the "failure" of the Naida was because it included the Soundrecover feature. I suspect most folks may have had difficulties adapting to it, especially if this would be the first digital aid.

I have no current issues with mine, only wishing I had the option to program them like the AmericaHears aids.....

Didn't know there was 'failure' of the Naida. As far as I know they are still making them. I like mine.
 
Didn't know there was 'failure' of the Naida. As far as I know they are still making them. I like mine.

They quit a lot and need repair a lot. Maybe you are just like the guy who bought the one good Ford Edsel.:lol:
 
They quit a lot and need repair a lot. Maybe you are just like the guy who bought the one good Ford Edsel.:lol:

I never had issues with mine either. The one time I had a failure was the Phonak ML10i FM receivers......but the Naida aids never failed on me yet. **knocking on wood**
 
I never had issues with mine either. The one time I had a failure was the Phonak ML10i FM receivers......but the Naida aids never failed on me yet. **knocking on wood**

Of course you should not have said that on Friday 13th! :Ohno:
 
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