Orca Design & Manufacturing, the US Importer for Focal, announced that the holding company of Focal and Naim, Vervent Group, has been purchased by Belgium based Barco. Orca, which continues to distribute Focal, said the move is a positive step for the brands.
Barco was founded in 1934 as a small company producing radios using parts imported from the United States—hence the name Belgian American Radio Corporation (Barco). Over the decades, Barco grew into a global technology company recognized for innovation in medical imaging, projection and cinema systems, video walls, and wireless conferencing solutions across professional, home, and entertainment markets, said Orca.
For more than two years, Barco and Vervent Group, (the holding company of Naim Audio and Focal), have been in discussions exploring opportunities for collaboration. The principal of the investment fund of Vervent Group and the head of Barco have known each other for a long time, both sharing Belgian roots, said Orca. “Through these conversations, it became clear that bringing together the audio expertise of Naim and Focal with the video technology leadership of Barco could create a powerful synergy,” said Orca.
“Barco is nearly ten times the size of Vervent and brings to the table the depth of its financial strength and technological foundation. This combination opens new opportunities for innovation and growth,” Orca added.
Orca said, “As a long-time supporter of the Focal brand, we believe this development represents a very positive step forward. Barco is a highly respected engineering company with a strong global reputation, and its involvement is expected to bring new strength, stability, and long-term vision to the future of Focal and Naim.”
“At Orca, we see this move as well advised and full of promise for the future. We remain fully committed to supporting the Focal brand and continuing to grow its presence throughout our markets,” it added.
